The Eccentric American Mama in Cumbria

1. If I told him I would rather he suck on my nipple then suck on a silicone teat there would be no arguement, he would 100% prefer the real teat to the fake one and if my breasts needed a rest from aggressive eating he'd happily come back when I'd recovered. 2. If I handed him a blue cup rather than an orange one he would not scream at the top of his lungs at me and fall to the ground sobbing because I hadn't realised his colour preference. As long as the cup had beer I'd be worshipped. 3. If he woke up at night hungry and I said, not tonight honey I need my sleep he'd be totally fine with that. 4. He never fights naps, naps are awesome and he does a happy dance whenever it's nap time. He's never once turned down a nap or kicked me in the breasts because I told him it was nap time. 5. I chose my husband. Don't get me wrong, I love my children, and although we chose to have children we didn't hand pick them. They arrived with their own unique persona...

When Drew started to offer bump castings I didn't think this was something I would ever be interested in doing. However, I decided to give it a go and I'm really happy I did. Although I didn't save the original cast (something I have gone back and forth about since disposing of it) Drew captured some gorgeous photos of Sage in the cast that I will cherish forever. Since this was my last pregnancy these pictures are all the more precious. Also, when Drew took these photos at Day 12 Sage was nearly at her birth weight so it was a good depiction of her size when she was inside my womb. The bump cast going on, Cyril stealing the show as usual, little does he know baby sister will soon make her debut. Adorably chunky inside her cast. Big smiles inside a tiny bowl. Cuddles with mama, Sage was a star during the photoshoot and didn't open her eyes once! Checking out his little sister, two seconds later he was pulling her hair. Our favourite photo, a...

As I looked around the house yesterday, blocks strewn across the floor, Hobson pulling burs off his fur and placing them strategically around the freshly vacuumed floor, Sage vomiting milk on her sanitised play mat, I sighed a breath of frustration which turned into a breath of relief as I said to myself, "I'll miss this craziness one day." I'll miss them needing me. I'll miss Cyril's eyes pooling with tears when I stepped outside yesterday and held the door shut so I could hear the health visitor on the other line. I'll miss Cyril repeating, "Want big cuddles Mama" with arms outstretched and when I tell him I can't right now because I'm feeding baby I'll miss the next line, "Mama give Sage to Gaga, Mama put Sage down, want big cuddles Mama NOW!" I'll miss his little hand reaching up towards mine so he doesn't fall on the way down to the river or get stung by any lingering nettles and when he decides he...