A Teagan memory about marriage

I was commenting on a friends photo on Facebook. Thought I'd save the comment for future embarrassment ;)

Love my little girl.

There's this thing called Pinterest, don't know if you've heard...

Addiction V's Obsession.

My story in simple English.

'Addiction' - e.g. my recent, frequent use of Facebook (Currently lessening, good news).

'Obsession' - e.g. my current use of Pinterest.

It's a whole new world. Internetting at its finest. Finally the perfect library. Everything saved, no physical clutter! Woohoo! I likes it...

Now...

Next task: to quit Facebook.

Bad dreams

Little girl just woke from a bad dream,  approx. 02:45. Tears, crying, shaking, tired.

Dinosaurs? No.
Monsters? No.

I ate her apple...

First word...

Jude said his first word yesterday.

We think.

It was his first controlled word. Instead of being 'ba ba ba ba ba ba ba' like it has been all week.

Dan and I have been waiting for this moment for months. Dan had been prepping our little boy 'say Da da!', Teagan has been saying 'say Teag-y'... and I've been saying 'where's mama?!' Hehe. Poor baby. Ok. I also have added 'where's Dada?'... a little bit more than I wished to... perhaps out of guilt for those strong competitive urges to want both kids to say my word first ;)

Yes, Teagan's first word was 'MAMA' so naturally I was as pleased as punch. And secretly wishing Jude would follow suit.

The suspense.

Til yesterday.

I was downstairs. Dan was upstairs with Jude. I hear clearly 'ba ba ba ba ba... ma ma!'... Dan yells down 'did you hear that?!' I DID! I WON... Dan starts to encourage Jude to say it again. A short pause after, I hear 'da da!' NOOOO. Teehee. Serves me right.

So there we have it. The cheeky monkey has pleased us BOTH in a matter of a minute.

Adorable. Today, Teagan said 'Mummy, Jude said CAR'.

I didn't hear it. I hear VA.

I don't mind. He says Mama now.

And Dada.

Easily pleased.

Bafflement

Yesterday, I couldn't quite figure out why there were some ornaments on the coffee table. Then I noticed the fly swat was laying flat on the windowsill and when I lifted it, there was a very dead something squished into the sill... I forgot all about it when I went to feed the baby before bed...

Til this morning.

Teagan was happily munching on muesli (after a mini meltdown when she sussed we'd eaten all the Maltesers from yesterday's visitors and she wanted some with breakfast.. I never agreed to that. And I say 'all' loosely, lovely small box, shared some with visitors, most with her & hubby after dinner... and they were MINE!)

Anyway... back to the mystery fly swat/squished thing...

I asked her 'did you move the ornaments from the windowsill?'

Without any hesitation, she replied 'Yes! I did! I moved them cos there was a fly there and I got it and... and... I did it ALL by myself!!'

I exclaimed 'Welldone T! Next, I'll show you how to clean up afterwards ok?'

'Ok Mummy.'

Mystery solved.

My darling daughter

Teagan is turning 4 very soon and today she asked if she could type a message to 'Daddy's Mummy & Daddy'. 'I want to type - Thank you for my books and toys'.

So she did (with a little guidance) :) 

Can't believe how she's progressing. She's a strong willed little girl, with an adorable little heart of gold too. Love her <3

Determined 3-turning-teenager in the house...

My word, is she stubborn! If I'm honest, I get flashbacks of myself when I see how she works some days... a mirror image of me (but when I was actually a teen, she's not even 4 yet!!)... scary!

She just disciplined herself this evening! Didn't finish eating her fish pie, decided herself that she wasn't getting any dessert so carried on eating everything else on her plate, said thank you for dinner and walked away from the table without fuss, knowing full well we had clean plates and would soon be nibbling on yummy icecreams.

I guess that means she has learnt from our previous lessons about consequences then... impressive... but ssssh, don't tell her I said that!

Impressive in Pink! A little rant... and then some coffee...

Those who know me, know I can be a bit of an introvert... conservative in my style of dress and some personal preferences.

However, on the topic of recent media stories related to public exposure and people flipping out about mums breastfeeding in public - I feel strongly enough to comment. Uh oh ;) my humble opinion follows:

I'm proud of the fact I've been able to breastfeed both of my babies - baby no. 1 until she was 13 months old, and I'm still doing so with baby no. 2 at the age of 6 months. I know mums who wanted to do same but couldn't... along with mums who preferred not to. Even heard of some who wanted to but were too embarrassed to. I understand. I often feel restricted and I don't like to feed in public (but I do it) because of my personal feelings towards my own body and sometimes because I don't want to make anyone else feel uncomfortable... but I have to keep reminding myself that not all mums get the chance, I do and it's how my babies are kept happy, hydrated and fed. What's so shameful about that?

I recently fed my baby boy in a public building, very discreetly (Little man was so tired and hungry, it couldn't wait til we got back home). Infact, when others are around, especially strangers, I'm doubly discreet with muslin square over my baby and shoulder etc. A young teenage boy got so embarrassed, making a small scene. My back was towards him and yet he didn't know where to look - I felt sorry for him, compelled to apologise and reassure him that his discomfort was understandable but he didn't have to worry, he wouldn't see anything... I felt so uncomfortable then, asked myself 'am I lazy for not preparing a bottle of EBM (expressed)?' (Even though neither babies ever drank enough from bottles nor been comforted enough to fall asleep. If anything, the complete opposite happens)...  My friend was telling me she can't understand why I feel I should cover up when in Mozambique where she is from, mums often walk around topless in public so their babies can access a drink at any time... in other European countries, it is so acceptable - not considered pervy, uncomfortable or sexual - just natural and acceptable. So why not here?!

So a proud moment last week when I see a photo of the famous singer Pink breastfeeding her 18 month old daughter in a restaurant recently. Thank you Pink.

I've been surprised, a tad disappointed if I'm honest, that not many celebrities publicly encourage breastfeeding. I found a list of 9...

Please don't get me wrong, I by no means wish for new mums (especially those who are exposed to the media and constantly followed by cameras) to feel pushed or pressured into popping a breast out and feeding in public, all for publicity/promotion. They have a voice and a platform though. And the new generation of mums often gravitate to modern examples the acting/singing/celebrity world offers.

Currently, I feel too many new mums feel more concerned about keeping up with losing baby weight just like so many celebrity mums - I think that's a matter of health, timing and balance - not something to be rushed into,  just because your favourite soap star looks fab, has a baby a bit younger than yours and released a new workout dvd 3 days postpartum (wild exaggeration to make a point :) )...

Anyway, points made, I'll grab a coffee and resume relaxed state. Maybe cuddle a kid or a remote control :)

My morning highlights

Good morning Tuesday, you are almost as awkward as your friend Monday!

Today started with 'Mummy, I have poo on my top'.

Later, I was greeted with a bit more of the same subject, different child...

And then at breakfast time, she finished her cereal, I offered toast, said 'I don't know where Daddy put the butter, can you have peanut butter instead please?'...

Her reply: 'You can MAKE some butter, IF you want!'

3 year old logic, can't beat it!

*chuckle*

Update:

At the end of my evening, I heard 5 words I never want to hear put together again... 'There's poo on the soap!' Boy, was I glad it was nearly bedtime.

Today's funny moment...

Talking to oneself

I don't even have to do anything anymore. This morning's conversation:

Miss T: 'Mummy, I said to myself I would come upstairs and tell you I was looking for something else to eat and could you please get me something to eat.'

Me: 'And what will I say?'

Miss T as me: 'NO!'

Me: 'Why do I say that? '

Miss T: 'Because I haven't eaten my toast'

Me: 'that's right' :)

Another funny moment later on:

'My teeth are talking to each other saying Mummy needs to come now'

She really is a funny bunny and all mine :)

Around the flatpack in 80 days...

Hi, my name is Em and I'm a flatpacker/mum/wife/daughter/granddaughter/secretary/lunatic!

Why oh why do I do this? I remember when I was a kid, flatpacks were very handy, could be done in a matter of an hour or 2. A bit of 'blinkin' Nora' and 'ya bagel!' slipped from my Dad's lips on the odd occasion and then VOILÀ! A fully functioning,  solid  (when Dad puts things together, they're practically made for life!) desk, shelving unit or a little chest of drawers would appear!

So I understand when I purchase a flatpack piece of furniture, I get a certain 'I how ta know ta do it' buzz (I'm told I said this when I was a toddler :D)... happy to tackle it alone while himself is at work but forgot I also had to add the following to my list for the day:

* 2 small kids,
* housework,
* meals,
* loo trips,
* baths,
* shower,
* charity lady who called at the door while kids were JUST in bed at the same time...
* 'help' phone calls from the office,
* meeting...

I slept well last night but please remind me never EVER to try this again...

Well, without making sure I have a brain, 3 coffees and a gwizz gwizz screwdriver... 'looper' comes to mind!

<3

'Mummy, I have a baby in my tummy'

The words that stopped me in my tracks and made me think today ;)

Even though she's 3 and only has a stuffed animal under her top,  I wondered about how I will feel when/if she tells me this for real when she's older/married/able to have her own little family. It's so hard to imagine our future when all I want to do is protect and nurture her as she is now. '<3 her bones' as the saying goes.

Then I wondered how my mum felt when I told her I was expecting the first time... and then sadly lost it... and the time after that,  when I gave birth to my little girl and my mum happened to still be in the delivery room same time as my husband, so saw the birth firsthand... and then finally, this time... what sort of feelings come up? I would only imagine I'd feel helpless and protective all over again. I may just ask her... or leave my curiosity here for another day...

She's telling stories on me already!

First morning at preschool yesterday, she was a giddypants, we were trying not to show our dodgy nerves ;)

We entered the building and her teachers were lovely and welcoming, complimenting her new lunch bag. T starts talking to them and said 'My mummy says if anyone is naughty...' to which I retort 'I'm still here, are you telling stories on me already?!' :D

She had a blast and we recovered nicely too... and enjoyed our lunch together with our big girl- fresh bread roll stuffed with warm chicken, salad & mayo, a summer berries yoghurt, yummy Magnum, some fresh strawberries and a good ole cuppa! :D

T'was da berries! Literally ;) <3

Not as boring as I could've been, methinks...

I have many excuses for my silence, and having drafted them all up, decided that I'm not the only one who has had alot on my plate so won't bore you with the details of moving house, pregnancy, moving house, saying goodbye to Grandma, giving birth, maternity leave/cover, stressful house issues (sewage), moving out of home temporarily (due to said sewage), German measles, visitors, work, preschool... it's all part and parcel of life, right?!

A few things I cherish out of it all:

~ my lovely supportive husband & family, especially my amazing trooper of a Grandad;
~ my kind friends;
~ I credit my inner strength & regular calm to our Father above. Whenever I feel a panic attack coming or a difficult  mood to shift, He is ever so prompt & consistent. I really appreciate it.

Roll on a new world with no stress or death... and plenty of love, harmony, humour and homegrown strawberries :)

Thank you Android!

I finally have an app that makes blogging easier so maybe this could work.

I've been converted to Android from iphone,  I miss some aspects of the iphone but I have to say, Samsung, you are a clever monster-sized bunny!

So, for some updates in my world... watch this space :)