Making Hay While the Sun Shines

On Saturday a lack of desire to “get things done” i.e. housework, errands, gym sessions and the years first truly amazing weather led to a snap 7am decision to take J to a really amazing park about 45 mins drive from us. Philip was sent off to the gym to get his work out while J and I made our picnic lunch (actually I made our picnic lunch while J ate us out of house and home) and made a quick trip on foot into town to buy a sun hat as all of J’s were too small (found on clearance for 50p bargain, then forgotten at home, yes J can blame me if she gets skin cancer) and a fresh bottle of sun cream for this summer.

The car was pack up and we set off, J napped in the back while we took the scenic route (not on purpose) and she woke about five minutes before we arrived. The weather was amazing and this park truly is spectacular it has a small amusement park, a splash park, two huge play areas with equipment to appeal to many ages, two massive sand boxes and it backs right up on to a lovely walking path along the estuary up to town.

After a picnic lunch ( I still get a kick out of seeing Jocelynne sitting at picnic tables it just doesn’t seem like she should be old enough) J dug to her hearts content in one of the sand pits. Who knew a sand pit, bucket, and spade could provide such long term entertainment?



Once the excitement of the sand pit wore off we made out way along the estuary to the ice cream stalls and J was treated to her first experience of a Flake 99 (soft serve ice cream) considering it was her first attempt the mess was minimal.



By this point we had worn J out enough she went in the push chair with out too much trouble and Philip and I were allowed to have a wander around the town which much to our delight had a number of “mom and pop” shops as well and independently owned fish mongers, green grocers, and butchers. It was lovely to see heirloom varieties of cauliflower in the green grocer as well as fresh local mushrooms and blood oranges. A quick latte later the sun was getting lower in the sky and the breeze cooler and we headed home all nicely warmed by the sun and a lovely afternoon together. I look forward to taking J back to Maldon this summer when the splash park has opened I think she is at the perfect age to really appreciate it this summer and goodness knows I am never opposed to an ice cream or two!

I once was lost

I have been gone for a while, a long while. Life took over. Everything seemed to hit at once. J turned one, I went back to work part time, my non mobile baby became a mobile toddler no longer content to sit on a blanket and play with the toys around her. J’s two naps dropped to one. She still didn’t sleep more than 4-6 hours with out waking. I put my foot down and refused to nurse during the night, we both survived, just. J decided that she was going to “sleep through the night” read only wake 1-2 times and go right back to sleep after being offered some water. We finally got a bed time routine down that worked for everyone. I decided to wean J, she didn’t really care after the first morning. J had her first trip to A&E for a dislocated elbow that we have no idea how it happened. She was happily singing and playing with Philip and I and then she wouldn’t use her arm or hand. We decided to put our flat on the market. J had a second trip to the A&E for doing a 2 ½ pike with head dismount down the stairs, I was right there but couldn’t grab her when she fell, I almost lost my lunch I was so scared, upset, worried. She was fine and wanted to run around like nothing had happened before the paramedics could get here. A trip to the hospital and some material on what to watch out for and less than two hours later we were back at home. In between it all many trips to the park, sea side, soft play, story time and song time at our local children’s center.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that I lost myself for a while, not to worry I am slowly finding myself again. Each day if not better than the last is not worse and we are slowly find our rhythm again.

Time Goes On

This poor blog has been neglected and I am not sure it will get better to come. As with everything else the day seems to be over before half of what I want or need to do gets done. It is not to say that our days are not rich and full.

Jocelynne continues to grow and each milestone seems to happen faster than the last. Creeping around furniture quickly turned into tentative steps and now she toddles as if walking has been something she has done all her life.

First shoes were purchased and quickly out grown. Chattering seems to be turning into recognizable words here and there.

Eating and feeding herself goes well and I am glad every day that we chose to do Baby Led Weaning.

Teething continues on an almost daily basis and only a few remain to come through but they seem to be taking their time and causing both Jocelynne and all those around her as much grief as possible.

Jocelynne's ingenuity never ceased to amaze me and her lack of fear and self preservation give me fear EVER SINGLE DAY.

Some of her favorite things are to help me empty the washing machine, we have a front loader and she has figured out how to open the door and pull the laundry out or if the drum is empty leave me presents to find when I go to add the next load. She also loves to hand me clothes to hang on the rack to dry. When all the items to be hung are on the rack she very much enjoys pulling stuff off and handing them to me so I can hang them again.

Philip continues to love his job and we are so happy he has a job that allows him to be home with us every weekend. Almost unheard of in his trade.

I have passed my Weight Watchers training and have taken my first meeting and right now this tends to drain much of my free time. Just before I started training I reached my goal weight of 140lbs and am trying to learn how to maintain at that weight.

I also joined a gym which has nursery I can use while I work out allowing me to work out during the week while Philip is at work. I have really enjoyed the gym and love pushing myself and seeing the progress I am making. It still excites me when I think that last year I would be lucky to do 10 "girly" push ups and can now do 15 "real" push ups and am starting to push myself by doing them on the Power Plate or balanced on a fit ball.

Life moves quickly but is never dull and at the moment I just try to savour each moment even if I can't share it on the blog in the way I hope to.

Practice Makes Perfect

With Madame's cousins visiting this weekend we thought it would be a good time to grab some cupcakes and head down to Grandma Kay's house so they could help Jocelynne celebrate her birthday a little early. As Jocelynne had her first go with a cupcake it made me laugh that she was not overly impressed.

Getting some pointers from Mummy



" Really I'm suppose to like this"




Think the grass might taste better

Really I am not impressed

Maybe it will taste better if I put my foot in it

No definitely no better after putting my foot in it

Let me give it another go

Hmmm this might just be edible

Always important to coordinate your cloth diaper with your food

As one door closes

I have been lucky enough to have a years maternity leave from my job, it is something that is available to all new mothers here in England and I am truly grateful. I know that many women in the US don't have the option to be stay at home moms for financial reasons and most must return to work about 12 weeks after their child is born. I know personally I wouldn't have been ready, I would have been a nervous wreck. While I have not been earning my full salary while on maternity leave I did receive 90% for the first six weeks followed by £125 a week up until 9 months and the last three months are unpaid. It has been amazing to spend the first year with Madame as we are both finding our feet in the new world we belong to.





My maternity leave ends a month from today and after a lot of discussion and looking into child care options I have decided that returning to my role in London is not the best option for our family. Due to my commute and the long hours that Philip works as a chef Madame would spend 12 hours a day five days a week in child care of some sort and I would only bring home a few hundred pounds a month after train fares and child care. Not only am I not thrilled by the prospect of Madame spending 60 hours a week in child care but the monetary benefits don't seem to justify it.





In some ways it was a very easy decision to make as I knew I didn't want Madame in child care that long but in another sense I loved my job and loved being part of the working masses. It also kind of feels like the last door closing on my Pre-Madame life.





While I won't be returning to my role in London not working at all would leave our finances stretch just too tight and leave absolutely no money for any fun things like holidays, and activities for Madame. What started out as a weight loss journey with Weight Watchers has opened the door to me becoming a Leader in the Weight Watchers organization. A couple of months ago as I was getting closer to my healthy BMI and also struggling to make decisions about returning to work or taking a part time job closer to home I made enquiries into becoming a leader. I truly believe in the Weight Watchers program and have been so lucky to have an amazing leader who has helped me so much over the last 9 1/2 months and I thought it would be amazing to have the chance to help other reach their weight loss goals. I have now made it through the interview process and start the training to become a leader in a few weeks. I am so thankful that while I am leaving one job that I really loved that I am able to start another that I feel really passionate about.





I am nervous about learning to juggle motherhood and work at the same time but Weight Watches offers me a position that can grow and evolve as I am ready. For the moment once I finish training I will only take on 1-2 meetings a week but as both I and my manager feel ready for me to take on more and if it works with my role as a mother I can look into taking on more meetings. It exciting to think that as Madame grows and starts things like nursery and school that I have the option of taking on more hours.





Closing the door on my Pre-Madame work life does not seem so hard when there is such an exciting door for Post-Madame work life to open.

Colchester Zoo

As Madame is growing I am getting excited to start having family days out with her that are more based on things she will enjoy than just having her tag along with Philip and I on our adventures. The Friday before late May Bank Holiday we got our first experience with this when we took Madame to Colchester Zoo. I have to admit that I knew she was probably too young to really appreciate it but was not wrong when I expected her to just enjoy a change of scenery and a day of being dotted on by Mum and Dad.

I did learn a really important lesson, in a move uncharacteristic of me I forgot to pack either of our slings and arriving at the zoo realized that Madame's push chair was too low to see into many of the enclosures so we spent a lot of time getting in and out of the pushchair. In the future I will definitely remember to at least throw the ring sling in with our stuff.

Madame loved the African exhibit where most of the animals were in large enclosures roaming around. I think as most of these animals were also larger and in more open areas it was easier for her to see them. I think we will probably wait a year or so before doing it again but we all had a great time!

BBQs, Bonnets, Bluebells and Much Much More

After two four day bank holiday weekends in a row we are a little hung over on fun and excitement here. It seems like we have been going non stop for almost two weeks and while it has been fun it will be nice to get back to normality. I also feel that I have been failing to document Madame and how quickly she is changing and growing and the new tricks she learns almost daily.

The Wednesday before Easter saw a trip with Auntie Pauline to Hyde Hall gardens which have some stunning gardens and views of the area around it.

Madame decided to wear her outfit that Auntie Jeanette got her which says I love my Auntie. Different Auntie but as Auntie Jeanette lives far away in America we thought Auntie Pauline would enjoy it. (Thank you Auntie Jeanette she looks way too cute in it)


Good Friday Madame had her first swimming experience and she loved it so much we have been back twice already and have plans for many more trips.
That evening we attended a BBQ at Auntie Pauline’s and Uncle Richards. Jocelynne had a great time playing with all the fun toys Auntie Pauline had for her and the yummy food Auntie Pauline had made just for her. Thanks Uncle Richard for getting such great photos of Madame!

Saturday I made my first of what I think will be many Easter Bonnets over the years to come. Tooting my own horn I think it turned out lovely.

Easter Sunday I decided to indulge Madame with a few small pieces of Easter chocolate from Grandma Kay against my better judgment and Madame repaid my kindness by being sick all over her Easter dress. Luckily there was a cute back up dress.

As we came out of church service the Salvation Army marching band was marching in front of our church on the way to theirs just down the road Madame had a lovely time waving to them as they passed by.

Grandma Kay joined us for Easter lunch and Madame enjoyed having someone else to terrorize um I mean entertain her. Monday while Daddy attended the annual motor bike show on the seafront I wore Madame out with another trip to the pool and then we joined Daddy for lunch at Bobby Jo’s American style diner.

After a few days of boring day to day we got back to it again Friday with a Royal Wedding and a Royal Wedding themed first birthday party for Madame’s friend Amelia. Madame had a fittingly patriotic outfit.

Amelia’s mum did an amazing job with the food and cakes to match the theme.


Daddy also braved porriage with Madame for breakfast while Mummy got to sleep in. Even after the best attempts to clean her up with a wash cloth we just gave in a threw her in the bath before we headed off for the birthday party.

Saturday we attended a belated Easter party thrown by the great Baby Sensory leader Jenny Sexton, Madame and I love attending her weekly sessions and I think Daddy had a good time being able to join in the fun with Madame.


Yesterday after church Madame enjoyed her first walk in the woods with Grandma Kay as we went out to see the bluebells, unfortunately Mummy forgot to take any pictures.

Today we had another trip to the swimming pool and then a quiet afternoon. Daddy goes back to work tomorrow and I know we are going to miss him, especially at dinner and bath time by that point of the day Mummy is worn out and has appreciated all the help that Daddy has been around to give.

We do have the bank holiday at the end of the May to look forward to and Daddy has taken the Friday before and the Tuesday after off. We are already planning lots of fun activities hopefully to include a first trip to Colchester Zoo for Madame.