I spent quite a while thinking about what I was going to write for this blog post. I love TOMY’s Lamaze toys and as I mentioned on my stories a few weeks ago, “My Friend Emily” was the first toy I bought my first baby, down that baby aisle in my local Tesco, where I would never
have looked at before I had kids. Seriously – I could never have imagined I would have a baby, let alone 3!
To start, I want to say (and I know I say this all the time but I feel like I have to every time!) that I carefully consider my partnerships and I want to give info about the company I chose to work with, but I think it’s incredibly important to make it relevant and want to make
my blog posts more interesting. Hence why I am writing a blog post about certain things I really have learned the last 6 months…with being a MOM OF THREE and all. Omg. I don’t even believe it myself writing it. This is based on my experience and I know that with most things below, trust me when I say learned the hard way. Hopefully sharing what I have been through (since December 2013!) will help you a bit, whether you’re thinking of having a baby, expecting or you have kids already.
1. How did that happen??
We’ve had a LOT happen to us in 5 years. When our first baby Saoirse came into our lives, our world changed. My body changed. My relationship changed. My heart changed. I became unbelievably emotional and compassionate. We were completely and utterly devoted to this human we both created and time FLEW. We had another, then another. Sometimes I’m like HOW am I here with three children, finding too many days such a struggle. Aaahh how could the most incredible, magical thing that has ever happened to me be so difficult at times? I talked about this on my stories in days when I thought I was going crazy and definitely don’t regret it as I know so many of you were going through the same thing. I think broken sleep has a lot to answer for at the moment. Yesterday we were in the kitchen and I put on music, I lifted up my older two and we danced around like monkeys making Lennon laugh so much. I held their little faces, kissed their little button noses and got the intense warm feeling of love I get so often in this little moments. Holding their tiny hands and being so close to them constantly is the most precious gift and because of moments like this, I know that that I CAN do this and I can go on.
Rolling Rosa (SRP: £14.99) I think Lennon will get great entertainment out of this one when he starts crawling. She is a little fish and really encourages to reach, push and crawl. If you give her a little shake, you can hear her soft chime sounds too.
2. I was a new Mum each time I had a baby.
When I got pregnant with Lennon, lots of people said to me -“Ah this is your third! You’re an expert now!” Noooo. Every pregnancy, birth and baby was so different. I felt like I was asking the health visitor and midwife even more questions this time around and I couldn’t get to grips with things I found easier before. Every baby is different and develops at their own pace.
Jibber Jabber Jake (SRP: £14.99). This has been Lennon’s little buddy in the high chair while I’ve been cooking dinner. I think it keeps him really stimulated with the different patterns, rattle sounds and he croaks as you turn him side to side! Great for teething too tethered leaf-shaped teether.
3. Know that those tough times are temporary.
I really wish somebody told me this a long time ago. God it seems so simple reading it as a sentence as to some it seems pretty obvious, but I didn’t think so for ages. I HATE complaining about motherhood but jesus …I find it incredibly hard at times. The most obvious stuff to me now took me AGES to realise. When I was in the thick of it, it definitely doesn’t seem so temporary! I love being a mother more than anything. It was the makings of me. But I definitely did struggle with realising that hard times are just part of life. And life is not all happiness and perfection etc etc all the bloody time. (I was probably living in fairy-tale land for too long). It is all part of it and the reality of my parenthood journey and I just need to roll up my sleeves, tell myself I can do it and learn how to deal with certain situations with patience. This is something I have been using as a coping mechanism and I think it definitely helps when I feel like I’m drowning in it.
This is My Friend Emily Gift set (SRP: £19.99) but we called her “Molly” 4 years ago! I clipped her onto the pram with the ring lock and was able to take it off to give to Saoirse to play with when she wanted to. It now comes with the teethable bead necklace. It’s soft, really colourful and suitable from birth.
Flapping Fiona (SRP: £14.99) Fiona is my favourite! Harper is 2 and loves pulling down the legs haha! So colourful and who doesn’t love flamingos! Has the clip at the top too so you can pop it onto the pram/changing bag when you’re out and about.
We got Freddie the Firefly Gift Set (SRP: £29.99) around the same time as My Friend Emily and again, it was a great toy to grab and pop onto or into the changing bag. Lennon really reacts to its squeaker and little mirrors under its wings.
4. Each to their own.
Yes, every baby is different but every parent is different too, you know? I really feel like it’s so important to know and respect that everyone has got their own, personal thing going on and that’s what makes each family and home unique.
5. Sleep. At any given moment.
Ok so when Saoirse was born, of course I could lay, rest and play with my baby for hours on end. When Harper arrived, Saoirse was still napping during the day, so sometimes I could manage to nap with them both. (This was at the house we rented after the living at the mill
and has just brought back all sorts of memories!) But when Lennon arrived, Daniel was back to work straight away and there was no room for naps. Especially as I was still working as much as I could. The sleep deprivation and the fact that it was constantly broken really affected me and it took me ages to accept help so I could actually just sleep for a bit. It is the most important thing I can do at the moment and it frustrates me to think I once thought it was “wasting time”. The housework can wait. The housework can absolutely wait!
4 In 1 Play Gym (SRP: £69.99). This fun little pretend play tent all three adore! Since we received this, I have been using it to occupy Lennon in the girl’s bedroom while getting them dressed in the mornings. Saoirse and Harper have been using it as a little den too! The mat is soft, super colourful and has detachable hanging toys. Lennon is fascinated with its large mirror too.
6. Every baby develops at their own pace.
I had to remember this when all I was doing was comparing Saoirse to other babies. Looking back, I know it was completely natural but the smallest things worried me. “Omg why isn’t my baby doing X, Y, Z because that baby is!!” I found myself doing this with Harper too, but not with Lennon as I now know that every baby is completely different. I could definitely make this a list of 100 things but would probably end up repeating myself and it would all come to the same outcome. Parenthood is a constant learning process,
nothing is perfect all of the time and that is 100% ok.
This blog post is a paid partnership with TOMY.