Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

We had a lovely one.
xxx

Snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow!

Lovely to look at, not so nice to drive on.

It's the family time of year - celebrated Marie's 70th last weekend in the snow, and finally got a picture of all of Stu's family who made it to the party.

And it's Christmas tomorrow! We have a huge turkey in the fridge, and I'm looking forward to cooking up a feast :)

Brendan the bear had to come to Grandma's party too. He had a fabulous time, caught him in the liquor at one point!

Muddy puddles are made for splashing on a grey day in the park. Mummy not feeling well doesn't dispel the energy of a 2 and almost a half year old who was taken for a slow paced amble over muddy grass and wintry paths, slipping and sliding on soggy leaves underfoot and chasing down skittering squirrels. We met a chocolate coloured labrador who kept bringing us her ball to throw down the hill, Sophs commented 'she's lovely and friendly Mummy!' Mummy thinks she needs to invest in a pair of wellies, as her (no longer) white trainers were revealed to have a hole in the sole, and soggy socks are no fun. Unless you're a two and almost a half year old, in which case dashing giggling through deep puddles, filling your wellies with mucky water and wearing mud from toe to top is the very definition of a grand day out. On the way home, said with a huge grin and sparkle in her eyes, (too tired to walk and being carried by a now equally muddy Mummy) 'that was lots of fun Mummy, splashing in the big biiiig biiiiiiiiiig puddle'.

It's been a week of flu...of the porcine variety. At least, as far as anyone can tell me that's what I've got as no one actually wants you to set foot in a doctor's surgery and happily prescribe Tamiflu over the phone after hearing your symptoms. I have to say if it is swine flu, then I've been much much sicker previously with regular winter time influenza. Or maybe I've just been lucky and have had a mild version of it. Still, it's not been pleasant. If I'd had anyone to look after Sophs I would have happily slept all week.

Having spent yesterday throwing up and feeling utterly shite, my little angel came in to see me in bed and hopped up next to me, gave me a big cuddle before grinning at me and saying 'Mummy all better now', and then hopping off and going to see Daddy to tell him 'I gave Mummy a cuddle and made her happy', bless her sweet little soul.

Yep, it's really cold here. But with a warm jacket and a woolly hat, who says you have to sit indoors??

My little mud monster in her red boots loves her tricycle, though we really should have put her wellies on, but at least the boots are washable (can't believe 'machine washable is a consideration when buying shoes these days!). I think I might finally have to resort to buying wellington boots myself after trashing a pair of trainers whilst chasing a small person with selective hearing across the muddy grass. No longer will I wear my red woollen coat to the park when it's been raining either!

A rare photo of the three of us. I couldn't tell you the number of times we have walked through this gate from the walled garden opposite our flat. I like that we are in motion, linked through our wonderful little Sophia, in a place that we hold dear in our hearts.

Teddy bear heaven in Hamleys. Sophs was so beside herself with excitement she didn't know where to look first!

Miserable, but beautiful weather the past few days...with gusting rain storms sweeping tornadoes of rain from the horizon to pound our windows, before swiftly flying on to drench the terrain onwards and away. Taken from our bedroom window.

Ah the things you scorn parents for when you are not yet a parent yourself. I recall seeing tantuming children in shops and feeling appalled by the parents who resorted to bribery to quiet them. How times have changed! Sophia now owns yet another teddy bear, purchased entirely as a bribe to buy me time to look around our local Borders which, having gone into administration, is having a huge closing down sale. She got to drag Barney around the store in her shopping basket, I got 30 minutes of relatively hassle free shopping for a fiver. Everyone was happy. I no longer judge parents the way I used to!

I bought Sophs a gerbera to care for, and she has been enjoying carrying 'Plant' around the house and helping to water and care for it. It has the prettiest flower, I never tire of looking at its delicate pink and cream hues and running my finger over its silken petals.

After a lazy Sunday lunch at home with Stu's school friend Pete we went for an amble through the park and fed the ducks. Sophs was doing 'one for you, one for me' with the bread for the ducks.

My little girl is so sweet. Bossy, but sweet! We're encouraging her to 'use her words' rather than yell or scream when she (understandably) gets frustrated at not being able to find or get the words out that she wants. And offering her alternatives to her behaviour, so that instead of only hearing 'don't do that' she then hears 'why don't you try saying/doing XYZ'. It must be frustrating knowing that the jigsaw puzzle of life is so big, but only having some of the pieces and wanting more.

I had the parenting mirror held up by my darling Sophia, who hauled Albert the Bear out of her doll's crib and sat him against the wall in 'time out'. Word for word saying exactly what I say, she spoke to Albert, told him what he'd done, and to stay put until she came back. After returning to the crib to soothe and cuddle her dolly (whom Albert had apparently kicked while they were supposed to be sleeping) she gave Albert a minute or so alone before returning, making him stand up and look at her, explaining why she'd put him there, making him say sorry (which she said in her growly bear voice for him), then giving him a cuddle and taking him back to the crib and continuing to play again. Eye opening I have to say!

We don't have to use the timeout parenting thingy all that often, but it has been handy to have up our sleeves on the occasions where Sophs is really pushing to see where the edges of the boundaries are.

It was not without a few tears (from me!) that we moved Sophia into her big girl's bed over the weekend. My baby is well and truly gone, but we are blessed with our delightful little girl growing and developing at a rate of knots. We've been often asked of late when we're having the second one, but I am still just so content with my precious daughter and can't yet see myself with a mewling time consuming babe in arms. Perhaps in a few years. We'll see.

We are looking forward to Sophia's Christmas concert in 2 week's time and have already been treated to some of the songs she has been rehearsing at nursery, complete with sweet hand actions and dancing. I suspect she might get stage fright seeing the sea of adoring parental faces, but it won't matter, I'll still be the proudest Mum there.

It's that time of year again. Sophs and I had a lovely time going shopping for binkling lights for the christmas tree and putting the tree up. She doesn't quite understand the concept of Christmas, other than there are presents coming!