The blog thats been forgotten.

Wahhh it's been a year since i've blogged! Oops!

This past year has been so up and down. and full of so many experiences and memories.

We celebrated 4 years of marriage.
We suffered a miscarriage in October at 12 weeks. Which is one of the most hardest things to come back from. I didn't think of blogging about it at the time, and now i think i'm glad i didn't. It's something we went through as a family and have now come out the other side.
We went to Center-parcs around christmas time.
In the New Year, I joined a Netball team and started playing in a league.
I turned 24!
Luke turned 27!
My brother came home from his mission and got married!
We found out we are pregnant!! Hooray!
Florence turned two!
and lastly, my brother in-law came home from his mission the other week.

and thats the short version! Welcome to the present day!

So yes, we are pregnant again!

I am not going to lie, it was the scariest few months of my life, wondering if we could ever get pregnant again or what if I miscarry again?! and then those two little red lines appeared on the pregnancy test. And it was disbelief and shock. I cried, feeling overjoyed yet suddenly so afraid that I was going to lose the baby. The first 12 weeks were worrying and full of all things pregnancy.
We had a few scary moments, and had an early scan, and saw a little baby bean. I can't explain the feeling, it was so relieving! However, I wish it had calmed this nervous mama down. I knew I had to make it past 12 weeks to really believe this pregnancy was going to last.
We had our 12 week scan, and there was our bouncing baby.

We are now 17 weeks! We can officially feel the baby moving! It has been a few weeks of feeling something in my tummy, every now and again, but the movements now are just incredible. You are really in there little baby!

Florence doesn't quite understand the whole new baby concept, but she does enjoy giving raspberries to my ever-growing belly and pointing at it and saying "baby belly" "mummy's belly baby" I think she is going to be the best big sister! And will totally fall in love with her sibling when it arrives!

I'll try to get some pictures up on my next post. I blogged throughout Florence's pregnancy, it would only be fair to try and do it again for this bubba!

She's turned one!

I am so late in posting this but our baby girl has turned into a big girl! Like a two months ago! Eeek, bad blogger. 

We celebrated her birthday in style with a weekend full of activities.  On her actually birthday (Monday) we just had a family day at the Llama park! Yes we have a Llama park near us. Odd right. 

We also had a little party with a few of our local friends which started outside with the sun, however in the middle a nice little rain cloud came out to play so we all had to run inside grabbing bunting and bowls. 

Florence loved the attention. She got so many presents, our little apartment doesn't know what to do with them all. We have such lovely friends and family who came and showed their love for her! 

My family stayed over till sunday and florence again was spoiled with attention from her grandparents and uncles. She was definitely sad when she woke up and they weren't here anymore.

but finally... the big day came around. 

The day that a year ago changed our lives forever. Florence is such a blessing in our lives. I can't quite remember what our lives were like before her. She is a ray of sunshine!

In this last year, i've had to learn how to keep not just myself alive, but another person. A tiny little person.  She was this little thing that couldn't keep her own head up, couldn't feed herself and now I look at her, my little girl...so independent. Where has my tiny baby gone!

I love this little pudding with all my heart. I know she was meant to come to our family. She is the most perfect thing! Florence we love you!

and now for a bunch of photos!

A New Venture!

I have a very exciting announcement! I have started my own mini-business! Well at the moment it is a very raw Facebook page. I am a little nervous about the reaction.

In my head its all:

"Yet again, another stay at home mum trying to make a buck"

(I do hope i'm just being dramatic!) 

So I've recently started making my own necklaces. They are hand painted wooden necklaces. I wear them all the time now. Hoping that I'll be brave enough to maybe market them. I've seen some similar in America and thought "I could make those. And bring them something similar over to the UK." 

And so was born, Hello Victoria Leigh. A little pop up shop on Facebook (for the time being) to showcase these little bad boys. I am hoping to introduce other crafts in the future. 

I really hope you'll support me in my little venture. This business idea is very much a newbie and will need pruning and organising throughout the first few weeks/months. It will definitely be a learning curve! 

I'm so excited!! I do hope you'll love them!

Head on over to: Hello Victoria Leigh

Kid-friendly Vegetable Nuggets.

It has been a while since i've posted a recipe, but this one I HAD to share for you all mama's with babies that are self-feeding or being weaned! Florence adores these little nuggets! 

I found it on a website but adapt it ever so slightly. 

Cheesy Vegetable Nuggets

8 oz (1 cup) frozen broccoli florets and cauliflower
4 oz (1 cup) dry breadcrumbs (homemade breadcrumbs work too!)
6 oz (1 1/2 cups) Cheddar, grated
2 1/2 tbsp water
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Pepper

Heat the oven to 375 deg F, 190 deg C.
Cook the vegetable, then drain and chop well.
Combine with the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Form the mixture into nugget shapes and place on a greased baking tray, I used a 12 holed-yorkshire pudding tray. Press down with back of spoon, just to flatten the top.  
Bake for 20-25 mins, turning halfway through the cooking time.
Serve warm.

There are sooo many variations. I've made them before with broccoli and peas. I've added mashed potato into the mix to give it a bit more stability. I guess it all depends what stage your baby is at to what vegetables you could add. Use your imagination! 
Florence has just devoured 5 little nuggets in the space of 5 minutes. I find it a super easy way to cram her full of veggies but give her a bit more adult-like food rather than all mush! 
I've linked the website where they have tons more ideas to have a try. 




Hope your little ones enjoy them! They couldn't be easier.