I have created a new little friend  - His name is Little Bear and I was thinking of putting him and his friends on my Folksy site but before I do I would like some honest opinions about  him. I know I can trust my Minti friends so here are some facts about him and a picture, please feel free to leave a comment.

• He is crocheted from Baby wool and filled with fibre fill (Like in a duvet) so he is fully washable.
• His eyes, nose and mouth are stitched on so no loose buttons.
• He would have to carry a label " not intended as a toy" as he has no safety marks.
• I was thinking of retailing him at about £4. (plus P&P in the region of £2 to anywhere in the uk at first)
• I will be putting white versions of him on for sale at first and then possibly take orders for other colours or white bears with Blue/Pink etc coloured ribbons

Let me know what you think and what occassion you might buy him for.

Many thanks

Clare

I enjoy crocheting and have decided to put it out there for others to see so I have put some pieces on Folksy, a craft website where people can sell their  handmade crafts. Its a lovely site and such a great place to find gifts that are unique and special.

I have a little shop called "The Blanket Box" where I am selling some handmade crocheted baby christening/baptism shawls ,I only have a few for sale at the moment but I am really enjoying making some more to put on. My shop is here: www.folksy.com/shops/Tinker  please feel free to pop along and have a little browse and whilst you are there I am sure you will find some other little shops selling some beautiful things.

Hey there, I thought I would return to have a little nosy round to see if anything has changed on Minti but it looks like the same happy friendly place that I love.

So a quick catch up, Elliott is now 6 months old! and Amy is nearly 5 and starts big school in September can you believe it!

I am well and the hubby is still working hard and looking after us all. Hopefully when I have a little more time I will post some photos.

Take care

Clare x

Just thought I would pop pass and let you know that I am still alive and all is well. Elliott is a very contented baby and still sleeping well through the night. Amy on the other is hand is getting a little challenging with her behaviour and I am trying to be understanding but she is being very trying, she won't listen to anyone and won't do as she is asked, leaving the house is taking longer and thats not down to getting Elliott ready just Amy refusing to do anything for herself. The other day she called me stupid and just sat screaming at the top of her voice like she was being murdered god knows what the neighbours must have thought!

I am at the point where I feel I may need some professional help with her and I am thinking of asking my health visitior for advice although this makes me feel that I have done something to her to make her behave this way and I feel that that something might be having Elliott, I love her dearly and I am trying to involve her but I don't like her very much at the moment which has left me worrying whether I can cope with two. If anyone has any advice or even some kind words they would be gratefully recieved.

Take care

Clare xxx

Elliott George, yes thats right our new baby boy so we now have a daughter and a son and feel so blessed.

He was born on Tuesday 25th November 2008 at 14:06 pm weighing 9lb 1.5oz.

I had a good active labour with just gas and air which is what I wanted and had just an overnight stay in hospital and was home the following day. Elliott did have us a little concerned when he was first born as he had the cord around his neck and was born blue but he is now a healthy and contented baby who feeds every 3 hours and only wakes at night to be fed and then goes back off to sleep ( I hope this lasts!)

Amy is over the moon to be a big sister and enjoys helping out with Elliott although there are times where a little attention seeking happens but we understand that this is a huge change for her so we expected a bit of challenging behaviour, most of it we ignore and try to pay a much attention to her when she is helping and being good. Everywhere we go with Elliott she tells people about her new baby brother. (and her new tea set he brought her!)

Steve is a very proud Daddy and choose Elliotts name, he was a complete rock during the labour and really got me through the hard parts, the support he has shown both then and now has been amazing, not only am I blessed with 2 beautiful children but the best husband in the world, I love you Steve xxx.

As you can imagine I have very little time at the moment so if I am not about so often please forgive me.

I hope that all my fellow mintis are all well.

Take care

Clare xxx

At about 7:40 pm this evening my waters broke! At first I thought I had peed myself but as it kept coming I realised that it was my waters so I rang the hubby at work who had just finished his shift then called the hospital who have said that there is no reason to come in  unless the fluid turns green or has a lot of blood in it and to let them know when my contractions start which as this is my second baby should be sometime tonight and if nothing has happened by the morning then to give them a call and arrange to come in to be checked over.

Hubby is now home and I have alerted the MIL (who wanted to come over immediately but I managed to talk her out of it) that she will be needed to look after Amy sometime tonight or tomorrow. I feel fine no contractions yet, just having to sit on a towel as well as have a panty liner on as my waters keep dribbling!  I am worried about leaving Amy in the middle of the night and us not being here in the morning when she gets up, she probably won't notice as Nanny will be here but I worry about the effect this will have on her.

As we speak the hubby is putting my hospital bag in the car and tidying the place up making sure everything is done. I am worrying more about how he will cope for a few days, I know deep down that he will be fine and I have tried to talk him into going for a sleep as he has just finished an eight hour shift but he said he is fine.

Wish us luck and as soon as I can I will update you all on the new arrival!

Take care

Clare xxx

Okay so nothing happened overnight and the Hubby has relunctantly gone off to work this mornng, we have decided not to take any of his paternity leave until baby is here as it could still be another week until this happens and if there are any complications and I have to stay in hospital he won't have much leave left. We have also decided not to send Amy to Nursery for the next couple of days as it means me having to walk up to take her and back again to pick her up, Hubby is worried something will happen while I am out of the house by myself and there will be no one to help. He has Wednesday and Thursday off  so she can go then as he can take her and I have my midwife appointment on Wednesday where if nothing has happened she will do a sweep with the hope this will get things started, I am also going to request that I can be booked into the hospital on Friday if the sweep doesn't work to be induced. You see they have spent most of my pregnancy worried that baby is bigger then average (although I don't see an estimated 8lb 4oz Big!) yet they are ok with me going overdue for a week or so surely this will mean that baby will keep growing and end up being bigger then the estimation and therefore more chance of complications. I have stated on my notes that unless it is an emergency I don't wish to have a c-section as the recovery would be longer and there is a higher chance of infection but if I end up going in to be induced this will also higher the chance of having to have the dreaded c-section, I just can't win! I spent most of my day on the loo at the moment and whilst there I talk to baby pleading that today be the day, the hubby thinks that I have finally gone mad and jokes that we should plead to be induced for Mental Health reasons, not sure they will buy that!

This morning I got so excited as I thought things had started to get going, I got cramps and that slight ache down below then it stopped and hasn't started again.

I so hope something happens tonight as the Hubby has got to go back to work tomorrow and he is very worried about me taking Amy up to nursery and being able to get home quickly.

Some good vibes from fellow Minti's would be good right now so think of me and lets see if the power of a joint good vibe can get this labour started!

Take care

Clare xxxx

Baby is now 1 day overdue! I have had slight twinges but nothing to get excited about. Amy has been taken out for the afternoon by Nanny and the Hubby is out polishing the car, I just can't find enough things to do just to kill time. I really hope I don't go too many days overdue I think the wait may kill me! I have made christmas cookies for Amy's Santa Dash at school and the house is spotless and all that activity has done nothing!

Today is my official due date and as yet not even a twinge of any activity, I am not that surprised as Amy's labour started on her due date but she didn't arrive till the following day.

I have had nothing but phone calls all day from "concerned" family who most of the time are making up excuses to phone so much so that I am now screening my calls! I know that they all mean well but to have three phonecalls from your MIL in one day is seriously pushing your luck.

I am hoping that the baby comes some time over the weekend as the Hubby has to return to work on Monday although he still has 2 weeks paternity leave we don't want to start it until baby arrives, my sister is also on holiday next week but I think she may be more concerned with getting some retail therapy in rather then being around to support me as she listed the days I can and can not go into labour as she is off to this mall and out with friends on this day!

I have spent most of the week making sure that the hubby knows what needs doing and when just in case I have to stay in and have made sure he has contact details for the important things.

If anything happens I may go quiet for a while if I don't get the chance to write a small blog I have left my login  details with the hubby but I am not sure he will be able to figure Minti out so please don't worry about me my dear Minti friends, I will let you know the news as soon as I can.

Take care

Clare xxx