Mothers and Daughters and Badly Dressed Babies

I have just had my Mum over for a Chinese as both my hubby and hers are working away. She was admiring the babes outfit of the day and I was reminded of my anal tendencies when it comes to clothing. I changed the babes tshirt three times this morning because I wasn’t happy with the neckline on some of her bigger tops. Her vest cannot be showing! (It’s borderline OCD). I thought I would share one of my least fashionable baby outfits today just to amuse. I promised to post about her christening outfit but this was a disaster in itself, based on my refusal to buy a pretty little girl party dress, lesson learned there…

The above pink explosion is a baby North Face track suit purchased in Whistler in Jan. The hubby is a massive fan of all things North Face and we felt she had to get in on the act. Fashionable it isn’t but cosy, comfy and perfic for crawling it very much is!

On more sensible subjects I was Godmother to my best friend from schools little girl on Sunday. Aside from the babe’s less than appropriate outfit we had a really nice day and I got to see some old friends from school. It’s lovely to be with people who you have shared other stages of your life with and then see them with their kids too. Lovely.

After the god parenting duties were done I retreated to the kids room at the back of the church to keep the babe entertained for the rest of the service. She had been smiling and waving at me from her mid pew seat throughout the christening itself. I think at the grand old age of one she lacked the realisation that this event was not all about her…bless.

What I wanted to blog about was a funny little conversation I had with my mate’s Mum in the kids room at the back. Before I mention it I think it’s important to say that I have been involved with their family for 15 years including going on hols together and am really close to her Mum and Dad. Her Mum was asking after the babe and my plans for baby no 2 when she slipped into the conversation that she didn’t think her daughter had “taken to” motherhood in the way that I had. Compliment to me certainly but a bit of a stab in the back for her own daughter perhaps?

I know I’m lucky to have a great relationship with my mum and I know not everyone does. I have seen enough of this particular relationship first hand to know that the two of them haven’t always got along. But still, it felt a bit disloyal even if I wasn’t surprised by it. Having said that I did wonder whether my mate herself would be far from annoyed and might just agree with he Mum. Not everyone feels the same way and it’s different strokes for different folks. Doesn’t make it right or wrong. Food for thought maybe.

Going with my gut – babies and houses

I blogged earlier in the week about some of the things that have been going through my mind when considering baby no 2. I’m pretty sure I’ve decided to go for it but it’s not been as calculated a decision as I imagined.

When I had the babe I had an instinctive response to being a mum which appears to have served me well. An overwhelming feeling allowed me to go forward confidently. I can’t say exactly what the feeling is but it’s with me still. I know having number 2 when no 1 is only one will be tough but it feels like the right thing to do. Fortunately the hubby agrees!

So that brings us to the more practical problem of moving house. Reading what I’ve already written its making me chuckle cause the hubby and I have a not dissimilar approach to houses that we do with babies. We go with our gut. We bought our current house without looking at much else and it’s suited us down to the ground for the last 7 years. We are on the brink of doing the same thing again, but I’m confident. (This is partly because I was an estate agent in a former life and like to think I know my stuff but there is more to it than that).

In reality we’ve probably spent the last twelve months thinking and talking about what our next home might look like. We’ve dismissed upping our mortgage by any major amount. We’ve tried to convert our loft here and established we can’t. We’ve understood that we really want a bigger kitchen and a study, and that the garden needs to be sunny. Not an unusual list I’m sure but it’s clearer in our minds now. And that seems a good way to go forward for our family.

Tomorrow I promise to blog on christening outfits for me and the babe, it’s just been a big week aside from fashionable concerns…

Moving between babies

Sometimes things are just meant to be. I am off work this week really because the child minder is away but I’m really glad I am. The babe is teething in epic fashion. It’s fair to say that she is a good baby, eats well, sleeps well and is generally smiley. Not so this week. She started with the teeth v early at 5 months and she’s had 7 or 8 for a few months now. A quick peek in her mouth this week and I can see 5 more coming through all at once! No wonder she’s grumpy.

With the babe being under the weather she has been sleeping more and likes to cuddle up on me in the morning something she hasn’t done for months. It’s been lovely and has made me think what it would be like for the potential baby number two. I can’t help thinking that I wouldn’t have the hours to devote sitting while he or she slept. I know it’s always different for a second baby and they wouldn’t know any different but it’s all food for thought. I do think the babe would like it though, she shows more and more interest in smaller babies. Bless.

The second baby thinking has led me and the hubby to talk about moving house. We love our current home and are seriously sentimental individuals. It is our first home together, I was married from it and we brought the babe back here from the hospital so it will be hard to leave. But the reality is that we are at least one bedroom short and would benefit from a much bigger kitchen. This house was bought when we were a professional couple who hadn’t thought about kids. How things change…

So, I think we should move before we think about getting pregnant again. Just need to detach the hubby from the house. Easier said than done me thinks.

Back to baby fashions tomorrow. My best mate’s little girl is getting christened on sunday and I need to think outfits!