March 2016 - Running in Lavender

HeleddMarch 31, 2016

My Captured Moment #65 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome back to My Captured Moment, a weekly link-up where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week’s my captured moment is very special. These shots were taken in the hospital and capture the moment that my big girls met their new baby sister.

I knew this would be an emotional moment but I was not prepared for how emotional I would be. I literally had tears of joy and pride running down my face as soon as I saw the girls and their beaming faces walk onto the ward. They both looked so excited to see me and to meet little Iris.

So here we are, the first pictures taken of my three daughters together…

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.00pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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HeleddMarch 30, 2016

Me and Mine March 16 {A New Family Portrait}

So here we are again at the end of another month , which means it’s time for my Me and Mine Family Portrait post. This is a very special one for us as it’s our fist set of family portraits as a party of five. Little baby Iris was born a week and a half ago and has already become a big part of our family.

This past month has been spent anticipating the arrival of little Iris, as she was born four days over her due date – and I was convinced she was going to be a week or so early. Especially as I was struggling so much in those last few weeks with a bad back, heartburn and mild PSD. Thankfully my mum has been staying with us for most of the month, so she was able to help with the girls, giving me some time to rest and relax.

Also, Dom has been fantastic at the weekends making sure the girls were entertained and happy, while I was able to put my feet up. He really has been my rock over the past few months, he’s been such a massive support to me and as always a fantastic dad.

The picture above was taken in the hospital, when the girls came in to meet their baby sister for the first time. For this reason it will always be a special shot for me.

The shots below were taken by my mum on her iPad, so the quality is not the best but they do capture our new family perfectly.

This month I’ve been…

– Looking forward to the birth of our little lady.

– Enjoying The Night Manager on BBC1, that final episode was epic!

– Loving all the cuddles and kisses with little Iris

This month Dom has been…

– Spending the weekends with the girls.

– Watching The Night Manager with me.

– Enjoying becoming a dad again.

This month the girls have…

– Enjoyed helping dad make Mother’s Day extra special for me with a delicious breakfast and beautiful homemade cards.

– Met their new baby sister, which was one of the most special and emotional moments of my life.

– Had way too much chocolate over the Easter weekend and loved the village egg hunt on Good Friday.

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HeleddMarch 24, 2016

My Captured Moment #64 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome back to My Captured Moment, a weekly link-up where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week’s my captured moment is a very special, personal shot. This was taken of me and my dad when I was a month or so old. My mum told me that they always had the camera ‘hanging around’ after I was born (so you can see where I get it from) and she couldn’t resist taking this shot when she walked in and saw the scene.

I believe it was taken early one evening, after my dad had got home from work. I just love this pictures for obvious reasons and it now sits pride of place on my dressing table in this old heart shaped frame.

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.00pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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HeleddMarch 20, 2016

10 things that have made me happy this week #3

As we continue to wait for baby Lavender who is now two days overdue, these are ten things that have made me happy this week…
1. Having my mum stay with us to help me with the girls. I’m so lucky to have her, she’s been amazing this past week, making sure I put my feet up and really relax while we wait for baby L to make her appearance.

2. Cadbury Mini Eggs. Yes, I finally had my first bag of the year.

3. Watching back to back Scandal. I’m now fully up to date! This is such a great and addictive american, political drama.

4. Watching Lili in her first DramaBuds show. She played the fairy godmother and did a great job. I felt so proud, she’s so much more confident than I was at her age.

5. Listening to the girls talk about their day at the Kurt Geiger, Mini MissKG party. I couldn’t go (as I’m feeling way too big and uncomfortable) so Dom took them. By all accounts it was “the best party ever!”. They had their hair braided, face painted, nails done, played ten pin bowling and did some vlogging…

6. Getting everything ready for next week’s egg hunt in the garden. I’ve got an assortment of chocolate eggs and bunnies ready to hide around the garden.

7. Watching a film called Pride, which is all about a group of gay and lesbians activists that helped a Welsh village during the miners strike of the eighties. Such a great film!

8. Feeling baby Lavender move lower into my pelvis as she gets ready to come out. I’m now a couple of days over my due date, so I know she’s getting close.

9. Long, warm baths. These are such a luxury for me but I’ve had a couple this week while my mum’s here. Bliss!

10. Elemis Bath Milk. Speaking of baths, this bath milk come body lotion is always my product of choice in the bath. It never fails to make me feel very happy and comforted – inside and out.

Have a great week!

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HeleddMarch 17, 2016

My Captured Moment #63 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome back to My Captured Moment, a weekly link-up where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week ‘my captured moment’ is a series of shots taken by Dom at the weekend. To give me a full rest he took the girls to a kids disco in Dulwich with some friends of ours. As you can see the girls took the opportunity to get dressed up, Lili randomly went for an Egyptian costume and more predictably Poppy decided to wear her Anna dress.

I love the relaxed nature of these pictures, you can see that they all had a great time. The girls love music and dancing, so this was a perfect treat for them.

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.00pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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HeleddMarch 15, 2016

Sisters in March 2016 {The Siblings Project}

So here we are in mid March, days from the birth of our third ‘sister’, which of course means that next month’s post will include a third little girl – and I’m sure will be very different in style.

These shots were taken on a fun, if a little cold and damp, day out on Box Hill in Surrey. They’re definitely not the best photos I’ve ever taken of the girls but I think their friendship and bond really shines through.

They have a real respect for each other these days, which means (thankfully) they don’t fall out too much. The main reason for any fall out is that one doesn’t want to play the same game as the other (although they do still want to play together). They share pretty well and are never mean to each other. Yes, Poppy has a more demanding streak, which I’ve mentioned before but she loves her big sister and really looks up to her.

I’ve also recently noticed that their sense of humour is now very similar. They find the same things funny and are laughing so much more together. Granted it’s always very childish toilet humour but I still love listening and watching to them have so much fun together.

Last weekend Dom took them to a local kids disco, to give me some rest. We told them they could wear whatever they liked, so off they went up to their room to pick their outfits. As I walked passed their door I couldn’t resist a quick look in – they were helping each other get dresses and talking about lip balm. It was a real insight into the future, which made me smile (and a little scared). Theses two really know their own minds and know exactly what they want to wear. Lili ended up in an Egyptian costume and more predictably Poppy opted for a Princess Anna dress. I didn’t have the heart to tell them it wasn’t a fancy dress disco but to be honest I don’t think it would have made a difference.

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HeleddMarch 15, 2016

10 things that have made me happy this week #2

Here are the 10 things that have made me happy this past week…

1. My new iPhone 6s!! I’m in love, it’s such a great phone – and more.

2. A reflexology session that was simply blissful. It’s meant to help bring on labour, which hasn’t worked yet but I don’t mind – it was so relaxing.

3. Watching back to back Private Practice, while Dom looked after the girls at the weekend.

4. Having my mum up to stay. She’s now with us until the birth.

5. Baking vanilla cupcakes with Poppy for Sports Relief . This little one loves to bake!

6. Online clothes shopping for the baby and the girls. I got some super cute bits for from babyGap and Next.

7. This beautiful sunny weather. Hello Spring!!

8. Daffodils in the kitchen.

9. Red grapes – they’ve been my biggest craving over the last couple of months.

10. Clarins Tonic Oil. I’ve used this most days on my bump over the past nine months. It smells amazing and despite a now huge bump, I have no stretch marks. Ooh… I hope I haven’t spoken too soon?!

Have a great week! x

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HeleddMarch 10, 2016

My Captured Moment #62 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome back to My Captured Moment, a weekly link-up where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week’s My Captured Moment is another one from the archive. This is one of the first ever pictures of the girls together. Poppy would have been a week or so old and although Lili was too young to hold her properly, there is something special about this shot that makes it one of my favourite pictures.

It’s exciting to think that in a couple of weeks we’ll be taking similar shots with our third baby girl. Lili is now old enough to be able to hold her more securely, although I’m sure Poppy will want a turn too!

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.00pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

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HeleddMarch 6, 2016

Mother’s Day – A Guest Post by Mr H

As it’s Mother’s Day, Mr H thought he’d step in and do the guest post he’s been talking about for the past few years…

So here I am in the unusual situation of writing a blog post, rather than proof reading one. As regular visitors to this blog will know, we’re very close to welcoming our third baby to the world (in less than 2 weeks) – and given it’s Mothering Sunday, I thought it would be the perfect time to step in and give H a full day of rest.

Firstly, I’d like to say how immensely proud I am of my wife and what a great mother she is to our daughters Lili and Poppy – and I know she’ll be to little baby Lavender. I’m also very impressed with the progress she’s made with this blog.

So a well-deserved treat was necessary today. The thought process was along the lines of cards, breakfast and a present, then Tesco got in contact with me about creating an extra special day for H. I spoke to the girls and told them that we would be going shopping to prepare for Mother’s Day on Saturday and they should think of things that mummy would like for her special day. They both agreed that the list should be:

– Chocolate (yes, they know their mother well!)

– Flowers

– IPhone 6s (ok this was my idea).

– Cards

– A big breakfast

The cards would have to be home-made as the girls love crafts and we’re not short of a few colouring pens. So we sat down (in secret) on Saturday to make the special cards for mum. Next we popped to Tesco to make sure we had everything we needed to make Sunday extra special with flowers, chocolates and a delicious breakfast.

This morning the girls were excited and up relatively early, which was perfect as it gave us time to prepare ‘the big breakfast’ surprise. Sunday’s in our house usually consist of me and girls getting up to make pancakes together. They both love taking turns weighing the flour, cracking the eggs and mixing the milk. Although, eating is clearly the best part for them both.

This week was slightly different, we opted for layered yoghurt pots consisting of fresh raspberries, strawberries, yoghurt and oats – delicious and relatively healthy. Getting the girls involved in cooking is really important to us, so today’s task had them mashing up the raspberries, and then building the layers of fruit, yogurt and oats. We also had a (slightly less healthy) selection of pastries, croissants and pan-au-chocolate, served with some apple juice.

After a well deserved lie in H woke to two very excited little girls, eager to share their cards and a table full of breakfast treats, chocolates and flowers.

The rest of the day consisted of giving H a break from the usual Sunday activities, and a chance to play with her new phone. I took Lili and Poppy to the park (for a well needed run around) where we found some baby daffodils. When we got back we sat down to decorate a heart shaped biscuit for mum’s afternoon tea treat.

I hope that H has enjoyed her special day. Our family is going to be growing in the next few weeks so it was great to give her a well needed break and for the girls to show how much they love mum.

Thank you to Tesco for helping me make the day extra special.

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HeleddMarch 6, 2016

10 things that have made me happy this week…

I’m trying to keep positive and as happy as possible at the moment. Yes, my back aches on a constant basis and moving around is not easy when you’re 38 weeks pregnant but I’m determined to concentrate on the good things, because I have so much to appreciate and be thankful for. Here are ten things that have made me happy this week.

1. Watching the Oscars. Okay, it wasn’t the best of years but I do love watching all the glitz and glamour of this Award ceremony. And it was lovely to see Leo finally win! His speech was beautiful.

2. Making welsh cakes with the girls on Tuesday to celebrate St David’s Day.

3. Seeing one of my best friends with her beautiful baby boy. He’s now eleven weeks old and a total delight. They drove over to see me on Thursday and we spent the afternoon chatting and eating cake. Also, I got to have some cuddles with the beautiful little guy.

4. Seeing Poppy go off to preschool dressed as Snow White for World Book Day. She’d been looking forward to this day for over a week and had decided early on that she wanted to be Snow White. On the day she was beyond excited and wanted me to ‘take lots of pictures to show daddy’.

5. My delicious morning power smoothies. They’re healthy, full of fruit, oats and chia seeds – and really fill me up until lunch time.

6. Looking forward to Mother’s Day and watching the girls get all excited about the plans they’ve made with daddy.

7. Having a Friday blogging ‘play date’ with Bonnie from MamasVIB and Elfa from California Mum in London (who brought a homemade lemon drizzle cake). The kids played happily and we got time for a good catch up.

8. Brightly coloured daffodils brightening the kitchen.

9. Making chocolate brownies with a very enthusiastic Poppy. Admittedly we make these regularly (as they are so easy and taste amazing!) but they still make us all very happy.

10. Cuddles on the sofa with my girls, watching Inside Out for the umpteenth time.

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