spring is upon us....

It feels like spring just happened over night, one day the trees where bare, the next they where full of blossom. I'm so glad its here, and I'm loving the fluky early warm weather. I was really ready for spring, i find January and February quite grim. And my waistline has suffered, in snuggling up in winter months and defaulting to unhealthy food.

Now summer is round the corner i need to get my but into gear (literally) and get my skinny on. Its time to commit to getting rid of my wobbly bits so here it is:

I pledge that I am no longer allowed sugar in obvious forms (deserts and drinks). except for the odd occasion I have some on the sly because realistically I can't commit to it 100%.

This is the only rule I'm going to make as I am to disorganised to make and keep up with any others regarding food. And I'm gonna up my game in exercise too...should be easier with lighter mornings and good weather!

So there it is. A Pledge with room for mistakes...I'm not too good at commitment...it hurts psychologically...I'm not a hard core kinda person. Sometimes i think i am, and go at something because iv imagined myself to be something I'm not and then quickly realise, no I'm not hard core at all....mainly because i don't wanna be. I like balance....some people are crazy like my friend (Laura), who does triathlons and marathons pregnant??!!!

Anyway some more spring pics whilst walking home through St Peters square.

The week the Barrs flew in....

More reunions the next day When Jo and Tom joined us......

Christine gave us souvenirs from Madagascar and The Barrs brought gifts from Colorado.

Love William in his Madagascar hat.....he loved it too so much he wanted to sleep in it.

All Tom Barr wanted to eat was fish n chips.

On Sunday, Christine did her homecoming talk, Tom spoke and Anna was blessed in the sacrament meeting. It was such a brilliant day.

Hangin' out with the Barrs....

After Liverpool (and overcoming jet lag), they spent the last few days in London.

I can't even describe how much I loved having my American family here, loved the laughter, chatting and just hanging out with these people who we feel such a close kinship with. Love their influence on myself and my family, these people just lift you in every way. And I miss them, we all do. It was such an amazing expression of love and sacrifice to come over here to surprise the family. We are as always eternally grateful and full of love in return. And this trip is something we will never forget.

There were some people missing from this trip, Hayley and Branson (their other two children), and my brother, Jon (traveling round the world). And they were missed.

LOVE YOU BARRS, COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK PLEEEEEEEEESE!!!!

Once upon a february morning.......

Members of my Family got up, rolled out of bed and got to Manchester airport with makeshift home made signs by the nieces and nephews.......Christine was coming home from her mission in Madagascar, and we'd all been demanded to be there "with signs and cameras", in fact her words were "i want paparazzi!"

Well she got it.......and much much more.

This photo was taken before we went down to wait at the arrivals lounge and here no one had any idea what was about to happen.......except me and Anthony.

What they were unaware of was that right at that exact moment some very dear people to us where also making there way through baggage claim to surprise our family.

The Barr's had planned to surprise the family for when Christine arrived home from her mission. I helped plan the whole thing, keeping it a secret and now was feeling very nervous and excited.

One by one they came out walked right passed the Family who of course where completely oblivious....and then came the surprise and a wonderful reunion.

My dad still has this speechless expression of unbelief on his face every time we talk about it, both him and mum still can't believe it happened. They are still stunned by it.

Below is the moment my dad finds out I knew all along

We'd all made signs for Christine...arr look at mikes......

Ha no, just kidding, my niece Becky made this one, Mikes just being a good sport.

Loved seeing Christine come through that door, my little sis back from her mish.

Love these photos below, Christine reunited with her family, but in the back ground you can spy Tom and Adele Barr watching on, Christine has no idea whats about to come.

And then came her surprise................ we caught that on film but here's some photos.

(Anthony did well running round after William)

Dad says that this was one of the greatest moments of his life.

The year so far...

Well since I last blogged its been Christmas. We spent Christmas day at home and then decided to take advantage of the clear roads and traveled up north Christmas night for the Kenny Christmas.

Which meant we made our first full on Christmas dinner. It was good with a bit of help from M&S and the local butchers.

Christmas morn, watching "cars".

Williams 2nd birthday. 23rd Jan. We spent all day at Bramleys Soft Play and Ball pit with friends, then headed to Wesfield for a Byron Burger. He didn't stop all day and was totally wiped out!

2 years old. He is everything boy. Tractors, helicopters, trains, planes, cars, motorbikes, Buzz Light year, running, climbing, swimming, bouncing, somersaulting on the couch. Stars, biscuits, cake, cake, cake, the moon, bike, scooters, balloons, boats, dummies, his bed, boots, tools.........

As he's growing I'm enjoying his company more and more. Love watching him discover and interact with the world. Even if some of his 'discoveries and interactions' make a lot of mess. I walked in the other day to find him swimming in flour making 'snow angles' on the kitchen floor! He's a cheeky, mischievous, get away with murder, butter wouldn't melt, kinda kid, he can be so naughty but with an endearing little smile. He acts so sorry when he's being told off but he knows he's just playing his mum for a fool. And I am fool for him.

And Anna's 3 month mark.

This girl has been sent to bring calm to my life. She remains so placid and hassle free. She just sits back and watches the tornado of her brother whirl by unfazed. Love her spirit so much. And it amazes me that despite her only being so little in size, so undemanding and quite, her presence is very much felt, loved and appreciated. And her Smile, well that lifts you right up into the clouds.

Move Over Anthony there is a new man in town!

......And his name is Steve the chiropractor, Aka "the baby whisperer".

A friend of mine recommended Steve to me when talking about Anna having colic. She'd taken her child to him and he'd worked wonders, he's known as the Baby Whisperer amongst Chiswick mums.....And i now know why!

Who ever coined the term 'like putty in his hands' has clearly observed him at work. Anna was exactly that.

He has definitely stumbled across a formula for success. Basically tired desperate mums come to him, he takes there baby from them, chills with them for an hour and tells the mum that she's a 'good mum', which is exactly what we need to hear. Simples really....or at least he makes it look simple.

I wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, walking around with her, little massages etc.. but he described to me how a baby can get a set pattern (in position and movement) from the womb (movements etc) causing tensions and certain 'mechanical patterns'. He's basically helps 'unravel' these mechanics which helps with colic and relaxing the baby etc. Well it seems to have worked. Anna would be chilled all day then get really fussy in the evening, never settling well at night no matter what i did and what i tried.

Steve asked me loads of questions to determine causes and get to the route of it, as well as examining her. We have only been to see him twice but I noticed a difference instantly and Anna certainly seems to enjoy being in his hands! And now my chilled out baby is also super chilled at night and goes down to sleep super easy and the same time each every night. AMAZING really. I have my evenings back. Cant believe the difference it has made. He actually has magic hands.

He could tell me exactly what position she took in the womb, where her head was squashed against one shoulder, her hands and how her legs where folded up against her tummy, and pointed out all the tell tale signs.....i found it really fascinating, he knows what part of the digestive system is having problems based on what time of day the baby is having 'colic' or fusses in discomfort. I realise now the term 'colic' is broad term, which can cover a whole load of things. I learned so much from him.

Anyway, id have never thought chiropractors could help with such issues. But now he's my Guru!

And i know it costs money but lets face it, when sleep and sanity are concerned who isn't gunna find the money in their budget for it!

Its also extra convenient that his practice is just across the road from my house.

So i highly recommend it to other new mothers!

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, and its arrived in the Dixon home just in time!...now to just work on her sleeping for longer increments.

Back to reality

OK so iv done the 'everything is wonderful post' and it is but here's a shout out post for those people that helped me get through what, lets face it, is a tough time!

Here's what and who got me through those first weeks:

Shloer - if i drank alcohol i would actually be a wino! (I'm almost on a bottle a day now they are on offer for Christmas)Hot chocolate and Barley cup with plenty of chocolate biscuits to dunk.

2 weeks worth of cooked meals from friends at church (Amazing!)

Ninny (mum), Papa Joey (dad), grandma (ants mum) and Mel (ants sis). William loved having so much attention from you all and talks about you all the time!

Episodes of Downton Abbey and Greys Anatomy during late night feeds

Live at the Apollo comedy (just to keep me sane).

Prayers.

New cosy PJ's..its a psychological thing.

Lansolin nipple cream

Alpa, my amazing midwife and rescuer (she saved me from an evil bout of mastitis catching it
just in time and making sure i got seen to before it set in to bad).

William for being so amazing, for not being jealous or clingy, for making me laugh and loving Anna.

My sister Jo Ann...for making me laugh about it all. Because as she said, 'if you don't laugh, you cry'.

Anna, for being so delightful, for smiling and cooing so early. for looking at me with those big deep knowing wise eyes of yours and making it all feel worth while.

My breaking point came in week two, you know when you haven't slept at all, you hurt all over, you smile through the pain for your toddler and endure through it for your newborn, your hormones are crazy and you are waiting for it to just get a bit better, a bit easier and a bit less painful...then week two came for me and i had the onset of mastitis, I'm not just talking sore boobies (yes i did just use that word), I'm talking flu symptoms, dizziness, aching body, hot and cold sweats....and not being able to cave in because you have to be a mum to a new born....that's when i cracked and had my tearful meltdown...it happened last time, it happened this time...but theres something brilliant about it. Its the point of resolve. Its the point where you cry your river, build ya Brooklyn bridge and get over it. because you have to. you have no choice. so you find the strength you don't have and some how before you know it you are at week 7 and life is really really good. I don't hurt any more, I'm getting sleep (still in three hour chunks but i am not complaining) and I'm learning to juggle!! I can be a mum of two! phew!

Which brings me to my Super Hero. Thank you Anthony. I couldn't have done it without you. Need you more than ever and never loved you more than these last two months.