Living arrows 4/52

This weeks Living Arrows. We've got out and about in the past week and done some new exploring. Jaxon is now getting his confidence when walking with shoes on outside so even though it is ridiculously cold right now, we wrapped up warm and took to the park. He donned his reigns and had a lovely winter walk, chasing pigeons and trekking across the muddy grass, he loved it! We also tried a new café/soft play which had Jaxon in his absolute element. He ran himself ragged until lunchtime where we sat and had a sandwich and then went home and he had a lovely long nap! Bliss! Definitely on the cards again for this week!
I am loving this new independence my baby has where we can actually go out and do things together, rather than him just being in the pram, he can actually get out and have fun. I know he's loving it too, just look at that little face!

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” Kahlil Gibran

What weekends were made for

This weekend we have no set plans. Just pure family time. Priceless. So far the kids have been swimming with their dad whilst I caught up with college work and some chores and other then that we have just chilled out! Tonight has been an old school Saturday night with a yummy dinner and Saturday night telly. We love ITVs Ninja Warrior in our house so we all sat down to watch that together and then the new series of The voice started!
Tomorrow I think I'll take the kids to the local park and take a power walk with them around the fields to get some exercise in and hopefully boost my weightloss this week. My goal is to be able to run around that park one day! I'm gonna cook  a yummy Sunday dinner and play with the kids Christmas toys all afternoon.

Weekends were made for family! How have you spent yours?

Mrs H x

A Letter to my Children

Tyler, Sophie and Jaxon,

Words can never express the way that Mama loves you. Both individually and as a whole. All 3. You make me the lady that I am today. Through laughter and crazyness to upset and stress. Every single part of you all, and every single moment of the day I Love you.

Tyler, my first born, my introduction to another world that is Motherhood. You sweet sensitive loving soul. One day you will make a wonderful husband (if I approve that is) and a wonderful Father, please god. You have all the gifts that a boy should have, from jumping up and down being a ninja to calmly drawing and reading in the incredibly artistic way that you do.

Sophie, my angel, my only princess. You amaze me. You're enthusiastic about every thing that you do and I love that you are such a "busy little woman". The way you copy your big brother and kickbox with daddy or spend hours bouncing a football in the hallway. To the way you dress up, do my hair and make up and play princesses. What a beautiful mix you are.

Jaxon, my baby boy. Littlest man of the lot. You complete us. Only 5 months old and already see some of your older siblings fabulous characteristics in you. Such a happy boy. Everytime you smile you melt Mama's heart even more so than before. I cannot wait to watch you grow and see you learn.

You are my inspiration, my babies, and nothing will ever come close. I love you all with all that I am and all I will ever be.

To the moon and the stars.

Your Mama.

Controlled Crying - Does it work?

I've seen a few vloggers on YouTube approach the subject of "controlled crying" and give their thoughts and opinions on it. Right or wrong? So I thought I'd give my view.
Controlled crying is basically a method of "sleep training" whereby you leave your child to cry for 5 minutes at a time, and then you go in and settle them down again. If they are still crying you leave them a little longer each time. This supposedly works a treat. I however tried it but just couldn't deal with it. I'm a big believer on comforting children as much as they need. In saying that my first born I made a rod for my own back, by rocking him to sleep!! Eventually I tried the controlled crying but couldn't handle listening to my baby crying (as I would be crying too, and it was too much upset just to get him to go to sleep on his own)  so we ended up teaching him to self settle with soft music playing and that really worked for us. I have had 2 babies since and have never tried controlled crying again!!