WELCOME 2011 ... DO COME ON IN!!!!!

My goodness it's finally here! A brand new shiney sparkling and fresh start ..... 2011 I am hoping will have all my hopes and dreams hidden away - just waiting to be unwrapped and explored!

I don't think anyone could understand the emotional rollercoaster that 2010 was for me to deal with. I really just scraped through it by the skin of my teeth, and I'm still more than a little bruised and battered from it all.

One thing for sure, sitting night after night, here alone, is that it made me realise is the people that I can count on and who matter. I have had my eyes opened up to so many things, that I've decided that this is going to be our year as a family of 3 - starting our own wee traditions, setting our own mark on the world and it's going to be a big break away aswell!

I am both really scared and excited for our move away, Spain is hardly the end of the earth away but it means leaving my lovely mum - who is just a complete angel. I love her so much and I feel like I'll be missing out on precious time with her when we move, as everyone knows that life is all too short and dissappears way to fast, and its scary! I know I'm 31 but I just love being with and spending time with her and with Joseph as he just adores her!

But it's something we've always talked about doing and we've now got a chance to go ..... so once the house eventually sells - then it's bon voyage ...... Gulp!!

So in true Sarah style - I'd better get my ass into gear and stop being an ostrich - deal with all the stupid paperwork left over from the business and get fit, as I don't want to be bogged down by horrible things to do all year as I want to enjoy every second of all the exciting day to day things with my beautiful bambino - now that I can do whenever I want, without having to be appart from him and work anymore - and I need to be bikini ready for Almunecar!!! wooop wooo!!!!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS (may be ammended as the year progresses!)

1 Get Fit - get off my ass (I need to do more exercise than just the housework!)
2 Go to bed early ....... to get up early!
3 Empty all the attic stuff we have stashed in everybody else's!!! Pack for Spain!
4 Clean my lovely neglected car more often
5 Get back into doing my weekly beauty routine
6 Make an effort to meet new people and go to toddlers stuff with Joe
7 Stop being an emotional doormat - stand up for myself when things are unfair
8 Get out more with the new people I meet as i'm bored
9 Keep all Joe's milestones up to date and recorded in his book ....
10 Actually start writing up Joe's book and print out the pictures!

So fingers crossed this coldy flu thing that I have - or the scary croup thing that jospeh has(resulting in yet another trip to out of hours up at the hospital!) dissappears fast and we are both bouncing, ready and raring to go for daddy coming home in 3 sleeps - yaaaaaay! Where we can spend some time together as a family and also as me and Murray and have ourselves a late merry christmas, using up all the tasty goodies that I got in for visitors that never came and were never used and I might get a night out or two and some fun as i've had more than enough of being on my own, totally alone, which has been a shit end to quite a crappy year.

But this is a brand new year and i'm going to embrace all it holds! I can't believe how big my baby Joseph is getting (he's going to get a whole post to himself for all the goss!) I'm so pleased me and Mur are closer than ever and about to embark on our biggest year yet and I'm jut so excited that i'm going to have some fun again! :-) In a different way, doing different things - but with my beautiful people who live with me and who I love with all my being and all that I am - in my House of Hughes xxxxxxx

Happy New Year to you all and I hope that 2011 is a fabulouso one for you all - I sure as hell plan to enjoy it! xxxxx

Mwah, much love xxxxxxxxx

HANDSOME HUGHES!

Joseph is such a gorgeous perfect wee baby boy that he deserves a post all to himself again! Poor little thing is just fantastic and doesn't moan about all the chaos that happens in his lovley happy life!

I am loving having more time with him, he's just such a cool well natured smiley baby and I love him more than I could ever describe or put into words!

This last week has been a busy one for my wee lad! He's been learning lots of new things and developing and growing at a fast rate! (almost as fast as his daddy is sailing to get home!! lol)

* He now has 2 teeth - one that is peeping through daily and then disappearing again, i've decided that it's because the weather is rubbish and it's too cold for tiny teeth!
*He's Waving!!!!! Yaaay!!! (especially at himself in the mirror)
*Helps you to dress him (pushes his legs/arms into jeans, babygrows, sleeves, it's soo sweet!
*He holds onto his own feet and pulls at his toes when ur changing his nappy!
*Holds things in his hands passing them from hand to hand properly really looking at it or playing with it!
*Holds his cup!
*Drinks outta his cup!
*Tries to hold his spoon at mealtimes!
*Ate mince n tatties, chicken, soup, pasta, bread, cheese - loves all food!
*Helps you brush his teeth / tries to hold the toothbrush!
*Holds his ball and throws it!
*Sits on your hip sideways to be carried about!
*Tries to grab the water flow in front of him if you pour water out of a tub into *the bath when he's in the bath!
*Is now smiling for the camera
*Can roll over and over and over!
*Has had his funrock put up a notch of height to the next adjustment level!
*Sits in his Pushchair and looks around!
*Has been out in St Andrews in his furry winter snow suit! (first trip of many!)
*Tries to give kisses and cuddles!!!! It feels totally amazing!
*He cuddles in for his nighttime feed!
*Goes to sleep perfectly every night again, without any fuss or crying!

I know that to most people with kids, or people who have none, this is not that exciting, but it really is to me as - i adore how he just loves to learn and it is amazing how he is managing to do all this himself, just at his own pace and I love it!! And I really want to use this blog to record all that he gets up to and when it happens - in with our everyday life stuff! So we can look back on it as he grows!

On a sad note, one thing I have noticed is that Joseph hates shopping!!! Typical!!! Just my luck - cos that's now 2 men in my life that'll be moaning at me getting grumpy!! Oh well - I'll survive ...... I'm used to it! ;)

Here's some pictures of my little angel!!

lotsa luv xxxx

Summer Holiday .......

....... Well I have finally managed to gather and scrape together 5 whole days off doing beauty and I have no clients booked in!!! YAAY!! this is the first bit of peace and quiet I am going to have had since that two faced, nasty FAT $*&@ decided to screw me over at the begining of July and I am so looking forward to it!!! It's going to be how maternity should be - spending time with my hunky Murphy husband and beautiful baby Joe and not have everybody else in and out the house bringing him up and looking after him - which i hate!!! (i just wish it was me all the time!)

Anyway's, am so Sorry i've not been on here for a bit, things have been more manic than i could ever have imagined possible! We've closed the shop, set up a beauty room in the house and a tanning area in my summer house! Mur's been to aberdeen for a week and passed his course, baby Joe's not been sleeping, He's been seriously teething and on Friday 1st October at 2.10pm I found is first little white tooth spiking through! It was amazing and he's drooled and chewed worse than normal since, all the way through the weekend!! Poor wee man! He's now also eating breakfast, lunch and tea and we are making sure he gets a good relaxing bathtime and bed routine and hopefully it'll start to work soon!

Mur's out at the sportsmans dinner tonight at the craws and fingers crossed he behaves himself and comes home on time and in one piece and so far he's late!!!!

anyway i'd better go to bed i'm shattered and still have the bottles to do!!! xxxxx nighty, night night!!!

(just thought i'd let you all know that i am feeling much better and more relaxed about things now - i'm just so so so tired and have literally had enough of all the crap that has gone on - i'm not even going to list it all i've decided its all now in the past and can bloody stay there as far as im concerned! Here's looking now to the future and i hope its full of lots of love and happiness, cos i've had my fair share of the down stuff!!! xxx)

I MADE IT!!!!!!!

Well a month has gone and my gorgeous man is back home where he belongs! He's totally shattered and is upstairs tucked into our bed sound asleep! It is so fabby to have him home, i've missed him loads!! But it's rubbish as this is just a pit-stop because he's off up to Aberdeen for a very hard course on Monday so i'll be flying solo again!! but it's just for 5 days as on Friday he's back home for another 3 weeks!!! wooooooo!!!!!

Another high point today is that I am sitting here blogging from the couch - because my beloved gave me a fantastic secret surprise today - my own Samsung Netbook!!! YAAY (so a big huuuge thank you to Mr Stenna Drilling!! who must have been feeling generous as this was a gift to all employees on Murs drillship for not being injured or killed over the last year - lol!!) Murray never told me he had it and i'm just really really thrilled he gave it to me - i seriously love getting presents and have had nothing for ages and this is just totally perfect for me and i'm totally over the moon with it!!!!! (totally!) I've got massive changes coming up in my life with so many different things happening that having this is going to make such a difference as is so easy to take around and is much smaller and lighter than my laptop!!! woop woo!!

Any way i'm actually surprised that i am sitting here in one piece blogging at all - after my crazy horrible time over the last wee while! - i am actually sitting here with a tidy house, a tan on, clean blowdryed hair, (i even got waxed!!!) i have 2 handsome sleeping boys upstairs and i'm so very, very happy!!!! My God, I made it!! - I never thought i'd actually get through it!!!! But I know i couldnt have managed a single second without my lovely special mum! My mum has been completely amazing! She's the kindest most selfless person I have ever met and I love her so much! She's been by my side contstantly and i know i can always rely on her support for everything, I am so grateful for all she does and I know i am so lucky to have a mum like i do as there are not many around! xxxx lOVE YOU SO MUCH MUM XXXX

Big Hugs xxxxxxxxxx

OMG - it's OCD!!!!!!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm officially going into hyper mode!! I'm cleaning like a demon!! I think it's because it's about the only thing I can control right now, but my house is sparkling like a new pin! And heaven help anyone who dares leave a crumb or a splash anywhere!

Although to be honest it's me that could actually do with a bit of an overhaul before Mur arrives home on Friday night aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!! I don't know where to start, I look horrific!

Anyways am away to attempt to tackle my feet and face first - although not too sure what good it'll do - but it'll probably make me feel better! A bit done each night should definately help!! lol (i feel like the forth rail bridge!!)

must dash - xxxxxx mwah xxxxxx

(ps - here's a wee cheeky pic of my gorgeous boy taken a month ago! xxx)

This one's for you Kiddo ............

Well it's been a hectic few months in the House of Hughes and poor wee joseph has hardly had a mention for ages and my goodness has he been very busy growing and learning and just being truly wonderful!

Baby Joe is the sweetest natured wee boy you could meet. He's a complete joy to be around, he's happy laid back and utterly scrummy!! He's got wit, charm, a good dose of sarcasm and a funny sense of humour!! He has the most expressive blue eyes - is a complete flirt, with a lovely smiley mouth and knows exactly what he wants! Jospeh really is just been the bestest thing that has every happened to me and I adore him.

Everything has been a complete pleasure to do with him, he's so alert and loves learning new things - and just really enjoys when you spend time with him doing even the simplest of things - he loves his feeding - apple is his favourite so far, he savours his bottles, adores his bath, always has lots of fun - laughing singing and entertaining himself in his funrock and donught! he has a fantastic time lying on his animal quilt with his play gym thingy and still loves chilling out in his bouncer everyday getting his fix of Baby TV - i know i was determined no dummy and no tv but he wanted both and loves them so much!!! - and what i hadnt bargained for was a baby with a mind of its own! lol xx

Joseph's favourite things are DOG, his GLOWWORM, BUNNY, his CRINKLY BOOKS, ZIGGY ZEBRA pram activty bar, his PLAY GYM, slumping down in his PRAM, sucking on his DUMMY and of course cuddling his MUZZY!!!

Over the last week or so not only is he trying to sit up and roll over he's determined to stand (while you hold him and support him) at any opportunity and today whilst standing he put one foot in front of the other in a walking movement!!!! Granny Mary clapped in delight and i almost wept, i was distraught ........... my god - my tiny gorgeous baby boy is getting huuuuge!!! He's like a mushroom growing in front of my eyes!

He tried commando crawling yesterday for the first time which was utterly hilarious - he was yelling, grunting, puffing and panting whilst he dragged himself along the floor trying to move his knees and crawl - it was adorable!! He was exhausted but so chuffed with himself as he lay panting in my arms afterwards following all is effort!

He found his voice last week and is really trying to speak, I just love hearing him and when i go through in the morning the smiles i get would melt your heart!! I find all this just amazing, as i'm not really a baby person but he just seems so perfect and i'm learing so much along with him and it sounds soppy but the world and the way it works feels special and clearer and new!! i'm looking at everything i've ever known or taken for granted so differently now through new fresh eyes!!

Tonight for the first time in days he's been really wild and really funny! He was wrestling, rolling about and generally flinging himself around his cot yelling, squealing and giggling, sucking in his bottom lip covering his new two little toothy bumps! while i was busy running his bath (he needs kept behind bars while i do this now, as he moves so far if he's left on the floor and i'm scared he comes outta the bathroom and falls down the stairs - a stair gate is next on my shopping list, lol!!!) after his bath, he had his favourtie supper and fell soundo, poor we man was absoloutly shattered and was dead to the world, out for the count by 8.30pm!!!

Do you know, for the first time in my life i'm looking forward to autumn - I really enjoy closing the curtains at night now as it gets dark - it kinda just feels like we are all snuggled up in our own special wee nest, nice, cosy and safe! And I can't wait for the next few weeks to come so i can get to spend more time with him, as every single second is worth everything i've been through!! But there is no competition and no descision between keeping on working in my salon or giving it all up and being at home with Joseph trying to be the bestest mummy i can be to the most amazing special little boy that i am lucky to have been blessed with!!! I thank him every single day for coming into my life as i am just so grateful and happy. xxxxx

BYE BYE BEAUTIFUL SALON

Well - what a year I am having! The high's are high and the low's are really low! I cant believe that I am actually closing my salon. It's a weird feeling and I had a complete meltdown this morning but i am on the road to recovery again now i think!

I am already feeling a lot lighter and less stressed and dare i say excited for the changes about to happen! OMG!!!!!!!!!!

But if i am honest thats the sugar coated version - as i'm just totally gutted!!

Over the next few blogs i'm gonna share some pics from years gone past of Astara and all the fun we've had!

As they say you've to reach rock bottom before getting back up and people I am seriously on my Ass so hopefully there's only one way ........!! xxxxxx