We have been growing this for some time at Lancaster Towers.  Please excuse the quality of the photo following an impromtu photo session of Lil H by Baby G (no adults were present) our camera is *cough* being repaired *whispers* under warranty “no idea what happened your honour it just stopped working and started making this terrible noise”!   The Hyacinth is great but when it flowers it will need a new home as its perfume gives me the most atrocious headache!

2010 it was a fast year, the fastest so far in my life, here’s a whistle stop review, a reminder for me of a great & busy year …

January, February, March:
This blog had its new look for a new year in January 2010.  Baby G started the year just 10 weeks old, a real baby baby not the 14 month old bum shuffling supremo that can say a few words started 2011!  We headed to Centre Parcs in February and we had that much of a good time we’re going back in May for a full week. In March we headed off to Egypt, our first family holiday abroad and it rocked!  End. Of.

April, May, June:
In April I posted my most popular Vlog – how to sterilise in a hotel bathroom, it pleases me a lot *warm fuzzy feeling* that this seems to help lots of people with the same anxiety I had – it’s simples!  We celebrated Lil H’s third birthday Toy Story Stylie.  In May we headed South for a long weekend catching up with friends in London town.  I started posting with The Gallery prompts and themes and discovered lots of new and great blogs.  We also discovered the Legoland Discovery Centre which we visited three times in 2010!

July, August, September: 
In July we enjoyed a great holiday in Cornwall.  Then I went solo as a parent for six weeks – 24/7 x 6.  We lived, although I drank A LOT of wine – so much wine in fact the bottles got embarrassing and I had to switch to wine boxes (they go out with the paper & cardboard you see!)  Sian and Nova understand   To celebrate the end of Summer we headed to Majorca for a week, which was out of Centre Parcs, Egypt and Port Isaac my favourite holiday of the year – I shall remember it well as it will be a good while before we manage another holiday.  When we returned Lil H started at his new Pre-School.

October, November, December:
October was a big milestone for a certain Baby G the BIG ONE!  I also “went back to work” I work for myself which is the reaosn for the ” ” LOL!  This means I started working to get work to work and it was tough but now as I write this in early January 2011 I feel it is starting to pay off, I have clients and work which I really enjoy.  The juggle is hard, really hard but it is the right approach for our family at the moment. I had some mummy time off and went to London to The Baby Show and to Brighton to #twineup with lots of my great Twitter Buddies – Bec, Hannah, Nudie, Amy, Sarah … I can’t wait for the replay girlies   Then it was Halloween, Fireworks, my Birthday and Christmas – we had a lovely Christmas – great for not doing a lot other than playing toys.  I can totally recommend eating Christmas Dinner when the kids have gone to bed! 

And then it was 2011!  Wishing you all a fantastic year ahead.

Claire x

Rather than resolutions last year I set a Themeword for the year which was ENJOYMENT.  We were getting ready to go or on holiday or just back from holiday for most of the year so I’m declaring this Themeword achieved!  Sure life inevitably threw challenges at me but my Themeword helped me through the year – “does this fit in with my plan for Enjoyment this year?” I asked myself frequently, it helped me not do many things I probably would have done and my life is better off for that. 

I’ve said No more, but for all the right reasons.  I’ve not done or organised certain things I always do.  As a result we’ve not seen some friends as often as we have before but the truth is if we only get together because I make it happen then, well, that’s just good to know.  “We’ve not seen you for ages” … “Of course it would be great to see you, what do you suggest?!”  I only have 24 hours in my day, just like anyone else, so things that are always land on my doorstep to organise, coordinate, drive and make happen someone else can pick up for once because you know what our family is very young, we have a gorgeous baby and a fab little boy, I juggle work, family, life, and I always do more, I always do over and above and right now my hands are overflowing and I don’t have to.  A real friend will know this is the space I am in, understand and be there.  I have many friends, some friends are are greater than I thought and others not.  Having my Themeword as Enjoyment has given me great clarity and a great year.

So where to now and 2011?  I am following Bec’s lead over at Beetroot & Gherkins, I’m not getting rid of this one, ENJOYMENT is still hugely important, however a priority of 2011 is CHANGE. I need CHANGE, I thrive on CHANGE and becoming mother and then a family of four has been massive CHANGE.  Now we are moving away from babydom towards toddler days, Lil H starts in reception at proper school in September *gulp* *bites back tears*  We are ready to CHANGE where & how we live.  I’m craving more challenge other than the never ceasing challenge of parenting.  I suppose I mean challenging the pre-mummy person, she’s still in there, a professional and an individual – I’m not sure that makes total sense to me let alone anyone else. 

Some stuff I want to do this year is:

1. Sell our house
2. Find our next home
3. Get back to pre-pregnancy weight
4. Host a naming ceremony / family celebration for H & G
5. Continue working and building my business

I’m planning to carry on blogging if you’re still interested?  Still reading still subscribed?  What are you thinking?  Got a Themeword?  Leave me a link to your Themeword and plans for 2011!

Claire x