• SELF LOVE & BODY IMAGE
  • MOTHERHOOD
    • Pregnancy
    • Babies
    • Kids
  • ADVENTURE
  • STYLE
    • Interiors
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • FOOD

Mother's Always Right

Mum life, body image, style

  • ABOUT
  • PRESS
  • Podcast
  • Public Speaking
  • YOUTUBE
  • WORK WITH ME
  • #FreeFromDiets campaign
You are here: Home / MOTHERHOOD / Babies / Nine months in, nine months out

Nine months in, nine months out

July 6, 2015 by Molly 24 Comments

I’m boring myself by the constant exclamations of surprise at how big my baby suddenly is, but OH MY GOD MY BABY IS NINE MONTHS OLD TODAY. Seriously. Sheesh.

Like every month before it, the past one has been a whirlwind of firsts, milestones and surprising developmental leaps that I just wasn’t ready for. Baby Girl can now pull herself to standing and cruise round the furniture. She’s been crawling for nearly three months now and has perfected her running crawl down a tee. She’s solid and strong, holding her own as she wrestles and plays with her older sister.

This has also been the month where she’s learned to clap her hands, which is exceptionally cute. She can also do the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star hand movements, which she sometimes combines with the odd hand clap, just for added smiles. 

We also (finally) have the first teeth. The front bottom ones came through within a week or so of each other. One of them arrived on the day we went into London last week which explains why she was a bit grizzly on the journey home.

We’re getting lots of baby babbling that is starting to resemble the beginnings of proper words now, my favourite being the “Mamamamamamamama”. Every now and again she’ll make a sound that could almost be a real word, reminding me how exciting it is when they suddenly start talking.

She’s a little champ, constantly smiling and laughing. Baby Girl adores company, and will flash big cheesy grins at anyone who shows an interest in her. She has this deep belly laugh which is completely infectious, even when you’re tired, hot and feeling frazzled by To Do lists and jobs that never seem to get finished.

Sleep is becoming more reliable these days. We’ve had a few more of those mythical unbroken nights recently, which has been incredible. I had my first ever unbroken eight hour stretch of sleep the other night since she’s been born, when Baby Girl slept from 10.30pm after waking for a feed, through to 7am the following morning. Every other time she’s done this I’ve still woken, but that night I was out cold. Of course that was followed by a night where she woke every two to three hours, but I guess that’s the law of baby. Interestingly, the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine is now able to settle her at night, which gives me some welcome relief on bad nights.

During the day she’s happiest napping in her cot and tends to have one big nap (two to three hours) and a shorter nap later on, unless it’s a baby swimming day when she’ll do a quick nap in the morning in the car and then a longer nap in the afternoon. This is great because it means I can get a bit of work done. As much as I loved the days of her snoozing on me while I watched Netflix, it’s nice to actually be able to get stuff done while she sleeps.

It feels like we’ve always been a family of four, even though this time last year we were still waiting to meet her. Frog told me the other day that she loves being a big sister, even though little sisters are “sometimes a bit annoying”. As a big sister myself, I can fully agree with that statement.

The next month will see us begin the school holidays and have our longest time together as a family yet. I’m hoping there will be more “lovely sister” moments than “annoying sister” ones. Fingers crossed.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Babies, MOTHERHOOD Tagged With: babies, mum life, nine months old, Parenting, sisters

« Baby buys: the healthy BLW convenience food
Things I find easier as a mum of two »

Comments

  1. Lottie :: Oyster & Pearl says

    July 11, 2015 at 8:11 am

    Oh my goodness, SUCH a lovely age! Look at that face…

    Reply
  2. Katie Albury says

    July 7, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    Oh wow your babies are super cute! Even being pregnant I already can’t believe how quickly the time is flying past…I already want it to slow down as before I know it I’ll be doing ‘my baby is 6 months old’ reflections and that thought makes me already emotional. Enjoy every minute, hope the summer brings you lots of family fun and precious memories xx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      You’re right – time has this weird quality of speeding up really quickly when you’re pregnant and forever more from then on. It’s like the rule of baby, or something!

      Reply
  3. Lori says

    July 7, 2015 at 7:46 am

    I LOVED this age, they are sooo cute and really strating to show theire personalities. Also a little in love with the cuteness of that cheeky smile in the second photo! x

    Reply
  4. Jess @ Along Came Cherry says

    July 7, 2015 at 6:38 am

    Such a good age and I always love the 9 month thing when you know they’ve been ‘out’ for as long as they were ‘in’! She’s so cute x

    Reply
  5. Laura says

    July 7, 2015 at 2:32 am

    Wow how fast has time gone, I cannot believe she is 9 months already and by the sounds of it really on the move – pulling herself up – wow, I am not ready for things with Baby G who is rolling over everywhere.

    Laura x

    Reply
  6. Emma says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    She’s so cute, and I think it goes so quickly, and they change at such a rapid rate, that it is good to take note of every little thing.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:07 pm

      I’m definitely finding that it’s going quicker second time around. I feel like I blink and suddenly another month has passed!

      Reply
  7. Gill Crawshaw says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Nine months, how is this possible?! Surely we’re still blogging about our pregnancies…Nice work on the sleep, hope it lasts! x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:08 pm

      It’s hit and miss – I shan’t tempt fate by saying it’s too improved just yet!

      Reply
  8. Alice says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Molly, how has nine months passed already?! Can’t believe how much like Frog she looks – absolutely gorgeous. x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      It’s gone WAY too quickly. I keep expecting to wake up and both my girls will suddenly be teenagers and I’ll be, like, WHERE DID YOUR CHILDHOODS GO?! *wail*

      Reply
  9. Alison says

    July 6, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    SO SO cute. Like, seriously. And I can’t believe how big she is getting!!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      I know! Much bigger than that tiny bundle you cuddled at 8 weeks old. xx

      Reply
  10. Claire says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:46 am

    She is so cute! That nine month milestone is such an interesting one. Yo can’t believe that they have been here for as long as they were growing inside you. She is a bundle of joy. To me, she reflects what a happy, loving family you all are. I love that “the NLM” can now settle her at night, I remember the relief when my kids needed less boob at night and finally happy to have their daddy. Great Daddy Skillz xxx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      It’s definitely a welcome relief to not be the only one who always has to do the settling! x

      Reply
  11. HELEN says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:46 am

    aww look at her – cuteness & trouble rolled into one squeezable baby!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      Ah thanks Helen! x

      Reply
  12. laura redburn says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:10 am

    ahhhhh this is just too cute and baby belly laughs are the best!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      They really are aren’t they?!

      Reply
  13. Slummy single mummy says

    July 6, 2015 at 9:09 am

    I think you’re allowed to be a bit obsessed by them at this age – it IS pretty adorable 🙂

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      Glad it’s not just me then…

      Reply
  14. Carie says

    July 6, 2015 at 6:05 am

    Oh envy envy – Pip is 10 months and he rarely naps not on me, wakes at least once in the evening and sleeps with me most of the night – I day dream about sleeping on my front!! Happy Nine month birthday Baby Girl, she sounds like she’s absolutely wonderful!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      Don’t get me wrong – there are still many nights when we don’t get anywhere near enough sleep… but I think that’ll be the case for a long while yet! x

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, I’m Molly. I’m an author, journalist, campaigner and Executive Director of the social enterprise The Body Happy Organisation. Sadly this blog is now essentially defunct as I simply don't have time to write here any more but deleting it felt too much like burning all my old love letters to my kids, so here it still is. If you're interested in me and my work your best bet is to catch me on Instagram where I still post regularly. Thanks for stopping by :) Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

INSTAGRAM

As we head into a new week, how many other kids ar As we head into a new week, how many other kids are worrying about school tomorrow due to body insecurities or appearance based bullying? 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If the research is correct, then rather a lot. In fact, earlier this year a cross-parliamentary committee into body image found 66% of children feel negative or very negative about their body most of the time. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Poor body image is a public health issue. For schools, body image needs to be included in any conversations about student wellbeing, safeguarding, policies to improve engagement and academic attainment and anti-bullying strategies. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some thinking prompts to consider if you’re an adult who’s ever around children (feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, but no pressure!):
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⭐️ If you’re a parent - how are you helping your kids think critically about some of the diet culture messages that uphold body ideals? How can you encourage conversations around these subjects in an age appropriate way? How are you ensuring your kids see a wide range of representation of different body types? How are you helping them see that all bodies are good bodies?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⭐️ If you’re a teacher, on a board of governors in a school, or on a school PTFA team, how are you ensuring your school environment nurtures positive body image in students? How are you bringing your colleagues into these conversations and raising awareness of an issue that is still so often overlooked? How are you encouraging your SLT team to include body image awareness in CPD training and school governing policies?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This stuff is HARD. It’s systemic, and will require collective action to see change. There is support out there though - check out the resources, products and training at @bodyhappyorg 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I firmly believe we can make a change, so that other 12 year olds like this one can also have victory moments too. ❤️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
[Full text in Alt Text]
Knowing - I mean REALLY knowing - that MY body is Knowing - I mean REALLY knowing - that MY body is my OWN was a breakthrough moment for me when I was mending my relationship with my body. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I used to think other peoples’ judgements of my body mattered more than how I actually felt in my body, and I often put those external pressures above all else. And let me clear: as a straight-sized non-disabled white woman those judgements were minimal compared to what others go through.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But still they came - from boys’ comments about my boobs, my hairstyle and my skin in my teens, to peers’ comments about my food choices or my outfit choices etc etc right through my late teens and adulthood.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If I’d just known then that it was MY body, MY rules and that that was what mattered above everything else, I’d have felt at peace in my body a lot sooner, I think.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Btw if any of this resonates and you’re looking for resources / support to raise kids who are friends with their bodies too, then you might be interested in what’s going on at @bodyhappyorg at the mo. There’s a deal on the Masterclass and new Pocket Boosters (two of which are pictured here). 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you want to spend your pennies in a socially conscious way this #BlackFriday then this is it.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I know the noise is super loud at this time of year and the pressure on parents can be immense. But if you know someone who might benefit from this please do pass it on. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What we lack in marketing budgets we make up for in passion, dedication and the knowledge that our kids really do deserve better than the current diet culture narrative. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Their body. Their rules.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
[Image description: A photo of Molly in her pants holding up two cards from the Body Happy Org Pocket Booster Pack which say “my body, my rules” and “I am brilliant just as I am”.]
I wrote my book for parents and caregivers. But re I wrote my book for parents and caregivers. But really it’s for anyone who’s ever around children. To know teachers are reading it is a hugely big deal for me. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We run CPD workshops for schools at @bodyhappyorg but to know organisations like @avthousandhours are supporting #BodyHappyKids and our mission to help create a culture that allows children and teens to love the skin they’re in is everything. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you @thatchcreativeuk for the message and telling me about your brilliant work, and thank you for sharing my book with 11 schools in Kent. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’d love to hear from other professionals working with kids in the comments here too ❤️❤️ And if you’ve read the book then leaving a rating or review on Amazon or Good Reads helps new people find it too. I’m told the Amazon algorithm particularly is set up to recommend new reads to people based on the number of reviews it has. It takes 2 secs to rate it and you don’t have to have bought the book there to do it. THANK YOU 🥰
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
[Full text in Alt Text]
My eldest daughter, Freya, is 11 years old. I’m My eldest daughter, Freya, is 11 years old. I’m painfully aware of the body image challenges on the horizon as she navigates secondary school, social media and relationships. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Eating issues, self-esteem issues and anti-fat bias are rife in this age range and Freya’s peers aren’t immune to this - I know because she tells me. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There was one conversation she was upset by, where another child was commenting on a younger kid’s body under the guise of health. Yes, 11 and 12 year olds can concern troll too. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The biggest thing I try to do is create a safe space for her to land, for her to talk about this stuff with me. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sometimes I share advice with her but mostly I just listen, or ask her questions to help her work through things on her own. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I want to encourage her to get curious, to challenge the diet culture rhetoric she hears elsewhere, and to think of ways she can advocate for some of the kids who are harmed by these ideas. (And, often, the ones who are harmed are also the ones doing the harming. A child exhibiting major anti fat bias may well have their own body insecurities and possible issues around food.)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We’ve used the new @bodyhappyorg Pocket Boosters a lot as conversation prompts. Freya might be too old for some of the games her sister enjoys playing with them (although I think she does secretly like the Pairs game 😊️) but the cards have led to some really lovely chats about advocacy, body ideals and consent. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
These are some pics we took together of them the other day. We’re using them to make a Body Happy Advent, and Freya was asking how we chose the affirmations in the pack, and talking about what she took them to mean. It was pretty lush to be honest. I bloody love this kid. ❤️❤️❤️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
PS You can get the Pocket Boosters from the @bodyhappyorg online shop. Probably should have mentioned that before 😂
Introducing… the POCKET BOOSTERS! 🥳🥳🥳 Introducing… the POCKET BOOSTERS! 🥳🥳🥳

Our first ever manufactured product at @bodyhappyorg is now live and it gives me all the feels to think of these being used to support kids to be friends with their bodies.

Based on one of the toolkits in my book #BodyHappyKids they’re an evidence based interactive resource - they come with 8 different games and activities, but watch the video for some more tips on how to use them. 

We are a tiny social enterprise company on a big social impact mission and your support means everything.

Please tell your pals and share with anyone you think will benefit from having the Pocket Boosters in their life! 🙏❤️✨

Big thank you to @aceandping for doing such a great job on the product artwork and bringing my idea to life 😍😍😍

[Video description: Molly and her children play with the new Pocket Booster Pack, an affirmation card activity game designed by the social enterprise The Body Happy Organisation CIC.]
So many lovely messages and comments since my last So many lovely messages and comments since my last 🎻 post. Thank you ❤️ Turns out I’m not the only one feeling drained atm. @mumologist did a great post about this collective exhaustion yesterday. I feel her caption, hard.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sharing this pic from a a few weeks ago when we visited the big blue box, not because I want to document our time in the IKEA car park, but because I wanted to talk about body image, self compassion and home…
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m not going to suggest a cushion splurge at IKEA is going to make you feel better about your body (if only it were that simple) but there’s definitely something to be said about the physical urge to nest, to hunker down, to create a soft space to hibernate and for our bodies to land.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I remember feeling this viscerally for the first time aged 11 when I was allowed to redecorate my bedroom and use all the tips I’d learned from my fave TV show of the 90s, Changing Rooms. My room was my sanctuary, a space I kept tidy and clean, that had my name on the door. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This nesting urge came on strong when I was pregnant. I felt it physically, this desire to create safety and sanctuary for my body and growing baby. And I feel it again regularly at this time every year, as I hunker down into our “burrow” while the nights draw in. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The comfort of clean sheets and soft cushions are a way for me to show my body comfort and care. My tidy desk soothes my busy mind, bringing some order and reassurance to dampen rising work-related stress levels. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Put simply, for me, my surroundings deeply affect how I feel in my body and mind. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but it is for me. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Is this something you notice too? Or is it just me…?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
[ID: Molly and her daughters stand in the IKEA car park. It’s a sunny day and they are smiling.]
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Mothers Always Right. Design by Stacey Corrin

This site uses cookies: Find out more.