Christmas at Bluestone: Day 2

After all the travelling on Monday, we felt the need to do relaxing things on the second day of our midweek break at Bluestone.

Seaweed Bath

My Tuesday began with a seaweed bath at The Well Spa. It was a really lovely atmosphere, walking down to the village in the morning. All the Christmas lights made it feel rather magical. I especially loved the lights on The Well Spa!

The Well Spa, Bluestone at Christmas

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Christmas at Bluestone: Day 1

As is often the way at this time of year, there are lots of nasty bugs and viruses going around. I’ve managed to catch a lot of them, being unwell from the end of September until now (with the exception of only one week!) I’ve been particularly poorly over the last couple of weeks since we got back from Bluestone. Unfortunately, it’s put me behind with everything. My poor little blog has had hardly any attention. Just working and looking after Autumn has taken up all my energy!

Anyway, that’s enough whining. I’m excited because I can finally write about our lovely week at Bluestone, visiting Elftopia (Kingdom of the Elves) and seeing many of the things that Christmasland had to offer! I’ve been itching to write a diary of our week. It will be lovely for Autumn to look back on when she’s older!

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When should you first take baby to the dentist? (+WIN)

So, when should you take your child to the dentist for the first time? There seems to be a lot of misinformation around about when you should take your baby for their first check up. Shortly before Autumn turned 6 months old, I went to a class at one of our local Children’s Centres. As well as learning about weaning, we learnt about dental care too. It turns out that where I’m based in Medway there’s a scheme where babies are given a Medway Smiles passport. It’s encouraged that they first go to the dentist between 6 and 8 months old.

Here’s some more information how to look after your baby’s precious teeth as well as a giveaway! The prizes you’re in with a chance to win will help you to protect those pearly whites.

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A family day out at Sheffield Park

Sheffield Park in East Sussex is renowned for its beautiful autumn colours. I’d say it’s definitely one of the best places to see the autumn colours in the South East. A National Trust property, it boasts acres of landscaped gardens with park and woodland. October was a very busy month for us. I went back to work, I was under the weather for most of the month and it just generally seemed to whizz by. When we got to the beginning of this week, I realised that we hadn’t visited Sheffield Park.

Fortunately, I must have expressed this to my husband. On Thursday morning we went to drop off my car to the garage first thing. As he drove me back home through the country lanes, I gazed across the fog on the marshes and the gentle sunlight dancing on the frost in the fields. It was a beautiful morning made better by the fact that he then announced he’d taken the day off and was taking us to Sheffield Park!

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A letter to my daughter at 13 months

Dear Autumn,

Yet another month has gone by so quickly, you’re now 13 months old! I’ve gone back to work this month. Although I’m not working full time, I’m spending over 24 hours a week away from you and that feels an awful lot. Fortunately, you seem to have adjusted well and seem to enjoy your time with your childminder. I think that you’ve adjusted a lot better than I have, actually. The first day I went back to work, the things I was able to do that I can’t with you around were something of a novelty. The second day I spent in the office, I kept thinking of you and felt tearful several times. I just have to try and remind myself that it’s for your own good that I’m doing this.

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