She usually picks out her own clothes “this one” - if i try i hear “not this one” and if i insist it could well end in tears - so when in a hurry i let her pick them. She absolutely has favourite shoes, and refuses to wear ones that she does not like. I have had to hide a pair of wellies that she is in love with - me saying it is a bit hot for them has little affect. She demands to get her nails painted, and comments on other peoples painted toenails. She often tries to get me to change my shoes “not this one” and brings an alternative pair (often black shinny boots) for me to wear with an clear instruction “these shoes mama”. She likes to have a handbag with her, that contains hair clips! She “wows” at dresses in shop windows.  She gets upset if her dress gets dirty, and asks me to clean it.  She can even cry “dirty” if water falls on her favourie shoes, or she gets sand on her nice sandals!  She loves getting clothes, jewellry or hair clips as presents. She likes hats, but only ones she picks out. She loves wearing her bracelets and will often point out other people jewellry to me. She comments on everyones sun glasses and has her own pair, which she likes to show off by wearing when friends come over.

Basically she is a real girlie girl. Who knows exactly what she likes…and what she does not like.  Even on other people!  But at not yet 2 years of age it is a little bit much to be honest. I think we will be in trouble with this one

I do think we did our best those first hard few weeks, and even when thinking we maybe were doing things “wrong” according to many of the books - sleeping with him, keeping him on the boob, holding him all the time - we obviously must have done something right for him, as now my little man is happy, and really is such a great baby to be around.

So what is he up to.   He is smiling all the time, and has started to laugh. He is very much an active bunny - it is all go go go.  He hardly ever stops babbling, in particular in the early hours of the morning. He is loving his toys, and happily plays away with whatever Alina throws at him, in particular things that make noise. He just learnt to roll around. He LOVES his bath, and wets me and the whole of the bathroom from splashing. He is fascinated by his hands, and has managed to grab his feet.  He still goes to bed really easily at night, although he does fights sleep during the day.  I do have to say he is still a sensitive chap - like a Porsche he goes from extremely happy to miserable in record seconds!  We started on solids 4 days ago - although with Alina i waited until 6 months, Luca kept looking at me eating which i took as a sign he was ready for something other then boob milk! After a dodgy start (nectarine and apple not his cup of tea), we discovered banana - he loves it. My one complaint is that he is a morning child, like his dad, and so wakes up at 6am full of life and chat…..that for me, being a night owl, is hard to take. But otherwise i really have no complaints.

I am not liking how quickly he is growing, he seems so much bigger then Alina was, but I am happy that i was able to get 6 months off to be able to spend this time with him (took holidays so i have 4 weeks to go before I join the working world again). He is my little man, and I feel soooo lucky to have him and his beautiful big sister as my two kids

Today is the day my maternity leave was due to end, but luckily I have lots of holidays I can use to extend the time. The last couple of weeks I have been feeling the bond with my two children stronger then ever. I guess part of the reason that my heart aches every time i think of them, is because time is coming when I need to go back to work. I find it hard to imagine leaving them, although if I am honest, I would have found it hard to imagine not leaving them just a short while ago!! But things have changed - they are both in much better form, and it is getting easier week by week, and because of that, the summer weather, and the house getting into shape, maternity leave is becoming much more enjoyable.

I have always known I would not be a stay at home mum, but now for the first time I wonder how I will balance this life of working mum with 2-kids-at-home-mum. Last year if I am honest work came first, this time I know I have to find a better balance. Starting very soon, I have to somehow begin to prepare myself and them for me not being around as much. I know that they will both find that hard, especially luca, as first he is dependent on me for food still, and second there is no doubt that right now he is a mummy´s boy. Plus he is still so young - in most other countries you do not go back to work until the child is 6 months, here it is 4 months, and that really is hard. But Alina will also find it hard. And if I am honest, I will find it very hard.

I have to start weaning Luca, whether he likes it or not!! I have decided that for the summer I will work reduced hours, this means that at least until Luca is 7 months old I will be at home more often then I was with Alina - but I need that to be the case, this time tim will not be at home. I would love to breastfeed him fully until 6 months, but I am not sure I will get there. It has been a really enjoyable experience so far, and I have been lucky that thanks to my trusted friend “breast pump” I still got to socialise during the past months.

I know me, once back I will throw myself into work, and hopefully I will enjoy it. But right now I find it hard to imagine. And in fact I am both scared and definitely a bit sad that time is going so quickly and soon I will have to leave them for a great part of the day. I guess I am facing the dilemma of most working mums. but if I am honest, I did not know I would want to be with them so much, and for sure I did not imagine that the thought of leaving them would hurt so much.

In fact maybe it is because it is finally nice weather, or maybe it is because we are more settled in our new place, or´maybe because I just had a great weekend with friends, or maybe even because Luca has turned some invisible corner and Alina is just more fun…but whatever it is, we are all looking good, feeling good, and I for one am really enjoying my time with my 2 little ones in the Barcelona sunshine at the moment. Not to say I dont also VERY much enjoy 8.30pm coming in the evening (when both are down for the night), but I feel I am waking a bit lighter these days, and at least for the most part, I feel very happy and smiley! Now all i need is to get my husband more rested and we´ll be sorted!

Tadhg is perfect because it brings in both mum and dad - it is an Irish name but in English it has been translated as Tim or Timothy.

As for pronounciation, well that can be a hard one. There is a subtle difference in the common prononciation of Tadhg, and the correct Irish pronounciation. Tadhg definitely does not rhyme with league as is commonly thought. The easiest way I can think of is to say the word tiger, and drop the ‘er’. (Now that is Tiger as in the jungle and not Tigger as in Winnie the Pooh). That will give you the common pronunciation. (i admit this paragraph stolen from a site).

To make it even nicer, the meaning of the name Tadhg is poet or philosopher which I think may suit our little man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadhg

At first I thought it was just luck, or exhaustion, but 3 weeks later I can say he just likes chilling in our room, in his cot in the evening.

Next step is to get him to like his bed allllllll night!

When the sun shines, and the warmth of summer comes, it really does wonders for the soul. People walk just that bit lighter, colds disappear, smiles abound and people look a lot hotter with a tan. Alina and us have a new world to play in on the terrace which is just great.

As of Monday I am healthy eating and as I have to weigh myself and confess to Moira weekly I am hoping to stay on the straight and narrow and be able to enjoy the beach this summer – the last 2 years I have been pregnant for all or part of the summer and had not been able to show much skin when I was not pregnant (or should I say I had been showing too much skin?). Either way it is time to lose this baby weight, fit into my old clothes and find those hidden bikinis. I am so looking forward to going to the beach and the park with my 2 great kids, watching Alina interact more with her friends, and watching Luca get his first feeling of sand and begin to experience outdoor life. I have a feeling it will be a great summer. And i am really excited about it!