My bike, and how to make it mine and carry toddler/groceries?

[hebe]

Thank you for the lovely welcome.

I was looking at my bike today and thinking that I really want to make it mine. I would like to add panniers and mudguards (fenders?) I have to admit to being a bit sad that my bike didn't come with matching mudguards (I may have seen too many Paisleys). The lbs will be doing a service on my bike in a couple of weeks so I'll ask him about getting in some silvery/chrome fenders to go on it. For panniers, I was thinking about a couple of Basil ones, or the red dotty one on Bobbin. Can anyone tell me if these would be ok for lightweight grocery shopping? I already have a rack on the back of the bike, it is there for a childseat but I think I shall be carrying the groceries long before the child, as they are a rather less precious load and I am still learning to ride competently. Also, where do you carry the essentials, such as spare tube and puncture repair set? At the moment I'm not cycling far enough that I couldn't wheel the bike back but hopefully that will change as I get better.

I am also thinking about carrying my daughter in a seat in front of me, rather than behind. She adores my bike and I would like to have her within sight and reach. I'd be grateful for any experience that people have of carrying toddlers on either type of seat. I don't think I'll be using a trailer, she would want to be up with me on the bike. She has a helmet, as do I.

Here is my bike. It is a Marin Stinson, "comfort" hybrid. I would love a thinner prettier bike, but this one is perfect whilst I am new to cycling and should be fine for carrying child and shopping on both the local roads and towpaths. I'd appreciate any insight that people have on making a bike your own, I don't want to end up with a hotch potch of frame, fenders, panniers as I have grown strangely fond of this bike. I'm already wondering if I should have gone for a silver pump rather than red

Thank you for reading, and for any help.