Christmas 2012 was a wonderful, tiring, exciting, hectic, at times a wee bit stressful, but above all a magical time.  We went over on Christmas Eve to stay at my Mum's, even though she only lives about 5 minutes down the road she has a huge old house that is beautiful and very Christmassy so we love staying there.

We awoke on Christmas morning after a tiring nights sleep- I just couldn't get comfy and for some reason for the first time in well over a year we had a little visitor join us at 5am for cuddles.

As is the law on Christmas Day we had a champagne breakfast with salmon and scrambled egg.

Before getting down to the important task of opening pressies.  We were all thoroughly spoilt- I got some lovely bits and pieces for my camera, and a very special little lady's fingerprint charm for my pandora bracelet, as well as the usual clothes, makeup and smellies.  

Thoughtful pressie decorations from Auntie Paula.

We then went over to my Grandparents who live about twenty minutes away, for a day of merriment, eating and drinking.  I was the designated driver which meant I could watch my family get more and more tipsy before my eyes.  Very amusing.  Especially when my Mum thought she was pulling off her jumper but ended up pulling off everything and exposing her breasts to my entire family.

Me and my sister.

Lunch was yummy, with my Mum ordering our favourite Malteaser cheesecake from our local pub for dessert instead of the 'traditional' Christmas pudding.  It was then on to more present opening.

We got caught red handed sneaking chocolate truffles!

And we had lots and lots of laughs.

In the evening we came home to my Mums and snuggled in front of the fire chatting before having an early night.

Boxing Day we had a relaxing day just the three of us which was just what we needed after a hectic couple of days.  We packed up our car and left my Mum's, before going for a nice winter walk and to the local park.

We then came home and relaxed indoors- we sorted out Mads new mound of toys and clothes, which literally took hours, however it was birthday and christmas combined as we kept needing to remind ourselves.  Mads then had a nice long nap while we snuggled on the sofa. 

We played with our new bath toys.

On the 27th we went over to my Dads in the afternoon which was lovely.  My grandparents were down from Wales to see us which is always special and memorable- my Stepmum cooked a lovely 'picky' meal full of nibbles and treats- it was delicious.  We opened a couple more pressies and overall had a nice, relaxing time.

Of course we were allowed ice cream treats- after all it was still Christmas!

And thats it.  Over now.  It is amazing how much hype there is for a couple of days.  It leaves you exhausted, low on pennies, and with a messy house.  

But when you see the magic on your child's face?  Totally 100% worth it.

When Mads arrived on Christmas Eve 2010, I couldn't help feel a bit sorry for her for when she celebrated her birthdays in the future.  After all, who wants their birthday at Christmas?  But actually I have come to realise that a Christmas Eve birthday can be magical, and it is a lovely day to celebrate your birthday.

Everyone is in a good mood, there is a excited feeling in the air, and you get lots of attention.

Mads 2nd birthday was no exception.  We started the day with cuddles and present opening in bed with me and Daddy, and her little face when she saw her big '2' balloon was a picture.  Unfortunately Mr E couldn't get the time off work so in the morning we went to our local garden centre with her little boyfriend and my good friend, and while we were there we had lots of fun.  We met Father Christmas, and Mads was such a good girl when she sat on his knee.  I told him it was her birthday and he made everyone sing to her, which may have made my hormonal self tear up just a little bit.  

We played on the rides, had some lunch, and Mads and her boyfriend ran around hand in hand (very cute) before we came home to relax and have a nap before the other celebrations later.

My Dad and his wife came round after she woke up from her nap to say hello and bring her a present, she loves Grandpa and Nana Jacqueline, so this made her very excited.

We then picked Mr E up from work and went over to my Mum's where the real celebrations began.  For the last couple of years it has been a tradition where my Grandparents come over briefly to wish her a Happy Birthday, then a whole host of friends arrive as well.  Her Auntie Paula and Auntie Emma and all their families come over, they are ones who have her twice a week.  It is lovely and we all sit and chat, normally Paula brings around a massive pot of chilli, and we drink copious amounts of champagne.  It is a great start to Christmas and an end to Mads birthday.

She was thoroughly spoilt by my family and her Aunties, and was so excited to open each present and see what was inside.  She didn't end up going to bed until 9pm, and by the end of it she was exhausted.

All in all it was a magically christmassy 2nd birthday.  I can't believe I now have a 2 year old.  Where does the time go?

To my wonderful little lady,

Two years ago this very evening, the 23rd December 2010, I went out for a 'Christmas meal' at our local pub.  Myself and Daddy were there, along with Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Anna and Auntie Katie, and her boyfriend Loz.  It seems a funny day to go for a Christmas meal, but we had good reasons.

We had a lovely time, we sat by the fire, pulled crackers, and laughed and joked.  But Mummy had butterflies in her tummy and no amount of roast potatoes could make them go away.  We said our goodbyes, kissed my family extra hard, and went home.  Once at home I sat at the table and wrote a card that I had bought from the supermarket earlier that day.  I addressed it to 'Our Beautiful Baby Girl.'  In that card I wrote about my feelings, my nerves and my excitement about becoming a Mummy, about how I loved you before I even met you, and how I hoped I would be all you wanted me to be.  I licked the envelope and went up to bed for a restless nights sleep. 

My last sleep as just me.  The next day at eight am Daddy drove us to the hospital.  Just over an hour and a half later you were born- 9.35am on the 24th December 2010- the best Christmas Present i could ever hope of receiving.  We knew you were coming that day, a special birthday for our special little lady.  

On Christmas Eve 2010 when everyone else was getting excited about unwrapping presents the next day, and about being with family, my little family was born.  We became a three.  You came into our lives to the sound of 'When you Believe,' by Leon Jackson playing on the radio.  

'There can be miracles when you believe.'  You most certainly were a miracle to us.

And you still are.  On the eve of your second birthday, you still bring more joy in to our lives than I ever thought possible.  You have made me a Mummy, made me a better person and made our lives a million percent better.  You have made me realise the important things in life, made me cry tears of happiness, tears of indescribable joy, and tears of frustration.  You have changed the lives of so many people around you too- you made my own Mum and Dad Grandparents and you have brought joy to my own Grandparents who feel honoured to have met their Great Grandaughter.  You have perfectly slotted into our family and I can't imagine a time when you weren't there.

You have made us a family.  I cannot thank the stars enough for that early little Christmas present who arrived in our lives on Christmas Eve 2010.  It was the best gift I have ever received and it changed our lives forever.

As I sit down and read to you 'The Night Before Christmas' tomorrow on your second birthday, my eyes will be drawn to a special message written by your Grandma in the book and given to you on your first Christmas Day when you were a day old....

'To my first very special Granddaughter,

Who arrived on the Day Before Christmas 2010.  We love you already.  Love Grandma.'

And it is totally true.  When I sat down to write that card the night before you were born I wrote that I loved you already, when you were a day old I loved you so much I would do anything for you, and now as you are about to turn two I love you even more.

Thankyou for being the best Mads.  Happy 2nd birthday for tomorrow.

Mummy loves you more than anything in the world.  But as always you already knew that.

Mummy

xx

This past weekend we had our 'first Christmas' of the year with Mr E's side of the family.  They live up in Manchester so we normally have a weekend with them just before Christmas each year when they come down to us. We do everything you would normally do on Christmas Day- eat far too much, have a Turkey roast and open presents.  Mr E loves entertaining at our house, and so do I, apart from the washing up!

I don't have a very close relationship with my Mother in law, which is a shame, but then to be honest neither does my husband, unlike my family who we are very close too. Mr E had a very different upbringing to me and you can't change that.  However this weekend was nice and we all had a good time.  After all the sad things have happened in the news this past week, it makes you realise that sometimes you have to be the better person and just get on with things, life is too short.

Anyway the most important thing was to see the magic and happiness on my little lady's face all weekend.  She got treated to some lovely toys and pressies, and loved having lots of people around to fuss over her.

 Mads got her birthday and xmas pressies early- this one was a Weeble treehouse which she thought was very fun indeed.

Our first Turkey of the Festive Season cooked by the fair hands of my husband.

Happy.

Mads got a new dressing gown- love the little ears.

And ate lots of yummy treats.  After all it was 'Christmas.'  Staring intently at Daddy to feed her ice cream!

On Sunday morning we went for a nice, long winter walk at a local marina near where we live, before snuggling in the restaurant for hot chocolates.

'Up high' on Uncle Mark's shoulders.

Looking for ducks.

We said goodbye to Mr E's side of the family and then went to a local pub to meet my side for a belated 19th birthday meal for my sister.  My Mum and Stepdad were there, as was my stepsister and her boyfriend, it was nice as we aren't seeing them over Christmas as they are going away.  The food was absolutely delicious and we had a lovely time.

Mads was as good as gold in the restaurant and sat through three courses with the help of colouring with Daddy, pizza and ice cream!

Reading with Grandma.

Sisters.

All in all it has been a lovely weekend, and I am fully feeling in the festive spirit ready for the official big day in eight days time.