Today

Today I still ended up driving home with Harriet crying and screaming the entire journey. Some day this will get better. I didn't burn dinner today (only because we had leftover for dinner). That's an improvement.

Today I went for a lovely morning walk with Harriet to see the horses at Ditchley. Harriet was so very cute, her personality starting to come through. In the evening I burnt dinner while trying to order tomorrow's grocery on Ocado. Owen helpfully told me he would remind me when the timer goes off the second time round.

Today I took Harriet to the toddler group and then after school, I took the children to the library. In the evening I hurt my toe, and Owen gave me advice on how to deal with it. It's so cute how he talks to me like a grown up.

Today we went to Cogges Farm Christmas market to see Daisy and ran into Dennis, a designer I used to work with, and he was telling me how good he thought my drawings on Instagram were, and how he thought I should change profession. He's a man of good taste, I'm really flattered!

Today we drove to my office so I could pick up the car I abandoned on Friday for the Christmas party. And then we went to the library. In the evening Daisy came to see us and stayed for dinner and the night.

Today Owen got drenched in rain in the morning when I took him to school because he didn't have an umbrella, and he was sobbing when we reached school. In the evening we had our office Christmas do. It was so nice to see warm familiar faces like Dan and Ben, who are now based in Bristol. I got home after midnight and couldn't sleep until 5am due to coffee, alcohol and discomfort from the skipped breastfeeding.

Today I worked from home all day. It was freezing cold.

Today the office was super quiet! We used the new car seat. In the evening, I drove to pick up Owen and Harriet from childcare, and spent 20mins trying to stuff a screaming Harriet into the car while inconveniently parked. Got home super late and felt demotivated.

Today for the first time I was early to pick up Owen, so much so I even had time to buy him a new school jumper. Afterwards I juggled 3 kids in the library and felt empowered (Maddie's mum was ill, so I helped look after her for a bit). I had driven to the village centre when I picked Owen up, so we didn't have to walk in the dark and cold after his Martial Arts class, and got home super quick to make dinner! I felt like a super mum.

Today in the morning I helped out at the village toddler group. In the afternoon, Harriet cried and screamed, and then threw herself to the floor and sobbed when I woke her from her nap so we could go get Owen from school.

Today we went to Chipping Norton and bought our first Christmas tree (a small one) to decorate in our house. The children didn't seem impressed.

Today I printed my linocut block to make some Christmas cards. We stayed home all day as Owen didn't want to go out, and so Peter took Harriet for a splash in the puddles outside.

Today we opened the Christmas box and unpacked the advent calendar and Christmas wreath.

Today I worked worked worked.

Today I immersed myself at work.

Today it rained and rained and I went to Oxford in the morning with Harriet to collect some toys I bought for Christmas. Then in the afternoon I had to pick Owen up to take him to his martial arts class. I was drenched (even with my waterproof coat on) and cold from pushing the buggy around all day in the rain. My poor hands were sore with chill and wrinkly from damp. And then the children were impatient, rude and ungrateful. I feel a bit sorry for myself.

Today I took Harriet to the toddler group. It was freezing cold! Harriet was very cute and said another complex sentence: 'when is it snack time?'. Growing up so quickly! In the evening I got mad with Owen for being rude and demanding when I was so busy and tired from serving the two rascals. Maybe I should cut down on the Christmas presents and teach them a lesson.

Today I stayed home all day again and Owen didn't want to go out though Harriet was keen. So Peter took her out to kids runaround at the Charlbury community centre. I did a lot of Christmas shopping. Next year we'll try harder to cut down on consumerism! But it is hard with children, particularly when you spend Christmas with other children and you can't explain to your kids why Father Christmas was unfair.

Today we stayed home all day. Peter's mum dropped by to see us in the afternoon. In the evening I worked on the moose linocut until past midnight!

Today finally I got to do some work as Peter worked from home to look after Harriet, who wasn't allowed at nursery. In the evening I did the final moose drawing for the Christmas linocut. Harriet said the first complex sentence I've heard her said: 'what happened to mama?'