Pop!
Posted on | July 10, 2010 | 4 Comments
Just over two weeks ago Ross and I discovered we are adding another little one to our family. I am six weeks pregnant. Hoora-aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
This, as I am sure you can imagine, is exciting and scary at the same time.
Exciting because, well, I can’t wait to have another tiny baby. I can’t wait to breastfeed again, I can’t wait to babywear again, I can’t wait to be a new mum again (lack of sleep and that ooooch ouch moment when you first sit down included). Scary because, we’re in the middle of trying to relocate from London to Southampton (with little luck at the moment), and the clock is now ticking on our time here in London (and that tick is only going to get louder and louder). Oh, and the fact that I will have TWO little children to care for. But this was always The Plan, and we are ridiculously excited.
And so far it’s been vastly different to last time.
I feel sick. So sick, in fact, that Tuesday evening was spent hugging the toilet whilst dry heaving. Glam it is not, but I am hoping and hoping that the hormones are strong and this little embryo sticks tight. My nausea seems to be triggered by the heat so I’m trying (and failing) to keep myself cool. I didn’t get sick until thirteen weeks in with Ruby-Roo, and infact, I didn’t really feel pregnant at all, until my second trimester. This time my body is not my own, even now, and don’t I know it?!
And I’m tired. I really don’t remember feeling so knackered until the third trimester when I was busy growing the Roo. But it gets to a point in the day where I feel wiped out. Like I’ve literally got no energy left. I have to flop on my sofa and pop a DVD in for my busy toddlergirl, whilst I grab a quick snooze.
But sickness and lethargy aside I’m quite enjoying it, and making the most of Ruby-Roo whilst I only have her to cuddle.
the sun did not shine, it was too wet to play…
Posted on | July 1, 2010 | 2 Comments
We’re dealing, at the moment, with Ruby’s first obsession. If she’s anything like me, and I can see little streaks of behaviour that suggest that she is, then it’s the first of many many crazes.
Ruby’s first obsession is Dr Seuss, specifically, any and all things related to The Cat In The Hat. We’ve been buying her Dr Seuss books since she was very little, because I really love to read them, and the rhyme and repetition, and frankly, slightly disturbing illustrations hold her attention when we read to her. Cat In The Hat aside, her favourites are Hop on Pop, which she knows to the point of being able to recite it to us, and Green Eggs and Ham. She won’t go to sleep without having The Cat In The Hat, and at least one one Dr Seuss book read to her.
A little while ago, my sister bought her the DVD of the Cat In The Hat movie that came out in 2004, and since then it’s barely come out of the DVD player. Now, she and Darcy watch it every single day.
“Cat Hat” they both demand. And they sit there, on the sofa, pretty much transfixed, until the end. It’s 9:30 and it’s already been on once today. I’ve not had so much peace and quiet and ability to get on with stuff, for, well, a very long time.
It doesn’t stay particularly true to the story, (as that would make for a very short film) and parts of it are pretty crude, no doubt contributing to it’s PG, and not U rating, but over all it’s harmless and quite funny. And I think a pretty good job has been done on Seussing it up.
Anyway, I suppose I should be happy she’s not obsessed with Justin Bieber, like that three year old in the States, and that this little fad of hers at least has some intellectual and literary merit. And if it keeps her interested in books and reading, it can only be a good thing, right?!
Strawberry Fields Forever
Posted on | June 24, 2010 | No Comments
This year, to celebrate Father’s Day, we went to Crockford Bridge Farm, to pick strawberries. And I think I’ve mentioned before that one of my daughter’s favourite and best things to do is eat.
So you can imagine how much fun she had picking (read: eating) plump, juicy, ripe, delicious strawberries.
I hadn’t been to a Pick Your Own farm since I was a really really little kid. I think it had probably been about twenty years, and I was left wondering why we haven’t gone more; it was such good fun, and the fruit was so unbelievably tasty. We ended up taking over two kilos home and we were still getting through them up until this evening.
And Crockford Bridge Farm was great – we’ll definitely go back later on in the season when they have more fruit and vegetables ripe for the picking. The ice cream parlour wasn’t half bad, either.
But I think the photo that really sums up the day is one of little Roo, who, like I said before, just loved those strawberries.
Picnic in the Park
Posted on | June 18, 2010 | 1 Comment
Last February, my school friend Sarah told us all she was pregnant at a leaving party some friends threw for her. She was emigrating to the US to marry her fiance Jason. Pretty soon afterwards she flew 3000 miles West, got married, and last September, sweet little Connor came into the World.
Sarah and Jason
The week before last, they all flew back for a visit and I’ve been lucky enough to see them twice so far, with another trip out with them to London Zoo planned for next week. And I’m going to take a moment to say that Connor is just the most handsome little boy. My ovaries, my uterus. They glowed. GLOWED!
Nomable
Anyway, broodiness aside, last Saturday, Sarah and Jason threw a 3/4 birthday picnic for Connor (since we’re not going to be there for his actual first birthday) in Regent’s Park. It was a beautiful day and lovely to see everyone again. On a whim, I took Ruby’s scooter along, which proved to be a wise move, and my shy girl had fun playing with my friend Tara’s son, even if it did take a sugar high from Connor’s cake for her courage to be sufficiently mustered.
Ruby and Josh
Next wednesday we’re all heading off to London Zoo for the day with the kids. It will be the last time we spend with Sarah, Jason and Connor as they fly home the next day. So let’s keep fingers crossed for sunshine and light breezes and for no problems on the Underground, and lots of smiles all round.
countdown
Posted on | June 16, 2010 | No Comments
I’m getting married in six weeks. SIX!
And we still have so much to plan and organise. So I typed out a list, and it’s gargantuan. So huge, infact, that it’s divided into sections and subsections and there are more bullet points than I care to count.
But I’ve set myself a deadline: everything has to be done and sorted by 4pm on 23rd July. That means the cake will be defrosting, the shoes sufficiently broken in, the bunting and lights hung, the tables set out and laid, the definitive seating plan put out for everyone to see, the champagne in the fridge and the pre wedding Lush beautifying products laid out for my mammoth pre wedding beauty sesh.
I’m getting there, though, slowly. It’s oddly satisfying formatting the text from Normal to Strikethrough.
Tonight I’ve sewn twenty-five metres of bunting, and it looks beautiful. I can’t wait to see it hung up.
The Gallery – Motherhood
Posted on | June 14, 2010 | 28 Comments
Just over two years ago someone came into my life and changed it astronomically. I anxiously awaited her arrival for nine months, pored over baby name books and cherished every kick (even the ones to the ribs). Then, one Wednesday afternoon in late May 2008, she arrived, screaming and red, but perfect, and with her she brought joy and love and happiness.
And since that Wednesday, I’ve watched as she’s developed from this helpless tiny newborn, wide eyed, colicky, and always hungry, to the charming, sweet, funny, fiercely independent (“TURN, Mummy, TURRRN” when she wants to do something for herself) toddler she is now. Oh, and she’s still always hungry.
There is nothing I love more than being Ruby’s mummy.
Barcelona (such a beautiful horizon)
Posted on | June 4, 2010 | 1 Comment
This was our first lunch in BCN, we ate beautiful tapas and drank remarkably alcoholic sangria.
A couple of weekends ago, Ross took me on a much needed break to Barcelona. I’d never been before, but it’s now one of my very favourite places. And yes, I did have the Freddie Mercury song in my head the entire time.
We spent a gorgeous weekend wandering up and down La Rambla (and getting suitably ripped off! €18 ham as a starter, I kid you not), lounging about on the beach, and drinking unbelievably refreshing Sangria and Damm beer. On our last day we took an open bus tour around part of the city and ooooohed and aaaaahhhhhed at all the quirky Gaudi buildings. We didn’t take Ruby, and in this instance I am glad we didn’t – it was good to be able to stay out late at night, and not hide under shady umbrellas in the midday sun and drink and drink and drink. But we could have done. We saw family after family after family with children of all ages, and it would have worked well. If only Ruby had a passport!
So, on to the photos! I really got my tourist hat on, and I am pretty pleased with my shots.
Aforementioned Sangria
Where we got royally ripped off
Casa Batlló
The rest of my photos can be seen over on my Flickr page, Barcelona is beautiful, and my photos don’t do it justice, but I tried 
OK, I admit it, I’ve been an absentee blogger
Posted on | June 4, 2010 | No Comments
No excuses really, other than, this week is always a heinously busy one in the year because it’s Ruby’s birthday, and then my birthday and those two things keep me really quite tied up (the former, moreso than the latter).
I’ve been lax, and I know it. There are so many things I’ve been meaning to write about and participate in and just haven’t. They all began to mount up and I got a bit lost.
But I’ll try now.
1) Barcelona. What a stunningly beautiful place. Infact, that’s all I am going to say on that, because it deserves it’s very own post and I will do it. Maybe tonight, now that my Sky digital has packed in, I have no excuses.
2) Ruby’s birthday. My daughter is two! TWO! Her party was very sweet. Our family and close friends came to celebrate my girl’s special day, even in the rain. She got a lot of lovely presents, she hated HATED being sung to, and I made a very tasty cake. The only downer was that I was quite unwell throughout the entire day, and took my sorry self off to bed as soon as everyone had left.
3) The wedding plans. We went to Southampton for a very brief fly by to meet with the vicar who is marrying us. She’s a lovely warm lady called Frances, and I am chuffed to bits. We talked for an hour or so about our plans, our move to Southampton, what we were hoping to get from marriage and the wedding itself. Then she said a little prayer for us at the end, and it left me feeling warm and fuzzy. We are by no means religious, but we’re having a church wedding because the church we’re marrying at is tied to the primary school we both attended and it’s sweet and perfect and just right. Even though we are not practicing Christians, the way Frances spoke about the church and the families who attend and the social activities, made me really want to start going when we move. We won’t be living in the parish but I think we’ll make the effort to go anyway.
After the meeting with Frances we went for a meal with my brother in law and his girlfriend, which was lovely. And the following day I popped down to the florist to confirm bouquets and corsages.
Which brings us pretty much up to date. I started potty training Ruby today. Taking the slowly slowly approach, but she is now the proud owner of no less than 30 pairs of knickers. When we are at home, she’ll be in them, when we are going out, she’ll be in a nappy. When she tells me consistently that she needs the toilet before the event, then I’ll try her in knickers. If anyone has some advice, then send it my way. Only one accident today, but I know this is going to be a long and very messy process.
Is it too late to do the Gallery this week? Told you I’d been lax!
Happy Birthday Ruby!
Posted on | May 28, 2010 | 3 Comments
Dear sweet Ruby,
Now you are two! What a year of milestones this has been. You’ve learnt to walk, talk, and occasionally use the big grown up toilet.
And you’ve made some big discoveries, too. You’ve discovered that you love to help mummy cook, especially cakes. You’ve spent a lot of time perfecting your artistic skills, and you’ve learnt how to wrap your daddy around your little baby finger. He’d do anything for you and don’t you know it!
We hope you enjoy being two, lovely girl, stay your sweet self.
Lots of love and a billion kisses,
Mummy and Daddy x
The Gallery – Friendship
Posted on | May 26, 2010 | 7 Comments
The theme of this weeks Gallery is Friendship, something I think we all treasure and enjoy throughout our lives. It’s lovely to have people you can talk to, gossip with, have a cup of tea or share a bottle of wine with. Laugh with, cry with, congratulate and console. No one ever lay on their death bed and said, “I wish I didn’t have so many friends”.
At the age of two (minus 2 days) Ruby has a best friend, and has since she was born. And she is extra lucky: she gets to spend all day every week day with her best friend because I look after her whilst her parents work. Ruby’s best friend is Darcy. I’ve watched them both grow from newborns to rambunctious, not to mention mischievous, toddlergirls.
Our flat is on the market at the moment, and we’re relocating from London to Southampton. Darcy’s parents are from New Zealand, and they plan to move home one day, so one way or another, these two little buddies are going to be split up. But for now they have all the time in the world.
Here is to many many more years of friendship between these two, wherever they live in the World.
