Hot off the press!

Man grows tail!

Yes, you heard it here first: PD has a tail!

The way he tells it is that when Isobel walked in on him in the shower she said:

Daddy! Daddy has a big tail.

Yes, he is adament she said 'big tail'.



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Fickle

So, as a single mum I often find myself bemoaning my lack of freedom.

But, here I am just returning from a barbeque out Brixton way and I find myself sitting on the bed in little girl's room missing her.

I know PD needs to have her more often and I know I'd like to go out more, so it should be a win win but, it isn't.

Little girl wasn't happy to find me gone, and while it was great to be with peeps who seem to like me for me, I've come home and I am deafened by the lack of my daughter breathing. I miss her; her cot seems very empty.

But I suspect when she demands to come home in the early hours of the morning, I will wish for 'just ten more minutes'.

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Forget the other animals part two

You really can't call my family set-up conventional.

I have two half brothers - making far more than a whole one I must say; I have a very lovely half-sister who is more than enough of a sister for me and a step sister.

I have a step-mother and a step-father.

I have a Daddy and a distant father daughter relationship that we are working on.

And I have a Mummy, and I have had one of those tricky mother daughter relationships that has got less tricky as life goes on, and lets face it where my life goes my mummy kind of goes too.

What am I trying to say here?

Simply that while it may not be your nuclear family, it has a whole lot of love.

No you can't have one!

(yes it is two different babies)




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Hanging out and over

No, I'm not talking about my waistband.

I had a great afternoon with Isobel's nursery crowd and associated parents, I think we could have all sat there until sun down but at 7 we all had to turn into the sandman for the sake of our two year olds. I think I must have drunk more than I thought I had...

I mean it could be that at 4am I was picking charming lumps of vomit from my daughter's hair, so maybe I was just tired...

but today I craved....

....

diet coke.

Is there something you only want when you have over indulged?

Halfway down the stair

It has to be said I'm all over the show at the moment.

In the course of today I have been grateful for the life I live; smiled at myself as I strolled along a sunny southbank to work; been pleased with the colour of my hair yet dissappointed that it's getting 'sparklier'. Happy with all the little things that make me smile.

I have been pleased with myself for my business venture that seems to be gathering pace; excited about new work opportunities that may come my way.

I'm excited about the nursery crew barbie I'm hosting tomorrow.

I've even congratulated myself on this great life and on my beautiful daughter.

But, and it's a big BUT, I have been gripped with fear and anxiety too. Not all of it rational.

I've even moaned about being stuck at home, nearly alone on a Friday night.

Right at this point in time I feel a little tearful.

I guess that's what they call a balanced life.


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Forget the other animals this post is about my family

You know how cool it is to be surrounded by wonderful people who make you feel cool too?

I do.

I feel that way at all my family gatherings when I am surrounded by my cousins. Be it a happy or a sad occasion I love their company.

Last year my cousin Verity married the charming Owen and that very happy social occasion breathed life back into me.

Grandad passed away, and we drank far too much, slept in bunk beds and generally came together as a family.

Most recently my brother Ross and his lovely Mando married;they even took the brave step if having a two year old as a flower girl (luckily their other two flower girls were perfectly behaved) and the family danced again, as it seems only our family can. (My school friend was the Registrar - how grown up does that make me?)

Is it just that cousins is one of those relationships that demands nothing but means so much?

I can only hope that everyone feels this secure in their extended family as I do.

Spot the mum who knows her sofa covers fit in the washing machine

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Our favourite kind of weekend

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Is it really hip to be square?

I have heard some wonderful toddler road rage stories, stories containing words that I am not sure I should type. The best story I have ever heard came from my boss, but I won't put it down here. If you meet me ask me, it really is the best story ever.

I do remember thinking to myself when I was pregnant that perhaps my use of the F word, which while not exactly profligate, was regular, would have to be curtailed.

But instead of being proud of the fact that my daughter doesn't swear I must admit to being disappointed that I have no tale to tell.

When we are stuck in traffic my little girl says 'scuse me car'. She say 'oops' when she drops things; giggles when she farts and says excuse me when she burps. She watches the 'television' not the telly.

She is a nice girl.

And her mother is obviously a square non-potty mouth.

The Gallery - men

This weeks photographic challenge in Sticky Fingers Gallery is Men.

For good or bad the main man in mine and little girl's lives is PD.

We are not together in the traditional sence of the word. Let's face it sometimes we are SO not together.

But, mostly we all love each other dearly.

I can't imagine what it will be like when we have to share him, but let's face it, it won't be as hard as when he has to share US.






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Skip to the loo my darling

This is my entry for the song title carnival. Given that the highlight of my day has been that my daughter has had a completely dry knicker day.

So, while I'm not qualified to give advice I can tell you what we did.

We waited. We waited until isobel was ready. Yes, she has been sitting on the loo for ages, but she has used it more as a library than a recepticle.

Last week things changed: Every night following her bedtime milk, we brushed teeth, sat on the loo and hey presto it happened! EVERY night.

This is why I decided to get on with it Two (very loooong) days at home to get it going. First wee on potty and she decided potty wasn't for her.

Nursery kind of helped and didn't; by Thursday they popped her in a nappy, while telling me pull ups were just the same.

We've used 'big girls knickers' and by that I don't mean Bridget Jones pants. Pull ups just for rare risky situations, but she still asks to go to the loo when wearing pull ups.

And in the last couple of days we have added a star chart to the mix. It's by the toilet so she can apply the stars in-situ.

So we are on day seven and I'm hoping the worst is done; I say worst but it really hasn't been too bad.

No, I haven't kept my daughter locked in the loo. We have been to the park, the cafe and the supermarket; poor little girl has been dragged to the loo in each of these places, well not the park.

(Confession: I hate public loos, it's only in the last few years that I have dared venture in them. Something tells me I will be visiting them a more frequently from now on. OMG imagine taking little girl into a portaloo at festival time, especially as she doesn't like it if someone has left 'messages' in the loo. Where did I put the nappies?)





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Sponsored post - Beauty I try to be, 21 I am most definitely not

I am a mascara hussy, I really am.  It is the only piece of make-up I could not possibly live without; I would resort to coal dust if I had to.

So, I was quite excited when, my package arrived from Beauty21 containing 'sexy curves' mascara.  I have many, many curves of my own and to balance these curves with lashes is always my mission.  Loved the mascara but you see I am a weeper so I have to waterproof all the way, but that was ok I just layered on another favourite on top.

Not so sure about the orangy lipgloss though - but Isobel loves it.

Anywhere you can mix all you favourite brands is good for me - I mean who hasn't spent hours in Boots!  So in my package I had Rimmel and Elizabeth Arden Bronzer plus brush - looks good in compact but I haven't braved it yet, but I am sure I will!

Seven days, seven things

I was tagged for a Meme by Muddling Along Mummy but it is one I have done before plus I really don't think there are seven things you don't know about me!

So I thought I'd tell you 7 things I have done in the last seven days simply because I actually HAVE seven things to tell you.

1. This time last week I had been drinking champagne for two hours and was to find myself stumbling out of a bar at 2am, feeling very proud of myself for partying, flirting and laughing.

2. I had my first MacDonalds in recent history - I'd forgotten how good a cheese burger can be!

3. On Wednesday I taught Kriss Akabusi a short meditation.

4. I have lost 4lbs on the Dukan Diet - I can now get into my dress for a wedding in a few weeks (no not mine)

5. I have started a counselling course and have a feeling my tutor (it's online) is actually the brother of an ex boyfriend and I don't think he ever liked me, especially after I broke his brother's heart. But that was a long-time ago I'm sure he won't grade me accordingly will he?

6. I have potty trained my daughter - well made a blooming good start.

7. Started looking for my vocation

It has been a fantastic seven days, thanks to many many people in my life.  This award (maybe without the blogger bit) is for you.

A lonely only

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Doomed

Yes, it’s a hung parliament and the country is going to hell in a boat but we have no idea what colours the sails are yet.  Yes, I am glued to the bbc as I type this (luckily I have two monitors at work; no this doesn’t make me important) but I flipped to the Guardian and my heart has sunk.

 

In Life and Style I have been educated about the phrase ‘lonely only’; I have heard how depressing it can be to look out the window and see your child playing on their own.

 

So, I am now adding to my basic mother guilt, not only the guilt of being a single parent family, but the guilt that my daughter will, undoubtedly, be an only child.

 

What does this conjure up to you?

 

Lonely;

Spoilt…

 

Loved!!!

 

 

 

Solitary

So Friday I arrived at nursery to find my daughter howling and screaming lying on the floor having inflicted a non-fatal-but-red-mark-making blow to her best friend. All over a singing Christmas Tree.

Great.

But, Saturday morning we met up with the same best friend for coffee and you have never seen two little girls play so well: Isobel shared her Albert and her sunglasses, while I guiltily confessed that it was indeed my child who had caused the red mark that was by now barely visible.

Sunday while I drank away a hangover we had more friends for lunch and, for the most part, Isobel shared beautifully with little 'vieve. Ok, there was a tussle over a Ben and Holly mobile phone, but generally all was good and it was great to hangout.







Elif popped in and again you could see the love between Isobel and her BFF. They have their own private jokes, silly jigs and songs - they really are real little people. It's hard to imagine them fighting.







After such a social weekend - including real-life partying to the wee hours on my part (I am a real person - yay for me) - today's solitary confinement has been fun but bloomin long.

So with all this good behaviour why are we in solitary confinement?

We are Potty training

It had to be you

It is with a heavy and anxious heart that I write this post.

It may be hard for you to believe but that beautiful little girl of mine, the little girl who, quite literally, is my someone to bless me whenever I sneeze; the little girl who will sing herself to sleep and to school; the little girl who says 'lovu' down the telephone and always says 'alllright mummy' whenever I drop something (which is often) is ....

in danger of becoming a brat.

There I said it.

At nursery she has taken to smacking children who come near. Well that may be an exasperation, but her jealousy seems to know no bounds.

Now I know that jealousy stems from insecurity, but what I don't know is what to do about it?

Please don't get me wrong, she can be kind and there are days at nursery where she spends the day wiping noses and kissing upset children better.

But, these days are outnumbered by those where she is demanding, hardwork and out of control.

I love my daughter, PD loves his daughter, most people love her. But how long will that last?

Lady of letters

For the last few months Isobel has been learning her letters.

I was going to say that this has happened by accident, but I realise that when you buy your baby foam letters for her bath AND a wooden alphabet
puzzle, not to mention magnetic letters, that the must be some intent, even if just subconciously.

Anyway, you'd think I'd be proud of myself for teaching my daughter that 'G' is for giraffe, grandma and grandpa.

But no: even when isobel is happily pointing out 'M' for mummy, I chastise myself because I taught her the capitals not with lowercase.

Bloomin mother guilt strikes again!




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Packing my satchel

Yes, you read correctly: I am packing my satchel. I am very proud of my bright yellow satchel and now I am going to school!

Yay for me!

It's only a two day train the trainer course, but hopefully it's a new begining. With doubt over my current contract it was a fabulous excuse for reinvention.

Let's face it is a break from norm and requires a step out of my bubble, but the only thing I seem to be anxious about is arriving on time and a taxi will fix that.

I am genuinely excited; I have planned my outfit and everything.

But, slightly gutted I didn't use this to buy stationery. Thankfully PD and Little girl but me new notebook at Christmas and now I can use it. That and my muji highlighted pencils mean I am sorted.

I am that easily pleased. I just hope I don't make a mess of the first page.







-- Post From My iPhone