Cheerful and Grateful

I haven't take part in this meme for a good few weeks *slaps hand* but I think it's about time I took stock. I am currently sitting here with a really bad throat and ear infection which really has brought me to my knees. I hate feeling ill. I try to ignore the early signs and power through until it just gets too much and I have to go to bed Well I went to bed and couldn't sleep so I thought I might as well be blogging! Anyway bed rest is not so easy to do with a 9 month old boy and I have just started back singing with the band. However, I refuse to feel sorry for myself and I am going to dig deep for my reasons of cheerful and gratefulness.

I'm grateful for and cheerful about . . .

1.Letting Go

We have stopped breastfeeding :( This was a huge decision for me as I wasn't ready to give it up yet. For the past few months JC has been showing signs of disinterest in the boob as he hates lying back to be fed. He is dead nosey and likes to see what's going on when he is drinking his milk. I felt that keeping him on the breast was more for my benefit and inability to let go. I was sad for a good week after his last feed but I now realise that he is so much happier being able to drink his milk from a bottle or a cup. It was such a natural progression for him and I should be grateful for that. It was a beautiful bonding time for us which I will treasure forever.


2. Relaxation

Although April has been a busy month there was time last week for some relaxation with my friend Jemma who treated me to a lovely spa day. Like most mums, I am more than happy to give up my 'me' time for my gorgeous little bundle but when an opportunity to be treated comes along it makes me extremely cheerful!







3. A listening Ear

I had my first counselling session for PND this week and it went really well. I went in with the opinion that I was 'better' and that I wouldn't need this. I basically gave the poor woman a run down of my life and more importantly the past 9 months in about 15 minutes. When I got to the end I had a wee bubble. I think it was a relief just to get it all out and look at it as something that is now past. I think I have established that on a day to day basis I'm fine and I wear my mummy mask with pride. However when JC has an off day and the Grumpinator returns, I have flashbacks to that dark time for me when he has 1 - 4 months old and I am terrified of going through that again. I certainly felt lighter after talking to the lady who is to work with me for the next 6 weeks so here's hoping that the progress continues.

For more cheerfulness check out Michelle's blog and see below



For more gratefulness check out Maxabella's blog

April - Phew!

The theme in the Gallery this week is April. We had a pretty busy time of it this April hence the blog silence recently so here are some of my favourite snaps from the past month  . . .

My Birthday - I spent the day with family as my hubby was away to the Gadget Show in Birmingham. My Mum and Step Dad made me this delicious cake! If you look closely, the pink flower at the bottom is missing a petal. An eyewitness claimed to see JC eat but there was insufficient evidence to bring charges!

JC's first holiday - Brno, Czech Republic to visit my Dad. We spent lots of time chilling in the sunny garden and visiting the park. The weather was beautiful and JC was very well behaved. The Grumpinator did come come at night a few times but was kept at bay on the plane which was my main worry!

I love this picture of my two boys. 

JC's first visit to Brno Zoo. He loved the tigers and bears. 

Alana's Hen Weekend - My good friend Alana is getting married in a few weeks. I had a lovely time at her Hen weekend. The Friday night was a twilight themed night full of games and 'organised fun'. The Saturday was a Hawaiian theme with cocktails in the garden, hot tub fun and out for a lovely Italian meal at night.  

My lovely friend Jemma took me out for a spa day at The Scotsman hotel in Edinburgh as a birthday treat. My had a relaxing morning in the jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and pool. Finished off the morning with a manicure and some bubbly.







After the spa morning we went to Hotel Du Vin for a fabulous afternoon tea. The cakes were delicious and the whole spread was so filling that we had to take home a doggy bag as we couldn't finish it!

What a wonderfully busy and exciting April! 

Check out more entries here . . .

A Well Deserved Break

I took a blogging break last week and I think it has done me some good. I was getting a bit stuck in a rut and choosing to stay in and blog (during JC's naps) rather than getting myself ready to go out when he woke up. So last week I was really busy and was out and about all week. I have to say I feel much better and more eager to get out and about this week too. Here is a run down of what I got up to last week for those of you who have missed me . . .

Monday
Was pretty relaxed and we mostly got our housework done in the morning (JC was a great help)

Then we went for a walk in the afternoon with the beasts.






Tuesday

Without fail, the busiest day of the week! We got the train through to Edinburgh in the morning as I had an appointment with the CrossReach PND clinic in Haymarket. I am going to be doing some fundraising for them in the near future so watch this space. JC spent some time in their crèche, which was a first for him but he absolutely loved it!  Then we got the train back to Larbert and we met up with our local Netmums group for the first time. The girls were all really nice and friendly and I am looking forward to our next catch up. Then we went through to Linlithgow for JC's swimming lesson. The great thing was that he was an angel all day!

Wednesday

We went down to Fife to visit my Mother in law (JC's Gran) and JC's great Gran was there too. We had a lovely day and John was in a fab mood.








Thursday 

courtesy of photos by Carolyn

We went into Stirling today to do some shopping and just a mooch around the shops. At night I went back to my band rehearsals for the first time since stopping to have wee JC. A few minutes after I walked in I was told that the band is disbanding after the New Year and that we will be going our separate ways. This was pretty upsetting as it more of a hobby for me than a second job. I won't be stopping though. Never fear though because Fee and I have plans in place for 2012 so watch this space!

Friday 


I don't go back to work until August and I am hoping to go back part time but I am already starting to explore my childcare options. I have had my name down for a nursery from August last year but there is a 18 month waiting list so I went to visit a local childminder. She seems really nice and I felt quite confident that we would be happy leaving JC in her care. So Scuba Steve and I are going back together for a second visit next week.

Saturday

World Book Night!!! I was chosen to be a World Book Night giver and I spent the afternoon holding an afternoon tea, cakes and book swapping event at my house. The book that I was chosen to give out was Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. It is a wonderful and beautifully written book about the the civil war in Nigeria from the personal perspective of three different characters. I read this book when I was stuck in Czech Republic last year during the 'volcanic ash chaos'. It really is a gripping and thought provoking read. Thanks to my Step Dad Big Gallot for his donation of brownies!



Sunday

Very drunk here, BJC (Before JC)

I left JC in the very capable care of my husband and I went to Ravelstone House Hotel in Musselburgh with my good friend Jemma. We had afternoon tea with very tasty cakes and a good catch up. We haven't really had a good catch up since JC was born as it's pretty difficult to have adult conversation when he is in the room, he is far too cute to ignore! It was a lovely day.




I am exhausted after such an action packed week but I think the break was positive for me and I think I have a better perspective on things now. It's good to be back though ;)

Cx