Me

This blog records my life as a mother, our journey as a family and the adventure of childhood.  I love documenting our lives through the ups and downs, special moments and ordinary days.  It has been nearly three years since I became a parent and as my children have grown, we have started to gain little bits of independence from each other.  From the first time they feed themselves, to when they stop needing me to help them sleep, to my return to work and the boys spending whole days without me.

The independence is bittersweet, in that I miss them terribly, I don't want to miss any moments or admit that they are growing up.  On the other hand, I love having more freedom and time to remember my other passions.  Other interests have taken a back seat as I enjoy the fleeting youth of my boys, but sometimes after a long day I just need to walk.

I love to walk.  In the evenings, before the sun has set, when the paths are empty except for a rare dog walker and there is a silence and peace that I don't find in my day.  I watch the tide coming in, the seagulls combing the beach for any left over chips and the sun setting over the coastline.  I think, and day dream and write whole stories in my head.  I notice things that I miss in the day, stop to smell and touch and watch.  I drift off into my own world, without a thought as to where I am walking.

Sometimes I take my camera, and actually photograph things other than my children.  I breathe the fresh sea air and find an energy I thought the day had taken from me.  I take some time for just me - time that I took for granted for so long, but now seems like a luxury.  

And then I come home, desperate to see my babies, to give them a cuddle and a kiss and to tuck their blankets back in.

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20 Facts about Me

I love recording our lives and writing all about my beautiful boys, but the lovely Sarah shared 20 facts about herself and tagged me to do the same and I liked the challenge.  It wasn't easy and I can't promise all or even any will be particularly interesting, but here are 20 facts about me.

1. Despite being made to mime in my primary school choir, I sang for a couple of years in my local church choir.

2. I had my nose pierced for a couple of years in my early twenties but had to take it out for work reasons.  I still have my ears, my belly and my tongue pierced though.

3. My degree is in English Literature but I also studied modules in Psychology and Greek Mythology.

4. I am a bit like Joey from freinds when it comes to food - I am terrible at sharing.

5. My hair has been every colour under the sun, red, blue, blonde, black . . . but I haven't seen its natural colour for well over 10 years now.

6. I love to travel and have so many places I still want to see.  Top of the list at the moment is doing the Trans-Siberian through Russia.

7. I love having cosy feet and like to have a pair of slippers in every room of the house so I never have to hunt for them.

8. My favourite Christmas film of all time is Miracle on 34th Street - we watched it every year when I was growing up and I can't wait to introduce my boys to it.

9. I always have the TV on an odd number for volume.  It drives my sister crazy (she is all about the evens) but I have to have it on an odd.

10. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would put everything into storage and go travelling for a year with my boys.  I would love to show them the world, and why not now?

11. I love a cheesy chick flick and my favourite movie is 10 things I hate about you.

12. I never wear my socks in pairs (unless it is a complete accident).  Life is too short to waste time pairing up socks.

13. I don't have a driving licence despite hundreds of lessons and several tests*

14. My favourite colour is red.

15. I had both my boys in the same hospital that I was born in.

16. I have only ever ridden a horse once and that was on a cattle ranch in the Australian outback.

17. I love cheese in every form, especially cheesecake.

18. Before my buggy obsession started, it was all about the heels and I have several bookcases full of shoes in my house.

19. I am incredibly messy - If there are ever photos of inside my house on this blog then I probably tidied up especially for them.

20. When I was younger, my mum used to take me to musicals as a birthday treat and I still have a huge love for them.

So there we have it, Me in 20 facts.  If you fancy joining in then let me know!




*More than 5, less than 8 - some people should just not be on the road and I am clearly one of them!

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Being Me

Since becoming a parent, I have become so caught up in . . . well . . . being a parent, that I look back on the photos of pre-baby me and barely recognise myself.  I spend my days with two beautiful boys, and spend my evenings writing about them,  to then go to sleep with the littlest right by my side.

Now I am not complaning about this - I wouldn't swap my life for anything right now, but I am wondering whether it is time to start focusing a little more on me as well. 

I looked a lot less tired pre-baby

I used to love reading books and my journey to and from Cybher this weekend saw me finally finishing a book I started reading long before Archie was even born.  Putting the laptop down half an hour earlier a few nights a week to read a little shouldn't be hard and I am looking forward to working my way through the growing pile of literature on my bookcase.

I used to run.  Not that far or that fast, but I loved the freedom, the space, the fresh air and the energy it gave me.  Running was my time to reflect and I do all my best thinking on foot.  I got out of the habit through pregnancy and have been too lazy to get back into it, but this mummy tummy is not going to shift itself and with the seafront only a couple of minutes jog away, I have the perfect reason to start up again.

A few days before Dylan was born.

I used to be creative, but now my projects are all half finished (or not even started).  I want to make an effort to finish one thing every month, even if it is only little and get back to my sewing machine again as it is long neglected.

Before having children, the bloke and I used to eat out regularly, watch lots of films and spend whole nights just chatting.  Now we are more often than not found on our seperate computers, blogging or playing zombie games. I want to introduce a date night every now and again where we make sure we find a babysitter and go and enjoy each other's company.  One day the children will leave home and I still want a best friend to share my life with.

Pre- babies

I am not sure how easy it will be to break the habits, and my little nest in our sofa is rather comfortable but I really feel it is time to get a better balance of mummy and me. 

Do you still enjoy the same things you did pre-baby?

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