Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Wow, what a day - with a fresh batch of snow last night the countryside is looking gorgeous!! But my goodness it is sooo cold! But this didn't deter us from getting out and making the most of the snow. We went for a walk in our local wood (Tyrells Wood) and thoroughly enjoyed the winter wonderland that we found when we arrived. Max loved it but got very cold and in the end just wanted to be held! After our walk we went for a well deserved hot chocolate and jacket spud in the farm shop restaurant over the road. Then it was home to thaw out and get ready to watch the Strictly Come Dancing final - hoorah!

So cold, bless him!

Cold snap!

In true British style, the country has ground to a halt today because of about 5cm of snow! I didn't mind one bit though, as I had nowhere to go (other than the doctors which I could do on foot) and it meant that I got to have Ben at home today! So, Max got his first real experience of snow today. We all headed up to Grandma's house (her snow was better than ours) and Max, Daddy and Grandma played in the garden while I watched snugly through the french doors with Cate! Max enjoyed the snow but was a little perturbed by the fact that it was so cold! Later on in the day we cosied up at home and watched 'The Snowman'. Max was enthralled by it, and it well and truly put me further into the Christmas mood - so much so that I even wrapped some presents tonight - something I usually put off until the very last minute!

Cate of course wasn't even aware that it had been snowing and just spent the day doing her usual cat napping mixed with feeding and screaming! She is 7 weeks today, and thankfully she has just started to smile properly this week. It couldn't have come sooner - I love to see her smile and it makes the sleepless nights, and scream filled days seem worthwhile!!

Mesmerized!

Mr so very handsome!

Hooray, finally a smile!

Looking startled!

Very cute indeed!

Max discovering snow

It's freezing!

Fresh air and bananas!

Yesterday was a particularly tough day for me. I had a beast of a night previously with Cate and had really only had about 4 hours of non-consecutive poor quality sleep. It was also the first time I was due to spend the whole day by myself with the kids since Cate was born. Typically Cate was really unsettled and spent most of the day screaming and not wanting to be put down. Of course I couldn't tend to Max or myself whilst holding Cate, so most of the day I had her blood-curdling screams ringing in my ears.

At about 4pm my Mum (aka my hero) turned up and offered me some relief! After making sure Cate was well fed, I put Max in the pushchair and set out in the dark for a walk and some badly needed fresh air. We walked along stopping every now and then to look at some passing truck, a dog or some pretty Christmas lights. We popped into the supermarket and had a wander around and looked at all the Christmas stuff they had in. On the way out Max looked up at the sky and pointed to the moon which was so bright and a lovely crescent shape. He looked at me with those big blue eyes and said "banana"! That was the moment I had been needing all day - yes it came a lot later than I would have liked, but it made me laugh and smile and reminded me why we have babies and put ourselves through it all. Of course the great times far outweigh the bad, but in these first few difficult months with a newborn it is hard to see the wood for the trees. I am so grateful for my Mum, for Max, for fresh air and Christmas lights. And of course I am grateful for Cate - she was much more settled last night which was great. I am hoping she has turned a corner!

Exhaustion!

Well, I'm back after a very long break! Cate is here and don't I know it! She is utterly gorgeous with the most beautiful hair and skin and little nose I have ever seen. She is also utterly loud and very confused about what is day and what is night - but despite feeling tiredness like I have never ever felt before, I am sooo glad and happy she is here and part of the family. She is precious and I love being her protector and I look forward to seeing her personality show itself (and to getting a half decent nights sleep!!)

As for my amazing little man Max - he is rolling with it! He has never been jealous of Cate but he certainly is taking some time to get used to her and her lungs! He is gradually paying her more attention and is even lavishing kisses on her (as well a few gentle smacks in good measure!). He is such a good boy and to be honest I have found it hard not being able to give Max the attention I did before little Cate came along - I have been missing him but I am so glad that he has had Daddy and Grandma to play with him and make him feel extra special whilst I am busy feeding and comforting baby Cate.

Here are some pics of my little treasures.

Simon and Sarah's visit

Simon and Sarah just spent the August Bank Holiday weekend with us. Me and Max were both poorly with nasty colds and were suffering from lack of sleep - but despite this, Max especially was pretty much on form and really enjoyed the extra attention from his Aunty and Uncle. One of the things we did was to spend a day in Southwold - I am loving being back in Norfolk and having all these great places on my doorstep.

It wasn't particularly warm, but it didn't keep the beach dwellers and swimmers away! They were braver than me thats for sure!

The best 2 boys in the world!

Me and my big little brother!

Taking Max for a paddle - he was not impressed!

He loved walking in the sand though.

Someone told Ben that these beach huts sell for £100,000!!!! They are very lovely, but even so I am very sceptical about this!

Max was fascinated by the sea and the waves - from a distance of course!

Growing up!

Thought it was about time I updated this blog - Max is growing up so fast and changing so quickly, and with a new little Hall baby arriving in a few months, I felt I had better get back into the swing! So Max is almost 18 months now and is growing into a right rough and tumble little boy! Not a day goes by when he doesn't get a bump or scrape of some sort - not due to my negligence of course! He is just so full of energy and imagination and loves playing in the garden and I just can't stop his fun!! He hasn't lost his sweet sensitive nature though - he loves to give kisses, have little cuddles (not for too long though - too much fun to be had) and watch Mummy when she is cooking. He gets a little scared when planes fly overhead, and his latest thing is feathers! He hates feathers! We get quite a few in the garden and whenever he sees one he scrunches up his nose, makes an 'ooooh' noise and walks away in the opposite direction. Sometimes he gets brave enough to pick one up but very quickly drops it again with a shudder!! Very bizarre and funny. He is so much fun to be around and it just gets better and better every single day.

Max's latest trick - swinging like a monkey from his swing frame! He thinks he is so clever (and so do I!!)

Cheeky cheeky boy!

Stud! I love the way he crosses his legs when he sits down!

I treated him to this ever so expensive piece of furniture which normally stays in the garden!

Trying on Mummy's shoes - a rite of passage!

Oh yeah, shades and food face - great look!

He used to hate sitting in this as a baby - but couldn't wait to give it a try when we pulled it down from the loft the other day in prep for the new bubby!

Loving Spring

Spring has finally arrived here in Norfolk and I am loving it!  The weather, along with the return of my normal energy levels is getting me out of the house with Max.  Today I took Max down the country lanes on his bike.  It was very warm and sunny and I didn't want Max to burn so I managed to find a hat for him that was a tad too small for his substantial head, but I think it did the job even if it did irritate Max!  After a short while he got a bit fed up and wanted to walk, so I let him walk and that was it - he did not want to go back in the bike and wanted to push the bike all the way home!  Whilst it took forever to get home, I loved watching his determination and independence.  I took some snaps along the way!

Ready to go!

Poor attempt t0 take a shot of us both!

Max doing his thing!

Put that tongue away!

This is what happened when I put him back on his bike!

I think Max likes the taste of his snot!

Checking in with family in the north!

Last week Mum, Max and I visited Nan and Grandad Foster, and Simon and Sarah in Leeds.  It was a brief but lovely visit.  The grandparents thought Max was a 'smashing lad' and Max obviously felt at home at Simon and Sarahs becuase he slept right through until 7am.  What a treat for Mummy!

Max with Uncle Simon -people are always telling me that Max looks like Simon - can you see the similarity??!!

Great Grandad Foster made Max laugh by making silly noises and doing funny walks - just like he used to do to when I was a kid!

Nan loved Max so much - Max is clinging onto a fly swat which he took a liking too.  I was reliably told that it was clean and was never used...hmm....

Our Easter Weekend

Our Easter weekend has been a busy one, but it was worth it. We have been to spend a few days with Tacha, Jamie and the boys and we have had Jess and Louisa for 4 days. Max has enjoyed the attention and extra opportunities to play, although he perhaps may be suffering now as a result of all the playing and the lack of sleep - he has a nasty cold to show for it! Anyway, here are some snapshots of our shenanigans!

At the park..

Out walking in the country lanes!

Max loves being pushed on his little bike!

Max and cousin Harrison getting cosy in the double buggy.

Dinner time for the babies!

This is one of my favourite times of the day - one of the few times Max likes to sit still and cuddle me!

Enjoying a bath with cousin Cameron!  Neither of them were that interested in each other really!  

Bouncing with big sis Louisa!

Playing in another of the great outdoor toys Aunty Tacha has (she is a childminder, and as such has a house and garden full of fantastic toys!  Max was in his element, and I loved watching him wandering around and playing without the danger of him getting into something he shouldn't!)

More handsome every day!

Max on an easter treats hunt in Tacha's garden - with the help of Jess he collected a whole bag full of treats - I am looking forward to enjoying them - thanks Max and Jess!!!

A rare moment when Jess let us take a pic of her - and this is a lovely one!