Reflecting

Hi Peeps,

Can you believe that Master P is now 6 1/2 months old? Seriously, how'd that happen? He has grown so much (stupid comment really as that is what babies do!), and we really are amazed at the rate of development in the little guy.

I've been thinking about my much neglected blog, my neglected kitchen, and my neglected crafting of late which has really inspired me to try to make some time to start making and doing things again, and clearly writing blog posts! I had so many visions about writing posts about motherhood, our experiences, weaning recipes and how to make cute baby items before Master P arrived. What a fool was I to imagine that I would have (spare) time on my hands!

So, I am taking some time to reflect on our journey over the past 6 months. And boy, what a journey it has been.

I remember saying to Mr P prior to the immanent arrival that I felt ready as a women and as a wife to  enter motherhood and stay at home for the first year of our child's life. I was ready to be the good mother, the good wife and look after the two special people in my life. I clearly had too many visions of "the good life". No matter how many classes you attend, books and websites you read, conversations that you have with other mums and mums-to-be, nothing, and I mean nothing can actually prepare you for the real thing. Mr P and I had spent the past 12 years together in ignorant bliss, selfishly doing what we wanted when we wanted. Oh, how that has changed!

Whilst I was pregnant we'd have conversations with other parents-to-be on how we were all going to raise our babies and what we were and weren't going to do.
- We were adamant that we weren't going to use dummies. That lasted 8 weeks after a very fretful night with an inconsolable and over stimulated baby; 6 months in, and he doesn't use them anymore. At the time, it was a god-send and served a purpose.
- I was adamant that I wanted to breastfeed as long as possible. However, both baby and I had various  difficulties and in the end we ended up having to bottle feed after a very long and stressful 8 weeks. I was guilt ridden and still feel pangs of guilt now, but at least I now have a happy and healthy baby.
- We were going to set a routine from the early days... that went out the window within the first few weeks and after we let this "idea" go, Master P set his own routine and you can gauge your watch by him. We had to relax and go with the flow. The only structure that we installed is bath and bedtime which works for everyone.

As first time parents, "naive" and "steep learning curve" come to mind!

But when it comes to it, and I am talking childbirth here...as a women you don't really have time to adjust once you have given birth. There is your baby: get on with it.  Ok, where's the manual? Oh, there isn't one? Shit! And just as you and your body is recovering from childbirth (which does need and take time to heal both mentally and physically) you somehow hope that the maternal switch has automatically been switched to the 'on' position.

You envisage that life carries on in its own merry way with the addition of your perfect bundle. Then the worries and insecurities set in... am I feeding my baby correctly; is the latch ok; is the baby getting enough milk; what do I do if the baby cries when I'm out; what do I do if the baby does a massive poo which leaks everywhere whilst I am out; what if I get criticised for bottle feeding; what if I get criticised for breastfeeding in public (I've seen it happen - sob); why won't my baby sleep; why is my baby sleeping all the time; should I swaddle or not; will I ever get my body back; will we ever have sex again?... the list goes on.

It took me 6 weeks to be able to leave the house on my own. It didn't help that I had been poorly after the arrival. I had previously thought that I would be swanning down the road with my newborn in the pram within the first week, soaking up the late summer sun. How wrong was I? I was sent into a blind panic the first time I had to go out with just me and the little one. My security net of Mr P wasn't there to hold my hand. I only had to walk 1/4 mile up the road to the doctors surgery! Now, I don't think twice about going out and can do the fastest turn around with the carseat/nappy bag prep going!

However, I really don't think I would have remained as sane as I have if I hadn't had made such good friends with my girls from the antenatal yoga class and NCT class, and literally forcing myself out of the house post-baby to go to playgroup and eventually mums fitness classes. It is only by attending these classes, baring souls and sharing experiences with other new mums that has actually allowed us to feel 'normal' and also what are babies are doing is 'normal'!

Though there is something strange about being pregnant and becoming a mum. As soon as we found out that I was expecting, I suddenly started noticing lots of pregnant women.... I thought the whole world was pregnant with me! And as soon as you become a mum, you suddenly start noticing more and more buggies, babies, toddlers and pregnant women.....and sometimes you just feel like you are another statistic and another bedraggled mum pushing a pram. At the end of the day, you are the most important person in your baby's life and you are doing a great job!

Now that we are at the end of the first 6 months, some mums that I know have returned back to work (weeps) and the rest of us are gearing up to go back in the forthcoming months. I have 5 1/2 months before I return to work and it is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. As much as I love my job, I actually long to stay at home for the first 2-3 years to look after our son...but reality hits, like the bills, the mortgage, the reducing Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) each month. I sometimes wonder if the government has got it wrong and that they should encourage and support mothers who want to stay home for those first precious and important years where we nurture and develop our babies into little people rather than hand them over into childcare. But then on the other hand, I know many who are itching to get back to work. The whole SMP / Return to Work scenario is a can of worms in itself and not a debate I have the energy for at the moment.

But no matter what parenthood throws at you, you work through the ups and downs. It is hard, yet very rewarding and even to this day we still marvel over the little boy that we 'made with love' asleep in his cot each night. I still can't believe that I am a mother; that Mr P is a father and that we are a family.

You quickly learn and distinguish between the different cries that your baby makes. You relish those precious moments when they are snuggled up on your chest, fast asleep. You get better and faster at changing nappies. You become the queen of multi-tasking and manage to function on less sleep than you had when you were at university!

So, my top ten tips for new mums would be:
1. People say, "when baby sleeps, mum sleeps". Seriously. DO IT! And don't nap on the sofa watching trash TV. Going to sleep in the bed is much better for you.
2. Let other people help you with chores and cooking. Stop being so damn house proud!
3. Find out where your local playgroups are and go. You may need to attend a few before you find the right one that is for you, but being around other new mums and support workers is invaluable to keeping you sane.
4. Ensure that you communicate how you are feeling with your partner if you are struggling. Raising a child is a joint responsibility.
5. If you are experiencing problems with breastfeeding, seek advice from the wealth of breastfeeding support that is out there.
6. Eat healthily and drink plenty of water. You need to look after yourself. Try not to get hung up about your body image. You've just been through childbirth - give yourself a break! You look fab!
7. If you are struggling with a crying baby, take a break. Pass them to someone else if you can or if you are alone, put them somewhere safe like their cot and take 5-10minutes. It's ok to cry, you aren't a failure. Scream into a pillow if you need to let off steam; grab a cup of tea and sit quietly in the garden; do some deep and relaxing breathing. Call a friend and talk.
8. Add some structure to your week and try to make sure that you do one thing a day, even if it is just going out for a walk. Being home alone with a baby all day is exhausting.
9. Take time out for yourself. Have your hair cut, go for a coffee, get a pedicure. And don't feel guilty for taking time out. It's hard work being a mum.
10. Never be afraid to ask for help.

So, what lies in the next 6 months ahead of us? We're just getting into weening and teething and moving and grabbing and babbling! Just when you get used to it, it all changes.... watch this space!


Would I do it again? Hell yeah... let me just get over the first one!!!!

I'm still here!

Well hello people!

First of all, Happy New Year to you all!

You are probably wondering what's happened to me since I haven't posted since the end of August 2013! Ooops! Well, my hands have been slightly full....

As you know, we were expecting our first child at the end of September 2013 and I was just about to start maternity leave at the end of August with the intention of writing lots of wonderful blog posts of all the craft stuff I was making for the nursery prior to the bumps arrival....

It didn't work out like that I am afraid!

After my first week into maternity leave and being busy nesting, cleaning and filling the freezer with pre-cooked dinners, the bump decided make an early arrival!

Mr P and I are delighted to inform you that we welcomed a healthy little boy to the world on the 10th September 2013, three weeks early! Unfortunately I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia so there wasn't much option! Master P was delivered naturally but then poor mummy suffered a postpartum hemorrhage so we had to stay in hospital for a week before we were allowed home.

It's been 16 weeks now and Master P is growing away nicely and I'm fully recovered. We have a great routine and I am now starting to get a little bit of time back into my life to hopefully finish those unfinished nursery projects  (not that Master P would have noticed!) and start those ones that have been swishing around in my head whilst up feeding at 4am!

Master P is a real delight and we are very proud of him. His arrival has totally changed our outlook on life. It's amazing what an effect such a little person can have on you! Each day we see changes in our little boy, both mentally and physically. He's such a happy little chap, babbling and laughing all the time!

Whilst we cherish the newborn days dearly, I am so excited about his development and teaching him to cook, learning about food, getting messy with craft projects, grubbing around in the garden, learning to ride a bike and so forth. Each second of his life is so precious!

So, hopefully I will be able to get blogging again this year and get back to baking and sewing under the watchful and curious eyes of Master P!

With lots of hugs,

Nic xoxoxo

Bank Holiday Sewing

Hello peeps,

Everyone having a good bank holiday?

We're having a lazy day today. We woke up to rain and decided to stay in our comfys and chill.

I had ordered some micro terry towelling fleece to make some dribble bib bandanas for the new arrival... Only 5 weeks to go now! 

There are loads of free templates on the internet and I adapted one that I came across.

The bibs are easy to make and I've used Prym no-sew popper clasps instead of Velcro. They are really easy to attach and gives a more professional finish.

The towelling cost £10 for a metre and the fabric is from my stash... So each bib cost less than £1.50 to make! 

Good ole Ted has been roped in for some modelling....

Ted also modelled my latest finished knitting project.... I still need to pick up some buttons to finish it off! 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!!

Nic and bump xx

The Wedding Cake

Howdy folks,

Sorry I've been a bit quiet of late. I had been busy working on a wedding cake for clients, Kate and Matt, who got married last month. Congratulations!

I was delighted to make their wedding cake for them and they have kindly allowed me to share some photos of the final masterpiece!

So, what did the bride want? Well, all can be revealed now.... Kate requested a three tier wedding cake which was made up of a 12" Chocolate Sponge, a 9" Lemon Sponge with homemade lemon curd and a 6" plain sponge with strawberry jam and buttercream! Lovely combinations!

At our initial meeting Kate came prepared and had photos of what design she wanted. After her consultation she eventually went for simple white fondant icing with floral decorations to match her flowers. I made sugar roses and lilies with ivy leaves and we matched the ribbon to the bridesmaid dresses. It was such a simple yet elegant design.

It took me 6 weeks to make all of the flowers, and to also make spares as I know how delicate sugar flowers are (and how clumsy I can be sometimes - blame the pregnancy!). I was delighted with the outcome as I know how am I so uber critical of my own work. The sponge cakes were made two days before the wedding to allow for icing and assembly.

My primary concern was getting the cake to the venue. It is amazing how heavy three sponge cakes with icing and cake boards can be! Luckily, Mr P drove to the venue with me and precious cargo sitting in the back of the car. He was kind enough to carry the cake in, but he was rather scared of dropping it!

So, here are some photos of the cake and the flowers for you to look at. The cake was very well received and Kate very kindly send me a beautiful photo of her and her new husband cutting the cake on their big day!

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Thank you, Kate and Matt, for allowing me to make your wedding cake!

Cheerio,

Nic xoxoxo

A little bit of crafting...

Hello All,

What with the new edition to our family due at the end of September, I have been putting my crafty skills to use and have been busy making various bits and pieces.

The list of things that I need to complete is endless, but I will get there.

So far, I have been doing some crochet and knitting. As we don't know the sex of the bump, I'm doing unisex projects. I trawled through loads of websites, books and patterns to find simple items to make. I have finished two cardigans and a hat so far, and now I have a knitted hooded jacket and a crochet stripe blanket on the go! 

I've actually got a jumper in this yarn that I knitted myself... using up the yarn!

Crochet cardigan that needs buttons and steaming into shape

The pattern for the stripe blanket has come from Attic 24 (thanks Lucy) and it is full of rainbow colours. I am making it to fit the cot and I am using Paris Drops yarn which is nice to work with (and a snitch at £1.80 a ball). 

The hooded jacket pattern that I am using is from the Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss. I felt that this book was the best buy out of them all as it contains a great combination of patterns for baby and toddler. 

Clearly got some way to go before I finish this one!

With the expanding waist line I also brought some lovely jersey fabric to make some stretch skirts for me. I've made two so far, and I have three left to make. They are really simple to make and with the remainder of the fabric I have enough to make some bump bands and some mini skirts for a friends little girl. I have been using this pattern and they really are easy to make! 

Lovely stretch maternity skirts with a wide yoga style waist band... helps keep the bump in!

I have also been doing some art work for the nursery. Again we are trying to tie in to unisex colours that match some of the items that we have brought already - soft blues and greens, purples, oranges, yellows, reds and so forth.

I made this lovely picture from some spare craft paper that I had left over from some previous projects. The red has come out pink in the picture :-( I think I might also do an illustrated alphabet picture too. I am hoping to tie in the elephant / bird theme with the curtains which need shortening and black out fabric added. I am planning on doing some applique along the bottom of the curtains and also to make some fabric storage bags for the nursery. Those little projects should keep me quiet for a while!

Sooo cute... thank god for Ikea Frames! Cheap and successful project!

So there you go, 14 weeks to go and so much more to finish! I'll keep you posted!

Take care,

Nic & Bump xoxoxox