Tonight, we are fairies!

As if an excuse was needed, Christmas certainly gives us a reason to dress up! I did the face painting for our Village Christmas fayre and this was the only thing I needed to dress Elin and I up in tutus. So, for one night, we were fairies! Its safe to say getting good photos is becoming increasingly difficult as Elin becomes more and more active. She also is a huge poser so getting any shots of her not flirting with the camera was actually really tough (why smile at mummy when there's a lens in my face?!) But I still sorta love these anyway. 

 

 

I started this blog, in part, to encourage me to see the magic in every day. It's so so easy to get a bit lost and exhausted and fragile along the road and to document our journey it helps me see just how wonderful this life of ours really is. Even on the hardest of days I find taking a few moments to stop, write, and capture our memories really helps me put into perspective just how fortunate we are. With that in mind, today I'm gonna share 5 things that have made this week that little bit more magical!

 

1)All the Christmas lights in the village are on, Santa has been through town and the pub is decked out with holly and mistletoe! Its always lovely seeing the Christmas spirit oozing everywhere in December, Elin is hypnotised by the lights and it puts everyone in a better mood. We also got to meet reindeer this week! Now that's magical if you ask me.

2) I'm now within reasonable walking distance to the beach! We were always pretty close but the round trip with the buggy was getting pretty difficult as Elin packed on the pounds. I'm now right there and have decided come rain or shine, every day Elin and I will take a walk to the beach. A bit of fresh air in our lungs, a change of scenery and some sea air helps mix up the day and keep us both from going a little stir crazy. Its definitely going to be my resolution (why wait to the new year though?) to get to the beach every day. We're so lucky to live in such a beautiful spot so I'd like to make the most of it. Plus it will be good to get into that routine now before Elin actually starts asking to go and it won't be a shock to the system!

 

3) I'm thankful that after a really trying Thursday, James came home, bundled Elin in the pram and took her for a long walk. I quickly tidied and napped for 45 minutes before he came home and Elin and I were friends again. That nap was magical!

 

4) Elin's first words! She's been reeling off different sounds and noises for months now, but this week she's really been conversing a lot more. She repeats what we say and we can have a real back and forth conversation of sounds. I watch her as she studies our lips as we make a sound trying to figure out how she can do that too. Then, when James came home, she most definitely muttered several times before confidently saying 'Dada'. It was so wonderful. He's waiting for it to happen again before it counts but I sticking with that being her first word!

 

 

5) We found out our wedding is going to be featured in a French bridal magazine! its pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things but it still put a smile on my face when I found out.

 

I think it so important to let the little details put a smile on your face. The big things are brilliant but we have to let the little things build us up too. So getting dressed up as fairies with my little mini memade me happy and feel festive and feel blessed by my daughter. I think everyone needs to get dressed up in the name of Christmas and think of the little things that make the day a bit better!



A Lathey family Christmas!

Okay, so considering we got the keys to our new place on the 1st of December my excitement for Christmas has been slightly overshadowed by an endless string of moving boxes and all the stress a house move plus a crawling, climbing 8 month old entails. However, I think its safe to say our first Christmas as three is well underway after a trip up to the Bath Christmas markets. I love everything that December has to offer especially the romance of a good old fashioned Christmas street market. (Especially the sort that serves cotton candy vodka!) There's something so lovely about kicking off the festive season checking out homemade gifts all arranged in little Nordic style huts while sampling SO MUCH CHEESE and drinking mullled wine while listening to carolers. Its ridiculously cute and okay all the markets are a bit same-y but its perfect and I won't ever let myself be disenchanted from all that!

As well as this being our sweet baby girl's first ever Christmas(!!!), its also my first as Mrs Lathey! That's pretty exciting too. We've had a hell of a year, a baby, a wedding and finishing off with a quick house move for good measure. Admittedly it has gotten stressful at times but its lovely to finish the year in our lovely little home focusing on the important things. Each other. And starting many traditions that I'm sure will stick with us well into the future. I love this family of mine, no matter how crazy life can get I will always try and focus on the fun that we have together and the love that we share. Happy Decmber everyone! Lets make this Christmas beautiful!

All Hallows Eve

Yes I know this post, like them all this week, is a tad late. But shes still scrummy as, and honestly I'v been waiting to put a pumpkin hat on my baby from the moment the test came back (+) shallow as that is! Mum knitted it for her and she looks completely delicious! I can't get enough of taking pictures of her, even though she may hate me a teeny bit when she's older. Sorry Elin, but you are too adorable!

James and I had fun carving these pumpkins and we cooked some of the flesh up so Elin could have a little taste which was fun too. I desperately wanted to visit a pumpkin patch and pick our own but as it was miles away James couldn't be persuaded. Next year maybe, when this monkey can persuade him too!

Even though Elin won't remember her first Halloween or pumpkin or any of these first that we're enjoying its still important for me to document it. I love looking back at my baby photos so I hope one day she'll love to see these too. Plus it helps us prioritize family time which is obviously a good thing. It would be easy to get stuck in a rut between work, bills, housework and just getting through each day in one piece. By taking these pictures and making the most of the season and each day really we get to spend time together being a bit silly and making memories for ourselves. There's nothing bad about any of that!