Our Week In Words #5

This week involved plenty of giggling. More from me than from Stella! I have been spending a lot of time with my two best friends (You've heard their names before; Lauren and Sophie) and gosh do we giggle! Like school girls...we giggle about boys, we giggle about silly songs, we giggle about giggling.

We had two fun dates this past week, one of which was 'errand night'. We got together at my house with takeaway and cider as per usual and made our socialising a little more productive by doing our errands. The errand list included; Preparing laser cut myrtle for jewellery making, installing updates on my new laptop, planning Stella's first birthday party, brainstorming ideas for Laurens blog and learning how to use photoshop. We did get a few of these done, but ended up watching some silly Youtube videos and giggling instead.

Our second date was an afternoon of op-shopping. We bundled up Stella and some pacifying supplies (Keys, cheese, soft toys) and got rugged up for a chilly afternoon browsing second hand shops. Sophie was looking for some old frames, I was after a big big vase and Lauren was after a teapot. Lauren was the only one to get lucky with her wishlist, however I did pick up some odds and ends. Some lace tights for Stella, a wooden childrens clothes hanger and... A dressing table! It has a mirror in good condition and beautifully shaped corners and legs. I am going to paint it, adorn the mirror with fairy lights and decorate it to put in my bedroom. Imgagine sitting down to write in a pen to paper diary, brushing your hair or painting your nails at such a pretty little dressing table. I will be updating with its makeover in a special 'Nothing New' post soon!

Stella has started some fussy eating habits this week, turning her head in disgust at anything that is not cheese or stewed pears. Im sure she'll soon turn into a cube of cheese! It is very frustrating and I swore I would never have a child who is a fussy eater (Cue, the things we say before our children are actually born), turns out this is harder than I imagined. If anyone has any tips on force feeding vegetables, lentils and rice to a baby, please do share!

Her latest trick is to blow kisses, and she does it all the time! It makes me smile so much, the sweetest thing I have ever seen. She also likes to dance, especially whilst eating. It must feel good to dance and eat at the same time.

Next week there is a special event in the works, it relates to Nothing New month and I am hosting it at my house! I cannot wait to divulge more detail soon. How has your week been?
...Plenty of love...

Our Week in Words #4

 I napped on the couch completely guilt free a few days this week. The house has been pretty immaculate (revel in it while it lasts!) and it has been cold and dreary. Cue a blanket, the couch and sleepy eyes. Sometimes I feel quite embarrassed about my 'Mama naps', a few days a week I sleep for the two hours that Stella sleeps before lunchtime. But then I remember that this luxury wont last forever and I'll kick myself when the opportunity does eventually subside and I am craving a little extra shut eye. It's a mama indulgence, although very much deserved at times.

Stella has been sleeping well still, sometimes waking at around 3am but going back to sleep after a nappy change. She has some adorable new words that she has been repeating like a broken record; "Ohhhh noooo" and "Hmmmm". When she says "Hmmmmm", she gets a very concentrated look on her face and furrows her brow. As if she is deep in contemplation. Its amazing how much she picks up from watching and listening to me around the house.

Ali and Evie joined us on some walks with our prams, although the goodness of our walk is always erased with a frothy chai latte at the end. I am hoping to keep this walking habit up, more for energy than anything else. It is really good de-stress time also, a breath of fresh air into your mind. I am really proud (and pretty suprised) that I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, I actually weigh around 4 kilos less than I did before I fell pregnant. But, I have a lot of work to do in 'toning up'. I've heard so many people say "Your body is never the same after a baby", and now I am realising how true this is. My hips will always be that little bit wider now. But all for good reason! I'd have wider hips and flabbier thighs any day over not having my Stella.

Our next week is yet to be planned, my diary is blank! Although sometimes the most enjoyable days turn out to be the unplanned ones. What spontaneous fun can one Mother and Baby get up to? How has your week been? What have you planned for the next one?

Plenty of love...

Our Week(s) in words #3

It's been a while since I summarised our week, so i'll be squeezing all thats been going on in this Single Ma' and sweet babes life lately in one post. Where to start?!

Stella has started to eat on her own. M-E-S-S-Y. I had to let go of my mess fear and let her go for it, she did quite well, shovelling toast with avocado and cream cheese into her little gob. She is eating really well now, 3 quite big meals a day. I make all her food and it's something I feel really good about, I know exactly what is in it and I can make sure she has a good balance. Making large batches and freezing them in portions is so much more economical, one day a fortnight I'll hunker down in the kitchen and peel, chop, stew, boil, mash and blend away.

Stella had her second cold this week just gone, she was so snuffly! I bought a vaporiser and kept that in her room for a few days, it seemed to clear her nose a little and helped her sleep. Its horrible watching a baby with a blocked up nose trying to eat or sleep. She's been snoring so loudly because of it. Nurse Mama has been making sure she's warm, rubbing vicks on her chest and feet and giving plenty of therapuetic cuddles. It seems to be making its way out, I'm really suprised that I haven't caught it at all; a diet of only chocolate must provide super immunity!

I am enjoying my one day a week working so much, I really look forward to deciding on an outfit and heading out that front door. My work collegues are like my family; I love them to bits, my boss is actually one of Stellas two Godmothers. We can talk about everything from relationships and secrets to fashion and children. Work for me is like a total win-win situation. I make a little extra money, I get to play with shoes and I get to share cups of tea with my closest lady friends. I am starting to think about the 'Future' and what my plans are in relation to work. Future is such a dirty word, it makes me feel a little nauseous writing 'The Future' down as a header on a piece of paper and contemplating what to put underneath, but its something that HAS to be done. So far, there is nothing written underneath that header, but it's kick started my thoughts.

After a month of terrible sleeping patterns I ended up taking Stella to 'Walker House' to get some specialist advice and tips on sleep and settling. It was, if anything, just a reassurance that we were doing the right things and that her sleeping patterns are normal for a teething baby that age. I started roughly following the 'Save our Sleep' routine by Tizzie Hall which assures me that my baby is capable of sleeping 7pm-7am most nights (yeah right, I thought!) The most valuable advice the book gave for me was a daily schedule for feeding and sleeping right down to the minute. The first few days that I tried it were difficult but after three days Stella was settling quicker, sleeping longer and anticipating meal and sleep times herself. Now we follow the routine a lot more casually and relaxed but the basic princepals are still there. It's not something that is going to work for everyone, but if like me you are feeling at the end of your tether and NEED more sleep...pick up the book and give it a read. It can't hurt to try. Stella now sleeps from 7pm til 6-7am every night! She will occasionally wake during the night and after a nappy change and tucking back in, will settle herself back to sleep. No bottle or cuddles required. I am so gratefull for the little bit of extra sleep, it really makes for a happier, more productive mama.

This week, we don't have much planned. I think we may catch up with Godmother Sophie after her return from holidays, gossip with Lauren, a Mummy date with Ali and Evie and work for me Thursday. I will definitely (hopefully) start getting back into regular 'our week in words' posts so as not to inundate you with such large, yawn worthy posts!

How has your week/weeks been? Any exciting milestones? Interesting events?
Plenty of love...

Our week in words #2

My little girl is becoming less and less 'little' everyday. Each morning she wakes me up with her chit-chatting and I walk into her room to see her smiling up from her cot, her legs kicking excitedly ready to start the day. Each morning something has been different. Aside from the fact that she is growing like a trooper, she is changing emotionally too.

Separation anxiety has been a bit of an issue, apparently it is quite common for babies of this age as they learn who the main peeps are around them and associate them with safety and security. Early in the week it was at its most intense. I would put her down to play and she would cry. I would leave the room and she would cry. She was still waking every 3 hours during the night even though her teeth have come through, sickness has passed and she was a picture of health. She would only sleep with me in my bed (which is something I've never done before, she's always slept on her own). One particularly harrowing night she fell asleep with one hand on my face and one in my hair, as close as she possibly could be to me physically! It was totally adorable, and I loved the closeness but I know that I shouldn't indulge in it too much, I don't want to create habits I cannot break and disrupt the sleeping routine any more than it already has been.

Sleep is still shocking. She has never been a great sleeper, even as a young baby. But I was getting at least 7-12 hours out of her at a night this time 2 months ago. Going back to getting up 4 times a night was not pleasant. I am looking 40 years my senior and feel like a vegetable. How Stella manages to have energy to play and giggle on such little sleep is amazing! We are currently trying to follow a new routine (Which I will share with you later in the week) My friend Tahnii swears by this particular one and has a newborn and a 2 year old who both sleep through like clockwork. So, the book has not left my side. I am following it as strictly as I possibly can and hoping to see some results soon.

I must admit, this week has surfaced a few internal struggles and confusions. I am finding the balance between being a mature mother, trying to create security and predictability and dealing with a disrupted routine (or lack of any routine really) and being a sociable friend who is able to give all of myself to those I love, very hard. Both mentally and physically. Physically, I don't have the energy at the moment. One foot in front of the other is the maximum challenge my body can handle. Mentally, I don't have the confidence. I am feeling a little lost as to 'who' I am and find that my two personas so to speak (Mother and young girl) conflict with each other. I am reading a book at the moment which stated;
"You can't be one kind of person and another kind of parent".

I am the only one in my close circle who is a mother. I am changing as a person and am struggling to see where I belong. This is not to say that my friendships have lessened in value and importance at all. My heart still hold a very large spot for my loved ones. I am sure with time and experience things will become much, much clearer to me. (Gosh, that was cathartic!)

Onto lighter notes, Stella is chit-chit-chatting away like crazy. 'Daddadadda, Na na na, Noo noo noo, Yah yah yah, Num num num, Ma ma maa maa". It is so beautiful! She has also started little tantrums. Her face will go red, she'll straighten her legs and flap her arms and squeel squeel squeel! It is hilarious. I really have to hide my laughter. She was in her cot 'settling' herself to sleep earlier in the week and all I could hear was "No no nooo Mama ma". Made my heart flutter!

I had two play dates with young mums this week, Annalese with Arden (9 months) and Ali with Evie (8 months). It was lovely to see the babies together and how interested in each other they were. They stare at each other with such intrigue and wonder. Stella likes to 'touch' her friends, stroke their hair and hold their arms. Adorable! What I enjoy most about spending time with these people who I share so much in common with, is how much we can talk about in such little time. Solids, sleep, tantrums, talking, teeth, nappies, routines. And all within a matter of minutes we have shared stories, compared experiences and given each other handy hints. It almost gives me a breath of relief to be reassured that we are all in the same boat. We have the same worries and share similar problems. I don't spend enough time doing this, I would love to make the effort to do so more often. It really does help me feel like I am stumbling around on the right track, headed blindly in slightly the right direction.

And that, was a very long, slightly emotion-heavy description of our week! This week we have an 8 month check up with the Child Health Clinic, I have a date with my dear friends helping soph prepare for her big market and we continue the attempt at a new routine. I will write later in the week and share the routine we are following with you.

Time out- Sweet chili Cheese and crackers + parenting books.

A good read from Dr Phil, loving it so far!

Arden and Stella



An old favourite. Happy tunes.



Grocery shopping- Look at those peepers!



She wouldn't let me go all night.



can't shake the dark circles.



Evie and Stella



Enjoying a 'baby mum mum'- first cracker.



My dads latest painting- An abstract picture of me giving Stella an airoplane ride



How was your week? Can you empathise with any of what I am currently feeling? Thankyou for hearing me out and letting me unload on you!

Plenty of love...