The weekend before Christmas, we had family visiting and there was more than one Christmas dinner, present swapping and soaking up that pre-Christmas buzz. We went out on Christmas Eve which is not something we have ever normally done but taking Alfie out for a birthday meal, going to look at the big Christmas tree in town (and running around it multiple times because three year old) and then coming home for a slice of birthday cake, and putting a mince pie and carrot out, felt like a good balance and a good way to transition from birthday to Christmas.
It was mine and Gary’s first-time hosting Christmas and even though trying to sort everything for Alfie’s birthday on top of the Christmas prep all the while lugging around my beachball of a belly and the house being half-way through a big DIY/room-swap mess was frazzling at times, I still found it a lot of fun. Honestly, Alfie really starting to get Christmas this year was such a joy to be a part of.
On Boxing Day, we drove over to Wimpole to see the Christmas light display which was brilliant. I really loved doing something on Boxing Day, keeping the festivities going just a little bit longer and not getting cabin fever with an active three-year-old are all wins in my book. Also, there were churros and I bloody love churros.
This Twixmas period has been the most relaxed I have been all year. The house is a mess, I’ve tripped over the train set more times than I care to admit and any form of routine has gone to shit. But I don’t care. We’ve enjoyed lie ins and daytime baths and getting into pyjamas at 4pm (after only getting out of them at 11am), lunches bought from the street food market and dinners of cheeseboards, chicken & stuffing sandwiches and Christmas chocolate eaten in front of Gavin & Stacey, Wallace & Gromit and Outnumbered. It’s been great. I know my desire for a refresh will kick in very soon but right now, I’m just embracing piles of presents still sat around, not knowing what day it is, wondering what to spend my book vouchers on and wearing super soft socks (is it even Christmas if your mum doesn’t buy you new socks?!).
We have a table booked at our local sushi restaurant on New Year’s Eve and are also hoping to squeeze in a cheeky mocktail but honestly, if we’re in bed by 9pm, I won’t be mad about it. Hope you’ve had a good one.
2024 reflections
It’s been a weird ol’ year. I always quite enjoy the natural reset of January, setting some intentions for the year ahead, but half-way through this January, we were told we were facing a major restructure at work and all at risk of redundancy and that pretty much set the precedent for the year: feeling like my head was only just above the water at all times. It was four months before I knew the outcome of the restructure and whilst it all worked out okay in the end (a promotion and pay rise), those four months were stressful and the stress at work didn’t really end as we then had to put the new structure together which is an ongoing process. Amongst this, we were trying for a baby which was something we didn’t feel like we could delay but doing so amongst the threat of losing my job felt like a very risky game. In the meantime, I was also planning my sister’s hen do and practicing a vegan wedding cake which were both lovely tasks, but I would have preferred to have done them without all the other shit going on (particularly when my interview fell the same week as the hen do).
I finally found out I was pregnant in July and even though I felt relieved and happy and lucky, I had also had this feeling of trepidation. It’s like I just knew this wasn’t going to be an easy pregnancy. It’s been six months of feeling, well, crap. In the last few weeks, something has shifted; I feel like I have a little more energy again and my word, the difference. I will take any amount of heartburn/aching/swelling/weeing every half an hour for the remainder of the pregnancy if it means my brain doesn’t feel like it’s wading through fog all the damn time.
It is, however, so easy to focus on all the hard bits and when I flick through photos from the year, there has been so much good stuff. The biggest joy, as always, has been watching Alfie grow. Parenting is really hard work but watching him go from two – three has been a privilege and probably my favourite age yet. There was also our holiday in Camber Sands, celebrating five years married at The Pig, my sister’s wedding, our holiday in Devon, glamping in Suffolk, a trip to Edinburgh with my sister, our annual trip to Norwich and all the lovely day-to-day joys that I’ve tried to capture in these monthly journals throughout the year.
Twenty Things I’ve Loved Lately
Alfie having the time of his life on the bouncy castle at a friend’s birthday party.
A Christmas Wreath workshop with my friend; I’ve never done one before and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It was nice to do something different and spend time together away from the kids. Plus, as a first attempt, I didn’t think my wreath was too bad – I was willing to hang it on my door anyway!
Alfie singing Jingle Bells at the top of his voice on a loop, all day, every day.
Two nights off parenting; we had a lovely weekend relaxing in Norwich.
The house being full of various fairy lights or light-up devices. I want my living space to be twinkly AF at Christmas time.
Catching up with old friends at National Trust places.
Alfie’s absolute delight in spotting Christmas trees around town.
A big navy, velvet bow in my hair.
The Christmas tree in Ely cathedral – stunning. Or, to quote Alfie, ‘it’s SO pretty Mummy!’
Our boy turned three years old, something I still can’t quite believe.
The digger birthday cake I made him; sod the wedding cake, this is my best baking achievement of the year.
Setting new Christmas Eve traditions; being out, seeing the town all lit up with lights, Alf’s blowing out the candles on his cake (for a second time), putting out a mince pie and carrot for Santa & Rudolph. Loved it.
Alf’s inspecting the nibbled carrot first thing on Christmas morning, as if to confirm that there had definitely been a reindeer in the house, was just magical.
Alfie pulling presents out of his stocking with a big grin on his face.
However, nothing will beat his face when he opened his very own train track set. I think perhaps my favourite moment of Christmas.
Super easy cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
Alfie running around in his pyjamas all day on Christmas Day, including when we went for a walk/park trip. There was just something so relaxed and festive about it.
Airfrying the roast potatoes and parsnips – game changer when it comes to making a roast dinner.
The final episode of Gavin & Stacey; just perfect.
Feeling relaxed for the first time in a long while.
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