Happy 1st birthday LMM!

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Bump2Basics

This past week was LMM’s first birthday!

At one LMM is an assertive and inquisitive character.  He’s walking and he’s trying to compete with the rest of us by talking (mama, dada, nana for bannana, nonono, ya, and then some – but there is stiff competition).  He watches, and learns more than I realize.  The other day he picked up LLC’s hair brush and attempted to brush her hair.  He can drink water out of a regular cup without a lid.  He still loves a cuddle and he’s recently gotten into dancing (see video).  More still, as I’ve mentioned, he loves his food.  I always have a piece of toast, mango slices or some shreddies to hand for when his I need to eat now paddies rear their loud head.  He’s getting better at putting away and rather than just destroying, and listens when I tell him stop.  Books are becoming more of interest rather than something to throw or rip.  He does not like his sister blowing loud whistles or when meals end.  He’s not a big fan of being “put on the rack” by his daddy and big sis (would you be?) or having his face wiped (unless its a warm cloth). He still sucks his middle and index finger on his left hand for comfort.  His hair is finally growing a bit longer and his eyes still have a strong hint of blue.  And his open mouthed kisses may not make him popular with the ladies of future but I think they’re the best!

Where does the time go?  Happy birthday to my beautiful, feisty and sensitive boy!  You light up our life and we love you so.

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Grab a Granny

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Bump2Basics

The other day Chris was on the bus with the children and he told me how LLC had found a friend in a “grandma.”  Apparently he was standing next to LMM’s stroller and she was perched on a seat to his right next to a pensioner (that’s senior citizen my American friends!) who took a shining to her.  The woman then put her arm around LLC to stop her falling off the seat as the bus did it’s usual choppy sprint and stop.  I asked if LLC minded and Chris said she enjoyed it and was so relaxed that she nearly fell asleep!

Really?  

Now I’m not a big fan of random people touching my kids (or bump touching for that matter), but Chris said there was something kind and not intrusive about this woman’s style that LLC must have responded to.  She’s a little lady of her own mind, and these days whenever people try to hard to engage her she usually returns their efforts by shunning them.  This woman, on the other hand, seemed to get the balance between showing reserved kindness and not trying too hard right.

She must have made an impression.  This weekend we took the train to central London for a day out on the South Bank at the Tate Modern and Borough Market (oh the food is so worth the squeeze with two small children!) and as soon as we sat down LLC started making friends with another pensioner sitting in our section.  There followed a random and LLC-led conversation.

Then on the way home LLC declined to sit next to Chris and instead sat down in a seat of two next to yet another pensioner.  “Hello!,” she beamed and started yet another chat about her trip to London, her unzipped boots and her family (now standing behind their seats).  When it was time for her latest friend to get off, I plopped down next to LLC.

“But mommy,” she said.  “I need to find a granny.”  A new hobby perhaps?

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Being a grown up

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Bump2Basics

Running gives me head space, to ponder, to reflect. When I run I think about all sorts of crap from what to make for dinner to entrepreneurial ventures to what the government is doing (or not doing) to support families or how much I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode of Glee. And then sometimes I zone out and think about nothing. Opposite ends of the spectrum I know, but both very refreshing.

This ‘me time’ is really important. Beyond feeling energized by my physical workout I’ve had some head space and come back either having organized my thoughts or found some general zen.

Then the other day I was running and I had an ‘I suppose I’m a grown up now’ epiphany. I think I was thinking about work / life balance, where I am versus my ambitions, how this all impacts on my family and then I thought….damn, I’m a grown up now. How did this happen?

In terms of maturity and perspective I’ve grown so much since I was 18 years old but does that seem an eternity ago? Not really. I met Chris when I was 18. I remember it so vividly. I remember driving into the high school parking lot each day with 112 Feat. Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy & Mase, the bad boy remix, pumping from our car and feeling like I was on top of the world. It was a good time.

Then there was college (Uni), my long distance relationship, a move to London and a time of transition. Highs and lows, more self understanding, home ownership, lots of whimsical fun, i.e. doing what I wanted when I wanted it because it didn’t matter, then the babies arrived and our family chapter started. My 20s: a whirlwind.

So here I am – a grown up. Right? Wrong…? I don’t feel so grown up. In fact I often feel like I should have myself sorted our more than I do, particularly since I now have two small children that depend on me. Chris and I are their world. We have Responsibility. And while I do think I’m responsible, I don’t feel like I have it all together. I’m often unsure, regularly making mistakes, always learning. But then maybe being grown up is not about being sorted after all….

What do you think? And do you ever really feel grown up?

Posted in new life balance | 2 Comments

Friday Funnies – Acting 101

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Bump2Basics

We spent this afternoon with a lovely friend whose eldest little girl is one day younger than LLC.  After a full-on afternoon of fun I had more than just an inkling that some tired paddy antics might be coming our way, particularly considering we had a 20 minute walk home in the cold and a light rain and LLC had just hit out at me when I tried to put her coat on.

LLC’s theatrics started soon after leaving the house.

“I’m cooooold mommy.  I don’t want to walk home.  I want to be home.”

“Well LLC, we need to keep walking in order to get home.  If you stand nicely on your buggy board as you are I’ll walk as fast as I can.”

“But I want to be home.”  Followed by a series of wail-like moans.

“LLC, let’s look at the pretty flowers while we walk.  Look, they’ve started to come out even though it’s now turned cold again.  We could count the houses?” (I don’t know what I was talking about, I was walking uphill and grasping at straws

“I don’t want to talk to you mommy.  I’m sad.”

“Why are you sad?”

“I’m not going to tell you.  I don’t want to talk to mommy!”  Moan moan moan….for the rest our walk home.

Soon we arrived at the top of our road but I first had to run into the corner shop to buy some bread and milk.  LLC instantly brightened.  Her tears switched off like a tap.  Milk and eggs in hand we waited on line to pay.  And what is near the check out?  The candy!

“Mommy, can I please have some chocolate buttons?”

“No, I’m sorry LLC, you can’t.”

“Whhhhy?  They are so wonderful.  I love them.”

“I know you do.  But when it was time to leave B’s, you weren’t really behaving and you have been crying the whole walk home.  Maybe if you are on better form this weekend daddy might get you some.”  (Of course he will, he’s a total sucker for buying her chocolate buttons!)

She gives me wide eyes that get even bigger as she catches the eye of the friendly geezer on line in front of us.  ”But I really love them.”  And then she flashes us both the brightest, sweetest smile.

Yet another Oscar winning performance.

 

 

Posted in Friday Funnies, LLC | 2 Comments

Sibling Moments

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Bump2Basics

Today I posted a photo on Twitter of the children playing together at their little Ikea table.  LMM is just reaching the age where he will sit at the table without wriggling out of the chair or trying to push the table over.  LCC loves her art projects.  Put them together and I had two happily entertained children for nearly half an hour.  Aside from fishing the occasional piece of playdough out of LMM’s mouth and keeping watch to ensure he didn’t keep trying to ingest it, I had nearly half an hour of breathing space.

Half an hour – score, score, score!

I’ve mentioned how LMM loves to shadow his big sister, and for her part, she mostly appreciates his company.  It’s really sweet they are now reaching that point where they can genuinely start to play together.  There is a similar 2 year age difference between my sister and me and I have many fond childhood memories of the imaginary worlds and games we cooked up together.

More and more evidence of their growing bond is cropping up:

  • LLC is letharic, ill with a bug and laying on the couch.  LMM toddles over to her and pats her legs and back – he was actually quite gentle with her.  There’s a soft bedside manner in there after all!
  • LMM manages to push our living room french door open, which has a drop down into the yard.  LLC notices before I do and shouts “Mommy watch out for trouble!  Trouble is escaping from the door!”  Yes, she’s referring to LMM as trouble, not the situation.  I don’t know where she got that from….
  • LLC throws LMM a ball.  He bats at it and sends it back in her direction.  They sit there playing ball together.  Daddy is very proud.
  • LMM is in his highchair screaming because I haven’t presented his Weetabix fast enough.  LLC takes a bananna out of the fruit basket, unpeels it, and breaks off a piece for him.  He babbles “nananana,” smiles and shoves it in his mouth.

Chris has a good relationship with his brother, and I with my sister, and I really hope our two will continue to grow closer and closer as they grow older.  At this age they are such an integral part of each other’s lives; this is the time to let those deep roots bed in.

Recently Jennie at Edspire blogged about how the tragic loss of her beautiful baby Tilda impacted her other two young children.  My heart goes out to her as she navigates these emotions alongside coping with her own grief.  I recognize that LLC doens’t even really remember life without LMM…I am reminded to cherish and nurture this beautiful sibling relationship unfolding before my eyes.

Posted in LLC, LMM, new life balance, siblings | Leave a comment