The book nook

Bubba has taken on one of Bella’s hiding nooks.

They both love to crawl under the kitchen bench behind our dining table. It’s the perfect size for the two of them. In the past week I’ve found them in there together a few times.

The last couple of days there has been an addition to the hiding space: books.

We all know Bubba is a book-worm, but this morning when I was clearing away our breakfast it got a little quiet. I called out to her, thinking she must have gone quietly past me and be in her bedroom.

I under here mumma she responded.

When I looked under here this is the beaming smile which greeted me. She’s definitely in the right family.

the book nook

Oh hi Bubba. I love your new little book nook.

{Might be time for mumma to get out the sewing machine and refer back to her love bug | play time Pinterest board!}

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Pucker up

Dear Bubba

When did you stop just pursing your lips and pressing them against mine, and start puckering up?

love bug love

I noticed that you did it a couple of days ago, and then tonight you made a point of asking me to come back for a real kiss and did it again.

Maybe I didn’t miss the transition, and this week is it.

Whenever it happened, I love you. And your kisses.

Your besotted mumma
xox

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An incredible gift

Three years ago today I was alone in a hotel room in another state, away on a work trip, when I got the phone call that would forever change my life.

Only then did I fully acknowledge all of the feelings of illness and other signs I’d had. And finally allow myself to pee on the stick. What an incredible gift being a mumma is.

an incredible gift

In the past week or so I have had so many conversations with friends dear, friends near, friends far, and one person I don’t know very well at all … all about the bumpy road to becoming a mumma.

So, while today I want to acknowledge what an amazing thing being a mumma is, and finally hearing those words you’ve been dreaming of, I also wanted to acknowledge these things.

Miscarriages are horrific. Those pregnancies never leave your head or your heart. Most girls I know can rationalise why they happened, and accept that Mother Nature knows a thing or two. But even if you are the most scientific of girls, a miscarriage can weigh heavy on your heart.

Even a day-late period when you’re trying for a baby can break your heart.

Fertility drugs are hard work. And I don’t mean just the injecting yourself part. They make you a little crazy. Or a little more crazy. So if you know someone who is going through it, be kind to them. They are probably beating themselves up on the inside. Pick them a flower, leave a chocolate on their doorstep. Empathy, not sympathy, and the smallest of kindnesses can make the world of difference.

The world sometimes feels like you’re walking around in a 3D movie when you’re trying to conceive. The only things that jump out at you are pregnant bellies, nursing mothers, prams and Johnson’s baby products ads.

So, if you’re a mumma {even if you’re having a bad day today}, please spare a thought and send a cuddle {real or virtual} to all of your friends who are desperately wanting to, but have so far not quite had their dream come true.

I wish, like my friends, all of those girls had someone they felt safe talking to about this gamut of emotions. If you’re reading this, and you don’t feel like you have someone to talk to, know that the person writing {me!} has picked a flower and left it - along with a little chocolate - on your doorstep.

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Puppy sad mumma

This happened yesterday morning when we were about to leave for day care and work.

The television was on - Bella and Beary like a little company during the day - and there was a segment about a dog. I missed it because I don’t actually watch it, but I realised subconsciously that all three of my kids were watching. The dog on the screen appeared to be watching something sad along with his family, and he looked so sad that he could almost be crying.

Love Bug put her hand up to the television. Aw, puppy sad mumma.

puppy sad mumma

What she did next made me an even prouder mumma than I already am: she reached up and touched the screen where his cheek was tickle tickle.

She was tickling the pup to make him happier. Bless.

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I’m buying whatever she’s selling

I know she’s mine, and I’m predisposed to thinking she is the most divine creature on earth, but on this {almost} Wordless Wednesday I wanted to share this photo that Bubba’s Fairy God Mother took a couple of weeks ago. It makes my heart melt.

i'll have whatever she's selling

She had me at hello. I’m buying whatever she’s selling!

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New song mumma?

A combination of her night cough and resulting morning exhaustion, and a drop in temperatures saw me dressing Bubba yesterday while she lay in her still warm cot. I still sleepy mumma. Me too Bubba, me too.

I put woolly tights on her and a couple of layers of clothing, all the while chatting with her. When we talked about the weather being cold, I started singing Baby it’s cold outside.

She looked at me, head tilted {is she taking lessons from Beary?}: new song mumma?

She cracks me up. Seriously.

Which reminds me of a story grandma told me a couple of days ago. They had been at the playground and Love Bug was driving a little car. Apparently another child drove another car up behind hers. And he got a little too close for her liking.

get out of my boot

Get out of my boot! When mum asked her what she’d said, she added: please. Not sure where she learnt that from {ahem!}, little back seat driver.

At least she’s polite.

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Too funny not to share

Our Mother’s Day started with Bubba in my bed at midnight. Her winter cough is back. Any of you who were with us last winter will know how stressful that was for all concerned. She was coughing so much last night that when I went in to her just after I got home from Fairy God Mother’s birthday drinks, she asked to come to my bed. For only the second time. Ever.

finally napping

This is where she finally had a nap. And by nap I’m probably being generous. More a microsleep a little after midnight. Apparently before I had a chance to take my makeup off. I normally look a little more disheveled at that time because, well, because everyone who isn’t a daytime soapie star does! 

I’d like to say she then slept peacefully until 10am. But she didn’t. She coughed. A lot. She went back to her own bed in the hope we could both get a little sleep. I spent a lot of time bounding from my bed to her side holding her upright to stop her coughing.

All of that equals not much sleep. For either of us. Our day started at our usual very early time. We went out for breakfast with grandma and my sister which was lovely. But then sleep deprivation set in. For both of us.

After her daytime sleep she was much brighter. My eyes were hanging out of my head. But we managed to have a lovely afternoon together despite my utter exhaustion. Bubba had been saying happy mother’s day mumma all day. I figured I should video it for prosperity.

And this happened.

What about who? Funny funny kid! You’re not a mumma and won’t be for quite some time yet. 

But you are the centre of my world, and it is all about you. Even if you got more excited that Guess How Much I Love You was on than trying for happy mother’s day mumma again, and scooted off squealing just that.

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