Cooey! How is everyone? It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You know all that stuff people say about babies being time consuming, well it’s all true. Mimi is twelve weeks old now and it’s been the fastest twelve weeks of my life and yet we have done very, very little asides from feed, sleep, change nappies, play, go to an occasional music session or swim lesson and repeat; life has become unrecognisable to what it was before.
We had a rough start with lots of feeding issues but we’ve got those sorted out now and Mimi has become such a dreamy baby, always smiling and wanting to play and she sleeps – I still can’t believe our luck to have a baby who sleeps through the night at such a young age and I am keeping everything crossed that this sleep spell does not get broken any time soon. The reason I’m telling you all this? Well, a couple of weeks ago we felt ready to slowly emerge from the baby bubble and get back into the real world by taking our first trip away together to celebrate my first Mother’s day.
I suppose I was a bit nervous that going away with a baby would be no fun or more like hard work than anything else but I had nothing to worry about. We were invited to stay at one of the many beautiful homes managed by Unique Home Stays and after much deliberation (so, so difficult to choose as they are all stunning – I really want to go here and here too!) I chose the magical wooden cabin, Firefly, located in a small hamlet in Cornwall for our first trip away as a three (well, four including Otto). I mean, just look at it…
The kitchen in Firefly cabin, available to rent through Unique Home Stays.
The cabin began life as stables set in a wild flower meadow on the owner’s farm. They set to work to completely transform it in to an authentic woodcutter’s cabin. Clad with 750 old scaffolding boards and reclaimed materials the cabin looks and feels amazing – as soon as we stepped foot inside it felt like the building was giving us a great big hug, helped by the hamper of goodies, cream tea, fully stocked store cupboard and the ready laid open fire.
The design of the cabin is very clever as it feels so warm and cosy for the colder months (I hate feeling cold at home so I was very pleased that it was toasty warm throughout our stay) yet it is perfect for the warmer months too with the massive barn style doors that open up from the main living area onto the porch with two different seating areas and a BBQ.
The house is filled with interesting vintage finds that give the space real character and make it feel like a real home, not just a soulless holiday house. The kitchen was very well equipped and because we had the baby we stayed at home in the evenings and cooked up some yummy dinners.
Mimi must have appreciated how comfortable and welcoming the bedroom was as she did her first night of twelve hours of sleep here – the best present I could have asked for on Mother’s Day! It also gave us the chance to sleep properly in the wondrous bed covered in beautiful linens – delish. There were even linen dressing gowns.
The bathroom in the cabin was one of my favourite bits of the design. With a concrete sink and bath and the shower clad in corrugated iron I initially thought it would be cold and hard but the skylight flooded the room with light and the heating and weathered wood kept it wonderfully warm. Such a cool design.
Otto loved our ‘cabin in the woods’ just as much as we did and he even got his own bed, bowls and treats to welcome him. If you are not doggy people though you would never in a million years know that any dogs had ever been there – the place was spotless.
Cornwall is always a wonderful place to visit and we were super lucky as we got the sun but the beaches were almost completely empty as it was low season – perfect! We arrived on Friday and headed to Crantock beach so that we could all stretch our legs after the long car journey and then to the local farm shop for supplies.
Crantock beach.
On Saturday we went to Padstow for fish and chips at Rick Stein’s restaurant as well as a trip to Port Isaac, which is so beautiful (emergency sun hat purchased for Mimi whilst we were there).
Padstow
We also stopped by Porthcothan beach, which is where my mum spent all her childhood holidays with her father and brother. It’s all so lovely and unspoilt and I bet it hasn’t changed much since the days she visited there.
Porthcothan beach
It was such a special time with our little girl visiting the sea for the first time and being able to watch her soak up new sensations. Just the most perfect way to spend my first Mother’s Day.
On our way home on Monday we stopped at Watergate Bay for brunch and a dog walk along the beach and it is absolutely stunning; the type of place that makes you gasp when you see it for the first time. Sand stretching out forever and the blue skies were unbelievable. We really didn’t want to leave.
Watergate Bay
Thank you so much to Unique Home Stays for our stay at the incredible Firefly cabin; we loved our time there and made such precious memories of our first trip away together. I want to relive it again and again (and I simply must have my own cabin one day, natch!).
Katy x
Great post! I am now dreaming of vacations in this cabin!
Oh what a totally gorgeous place and it looked like you picked an amazing time to stay with all that sunshine! Sounds like a perfect way to spend your first Mother’s Day!! Also Mimi is just the most gorgeous little thing, bless her for being so good for mummy and daddy and allowing you guys a bit of rest too! We’re away in a few weeks with Quito and trying to find nice places that are also dog-friendly isn’t easy (I know the place we’ve booked isn’t this nice! Ha!) – will definitely have to check out the site xxx
Hi, Katy, we have loved reading about your very special Mothers Day stay at Firefly, what beautiful pictures. So pleased we could be part of your memories. Best wishes from the team at Unique Home Stays x
What an absolutely beautiful rustic hideaway Katy – must have been such a delight to stay there. I’m loving all the Mimi pics too, she’s such a cutie! Oh, and if you do ever get that cabin of your own I want an invite, ‘k?! xx
Ahhhh congratulations on your new bundle! She’s gorgeous. I’d love to say things slow down but sadly they just grow up so so fast. Beautiful setting for your first Mother’s Day. Some memories you’ll treasure forever I’ve no doubt xx
Ahhh Katy it looks so lovely! What a fabulous way to spend your first mother’s day – the cabin looks incredible (what love and effort has gone into making that so cosy and stylish, hey?) and your photos of padstow & the beach have me longing for a trip to Cornwall. Mimi is beautiful – what a gorgeous little girl you guys have. 🙂
Flora
http://www.theeverchange.com
Ooh yay! So happy you are back and had a lovely first holiday. I love this place it’s so beautiful inside. Too many dream homes on that site! 🙂 xxx
It is really lovely to see your baby girl and reading all about it after the posts of 2016…. Well done! Never give up…
What a lovely way to spend Mother’s Day! I’m so pleased you had a lovely time. What a gorgeous place you chose too, but then again all the properties at Unique Home Stays are absolutely stunning. I’ve got a shortlist that includes nearly all of them lol! Mimi is beautiful and you’re so lucky that she is sleeping through. My little one is 17 months now and still doesn’t sleep through, never has, not once!
Hello, Mimi! She is the cutest little cinnamon roll!
I’m glad you had a lovely holiday! The cabin is absolutely fab!
What a lovely place to stay for your first holiday altogether! It looks like you had a lovely time.
Oh, what a fantastic first holiday for Mimi. It looks like an amazing place to stay and you look so happy xx
Looks like you had a wonderful time away. Your daughter is so cute. x
What a beautiful place! I love Cornwall – it’s such a great place to visit for family holidays too. And Crantock is one of my most favourite beaches in the whole world. So lovely to see you getting on so well. x
Wow, that place looks like an absolutely dream. My idea of heaven! That concrete basin! Absolutely love it, and love that you got to enjoy it as a family. Definitely one to add to the bucket list…
Glad to hear that you all had a great break and loved Cornwall. Living in Padstow, we love it here too! I would certainly recommend visiting again (taking advantage of coming down outside school holiday season before Mimi starts school. Rockpooling in the winter followed by a hot chocolate and cake afterwards – nothing better!)
What a gorgeous place, I want to go there immediately! Glad you had a good rest as I know how tiring it can be with a little one! x
Just catching up on your blog and can’t believe how little Mimi looks in these gorgeous pics – it’s hard to believe they were ever that small now isn’t it? xx