Hackney does have so much to offer families, but it's always good to get away....and come back. So on one of those gorgeous, hot summer days that we've been having, we pack ourselves and the kitchen sink into the car and head to Kew Gardens where we are meeting friends who have a baby, 4 weeks younger than Baby LJ.
An hour later than planned (which has become the accepted norm for us now) we arrive and once inside Kew we find some shade under the trees and if feels like an oasis of calm. We spread the blankets and picnic and the babies lay and gurgle and sometimes cry, but it hardly matters. Nappy changing alongside, snack eggs and work discussions mingle with talk of feeding, routines and growth spurts!
Kew is a wonderful place to hang out with babies, it feels like a huge safe haven, with plenty of space and shade. As we sit chatting on the terrace of one of the eateries, cups of tea and babies in hand, an elderly woman, wizened, with silver hair, approaches our table. Through her accent, (which sounds scandinavian), it takes me a moment to work out that she is pointing a long, bony, finger at Baby LJ's younger friend and saying "2 months", with an intense stare, she has guessed his age correctly. At first I feel protective of our little group with our precious bundles, but as she walks off I realise she meant anything but harm.
Husbands' depart to admire a photography exhibition and no more than 15 mins could have passed, when the silver haired lady re-appears, carrier bag in one hand. This time I feel happy to see her and I offer "this one is 3 months" holding baby LJ up so that she can see, she smiles, "It is very special" she says before looking both the babies over and hobbling off.
My friend and I both felt an aura around this elderly woman, as though she had a spirituality about her and in the car on the way home I mention to husband that, the she had returned, whilst they were viewing the exhibition...."what lady?" he asks.....
Monday, 5 July 2010
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
The Smile of A Stranger.
As Baby LJ and I sat contentedly in Clissold Park post feed, a Mum pushing a buggy approaches.
Now, I'm not one of those new Mums who feels that they have joined an exclusive club, but as I smile at the stranger with her baby, I feel a connection. We are both protecting the most precious thing in our lives and on this perfect sunny day in the park, we know that the outside world can hold dangers that we need to guard against. In that smile we have found some unity and the world doesn't feel such a scary place.
Now, I'm not one of those new Mums who feels that they have joined an exclusive club, but as I smile at the stranger with her baby, I feel a connection. We are both protecting the most precious thing in our lives and on this perfect sunny day in the park, we know that the outside world can hold dangers that we need to guard against. In that smile we have found some unity and the world doesn't feel such a scary place.
Let's Get Physical....
In a concerted effort to get out and about in and around N16, baby LJ and I ventured to post-natal pilates at Yoga Home.
It is a great class where the babies lie on mats next to their Mummies, as they attempt to re-gain pre-pregnancy bodies. It felt really good, to gently work muscles that haven't been worked in over a year.
Baby LJ looked bemused as the instructors voice grew louder over the chatter, squeals and cries that emit from a room full of babies. He occupied himself for probably half the class and then found himself staring up at me from beneath my down dog! During the pelvic floor exercises, I found the irony inescapable as a knowing smile crept across his face! "Yes you are right, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be doing these" I think to myself. Clench one, two, three and hold one, two three...release!
As we broke off from the exercises, for an urgent feed, I realised that in my hurry to make the class, I had forgotten the muslins and as breast milk sprayed onto Baby LJ's face, what seems funny at home, feels hideously embarrassing and stressful in public, next week we'll pick a spot in the back row....but we are going back!
It is a great class where the babies lie on mats next to their Mummies, as they attempt to re-gain pre-pregnancy bodies. It felt really good, to gently work muscles that haven't been worked in over a year.
Baby LJ looked bemused as the instructors voice grew louder over the chatter, squeals and cries that emit from a room full of babies. He occupied himself for probably half the class and then found himself staring up at me from beneath my down dog! During the pelvic floor exercises, I found the irony inescapable as a knowing smile crept across his face! "Yes you are right, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be doing these" I think to myself. Clench one, two, three and hold one, two three...release!
As we broke off from the exercises, for an urgent feed, I realised that in my hurry to make the class, I had forgotten the muslins and as breast milk sprayed onto Baby LJ's face, what seems funny at home, feels hideously embarrassing and stressful in public, next week we'll pick a spot in the back row....but we are going back!
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
9 and a half weeks - what a ride!
So as I come out of the wonderfully hazy, baby fog, baby LJ, now 9.5 weeks old, lies sleeping in his cot, sucking his thumb. We've been through it all, recovery from the "op", sleepless nights, tears...of joy and despair, feeding, doctors appointments, jabs, screaming fits (baby LJ and me), we've been sprayed with runny brown poo, in what's been affectionately named a poonami, first smiles, glorious, heartwarming, face filling smiles and mostly pure joy and overwhelming, unconditional, love.
Every day is a milestone of sorts, but not just for baby LJ for me too and I've got my new mummy L plates firmly in place still. (Incidentally, it didn't take long before we were scurrying to the shops for a "baby on board" sign, they didn't make sense 9.5 weeks ago, but all it took was one angry hoot from a van, as we pulled more calmly away from a set of traffic lights and we're joining the army of other road users who use signage to indicate their precious loads!)
Typical mid June weather yesterday, pouring with rain, I packed baby, carseat, buggy, rain cover into the car, when we got to the supermarket all I needed to do was unclip the buggy seat and slot baby in car seat in it's place.....no problem, the rain pelted down and try as i might, I twisted and turned, pulled and yanked, nothing was budging. If only the instructions that i managed to find before leaving the house, hadn't been in Dutch.
Baby LJ slept soundly, which is unusually. More often, he looks at me as though he is distinctly unsure of the mother that he has been landed with, bemused and mildly amused as I rush around trying to pre-empt his every whim and get to grips with our new life and all of it's challenges. I get husband on the phone who talks me through it 5 or 6 times, I can tell he is desperately trying to think of a more idiot proof way of explaining it.
Success! Next stop post office and Mothercare - where we end up breastfeeding in the carpark. That's enough for one day. I tell myself that if i've achieved one thing all day, then i'm doing well - yesterday there were several notable achievements, mainly centred around leaving the house and not physically pulling my hair out!
Now that we're up and running and as Stoke Newington has one of the highest birth rates in Britain or even Europe, we're about to discover what Hackney really has to offer us new mums and their babies, provided I can erect the buggy of course...hold on tight!
Every day is a milestone of sorts, but not just for baby LJ for me too and I've got my new mummy L plates firmly in place still. (Incidentally, it didn't take long before we were scurrying to the shops for a "baby on board" sign, they didn't make sense 9.5 weeks ago, but all it took was one angry hoot from a van, as we pulled more calmly away from a set of traffic lights and we're joining the army of other road users who use signage to indicate their precious loads!)
Typical mid June weather yesterday, pouring with rain, I packed baby, carseat, buggy, rain cover into the car, when we got to the supermarket all I needed to do was unclip the buggy seat and slot baby in car seat in it's place.....no problem, the rain pelted down and try as i might, I twisted and turned, pulled and yanked, nothing was budging. If only the instructions that i managed to find before leaving the house, hadn't been in Dutch.
Baby LJ slept soundly, which is unusually. More often, he looks at me as though he is distinctly unsure of the mother that he has been landed with, bemused and mildly amused as I rush around trying to pre-empt his every whim and get to grips with our new life and all of it's challenges. I get husband on the phone who talks me through it 5 or 6 times, I can tell he is desperately trying to think of a more idiot proof way of explaining it.
Success! Next stop post office and Mothercare - where we end up breastfeeding in the carpark. That's enough for one day. I tell myself that if i've achieved one thing all day, then i'm doing well - yesterday there were several notable achievements, mainly centred around leaving the house and not physically pulling my hair out!
Now that we're up and running and as Stoke Newington has one of the highest birth rates in Britain or even Europe, we're about to discover what Hackney really has to offer us new mums and their babies, provided I can erect the buggy of course...hold on tight!
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Week 32 - Is there any room in there?
At my wonderfully indulgent ante natal yoga class, everyone sits in a circle and shares their preoccupations of the week, thoughts fears, concerns, whilst massaging one foot after the other! As my moment approaches I always rack my brains, nothing has happened of significance that is worth sharing.
Inevitably when I do start to share, it becomes a list, indigestion, pins and needles in my fingertips = ineffectual hands (I’m surprised they are keeping in check long enough to type this!) and……reduced movement, which is making me concerned. Reduced movement, i assume it’s just because there is less room now that my baby is growing and look to the other mums to be for reassurance. The teacher asks if the movements are more subtle and I nod. Onto the next person, she seems to be concerned about the cost of the private maternity care that she has opted for and bemoans the cost of a cab fare from Islington to Hackney. Ah well, it's all relative!
Later that evening Husband and I, settle down to watch “One Born Every Minute”, set in a maternity ward, we’re treated to a snippet of what we might have instore in 8 weeks or so. It makes for strangely reassuring viewing and as we discuss the reduced movement, we decide a bag of mini caramel eggs will help stir things up a bit. There is still some room for those and our baby approves, responding with slow, sure and strong kicks. Even if rather squashed, he doesn’t seem to have to may concerns or preoccupations of his own yet.
Inevitably when I do start to share, it becomes a list, indigestion, pins and needles in my fingertips = ineffectual hands (I’m surprised they are keeping in check long enough to type this!) and……reduced movement, which is making me concerned. Reduced movement, i assume it’s just because there is less room now that my baby is growing and look to the other mums to be for reassurance. The teacher asks if the movements are more subtle and I nod. Onto the next person, she seems to be concerned about the cost of the private maternity care that she has opted for and bemoans the cost of a cab fare from Islington to Hackney. Ah well, it's all relative!
Later that evening Husband and I, settle down to watch “One Born Every Minute”, set in a maternity ward, we’re treated to a snippet of what we might have instore in 8 weeks or so. It makes for strangely reassuring viewing and as we discuss the reduced movement, we decide a bag of mini caramel eggs will help stir things up a bit. There is still some room for those and our baby approves, responding with slow, sure and strong kicks. Even if rather squashed, he doesn’t seem to have to may concerns or preoccupations of his own yet.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Week 30 - The Juxtaposition
The Juxtaposition.
Moving around is becoming increasingly difficult with a protruding bump,as lovely as it is. Everyday life takes on a new shade, as the most simple of things become that much more difficult, bending down, driving, walking and even sleeping! By the end of a long week at work it feels like I have climbed several mountains and the weekend is more welcome than ever before.
It’s Friday afternoon and the baby is moving constantly and feels at his biggest. He’s really making himself known and the exhaustion is overwhelming. The end of work is in sight – 6 weeks to go before maternity leave starts and I feel a shift in focus happening. I’ve always been someone who is terribly conscientious and focused, on work, however I’m finding that in the later stages of pregnancy my priorities are changing. As the baby kicks inside of me, my boss approaches and fires a few instructions my way, as it the norm. But today this feels wrong for me, I want to be protecting and nurturing this helpless baby inside of me, not obeying orders and asking “how high?” when someone says jump….I’m a Mum.
Moving around is becoming increasingly difficult with a protruding bump,as lovely as it is. Everyday life takes on a new shade, as the most simple of things become that much more difficult, bending down, driving, walking and even sleeping! By the end of a long week at work it feels like I have climbed several mountains and the weekend is more welcome than ever before.
It’s Friday afternoon and the baby is moving constantly and feels at his biggest. He’s really making himself known and the exhaustion is overwhelming. The end of work is in sight – 6 weeks to go before maternity leave starts and I feel a shift in focus happening. I’ve always been someone who is terribly conscientious and focused, on work, however I’m finding that in the later stages of pregnancy my priorities are changing. As the baby kicks inside of me, my boss approaches and fires a few instructions my way, as it the norm. But today this feels wrong for me, I want to be protecting and nurturing this helpless baby inside of me, not obeying orders and asking “how high?” when someone says jump….I’m a Mum.
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