Lumps and Bumps

I saw this article this morning and I wanted to share. I think these women are awesome and the more I read the article and look at the photos, I just admire them. If someone approached me to stand with my kids in my underwear and photograph us I would actually do it. If the right opportunity came up. Don’t worry this blog post does not contain any photos of me in my underwear!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3118998/Imperfections-beautiful-Mothers-proudly-bare-postpartum-bodies-pose-kids-photo-series-urges-women-embrace-flaws.html

I’m sure most of us who are mothers to living and angel babies, have our issues with our bodies. I know I do. Since returning to work at the end of April I have had lots of lovely comments from work colleagues and a few friends on commenting of how good I look. Sure I feel good, the clothes I want to wear fit me, I’m pretty lucky but I constantly worry that someone is going to ask me when my next baby is due!

I am not a fan of my belly, there I said it. I’m sure some of you who are reading this and see me on a regular basis are thinking what the hell?! There is nothing wrong with her belly! And if you are thinking this, thank you! And I love you! Depending how I’m feeling on a particular day I get really self conscious about my belly and I prefer to wear tops that I feel don’t ‘cling’ to the belly area. I’m not one to commit to a gym memebership and if I’m honest I’m pretty lazy when it comes to exercise. I try to get to yoga once a week but this doesn’t always happen. I like to get out for walks but I definitely don’t do any work on my abdominal area. I sometimes think it’s my fault my post baby belly is the way it is, but perhaps it’s just my shape. I saw this great quote by Jennifer Garner which I thought summed up how I feel and how some of you might feel. Of course the children’s names are different.

I think this quote is great, and I will have to remember it if anyone does ever comment on my belly.

A woman’s post baby body is beautiful, it tells a story. After all we all have a story to tell regarding our pregnancy or pregnancies, our labours and births. They are all different. I know I am truly blessed to have the children I have and I do try to tell myself this when I’m looking in the mirror.

  

Things I should do more.

I saw this article pop up on Facebook news feed the other day, via The Sleep Store New Zealand. It was titled 4 Steps to Shake a Bad Mood. I was intrigued. I’m sure most people can relate to having a bad mood, bad day or bad week and anything that might help shift that bad mood is most welcomed. The full article can be found on Psychologytoday.com

• Go Outside- Well this seems pretty straight forward to me, I have to go outside to hang out the washing, get in the car, feed the guinea pig……                                                                                                                         The article discusses taking a 5 minute walk a round the block, taking deep breathes of fresh air, whatever the weather. This seems pretty easy to me, but often not achievable. I find if I’m leaving the house it is usually to get in the car to go somewhere. I probably should are more use of my street and the area which we live. Geez, I sound pretty lazy don’t I? I don’t think I am. When I’m having one of those (bad) days getting out, even for 5 minutes is hard work, surely I’m not the only one who thinks this? When I do get out I definitely do feel better and I’m glad I did it, but it is hard to remember that feeling when you are just wanting to hide away from the world.

• Listen to uplifting music- I do try this one, but of course it doesn’t always happen. Especially when I put the music channel on at home, I usually hear “I want my programmes on Mummy”, damn it! I want to listen to my music. The car is definitely the place where I do listen to my music, only very occasionally when I’m desperate I put child themed songs on. I like to listen to recent bands but also songs that take me back to my ‘indie/rock club days’.

• Make a gratitude list- I actually don’t do this but I probably should do from time to time. The article suggests to, make a list of 10 things you are grateful for right now, list events that have brought you joy and list the people who support you. I’m a list person, I write a list for most things and even have a notebook where I keep all my lists. (Including ideas for blog posts). The list probably won’t even take Thame long and I think it should be relatively easy to do when you have a serious case of cabin fever.

• Call a Friend- This was the last step, and this was something I used to find really easy to do, back in my teen years before mobile phones. I didn’t have my first mobile until I was 18! Haha. Anyway, I used to talk on the phone for hours at a time in my teen years, much to my parents annoyance at times. I now use my mobile to text, private message on Facebook or email a friend to keep in touch. I think they are all great forms of communication. You can let someone know straight away you are thinking of them or tell them something you know they will appreciate, and even include a photo or a happy face. The article stated that although Facebook and texts are easy and convenient, they lack human connection. I agree with this, but I think you can put thought into a message and still give it a personal touch. Plus the advantages is if someone is busy, they can reply to your message when they are ready.

Do you have anything that do when you are in a bad mood, having a bad day or week that you would like to share? I’d love to hear from you.

Turning 34………

The day is almost here, May 25th is my birthday!!! 34, geez I’m getting old. I guess since I will be 34 I must be in my mid 30’s?! That freaks me out more than actually turning a year older. Perhaps I’ll just tell people I’m in my early to mid 30’s, haha. I popped to the supermarket a couple of evenings ago and I got asked for ID. Yes! I must look younger than 25. I remember when I was younger, I used to get offended if I was asked for ID but the other night, I was actually happy to hand over my drivers license.

I have had so much positive response towards my blog, thanks everyone. I really wasn’t expecting it, so thank you for taking the time to read it.

I thought I would share a few things about me, some of you may already feel you ‘know’ me but I’m sure there will be at least one thing of the list that you didn’t know. Since I’ll be 34 in a couple of days, I’ll share 34 things about me,

1) I was born in Bolton, but grew up in Bournemouth

2) My favourite animal is a Pig

3) I have 3 tattoos

4) My man crush is Ryan Phillipee

 

5) My girl crush is Jennifer Lawrence

 

6) I have had my heart broken

7) One of my favourite songs is ‘Pure Shores’ by All Saints

8) I love to watch trash TV, Teen Mom OG is my current fave

9) I love the Back to the Future trilogy, the second one is my fave.

10) I HATE frogs

11) I’m currently taking antidepressants

12) I snore (so the husband tells me) I blame the antidepressants!

13) I don’t like olives

14) I love mushrooms

15) I’m afraid of heights

16) I would love to visit New York

17) My favourite band is Muse

18) One of my pet hates is when strangers stand too close to me in a queue

19) I have to close curtains in a certain way

20) I can’t stand black liquorice 

21) In my opinion the best TV show ever was Friends 

 

(I definitely do this!)

22) I enjoy reading

23) I’m not a strong swimmer

24) I passed my driving test when I was 21, on my third attempt

25) I have skydived

26) I cry every time I watch Forrest Gump

 

27) I’m not a Star Wars fan

28) I have never cooked a roast dinner on my own

29) I get the hiccups when I eat anything too spicy

30) When I left school I almost starting training to be a nursery nurse

31) I love yoga

32) I have had professional counselling, and continue to still see a counsellor 

33) I want to be a palliative care nurse

34) I’m contemplating a 4th tattoo…….

Now I have finished this list I can suddenly think of more things I could add to it. Originally when I thought of writing 34 things about myself I thought I wouldn’t manage it, but I did. It was actually fun.