Tag: baby

For sale

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Our house is up for sale!  I’m sad, nervous and excited in equal measure.  It’s the house we nagged and nagged Barratts to reduce until they gave in, and it’s the house we struggled with mortgage payments for three tough years to pay until we were out of our insane fixed rate.

It’s the house we fell in love with because of the bedroom at the top with all the light.  The one where we went to the showhouse six times with different groups of people before they’d even accepted an offer.  It’s the kitchen project that we needed at a difficult time in our lives.

This is the house where we brought Scarlett after she was born.  This was where she had her first bath.  Her first bedroom.  The garden was where she had her first unaided steps. Continue reading →

Scarlett’s birth

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My daughter, Scarlett, will be two in a few months, and I haven’t felt the urge to publish her birth story until now, although a slightly edited version did appear in our local NCT magazine shortly after the birth.  It might have something to do with my best friend’s baby being due any day, and making me reminisce. This is the unedited, gory version, be warned. Continue reading →

I got sunshine

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Sunflower 1…on a cloudy day.

That’s what I think when I look at the sunflowers in our flower bed, anyway.  Scarlett was sent home with a tiny green shoot in a flowerpot for Mothers’ Day, back in March.  And yes, I did cry.  A couple of my friends (you know who you are) think it’s hilarious that I cry whenever nursery give me anything Scarlett’s made, painted or planted, but it makes me so happy!  I digress.

So, we left it in its little pot and set it on the kitchen table near the window, where it started to grow.  I’ve never been very good with plants, but I tried my very best with this one.  You know, because my then 12 month old daughter planted it with her own fair hands (with help, granted) and such. Continue reading →

Babyproofing

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Since I last posted in early December (I’m just going to breeze past the shame), we’ve obviously had a Christmas tree and decorations up and down, you missed the awesome Christmas bunting and Santa’s sack I made, so I’ll save that for next year.

We’ve also painted over the splodge of hot pink on our bedroom wall because I’m sick of looking at it.  Not painted the entire wall, you understand.  Just painted over the splodge in off-white it so it’s not as much of an eyesore.

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Nursery

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ScarlettNot our nursery this time, but the nursery where we shall be depositing our child until I finish work.  We’ve had a few settling in sessions now, and Scarlett seems to be taking them better than me.

The first one was just for half an hour and I called after 20 minutes to see if she was ok.  The second one, Barry found me crying and washing up (unrelated) when I’d dropped her off for a two-hour stint.  Scarlett didn’t cry, she’s made of sterner stuff.  Obviously gets that from her father.

The third session didn’t go quite as well, but I’m hoping it was a blip.

I can’t believe I’m back at work in two weeks, this time has flown by; it doesn’t feel like I’ve been “off” since last Christmas.  I’m saying “off” in quotation marks because it’s been the hardest, but most rewarding work I’ve ever done.  Non-stop, tiring, draining, emotional, hilarious, special, unforgettable work that’s made me question everything (what did they do before Google?) and been a huge learning curve.

And even though I’m a wimp myself, I’m so proud that Scarlett didn’t cry at nursery the first couple of times she went.  Little soldier.  Sob.

Adult proofing

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Stair gate

Our house is now stair-safe for Scarlett, but a hotbed of tripping danger for me and Barry.  She won’t be able to get up or down the stairs until she grows about three feet and gets some serious manual dexterity going, which is excellent.

However, whoever designed the bloody gates with the bar at the bottom (and pressure gates STILL NEED SCREWING IN, don’t be fooled) had a real sense of humour.  Scarlett’s in more danger from me falling flat onto her because I can’t pick my feet up that extra inch.  I think Barry might have shed a little tear screwing gates into the house, especially into the black wall and the wooden bannister.  I could tell he was wondering whether we could move house before fixing the holes.

Socket covers

We’ve also got these things that go in the electricity sockets so she doesn’t electrocute herself.  Good job I’ve got nails for leverage, otherwise there’d be no getting those bad boys out.  And then I would never be able to iron.  Now, where are those nail clippers…

Six months on

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Scarlett 6 months

I can’t believe it’s already been six months since Scarlett was born – it’s flown by!  We’ve started giving her proper finger foods now, and she proceeded to throw carefully prepared pitta bread and soft cheese all over the floor last night. Followed by a carrot stick.  And a carrot puff.  And some water.

She’s also moved into her own room now, which was seemingly more difficult for me and Barry than for her, she doesn’t mind!

Here she is today with her best Zoolander impression…

My shameful secret

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I may get lambasted for this by the pro-craft crowd, but I’m a bit embarrassed to admit… my name’s Michelle and I like to cross-stitch.  Lambasted for the embarrassment, not for the sewing itself.  I’m not getting any time to do it at the moment, but I started a baby sampler for Scarlett’s room before she was born and I am going to try my best to finish it soon.  Before she’s five.  Definitely before she’s ten.  Would it be a nice graduation present?

I love doing little bits as gifts for people, I’ve only ever had them gratefully received as I think you can see the time, work and care that goes into them.  I’ve sewn cards, bookmarks, and framed pictures, small and large.  I’ve made quite a few birth samplers, including one that I started when I was about fourteen or fifteen and took me years to complete.  It was around A3 sized and a lot of it was a deep blue – I remember clearly taking care over every stitch.  Couldn’t wait to start another colour.

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Introducing Scarlett

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The last two weeks have flown by!  I am most delighted to introduce you all to my daughter, Scarlett, who was born on 21st February after a surprise induction and scarily quick labour!  She’s the best thing since sliced bread.

Scarlett

Stool

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Nursing stool

Well, the baby hasn’t arrived yet (only a week and a half to go to due date!).  In the meantime, I’ve been finishing off the upholstery side of the rocking stool that came with our nursing chair from my lovely friend Helen.  All it needed was a staple gun!

The edges aren’t the most professional, mostly because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, but definitely fit for our purposes.

photo 1

All we need to do now is wait for the weather to brighten up a bit (more snow due this week, folks!), and then set about painting the wood white – I think it really would make it.