The Gallery has joined forces with the Writing Workshop which I have to confess scares the bejesus out of me.  You see I’m not a writer, I don’t really regard myself as a blogger even, by profession I am a marketer, by choice I am a mum and by financial necessity I combine the two. 

This weeks prompt is EMOTIONS so here goes … let me just pop back and check the instructions at Josie’s place, right OK, good to go, ahem … Love & Happiness

Just before I go to bed, I have a few indulgent minutes of love and happiness.  I watch my babies sleeping.  I listen to their breathing, their soft snuffles and sighs.  I stroke their hair, I hold their hand.  I return legs and arms to beneath covers.  One last goodnight kiss and a request to the angels to keep them safe until morning.  Sweet dreams.

Don’t forget to head over to Sticky Fingers and Sleep is for the weak to see all the fabulous posts which will be McLinky’d up from Wednesday 30th June 2010

This prompt for week 16 of The Gallery over at Tara’s Sticky Fingers blog, the prompt is Creatures

My first thought was my own little creatures, Lil H and Baby G but it always is!  I have been having and discarding ideas since the prompt was annouced on Friday.  About 30 minutes ago inspiration struck!  Lil’ H has a letter of the week at pre-school and he takes something starting with that letter for each of his three mornings a week.  We also carry the letter of the week on at home so even if he’s home with me we write the letter on the blackboard and talk about the sound and things that begin with that letter.  He’s only just three years old just wondering as I type this if I am being supportive or pushy?!

Anyway Lil’ H’s letter of the week is the letter C, that’s curly cuh, not kicking cuh to be clear!  To support this weeks letter of the week I have collected the following menagerie: 

We have a Crab, Caterpillar, Camel, Cow, Crocodile and Coconut – ok I know a Coconut isn’t a creature but it is amongst our things that begin with the letter C and no one else took a Coconut into pre-school!

The weeks Gallery post is brought to you by the letter C for Creatures, for more wonderful enteries check out the fabulous entries here

Next month gurgle is hosting a mummy (and daddy!) blog awards event,‘The Gurgles’, celebrating some of our favourite mummy blogs from all over the country.

Blogs have been nominated in the following categories:

1. Overall best mummy blog
2. Best fashion blog by a mummy
3. Best funny mummy blog
4. Best mummy blog writing
5. Best daddy blog

Cheshire Mum, yes me little old me, has been nominated for a gurgle blog award in the best overall mummy blog category.  I am really, really chuffed *beaming smile* as I’d love your vote and also another vote for Claire over at The Bump Wear Project who is nominated for Best fashion blog by a mummy!  I will let you know when the nominations are open for voting!

Claire x

Its been a while since a posted an entry for The Gallery, life with a toddler at my ankles, a baby on my hip, some lovely clients on the phone / email and an non-self-cleaning-house keeping me busy.  The prompt this week is Motherhood its a big topic and one which I have been umming & ahhing about.  I have some lovely ones of me with the children, few with both of them (note to self must get more taken!) 

Tonight I put Baby G down to bed, she’s not 100% bless her, she has two bottom teeth through and her top two teeth are on their way.  She’s off her food and not really having much milk either, waking a few times in the night red cheeked, bothered and just wanting to be held.  I put her down and was listening to her settle down, could hear her sucking on her thumb with the occasional “wah”, I was watching the baby monitor and there before me was my entry to this weeks Gallery. 

I give you my Motherhood toolkit as located on my bedside cabinet!

From left to right:  Baby, Toddler & Child “manuals” (oh if only!) x 6, digital ear thermometer, Anbesol teething liquid, Gripe Water, Infant Medicine Syringe, Calpol, Infant Neurofen and a Baby Monitor.  

I have to confess I was shocked as to how dirty my bedside was, so before I took the photo I did wipe it over – with a baby wipe of course they are for every possible purpose!   I’m not sure how I managed without them before I had children.

Baby G is 8 months old today, Happy “two-thirds” Birthday my gorgeous girl!  Here for extra cute points is a piccie of her with a packet of Plum Baby Spelt Fingers (Disclaimer: Plum Baby sent me some free samples!) 

The lovely folks over at Plum Baby have given me 15 samples of yummy blueberry, banana and vanilla pots to give away to my lovely readers, these were Lil H’s favourite and Baby G loves it too, so keep reading! 

My weaning experience with Lil’ H was frankly hideous, he is a very picky 3 year old eater and mealtimes with him remain stressful.  With Baby G we have taken a Baby Led Weaning approach under the encouragement of my Twitter pals, especially Nick over at My Daddy Cooks and without a doubt it is one of the best parenting decisions we have made. 

Whilst we cook the majority of the childrens food, we are moving to more family meals we all like and eat and mostly Baby G feeds herself there is still a place at Lancaster Towers for bought and pre-prepared baby food.  We have been away on holiday and weekends away, with the best will in the world service stations, tea time arriving and a busy life as a working mum means there are times when a bit of ready to go food is best for everyone! 

Baby G loves the Spelt Fingers and I love the fact they come wrapped in two’s, perfect to keep in the nappy bag for a healthy organic snack, the blueberry, banana and vanilla pots have been thoroughly enjoyed and I have just discovered the sauces which are a perfect fast supper with pasta.  Check out www.Plum-Baby.co.uk and discover more yummy products from the Plum Kitchen.

The lovely folks over at Plum Baby have given me 15 samples of yummy blueberry, banana and vanilla pots to give away to my lovely readers.

Plum Baby is all about real food for babies and not just baby food and all the products are made with the highest quality organic ingredients. They offer babies a taste of what’s to come and are full of nutrients and nothing artificial.

To enter, simply go to the Plum Baby newsletter  (http://www.plum-baby.co.uk/plum-mums/plum-mums-sign-up) and sign up using the code “Cheshire Mum”– and the winners will be chosen at random in 7 days time on Monday 21st June 2010.