Happy New Year Loves! I am so looking forward to sharing my tales of motherhood with you all throughout 2015, your advice and feedback was so positive and helpful last year, I really can’t thank you all enough.

I am a bit “late” preparing this post – the night before publication, unlike my school homework (!), I do endeavour to finish features at least a couple of days in advance (notice the use of the word endeavour) yet here I am…running behind schedule. And you know what? it’s fine, really. If I’ve learnt anything in 2014 it’s been that the role of being a Mama doesn’t run to schedule, try as you might. Yes, being super organised helps – sometimes a great deal when juggling a business and a newborn, but you can’t second guess anything, it’s truly impossible to predict what your baby may or may not do from one moment to the next.

Don’t beat yourself up about it.

You can only do the best that you can do. And that’s plenty good enough.

As you read this my husband is driving Mabel around the block in the vain hope that she will fall asleep, that’s been the biggest change over the last few weeks – there appears to be no routine. I put this down to a combination of things, one being she has all of a sudden “found her voice”, literally non stop chatter, whilst her sing-song patter is very entertaining and extraordinarily cute, it can also be rather exhausting. Especially at midnight. I also think we have done so much over the festive period, a cinnamon scented whirlwind of friends, family, laughter and colour, that no wonder she’s up until the small hours, she doesn’t want to miss out!

Apart from the unsettled rest, Mabel is developing well, she appears to understand some simple commands and points at all sorts of items awaiting response on what that object might be. On this subject, I invested in a large alphabet print from This Modern Life a couple of months ago which Mabel LOVES, we are now unable to leave her nursery without going through the whole “A is for….”

It’s lots of fun and her continual amusement makes my day.

Mabel now has six teeth (!) which has meant that weaning is progressing at speed, she enjoys three meals a day (ALWAYS followed by pudding) and feeds herself various snacks with ease and a reasonable amount of mess. I have left the house with organic fruity puff in my hair on more than one occasion. I find the painter type bibs from Ikea excellent for preventing half-chewed mush ending up on Mabel’s clothes, and they are only £3.50 for two.

I thought the sales in terms of baby wear were amazing, particularly John Lewis – I find the clothing great quality but usually that little bit too spendy, I invested in five or six pretty dresses including this coral striped number (I paid full price for the navy and pink version in 6-9 months). Apologies in advance that there is now only newborn, 0-3 and 3- 6 month sizes left online (do check your local store though, ours in Solihull had plenty of pieces in a wide range of sizes still left at the weekend).

I also bought the teal cord pinafore dress and these soft knitted trousers.

The GAP was also generous in terms of discounts (I invested in quite a few 12-18 month sizes) and this organic tree print pram blanket is gorgeous quality, plus would work for either a boy or girl. Apparently it’s a “Christmas” tree print but I don’t see why particularly, I like it regardless.

In other news, Christmas dinner for 11 was a success! I would be fibbing if I didn’t admit the serving aspect wasn’t a little stressful, there was just so much food?! but because the plates were literally scolding to the touch everything stayed hot. Hoorah!

However, Mabel decided that just before everyone sat down she quite fancied a kip. And thus proceeded to miss the entire event. Even the cheese board.

Yep, Mabel’s first Christmas was spent in the land of nod. You know how I was saying you can’t second guess anything….?

As always, do share your thoughts (particularly ideas on how we might possibly get her to sleep before I turn into a pumpkin) and baby sales bargains in the comments box below.

Here’s to a prosperous and joyous 2015 you lovely lot you.

P.s if you want to know a little more about the team and our adventures in the media you can have a butchers at our new company website www.rockmyltd.com