News — family

#tbt One from the Archive: Dear 11 MO....

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#tbt One from the Archive: Dear 11 MO....

(First published on The Contented Calf Website on Tuesday 26th March 2013. Seven years ago, when the world was very different.)  ….very very soon you’re not going to be a ‘MO’ any longer, but a big, grown-up ‘YO’. You’ll be 1YO. Wow. How time flies. I know it’s what every parent says. But it’s true. Over the last week or so I seem to keep having moments when I think “this time last year….” And I know on your actual birthday those thoughts will be even stronger. Your birth wasn’t the totally natural birth I was aiming for (again). My waters...

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#tbt One from the Archive: Will Work Have To Wait?

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#tbt One from the Archive: Will Work Have To Wait?

(First published on The Contented Calf Website on Wednesday 20th February 2013.)  It’s lunch-time on Wednesday afternoon and I’m frantically typing away as 3YO lies upstairs (sleeping?) in bed due to an enforced post-lunch nap. She’s off nursery. Again. On Monday she projectile vommitted, then was absolutely fine. However, nursery policy and common sense that she could still be contagious with whatever bug caused it, meant that Tuesday was a no-go as far as nursery was concerned. (At least 10MO was well enough for Contented Hubby to take – and collect, thank-you!! – her to nursery for the day, spending much of it...

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#tbt One from the Archive: Second Time Mum

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#tbt One from the Archive: Second Time Mum

(First published on The Contented Calf Website on Wednesday 28th November 2012.)  Last night I sat in semi darkness, holding a sleeping 7MO in my arms. She’d fallen asleep during her final evening feed. Having only managed a not so grand total 45 minutes sleep at nursery (four pesky top teeth seem to be pushing their way down all at the same time – ouch!), she was a tired little bundle. Although she was completely sparko and had long stopped actually feeding, I just gave myself a few minutes more to enjoy the moment. There’s nothing more glorious than holding...

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Reducing My Family's Carbon Footprint: Our Car - EV vs PHEV: Assessing the Carbon Cost

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Reducing My Family's Carbon Footprint: Our Car - EV vs PHEV: Assessing the Carbon Cost

As you know, we are in the process of working out what the best car is for our family, and for the planet. We need to make sure that the car works for how we use it, but also helps our family reduce our carbon footprint so that we can help contribute to tackling climate change.

We currently have a hybrid car, but our lease is coming to an end at the end of the year and we want to make the most environmentally friendly decision as to what to get next, especially as ideally we want to keep this car for as long as possible (ten or more years…?) The main decision to make is: full electric car (EV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV)?

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#tbt One from the Archive: A Good Morning All Round!

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#tbt One from the Archive: A Good Morning All Round!

(First published on The Contented Calf website on Wednesday 12th September 2012, when we had a 3YO and 5MO.) After a happy drop-off at nursery with all smiles, no tears, as I headed back home on the bus, I realised that today was turning out to be a good day. It may have only been 8:35am, but already I was ready to brand it a success!  And here’s why: Successes 6:19am – after last week’s horrendous lack of sleep, for the second day in a row, I woke naturally –yey!! 6:20am – snuck downstairs, drank half of a smoothie I’d made yesterday,...

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