Forever in my heart but not in my home

I thought these were the ones.

Until they went up to £350.

(Heartbreaks)

Boobies...

Breasts, tits, baps, fun bags, cans, puppies, gazongas, jugs, whatever you want to call them they still only have one purpose, and I'm sorry boys, it has nothing to do with sex. 

(well, except the aftermath) 

If I asked you to picture breasts, what would you think of? Some hot young thing? A page three stunner? Perhaps one of those overly erotic dance videos? What ever it is I doubt it has anything to do with their function. 

Babies! 

They are for babies (well, duh!). Like the udders of all other animals they were placed upon us to feed our young. Just how did it all go so wrong?

For millennia the breast knew its purpose and was respected for it. If you walk into most churches you will be greeted by the sight of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus at her breast. A beautiful, sweet and most natural thing. How has it got so twisted?

Less than a month having giving birth I had my first challenger to breastfeeding. For some reason many women seem to find it an insult to their own choices and feel it's their right to criticise and comment. I know that I am very lucky to be able to breastfeed, not everyone is. Some people choose not to. Many people have many different reasons for this. It is a personal decision. 

But, whether you choose to breastfeed or not the evidence is now insurmountable. 

Breast is best. 

But that still doesn't give me the right to tut, stare or make derogatory comments. So how is it that, in doing the best thing, the scientifically proven best thing for my baby I am on the receiving end? I would not dream of thrusting my views and opinions upon others and it frustrates and angers me when others do so. Being a parent is hard enough, beguiling enough and terrifying enough without having your choices questioned and challenged at every turn. 

My breasts are not for sex. My breasts are not for staring at. 

But do you know what? I don't care if you do stare. Balls to all the comments, the looks, the tuts. I know I am doing the right thing. 

I love breastfeeding. I am proud to breastfeed. And I plan to carry on until my daughter is ready to stop.

(so there!)

Moving out

We are trying to move Bean into her cot. It is now over 5 months and I haven't spent a night without her by my side, but our bed is just too small for three. For just over a month poor, sweet hubble has been relegated to the sofa bed on an almost nightly basis and, although he sleeps like a log there, we need to be side by side too. So the gradual easing out has begun. I hate it.

I had never planned to bed share, we had bought a bed nest which attached to our bed and I thought that would be enough. But as it turned out the only place she slept well was wrapped in my arms and for many months we were blissfully happy. But then her endless need to fart and to flail whilst doing so began; my blissful slumber was getting less and less blissful. So now the time has come. So far the longest we have made it was to 3am before she returns to my arms and hubble to the sofa. I can't sleep without her. I lay awake waiting for her cry and to bring her back to my side. I have considered buying a single mattress to add to ours to make one big family bed. We both sleep so much better side by side. I think hubble thinks I'm mad, but that short distance between the cot and the bed feels like a chasm to me. I don't know what to do.

I know society says she should be in her own bed (and room and house and blah) but my instincts tell me she's not ready to be ejected from the family bed quite yet. Does anyone else bed share? Can anyone offer me any advice? Please help.

An Impromptu House Tour

 


Today we were invited to a BBQ at the wonderful Mark and Emma's house which was so incredible I just had to share it. Emma has the most amazing collection of odds and ends I have ever seen, I could spend hours on end perusing it (and there would still be more to see!) . It is without a doubt one of the most lovely little homes I have ever seen that my quick snapshots can not do justice. Here is a wee snippet for you.

 

Some flowers

Hubble brought me home some beautiful flowers I thought I would share.

Some shots from the Seaside

A few pictures from our weekend in Hastings with the in-laws. Despite the gloomy predictions the weather really held up for us, unfortunately having packed for showers I ended up spending most of the time in my pyjama leggings to stop me roasting like a spring leg of lamb. Most of our time was spent perusing the abundance of second hand and antique shops, we also found the best car boot sale I've been to in years and came home loaded with goodies. Fab.

How did you spend the bank holiday weekend? Was it sunny where you are?

It's been a long time...

I am attempting to make a return. For the first time in many a day my darling little flower is taking a nap not in my arms, ah bliss. As much as I love her squishy little face breathing softly beneath me the joy of being able to straighten my shoulders and move freely is immense.

Despite not yet being three months old poor little Iris is lost in the woes of teething. Not being a fan of Calpol we've been struggling. Bonjela only works periodically and unfortunately the amber teething necklace doesn't seem to be doing a thing. Now we will be trying a hazelwood teething necklace and some homeopathy. Hubble is as always very sceptical, but I'm willing to give anything a go.

The weather here has been beautiful and we escaped back to the greenery of Bath for the first time since Bean arrived. It was bliss. What did you do to enjoy the sunshine? We're off to Hasting so hoping for some more sun. Enjoy the bank holiday.

x