Baby Food

Yesterday I gave the Pip his first taste of "food" and he liked it. He is 5 months old now; my little baby is growing so fast. This weekend he will be moving to his own room. Mr KE and I will miss him a lot but it is for a good reason : we are having the flat valued next week. So lots of housework this week!

Small Steps

Well, today I made the first steps towards finding childcare for the Pip for when I go back to work. Not big steps, to be honest, all I did was look up the list of local nurseries on the internet and write down the phone numbers of the ones that looked promising.

It's something I have been avoiding for a while and I can't really put it off any longer. It's tricky because I haven't decided whether a nursery or a childminder is the best option - at the moment I'm 80% leaning towards a nursery - but I haven't actually been round any nurseries yet. So it could change once I've had a look around a few.

The last few months have been so packed with changes that in one way, it seems like they rushed past in the blink of an eye. Is my son really 4 months old now? On the other hand, it seems soooo long ago when I was waiting to give birth. So much has happened since then and Mr KE and I will never be the same again.

Last weekend I left the Pip with Mr KE for the day while I went into "big town" for the first time since before Christmas. I have left him for a few hours before, but never for this long. So it was quite a big step for me (and for Mr KE too!) although I don't think I would have been happy leaving him with anyone else other than his father.

Still, for many reasons, I have to go back to work by the end of the year so I just have to get on with it. Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I do want to go back to work but like every other working mother, I do feel pangs of loss and guilt. It's tough but just one of those things that has to be done.

What's the other 58%?

OK, I haven't blogged in ages because I've been busy, looking after baby, too tired to blog ...blah blah blah. You know how it is.

Anyway, I read this article this evening and I was moved to blog. Ignoring all the tax-stuff in the article, what surprised me is that Pringles are only 42% potatoes! What else is in Pringles for goodness sake? I knew it was processed but not that processed. From now on I'm sticking to Kettle chips.

Evening

Mr KE took this photo a few days ago from the back bedroom window. It's warmer now and it's getting easier to get out and about with the Pip. He's nearly 3 months old now and just a little darling.

After winter months and being stuck indoors, I am really looking forward to the summer. Our first summer as a family :)

New Boots

Since November I have been practically living in my trainers. At that time I was hugely pregnant and huffed and puffed my way around, so no high heels for me. Now I don't go out without the Pip in a buggy or a carrier so in the interests of Health and Safety, I have stuck to flat shoes. If you have been following my blog for a while, then you would know how much I love my high heeled shoes.

But there is hope!!



I have been wearing these boots and they are practical but not too granny-like. OK I wouldn't have looked at them 18 months ago, but things are different these days :)

Dancing Queen

My family and close friends know that one of my favourite things is to put music on really really loud and dance around the room. I've been doing this since I was 11 (or so) and the people around me just have to live with it hahaha. My poor neighbours!! The woman who lives in the flat downstairs must be very patient or slightly deaf, because I stomp around like an elephant and play the same song on repeat up to a dozen times. Well, I only do it during the day ....I'm not totally inconsiderate!

Anyway, I haven't been stomping around lately. Late last year when my bump was so big that I could only sway gently. Since the Pip has been born, I have been too tired to even think about it...I just slump on the sofa waiting for his next demand.

Then today, while the Pip was napping I suddenly felt the urge to put on a bit of Rihanna and woohoo, I was prancing about the room like my old self! Things must be getting better. The old me is coming back, slowly but surely.

I was a bit concerned that the baby would wake up, but he didn't. Well, he might as well get used to it ;)

A present from my son

Look what arrived for me by post, beautifully wrapped.














A lovely leather baby changing bag. The best thing about it? It doesn't look like a changing bag.

Lots of handy pockets and a strap that fits on the Bugaboo Bee. Perfect!








Lots more pockets and compartments inside...plus a matching travel changing mat. Another great thing about it, the zips open the bag all the way so you can quickly get to the contents.

Wasn't it thoughtful of the Pip to save all his child benefit money to buy me a nice handbag for Mother's Day? And he's only seven weeks old...aaahh, children are so advanced these days :)

(There were also two breastfeeding tops, but the bag was definitely the star attraction)

Any excuse for a new handbag

My sister came to stay at the weekend and had to nip outside for a few minutes, so she asked to borrow my keys so she could let herself back in. She laughed when she saw the contents of my handbag...muslin, spare vest for the Pip, nappy, babywipes and other baby paraphernalia. No more lipsticks, mascara and yesterday's theatre tickets.

The old Katie-Ella is still around though. I'm currently lusting after this bag (sorry, couldn't grab a picture) but you need to go on a waiting list, the earliest availability is June!! Aarrghhh, can I wait that long??

5 things: Being a Mother

1. Listening to a baby crying is the most emotionally draining experience in the world.
2. You have to eat whenever you can. Because you may not get another chance to make that sandwich for a few hours!
3. You can get used to being tired all the time. People have said that I should sleep when the baby sleeps. Good advice in theory, but in practice because I am alone during the day I can never relax enough to actually sleep. I'm always in a state of high alert in case he starts crying again.
4. Breastfeeding makes you thirsty all the time.
5. Despite all the crying and the feeding and the endless changing, his cute little face is still enough to make me smile and feel that everything is alright with the world.

If anyone were to ask me - is it worth it? Well, the answer is, yes without a doubt. But be sure that you are ready. Be very, very sure...because there ain't no going back!

Week One

It's Friday night and the Pip is in his crib, hopefully settled for a few hours (fingers crossed). Hooray, I've survived a week on my own and everything was OK. It's still very early days but I'm a lot more relaxed and feeling really optimistic about everything.

At the moment, I am trying to implement Gina Ford's routines. She's quite controversial because she puts babies (and mothers!) into strict routines from the day one. Some people think that it's a bit too extreme - and some mothers believe that it's cruel to put a baby only weeks old into a routine i.e. that feeding/sleeping etc should be completely flexible in the first few months. Having said that, if a baby is hungry - of course you have to feed him/her...the routine is just to set some structure into your life.

I'm still feeling some self-doubt though - am I being a good mother? Or a bad one? Oh well, if the Pip has issues when he is a teenager, he can always blame Gina Ford.

I got you, Babe

Tomorrow Mr KE is back at work and I will be at home with the Pip on my own. Actually, I've already had a trial run because he had to go in to work last Monday. However, this is officially the end of his paternity leave so from now on...it's just me and you, baby.

To be honest, I don't think it's going to be a problem - I'm sure I'll be fine on my own. Mr KE and I have done the last few weeks without any help from friends or family and one good thing is that we have had to find our own way. There is no one to tell us how to do this or that, offering wanted or unwanted advice. As a result, we have gained so much in confidence every day.

Not that we haven't had offers of help. My parents offered to stay for a few months to help us out, but all things considered I thought that it wouldn't be a good idea. For one thing, it's a horrible time of year to be in the UK. Nasty weather and gloomy skies combined with being stuck indoors all day with a newborn baby...a recipe for stress and anxiety.

Our little family

My lovely little boy is finally here! Mr KE is still at home on paternity leave and we have spent the last few days getting to know our son. It's been tiring but we are both really happy.

I said to Mr KE today that I must be coming back to my normal self because I am starting to make lists again, haha the control freak returns. Although it would be nice to have some help, it is also nice that it's just the three of us at home on our little "babymoon". We are learning as we go along but seem to have slipped into a routine already. Yes, thank you Gina Ford!

Patience is a Virtue

Still. No. Action.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhh.

The Waiting Game

Well, the flat is as tidy as it as ever been. The fridge/freezer is full of food. I have enough toilet paper, shampoo, soap and other household necessities to last me weeks without a trip to the shops. Lots of coffee, tea and biscuits for visitors. Hospital bags are packed and on standby. The baby's clothes are all washed and ready. The crib is made up (although I still have to figure out how the steriliser works) and the camera battery is fully charged.

Mr KE has told me not to call his mobile at work unless things have kicked off because he gets into a panic when he sees me flash up on his phone. So I have to text him unless it's action stations; he's been very calm, bless him.

Sunday Night

It's Sunday night and still no action. There's no rush; I'm just enjoying these last few days of living according to my own schedule. Which mainly consists of napping, watching daytime TV and wandering down to the local shops. I think I've watched more Poirot in the last week than I have in my whole life.

Mr KE seems to be in a last-minute panic. He is wandering around the flat, tidying up and throwing things away. Four full bin bags in the last two hours! He is one of the worst hoarders ever, from a family of great hoarders, so for him to throw stuff away is a very big deal indeed.

On the other hand, I am displaying zen-like calmness. Repeat after me : Everything is going to be alright.

Killing the Germs

It's been really cold the last few days. OK, not extreme cold like -40 but cold enough for Mr KE to wear his longjohns into work today. I don't mind the cold weather so much; at least it's a proper winter then - not just days of gloomy, damp, drizzling weather. Kills off all the germs too!

Mr KE is back at work and I am now officially on maternity leave. Just a few more bits and pieces to get; I was supposed to get my nursing bras yesterday but I couldn't face taking off all my winter clothes to try them on...gloves, hat, scarf, coat, fleece, jumper, long sleeved t-shirt and short sleeved t-shirt. Then putting them all back on again. Exhausting work!

New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve, Mr KE and I have got absolutely nothing planned and it's great. We have had a lovely Christmas break, just the two of us taking it easy. I haven't even been sale shopping; haven't even been into town....which is very unlike me (contrast with last year) but oh well, I have other things on my mind! This year I have spending my money on buggies and baby clothes :)

So what have we been up to?

• We had roast chicken for our Christmas dinner; with pigs in blankets (cocktail sausages wrapped in streaky bacon), roast potatoes, baby carrots, peas, bread sauce and gravy. No christmas pudding because Mr KE doesn't eat it and I'm not such a big fan. Instead, lots of chocolates and sweet gooey things all day.
• On Boxing Day Mr KE went to watch our local football team with his friends while I snoozed on the sofa.
• We have been sleeping in, going on long walks in our local parks and eating lots of indulgent food.
• Mr KE has been DIY-ing while I watch TV ....yes, it's a hard life....

It's now 7pm, we have no plans for dinner (takeaway? forage in the fridge? just eat more chocolate?) and the lack of pressure is really relaxing. You know what I mean - it's New Year's Eve...must have a good time.....even if you get totally stressed out doing it!

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Breakfast

(Couldn't decide which photo to post - so I've posted both...)

When I was young, we always had ham sandwiches for breakfast on Christmas morning. We would normally get up late, after the excitement of Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, opening presents, and wander downstairs in search of food.

By the time we got up, the kitchen would be in full swing preparing for lunch, guests etc. There would be a big ham in the kitchen, ready for us to cut thick slices of salty meat and make sandwiches.

Mr KE's mother does the same, so to me - christmas breakfast is not complete without proper ham! With just me and Mr KE around, I got some slices from our local deli and very nice they are too.

We ate in the kitchen because I couldn't be bothered to clear the dining table - lazy me.....




...of course, Christmas means a never ending supply of chocolate. We started straight after breakfast with these yummies. Special thanks to our chocolate supplier, you know who you are!

Christmas Eve

Mr KE popped into M&S on his way home and fancied these chinese snacks, so we had them as starters on Christmas Eve. They were all duck-based and came with a little pot of hoisin sauce.






For our main course, we had individual beef wellingtons, potatoes dauphinoise and green beans. The beef wellingtons were from Waitrose but I made the potatoes from scratch; they are basically potatoes cooked in layers with double cream and milk. Very decadent indeed!

As for the Beef Wellingtons, they were OK but I can't help thinking that it is a bit of a waste of beef fillet. If you haven't had it before, beef wellington is beef fillet, pate and mushrooms wrapped in puff pastry. Very 1970s dinner party. These days it's more fashionable to have cook things simply eg if I had a good bit of beef, I would just pan fry it with a bit of salt and pepper.

Anyway, we were too stuffed after our meal for any pudding, so we just crashed out on the sofa for a rest before heading off to midnight mass. I had to have a nap before our walk up the hill...I need to conserve my energy these days!

Christmas - Past, Present and Future

This will be the first Christmas ever that Mr KE and I are spending together on our own - and this is probably the only Christmas that it will be just the two of us. Well, for some years to come anyway.

We normally spend the holidays with his parents in the countryside but this year we are avoiding the journey and staying at home. To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to spending some you-and-me time with Mr KE in our London nest before the pipsqueak arrives. As I have been reminded by lots of friends who have young children - spend as much time with your husband as possible, go to the pub, eat out and enjoy sleeping in. I know that they are not trying to be negative about having children, but the reality is that life will be completely different...but that's okay.

From a practical point of view, this means that I am cooking our Christmas dinner!! My mother-in-law always has christmas completely organised so usually we just turn up at their house, eat lots of delicious food and spend the whole holiday sitting on the sofa watching TV and eating chocolates. I am totally useless daughter-in-law, hahahaha.

Although we aren't really thinking about Christmas (we haven't even got a tree), I still have to make some kind of effort on the food front. I've even written out "menus" :) .... good little wife or what??