Friday Quicktakes

1. First week of term down and its been a busy one. This year, it's two at the 'big' school , two at primary school, and the wee man's starting Nursery. Did you pick up on that last milestone I just casually dropped in there? The nursery part? Yes indeed, its a biggie alright but I'm just about managing to hold it together... in a 'lovely quiet house with freshly brewed coffee and uninterrupted trips to the loo' kinda way!

 Heres the thing, he's SO ready for it, I'm SO ready for it and let's face it, thus far it's only been a frickin' hour a day anyway, (building up to the grand total of two and a half hours the week after next-Yay!)

It's certainly breaking us both in gently, before the more significant leap to P1 next year, and truthfully, in my typically thran way, I was both delighted and somewhat miffed at how well he's settled. My Psychology training tells me that his skipping off happily illustrates a secure and happy child, but the contrary mammy in me would definitely have appreciated the odd trembling lip or clinging hug , thank you very much.

It's funny how things change though- four years ago when Rory went to nursery, I would have been weeping at the nursery door on a daily basis if I hadn't been pregnant again with Luke, and I remember pondering how I'd know when I was ready to move on...and now, for the first time in over fourteen years, I know that you just do... so this is all kinda new and exciting, and scary and liberating for me, all at the same time.Wish me luck Dudettes!

2. We're having a party this weekend, and no, its nothing whatsoever to do with the last point- it's a 'We're NOT moving house after all (for now anyway) Party' but really, it's just an excuse to have good friends and family over to eat, drink and be merry! As a treat, we've even booked caterers to come and make savoury and sweet crepes for everyone-it'll be just like the continental market without the hats and gloves- and even though I DO feel a teensy bit guilty cos it feels a bit like cheating, I'm also thinking 'Feck it! I'll just have to be queen of the bubbly and playlists instead!

3. Speaking of which, jsut in the nick of time, we've (sort of)  finished our sitting room, which until a few months ago, had bare walls, a concrete floor and a hole for a fireplace. Yep, only eight years here and we've finally done it - 80% anyway- and I'm chuffed to bits! Here's a little peek...and special mention must go to  Gumtree and Annie Sloane paint for keeping the costs down!

Whatya think?

4 Just for old times sake, I felt the urge to sneak in a little 'Boogie in the Car Seat' today, just cos its Friday and that alone makes me wanna dance. This week's is, quite aptly, a little bit country... AND it always reminds me of  Loverboy!  Have a good one, my lovelies xxx

Bye bye Baby.....

I cleared out a cupboard in the kitchen the other day. Now, before you think that I'm really scraping the bottom of the barrel today, it wasn't just any old cupboard. It was my baby bottle cupboard - and I've had one of those in our kitchen for, oh, nearly thirteen years!
In days gone by, and even when the baby became a toddler, the bottles were just pushed further to the back to gather dust, while sippy cups, crackers and raisins jostled for space at the front instead. I didn't actually get rid of them...and although I wouldn't have admitted it to you at the time, maybe I just wasn't ready...until now.
It's not that I'm feeling broody again- I promise you, I'm not! I ADORE the stage that Luke is at now, a lot more than the baby stage, if I'm honest. With the others are at school, he's my wee mate! He chats away to me, (mostly incomprehensibly), from the back of the car, the front of the trolley, the seat in the cafe..and I love not having to carry a baby bag with bottles, clothes and food anymore.
And, although he's getting so independent, and trying so hard to be one of the gang, he's still my baby...It's never too long before he comes to find me- to climb on my knee for a cuddle, or stand with his head against my leg- before running off to the others again.
I've found that I'm enjoying and appreciating  the little things  much more than I used to - I was 28 when we started our family, 38 when Luke came along, and I think that ten years made a quare difference in so many ways! Now I KNOW how quickly these phases pass, no matter how trying or endless they may seem at the time, and that means I can appreciate them for what they are. Given that perspective, I can weather the storms, be they sleepless nights, colic, temper tantrums or potty training.
Of course, that's partly confidence too. I can look to my older children, and see that, despite everything, I haven't messed it up too much....so far anyway. Time and experience has taught me not to sweat the small stuff, (Just give them the feckin' dummy... and turn a blind eye when you see them eating cheerios off the floor!).

Thing is, when we'd got to this toddler stage in the past, we already had another baby, or one on the way, so it was definitely a case of just putting the head down and getting through...but not now. This time, we won't be down this way again, so I want to gently stroll along, with Lukey by the hand, and not dash past with a buggy, and a clatter of children struggling to keep up.

So yes, I certainly felt a little bit wistful, as I packed up all the bottles for my sister's bump. It's the end of an era round here, and the end of who I'VE been, for the longest time. I felt sad, and a little bit scared because.... who will I be now? 

But I felt something else too.....I think it might have been excitement. Because surely the end of an era means the beginning of a new one too, and it kinda hit me, that just as I'm leaving the whole pregnancy and infancy stage behind, I'm about to become the mother of a teenager! That's unfamiliar territory indeed, and I don't even have a sat nav!

 Recently, I've also found myself looking to a few experienced friends, (you ladies know who you are!), who have already navigated these milestones and transitions, and seem to be doing just fine. In fact, they tell me that there's lots to love...but that's a whole other blog!

 And as for my old bottle cupboard? Well, after cleaning it out, I declared it 'Mummy's Cupboard', issued warnings of 'Do Not Touch Or Even Open', and made it a home for all the treats I usually hide all over the kitchen-my red Lindt chocolate balls, REALLY good fudge, 80 cal bags of popcorn and my own personal box of Special K. Now, maybe it's time I considered putting a lock on it!?