This month i will mostly be...

Wearing Nothing...

 I spend all my spare cash on things for my girls, i desperately need to get myself some new clothes. Its getting embarrassing now. The trouble is my boobs, find something that fits them and its baggy all over elsewhere, or the opposite then my boobs bulge out! Grr...

Also everything has to be accessible in some way to feed Séraphine.

Well i have a good excuse as i am soon to be a god-mumma, definitely need a new outfit for that surely?

And a new bra, that actually fits these massive udders!

(my nipples don't look like this though! hahaha)

Reading...

50 shades of grey (when i say reading i mean stealing the odd glimpse when i get two seconds)

Lets face it, who hasn't been reading it? So far I'm up to the beginning of chapter 3.

Its written very well, compelling you to read on. But with this handful that's nearly impossible! 

There's talk of it being turned into a film, who would you cast? For me Ana (Anastasia) would have to be Anne Hathaway, however I'm unsure she could get away with playing a 21yr old student?

I'm un-decided who would be Mr Grey (Christian to you or i), but he'd need to be totally sexy, charming and look awesome in a grey suit. Yummy.

After this book there are two more volumes, thinking i need to purchase...

Making...

So far I've made a pair of booties and a rabbit from an old damaged fleece sleep suit, a sock panda, a cushion for a friends birthday present and two sock animals for a fantastic charity that my friend runs.

Silently screaming...

Séraphine is ill for the first time, bad cold that's making her phlegmy with a nasty cough :( On top of teething and not sleeping. Lydia has been potty trained, she went from nappies to 99% dry in 3wks (including nights) Otherwise she's been getting the night terrors and being a typical terrible 2yr old!! 

All of this concludes to me having only between 2-6hrs sleep each night, last night it was almost 3hrs...whoop! Yuck :( These kids are lucky they're cute.

 

And lastly i will be trying to get on here more.

Two teenagers already!?!

I am now 18.4wks pregnant and Lydia is 16mths old, two teenagers!

I've got another two scans booked for the 21st of June and the 24th of June, hopefully they'll be able to tell the sex of bambino. Everyone has said to me they think its a boy, we will see (hopefully). We're not fussed either way, they only difference will be the expense if its a boy! We still have all of Lydia's old stuff so another girl would be sorted for everything!!!

I've got two scans because Brighton and Worthing both want to do their own. Worthing is where i am booked into have the birth, a water birth hopefully. And Brighton want me to stay on their records in case i can't make it Worthing on time.

The water pool tour has been booked, that's in September :)

Lydia has been rubbing my belly and saying 'baby, aww'. She also offers to give a kiss or cuddle to me or daddy, not very often but still. And she is such a chatter box, things she says like 'in there', 'rubbish', 'dog', 'shoes', 'bag' etc... And yesterday she copied me and said 'Oh shit', whoopsie! I really need to watch what i say now, cheeky little madam.

We found another play group to go to, its for 0-5yrs which means i can go with the both of them once bambino arrives. The only thing is it doesn't run during term time, but not many do :( Boo!

Its at the Calvary church by the fire station, i was surprised at how big it is inside as it looks tiny from the outside. The group is run by a lovely lady, Katy i think? Now i didn't realise but it is actually a christian group and we're not religious, but there is no harm in going and Lydia is to young to understand anything like that anyway. She can make up her own mind on religion when she's old enough to.

We've only been the once at the moment as of term time, but intend to keep going from now on. Hopefully make a few friends for Lydia and myself :) One lady who i was talking to is also pregnant (with a boy) and due at the end of august, she already has a 2yr old girl.

And a few of the other mums had a couple of children, i was asking them for tips about having a baby and a toddler, so that will be useful :)

Lydia learnt how to go up the stairs and down the slide all by herself, yey!

We've been doing a few indoors activity's to lately. Like painting, drawing and dressing up!

I've learnt how to use my new wrap slings, been practising baby holds with teddy bears and the rucksack back carry with Lydia....

And I've been making lots of things again, mostly recycled old t-shirts into new clothes for Lydia....

If only she'd keep still long enough for me to take a picture! Cushion was made from an old dressing gown, sock bunny from one of Lydia's baby socks and some off cuts, stripy dress from an old t-shirt and green dress was an old vest top of mine :)

Right i best be off now, Lydia is asking for a 'nana' (banana) and i myself am rather hungry to!

Men & Boob's....

I am nearing a year on my journey of breastfeeding Lydia! I can hardly believe it.
Our journey began on the 21st January 2010, birth day!

Here's my breastfeeding-magazine article about the start of it all.
I've had mastitis, nipple thrush, Lydia on food strikes (accepting nothing but milk), self doubts, nipple eczema and been so run-down that i doubted my self and my supply.

I titled the post men & boob's as I'd like to thank Justin for being so great :) I doubt i would've been able continue at certain points without his encouragement and support.

Most people give up within the first few weeks or by 6mths. I think you need a good support team of friends, family, partner to have the confidence to continue.
I was worried what people will think of me, if my boob was showing to much, if was going to get nasty comments or looks. I think it was when we reached 6mths that i realised Lydia was no way near ready to wean, and she's still a baby. Nothing has changed since then, apart from now she says ''mum-nums'' when she wants her milk :)

The W.H.O (world health organisation) recommend a minimum of 2yrs. I really can't say how far we will make it, as we've gone from 0-11mths within the blink of an eye!

Justin has been great. When we talk of weaning he says ''Why? Why would you need to/want to? Lydia is still a baby and needs her milk, if your still happy to continue then whats the point of stopping? Just ignore what others says, the ill-educated comments of people. They don't know what's best for your child!''
As you can see, he is happy for us to continue, and he continues to offer his support and encouragement. A few of my friends are still nursing their baby's of the same age, some a little older. This really helps to spur me on as i never thought i would make it this far already! :)

I need some answers to give to people when they ask the dreaded question's....''So,when are you weaning her?'' , ''Why don't you just give her a bottle?'' etc.... Lydia never has accepted a bottle or dummy, and she is to old to start introducing a bottle now!?! Silly people.
I really feel like i shouldn't have to explain my parenting choice's to anyone and everyone. At the moment i have to keep justifying myself to others. I think my new years resolution relating to breastfeeding should be to respond with ''We'll wean when she's ready''.

Or maybe i should just moo???
Mumma's milk has all the vitamins and nutrients that she'd get from cow's milk, but it free!!!!!!!!!



Another great blog i follow The Leaky Boob, daddy's love milk! Lol ;p xx

Because she's worth it...

No not the stupid woman in the Lorreal advert, my Lydia!

We had a good first christmas with Lydia. Lots of food and presents :) And she took her first step(s). She did it right infront of me, amazing! And she's finally getting more hair!!!
This time last year i was sat on the sofa like a beached whale, scared of going into early labour with the snow and frost outside!

Now a little moan.....

The last 2days have not been fun :( Lydia is getting 3 more teeth, in unison! The top right 3 in a row, the bunny rabbits and a fang.
Screaming, non-stop through the night. She won't open her mouth for anything to help (teething gels,toys,calpol etc...)
All i can do is hold her, but she pushes away and makes it really hard, i'm going to hold her against her will. No sleep for anyone in my flat, or next door, or upstairs! Lol. Upstairs seem to think if they bang hard enough on the floor and put their washing machine on at 11.30pm, that'll help make Lydia quiet and go to sleep!?! Think again, idiots!

They say that when you become a mother you forget about your friends who arn't mums. This is not true, infact its the opposite....

I recently heard that the reason one of my life-long friends has not been in touch with me, for about 6mths, is because the last few times we arranged to meet i had cancelled or asked to re-arrange the time/date. How pathetic is that? When you have kids that are teething/not sleeping/have flu/breastfeed through the night etc... And you feel like shit in the morning, let me know if you want to meet up and go shopping. No?
You think you have a brilliant mate who cares about you, understands and wants to help. How wrong can you be?

On the up....

I've made some excellent new friends this year. And yes, shock horror, they are ''mummy'' friends.
Made one great friend in the randomist of ways, free-cycle! Lol, she offered me some re-usable nappies and we just got talking. I feel like i've known her forever :)
Got some lovely neighbours who are always trying to help me out whenever they can. Meet for coffee or tea in each others flats, checking on me to see if i'm ok on a down day, build snowmen on the balcony, make me cakes and cookies!!! I will really miss having them around when they emigrate to Auz :(

Breathe...

Ok, i've stopped moaning now. Come out from behind the sofa :)
New years is next, then my baby will be one! Where did this year go? I'm now 25 and a mother! Crazy.

Its been so long....

Hello peeps! Sorry for being away so long. Its been a bit mental here.

Where do i start?

Lydia ~ She now has two gorgeous little and very long-awaited teeth! She can take up to 5steps at a time on her wooden baby walker. She's been trying to climb up the new kitchen cupboards! (yes you heard me,me finally have cupboards!!!!)
She has perfected her attention cry and 'the sad face' along with screaming/crying if we say no to anything! Wonderful,lol.

Home ~ Hooray,we finally have a completed kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can start getting back to normal and cooking up lots of lovely things for us three. So excited about just idea of it. And i can now relax without the fear of the landlady/builder coming in whilst i walk around my flat naked! hahaha

Work ~ Lydia is now my full-time job! I have quit work for a few reasons. Some being that i am still  breastfeeding, i don't want to miss a single thing that Lydia achieves and many more things. Money is going to be tight but we will manage as it is what works best for us.

Boob's ~ yup,they're still there! Well,i think we have finally shifted that evil nipple thrush now! In the end i had to have a steroid based cream. I was really worried about this affecting Lydia, but the doctor reassured me about it and its nearly totally gone now! I have also tried the cream on my dermatitis on my scalp, it seems to help if i use it everyday (but the cream smells and is bright yellow!)
Still breastfeeding, and still loving it! Lydia only has about 3-a-day now, more if shes teething or ill and less if she doesn't want it.

Crafting ~ I have been keeping myself sane in the evenings with a little light sewing whilst watching the TV. So far i have made 'LYDIA' and '0-9' in fabric from an old cotton summer dress that got ripped, and stuffed them with a pillow from the 99p shop. Simples!
Also made her a taggy blanket with the same fabric and various bits of ribbon sourced from around the flat. (including those annoying bits on the inside of dressing gowns)
Also been making a few more toy catchers for friends and their small people.

Social life ~ Some sad news, my baby club is moving to fair light school on Lewes road in November. To far to walk and to awkward for us to get to by bus, plus buses are so frigging expensive now :0( But the good side is that they're going to make a new one nearer me, unsure when but i hear its near the big church at the beginning of Preston park (go up the road the bus takes you into town, by the shops)
Also made a lovely new friend a few weeks ago. Cheryl who has Matteo (4days younger than Lydia)
Swimming on Fridays is still a good event that almost always happens, we even did it last week when it was pouring down! If you fancy joining us just let me know and i can tell you the details.

Love ~ Justin has got a promotion! Woo! He will start as a temporary manager in November and see how it goes,then hopefully next year it might be a full time new job! Yeah! Very exciting stuff!
We are going on our first holiday as a family in November,i am excited but a little scared. We will be getting a hire car and going to bath to stay with Justin's step-dad in his gorgeous bungalow. I am excited about going away somewhere for the first time in years, and as a family for the first time. But i am scared about taking Lydia away as its the first time, messing up her routine, strange place etc....
I think i just need to bite my tongue and get on with it otherwise I'll never be able to go anywhere if i cant even manage a family trip!!!

Finally i think i will post this now as Lydia has just woken up and is being a terror!