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You know when you spend money on the "must-have" Christmas gift, the one your child has mentioned to everyone and anyone that will listen? You kind of hope that they will love it, don't you? But what happens if they love it a bit too much?

What happens when they tell you that they love it more than some of their family members?

What happens when you don't get any conversation for over an hour?

What happens when the only time they look up is to ask for the charger?

What happens when "facetiming" is the only time you hear their voice?

And what happens when we have tears at bedtime because she wants to play games rather than read a book?

Over the years there have been presents that I have bought, which I thougt she would love but have only been played with a handful of times and now we have this amazing gift that she truly loves.

So what happens?

I confiscate it!  *insert mummy guilt right about here*

 

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Inspired by Mummy Never Sleeps  who created her top ten posts from the year, I thought it was a fantastic chance to go through some old posts and show some love again to my favourites.

I know this is a little self indulgent but in the absence of chocolate, this is my guilty pleasure this evening! So here we go ....

One of my most honest and intimate posts was The End of an Era and ironically it ended up being one of the most popular. Maybe I should always speak direct from my heart?

I loved the Olympics and this is what inspired this post. When sharing it on social media, it also caused a real conflict of opinion, so What makes Britain Great?

I am very proud that both of my girls love the water and this is the start of their story : Learning a Life Skill

I was horrified and astounded when my youngest bit me and this post poked at my smug mummy conscience! What do you do when your child bites you?

Am I a pushy parent? I never thought I was "that" parent but I think we all have a little bit of it inside us.

I have really enjoyed going through my old posts and whilst it has been extremely gratuitous, reminding myself of our journey this year has made me smile. Hope you did too?

Goodbye 2012, its been a blast!

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Best quote of the year : "Dont be the person who could juggle but just didnt have the balls"

Last year I decided that rather than start a list of New Years Resolutions, that would probably be broken by the second week in January, I would do a reverse list of all the things I have achieved in the last 12 months.  2011 was an amazing year and it made me realise that I dont need a list to aspire to but I just need to aspire to be the best I can be, whether that is mum, daughter, friend, business associate (or indeed juggler).

So on reflection, here are my reverse resolutions for 2012. 

1. I was nominated and subsequently named one fo the Top 100 Mumpreneurs by the national network, Mumsclub.

2. The Lilypad Blog was nominated and a finalist in the first Women Inspiring Women awards.

3. The Lilypad Blog has developed its own identity this year and has been a great platform to work with amazing brands like Fisher Price, Plum Baby and Groupon.

4. I have been able to give both daughters a new life skill through swimming. The eldest can now swim competently and the little one is enjoying the water with Water Babies classes. As you can imagine, bath time is hugely amusing in our house with neither of them being afraid of being splashed and dunked!

5. My love of blogging and addiction to social media has resulted in new opportunities and the start of some exciting new working partnerships.

 

The start of the year was a haze of breastfeeding and nappies, so I was probably wasnt focused enough to make any achievable resolutions but on reflection, the girl did good!

Watch out 2013, I have the balls and I am ready for some juggling!

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Once upon a time, Christmas Day involved a mixture of a house full of people, a heaving fridge of food, a regimented timeframe, extensive menu, more than a few splashes of alcohol and a sprinkling of determination that everyone WOULD enjoy themselves. Fast forward ten years and 2012 has been a much more relaxed affair.

Twelve months ago my eldest daughter was unwell, so unwell that we spent alot of the Christmas period in and out of hospital, so I wasn't feeling particularly festive or in any mood to celebrate. Presents were opened without enthusiasm and socialising was kept to a minimum, which was most unlike me - on both counts.

So this year was about what we wanted to do. This isnt always the popular choice, especially as it is the most selfish one but I wanted Christmas to be about us. Not about catering for the masses, not about designing elaborate table decorations, not thinking about anyone else except my little family. I have a beautiful family and I am fortunate to have an amazing extended family, the kind that do actually like to all get together at Christmas, so me even suggesting that I didnt want to do that, was met with some surprise. Christmas is about family but this year I wanted it just about us.

So that is what we did, although the 4.30am wake up was more what the 7 year old wanted, rather than me but the wrapping paper was flying, squeals of delight at toys and gifts off her Christmas list (again the 7 year old, not me) and momentarily reflecting on last year, made me realise how lucky I am to have two beautiful healthy children, a gorgeous man, a fabulous family and food in our tummies. The food may not have reached the table for the previously mentioned regimented timescale and I "may" have forgotten the obligatory sprouts but it was the Christmas dinner we wanted and I wouldnt have had it any other way.