Are you having any more children?

There are many questions that you may get asked as a parent, but some of the more popular questions or remarks to me are…

‘A boy and a girl? You won’t be wanting any more then.’ (V. annoying! Why do people assume, even if it may be true?!)

‘So are you planning on having any more then?’

Don’t get me wrong, I have been guilty of asking the second question. Let’s face it, you’re interested and it’s a good way to start up a conversation. I don’t mind being asked the question.

What I find slightly irksome is feeling that I have to fully justify my reasons for my answer. Being asked the question 2 minutes after Baby B was born ended up with me replying, ‘I’ve only just given birth! Let me get over that first!’

Then as time went on, I thought about it a lot. I’m probably erring more on the side or not having any more. I usually just give a very ambiguous answer if anyone asks me now. Something about the house being too small or not having enough money to get a bigger car, etc, etc. Why do I feel guilty about (shock, horror!) just not wanting any more children?

I suppose that’s not quite true. If money was absolutely no object then, yes, I could see myself having maybe 1 more child. If we could afford a big house and people carrier and I could drive then the logistics of having more children doesn’t seem so scary.

But in my heart, I’m happy with the two beautiful children I have (occasionally 3 when Lady S is around).  It’s nice and equal (something I crave!) having 2 girls and 2 boys in the house. We seem to balance each other out.

B and I can do girly things and W and S do boy things. Likewise, S and I can have a good mummy/son cuddle on the sofa in front of the TV whilst B is snuggled up to the main man in her life – her daddy! And long may it stay that way…

W and I have tentatively discussed the topic. Luckily, we both seem to be on the same wavelength and we’ve even talked about getting rid of all the baby stuff piled to the rafters in the attic. I need my sister to hurry up and have a baby because I have given her first refusal!

I’m also looking forward to having to pay less childcare, getting my body (and boobs) back, helping out at preschool when B starts and eventually a holiday to Florida when B is at least 5 (if we can EVER afford it!). I don’t think I can face going through another few years of nappies, puke and poo!

So are you having any more children? You knew I was going to ask didn’t you?!

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While you’re here, if you fancy winning some fantastic toys from brands such as Silver Cross, Argos, Tomy and The Early Learning Centre then please head over to The Great Toy Guide for details of our Great Toy Giveaway!

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I’d also like to say a big, big thank you to Make Do Mum for designing my blog header and logo. Please check out her blog, she is fantastic!! xxx

It’s nearly Christmas!

At work last week, Christmas songs had started coming on the radio, the lights are on in our town and my son has started asking me if it’s Christmas yet…every day!

He is also wanting to know exactly what Father Christmas is doing now. I think he’s trying to get his head around Santa getting toys ready for all the children in the world and then delivering them all in one night. I’m trying to think of enough explanations to keep him happy until Christmas actually is here!

This year is really exciting for us because Little S is actually aware of Christmas and what it’s all about. Last year, it didn’t really sink in and opening lots of presents was an added bonus. Baby B will be a lot more interested this year too. I can’t wait to see their faces on Christmas day.

I’ve been asked what my ‘Christmas rules’ are  for John Lewis’ ‘Rules for a perfect family Christmas’. Really we don’t have rules per se, more traditions. Some I have carried on from when I was young and others are new especially for our family. The main things we do are EAT, DRINK and HAVE FUN!!! So here are our family rules…

Children

• I want my children to learn the meaning of Christmas and it’s origins, even though we’re not religious. I don’t want them thinking it’s just an excuse to get lots of presents.
• When the children are a bit older, I’m going to start a Christmas toy giveaway and ask them to choose one toy to give to charity, so they learn that there are some children who don’t have as many toys as them at Christmas time.
• They can open their stocking presents with us when they get up (at a reasonable time!), but must be dressed before opening the tree presents.
• They take it in turns to open presents to make sure we can film them and take pictures.
• Other than this they can pretty much go wild – it’s only once a year!

Christmas Meal

• We have a turkey crown (no bones!) from the local butchers and organic veg that my parents get delivered.
• We must also have stuffing, pigs in blankets, sprouts and gravy.
• I make a Christmas cake and mince pies and we buy a Christmas pudding to have with homemade brandy butter (just for the adults!)
• Everyone has to pull a cracker, tell the joke, marvel at whatever’s inside and put their hat on for dinner! It’s more fun that way.
• We make lots of food, eat it all and feel fat for the rest of the day!

Family

• I usually go to my parents on Boxing Day with the children for present opening while W goes and stays with his Mum for the night. That way we get to see our own family.

Entertainment

• We always buy a Christmas TV paper so I can organise our Christmas TV viewing.
• We watch as many Christmas films and children’s Christmas specials as we can fit in! I love sitting in with the kids, all cosy on the sofa :)
• We play lots of board games around Christmas which usually ends up with us playing Scrabble every night after Christmas, until it tapers off sometime in January (when W gets fed up of losing to me!)

Decorations

• Decorations go up as early as possible :)
• We have a tree which I decorate in traditional colours. No fancy black and purple decs for me! We have some special decorations for the children with their names on.
• We also have various decorations that go around the room and some tacky ones for the ceiling which I LOVE!
• I’m a bit like Monica from Friends when it comes to decorations! It takes me ages and they have to be put up in a certain way. Under no circumstances can anyone touch them once they’re up! I also go round to my parents and move their decs if I don’t think they’re right! Yes I am neurotic!

So there you have it, our family traditions. What are yours?

*This is a sponsored post*

You Are Not Alone – for Great Ormond Street Hospital

When Emily from Brits in Bosnia asked me to write about this worthy cause, I didn’t hesitate in saying yes.

If, like me, you have been watching the X Factor recently, you will know that the finalists (yes, that includes Jedward!) have released a single, a cover version of Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone, with all profits being donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Just to know that sick children are being helped makes me want to buy the single right now…

If you want to find out why Great Ormond Street Hospital needs your support please see Oscar’s video. Anyone who watched X Factor on Sunday night will know that Oscar really was the star of the show!

Thousands of children just like Oscar, who really is an inspiration to us all, need the help of the amazing staff at GOSH and this single will help sick children from across the UK to get better. Some of the patients of Great Ormond Street Hospital appear in the official music video launched with the single on Sunday night.

Great Ormond Street Hospital are asking for everyone’s support in helping this single make the number one spot this weekend. Sony are donating all profits from the sale of the single and a number of retailers are also very kindly donating all their profits from the sale of the single (find out which ones by clicking here). Please ask everyone you know to buy/download this single now – it doesn’t cost much but every single bought will make an incredible difference to the sickest children in the UK right now.

**This isn’t a sponsored post, I just wanted to blog about a worthy cause at the request of a fellow blogger :)**