I hate toilet training

Xavier's finally gotten the idea of what the toilet is for and what the little potty in the corner of the toilet is doing sitting there. Unfortunately even though he knows what they are used for, Xavier still has trouble realizing the potty isnt going to bite his cute little tush off. We've even started bribing with his favourite food ... Lollies (according to him and who am I to doubt a two year old who has all the opinions on everything including which way I put his shoes on!?) . Well if he had it his way he'd be having them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I don't blame him sometimes I feel the same about chocolate (can eat a block in one sitting.) Well rewarding and bribing doesn't seem to work either but regardless I will put it out there, toilet training is tideous! In fact I would rather change 20 nappies than sit on the cold floor trying to convince my two year old why he should go and stop pretending he is with his scrunched up face and straining sounds. I'll give him credit it's half believable and quite hilarious. With that being said I'll be relieved when I don't have to freeze my own tush off every morning putting poopy nappies in the bin outside,the cute little undies with cars on them are finally being used and I get more embarrassing moments of Xavier shouting to me in aisle 6 that 'I need to poo mummy, mummy it's coming, it's poo!!' all while holding his bottom and doing the I'm pooping face.

I don't know what to call this post, so I'm just going to leave this here...

We all love Dr Google, why wouldn't you? He doesn't make you cue in a waiting area full of people who are coughing continuously while your bobbing a baby on your knee so fast that they look like one of those figurines in seniors cars that stick to the dashboard. Dr Google also doesn't cost you a pretty penny everytime you search again, although in most cases you'll find your probably dying or being a hypochondriac (we've all been there, no shame). In motherhood and I'm talking even when your still cooking that little baby up you tend to google things, ALOT! Why do we do this? Because we love our children and undeniably would run to the end of the world for them, we constantly doubt our natural ability as women or mothers because we always want the best for our offspring. Most times I have found I've googled so far into things that I find other mothers bringing each other down with criticism and negativity. I don't understand why we as women feel as though the way we parent our children is the best way and only way to tackle parenthood. You bottle fed or you breast fed, there tiny tummies are both full aren't they? So your a good mum! You used the most expensive pram or the one that didn't leave a hefty hole in your pocket, they've both got wheels and hold the baby. So your a good mum! Whether your a fulltime mother, a working mother, a single mother, a mother whose partner works away or even a step mother, the fact that we google and worry that we're not doing enough says already that in fact we really are. So happy Mother's Day to all the mums, mums to be, mums who have lost children, step mums and women who are trying to become mums, you are amazing! xx

You know your a mum when...

I'm currently wearing a mad mum bun, the tshirt I was wearing yesterday and finally sitting down to a hot cup of tea. You guessed it! I'm surviving off a few hours sleep and finally some rest time now that my gremlin has decided he's tired from all that no sleep last night. Ok so I called Xavier a gremlin but I probably look more like one then what he does, he's the cute version (I guess). Now that I'm enjoying my hot tea and daytime sit coms, I'm thinking about how different my life has become since Xavier joined it, I wouldn't change it for the world even with my day old tshirt and notorious, completely unglamourous mum bun. So with all this thinking and serious avoidance of housework, I made a list of you know your a mum when... So here it is!

You know your a mum when...
- wearing the same jeans you did the previous day if there's no food stains or boogers is normal, if you can make it to day 3 then your Wonder Woman.
- rocking the mum bun is easier then straightening your hair because you get to sit down for an extra 10 minutes (if your lucky).
- Having a chocolate stash hidden is perfectly normal, so is hiding in a different room so you can eat it too without having to share.
- singing or humming peg+cat, giggle and hoot or Sesame Street while you wash the dishes or showering because you watch them 7 days a week more than what you listen to the radio nowadays.
- you can hear 'mum' linger in your ears even when the kids are sleeping, it's like an alarm that never stops beeping.
- Rocking back and forth in the supermarket even when you don't have a child in tow, the general people probably think your weird until you get a giggle and smile from another mum, accompanied by a nod of 'been there, done that'..
- finding gross food stuffed in the couch or any other place you can hide food doesn't phase you anymore because at least you know the smell isn't a poopy nappy you have to change.
- seeing your partners face at the end of the day is the best thing in the world because you get an adult conversation and can cuddle someone who actually sits still.
- sleeping in to 7am is a treat, if you make it to 8am then you should probably check your kitchen because they're probably making angels in the flour they've poured on the floor.

Things mums don't want to admit

As a mum you don't usually like to admit when times get tough, when you've hardly had any sleep because, A) your child has decided to take a sleep strike or B) you needed some down time and by down time I mean, half bottle of wine and copious amounts of offspring which then occurs to you as a bad idea in the am (we've all been there). I can't always blame Xavier for the choices I make or the excuses I use but I do, it's easier to blame a two year old for your messy house rather then to admit that you've just been a lazy bitch and avoided it like the plague. 
So here comes a few things I will admit I have used as excuses or even reasons I have told myself to make me feel better about why the washing pile has grown.
1. Sorry about my messy house, I've been so busy lately. Many of my family and friends have heard this come out of mouth and I know you all know that is not the truth. But I thank you  for saying that's ok you should see mine everytime, no really thanks.
2. The old we should catch up soon, it's been awhile. It's been awhile because catching up for coffee or lunch is about as easy as toilet training your toddler. Yep!
3. I feed my child vegetables every night, let's be honest here that's a big lie! We'll feed our toddlers whatever they'll eat, Xavier had a carrot stick for dinner with nachos but his tummy was full and so that means he'll sleep and that's the main thing.
4. I will never laugh the day my child says a swear word. Guilty, I had a giggle, it was funny however it is not funny when your in the supermarket and your toddler suddenly decides it's the perfect time to drop the f-bomb. 

5.  Last but not least, I am the perfect mother and I love to share. No I don't love to share the Chocolate bar I bought or the vanilla frappe with extra cream. You know why I got that extra cream not so I could share it with my little duckling, I got it because I like extra cream FOR MYSELF! Ok so I've hid in a different room so I don't have to share. I know we teach our children to be kind and share with others but sometimes as a mum I want that extra cream for myself. Do I feel guilty? not really, sorry. Xavier double dips and I have to admit I'm not a fan of the salvia sharing.

In saying all of this my life as a mum is pretty perfect or so I perceive on Instagram.

Having a two year old toddler

Ask me a year ago what I would have said about having a two year old toddler on my hands, I would have said I can't wait! Here I was with my six month old baby thinking mums whose children throw themselves on the floor of the supermarket (because they'll just die if they don't have that Freddo frog that is always conveniently placed where they can see them) is just really embarrassing. Until I turned into one of those mothers, you know the kind of mum who doesn't care if my child is having a complete meltdown over a chocolate bar because I'm too busy laughing at his facial reactions and pleases I'm getting from him. Xavier is a comedian and my constant entertainment, never a dull moment in my household. So here I am saying I admit defeat, I admit defeat to those mums who said to never use toddler and perfect in the same sentence. If I had to write a quick summary of my little x man it would be, loves to unpack everything that is neatly packed away almost immediately, has to repeat the word 'car' several times to ensure we are in fact leaving the house for an adventure, must be fussy with most foods but most importantly never eat vegetables, especially the green ones. If you got a boogey you better pick that bad boy out and wipe it on your tshirt, must tell mumma when I'm going to the toilet but never actually want to use the toilet. He's a real stuntman, a real funny kinda guy, the most perfect imperfect toddler, aside from most of the naughty things I have kindly pointed out he does do some angelic things. Such as kisses my cheek when he accidentally throws a toy car at me (or so he says) he says sorry when he drops a toy car on my foot or even when he puts a toy car in my hot tea of a morning. In case you haven't noticed he's also a real car lover *car car* and no I don't mean cat lover (hell no) he literally loves anything with a set of wheels, be it one wheel or four wheels, if it's got a set of wheels then Xavier's interested. So now that I'm coming to the end of my ramble I realize I haven't said many positive things about having a toddler because there is plenty. I have someone to trick into giving me a back rub and who can complain with that??? 

Untamed Designer Kidswear

So if you follow me on my instagram account you'd know how I've been talking about a brand that we have loved since Xavier was around 4 months old. Xavier's very first flatpeak hat (again if you follow my instagram account you would have seen countless photos of Xavier wearing a green bike flatpeak.) Xavier had been wearing this hat nearly everyday until the day came that it no longer fitted *major sadface* well it's now on display in Xavier's bedroom as I loved it so much! Quite recently Untamed have brought out boy and girl leggings from newborn sizing to a bigger kids size and also hoodies! Thanks to Untamed Xavier got to try out the new leggings and hoodie and we LOVE them! No seriously these are so comfortable for Xavier to walk in which to me is a pretty big deal as I hate to see him looking uncomfortable even if it is stylish,the leggings are 'drop crutch' which look super groovy as I know most people don't like their little boys in leggings because they are 'tight' looking. Am I right? Well mumma's your answer is here, these super cool leggings also come in a black and white zebra print just in case your not a fan of blue. Don't even get me started on the hoodie! Not only is it stylish but so versatile and so easy to put on, we all know how much of a pain getting a toddler dressed is (don't even get me started, if Xavier had his way he'd join a nudist colony, no kidding) Yes not only in boys for all you mumma's with sweet little girls, they also have cute flatpeak hats and clothing for girls and I'm telling you if I end up with a girl she'll definitely be reppin them! Ok so enough about the clothes, let me tell you abit behind the brand, two mumma's created the flatpeak hats as the market for cute hats aimed at kids, yep kids clothing not the clothing we call 'kids' that end up looking like mini men, clothing that actually has bright colours and fun patterns! Genius! So many of my friends fell absolutely in love with Xavier's first flatpeak that now they're also reppin Untamed flatpeaks and kidswear. Honestly it will be the best purchase made for your little ones and if you don't get onto it your seriously missing out. Ok so now i'll stop boasting and you can have a look at their website http://www.untameddk.com/ and check out all the cool designs for yourself and even drop some into that little shopping cart in the top right hand corner (they also ship internationally and to New Zealand not just Australia), I know I certainly will be soon! If you don't already follow them on instagram then please do, they show all the designs and clothing on there and even sometimes do giveaways and lets be honest everyone loves a giveaway!  Thanks Untamed Designer Kidswear for letting me show off your products, you'll always have me as a happy customer.

 Enjoy! x 

Xavier's First Birthday Party

 Sorry it has taken me so long to do another blog post and share Xavier's big day, with moving house, easter and the lack of wifi at our new house it has made making my usual blog posts alot harder. So finally i'm in wifi range and ready to share photos of Xavier's first birthday party! Xavier's favorite tv show is 'in the night garden' and his favourite character is 'Iggle Piggle', in case you haven't seen this show before google, in the night garden. Iggle Piggle is blue, red and white and has a very special blanket much like Xavier's very special 'Rabbey'. So coming up with a theme for Xavier's party was quite easy, blowing up all the balloons and hanging them from our roof however was not! I made Xavier's cake myself and I even made the marshmallow fondant myself (also crediting one of my friends Adriana for helping me with putting the fondant on the cake and for letting me use her cake decorating materials). It was such a great day for Xavier and we are very lucky to have amazing friends and family to help share and spoil our little cherub, as fun as the whole thing was i'm definitely glad I only have to do it a couple of times a year! Alot of stress, hard work, hunting and most of all love went into Xavier's party and i'm so glad it paid off in the end, and yes i'm definitely going to continue to make big deals of our childrens birthdays with big themed partys, they're only kids for such a short amount of time. Hope this helps some of you with ideas for your little's first birthday party! 

Enjoy x