Pictures of a Week

Monday, April 29, 2013
One of my goals, one of the things that I have really wanted to improve and work on is my photography. I took photography when I was in high school, I had a decent idea how to use an old manual camera, I knew things about aperture and depth of field, I even knew how to develop the film and the photos in a dark room. Then along came the point and shoot, and I forgot everything I knew. I became accustomed to the easyness of quick snaps, and no finesse.  A few years ago we bought a Digital SLR on a trip back to the states, you know because everything is like half the price over there. But, I have been cheating with it. I have left it stagnant on the auto settings. I haven't really challenged myself to capture the beauty and emotions of real life, just trying to snap pictures of smiling happy people posing for the camera. There was a long time when this camera rarely left its case, and I relied on my sub-par iphone camera way too much.

In the last couple of months, probably after too much browsing of beautiful blogs with amazing photographs, I have really, really wanted to step up my game in this area. A type of self-improvement I guess, a goal. So what better place to work on my goal than right here, on my blog.

Is this one of your goals too? I would love to know, you can work on it with me if you like.

Some mornings it is definitely worthwhile getting up to see the sun rise.
Perfect Saturday morning, BBQ breakfast with friends at the beach
How great is it to see the men hanging with the kids. Makes my heart happy. 
My beautiful boy, and those big blue eyes. 

Angus, you are still my baby, don't worry! 
Somedays I miss being a kid, not caring and swimming in my clothes. 

We spend most of our days by the ocean at the moment. The weather is still so warm. 
I hope you had a lovely weekend. Did you pull out the camera too? 
Karen xx 

(Linking with Emily @ The Beetle Shack)

Maternity Style: 31 weeks

Saturday, April 27, 2013

I feel a little more on top of things than I did this time last week. I am finally getting over my continuous colds that seem to have been hanging on for the last couple of weeks, it helps that we are now all getting a proper night sleep thanks to the cot! I even managed to buy a cradle for my little girl to sleep in. It was a bargain from Gumtree, and you know I love a bargain.

This week I taught myself (with the help of YouTube) to crochet, and I started a little project for my baby girl. I love the thought of preparing for her arrival by taking the time to sit and make something specifically for her. It's a bit of a tedious project, and it takes a lot of counting stitches, but I've been enjoying the time in the quiet, with no technology distractions. It is my time to think and ponder and dream. I think it has been helping me to emotionally prepare to be a mother again as well. Things can be so busy and chaotic with a toddler in the house, as well all the other demands and general business of life. I feel like I need the quiet and the solitude for an hour or so in the evenings just to focus on my precious girl, and how grateful I am for her. I'm so excited to meet her in person. 


Angus desperately wanted to be in the pictures with me today. He's my first baby, at least I treated him like a baby until my real baby came along.

And here is the cradle I bought. I am so excited about it, it is so so lovely! 



Thanks for visiting my little space online.
 I would love if you LIKED Yellow Dandy on Facebook!

Karen xx

Dress: Quirky Circus (from Myer Miss Shop)
Leggings: Urban Outfitters






From big boy bed, back to cot

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

A few weeks ago I wrote HERE about transitioning Ezra from his cot, to the big bed. The whole process, if you remember, was very stressful, strenuous and challenging. He just doesn't get how to stay in bed. The moment you leave the room he gets up, but if you are in the room, he thinks it is play time. If I try to lay down next to him, I would get punched or my hair pulled. It drove me crazy and it it made me so angry. The whole ordeal was a nightmare and it wore us all out.

We struggled through three weeks of battles for nap time, often lasting over 2 hours only to achieve a 40 minute nap, and although night time was better, it was still challenging. He would fall asleep fairly quickly, but we needed to be in the room. But then he became a night wanderer. One night I found him down the bottom of the stairs at 2am. He would wander into our room at any time of the night and we would wake to find him silently peering through the open door, our joke was that he was 'Children of the corning us'. He then only want to go back to sleep if one of us was laying next to him, but he was so anxious that we were going to leave that he wouldn't actually fall into a deep sleep. Meaning nobody really slept.

Needless to say we were all exhausted. A little boy who was barely sleeping, a pregnant Mumma who was already up multiple times a night to pee was now getting a horrible nights sleep, and a hard working Dad was feeling like a zombie in the morning. I felt anxious about bed time, and hated the battles for nap time, it was always so emotional for me.


So this weekend we made a big decision. To go back to the cot. We got it out of storage, and reassembled it. We decided or rather came to the realisation, that he just wasn't ready. He didn't understand, and he just couldn't figure out that he needed to stay in bed, even though he could get out if he wanted. The night wandering was dangerous, and could be quite scary, I did not want an accident on the stairs. It doesn't feel like a parenting failure, or like he is taking a step back. It was just something we tried, hoping it would be easier on us all in the long run, and then made another decision based on the needs of our child.

I had big ideas of what I wanted to happen, and for him to adjust before the new baby arrives. But, once again in my journey as a parent I found that my bright ideas as practical as they may seem, don't necessary always meet the needs of my child at his stage in life.

The day he came back to his room to see his cot set up for his nap he had a huge smile on his face, he didn't even want a bedtime story he just wanted to get in right away. I sat with him for a few moments, kissed him,  didn't hear a peep for the next couple of hours. He was comfortable and felt secure. He is the type of child that NEVER sits still, he wont lay still enough to sleep unless he has no other choice.

I'm so glad now that we made the decision to go back.
I didn't want my last weeks that I can focus purely on him to be ones filled with stress and fighting against each other at nap time. I want to cherish this time, I want to make sure he knows how loved he is before the arrival of his baby sister. I want to enjoy these weeks, and I don't want to feel stressed, anxious or sleepless, that isn't good for any of us.


We will try again later, when he is older, when he understands more and is ready.

Because it is Tuesday, I'm linking up with Jess for #IBOT

Karen xx 

If you want to keep up with the goings on at Yellow Dandy, I would be so happy if you LIKED my facebook page, or follow me on Bloglovin

Maternity Style: 30 Weeks Studs and Sandals

Saturday, April 20, 2013
So it seems because I was a few days later in posting my maternity posts a couple of weeks in a row, I have missed a week. I was 30 weeks on Wednesday, so looks like 29 weeks missed its chance. You may have also noticed, I'm not wearing thongs (flip flops)!! Yay, the cooler weather has meant more variety of shoe choices.

Hitting 30 weeks sent me into a bit of panic mode. I am just so disorganised for the arrival of this baby, and 30 weeks means this is all getting very real, and time is running out. Not being in our own house, and not really having any room for baby stuff, is probably why I am lagging so badly. There is another spare room at my parents house, but it is full of stuff, plus it is the room where other people (like my Nanna) stay when they come to visit, so it isn't really practical to start loading it with girly baby accessories. Our room is also pretty full right now,  seeing we basically moved from a whole house, into one room. Ezra has his own room as well, but that is full too. I'm not really sure where to put all the extra baby gear I need to accumulate, so I've just been avoiding it all together. I dream of a beautiful baby nursery, with all the pretty little girly things and chevrons and lace, but that is just going to have to wait until our house is built.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet soon, because really, there isn't much time left!!! Any other last minute baby preparers out there too?




Top: Ladakh (Found HERE)
Pants: Jeans West Maternity Capris (Found HERE)
Necklace: Elk (Elk HERE)
Shoes: Sam Edelman Trina Sandal (Found HERE)

Some of my other Maternity Posts so far:


Have a lovely weekend!!
Karen xx 

I'd love for you to follow me on FACEBOOK or TWITTER or INSTAGRAM or PINTEREST or SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER (or everything)


I got married at 21

Thursday, April 18, 2013
One of the first photos of us together! Photo Credit to Tiffany Garcia!
9 years ago today I got married. I was young, bright eyed and idealistic. I had only just turned 21. Many people suggested that we were too young. Joel was also 21, on the cusp of 22. We had only been 'dating' for just over a year, and we'd never lived together. I think for some people this would send out massive alarm bells.

When Joel asked my Dad if he could propose to me (yep, he's old fashioned like that, and blew my parents away). My parents asked lots of 'serious' questions, but then all they really wanted to know was if he loved me. He obviously gave them the right answer because he got the thumbs up, and it was all on from there. They got married young too, and they are still going strong.

It is 9 years later and I have no regrets. Except for maybe Joel's baggy suit pants at our wedding, and the fact that we got married before Pinterest was around. There is so much awesome inspiration and ideas around for eclectic style weddings, the wedding styling today is so gorgeous and creative. Maybe one day we will renew our vows and I can take advantage of Pinterest inspired styling.

 I think about my 21 year old self, and I feel like a very, very different person than I was back then. Joel was different too. Of course in our lives we are always growing and changing, but over the last 9 years we have grown together, not apart. We love each others company, we have fun and laugh, we support each others dreams and are big on communicating. We have hard days, where we fight, get frustrated, hurt each others feelings and just want to be left alone. But, I can't imagine going through life without him. He is my rock, he inspires and challenges me to be a better version of myself. He calls me out when I'm being silly, selfish and childish, and he encourages me when I'm feeling insecure and down on myself. He teaches me how to be bold, to have integrity in all things, to speak up and to not be afraid of confrontation. He is always willing to sacrifice so much for his family and his work ethic astounds me.

I feel so lucky and thankful that somebody that amazing loves me so much.
Excuse me while I get all teary eyed... and start blubbering.

In 9 years we have had so many grand adventures together. We haven't let life get boring by any means. Throughout all the challenges, the changes of location, pregnancy and babies, the dramas and the joys we have always had the constant of our relationship and our commitment to each other.

I know some people are too young at 21 to get married, some people are too immature at 30 to get married. It isn't the age that matters, it is the people. I wouldn't change it for anything.



Karen xx

If you want to keep up with the goings on at Yellow Dandy, I would be so happy if you LIKED my facebook page, or follow me on Bloglovin

Cheese & Rosemary Sticks

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
These are about as close to a family recipe as I have! When I was growing up my Aunty would always make these for our family functions. My Mum told me that my Aunty learnt how to make them in her teens from her friend whose family had recently migrated from Poland, and I guess she's been making them ever since. Apparently they have some Polish name that she calls them, but I don't know it.  I must have made a big deal about them, and eaten a lot of them in my younger years, because even now she still makes them for our family gatherings, and always lets me know that she brought them (for me). When I was living on the East Coast and in the USA whenever I would visit Perth she would bring a batch over for me, how nice is that! I still love them, and I still have a hard time not eating too many of them. 

We had a few friends around over the weekend for my 30th, so I decided to get the recipe off of my Aunty and try making them for myself. I don't know if they tasted quite as good as hers, but they were pretty delicious, and people seemed to enjoy them a lot, so that is always a good sign. They are so easy to make, and I think they will become my easy, go to food to bring along to parties and bbqs. You could probably also guess that they are a BIG hit with the kids as well!! 

 Ingredients:
- Puff Pastry
- Block of Semi Matured Cheese (grated)
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Dried Rosemary
- Butter 

Method
Brush the puff pastry with melted butter, then
Spread the grated cheese, parmesan and rosemary onto the pastry, as much or as little as you want. 
Then get a roller and gently roll the cheese and rosemary into the pastry
Cut the pastry length ways in half
Then slice the pastry 6 times vertically. 
You will end up with 14 pieces.
Just twist either end, then brush twists with some butter, and sprinkle some more parmesan on
Put in the oven at 200 degrees celsius until the pastry looks cooked and they are just starting to brown. (Don't leave it too long or they will get too hard: it is approx 10-15 mins but can vary depending on your oven)
Cool on a rack and then store in an air tight bag or container or serve. 



Have a wonderful day! And Thank you for stopping by!

Karen xx 

I'm linking up today with Jess at Essentially Jess for #IBOT

WHAT!!! Voices of 2013: Top 100 Finalist!

Monday, April 15, 2013
A few weeks ago I received a pretty exciting email. My first thought was, 'I need to double check this is really for me'. I honestly just thought there had been a mistake made! My little blog, a finalist? In the Top 25 of my category? No... really? Shows me that I need to work on my confidence levels and start believing in myself more right! The email said that my blog had been selected as one of the Kidspot Voices of 2013: Top 100 Finalists, in the Personal and Parenting Category. WOW!!!

After the initial wariness wore off, it sunk in and I was pretty blown away to be included, and really excited. The wait for the announcement was difficult, I have been so intrigued to know who else had made the Top 25 in the Personal & Parenting Category, and all the other categories too! Plus I'm not the worlds best secret keeper.

I feel really honoured to be included with this amazing group of bloggers. I've been visiting those who are new to me, and found some really great blogs that I'm excited to start following. I encourage you to check them out too, there are some seriously talented bloggers included: here is the link {Voices of 2013: Top 100 Finalists

There is a launch party coming up and blog masterclass, and now I am trying to figure out how to get over to Sydney for them!



 Karen xx

If you want to keep up with the goings on at Yellow Dandy, I would be so happy if you LIKED my facebook page, or follow me on Bloglovin




My Birthday Wishlist

Thursday, April 11, 2013
So, I'm turning 30 this week!! I think I am the same as most people, a little sad to say Goodbye to my 20's and I have that feeling that I am 'getting old', but at the same time it doesn't bother me that much. There is so much great stuff to look forward to this year that I'm looking ahead with excitement and anticipation, not the dread of more grey hairs!

For a few weeks now Joel has been asking me what I want for my Birthday, and my answer has been: 'I don't know'. I honestly haven't really had that much time lately to think about myself and what I want. So this week I took some time and sat down and happily searched the interwebs to find some things I love and would be very happy to receive for my birthday. So this post is really for Joel (and my parents), but I hope you enjoy it too! There are lots of pretty things to look at!

Joel can be a great gift giver, one year I got an IPad for Christmas, complete surprise! But, he also has a tendency to revert to very 'practical gifts'. He and I think very differently about gifts, which is why in the past I have received a cutlery set, a scanner and a kettle for different Birthdays or Christmases. Not that I want to sound ungrateful at all, but seriously, A KETTLE!!!! It was a lovely kettle, but a kettle all the same, I thought he would have learnt his lesson after I got cutlery, but no. In his man wired brain he figures if you need it, you should get it as a present. My thoughts are that I like to try to buy people things they love but wouldn't necessarily buy themselves, something that is a treat! So, this year, I wanted to help him out a little, I like surprises, but because we don't have heaps of money to splash around, I don't want to waste it on things I don't like either.. does anyone else have this problem?

Karen xx 

Maternity Style: 28 weeks Maxi Dress

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
This maxi dress is becoming less maxi every day, everytime I wear it, it's becoming shorter and shorter. At the rate this baby bump is going soon it will be knee length.
Not much else makes you feel as pregnant than wearing one large flowing piece of material without a whole lot of shape. But. I like it anyway, it's just so easy, no pulling tops down that are getting too short or pulling ill fitting pants up every 5 mins. I love the print on this dress too!! I bought it a little bit ago when Esther clothing had 40% off their whole website. But browsing their website makes me wish I could wear all of their clothes now!!
I am wearing thongs (flip flops) again like I pretty much do everyday at the moment because my feet look a little like mini pillows. I think it is partially due to the heat, but they are puffy and most of my shoes don't really fit, especially in the afternoons. Last pregnancy my feet grew a half a size, I hope that doesn't happen again. It's still in the mid 30's (celsius) here in Perth, which is weird for April, but we've been trying to take advantage of it and getting some beach days in.
In other news, it's my 30th Birthday this week. Goodbye 20's! I feel like I haven't had much time to think about it, it has sort of snuck up on me. I can't even tell Joel what I want for my birthday, I think some Internet browsing tonight is in order.
My little helper wanted to pose with his Pop's sunnies as well!!
Here are some of my other bump update posts:

Maternity Style: 27 weeks Harem Pants

Maternity style: Aztec Print 26 Weeks

Bump Update: 24 Weeks

My Maternity Style Wish List
I'm linking up with Jess at ESSENTIALLY JESS for #IBOT today!! Head over and check out some other great Bloggers!!

Karenxx

The Value of Family Dinners

Monday, April 8, 2013

Everyone sitting in 'their' spots around the table, tv is most definitely off, good, nutritious food served most nights, conversation, some sibling arguments, Mum and Dad asking us about how our day was and what's new.

This was most evenings in my house when I was growing up.

At around 6pm I would hear Dads voice bellowing though the house intercom (which seemed pretty common in 80's houses) calling us all from our corners of the house down for dinner. If I wasn't there within 5 minutes, someone would pick up the other receiver of the phone and tell me to get off the phone and get to the dining table. They knew me too well.

Needless to say Family Meals were a priority in our house. If you were grumpy or moody (which is also pretty common for young teens I believe) you didn't get to skip it, you ate at the table with everyone else. It was the one time of the day that we were all at the same place at the same time. To leave the table we had to ask to be excused, if someone else was still eating, you weren't excused.

What it really was though, was a lot more than just eating. My parents put a high value on family dinners. All 4 of us kids were given an opportunity to share about our day, to be listened to, to have real and undivided interest given to what we were saying or feeling. We got the opportunity to listen to each other share, and to participate in family discussions. It wasn't rushed (at least not when we were old enough to put ourselves to bed), Mum and Dad weren't shooing us away so they could get to the tellie. I believe that these dinners helped our family dynamic, they enabled us to connect on a real level with our parents, and know that we always had this time if we wanted to talk. Mum said often the ones who wanted to talk would stick around, whilst the rest of the kids went off to do their own things. They were more than just eating, they were about creating deeper relationships.

Since I've become a Mum myself I've started looking at these family dinners differently. Realising that they were deliberate, they were based on the family values my parents held. When Ezra started eating 'real' food, I became more aware of our own mealtime habits, which were mostly Joel and I sitting in front of the tv with our dinner on our laps. So, we made a specific decision to change this when Ez started eating dinner, because we both have experienced and understand the real value of family dinners.

Even though Ezra can't really talk yet, he can still participate in dinner. He watches and learns from us, he sees our example in the food we eat, and he eats it too. He listens to our conversations and we all interact together as a family. Its not always a relaxing meal, but, for me it is more about setting the precedent early on and getting him used to us all sitting down together. I don't know if this is why he pretty much eats most foods or not, I would like to think it is, but we could end up with a super picky eater next time round. We just make one meal at night, that we all eat (because I want to eat together, and because I'm lazy and I really hate the thought of having to prepare multiple meals every night). He's learnt to love meals that I never would have expected a toddler to enjoy and he's slowly learning how to behave at the dinner table.

Now that we are in the habit, we are not about to break it. My hope is that we can be as successful in our value of family dinners and the positive impact they have, as my parents were.

How do/did dinners work in your house?

Karen xx

If you want to keep up with the goings on at Yellow Dandy, I would be so happy if you LIKED my facebook page!!








Toddler Lunch: Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese

Friday, April 5, 2013

I only recently learnt how to make a white/cheese sauce. I know, I'm almost 30 and I had never made my own white sauce. I only learnt how when my ever resourceful husband taught me! Upon talking to my Mum this week I was informed that my Dad actually is not a big fan of white sauces. Hence, why we never really had them growing up, and why I never knew how to make them.  Phew, that makes me feel so much better about my lack of cooking ability!

The only thing I ever use my newly found white sauce skills for (and usually under the guided help of my resident expert white sauce maker) is good old Mac'n Cheese. I actually had never eaten Mac'n Cheese before I went to America. But, now it is something I love to make for Ezra's lunches, which I will of course eat as well! Or for a quick and easy no fuss family dinner. So if you are looking for an easy alternative to sandwiches for toddler/kids lunches, this is it!!

 I also like to add a huge amount of broccoli and cauliflower to our Mac'n Cheese, but if you have a fussy eater you can chop them really tiny, or hide some other veggies in the cheesy goodness! This makes a lot, so you have leftovers to freeze portions or to eat the next day.

Ok so the sauce is really easy, but you have to be on your game (i.e. not trying to facebook, tweet or load pictures on instagram at the same time) and keep stirring or you'll end up with a burnt gluggy sauce.

Ingredients:

3  heaping Tbsp Butter
3  Tbsp Plain Flour
2 cups Milk
1 1/2 cups Cheese (the more flavoursome the better, so you could mix a tasty cheese with parmesan to mix it up)
Sage (and any other spices you think will work, I should have put oregano in last time I made this)
Salt and Pepper to taste if desired.
Head of broccoli
Half a head of cauliflower
Macaroni

These amounts are just a good guess, we make it until it is the right consistency. You want the butter and flour mix to be thick and smooth.

Method:


Boil a large pot of water with a sprinkle of salt.
Add the chopped broccoli and cauliflower and macaroni noodles to the pot, and boil until the pasta is cooked.

Heat a medium sized pan and add the butter. Keep stirring until the butter melts.
Then add the flour, one Tbsp at a time until you get a nice smooth consistency, that is fairly thick
(you can always add more butter to even it out if you put in too much flour, just keep stirring so it doesn't burn)
Then you add your milk. Continue to stir. The mix should begin to thicken into a sauce/gravy like consistency.
Add your herbs and spices
Add your cheese, all the while still stirring until the sauce becomes nice and smooth.

Drain the veggie and noodle mix and then put back into the pot, or a large serving bowl.
Pour the sauce over the top and stir in.
Add more salt and pepper to your taste.



For more toddler lunch and dinner ideas, you might like these:

Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons
Vegetable Muffins
Cheesy Cauliflower Soup



I'd love for you to follow me on FACEBOOK or TWITTER or INSTAGRAM or PINTEREST or SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER (or everything)



Karen xx











The {not so easy} Transition from Cot to Big Boy Bed

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Easter long weekend is over already. We had a pretty full weekend, and it wasn't completely relaxing, but it was mostly pretty fun. We managed to go out on the boat, visit a new Church, have family time, go to the beach (the weather has been amazing), have an Easter egg hunt and watch some movies. Our biggest focus this weekend, the thing that has taken up a lot of our time, energy, exhausted our emotional state, stretched and tested our patience, and basically turned us into walking Zombies (maybe a slight exaggeration), was transitioning the little boy (at almost 20months old) from his cot, into the big bed. I picked this weekend because I figured Joel and I could tackle it together, in the hopes of tag-teaming and reducing stress. I wanted to do it with plenty of time to transition him before the new baby arrived, and because he can easily climb out of his cot, I knew this change was long overdue.

Night 1 in the big boy bed was amazing. It could not of been easier. I put it down to missing his day nap because we were out and about, I assumed he would nod off in the car in our drive home, but I was mistaken. When we put him into the big bed, he was already exhausted and fell asleep so easily, we didn't hear a peep until 7am the next morning when he wandered out of his room and clambered into bed with us. It was glorious. I found myself wondering why I was so tentative about this transition, it had all gone so well. Perfect in fact.

Day nap 1 was equally as glorious! I was elated and so impressed at my amazing mothering skills and what a perfect child I had managed to raise. This is great, he loves his new bed. I had heard nightmare stories about kids and moving to a bigger bed, I couldn't believe how easy it all seemed to be going. I must be doing all the right things, why hadn't I done it sooner?

That was until I encountered Day 2. When the little boy came to the realisation that he didn't actually have anything stopping him from getting out of bed. In fact, he could get up and play with his toys or open the door and walk out if he wanted to. And he wanted to, again and again and again. He thought it was hilarious every time I took him back to bed. Me, well I did not think it was anywhere near as funny. Eventually, after two very long hours, of dealing with the extreme over tiredness, tantrums, the hair pulling, biting and punching, he gave up the fight to be awake, and drifted off to a very,very short nap. Night time, was much less eventful and went relatively well mostly due to the lack of day sleep.

Day 3 was equally as bad, perhaps a little worse. My patience was tested to its limits, my emotional state was not faring well. But, I wasn't about to let him win. Joel was out, enjoying a lovely afternoon surfing, much to my dismay. I was in the midst of a strategic battle of the wills, and I wasn't going to be the first one to break. It may have only taken me 2 and a half hours, including a slight intermission for a banana and a glass of water, but he slept. I may have resulted to using every strategy I could possibly think of: lying next to him, sitting at the end of his bed, singing, patting, waiting behind the door, finally he fell asleep as I was lying next to him reading him a story. Very cute, I must admit, for a conniving little fellow.

Day 4, well I hand-balled day 4. Joel who was blissfully unaware the day before, was to about to go under trial by fire. It took him just over an hour! Yay, we were cheering for the small victories. An hour, only an hour, amazing. The night time sleep battle also was shorter than the evening before, I got him to sleep by 8.30 rather than 9. Like I said, it is the small victories.

But, as I write this, I have been visited by a certain toddler 3 times (make that 4, nope now 5). This is a new thing, middle of the night waking.

Its 10.30pm. He was fast asleep. My patience is waning. I need some down time. I could just put him back in the cot, but well, I'm not one to give up that easily, we are as stubborn and determined as each other,  and I know it will be so much harder with a newborn in the mix.

Welcome to a brand new trial in parenting.
Every time you have one thing under control, you get another challenge flung at you.
The next big challenge I guess will be dealing with two instead of one.
(I didn't get this post finished until the morning, lets just say the very eventful evening continued! Someone didn't want us to leave the room, but was up playing around in his bed at midnight. This morning he woke chirpy and early as usual, the adults on the other hand are completely wrecked)

How did your little ones transition to the big bed, or are you yet to face this fantastical challenge?

Karen xx