Daybooking* in the month of January

Wow, I haven't Daybooked for ages! Is it really January 2011? Am I no longer waking twice-nightly to feed an infant? Am I really getting out and about some evenings?

Outside my window: I don't know; the curtains are closed. I'm trying not to face the day yet. I took part in a concert last night, then chatted to my husband, then had a broken few hours sleep with a teething baby and a wakeful 6 year old. Hence trying to immerse myself online and be in denial about the world outside my window!

Thoughts: That my whole body, to my eyes, feels absolutely hurt by tiredness, and that going to receive the Eucharist today may restore me spiritually, but I am not looking forward to shepherding the girls through everything at Church, which always drains me physically. I am already snappish and a little sad, and in desperate need of grace.

Thanksgiving: For music, its therapeutic powers, its bringing people together, and just the amazing sounds it makes that can reduce me to tears!

Kitchen goings-on: Not a great deal. Due to various delivery issues over the Christmas season, we cancelled the veg-box, and any cooking I'm doing is more related to the fact we have started baby Rebecca on solids. Last night was frozen pizza, and no one is cooking today either as we are off on an outing with the first picnic of 2011. I didn't get around to baking a cake for the concert last night, and I have promised my 6 year old a stem ginger cake but I don't know when it will materialise.

Reading: Thoroughly enjoying re-reading the Beezus and Ramona books with my 6 year old. I loved these when I was young. My Bible reading plan for the evening has gone to pot, but I am writing an assignment on the Sermon on the Mount, so reading some interesting New Testament study books in my 'spare' time.

Listening: The TV is telling the girls a story. I know that life will improve once I decide I have to throw myself into the day rather than sitting at the laptop, but I'm not ready to take that plunge just yet.

Wearing: Pyjamas and robe and big comfy slippers.

Around the house: Now I have two girls in school, and only the baby at home, I'm getting a bit more on top of the house, or the laundry, at least. It's only just ticking over though, really, but that just had to be good enough. Baby still naps in the kitchen in her buggy during the daytime, so the 2 hrs I have free at that point is rarely spent doing noisy kitchen jobs :-)

A Favourite Thing: Singing. Rehearsals for last night's concert only started at the beginning of January, but the fact that we were doing excerpts from Les Miserables did it for me. My friend played Schindler's List on her violin, another sang The Way You Look Tonight, and these were enough to get me emotional! So happy to be able to return to performing when the baby is so small. I love to sing!

*with thanks to Peggy.

Daybooking* in the month of AUGUST

OK, so I missed July. But, I was heavily pregnant, had finished my first year of assignments and the kids had finished school. Early August, I had the baby, and 2 weeks later, I feel a little more human (I said a little....)

Outside my window: Actually, it's getting Autumnal, which is mad, as I purchased quite a bit of newborn stuff for Rebecca envisaging that we were going to be in the middle of a summer heatwave this month. I love the view over the fields and woods at the back in the sunshine, and also the nip in the air, but its bittersweet - Dear Husband is returning to work next week, leaving me with the entertaining of 3 beautiful yet demanding girls (nearly 6, 4.5 and 0) and in less than 3 weeks the elder ones will return to school and pre-school....just as I am getting used to spending lovely time together as a family of five.

Thoughts: I don't think I am thinking as such - my mind is idling, between feeds and naptimes. I'm thinking of food a lot. Especially things I didn't have during pregnancy, like smelly, really stinky, nasty cheese. And not thinking at all about the food I craved like billy-o during pregnancy (I would not care if I never ate Mexican again. Go figure.)

Thanksgiving: For the safe arrival of Baby Rebecca Mary. For keeping me safe with my family. For the gift of life.

Kitchen goings-on: Hahahahaha. Ask my Husband. He's been washing, preparing food, cleaning surfaces, sterilising breast pump, nipple shields and breast shells ad infinitum. I have planned a weekly menu and ordered some food for delivery from the supermarket this afternoon. But I'm not cooking. Despite my mother's assumption I would be whipping up a blackberry and apple crumble (the blackberries my Dad picked from the garden went straight in the freezer.)

Reading: Facebook, Facebook, BBC News, Parenting Magazine, HIPP Babyclub website, Mothercare website - what do you know, I'm in a baby bubble.

Listening: CBeebies TV Channel. Girls lounging around on the sofa. Dustbins being moved around outside. More CBeebies. No 2 week old baby screaming for food - yet. She's napping.

Wearing: A lovely button-up red and white summer dress which is suitable for entertaining guests and quick breastfeeding (I mean quick opening, we don't do quick feeding in our house - minimum 45 minutes, up to 1.5 hours, each session.)


Around the house: I'm doing as little as possible. Girls are getting their sheets changed, we're going to try and do some vacuuming today. The day before labour, I was sticking up wallpaper borders and painting gaps in the kitchen wall white. I'm super glad we got the new sink, but strangely enough, household things aren't annoying me this month!


A Favourite Thing: The family. Girls. They're being great. From the biggest to the littlest. All troopers. And Husband has been a hero, from supporting me through labour to putting up with my sleep deprived rattiness.

*With thanks to Peggy.

Nearly the End of April

Inspired by Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook


Outside my window: A beautiful day. My favourite thing at the moment is walking the kids to school in the sunshine, past the blossomy trees. It makes me want to give so much thanks for the world around us!

Thoughts: Food, at the moment. It's great I'm able to satisfy my chilli-tastic cravings at the moment, and calm the heartburn with medication. But, considering I'm not getting that much exercise, I'm trying NOT to shove too much unhealthy food down me.

Thanksgiving: For getting through the small things. For repaired relationships with people. For the support and love of others.

Kitchen goings-on: Anything spicy, as previously mentioned! Stirred Tabasco & chopped jalapenos into my father in law's chilli con carne just to get a kick :-) Brilliantly, rhubarb and strawberries are in season here - I hope to get Imogen (my nearly-4 year old) to help me make a crumble this afternoon, after we've prepped the pizza toppings for tonight's dinner.

Reading: Not much. Well, a fair bit actually, on the doctrine of the death of Christ, but it's hard work and my essay is still not done. I've missed my Bible, and 2 Corinthians really spoke to me today. I've got the last Twilight tome to plough through, but not until I've finished my essay!

Listening: To father in law and husband as they bring patio stones a friend has kindly given us, into the back yard/garden.

Wearing: My maternity jeans. Finally! (Only staying up with the aid of my Promedics pelvic belt, mind you.) (Mine's not as big as the one in the photo, and I am so thankful I have it, however dreadful it looks.) I seem to be almost attractive in the jeans. And the baby bump looks huge in them!

Around the house: Unbelievably, we now have the loft insulated, boarded, lit and accessible so that, when we have any spare time whatsoever this side of August, we can store things there. The sink units are here, and just need setting up next week when the plumber comes. We have a reading & feeding chair for the 'nursery' (where the 2 girls sleep, and baby will too eventually). All this sorted in a matter of weeks. Yay!

A Favourite Thing: Need I say? Jalapenos. On tortilla chips with melted cheese and soured cream and salsa and guacamole. On pizza. On toast....