The Eccentric American Mama in Cumbria

I had never intended to share the following post, I started writing it the day after Cyril was born just as a way to get my emotions out about the birth because I've always found that when I keep things inside they always get worse, I suppose this was my way to vent privately, to share my sadness by not sharing it. So why am I sharing it now, nearly 5 months later, you might ask? Because my midwife asked me to do a testimonial for her doula website. I was thrilled to write her a testimonial when she asked, even though she was unable to birth my baby because I had a high risk pregnancy and was under obstetrics care.  However, she was there throughout the duration of my pregnancy and the weeks after Cyril was born and she was my saving grace.  I sat down, eager to write it, knowing the words would just spill out about how amazing she was. The trouble was, they didn't spill, in fact I felt like I had writer's block, or perhaps it was an emotional block on the subject. I ...

With Valentine's Day on the way, and my friends celebrating their first year as parents, I decided this would be a delicious treat to whip up as a way of saying thank you for being there for baby Soper and I this past year. I don't think we would have survived without your unconditional support, offers to babysit, free cups of tea and cake, and nonstop chatter.  I made this last week as an experiment and once I rubbed it into my hands I knew it was a winner. You're supposed to use it as a body scrub in the bath or shower but I have been using it as a lotion. My hands are horribly dry in the winter, having suffered many years with excema, and it's always a challenge for me to find a hand cream that works and doesn't have any harsh chemicals. This exceeds my expectations in both categories and is simple and inexpensive to make. Enjoy! The scrub uses coconut oil as the main ingredient. I use coconut oil on a daily basis as a moisturiser and I'...

Happy New Year's Eve!! I cannot believe we are saying goodbye to 2014 already. For the first year ever it actually brings a tear to my eye because I'm starting to realise that my father was right when he told me to embrace every moment because babies grow up way too quickly. I've had some of my highest highs and lowest lows trying to navigate this weird, wonderful, and difficult thing called motherhood. Thankfully Cyril, Josh and I have figured it out, barely, and we're now able to enjoy it a bit more, well most of the time that is :) I thought it would be fun to look back on this eventful first year of Cyril's life with some of my favourite photos, in no particular order :) Fresh out of the womb, Cyril at 2 weeks. My little lamb, 2 weeks. Autumn family photos, 7 months and rocking the carhart's! Watching the ducks, 7 months. Loving piggy back rides! Meeting his cousin Anisha, 3 months old Hanging out with his best friends, ...