The Eccentric American Mama in Cumbria

I'm not usually crazy about pregnant belly photos but what the hell this is the last time I'm going to be pregnant :) How far along?   22 weeks and 6 days Total weight gain/loss?   14 pounds Maternity clothes?   Yes, tried to wear my skinny cords this week and even though they fit my legs I had to use a hair elastic over the button to keep them up. As soon as I got home they were flung aside in favour of my very unattractive but super comfy maternity leggings. Stretch Marks?   Not yet, hoping I manage to fend them off this time as well. Sleep?   Pretty rubbish. I've been up most nights this week from about 2-5am because that's when baby girl decides it's time to party. Last night I managed to sleep through her dance moves but was wide awake at 5, hence the obvious decision to squeeze in a barre workout, I know I'm nuts! Best Moment this Week?   My nappy brain is really horrendous at the moment, I can't even remember wh...

It was my father in law's birthday on Sunday which started me down a path of thoughts about the 10 years I knew him. The last couple years of his life I saw him quite a bit since we moved to England and I decided to work for him at Stead McAlpin. One thing that always stood out in my mind was that he truly believed he was the luckiest man alive. There were moments when my self-centred, I want to be in California why did we move, mind couldn't comprehend what he meant but now I see it with great clarity. Perhaps it was his death, and all the moments leading up to it, that brought me to this peaceful place I now call my happy life. I'm not here to say how perfect everyday of my life is, because we all have our less than magical moments, but through his illness I noticed myself changing a little bit everyday, I learned to slow down, embrace ordinary moments, put my phone away or even better leave it at home, and most importantly to let go.  To let go of rude remarks, peo...

Apologies for the blur and sleepy eyes, had to snag Josh before he ran off to work so took the photo with my phone. How far along?   21 weeks and 2 days Total weight gain/loss?   13 pounds, yikes!!! I only gained 8 at this stage with Cyril and was 10 pounds lighter, hmmmm I guess I'm growing another giant, unless it's the daily fudge intake I had when my mom was here ;) Maternity clothes?   Yes, if they aren't maternity they don't fit. OK these leggings from lululemon aren't technically maternity but they are high-waisted and made out of cotton and quite possibly the most comfortable pants I own, too bad there's a massive hole on the inner thigh. Stretch Marks?   Not yet at least I don't think, I haven't actually examined my belly yet, chalk it down to this mama ain't got time to search for a silly pink mark with a clingy toddler in tow. Sleep?   Fabulous, still doing the night time zombie walk to the bathroom but if I keep my eyes clos...

Last night I was reading Cyril one of his Thomas the Tank Engine stories. Well in actual fact the stories are so long we were reading the pictures together. I turned the page and the train had gone off the tracks and had crashed into a snowbank. All of a sudden Cyril burst into tears and kept saying "Happened?! Happened?!" He was absolutely beside himself with emotion until I said, let's turn the page and see if they can fix it. He repeated "Fix it", I turned the page and said, "There, they fixed it, all better." He whimpered "All bedder" and the tears finally stopped. Both me and my mom were in tears, partly over how cute he was and partly because we both cry whenever anyone else is crying. It looks like we'll have another sensitive family member to add to the list.

Gaga arrived nearly a week ago providing some much needed help with Cyril and in the kitchen. Despite the less than stellar weather we've been rather busy. Our first stop was a lovely lunch at Rheghed while Cyril was at nursery followed by Afternoon Tea on Friday with Josh. We spent Saturday in Lytham with Josh's family, bought a changing table for Cyril and the baby as I'm now finding it too difficult to change him on the floor with the ever expanding waistline. Sunday was spent taking a stroll on the Solway Firth with a visit to our new favourite pub the Drover's Rest. Unfortunately, my mom got Josh's illness and we were unable to make it to Middlesborough to see my Aunt and Uncle. However, I went to pregnancy yoga last night and it was just what I needed after a day ferrying Cyril back and forth to swimming and the grocery store. Hopefully if everyone is feeling better today we will be going to the Wool Clip and for a coffee at the Watermill Cafe. We'...