Me and You {April}

If I had to pick, I would say this picture is my favourite one of me and Michael - it was the first ever picture taken of us back in 2010 and we were out for my 24th birthday. It was the night that would quite literally change my life.

I met Michael four years ago this month, at work. At the time I was in a relationship with someone else and we were living together. I was so drawn to Michael though. I had this overwhelming feeling that I had to get to know him. I can't explain it and I don't know why. I'm quite a shy person and rarely strike up conversation with people I don't know so there was nobody more shocked than I was when I suddenly felt like I had to talk to him and to get to know him. He started in the same department as I was working and at first we would talk about work and swap stories about customers. Very quickly I felt totally at ease with him and it wasn't long before we were confiding in things we hadn't spoken to other people about and before I knew it, we were 'best buds'

As the weeks went by we were getting on so incredibly well and I felt like I’d known him forever, I was instantly at ease with him and could talk or listen to him talk for hours on end. It wasn’t long before he was all I was thinking about. Our paths had actually crossed for many years as his first job was at a place where a lot of my school friends worked meaning we’ve lots of mutual friends and he used to live with a girl who was in my form in school… Little things like this kept cropping up and I really started to believe that fate had brought us together…

There was just one problem. I was in a relationship and living with someone else at the time. The relationship was on its last legs and had run it’s natural course - me and my ex were living separate lives. It took meeting Michael to realise how unhappy I’d become with my ex and how much I was missing out on. I was 23 and had the weight of the world on my shoulders, I was the breadwinner and did all the housework, cooked all the meals… It was just too much for someone so young.

For my 24^th birthday a big group of us from work all went to town as there was a few other birthday’s as well as mine. It’s still to this day my favourite night out ever and it was the night I realised I’d fallen head over heels for Michael. I’m very fortunate that he felt the same. I knew I couldn’t risk losing him and what we had. So I did what I’d tried to do for a long time and ended my relationship. I had no idea if me and Michael would work out and if he was even ready for a serious relationship, but I knew I’d spent the rest of my days wondering ‘what if’ if I didn’t at least give it a go…

I’m happy to say, I never looked back. After 9 months Michael proposed on his 26^th birthday and I felt on top of the world.

I feel so lucky to have met my soul mate. I never really believe in love at first sight or soul mates before, but as soon as I met Michael there was just something about him and I was drawn to him like I’ve never been with anyone before.

He’s the kindest, most selfless, caring person I know. He isn’t the most romantic and he sometimes doesn’t listen to me, meaning I have to repeat myself over and over again, but I wouldn’t change him for the world. He’s an amazing fiancé and the best Daddy I could wish for to Alfie and I feel so lucky to have him in my life.

We’ve been through a lot in the four years we’ve been together and he’s been an absolute rock to me through really difficult times with my ex over the house we own, but everything life throws at us just makes us stronger. I really don’t think there is anything we couldn’t deal with. We are a team, we each have our roles. I feel very, very lucky that he’s such a hands on Daddy. Alfie absolutely idolises him – as do I.

In August we will get married and I can’t wait to be his wife. I’m so lucky to be marrying my very best friend.

Guilty

On Sunday night, we spent the night in A&E with Alfie. It was truly awful.  

We first noticed him being out of sorts on Saturday tea time. He wouldn’t eat his tea, even though it was his favourite of ish fingers and mushy peas. This isn’t unusual as he is a bit hit and miss with food at the moment because of his teeth, but what was out of character was he was getting quite upset at being offered food or asked to eat. Michael was giving him tea, or at least trying, so when he’d given up, Alfie started to wonder round crying. At one point, he went over and sat in the corner with his back to the living room door and sat there quietly crying on his own. It broke my heart. I went over and scooped him up in to my lap and he never moved. He was actually really warm, so I stripped him off and gave him some calpol to bring his temperature down. That’s when I really knew he wasn’t himself, he was so quiet and looked so sad, which is totally not like him as he’s usually a whirlwind. It was typical that we’d actually planned to go out for the night on Saturday. Michael’s mum had invited us round, along with Michael’s sister and his brother in law, for a meal for her birthday and to all get together without the kids, which we’ve not done for a long time. My Mum and Dad came to babysit Alfie, but he didn’t want anyone other than me. I tried a couple of times to give him to mum so she could give him his milk, but he just cried holding his arms out for me.  

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want Michael to have to go on his own, especially as initially I wasn’t able to go with not having a babysitter but Mum and Dad’s plans changed meaning they could have Alfie. Luckily, Alfie drifted off to sleep in my arms pretty quickly so I put  him down and hoped for the best. As we only live 10 minutes away, I still went knowing I could be back really quickly if I was needed.

We had a great night with Michael’s family. It was nice to all get together and celebrate and be in good spirits. Especially given how hard the last 6 weeks have been with Michael’s dad having a heart attack, followed by a triple heart bypass! To be able to all be together over good food and chat was really lovely.  

I’d text Mum a few times during the evening and they’d not heard a peep out of Alfie, which did make me feel better, but I was still on edge given how clingy he’d been before I left.  

We got home around 11pm and they’d still not heard anything. However, no sooner had they closed the door when leaving that we heard Alfie start sobbing through the monitor. We rushed up and he’d been sick in his cot the poor thing. I took him in to our room and gave him some more calpol as he was on fire. He slept with us that night. Once he’d gone to sleep he didn’t really wake again, but I was on edge all night as he was so hot. I really felt for him.  

Yesterday, I had to work at 8am, so I was up and out before Michael or Alfie were even awake. He woke at about 9.15 and was still warm. I stayed in touch with Michael throughout the morning and he said Alfie was getting better and had perked up loads. When I arrived home just after 12, he was playing with his balloons. However, within the hour, he’d gone rapidly downhill again and was sat snuggling on Daddy’s lap. With it being my Mother in Law’s birthday, Michael had to go out to take her card and present, so me and Alfie stayed home. I’d been asking him to phone NHS direct, but he seemed to think they’d just say keep him topped up with calpol and fluids. When he did try to call as he got to his sisters for his mum’s birthday, they asked him to call back when he was with Alfie. 

Michael left about 3 and no sooner had he gone than Alfie had a screaming fit. He was visibly distressed and in pain. It was awful, totally heartbreaking to see when there was absolutely nothing I could do. It lasted for 10 minutes or so, then he settled back down and drifted off again in my arms. This was pretty much how the rest of our afternoon was. Shortly before Michael got home, Alfie had another crying fit. He wouldn’t leave my knee all afternoon, until Michael got in and he went to Daddy to give me a bit of a break.  

By tea time, his temperature was still high but we couldn’t give him anything as he’d had his 4 doses of calpol in 24 hours. Around 7.30, I’d asked Michael to call NHS direct again because Alfie had now had a temperature for over 24 hours and within an hour it’d gone from 37.6 up to 38.1. The NHS Direct staff were helpful and offered to get a doctor to call back within the hour. The doctor’s call came around 7.45pm and he wanted us to take Alfie in, but couldn’t get us an appointment until 10.30pm that night. I told Michael there was no way I was getting Alfie out at that time as it wasn’t fair on him and they’d said there was no guarantee how long we’d have to wait cos they were really busy.  

We decided to take him to A&E. When we arrived I was so disheartened to see the wait time was 2 hours! Alfie, bless him was an absolute angel. Despite being so poorly, out of his routine and in a bright and busy hospital, he never moaned once and just sat on our knee’s the whole time. He drifted off to sleep about 10pm. As I sat there holding him, I started to cry. I felt so incredibly guilty that we’d left it so long before getting him seen. I felt like I’d failed him. As I sat there holding him, tears falling, Michael did all he could to assure me we’d done the right thing because we may well have been turned away if we’d taken him before his temperature had been raised for 24 hours. Whilst I understood what he was saying, I still couldn’t stop myself feeling so terrible. Why had we left it so long? Why didn’t we bring him in the afternoon as soon as Michael got back? Why had I left it til bedtime and then dragged him to a hospital that was too hot, too bright, too noisy for my poor little boy. The guilt was almost unbearable.  

We finally got seen at 10.40pm Alfie did not like the doctor one bit and literally screamed the place down. He was over tired having barely slept all weekend. He was poorly and he had this strange man prodding and poking him sticking things in his ears and forcing him to open his mouth.  

The doctor diagnosed him with tonsillitis. I was relieved that we knew what it was. The frustrating thing was that the doctor didn’t seem 100% sure with his diagnosis. He wanted to send us to the Children’s GP. By this time it was 11pm and there was no way in the World I was going to make my poor boy wait longer than he had too. I was also aware that Michael had work the next morning. The GP didn’t really instil me with confidence. He seemed more concerned about us complaining about him misdiagnosing Alfie than what was best for him – which in my opinion was getting him home and to bed to rest.  

We were finally given amoxicillin. I just wanted to get my poor baby home. None of us had eaten tea. Michael and I had just picked all day with us seeing to Alfie so we were all exhausted.  

We got him at 11.30 and Alfie was full of beans. Totally got his 2^nd wind. As late as it was, I was just relieved to see a little glimpse of my boy back. At 1.30 he finally gave up and went to sleep.

He’s been better today, although still not himself, but we’re on the road to recovery. I can honestly say it’s been one of the most awful experiences and I really did feel like I’d failed him. 

I’m just so thankful that I had Michael by my side. Whilst I sat there silently crying and cradling Alfie in my arms, he was the one who held my hand and told me it would be ok. Despite not having much sleep all weekend, he still got up extra early this morning so he could go to the chemist and pick Alfie’s medicine up before going to work. He’s looked after Alfie tonight so I could come to work then I didn’t get marked as absent and I still got paid. He’s an absolute rock and Alfie and I are so very lucky to have him.  

Here’s hoping my boy will be back to his usual self sooner rather than later. I miss all the mischief he causes and his cheeky grins and having a conversation with him.  

Being a parent is hard. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 

                                                                        From L-R:

                                                  Red hot cheeks and looking very poorly

                                                  Fallen asleep in Mummy's arms

                                                  Cuddles with Daddy at the hospital

                                                  The morning after the night before

                                           

 

19 Weeks

In 19 weeks, I will become Mrs Bradbury. I’ve dreamed of having the big white wedding since being a little girl… don’t all girls dream of this? It feels quite surreal that in 20 weeks I will be walking down that aisle to marry my best friend and we will be man and wife and I will get my happy ever after.

 

There is just one thing holding me back from being excited and allowing myself to daydream about the big day, of twirling round the dance floor in my beautiful wedding gown… and that is my weight.

 

This battle has been ongoing since having Alfie 19 months ago. I’m not very good at eating healthily – not because I don’t want too, but because there are very few fruits and almost no veg that I like. When Alfie was 5 months old I joined slimming world. Getting on the scales that first time, I could have cried when the numbers flashed up in front of me. It was the heaviest I’d ever been. Ironically, even though I love everything that is bad for me, during my pregnancy, I craved everything which was good. I started eating more fruit and I watched what I ate. It wasn’t until the last couple of months that I started to gain weight in places other than my belly. I developed a mild form of SPD, so I had to rest which didn’t help when I was at home for 5 weeks.

 

I was determined when I joined Slimming World that I was going to shed the weight. When I got my half stone award, I was so pleased as it had been relatively easy. I’d lost 1lb almost every week. My Mum was joining me at the classes and it gave me a real boost having that morale support. I continued with the classes for about 3 months until I went back to work after maternity. The job I’d be starting meant that I would be working 2 full days a week and one of the days was on a Thursday, which is when I went to group. This meant I’d be working from 8.30am-5pm. Getting in about 5.45 then I’d have to be back out at 6.50 for group. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sacrifice that extra hour and a half with Alfie after being away from him all day at work. Although I enjoyed being back in a working environment and having adult conversation, I missed Alfie terribly. By this point, my Mum had already decided it wasn’t for her and had left group. This only added to my decision to quit too. The last thing I wanted was to feel guilty for leaving Alfie at bedtime, after not being with him all day, and to sit in a class on my own. So the week before my birthday last year, I told my consultant, I was leaving too. It was hard and I was gutted but I just couldn’t find a way I could make it work. Alfie was only just 9 months and I missed him terribly when I had to go to work, so group just seemed like a luxury and it was one I was willing to sacrifice for time with my precious boy.

 

In hindsight, it was probably the worst decision I’ve ever made. I fell off the wagon and didn’t do very well at sticking to plan once I wasn’t going to class. I didn’t put all the weight back on, but I have put a 3lbs back on since leaving. Which in a year I don’t think is that bad.

 

My biggest weakness is weekends. I’m quite healthy during the week and I always make home cooked meals but as soon as Michael finishes work and gets home on Friday, I just want to binge on junk and we’ve renamed Friday nights ‘nacho nights’ and we’ll share a plate of nacho’s whilst watching a film. It’s what I look forward to all week.

 

Since leaving slimming world, I’ve tried to be healthier and exercise, but if truth be told I’m just not a fan of working out. With having Alfie, I don’t have any time to go to the gym or trying to going jogging / running as I work til lunch, then I’ve got Alfie every afternoon. When Michael gets home we eat tea together and when it’s Alfie’s bath time, I clear up the tea things and his toys, or sometimes just relax if I’ve had a particularly stressful day.

 

Enough is enough.

 

I can’t keep making excuses. I recently discovered the bootea teatox on Twitter, so thought I’d give it ago. Michael wasn’t overly happy as he thought it was just another fad I wouldn’t stick too. At the end of the 14 days, I’d lost 3.5lbs.  I was gutted it wasn’t more, although pleased it was a loss. I hadn’t changed my diet too much (I’d just cut out red meat as it contains toxins which the bootea is working to flush out of your system) so I switched it to chicken / turkey or fish. I enjoyed the bootea so much, that I ordered my 2^nd lot and I’m really enjoying it. I feel better in myself. I don’t feel as sluggish or bloated. It really is great stuff and I really recommend it.

 

I’m making a vow that I am going to change and I am going to fit into my wedding dress (which I’ve ordered in my pre baby size – just one dress size smaller than what I am now). I’m going to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, I’m going to drink more water, I’m going to find a veg that I like and eat it, I’m going to make salads more fun rather than having the same things all the time.

 

I AM GOING TO DO THIS!

 

I cannot keep feeling the way I do. I feel miserable, I’m so unhappy. I could cry every time I look in the mirror. I cover up in baggy clothes all the time. I want to feel good about myself again, I want to be happy and healthy. I don’t want every spare minute I have to myself to be consumed by thoughts of how fed up I am with my weight, or how much I dislike myself for my weight.  Most of all, I want to be fit and healthy for Alfie’s sake (and for any future children we may have).

 

I’ve no doubt in my mind that it’s going to be a long hard slog for the next four months but my motivation needs to be walking down the aisle in my beautiful dress to marry my best friend and being able to wear a bikini on honeymoon and feel better about myself.

 

This is one challenge I’m ready for.

 

Once I'm back to looking how I do in this picture, I will be over the moon!

19 Months Old

To my beautiful boy, 

Another month has flown by and it’s hard to believe we are already in April. Your 1^st birthday only seems like yesterday.

This month has seen you grown and learn so much. You are now saying so many words and will do your best to have conversations with us and you’ve become very good at telling us what you want and what you don’t want – such as to go to sleep in your cot!

I’m so proud of you this month. I am every month, but this month really feels like you have become more of a little boy and I love watching you grow and learn. You are really learning so much on a daily basis now. I can’t even list all the words you can say as there are just so many. When we talk to you, you’ll repeat at least one word from every sentence. I’m so excited for you to start putting sentences together. I love hearing your little voice and you’ve learned to say night night, so every night before you have your milk you will give me or Daddy a kiss and tell us night night. It’s just the most lovely thing!

This month has been lovely for you and Daddy and you’ve been his shadow. Always shouting Daddy and wondering where he is and you don’t leave him alone from the minute he comes home. You’ve started to go for a walk every night to the chickens as soon as he has finished his tea. We are quite fortunate in that there is a farm just up the road, so it's not too far for you to walk and it's become your favourite thing to do. So much so, Daddy doesn't get a minute to himself from walking in the door all the way through eating his tea as you constantly go over and grab his hand and tell him 'go go' or 'side' (outside). 

Sleep has been a bit hit and miss again. Last week, you were so tired in the afternoon's that you fell asleep in my arms at every nap time. You usually sleep in your pram, so having you sleeping in my arms was bliss as it rarely happens these days. I held on to you tight and cherished every minute. I keep meaning to start making you nap in your cot, but it's just something we've never got in to the habit of, and I quite like having you downstairs where I can keep an eye on you, but I'm thinking I may need to start trying sooner rather than later. At bedtimes, you have been ok going down after your milk, but we've had a few wake up's in the early hours and have been up to you quite a few times on various nights. I don't know what causes you to wake, be it your teeth, bad dreams? I'm not sure, but it's really hard on Mummy and Daddy. I am soft so if you hold your arms up to me when I come in to settle you back down, I will pick you up and very often you will end up in our bed, whereas your Daddy is very strict with you and won't bring you in to bed with us. You do seem to settle easier for your Daddy though. 

Your Grandad is getting better after his heart attack but he still can't drive and Nan is doing a good job looking after you 4 morning's a week and Holly for 2 afternoon's. To give Nan a bit of a break, for one morning a week for about 3 weeks, you've been to Nana and Papa's and they've looked after you to give Nan and Grandad a break. I've really loved that they've been able to do this and help out because I'm very aware that because your Nan and Grandad look after you while I work, I worry that my Mum and Dad don't get a lot of quality time alone with you. So although the circumstances haven't been the best, I have loved that you've been able to have one on one time with your Nana and Papa too. 

You seem to have developed an obsession for balloons and you go absolutely crazy for them and get ever so excited when we get them out for you. You love them so much that Nana even bought some to keep at their house and every time you go now you head straight to the chair as you know they are behind there. I have never seen a toddler get so much enjoyment from balloons. You will spend ages throwing them all up in the air and catching them and squealing and chasing after them. Nana sent me a video of you doing it at their house, and it's so funny. 

We took you on your 1st trip away last weekend. We went to a place called Shap in the Lake District and you had an absolute ball. You were genuinely excited by everything and you loved going on a walk round the nature trail which was in the grounds of the hotel. It was wonderful to watch you explore and be so excited over being somewhere new. You were an absolute joy whilst we were there - although you did wake up in the middle of the night and didn't go back to sleep for about 2 hours, meaning Mummy and Daddy were very tired the next morning. Apart from that blip though, you were such a good boy and you made my heart burst. 

This month will see your second Easter and I'm already planning to do a little Easter egg hunt for you. I know you won't understand it or what is going on and you will probably be more interested in the 'choc choc' but I do want to make it special for you and get you a little Easter bunny or maybe a duckling. Your favourite show is still bananas in pyjamas and in one episode, there's a duck called Peck so when you see your bath toys you shout Peck, so I think it'd be lovley for you to have a cuddly Peck :)

I love you all the world Alfie George. 

Thank you for being mine. 

All my love, 

Mummy 

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Our First Trip Away

Our 1^st trip away… 

A few weeks ago, Michael surprised me by telling me he’d booked an overnight stay for us in the Lake District in a place called Shap. Before Alfie came along, we had quite a few mini breaks to places such as York, Southport and we stayed with family in the Isle of Man. We visited all of these places on a few occasions and really loved them, so when Michael told me we were going away, I was really looking forward to being able to take Alfie with us and him have his first trip in a hotel and to go somewhere new. 

We foolishly left the packing until the morning we went, thinking as we were only there for one night, we wouldn’t really need that much. You forget how much stuff toddlers do actually need! We ended up leaving much later than we planned, but it actually worked out really well as Alfie napped the majority of the way there. 

We arrived at 2pm and the hotel was in the middle of nowhere! There was nothing around us at all! Panic set in cos I was worried about being able to entertain Alfie for all that time with nothing around and he’s not great at travelling in cars as he gets bored and doesn’t like being restricted in his car seat, so I didn’t want to be cooped up in the car whilst we found somewhere to go. When we arrived at reception, the lady told us we were too early to check in so to go to the bar where we would get complimentary afternoon tea. The guy who brought this over tried to balance too many things on the table and as such, Michael’s plate fell off the table. His instinct was to try to catch it, which resulted in the food spilling all over his arm and down his jeans and all over the floor. The guy serving us mumbled an apology and told Michael to leave the food on the floor, which we did, expecting them to clean it up. Another plate of food was brought out to us, but the spilled food was left on the floor, meaning we couldn’t put Alfie down. Not the easiest when one of his favourite words is ‘down’ and he likes to be independent and explore. 

Once we’d finished afternoon tea, we took Alfie outside for a bit of a walk about as in the ground of the hotel were lots of streams and waterfalls and bridges over the water. Alfie was in his element walking and running everywhere. It was lovely to see him so excited. The weather was pretty miserable, as you can see from the photo’s but I tried not to let it dampen the mood. 

At 3pm we went to check in to our room and I was really impressed as it was lovely and really spacious. Alfie again was in his element running around everywhere and up and down. When he found the toilet he started shouting ‘wee wee’ on top note. Which is rather cute. We let him run riot for a while in the room whilst we had a cup of tea and sorted some bits out before going for a walk. In the grounds of the hotel, there is a nature trail where you can sometimes see red squirrels. The walk was actually really lovely as there was more streams, waterfalls, bridges to walk over. All I was thinking all the way round was I have to get my April me and mine photo here. Lo and behold though, my batteries had died in my camera and I didn’t have spares, so I planned to take them on the Saturday…

With Alfie usually eating around 5.30ish, we decided to eat out and skip the meal in the hotel (they were also charging £21 per head which I thought was a little steep for just one course). We had a drive in to the local town and found a chippy where we decided to eat. Alfie was so well behaved. Usually when we’ve taken him out recently he’s started to play up simply because he doesn’t like being strapped in to high chairs or the pram and he wants to walk or get down and be able to be free, so I was really pleased, not to mention relieved when he was as good as gold. 

Back at the hotel later on, they didn’t have a bath which was a bit of a problem as part of Alfie’s routine is we bath him every night. We decided to give him a shower instead though and it was the most fun Alfie had all day. He absolutely loved it and was so excited, waving his hands everywhere and trying to catch the water. It was fantastic to watch him so happy and excited. 

Michael and I had a lovely quiet evening. He popped down to the bar for a pint and left me in the room with Alfie and I sat in silence reading and it was lovely. I used to be really into reading and I would read at least a few books a month, but since becoming a Mummy and it being so easy to access social media via or phone’s or tablets, actually sitting reading a book is something of a luxury these day, so it was one I really enjoyed for that 30 minutes I was alone with a sleeping toddler.

 During the night, Alfie woke and wouldn't settle back for another 2 hours. Me and Michael were exhausted and took it in turns trying to settle him but to no avail. Finally at 2.30 after being awake since 11.55pm, we finally got some sleep. Saturday morning was a bit of a rush as we didn’t realise breakfast was only served until 9.30 and cos we’d been up half the night, we only got up at 8.30. Then we couldn’t find the room key so had a frantic 20 minutes looking for it. Michael had actually left it in the outside of the door when he’d come back the night before. I’m just glad I put the chain on the door once I’d let him back in ! Men eh! 

Saturday was a total wash out weather wise and the photo’s I’d wanted to take were impossible because the trail was a big muddy mess and it was raining too. I was absolutely gutted. Where we were was so picturesque. We all got in the car and belted up just as there was a break in the clouds, so we jumped out of the car and found a spot on the path in front of the stream which wasn’t a mud pit, I set my timer and dashed back down the embankment and we managed to get our me and mine photo. It’s not the best effort, and I’d got a really good idea of what I wanted to do, but I’ll have to save that for another time. 

All in all, despite not getting off to the best of starts and the weather not being on side, we had a lovely time and it was so nice to get away just the 3 of us with literally no contact with the outside world. It made it so worthwhile seeing Alfie have so much fun and being able to explore the nature trail freely.

It’s made me ever so excited for when we go on honeymoon as Alfie will be with us J

Me and Mine {March}

Me and Mine - March

 March has been a funny old month. At the end of February, my father in law had a heart attack which then led to him having open heart surgery and being in hospital for 2 weeks. As you can imagine, this was really tough on all the family.

The first couple of weeks in March were a bit of a blur of working, visiting hospital's, taking it in turns to look after Alfie around working (my in-laws have Alfie 4 morning's a week whilst I work) and trying to stay positive. Alan is back home and on the mend now but he's still got a long way to go.

At the back of my mind each weekend during March has been my 'Me & Mine' photo. There just never seemed to be the perfect time to take it and the weather hasn't really been on our side at the weekends. So last weekend after I'd got in from work and we were just getting ready to go out for the afternoon, I found the perfect opportunity to balance my camera on the sideboard and set it to self timer and I managed to snap these photo's of the three of us in our little home and you know what, I love them. They perfectly capture us as a family, a three, all snuggled up which we do as often as Alfie will sit still for long enough ;)

I'm by no means perfect at taking photo's and I've a heck of a lot to learn, but I'm just glad that I'm managing to capture a picture of the three of us every month. (Even if I do post it late). I really must learn how to use my camera!

We are away in the Lake District for an over night stay this weekend and I'm praying that the weather is on side so I can get a picture of us in the great outdoors.

I'm so pleased Lucy opened this linky as it really does make me remember every month that I must get a photo of the 3 of us. I know it is something which will be treasured and looked back on for many years to come.