The toddler years have arrived! That’s it, my baby is now past the twelve-month benchmark and don’t I already know it. She has turned into a little diva with the odd tantrum here and there – definitely my little girl! I look at her now and she is just a miniature person in her own right with her own personality and crazy little habits, her likes and dislikes. I just find it fascinating watching her discover the world but I am sure it’s just a Mother’s love that keeps me so interested in her every step.

What have we been up to? I have already been thinking about our summer holiday, I know we have just only started the new year but, once you have children, pre-planning is a must. Our holiday to Barbados last summer was fantastic – once we finally arrived – but the time difference really disrupted Olive’s sleeping and it took me three months to get her back into a good routine. So I am avoiding long haul and just considering the Med. It’s quite worrying with the world’s terrorist problems and there aren’t many countries that I feel safe travelling to but, after some investigating and a little persuasion from my Mother-in-law, we have decided on Sardinia, which I’ve heard is extremely popular this year and conveniently just a two hour flight away – perfect for Olive.

I visited Sardinia back in 2013 for a VIVA press trip and I stayed at the five-star Valle Dell Erica Resort and knew, even then, that I would return with my family. This ultra-exclusive five-star resort really impressed me with their brilliant children’s and baby clubs (I hadn’t even had Olive) and I thought it would be perfect for Frank and Elfie (my stepchildren). So, remembering how great it was, I feel confident that all three children will be happy meaning that I will be able to relax at the spa and enjoy some much-deserved couple time.

Olive is still enjoying her Monkey Music classes and we have moved up into the ‘Rock n Roll’ group – I love how she already has so much confidence. She is always the teacher’s pet, taking prime position at the front of class and looking back at me, thinking that she is very cool dancing away to the Monkey Music beats. I’m sure she is in early training so that she can take on her godmother (and now rival) DJ VIVA Ems!

So, Olive turned one on the eighth of January and I decided to throw a little party with some of the Mombies (a nickname my partner calls us Mummies) and their little ones. The day was a fantastic turnout but Olive was teething so she cried most of the day while the other babies had the time of their lives running around our house causing chaos. I think I handled it quite well by sipping a few proseccos! No really, it’s a shame that she didn’t enjoy it but she certainly lived up to the saying “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!” Hopefully she will enjoy her next party when she turns two.

Potty Training: I am already thinking about potty training. She is only fourteen months old but hates wearing her nappy and I literally have to pin her down to get it on! I like the BabyBjorn Potty Chair. It looks good, comes in seven different shades, is sturdy and comfortable and, most importantly, it’s easy to remove and clean the inner potty while its splashguard should prevent spills. I will let you know how we go with this next step in Olive’s life.

Walking: I really thought that Olive would be walking by the time she turned one but she still prefers to crawl rather than taking her first steps. However, I do feel like it will happen any day now so I have bought these super-cute reins by Trunki, the Toddlepak Pink (called Betsy). So, once she is on the move, I will be able to keep her safe and close.

Changing Bag: Using my changing bag all day every day it became such a mess that I have just invested in a new one. The Choopie Soho CityBag is stylish and in my favourite colour – black with a polka dot lining. The bag is very easy to use and springs open at the push of a button, enabling me to get out what I need quickly and easily.

Playing: Olive loves her new Musical Rainbow Tea Party set by LeapFrog and plays with it all the time. You can actually hear it slosh when pouring! It lights up in six colours to teach colour names and plays seven songs so she has been having endless amounts of fun with this toy.

First Clock: Olive’s sleeping well at present and we seem to wake up about the same time at 7am every day but, as she gets older, I want her to understand when is a good time to get up and wake Mummy. This Gro-clock is perfect and is very easy to understand. Basically she can get up when she sees the sun and sleep when she see the stars. Later on I can add in a digital clock (within the sun and stars picture) for when she is ready to read the time.

Umbrella Stroller: With such a big family:- two small children; Olive; our big boy dog, Ralph and, occasionally, the Mother-in-law as well, I really needed a small, lightweight, compact stroller that wouldn’t take up too much space on days out. The Echo stroller, by Chicco, fits all my requirements and is comfortable for Olive whilst being functional for me. Stylish and ultra-compact with a carry handle suitable for lives like ours as we are constantly on the move!

Album 1