On accepting (and trying to love) my changing body shape

16 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Health, Pregnancy

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I think it’s one of life’s great ironies that the two periods in my adulthood when I have treated my body as a temple have been when my stomach has absolutely no chance of getting any flatter.

With this pregnancy, just as when I was pregnant with Frog, I’ve found myself eating more healthily, getting more exercise and making sure I go to bed at a reasonable hour. It seems I need the excuse of growing another human to take proper care of myself.

I’ve never been a massive health freak. I find the gym boring and conversations about diets dull. At university I joined the Yoga club and did three sessions of Yoga a week (the relaxation bit at the end was my favourite), along with enduring a regular visit to the gym to try and balance out my excessive student alcohol consumption. But that’s as far as it went. Continue reading »

Lessons I learned while doing DIY with my husband

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Home, Relationships

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DIY

Last week proved to be the biggest test to my marriage yet. Forget childbirth, newborn babies and living without a dishwasher. This was far, far worse.

We battled through it and came out the other side, I’d like to say stronger than before, but that’s debatable. Here are the lessons I learned during the testing period that was our first ever major DIY project together. A period covering four days of blood, sweat and tears. Literally.

1) My husband thinks I am like my mother Continue reading »

Testing 2 year olds? Time to emigrate

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by in Opinion

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Do you ever get the feeling you’re living in a parallel universe? Like you’re in a dream, suddenly finding yourself in a world that you don’t much recognise?

I get that feeling a lot at the moment. It comes on me in a rush, like an instant cold sweat, every time I read about proposed changes to the education system in this country.

This morning, I read the latest idea touted by Ofsted, to test two year olds in numeracy and literacy, to make them “better prepared for primary school” and I had to pinch myself. Continue reading »

More baby confusion

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Pregnancy, Seasonal

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“Mummy, is it Easter soon?” asked my three and three quarter year old at the breakfast table yesterday morning.

I saw this as a good opportunity to have a Meaningful Conversation and impart some of my extensive knowledge.

“Yes, and do you know what happens at Easter?” I replied.

The answer was a predictable one, mainly revolving around chocolate and holidays. Determined to press on, I mentioned Jesus and the idea of celebrating new life. We’re not a religious family, but I thought it important my almost four year old had some idea of the story behind Easter.  Continue reading »

One pair of boots – three ways

31 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in Kids' fashion

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Boots

We love shoes in this house. Despite having bendy feet and needing special hospital-issue insoles because of her hypermobility, my three and three quarter year old is obsessed with shoes. She takes after her mum like that. So when the lovely people at Bobux got in touch to see if we’d be interested in reviewing a pair from their range it was an immediate “yes”.

I did have reservations though – would they fit properly? How would I know if they were suitable for my tot’s bendy ankles without trying them on first? Would they be sturdy enough to withstand all the dancing / jumping / running that my energetic child would be bound to do in them?  Continue reading »

Will I ever not need my mum?

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Motherhood

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Grandma and granddaughter

“Hi Mum”. The conversation always starts the same. She can immediately tell if I’m ringing just for a chat or if there’s a specific purpose to the call. She has me sussed from those two words alone.

There was a period a few months back when I was ringing once, sometimes even twice a day. I’d always be apologetic, but life was so stressful with work and the house that I needed to either vent or ask for advice. She was always there to listen and offer whatever it was I needed. One time I just broke down sobbing, when I thought we’d lost the house we now live in, and she cried too. I feel guilty for that.

I remember ringing her in the midst of some crisis or other when I was at university. She dropped everything and drove to Cardiff, bringing a picnic full of my favourite treats. We chatted as we ate sandwiches in a sunny park. I felt better afterwards and the supposed crisis didn’t seem like so much of a crisis any more.  Continue reading »

Sorry for the bump pic

27 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by in Pregnancy

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13 weeks pregnancy bump

I first encountered the “bump pic” when I was pregnant with my now three and three quarter year old daughter, Frog. I was browsing something online (probably, “Can I STILL not eat blue cheese when pregnant?”) when I came across a gallery of bumps. Not celebrity bumps either, just normal people bumps. It was a revelation. I laughed. “Why are people taking pictures of their preggo bumps?!” I wondered aloud to my colleagues in the newsroom.

Of course I’d seen the Demi Moore bump pics. Those tastefully shot naked pregnancy photographs displaying her huge belly in all its glory. I found that kind of funny too, although I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because, in my non-parent, non-pregnant state I didn’t really see what the big deal was. Are we supposed to bow down in amazement at this beautiful bump? Should this woman be placed on a special pedestal of awe just because she’s got a baby inside her tummy? I didn’t get it.  Continue reading »

Going out is better than staying at home

25 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Motherhood, Play, Travel

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Pennywell Farm

Up until last week, the sofa has held us captive. There’ve been so many afternoons when it’s all I could do to drag myself to the kitchen and the thought of actually leaving the house seemed impossible. Morning (or “all day”) sickness does that to you.

Last Friday was the first one in ages that has been both free of commitments and morning sickness. So I decided to celebrate by taking Frog on a mum / daughter day trip to a local farm that’s been recommended by countless people.  Continue reading »

Netflix and the first trimester endurance test

24 Monday Mar 2014

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Netflix and the first trimester

So far this pregnancy has seen me give up wine (sob), bread (double sob) and milk. But that’s not all. I’ve also given up late nights and adjusted the hours I spend sitting in front of my computer working. Gone are the 11pm marathon I’ve-Got-To-Meet-This-Deadline evenings and in are early nights and evenings wallowing in the bath.

The first trimester hasn’t been a particularly easy one. I’ve had horrible sickness, extreme exhaustion and felt generally crap. I wrote in my last post about some of the things that have helped, but I want to dedicate a special place in my heart and on my blog to one particular first trimester saviour: Netflix.  Continue reading »

My first trimester saviours

21 Friday Mar 2014

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first trimester saviours

They say no two pregnancies are the same and, so far, this is proving very true in my case.

With Frog, I spent the first trimester utterly exhausted. That kind of tiredness that just seeps right into your bones and leaves you able to do nothing but sleep. Although I spent many evenings feeling nauseous, there wasn’t actually too much sickness. I just felt bloated, tired and generally crap.

With this pregnancy I’ve felt all that and more. The biggest difference is the sickness. I’ve never experienced anything like it. From the moment I opened my eyes in the morning until the moment I closed them at night I battled against extreme waves of nausea. It meant there’ve been many afternoons when I’ve had to cancel plans to take Frog out because I physically can’t be more than two metres from the toilet.  Continue reading »