Just a quick note to thank my mum and dad for the birthday cake AND unexpected mini chinese buffet this evening. Delish it was. Even after they left none of it went to waste ;)

A Real Birthday Treat

Aren't they beautiful!

Today after work Daddy got to the front door and the first thing he said to me?

Happy birthday? Nope.

The first thing he said to me today was "No, no no! Go into the kitchen, you can't see this." I did as I was told.

I did as I was told, there was a lot of bag rustling and fuss, and he called the girls upstairs with him.

After about ten minutes of waiting, I was then ordered to sit on the sofa. Ok.

Then, slowly but surely my family re-emerged.

First there was J.R, she came running up to me with a box of chocolates in her right hand and a bunch of pink roses in her left. "Happy birthday Mummy!" She exclaimed. It was perfect :)

Then came Baby E.M, with a card in one hand, and ANOTHER bunch of roses - white ones - in the other. I greeted her, she was excited for me...but rather interested in my chocolate too.

Then last but not least, Daddy emerged with A THIRD bunch of roses and another card. Apparently my face was a picture. I was holding three bunches of roses - pink, white and red - they were beautiful, I couldn't stop smiling. I still can't!

And tomorrow night, he's taking me out for dinner and cocktails at TGI Fridays...

A Day To Ourselves

It's my other half's birthday today and for the first time in years he has booked his birthday off. So we both took the day off, (from being Mummy and Daddy) and spent the day chilling out in Brighton while the girls spent their day at Nanny and Grandad's.

I brought my camera - as you do - and we spent time checking out the shops, laughing and joking as we walked along the seafront, eating donuts (he loves those donuts) and making novelty purchases. It was a lovely day but spending time together just being ourselves for once was good enough!

The weather wasn't too cold and the sea wasn't rough either, making for some really nice photos. I couldn't post all of them on here but here are my favourite shots. The first picture was taken around lunchtime and the third in the early evening. The seagull was just me trying out my camera's zoom but it turned out to be a pretty good one!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

xx

To My Gorgeous E.M,

Happy 2nd Birthday baby!

I'll still call you that even though you're not really a baby anymore, you're a big girl. J.R is a big girl and now you're my big girl too!

You have made the transition from crawling to walking and running and are now showing interest in using the potty - thank goodness! And even though i'm so proud of you, both of these accomplishments make me a tiny bit sad at just how fast you're really growing up.

This weekend we had your birthday celebration and I made you an In The Night Garden themed cake. You had a wonderful time opening your presents and were excited by each one. And your smile couldn't have been bigger when you saw that cake! "Look, Iggle Piggle!!" you shouted. You couldn't take your eyes off it and were grinning from ear to ear while we sang you Happy Birthday.

Exactly two years ago I was overjoyed when you entered my life and I feel so incredibly blessed to be celebrating your 2nd year in this world.

Love always, Mummy xox

I'm Two! E.M's Birthday In Pictures

Just a few of all the photos I took on E.M's special day.

Balloons/Opening cards n things/A few pressies/Putting together the present from Mummy & Daddy/Midday nap/Homemade birthday cake/Messy but happy/Crashed at the end of the day

Internet browsing for the Bithday Girl

To save me wasting hours wandering around the town centre with no ideas and then arriving home - still with no ideas, I decided to have a look for potential birthday gifts for my baby girl online. That way i'd be able to save my shortlist and Daddy can go over it when he gets in from work (sounds technical doesn't it).

Anyhoo, here it is MY list of some of the best toys for 2 year olds from Early Learning Centre.*

Puzzle Cubes £10.00

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Let's look at the animals on the cubes. What are their names and what do they sound like? We can put the right one in the square when the voice asks us to. What a clever way to find out all about the different kinds of animals.

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank £15.00

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Press the piggy's snout to hear songs. Teaches colours, counting, animals and sizes. With 10 coins.

Whizz Down Mountain £35.00

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Push the traffic lights to race a car down the mountain road and set off lights and sounds. Press the big red button to send the chunky boulders down behind for a thrilling car chase, again and again.

In The Night Garden Floor Puzzle £8.00

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Build this giant floor puzzle to reveal a scene from In The Night Garden. Big chunky pieces make it perfect for little hands!

Light & Sound Funky Footprints £20.00

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Follow the funky footprints to hear lots of silly sounds and see flashing lights. Count along the numbered steps. Jump and land on the final footprints to get cheers as a reward.

Little Tikes Hide And Slide WAS £129.99 NOW £80.00

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This rugged unit has plenty of features to keep toddlers entertained and is a great way to burn off some of their boundless energy.It is easy to climb and features a wavy gentle slide, wide, multi-level platforms and a secret play area underneath the platform for hide- and-seek games.

Website Exclusive: You won’t find this product instore

*Sign up to the Early Learning Centre's Big Birthday Club and receive a mailing once a year just before your child's birthday. Which includes a little surprise for your child plus a great money off voucher to spend instore, so you can get them something they'll really love! SIGN UP WITH ELC HERE and click My Account to join the Big Birthday Club.

Cue That Upcoming Birthday Madness

"It's my baby's birthday in just over two weeks' time.

She'll be two! So not really a baby anymore huh :(

I'm a little bit anxious as to what's gonna happen at the moment, grandparents are asking me what they should get her, I haven't come up with a design for a cake yet, Daddy has been too busy recently to really properly discuss if we're having a family party. Meal? Day out? And i'm finding it quite difficult to choose just one big present..."

J.R's Birthday - Part 2.

Brighton: Sea, Stones & Gale Force Winds.

As promised, part 2. of J.R's birthday our day-trip to Brighton... and despite the description we all had a really good time.

Just go with the flow as Daddy says!

J.R loved the Sea Life Centre, I hoped she would :)

You should've heard some of the things she said to me, asking really good questions, she was really getting into it, no need for a tour guide!

And even Baby E.M had fun looking through the glass and seeing real fish swim up to her face.

Sea Life was definitely a good choice for both girls, and I would recommend it to anyone.

J.R's Birthday - Part 1.

Tea Party!

It was hard to choose just a few snaps from the 50+ taken

on the day...but here are some of the best of the birthday girl herself.

Lunch

Tea and treats

And changed into our comfy pyjamas for a slice of birthday cake...

It was a good day and J.R certainly enjoyed being the centre of attention!

(J.R's Birthday - Part 2. Coming 23rd March)