Deep and Meaningful Conversations with Grace...

I love my chats with Grace. Yes, sometimes we don't always agree and she can present a challenging debate but one thing is sure - conversations with my 14 month old baby girl are always fun :)

Example:

Me: "Grace, tell mummy, what does the big cow say?"
Grace: " 'Moo'!
Me: "Grace, tell mummy, what does the big lion say?"
Grace: 'Rrrroar'
Me: "Good girl". Now tell mummy, what does the wee birdie say?"
Grace: 'Moo!"
Me: " No, the wee birdie doesn't say 'Moo'. The wee birdie says 'Cheep, cheep'.

Daddy walks into the room.

Daddy: "Grace, tell daddy, what does mummy say?"
Grace: "Moo!"
Daddy: "Exactly Grace! Well done!"

"Ta ta, ta ta...."

"Ta ta, ta ta".
"Ta ta, ta ta".

A little finger points towards the cupboard where the biscuits are stored.

"Ta ta, ta ta".
"Ta ta, ta ta".

And she gets louder and more feisty with each "Ta, ta"!

And I really have to fight the urge to give into her beautiful "Ta ta, ta ta's".

This is an adorable time in her life. x

Robb family ancestry

In the last few weeks I've taken a real interest in my own family history. My father's grandfather died at the Somme during WW1. He really wants to go and visit his memorial at Thiepval and I'm working hard on making that happen for him next summer.

I'm going to write down what I've learnt so far...it is not hard to do this research. The internet is a wonderful resource as are the online Census forms from 1901 and 1911.

The Robb family have been living in Randalstown for two centuries (probably longer). I've managed to date back as far as 1841. Hugh Robb was born (my great great grandfather). He was an only child - his father was also Hugh (my great great great grandfather).

My great great grandfather, Hugh Robb married Anne (Nancy) Wilson. They had four children - Patrick Robb (1883), Terence Robb (1885), John Robb (1887) and Mary Jane Robb (1888). Terence Robb was my great grandfather. According to the 1901 census, they lived at house 9, Maghereagh, Randalstown. According to the census this was a one room dwelling.

Terence married Elizabeth Fitzpatrick and they had five children - Terence Robb, Hugh Robb, Henry (Harry) Robb, Leo Robb (my grandfather) and Elizabeth Robb.

Unfortunately, Terence was killed in action during WW1. He was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. On the 4th September 1916 he was killed in battle at the Somme. My grandfather would not have been just one year old when his father died. Below is a copy of my great grandfathers details. He is remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15 A.

Memorial to Terence Robb at Thiepval

My grandfather married Kathleen McAnespie and they had 9 children including my father Leo Robb.

And the rest as they say is history! There is a lot more work to be done but this is a nice start. If anyone has any further information or can tell me if some of the information is not accurate I would be very grateful :) x

The Nursery

My favourite past time before Grace was born was picking out items for the nursery. I didn't know if I was going to have a boy or a girl so I kept everything neutral. I didn't buy the curtains until after the baby was born - this was going to be my way of introducing the pinks or blues :)

Every now and again when I was pregnant I would walk into the nursery and spend 5 mins looking at the cot or rearranging teddy bears. Sometimes I would turn the musical mobile on. I was always filled with lots of emotion in the room. I just couldn't wait to bring my little baby home.

This is the nursery as it is today. Nothing much has changed. I bought the cot and bedding from 'Babies R Us', the curtains from 'Next' and the wall prints from 'Dunelm Mill'. All of these stores carry really beautiful nursery ranges.

Little handprints

We got these handprints done just before Grace's first birthday. I hope they will be a lovely keepsake for her as the years go on. x

Her little hands play patty-cake
they play peek-a-boo and wave...
They catch her while she learns to walk
and splash her as she bathes.
Her little hands reach up to me,
for hugs before she sleeps....
and fold together when I pray
the Lord her soul to keep.
Her little hands are tiny now
but mine will serve to guide her ...
And when she's grown she'll still reach out
and know we're right beside her ...

Yes, my name is Iggle Piggle......

I have really grown to love this little character. His name is Iggle Piggle and baby Grace is crazy about him and his friends. I am amazed at how she focuses her entire attention on the programme they feature on 'In the Night Garden'. At the beginning I didn't get him but slowly I grew really fond of him. The show begins by showing Iggle Piggle drifting of to sleep in his little boat. And from that point on I am hooked. The combination of the imagery and the music gets me every time! He is adorable.

My husband picked up a life sized Iggle Piggle teddy bear (as shown at the top) in Argos last week. We are going to keep it as part of Grace's Christmas present. I cannot wait to see her reaction when we give it to her.

Below is a short video of little Grace's excitement at watching Iggle Piggle - I love this very cute floor dance that she does. She is crazy about music! x

Body Changes - One Year Post Baby

When I found out I was pregnant I remember vividly my mum and sisters commenting that it would be an end to my "good figure"! Now don't get me wrong - in my opinion the "good figure" was never anything worth talking about! I've more or less always come in as a size 12, my stomach was always fairly flat (and trust me, it was not the result of vigourous exercise) and I'm tall, so if I put on a few extra pounds over Christmas I generally got away with it.

When I was pregnant I gained 25lbs so I didn't have too much weight to lose after I had my 10lb baby! And with the stress and exhaustion of having a new baby in the house the extra few pounds fell away without me really noticing.

However, there has been one body change that will not fix itself. Any time I put on a few pounds now, it gathers and sits above my hips :(

There is no hiding it and no trousers or jeans will disguise it.

To fix this I think I would have to exercise. And I don't mean going for a few walks - this requires serious muscle toning! There is also the option to leave it as it is, to embrace it.

Like every person, I've always had some body hang ups, but when I was pregnant I was at complete ease with my body...my hair had a lovely shine, my skin glowed and I loved the ever changing shape of my tummy. I really loved my pregnant body.

And do you know what - a huge part of me secretly loves my new post baby shape - I'm proud of it. These subtle body changes are the result of producing my precious baby. That wobbly bit of fat above my hips proclaims my motherhood in the fullest sense (excuse the pun!).

So for the moment, I will be proud of my wibbly wobblies and be happy with the body I live in. x