Nursery Inspiration

In a couple of months we will be moving into a new place so my days have been filled scrolling through Pinterest looking for inspiration. Here is a few inspiration boards on what I am thinking for Harley's room.

Do I, Don't I?

It's a tough decision whether or not to give your baby a soother or not, and if you do, then when?

There is a lot of pressure out there when it comes to parenting and everyone definitely wants to give their two cents on what is right and what is wrong. At the end of the day, they are only trying to help but you have to learn to take people's opinions with a pinch of salt (or a bucket). You have to do what you feel is right for you as a parent to your own child.

We have been very lucky with Harley. She rarely cries, only wakes once most nights and is quite content being cuddled by anyone who holds her without making strange (I have every finger and toe crossed that it stays this way, I know babies like to change things up as soon as you think you have a routine established). Because of this, I haven't had to start her on the soother as a form of comfort. To me, this worked great as I felt that could lead to tantrums if she dropped her soother or waking up if she was using it to help her sleep. 

However, the past week Harley has discovered her hands. Every time I turn around, there she is, hand in mouth and dribble everywhere (I think she is beginning to teeth). 

Harley has been on her soother a week now and she loves it. I have to admit, she looks super cute with it.

Enough with the Excuses

I think it's time to stop with the excuses. Yesterday was officially day one of a new healthy diet and a solid exercise routine, hopefully three times a week. 

I had a list of excuses not to be healthy so that I could happily indulge in everything that I am not allowed to have. My list consisted of:

1. I'm still recovering.

2. I will establish a routine with the baby and then I will start a diet.

3. It's selfish to focus on me, concentrate on the baby and pass me the chocolate.

4. It's March, there is no point in starting a diet when Easter is at the end of the month. I need to train my stomach with small doses of daily chocolate to prepare for the mother-load on Easter morning.

5. Cream eggs.

6. It's the 1st of April, I'm going to start. Hold on, the 1st of April is a Friday - nobody starts a diet on a Friday.

7. I've run out of excuses. Shit, I'm going to have to work out.

I am easing myself into the physical side of things because I am aware I have to be careful as you can really harm your pelvic floor if you go too hard or too heavy too soon. 

Diet will be tough for the first few days. No more sugar, only home cooked meals, cutting down on carbohydrates and lots of fruit and vegetables.

Day 2: Can't walk.

Wish me luck!

Bye Bye Baby Bump

After baby arrives, it can take a few days, even a few weeks to settle in to your new way of mom life. When Harley was around three weeks old and we had established ourselves in to some sort of a routine, it finally hit me that my bump was gone. Although I haven't shifted the inevitable baby pouch just yet (she is eight weeks old at the moment and let's face it, it was Easter last week), it suddenly hit me that I no longer had my giant watermelon baby bump.

It's a strange feeling. You're so in love with your new arrival, and so happy hat they are here and healthy, but I can't help but miss her little kicks inside of me.

By now I'm happily getting a hold of things and everything has gently clicked in to place. I am starting to know her hungry cries from her sad cries, her happy smiles from her 'I just pooped and it's all up my back' smiles and I have finally mastered the art of doing the household jobs with one hand. Just a heads up, babies have impeccable timing. Harley has a super power of knowing exactly when to wake up just as my dinner is ready. I suppose cold dinners aren't such a bad thing as long as she is happy. 

It's all a learning curve and we are learning together every day. We'll get there one day. After all, nobody is perfect.