Bethany's Baby Babblings

My return to work is fast looming (is 'fast looming' even a thing? Have I worked that right? Idk whatever) sooooooo this blog will probably become a weekly occurance until I'm back in the swing of it (so that'll be never ha) Anyway. So as I've said before, I've started my perinatal therapy and my counsellor is an absolute gem. My aim after my first session (well second but the my first session was more of a getting to know you kinda thiiiiing) is to practice grounding. Grounding is detaching from my overwhelming emotional pain so I can gain control over my feelings and have a sense of control. There's loads of different ways to "ground" and my task for the next two weeks is to see which ones work for me and to practice them several times a day. I have also been instructed to stop metaphorically beating myself up, calling myself daft/silly/stupid and apologising for my feelings. That is a 25 year habit that'll be tough to crack. Anyway, ...

I was this close to giving up on this blog due to my mental health taking a massive hit, but I shall persevere. With the blog and life in general. So squidge is 10 months old. Double figures. And still alive. Go me. Here we are dressed as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum for a charity wheelchair push for Emma's Mito Mission (to raise money for Mitochondrial Disease which is what my sister died of - still collecting sponsors here  if you're feeling generous) (we'll ignore the fact that madam had a tantrum before so didn't actually do the five miles. Mum and Dad 0, Monkey 1) Highlights of her tenth month; • she can say mum!!!!!!!!!!!! but only when she's absolutely sobbing her eyes out. Which I know is nice but it also absolutely heart breaking. She'll be able to play me like a fiddle now she can say mum. She saves her dada's for happy singing times • the top two teeth has cut through. FINALLY. Maybe, just maybe, she'll sleep better now (haha we w...

An old panto buddy is off to join the army so me, monkey and auntie rachel joined him for lunch. We went to a lovely Greek place in our local town. I was a bit nervous taking wiggles because I'm used to taking her to more casual dining places but I needn't have worried - they were so accommodating and welcoming of us both! The waiters absolutely doted on her and she was loving all the attention. I love that she's a confident socialable baby who's willing to share her smile with anyone and everyone. Here she is stuffing her face with pitta bread. She actually managed to shove the whole strip into her mouth (don't worry she realised that it was over ambitious of her to do so and promptly took it out - classy girl) My confidence is taking dribble chops places is really improving. Don't get me wrong, I still get anxious mentally but I don't get the increased heart rate and whatnot anymore. It also helps that my sprog is quite chill and contented. An...

Look who's learnt to pull wine bottles of her grandma's wine rack! Although I am disappointed with her choice, August is not the time for mulled wine lass.

How is that even comfy lass? She's a cough drop. edit: my mum sent me this photo of me from when I was a sprog. I see what she gets it from now.

I just love my little monkey so much. She's just pure joy. Even when she's being a little shit and generally being a baby (babies can be well annoying. I know they can't help it but it's true) After my sister Emma died I was so numb and couldn't ever see myself enjoying life like I used to. Which made me feel guilty because I know that Emma would want me to be happy and live my best life. However when wiggles came along she taught me (and my family) that you can experience the utmost happiness along side the sadness. She reminded us that life is good. I still have my PND (and still on the waiting list for therapy *sigh*) but experiencing the world a new with my ray of sunshine is helping fix my broken heart. I think IKEA sums it up pretty well (haha hear me out) with their slogan - the wonderful everyday. Dribble chops remind me that there is happiness and excitement in normal everyday stuff, which helps balance out missing Emma, feeling low and the PND. For...

3/4 of a year old. Bonkers. Is it too early to start planning her birthday party? I'm known for getting excited about birthdays far earlier than necessary. But why not, let's celebrate life! Here she is at Eureka, before she (accidentally) pushed over a little boy twice her size and made him cry. I was half embarrassed and half impressed with her hulk like strength. Highlights of our ninth month; • surviving norovirus • making a new friend (my lovely colleague and her sprog joined us at Eureka. She's so dinky and cute and smiley) • attending our second baby rave which was at my work and then getting to show off monkey to my colleagues • learning how to whisper. it's kinda creepy, kinda cute. it's like she's plotting our demise. I shall monitor the situation

I haven't really got the content for a coherent themed post. So here's a list of stuff • she can say dada! it's so unbelievably cute and amazing. she just needs to learn to just say it to her dad. because she just says to everything and everyone. which makes me look like a reet tart • when she's tired she does this really giddy excited breathing and it results in a snort. it is bloody hilarious, little piggy 🐷 • she blagged herself some free toast at a nursery visit. My baby is a hustler 😎 • monkey can wave. only she does it on her own terms and not when you want her to say ey up or ta-ra (hello and goodbye respectively in yorkshire) and here is a photo of her looking like a nutter.

Monkey had her first go on a swing this week! The one at my local park is really big for a baby swing so I daren't let her actually swing. Because if I did she definitely would have face planted into the basket thing. Which is funny hypothetically but not in reality. We were joined by Auntie Rachel and Auntie Kaleigh's little lass (Auntie Kaleigh had to work, booooooo) It was a lovely day. Look at her face 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 Look at her big toes. They stick out at odd angles. Her dad's toes do exactly the same. I didn't know you could inherit toe habits 😂

I've put teeeeeef as my title because I have a slight speech impediment. I can't say my "ths" (which makes having the name beTHany a reet bloody laugh 😒😂) But yeah, monkey has two little teeth, here she is proudly showing them off. I have to pull a kissy face with big eyes to get a smile from her. She's loving life because she's just had some carrot puffs. The little buggers stain EVERYTHING. not even vanish (well whatever Lidl calls their vanish) (this blog should be sponsored by Lidl haha) shifts it. Luckily it came off her face bit only after using wet wipes, a special top to toe wipe and a bath. I wonder if there's some magic way to remove orange baby food stains? Suggestions welcome.

Monkey is back to her normal happy little self after five days of having a bubbly tummy (and that's putting it very politely haha) See even her crazy smile is back. Highlights of our eight month: • making it to Bradford and back on the bus two days in a row and living to tell the tale • the cutting of tooth number two • crawling has been mastered and monkey zips about like she's frigging usian bolt • squidge has started to screw up her face and flap her arms whenever she gets excited AND I AM LIVING FOR IT • I went to go see steps with my bestie (not baby related at all but I needed to share that with you all, it was fecking amazing! It was cheesy and camp and fabulous and glittery!)

We're experiencing our first illness. We are feeling very sorry for ourselves. I am so used to a joyful, giddy, smiley baby. It's breaking my heart to see such sadness in her eyes. Monkey really doesn't know what to do with herself. We're surviving on sips of water, YouTube videos of Elmo and lots of naps.

Me and my panto mother (who also has been a guest blogger -  see here ) took our sprogs to a baby rave AND IT WAS BLOODY ACE. And free. You know me, love mysen a bargain. There was pretty lights, flower garlands, pom poms, dancing, routines, bubbles, a parachute and foam!!!!! We were all knackered at the end of the session. Monkey had to have a breather, sit down and hit the sippy cup. And then she conked out for two hours. Note to self: have a baby rave if wiggles is resisting sleep! It was ran by  Boomchikkaboom  as part of Bradford Literature Festival and I will be definitely keeping an eye out for any other events they do.

I've lost track of what I've already told you about so sorry if I end up repeating owt (owt = anything to you non-yorkshire folk) SHES FINALLY CUT A CHUFFING TOOTH! after months of dribbling and chomping and random mood swings the fecker has finally cut. one down, a gazillion to go. SHE'S IN HER OWN ROOM! and the little snotbag (who I obviously love to bits) sleeps better in there than she ever did in our bloody room. she even sleeps through the night about 40% of the time. SHE CAN STAND HERSELF UP (WITH SUPPORT!) which is great, yay milestones! but it means that i spend all my day as a human climbing frame. and it makes bedtime more difficult as she can stand up in her cot but can't get back down again. I HAVEN'T LEARNT TO NOT WEAR BLACK PANTS monkey has wiped porridge, melted frozen banana lolly and carrot puff mush all over them. soz about my feet. and the mess. actually not the mess, I won't apologise for that cos that's just life.

Too. Hot. To. Blog. Heatwaves are all well and good, but oh lordy it is difficult to get a baby to sleep in this heat. Especially one as sweaty as mine. But she's cute as heck so i forgive her

Bit of background - I started tap dancing in April 2014 at my local community centre. My mate Rachel (of Auntie Rachel fame) came with me. We were soon christened the "Baby Tappers" because we were the only ones under 30 odd who were also proper shit. We do yearly tapathons for charity. It's bloody brilliant. So after nine months leave, I returned. Here are my babblings; • I was really scared about my lady parts falling out with all the jigging about we do (luckily it stayed up where it belongs) • I severely overestimated the strength of my pelvic floor. If I hadn't have weed before I definitely would have fully pissed myself. • There's a plant growing through the roof. We have lovingly named her Ivy • It was the most exercise I've done since my sprog was conceived • The ladies complimented me on my figure (obviously not important but still nice!) • I bloody missed it. Dancing makes me so happy. I don't care that I look like an electrocuted sp...

These two are utterly and completely besotted with each other. Definitely a daddy's girl. Look how cute they were in their matching outfits on father's day. He's such a good dad. I could babble on for years about all the reasons why. But I won't because it'll make me cry. And I also can't be arsed. The three of us all may have very different personalities but there are some strong family traits we all possess. The main one being that we all have the ability to share ridiculous anecdotes that involve food ending up anywhere but our mouths. Examples below; Dale: He found a grain of rice in his belly button. He hadn't had rice that day. Me: I went about my day with a baked bean in my hair. My friend had to point it out to me because I was oblivious. Squidge: She sneezed and kiwi seeds flew out of her nose. She ate the kiwi several days prior. We are a family of weirdos and I love it.

Firstly a confession. I didn't realise she was seven months old until my auntie asked how old monkey was and I replied with "oh nearly seven months" and dale was like "no, she's actually seven months. today" ....whoops Highlights of our seventh month • we attended our first wedding! Squidge got all dressed up (see above) and saw all the Bealies (my Nana had 11 kids so there's bloody millions of us haha! ...I genuinely have no idea how she dealt with 11 kids. I have one and I need soooo much help with her 🙈) • wiggles is obsessed with trying to stand up. she doesnt let the fact that she can't stand up phase her. We should all have the ambition and determination of a baby! • she has mastered the SOOOOO BIIIIIIG trick. to the extent that she'll just do it at random times so you have to drop all conversation and say SOOOOO BIIIIIIG to her. Or she'll just sit there with her hands in the air. • we introduced finger food. she takes that to...

Yesterday was our weekly big shop. Me and dale are recent Lidl converts. We are all about the middle aisles. We're there for the mystery, excitement and bargains. So obviously I was buzzing when they had a crap-tonne (sorry still on the crap-tonne hype ha) of baby books! Head, shoulders, knees and toes is monkey's favourite song so I actually squealed when I saw this. 😂 (I need to get out more clearly) (GET OUT MORE TO LIDL COS ITS THE TITS) We also bought all the boring food stuff as I needed to stock up of squidge's meals for the week. Meal prepping as the cool kids call it. I wouldn't know because I am very uncool (and happy about it, far less effort) Today I made; • avocado, tomato and yoghurt (to pop in my transportable squeezey pouches for meals out and about) • broccoli, courgette, onion and cheese mush (I had a pot myself and it wasn't half bad!) • courgette slices and circles (to roast for finger food) • I got bored so didn't do ow...

My blog title now has me singing bloody ABBA. Not that it's a bad thing. Love a bit of ABBA. YOOOOUUU CAN DAAAAANCE, YOOOUU CAN JIIIIIIIVE! Absolute banger. Enough of the babbling. As you may know, I am reet Yorkshire. One of the traits of being a proper Yorkshire lass is loving a bargain (aka being a tight arse with yer money ha) Sooooo you can imagine my excitement when i hit up the local mum2mum baby sale this weekend. The name "mum2mum" annoys me because it's not just mum's that are involved in raising a child - there's dad, friends, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc. But that's probably not going to be a catchy business name so I get it. Sorry, another babble. I got all this for £7! 9 items for £7! That's less than 80p per item! The Minnie Mouse outfit (I bloody love Disney) brand new is £15! So I'm £8 up already. And I can't be arsed to find out how much the other stuff cost but let's say I've saved a crap-tonne. ...