NS June 22nd, 2008
I hadn’t done any gardening in a month — mainly due to being away at the weekends and/or rain — but today the sun finally came out and the temperature was adequate enough to spend a day outdoors. TNH took our munchkin out after her nap and I found myself kneeling on a blanket in the garden, my hands in lilac gardening gloves, pruning shears in my right hand and a large bag by my side for clippings. I made my way down each side, cutting, pulling, trimming and tending and after three and a half hours, it was finally back to some semblance of order and neatness. I really need to get out there more often, my poor back can’t take that kind of beating again. A hot bath helped a little but I think two paracetamol and an early night are what I need to feel normal again. It probably doesn’t help that I stayed up until 1.30am last night/this morning.
Last night I spent the evening with a very close friend in her new live-in boyfriend’s home. They moved in together a few months ago and I hadn’t seen it since it was still his bachelor pad. They’ve repainted, replaced furniture, added nice wall hangings and prints, even painted a canvas together (I could never imagine TNH doing this). They also excitedly told me about their renovation plans which involve knocking down walls to enlarge and redesign their kitchen, adding a third bedroom upstairs and redoing the bathroom. This will allow them to stay in the house for a good eight to ten years and have room for a young family. This house also happens to be in the London suburb I used to live in before we bought, an area I sorely miss. Every time I go back to visit a friend I feel pangs of nostalgia and wish we could’ve afforded to stay there. I have no attachment to the area we’re in now and it’s just not as nice as where we were before. It’s decent enough, I suppose, and it’s great that we’re on the property ladder, don’t get me wrong, but I couldn’t help but feel enormous envy as I looked around at their lovely things (none covered in peanut butter) in the lovely rooms (none strewn with toys) and at their carefree, child-free, social-butterfly lives. At the moment, nine months after moving into our home, we still don’t have proper curtains up, the wallpaper in the living room is ripped and dirty and we have only two prints hanging on the walls downstairs. Sigh. Must not let the green-eyed monster get to me.
On a lighter note, TNC has learned to climb out of her cot and so we’ve taken the side rail off and turned it into a makeshift toddler bed. I’m simultaneously pleased that she’s growing up enough to have made this step and nervous that this means I face new bedtime struggles as she gets up and wrecks her room or refuses to stay in her bed, or comes to my room in the middle of the night for a cuddle or to play. Fingers crossed that she adjusts well!
NS June 17th, 2008
I know that ‘things’ don’t equal happiness but there is something about receiving packages in the post that lifts my spirits and makes me appreciate how lucky I am. In the last couple weeks I have been sent chocolate (by my sis), money (by my parents), gorgeous flowers (by an anonymous friend), maternity clothes (by an expat acquaintance), a voucher for a haircut at a stylish salon (by my friend S) and a card (also from S). And my birthday isn’t even for another 12 days! I also received the birth beads today that I talked about earlier, ready for me to make a necklace with. They’re all very lovely and the sentiments attached to each made me smile.
After reading about the credit crunch, fathers murdering their children, more troops being killed in Afghanistan and a myriad of other disturbing news stories, it’s things like these that remind me of the good in people and how important it is that we still take the time out of our busy lives to reach out and let someone know we were thinking of them. I’ve obviously been in a few people’s thoughts recently and I can only hope that I’m able to pass on the good karma and do the same for others very soon.
Viva la care packages!
NS May 8th, 2008
I’m participating in a bead swap on a mothering forum I belong to, with other women due in the same month as I am. The idea is that we all send one bead to every person so that we can each make a necklace that will be worn while we’re in labor. Knowing that 27 other women will be wearing the bead I’ve chosen and I theirs while going through the miraculous, momentous experience of birth fills me with strength and joy. Women (even ones who have never met ‘in real life’, only on the internet) supporting each other is something we need more of and although I know many would roll their eyes and dismiss this sort of thing as extremely hippy-dippy, I think it’s lovely. When I’m at the end of my rope and wondering how I’ll ever survive another contraction, I will touch these beads and know that my experience, while special, is not unique. Feeling part of something much larger and more complex than I can ever comprehend (the perpetuation of humankind) humbles me and brings me a sense of both awe and peace.
So to all the ladies in my due date club, and any other expectant mothers out there:
NS April 15th, 2008
Two friends of ours, S and E, came to stay with us last weekend after landing at Heathrow on Friday morning. They were on their way back home to Scotland after four months spent traveling through Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina (yes, I hate them too) and decided to spend a couple days in London visiting with their friends in the capital and S’s brother. They had their 4 1/2-year-old and 8-month-old daughters with them and instantly our house was turned over to children, catching up and the cheerful noises of family. TNC and P, the older girl, were instantly joined at the hip and playing together throughout the house. TNC adored P and called out her name as soon as she woke up. Seeing her face light up with excitement at playing with another child — especially a bigger, older child — brought a big smile to my face and reassured me that she will enjoy having a sibling. And holding the baby, who was so gorgeously plump and cheerful, really made me broody. I kept snuggling her and kissing her sweet-smelling head and realised that I am so ready for another. Good thing too, huh, seeing as I’m four months pregnant.
By the end of the weekend I felt calm and ready to embrace life with two children. Seeing our only friends with more than one offspring up close and personal was just what I needed to make it all seem real. And we all got a good laugh when TNC kept calling S ‘Daddy’ whenever The Noble Husband wasn’t around. Luckily, P took quite a shine to TNH as well so for much of the weekend the girls spent time on each other’s father’s shoulders. The funniest bit, however, came when TNH went to the shops after our walk on Saturday and P, the four-year-old, insisted on going with him. He informed us upon their return that P had been very good in the shop and they had gotten everything they needed but he was hoping that the police wouldn’t show up at our door anytime soon. Baffled, we asked him to clarify. He said that as he and P were stopped in an aisle examining some food product or another, she suddenly turned to him and said “Who are you?” quite loudly. Luckily, no one seemed to have heard or he may have had some serious explaining to do to the Waitrose security guard.
