Coffee & Cupcakes

This evening I write feeling very deflated dear readers! I am struggling, struggling with my daughter, not in a naughty way but rather in a heart wrenching way! It has always been a clear sign that my daughter is a "Daddy's Girl", 100% through and through daddy's! This I love. I love that Daddy is her hero, the one she runs to for safety, for laughter - he truly is her superhero - and I love that he is giving her an incredibly picture of what and how a man should be, it gives me great hope for her future choice of boyfriend/husband. However, here comes my struggle, in order to be a complete sell out Daddy's Girl, one has to be completely not a Mummy's Girl! This would be fine but life has become a struggle, my daughter won't let me kiss her, hug her, hold her and if she does it is only knowing that after she can wipe it off and put it back on me! It is ... Heart-breaking! As I have shared this with some they have told me to enjoy it,  enjoy that it is Da...

I am still here! It has been a while since I wrote last, life, Easter, family visits dramatically took over recent days and weeks in the Hardingham house, it's been incredibly fun but left little time for blogging or personal head space... but I return a little more in awe of this journey called life we are all adventuring on. Before I go on, I should mention, I am a massive Easter Celebrator! I love it, it is pretty much on par with Christmas in our house. This is of course massively due to my faith, Easter is more than just chocolate and Easter Egg hunts (though they are worth celebrating), but rather because of the death and ressurection of my Saviour, Jesus. This Easter, as always, left me overwhelmed by the grace of God in my life, and available to all. I am unashamed to say that I believe on Good Friday, Jesus was crucified on a cross, holding the failures of mankind on his shoulders, spending 3 days in a tomb that on Easter Sunday He rose to life, defeating death, overco...

Over the past couple of years, life has thrown many battles in my, and my family's direction. Personal battles such as pregnancy difficulties and miscarriages, struggles and battles with friendships, the regular struggles of being a mum; work struggles, as I recently changed role within my current employment at the church, there has been much confusion/debate over what my new role should actually entail add in the everyday battles of stretched finances, and life in generally. All of these battles and struggles meant I entered this year weary and breaking... Having recently had a second child I automatically put it down to being tired because of being up half the night, and I am sure that played a part. After this I went for numerous blood tests in order to check my thyroid, b12 and iron levels as it may have been a medical reason for my complete lack of energy and motivation for anything. However over the past weeks, God has revealed so much! My dear friend, Pastor and boss, h...

I cannot quite believe that my little girl is 3! It only seems moments ago that I was beginning my labour with her and anticipating life as a mum... Now 3 years later I am wondering how time has gone so fast and I have a proper little lady in my house. I thought I would share with you our birthday  weekend - another snippet into our little world. It begins every year with the cake, this year Kezzia had asked for a Princess castle cake and for some unknown reason! I agreed! I baked a totally of 4 Victoria Sponge cakes and purchased 2 Tesco Swiss Rolls, along with the various icing colours and frostings needed. After a gruelling couple of hours, I had what vaguely resembled a castle. I am perfectionist so never am I happy with what I produce, and this year was no exception, thankfully from far away it looked ok, so you get a glimpse. I then laid out the table for our special birthday breakfast, orange juice, pain au chocolate and my mother-in-laws scrummy homemade cinnamon ro...

I did say I would share Kezzia's delivery story nearer her birthday and so here it is. It all began on Mother's Day 2011, I was almost 39 weeks pregnant, incredibly fed up and in quite a lot of discomfort. My womb is upside down, which causes no effect in labour but means baby's weigh is not distributed as it should be during pregnancy, resulting in painful legs and hips! For this reason, I had tried everything, raspberry leaf tea, hot curries, walking, we even resulted to..you know!! But on Mother's Day about 8pm, I thought I had cashed in. It is probably not normal how much excitement came with my first contraction, the end of pregnancy had arrived. I awaited Josh's return from church and called the hospital. Their response was to stay at home until contractions were more regular. Being in pain and excited and nervous meant sleep was off the radar, so I sat with my mum, who had arrive from Ireland the previous day, and watched a film. Contractions continued but ...