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It was with nervous excitement that I met one of my favourite blogging and IG friends, Polly, last week. It's such a surreal thing meeting up with people who you feel you know so well (we've been online friends for years) despite the fact this is the first time you've seen each other in real life. I've been lucky enough to convert online friendships into real life friendships a few times now, and it's one of the reasons I love the little community I've built myself through the crazy world of social media.
As soon as Polly and I met, any nerves melted away and we chatted as if we had known each other for years. She is sweet and funny and cool and inspiring and so supportive and it was lovely to watch our three year olds play so happily together.
I think we could have chatted for hours about blogging and IG, photography and mamahood, so a kiddo-free trip to London for a grown up lunch filled with talk, talk, talk is most definitely on the cards.
I managed to snap a few photos of Polly and her gorgeous girl Elsie (Raff and Phiney were far too enthralled in exploring the Botanical Gardens together to get involved!) and Polly took some of me too, which are incredible and which I will cherish forever.
Making new friends when you get older is hard, but I've been lucky enough to find a brilliant group of like-minded and beautiful women since I became a mother. Connected through the highs and lows of parenting, all there to lend an ear and helpful advice whenever it's needed. And I'm so grateful for them all.
A beautiful summers picnic with some of our favourite girls. Josephine adores Edie, and it was so lovely to meet sweet little Agnes and have a squeeze.
I'm so happy that, through the wonders of IG, I met Amy. She is one of my most favourite ladies and it feels like we're always on the same page. Good friends are hard to find, especially as we get older, but I'm so lucky to have met five beautiful women since having Josephine; bought together through motherhood, and always there to discuss babies and behaviour, feeding and pre-school. And more; life, womanhood, the politics of IG and blogging...
So grateful for these ladies. And so grateful for their brilliant children who make our girls so happy.
1. A little fairy in her pjs.
2. Our Ergo adventures.
3. Our girl started dance classes and the cuteness nearly kills me. She adores it.
4. Tiny party goers at Josephine's 3rd birthday.
5. Overwhelmed with excitement when she opened Nanny's (my Mum) present to her on her birthday - a Jessie doll!!
6. Love this little creature and her crazy expressions.
7. When we go for walks in the freezing wind, I am so jealous of her snuggly cocoon!
8. In love with these colours, and that beautiful girl.
9. Josephine and I indulged in some pretty epic train track building, with some of the new pieces she got for Christmas and her birthday.
10. My girls: Josephine planting the biggest kisses on Coralie and Coralie being exceptionally happy about it. So much love.
1. We spent the morning with best friends at such a happy place - the little airfield we visited a lot with my Dad. So many funny times - it's where i introduced Ben to my Dad all those years ago. We talked all about Dad and smiled so big. Always such a mix of emotions - such wonderful memories, but such sadness too. I miss him so much.
2. These girls will break hearts, no doubt. So sweet and so beautiful. Such a lovely pre-Christmas meet up, with two of our favourite ladies
3. Our poorly babe woke up from her nap this morning in a much happier mood...wiggled out of her sleeping bag, managed to unpop the poppers on her babygrow and get herself wedged sideways in the cot. She thought it was all very funny, and so did Josephine!
4. Her first trip to see Father Christmas
5. Today's trip was on a steam train, and Father Christmas visited us in our Hogwarts Express style compartment. I cannot tell you how much this little one adored every second of the train journey...still a bit wary of Father Christmas, but the train was a definite hit!
6. A day at the aquarium and hanging out with the man in her life. You can see how happy she is about him not being at work
7. Amazed by the fish
8. My Daddy's Christmas bouquet - a new tradition. A beautiful yellow rose for my Papa and a flower chosen by each of us. The pink rose for Josepine, the little pink roses for Coralie, the orange rose for Ben and the green for me. All together at Christmas, in flower form at least :) Such a happy bouquet
9. Christmas outfits are my favourite. Beautiful vintage and knee socks. So sweet
10. Gasp!! Trying to take a picture of these two not looking hilarious is pretty much impossible.
I've added the Insta-month features for the last 6 months too, if you'd like to see them, head here...catching up, bit by bit :)
1. Starting the festive season with lovely friends today. For me, Christmas never comes too early! Love these two, so cool. Such a fun morning
2. My Grandpa and Coralie
3. My Grandparents are always amazed by how much Coralie looks like my Dad, especially at the same age apparently. It bought my Grandma to tears more than once yesterday. But the girls soon had her smiling again; they're the best reminder that my Dad lives on in all of us.
4.First time on the swings today. I'm not sure who was more excited, Coralie or Josephine
5. flower princess
6. Someone scored big at the charity shop today. She's a very happy bunny and loves her 'Buzz Lightnear' as she calls him! Now to find Woody and Jessie too...
7. Beautiful girl. Dressing her during the colder months is so much fun
8. Housmous on toast for lunch. She was pretty happy about it...
9. My little loves. There is no happier sound than them laughing together, at each other. I think these two will be great friends
10. Josephine and I couldn't stop kissing and squeezing Coralie when she was wearing her new Nanny-knitted bonnet. She looked that cute!
1. Dinnertime
2. New wellies, and amazing Coco and Wolf bloomers
3. Pixie
4. We headed to the 'big' park to enjoy this morning's beautiful sunshine and Josephine conquered her fear of the huge tunnel slide. So many times Ben has taken her to the top and spent ages in the queue only for her to decide against it. Today, despite being a little fearful and worried, she decided enough was enough and she loved it! There was lots of cheering from the top of the slide from daddy and a big cuddle from me at the bottom. I can't tell you what a big deal this was for her. She was so proud! She amazes us with her determination, wonderful girl
5. My loves :) Sunday afternoon snugs with Daddy. Both girls napped for two hours after lunch!! As my best friend just said (when I text her with glee) 'it's like Christmas!'
6. Today was all about broccoli...
7. Love mornings of fun with my best friend and her boys, especially ones that end in fish and chips for lunch!
8. Such a lucky mama
9. Autumn
10. Scary faces...
1. Admiring my two year old's unique sense of style. This kid is so awesome.
2. Love this face to the stars and back; her 'why?' face! Questioning why the graffiti in the tunnel on the walk to the canal and been painted over. As always, no answer we could give would suffice!
3. My mama and Coralie, watching the hot air balloons this afternoon xx
4. One year ago today my Dad took Josephine and I to a sweet little farm where we looked at the animals, played in the park and ate yummy food. We laughed so much. It was the last time I saw him in person, he went to Australia 2 days later. Today Ben and I took the girls back there, talked all about Grandpa and had a lovely day. I can't believe it's been a year since I got a cuddle from my dad. I miss him so much, today and always. Love you Daddy xxxxx
5. Cousins :)
6. Coralie, by Josephine :)
7. Happy Mondays
8. Baby toes are hard to beat. So teeny, so cute
9. I love seeing Coralie in the clothes Josephine wore when she was
10. Some morning hand holding :)
1. The most beautiful 1930s and 1950s vintage for our girls, all pressed and ready to go to my cousins wedding this afternoon.
2.The washing never looked so cute!! I mean, look at those big ol' cheesy grins
3. Another party, another vintage dress...
4. She's just so scrumptious!
5. Ratties
6. Photobombed to the max!!!!!
7. This girl has such a great smile, her whole face lights up :)
8. An awesome morning with sweet friends, feeding the animals.
9. Exploring Great Grandma and Great Grandad's garden...
10. She has pretty expressive eyebrows, and does this thing where she raises one in a quizzical manner, just like my dad did. I think she looks so like him here :)
1. Found Josephine some pretty cool sunnies in the charity shop this morning...
2. Yesterday we discovered the wonders of washing up! For Mama - 45 minutes of uninterrupted ironing time (Coralie was sleeping!) and for Phiney 45 minutes of absolute joy. Most definitely the new favourite indoor activity :)
3. We spent the morning walking in the sun; through the woods, along the canal and next to the bustling main road. Amazing things to see and conversations to be had with Josephine. Having children truly opens your eyes to so much more of the world around us.
4. Hehehe, cheeky monkey smiles
5. Sporting a quiff her Grandpa would be proud of
6. At least someone's happy! So hot, so little sleep!
7. So SO hot today, this little one love dipping her toes in the paddling pool at my Nan's house
8. Hanging with these guys. Brothers and their daughters :)
9. Finally...
10. Cousins. The cheesiest of smiles!
1. At Nana's house with Bubbles, the rabbit.
2. Summertime feels like it's here, at last.
3. Feeding this tiny creature, while contemplating taking a nap myself.
4. Trying to figure out what to wear as a breastfeeding Mama!
5. Vintage cotton dresses, balmy summer days and sleeping babies. A match made in Mama heaven.
6. Two of my favourite photos in the world. Me and my Papa. Wishing with all my heart he was here today, to celebrate Father's Day with. You're the best Daddy, so cool and awesome and kind and funny. Missing you more than I can say, more each day. It's just too sad you're not here. I love you so much xxxx
7. To our boy, happy Father's Day! We all love you so much, you are our hero and we're thankful for you everyday x
8. Both smiling #kinda
9. These kiddos :) Coralie and Josephine are so lucky to have those boys in their lives, such wonderful friends from almost the day they were born.
10. How can this picture not make you smile?!
1. Eating crisps while waiting for the BBQ...a lovely way to spend time waiting for a certain little baby to show up :)
2. So much love, always
3. Our girl is here. Coralie Joe Mallia swam into the world at home late on Wednesday night, and has filled our hearts with happiness and love.
4. Monday morning snuggles :)
5. Coralie's first bath
6. Went on a little afternoon stroll with Josephine in the sunshine, and stopped for a yummy treat :)
7. Our girls, snuggled in bed with us this morning
8. While Josephine runs and jumps and plays, Coralie snoozes and snoozes in the warm breeze
9. First day of solo parenting after our babymoon, and while Coralie sleeps Josephine and I play
10. Coralie wearing the babygro my Dad and his girlfriend bought Josephine when she was born. I love these little connections to him, but at the same time they make me so sad and I've cried a lot today. So lucky to have my girls to share stories of him with, and to make me smile even at the saddest of times.
