Happy New Year you lovely lot!

Joe, Alessia and I have had an incredibly busy December! Although, annoyingly the whole family has been struck down with back to back colds and flu-bugs.

However, it’s been really nice to slow down and rest for a few weeks.
Well, sort of recover, while parent duties continue.

Anywho. 2025, the year I wasn’t just a dog mum, but finally a mum to a precious baby girl too. A long long journey with endometriosis, stomas, stoma reversals, thyroid and so on over the past nine or so years, but we got there in the end. 

Being a mum is a dream come true! 

Here is a brief recap of the last twelve months. 

SO many events and things happened last year, however, these are my absolute favourite and most cherished moments. Broken down month by month. The best of the best.

I have to be transparent as always, there have been some tough moments too, the low-lights that I touch upon down below. Although, having said that, overall, I’ve had a rather amazing year as a new mum.

I will say that parenting is tough, but it’s also so so rewarding! I have most definitely been romanticizing motherhood on the gram and on my blog. BUT, I just feel so incredibly lucky to have a child after all the struggles with my health.

So, without further ado, here are 25 good things that have happened in 2025.

1. A dreamy cosy stay-cay at one of my favourite Artist Residence hotels. One of mine and Joe’s many baby-moons. You can read all about it here if you’re interested.

2. Dishoom vegan sausage naans for Joe’s birthday.

3. An incredible and relaxing spa-day and one night stay at Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. One of my favourite local spa’s, which I natter about it all here.

4. Finding out we are having a baby girl! A small celebration with immediate family with cake of course.

5. A baby-moon abroad to Spain.

6. Feeling fit and strong and still gym-ing well into my second and third trimesters. My post gym happy selfie.

7. A special Mother’s Day with bump. Followed by a day out with my mum.

8. Tim Burton Exhibition and London day out in the Spring.

9. Not one but two baby showers! One in Joe’s home-town and one at our home for my family.
It sucks that everyone is so spread out, but we were so excited after our long and tough journey with infertility that we wanted to have two baby showers so none of our family members felt left out. Our friends are all scattered around the UK sadly, so we just had family at the events.

10. My grandad’s 90th birthday celebrations. What an amazing mile-stone to hit 90 and still be so full of life.

11. Our last ever date day as a two-some at The Grove, ahead of baby girl’s arrival.

12. A positive birth experience (c-section) and meeting our darling baby girl, Alessia.

13. Joe’s incredible 6-week paternity leave over Summer. It was so lovely to be in our baby bubble and learn the new ways of parenting together.

14. The Lionesses winning another Euro’s! Back to back champs.

15. Many lovely chatty walks with friends. I very much enjoyed my solo walks too.

16. Afternoon tea at the Rosewood. Alessia’s first afternoon tea experience. She was as good as gold and the staff were amazing!

17. Loving being a mum and knowing I am a safe space for my baby girl and fur-baby. Also enjoyed going to baby classes and chatting to other mums. Coffee and cake after a class is always a treat!

18. Whitstable, our first UK stay-cation as a family of four. I have a natter about our dreamy stay here.

19. We braved a holiday abroad to Mallorca with the little one! Stayed at one of the IKOS hotels. Wow wee, fancy and incredible. Never experienced an all inclusive holiday like it!
I need to write all about it, but, I am SO SO behind with my blogging schedule.
Hopefully I’ll get some time within the next few months to type up my thoughts.

20. October being an incredible month, possibly one of my favourite month’s of the year. Scorpio Season and all that jazz for all those that celebrate.
We treated my mum to the all you can eat buffet at The Grove for her birthday, pumpkin picking, Archie’s 5th birthday and a week of birthday fun.

21. A random highlight was treating myself to a birthday blow-dry at a local luxurious salon. I want them all the time now! I’m getting one done on Saturday!

22. The festive season. Lessi Meeting Santa for the first time at Hatfield House, Christmas afternoon tea at Sketch, Christmas Lights in London, Christmas window displays, a local Christmas lights walk, seeing friends and family.

23. Alessia’s first Christmas at home. A super special Christmas, although we were dying of the flu. Hosting Christmas with a 6 month old and being unwell is not for the faint-hearted, however, we had a lovely day.

24. Celebrating six months of Alessia!

25. Doing some major house renovations! Started our extension and planning to redecorate our kitchen at the same time, so it all flows together nicely. Really excited to have it all done! Got my interior hat on with so many ideas for the new rooms!

I did have a few wobbly low-light moments this year too.

The complications towards the end of my pregnancy was really tough, which was why Alessia was 3 weeks early. 

Going into hospital on a daily basis for weeks was scary but none of that matters now that she is here!

Oh and the first endo period after giving birth was almost like I was bleeding to death… but hey, I survived, just about lol. Gotta love PP lady problems!

Why does no-one talk about the horrific periods though?! It completely blind-sighted me how bad my endometriosis was after birth – I’ve never experienced anything like it!

I’ve also had some tough moments as a new mum too. The long long days while Joe is working and the realization of not having a “village” to support me through PP.

I heavily rely on my mum and Joe. Also, having to deal with some difficult relationships and setting boundaries like my life depends on it.

Anyway. I’m really looking forward to 2026! Although I’m edging closer and closer to my 40’s. Which is a scary but exciting thought!

Hope you all had a wonderful festive season! And a great start to the New Year! Wishing you all amazing health and happiness for the year of 2026.

Before I dash off and watch The Traitors, I’ve just started Substack-ing. Feel free to subscribe if you would like to! Ciao, ciao!