April round-up

** My April round-up **

 

April, not one of my particularly favourite months.
but the weather has been amazing this April.
I've taken full advantage of it and the use of my new garden. 

I think my boy would live outside if he could,
he isn't traumatised after the snail incident (Gross!)

 

This month I've been pretty stressed out and I've felt like everything
was out of my control and up in the air. I've not enjoyed it. 

I'm hoping next month will be allot more calmer. 
However I did enjoy my first BBQ's of the year hosted by my
 brother to celebrate my mums birthday. 

In true BBQ form I ate far too much, especially Chinese style chicken, which is my new fav BBQ food and obviously I had a few strawberry ciders in the sun.

The kiddies enjoyed their first trip of the year to Cantref Farm. The boy loved being able to run wild and J is getting more confident with the animals.

 We are going to keep up visiting the farm throughout this year. 

 Girly day out to the capital to see Disney on ice.
It was magical and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Despite the £8 popcorn and the £13 small plastic doll
that I was persuaded to buy. The performance was amazing.
My favourite part was from the film Tangled, whilst my daughters was very 

predictably Frozen, which all the kids went mad for. 

 

 

 

* April Fav's *

 

* Rimmel nail vanish - Roll in the grass

 

* Primark summer dresses and shoes, I will do a Primark haul soon.

 

* Finley's handmade bunting from eBay by: oh-sew-lovely

 

*  Aldi's cheaper Desaronno - Amaretto £4!!!! 

 

* April Fail's *
 

* I took Fin to watch his daddy play football for the first time and after the worst tantrums I can safely say it will be a long time before I attempt it again. He could see his daddy, but he couldn't understand why he too couldn't go on the pitch. So he proceeded to throw himself on the floor, bang his head and shout at the top of his voice, kids are just lovely aren't they?! I was so embarrassed, mainly at my  lack of control over one small person. 

* My social media, due to not having any Wi-Fi for the last month my social media presence has really suffered. 

 

* I didn't make the shortlist for Britmums BiB awards :(
 I didn't actually expect to though, so not really a fail. 

The bloggers who made it are all incredibly talented and
are all well established I still have a long way to go. 


* In the diary for next month *
 

* Football club dinner 

* Baby shower 

* Night out (out-out) 

 

* April blogs I loved * 

 

 Hurrah For Gin - amazing easter holiday activity suggestions - debatable

 Not a frumpy mum - The most precious gift of all

Twinderelmo - Kate Middleton baby questions

Twin mummy and daddy - bloggers you need to read this

Mum in a nutshell - blog link up planner

Potty Mouthed Mummy - How to be a good blogger

 

 

My last post -

 Feb / March

Linked up to -

The DO's and DON'Ts of a sleep deprived parent.

DON'T's


DON'T take on long car journeys, its hard enough having control of two feet never mind four wheels.

DON'T participate in debates with friends, family or other halves this will more than likely turn into massive unnecessary row.

DON'T do the food shop, you will end up with 10 onions and no bread?!

DON'T go anywhere without a 'to do list', especially work.

DON'T make life changing decisions

DON'T make big bank balance changing purchases  

DON'T watch Geordie shore / TOWIE or other such programmes containing young carefree childless types.

DON'T make yourself attend exercise classes, you will feel pathetic and useless and the class will drag and be hundred times harder then it needs to be. Nobody has gained from this experience.

DON'T take your sleep deprivation out on those closest to you, mainly those who have slept more than you, so pretty much everyone than.

DON'T follow parents on social media who insist that their children are perfect and sleep all the time, it makes you bitter and angry.

DON'T blame yourself. I for one have read every article, blog and book about sleep training, I've tried every tip and bit of advice out there and my baby still doesn't sleep! This is his fault not mine.

DON'T think your alone. thanks to blogging and twitter I've realised just how many sleep deprived parents there are out there.

DON'T become complacent, a few nights sleep doesn't mean you have it sussed. Baby is boss.

DO'S

DO feel sorry for yourself, it sucks being sleep deprived, you deserve that self pity, so wallow in it as much as you want.

DO eat junk food guilt free. 

DO choose to nap over doing the washing

DO ask for help and get the break you need.

DO remember it won't last forever, your baby will learn to sleep at some point in its life. Hold on in there.

DO not give up or give in, they're very stubborn creatures are babies. Stay strong and be persistent.

DO use your sleep deprivation as an excuse for everything, while you can. From bad time keeping, forgetfulness and un-washed hair.

DO promise to be a nicer human being when your child learns to sleep.   

DO eat a pack of party rings for breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day don't miss out on it

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Monthly bucket list for April / May

 

April has been a pretty stressful one for me, I've felt like everything has been out of my control and all a bit up in the air. My hopes for May are to chill out and get back to doing what I love most :)  

 

April's bucket list:

 

* Personal aim's *

 * To finish 'The book of you' - Check

I wasn't that impressed by this book it was a bit dark at times.
It turned out to not be what I expected at all!! 

* To lose 5lb - 4lb so Partial Fail

I have tried to be good this month too :( 

* To get organised with my blogging - Big FAIL

However I blame the no Wi-Fi and my useless broadband provider! 

* To keep up with ordinary lies - Check 5/6

My fav was the drug smuggling one with Michelle Keegan
and the last one with Jo Joyner, who previously played Tanya in Eastenders. Such intense story lines, all very well written. 

* Save and not spend - Check

actually managed to pay off some things :) go me! 

 

* The kids *

* To sort out the boys sleep -  Check 

Getting there, definite improvement.
 

* Settling both kids into the new house - Big check

* Spending more time outside - Check

 

 

May's bucket list:

 

* Personal aim's *

* To finish my new book - Jill Mansell - The one you really want -

* To apply for at least 2 new job's -

* Go on a night out (out-out) with friends -

* A family day out - preferably to the beach (weather dependant)
now that football season is finally over (whoppie!) - 

* To begin watching the new series starting on 3rd May - The C Word with Sheridan Smith, such a talented actress! -

 

* The kids *

* Listen to J. read more, not just her school books -

* Get on top of the fructose intolerance diet with Fin -  
* Organise the kids carnival costumes for next month -

* The blog *

* I need to get to grips with my Facebook page -

* To keep on top of my new schedule, I will get organised! -

* Get back to linking up with all my favourite linkys again,
now that I have Wi-Fi again - 

Here's last months list :  April Bucket List

5 survival tips for the day after the night before.

This is my boy as a baby, giving me the middle finger, he only sleeps when he wants to and not before.

We've all had them, I have them more often then not. The long drawn out days after nights of hell with our little shits darlings.

So here is my survival list for getting through the day when your a sleep deprived zombie parent and you still have to act like an actual human-being and function in normal society.
 

1) Caffeine - Lucozade / red bull / coffee - what ever works for you, get some! 

2) Dry Shampoo - It is a life savour.

3) A to do list - because you still have to do important shit even when you're sleep deprived and you wont remember even though you tell yourself that you will! I use my reminder list on my iPhone, for everything.

4) Junk food - yea I know its bad for you and all that crap, but sometimes only comfort food will do. For me this is: McDonald's, obviously. Anything with hot melted cheese, like enchiladas. Chocolate, lots of it. Cake it's hard to not smile at cake.  

5) Support, not just a good bra - You may want to lock yourself away, preferably in the dark with no human interaction but don't do it! Turning into a self pitying recluse doesn't help. My advice is to rant and moan out loud to anyone who will listen.

Places I've found comfort in my misery: Mumsnet, Twitter, blogging and the obvious friends and family.

My post on my own sleep deprivation

Here is a few posts on this sleep lark from the amazing The dad network

Need help getting your baby to sleep advice from sleep expert jo tantum

Help my baby doesnt sleep

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