Parenting the Shand Princesses

This week will make it 33 weeks of pregnancy and the closer the date gets, the more excited we get. I love the kicks and movements the baby makes and all I keep thinking is why can't it be January so we can meet her! When we had May May, we had a birth plan and as soon we got to the birth centre that went right out the window. This time around we will go into this thinking that whatever happens we will go with it. I have even been doing a lot more reading about babies and I still feel like I want to know more. We have also decided that we want a water birth this time around as this will help with the delivery of the baby. I just can’t wait for the day to come so I can hold her in my arms and see her beautiful eyes looking at me. Th is may be the second time but I still have those butterflies in my stomach, which makes me anxious about the birth. All I want is for Princess and Michaela to be happy and healthy for the labour with no complications. I. May May seems very ...

What a journey this has been! Currently 32 weeks pregnant and it's fair to say this pregnancy is totally different to when I was pregnant with Mayarna. For a start, I have been extremely nauseous from the day I found out and it has continued throughout my whole pregnancy. I have gone off so much food and drink and can't plan meals ahead at all. I can't complain though as my BMI has gone down and I have lost a few pounds!  What has been nice is feeling her movements. She's been super active from about 17 weeks (yes she made her presence aware from then!) and has got stronger every week. I now feel like I'm growing a baby octopus inside me as I feel kicks all over, some of them that leave me speechless. However, there is no better feeling than a baby's kick. It reassures you that baby is growing well and is strong. As you can see, I don't have a tiny neat bump! This picture is of me at 25 weeks and I look ready to pop. I am praying that I am carry...

At the beginning of October, James and I had a weekend away in Manchester to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. It was so lovely to have some quality time together. We shopped, went out to eat and even played Junkyard Golf! If you have never been, I highly recommend you do as it's a great laugh. And it was whilst we was away that I realised the last time me and James had spent a night away together was 18 months ago when Mayarna was 1 month old. That's a very long time and it got me thinking, when you become parents, you become so wrapped up in parenthood that you start to neglect time as a couple. Yes, your responsibilities change. But that doesn't mean you can't keep the spark going in your relationship. You don't have to do anything expensive or fancy. Something as simple as going out for a meal, going to the cinema or going for a drink. Just being with your partner, having adult conversation and keeping that spark is great for your relationship. -...

It's been a while since I last wrote a blog but I feel I've got too much to keep to myself. May-May is 18 months old and boy has she developed into a character! She is so full of joy and knows how to cut some serious shapes (making me look bad lol) with any music you can give her. The way she picks up things, responsds and answers in her own speech astounds me as I couldn't have imagined her learning so fast.  When we were on holiday in Benidorm, she would wave at anyone who passed and I think she made a few friends along the way with her quirky facial expressions. I can see how carefree she is and even at times goes into a full speech randomly. All the locals loved her and when we went it to shops they would give her treats like lollies and sweets.  I think for me, seeing May-May pick up all these new traits it lets me know that we are raising an amazing child who never stops surprising us. We have been trying to get her more used to walking and leaving ...

Last Sunday we had May Mays Christening which was so much fun and an absolute success. I haven’t been to a function like this before, not since I was a baby. May May had a really good time dancing and singing to the hymns in the church. But when the time came for the holy water to touch her, May May got a bit tearful, but we still managed to get it done. In that moment I couldn’t have been prouder, standing in front of all the witnesses and reading the declarations. It made me think about May Mays birth and how far we have come from then to now; having May May in my arms to seeing her welcomed into the house of God. Once we had completed the service, the next event was the reception. As soon as the music started, May May couldn’t not wait to start dancing. She took over the dance floor and she didn’t even care. Everyone at the venue couldn’t take their eyes off May May and it was like she was in a bubble where it was just her and the music. May May has always been a musical chil...

May May starts nursery this week and I'm so happy and proud that she is doing this because I think she is getting smarter by the day and she really enjoys being around other kids. It feels like only yesterday I had her in my arms looking up at me with her little brown eyes. She is growing so fast but I know this is the right time as it will help her development. For Easter this year I'm going to cook a roast for the family. May May seems to love my cooking and anytime I cook she finishes it in no time!  This last week she has had her last set of jabs from the doctors yaaay! She was such a brave girl! When the doctor said she had to have 4 jabs I nearly fainted!!!!  I have noticed she is trying so hard to talk and when she says "dada" it fills me with so much joy, I can't put into words. She is really turning into a daddy's girl which, if I might add, is absolutely mint! I'm itching to take her on days out and experiences that I have always wanted...

I have decided to return to work and within a couple of weeks of applying for jobs, I had got myself an interview at my local County Court. How awesome! And then I realised I'd have to have an interview (obviously) and I started to worry and freak out. I hadn't had an interview in 3 years. 3 years ago I was super confident, an interview would be no problem. But since having May-May I had lost quite a lot of that confidence, and the thought of trying to sell myself to a couple of strangers made me feel so anxious. And no matter how much OJ or my family & friends said I'd be fine, I worried. I wondered what it was about becoming a parent that I lost my confidence. Was I the only person who experienced this? I asked some mums if they wouldn't mind sharing their experiences of confidence issues and these 3 wonderful ladies have. 1. Introduce yourself (2-3 lines, name, what you do and age of children) My name is Claire I have 2 boys, age 6 and 8 and ...