Happy New Year

So 2013 is almost over and it is time for a summary post. 2013 was the year The Grumpy Egyptian and I decided enough was enough and made the difficult decision of the Mini Grumpy Egyptian and I to return to the UK without him. It wasn't an easy choice to make, but we made it for our daughter because being selfish was not an option now we have her. We miss him horribly, but know 2014 is the year our little family will be reunited and we can get on building our future.

2013 was the year we stayed in a dodgy roadside motel in Oman that looked as though it came out of a horror film, got turned away from the Dubai/Oman border TWICE and ended up eating burgers for 3 meals in a row as it was all we could find. We went shopping to buy what we thought were essentials for Bump as she was known then, but later discovered you don't really need 400 babygrows. I continued to suffer awful morning sickness and that combined with 5am wake up calls due to building works alongside our apartment, led to me crying in our landlord's office and swiftly moving to a better place 200m along from our old flat. I struggled to keep up with work as was heavily pregnant and very tired. Bump gave us a scare and got me admitted to hospital before jumping into our lives with an emergency c-sect a couple of days later.

We had a visit from my mum who arrived laden with infacol and oreo cookie brownies when the Mini Grumpy Egyptian was 3 weeks old. She keeps telling me about things I said or that we did, but I have very little memory of those early days as it all seemed to go in an exhaustive blur. We celebrated the Mini Grumpy Egyptian's first Christmas and she was thoroughly spoilt as princesses should be.

Resolution wise, 2014 will be the year I get my fitness on track and lose some weight. I have always put this as a resolution, but this year I am going to really get stuck in as I don't want to be that chubby parent at the school gates! It will also be the year I find the time to sit down and start writing the two books I have had in my mind for the past couple of years. One is a children's book and both are inspired by my time in the Middle East.

So here is to 2014. I hope you all manage to achieve everything you want to this year and don't be too hard on yourself if you don't. Here is to the next big adventure for my little family of three xx

First Christmas: Baby Gifts

Let's start this post with a little confession. I initially planned to keep things low key, cheap and cheerful for the Mini Grumpy Egyptian because at 7 months old she doesn't really know what's going on. I decided on a couple of books, teething toys and some new clothes. Well that was until I started hitting the shops!

Now all wrapped up and ready for Santa to pop under the tree is a ball pit, numerous books, clothes, 3+ teething toys, The Hungry Caterpillar money box, some baby cookies for her stocking and a couple of wooden/rocking toys. And that's just what I can remember off the top of my head! I know the family will be spoiling her rotten too, but I just couldn't resist!

I'm hoping a stairgate will appear from family members and I've tried to choose things that are functional rather than frivolous, but it is so hard given all the amazing stuff available. Though in my defence the ball pit was £4 in Tesco and the Mamas & Papas rocking cow was just £6 at a merely new sale and looks brand new!

What did you get for your little one's first Christmas? What will they be finding under the tree this year? Any cheesy outfits making their way onto your children? The Mini Grumpy Egyptian has been rocking the Christmas Tree tights shown above plus a sparkly tutu, Christmas pudding jumper and full-on Christmas dress for a couple of weeks now!

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Ten things I want to teach my daughter

I love Pinterest (search for Emma Abdulaal and seen as you're there why not follow) and while browsing earlier came across a board entitled "100 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter". It got me thinking about all the things that I hope to teach the Mini Grumpy Egyptian in order to best prepare her for the big bad world. Here is my list of the Top Ten things I hope to teach my daughter.

1. Don't try to be like everyone else. That would make for a boring life. It's much more fun to make your own way. Van Gogh said it best, "Normality is a paved road. It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it."
2. No man is worth your tears and the one that is, won't make you cry. Or at least that is how the saying goes. I've always believed something slightly different in that love can be intense and intensity can make you cry. Don't be ashamed to cry. It doesn't mean you are weak.
3. Never stop jumping in puddles, kicking fallen leaves, feeding the ducks, dipping your feet in the river, listening to music and walking barefoot on warm grass. A life without these things is a sad one.
4. If things ever start to feel too much, never feel ashamed to ask for help. There is nothing to be ashamed of in admitting you can't do it alone.
5. Fall in love with books and don't get stuck on one particular genre. Get acquainted with your local library and try new authors.
6. "Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively" - Dalai Lama. Very true!
7. What other people call impossible, you should call something that hasn't been done yet.
8. Education can save you from almost any situation. Whether education for you is going to university or digging a well in Africa. Never stop learning or think you know enough.
9. Every woman needs a chocolate drawer. Whether it's at work, at home, in the car or under the floorboards.
10. When you're confused and nothing makes sense, there is one person whose wisdom is always right (aside from your mother!). "Today me will live in the moment. Unless it's unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie." - The Cookie Monster

What do you think of my list? What would you include on yours?

First Christmas: New Family Traditions

 Some rights reserved by ThomasSoerenes

I love Christmas and all the trimmings that go along with it. The food, the music, the TV Christmas specials, the students singing carols on the High Street, the tackier the better decorations, the ability to spend time with those you love and even the increasing waistband and permission to eat chocolate at 8am. This year we will be celebrating the Mini Grumpy Egyptian's first Christmas, but while I am excited to see her face when she sees her new toys, it is also going to be a bit sad because The Grumpy Egyptian won't be here with us. The ever-changing goalposts of the UK spouse visa has meant we won't get him here with us in time for turkey and carols. So it is up to me to make sure the family traditions we want to start are done well.

When The Grumpy Egyptian and I got our first tree together a number of years back, we decided to buy a new decoration every year - something we have decided to continue with the mini one. We also want to try and have one decoration a year added to our collection that has been made by the mini one (+ any future kids!). This year we are going to either make a small Christmas wreath using her fingerprints or some hanging footprints. I think these could be lovely to look back at one day. The odd Christmas tree card made using her footprints might also be cute.

Secondly, when it comes to presents I am a big fan of quality over quantity and would rather buy her things that have meaning/will last than a load of big plastic things she will get bored of quickly. We have decided that every year we will buy at least one lovely book for the mini one and write a little note inside of it. This present will come from Mummy and Daddy rather than Santa.

Next comes pyjamas. I adore a nice pair of pjs so will buy a new pair for the mini one, the big grumpy one and myself every Christmas. We haven't decided whether these should be dolled out on Christmas Eve to be worn that night or saved until Christmas Day.

I'm hoping that Christmas Day will (from next year) start with the 3 of us opening stockings in bed, followed by getting dressed and going downstairs to open the presents under the tree. Then breakfast while the grumpy one puts together (and swears a lot about) whatever new toy Santa delivered. My folks would then come round for Christmas lunch, more presents for the mini one and we all pass out in a food coma in front of the TV or argue over a board game - Monopoly is a dirty word in our house! Boxing Day would be round the parents so I hope they are prepared :p

Last year, while pregnant, I had awful flu on Christmas Day and ended up in hospital on Boxing Day so we didn't really get to have a proper Christmas Day. We'd planned to have a nice photo in front of our tree and eat Christmas dinner on the terrace (it was 23c that day if I remember right), but I felt so crappy that after struggling through making dinner, stretched out on the sofa and just slept. This year I want to take a snap of the mini one and I in front of the tree and either hold a photo of hubby or have him on video chat next to us. 

I am sad that this is our first Christmas as a family and we aren't together, but I know this distance between us won't be forever. And next year we can be arguing over where to put the decorations (don't tempt me!) and what embarrassing outfit I can dress the mini one in. What traditions do you have in your family? Are you celebrating your little one's first Christmas?