November has been a bit quieter than last month, and has given us a chance to recharge our batteries before the busiest month of them all! I've barely written any posts, and although I'm sad that I've not documented much I'm glad to have had a bit of a break. After finding the balance between work, blog and home life easy when I first started work, it all got a bit too much this month and I found I needed to take a step back from here.

We've spent every weekend doing family activities this month, and it has been so nice to spend so much quality time together. We watched fireworks for bonfire night in a small village in Suffolk which were fantastic, and there was such a lovely community feel in the air. This month's photo is from that night, as we took a family selfie in the light of the bonfire!

The next weekend we headed to Ely Cathedral for their annual Christmas market which to me marks the beginning of the festive season. If you're local I would definitely recommend going next year, although be warned that it is very busy! We watched the Christmas light switch on in both Cambridge and Ely, I made our Christmas cake, pudding and mince meat on Stir Up Sunday, and we put the tree up at my dad's house this weekend. We're definitely getting into the festive spirit!

Zach was an absolute angel for the first half of November, and was an absolute joy to be around. He waves at people, has learnt to dance and most recently has hugged and kissed his little baby friends which is just the sweetest thing. The past two weeks have been harder as he has been teething which has made him miserable. He's also in a leap (wonder weeks mamas will feel my pain) which is hard work as he's suddenly turned into a bit of a diva! It's just a phase, but its challenging none the less. Fingers crossed he's back to his happy self in time for Christmas.

We are so ready to welcome December. I can't wait to decorate our house for Christmas at the weekend and see Zach's reaction to the tree! We've decided to go with a small one this year to avoid a certain baby destroying it. December also marks my 24th birthday. We're heading to London for the day to go to Winter Wonderland, and the next day my best friend has organised a surprise! I can't wait!

This past week has been really hard. Zach has been a teething mess as his top tooth has decided to make an appearance. You know the drill; snotty nose, sleepless nights and lots of tears. He's not been a happy bunny, and it is so hard to watch him suffer. Combine that with a 'leap', and parenting has been exhausting to say the least. Not only is he in pain and miserable, he has been a right diva too. Our placid babe appears to have disappeared for the time being. Please send gin.

I spotted this shirt in the Gap sale and knew it would be perfect for Zach. I love the print, and plan to get a matching shirt for myself! Twinning is winning and all that. The colours are perfect for this time of year. Zach's 9-12 month wardrobe is filled with reds as I think it is the perfect Christmas colour. I've teamed the shirt with his usual Zara jeans which are probably the most worn item in his wardrobe. I'm planning on getting another pair in the next size up as they are so comfy, and seem to go with everything! I included Zach's Zara hat in the photo but in true Zach style he refused to wear it for any photos!

As much as I love the autumn, and all the festivities that come with it, it is the countdown to Christmas that gets me really giddy with excitement. There is a certain magic in the air, and it is all the little things that make me so happy at this time of year. After reading a wonderful and heartwarming post by Mary recently, I have taken the time to think about what Christmas means to us. I agree with her wholeheartedly that Birthdays are the time for wish lists and wanting. That Christmas instead is a time for family, for traditions and a time for giving. And so I thought I would share the things that we hope to get up to this festive season:

Meet Father Christmas - I would love to take Zach to the grotto to meet Father Christmas and his elves this year. Although he is too young to understand what is going on I think it would be great to start the tradition from his very first Christmas!

Stir-Up Sunday - This year I hope to make our own Christmas cake, pudding and mince pies and plan to follow the old tradition of making them on Stir Up Sunday (the last Sunday before advent, this year the 22nd November). I hope that Zach will help me, although I'm sure he'll just want to throw the mixture everywhere!

Shop for the Food Bank - This is something that I try to do throughout the year, but during the festive season our focus is giving and I think that this is a great way to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Most big supermarkets will have a collection for the local food bank, as well as a list of the items most needed. It doesn't cost a lot to add a couple more bits to our shop, but will make a difference for someone else.

Make a Christmas Eve box - I have always thought that Christmas Eve is a really special and exciting day. My German family open presents together, and although we open ours on Christmas Day I have always opened one small gift on Christmas Eve. I want to keep that tradition with Zach, and want to make him a box each year too. I intend to fill it with a pair of pyjamas, a film to watch, a book to read and a decoration to put on the tree.

Go to a Christmas market - We have actually already been to one this weekend, and it was absolutely lovely. Out favourite local one is in Ely Cathedral, and as it is in November it really sets the tone for the weeks ahead. We plan to go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park too, although we're a bit worried about taking Zach in the pushchair!

Make a gingerbread house - Although I love baking I have never made a gingerbread house and I think it sounds like a really fun activity for Jono and I to do together. I'm not sure he'll be so keen so we may not get to cross this one off our list!

Hang a wreath on our front door - I love seeing everyone's decorations on their houses as it gets closer to Christmas. I really want to get a wreath this year, as I think it will look lovely on our old Georgian double front door. My only worry is that it will get stolen as we live on a main road!

Watch our favourite Christmas films - One of the things I love the most at this time of year is getting cosy on the sofa with a blanket and a hot chocolate and watching some Christmas films. Our favourites are A Muppet's Christmas Carol, Elf, Home Alone and Little Women.

Drive around to look at the Christmas lights - I personally would not put Christmas lights all over our house BUT I love going to look at them! I loved driving around Cambridge with my parents after dark to look at the houses where people had gone all out with the decorations, and want to make it a tradition with Zach.

I can't wait to do all of these things and get in the festive spirit! What is on your Christmas bucket list?

A little late this month!!

October is always a very busy month for us, and this year was probably the most hectic yet. With juggling 3 jobs, a blog, housework and baby between the two of us as well as all the events that happened this month we didn't have a lot of time to sit back and relax! That being said, we really enjoyed spending time with the people we love, and being social is what makes us thrive.

Zach's personality has shone through this month, and we have a very cheeky, funny and independent little boy on our hands. He loves to explore, and enjoys nothing more than crawling around and causing chaos. After 9 months of spending almost every day together we've been spending a lot of time apart now I'm back at work and I couldn't be prouder of my boy. It hasn't bothered him one bit, and I think that the time apart is doing us both good. Right now he is so content and happy it makes me swell with pride.

This month saw my group of girls reunited as we gathered together to say goodbye to our friends Clare and Sara who moved to Canada. We ate our way through mountains of cheese, meats and crackers and an entire doughnut tower whilst looking through photos and reminiscing. Although we had a lovely afternoon, and I truly hope they have the most amazing time, saying goodbye was really emotional and I miss them more than they know.

We celebrated our third anniversary this month by going on a local ghost tour and having a cheeky Dominos. It's not often that we get to go out on dates anymore, and it was lovely to do something new together. I can't believe that we've only been together for three years, as it feels like so much longer! We celebrated Jono's birthday two days later, which of course called for chocolate cake (which I ate most of) and celebrations with family.

After so much fun and indulgence during October we found ourselves staring November with a stomach bug that had all three of us feeling very sorry for ourselves. We survived the biggest poo explosion of Zach's life which happened while we were out to lunch and I was wearing a white top - possibly my least favourite parenting moment to date. November is looking a little more low key, although I'm excited to start getting festive now the focus is on Christmas!

I am in full Christmas mode now that it's the middle of November. Although we're not putting up any decorations until December, we're starting to get out some of our more festive bits. This jumper is something I purchased from the lovely Lamb & Bear from her Instagram sale a while back, and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for Zach. I love the pattern, it is so perfect for this time of year. It is so soft, and keeps Zach toasty warm which is a necessity as the weather is getting colder. I've teamed it with his trusty jeans from Zara which are probably his most worn item. They are finally starting to fit him now after months of them being a bit too big - we've definitely got a lot of use out of them! I had intended to finish the outfit with his red trainers from F&F for Tesco but when I went to put them on him it turned out they are now too small! Although our boy may be small for his age he has big feet!

It's been a little quiet in these parts over the past week or so as I decided to take a little break from the blog and get my life back in order. October is always a busy month for us, and this year was the most hectic yet. With several birthdays, a leaving party, our anniversary and Halloween all squeezed into a short period of time we barely had a chance to sit back and relax. Of course, I'm not complaining as we enjoyed spending so much time with our family and friends.