Paris Baby!

As you'l have seen over on instagram this week, we were lucky enough to take our little squidge to the French capital. Thats right, our little girl had her passport to Paris!

 Elin's uncle completed a charity cycle ride from London to Paris and what better excuse did we need? We took a drive down to Dover, ferry ride ad more driving to get to the finish line before Uncle Matt! As we were cutting it pretty fine and the cycling team set off almost three

hour earlier then planned it really did feel like an episode of top gear getting to the trocadero before the cyclists! But we made it, with a nappy change to spare!

While James and I are no stranger to l-o-o-o-o-ng journeys (2000 mile road trip through Europe in my first trimester anyone?) I was pretty anxious about the journey with regards to little Elin. However we're super keen to not have to give up travelling despite being parents and this was a great start. Plus this little girl of our is gonna be a super baby explorer and visit some cracking places in her childhood. What better start than Paris? Though she'll never remember, it was a wonderful trip for us. I came away exceptionally proud of our little egg who was an absolute star! We got ridiculously lucky having a baby who is so amenable and we made the most of it that weekend.

It was stupidly hot in Paris and Elin bless her spent the weekend wondering around the capital in her sun hat, nappy, knickers (an essential!) and a cool muslin around her shoulders. I'd packed a good dozen outfits for her but in that heat the best thing she wore was her sun cream. We also gave her lots of nappy off time every time we rested and I will have to tell her when shes older how she's had her lady bits out all over Paris! She was also a big fan of fine dining, enjoying a boob at some of Europe's biggest most famous landmarks! Nothing like lunch with a view, right ;)

I'm lucky enough to have spent a good amount of time in Paris on various trips throughout the last few years and feel like I'v seen quite a bit. So rather than struggling to cram everything in we more or less just enjoyed each others company in the presence of some pretty spectacular architecture. We took in the Eiffel tower, the louvre and Notre Damn, took beautiful long walks through some parisian parks and past fountains and spent the evening ambling along the Seine. It was a pretty relaxed trip by our standards but that worked really well for our family. And relaxing in Paris is already a thousand times more exciting than back in the UK.

You'll notice in pretty much all the photos Elin has her tongue out! She's just discovered it and apparently having it waggling is just the most fun thing ever. I can't blame her. If you realied you had this thing in your mouth for the first time you'd be pretty keen to show it off too! I sort of think its adorable. Even though since being a mummy I'v put far more thought into Elin's outfits than my own I still wanted to look somewhat pulled together. I had to pack pretty light but really enjoed wearing these pieces, which felt a little Parisian in their own right.

Elin's next big adventure will be to Santorini for our honeymoon, and even though she'll be that much older and everything will have changed and be a totally different ball game, this weekend trip does give me some more confidence! Where have you taken you babies? Any trips you've learned along the way? I'd love to share some stories.

Love, Tess

On Father's day we had a wonderful first meeting with the photographer who'l be shooting our wedding in September! We traveled down to Dawlish and took some test photos which we were so incredibly excited to get back this week. We were lucky enough to come second place in a competition with Andreea of Vevi photography and Rock and Roll bride to win a full days wedding coverage and engagement shoot for a fraction of the price. It was pretty nerve racking meeting her for the first time but on working together and seeing the end result we just know that she's worth every penny and then some! We are in love with these shots and Andreea's relaxed and laid back manner, plus her creativity make us even more excited to see what she can do on the wedding day itself. Here a few of those images that are so special to us!

Obviously, we couldn't have a shoot without enjoying some portrait shots with our Elin as well. She really was a star for them, with the exception of one very explosive nappy (I didn't really want her in that dress anyway!) and these beautiful images of our family mean so much to me. I can't thank Andreea enough and feel honored to have her photographing our wedding. So a massive thankyou to her, and Rock and Roll bride for this fab competition! You'll make our wedding that bit more special, and we all can not wait!

Beach!

We're lucky enough to have the ocean within a stones throw of our home. I can't tell you how happy that makes me thinking of Elin's childhood. Still in a heat wave at our end we've not been able to really enjoy the beach as much as we'd like. But a beautiful stroll in the afternoon, parasol in hand never hurt anybody!

Her face! This little face honestly melts my heart! I get these moments where I look at her and just can not believe just how much I love her. She really does make everyday that little bit more wonderful.

And as for these two perfect people together? There really is nothing like seeing the man you love, love his daughter so completely. I see his love for her fill him up every day and nothing even comes close in my eyes. I am ridiculously proud of them both!

I hadn't planned on wearing these shorts, but when I put Elin in blue polka dot cullots, and realized how perfectly my own pair worked with hers, it was a no brainer! I'm thoroughly enjoying dressing us in matchy matchy outfits while shes just a baby, because I'm fairly certain when she's older dressing like her mumma will be just the most uncool thing ever!

We don't get photos of all three of us all that often, and then they are mostly selfies! Nothing wrong with a good selfie, but when a lovely couple stopped and insisted on photographing us three it was very kind. I love our family infinate amounts so photos of us all are the best memories. Thank you lovely couple!

With kys this blue you really would think we were abroad! So blessed to live here and enjoy time a a family. How are you enjoying summer? I'd love to hear!

Tess X

Strawberry pickin'

The suns been really hotting up over here this week, and in typical British style everyone's complaining about it! It i proving pretty tricky with a little 'un I have to confess. Little Elin's spent most of the week naked and loving life running free, so to speak! Although this does mean shes peed on the bed on more than one occasion- always my side. Why?! With her feeding more regularly and clothes becoming less and less appropriate, it ha been harder to get out and about. But we've had some cracking times when we have!

I've always had this image of raising my family and starting certain traditions. One of them is strawberry picking! We live close to Ford abbey who have a petty impressive strawberry patch, as well as a whole host of other summer fruits, and as it transpires some stunning corn fields that were a beautiful photo opportunity! I have always wanted to take my children there, teaching them about the fruits of the earth and letting them run free in a safe environment. While Elin is obviously too young to do any of that, and the poor might has yet to even experience the delight of the strawberry, I still felt we had to do it this summer, just for our own enjoyment at the very least. And considering Elin's strawberry hat and dress are getting increasingly small on her we though sooner rather than later would be best. So we had an early morning amble through the strawberry fields last week!

We had a fab morning as a family, and even though Elin won't remember I know I will! And there's no harm starting these traditions early right? It makes me really excited for next year to have our little one running around and picking the fruit herself. It really is incredible this whole growing up melarky! I think of how much our little one has to experience, to taste, to enjoy in the next months and years and feel so excited it makes me tear up. But i'l blame that on my hormones i think!

Do you have any traditions with your little ones once the sun comes out? And how are you handling the heat? I'd love to hear stories and see your pictures :)

Have a lovely day, Tess