Eva's 15 Month Update

Eva turns 15 months old today! We are out of the baby days and full steam ahead for toddlerhood. She is constantly on the go, into everything that she can get her hands on and is a contender for world’s fastest crawler. It’s such an exciting time and so far it’s been my favourite stage. I’m feeling a little bit sad that she’s becoming more independent every day but it’s making me so proud to see her grow and learn.

How to stay-cation with a baby and have a good time

Being a first time mum, I was desperate scenery after about three months. I was exclusively breastfeeding and hadn’t yet felt confident with public feeding. This meant that I spent quite a lot of time within the confines of my living rooms four walls. We were also going through a huge transition in our life. Eva had overtaken every area of our home, our lives and our thoughts. It was time for us to spend some time together as a family and with a little break away from the house.

I initially was obsessed with the idea of getting away for some winter sun in October but honestly I just grew more and more nervous with the idea of it. Everyone knows that babies are small but their entourage of personal possessions is ridiculous. I didn't fancy trying to cart a breast pump, sleepy head, pram, car seat through airport security or pay £100 just for the basic right to take it all. So I started to look closer to home! Also I love exploring new places in the UK since we got our car. 

A stay-cation is a brilliant idea for new parents. You get to bring all your essentials with you, packed in the car, whilst going to a cottage or rental which has all the rest. There is no dusting, hoovering or washing to be done. There is just time to spend with your new family unit getting to make memories, relax and get used to your new dynamic. Here are my top tips for having the perfect stay-cation. 

What I’ve learnt in my first two weeks back at work

There were so many worries I had whilst I lay in bed on Sunday night. What if I forgotten how to do my job? What if people had forgotten me? What if Eva didn’t take to her new routine? How will I manage the constant juggling between drop offs, pickups and actually doing my job and trying to excel in it? The last month has felt like a countdown to the inevitable so I’ll be honest, I was looking forward to getting it over with. It all felt very real when I packed up my laptop, grabbed my phone and took my little pre made lunch into what once was a changing bag. And you know what, I got through it! Leaving Eva was hard but I knew she was being cared for by the very best people. Here are some things I’ve learnt this week.