Growing Up AKA Becoming a Mummy

When I started this Blog I decided on its name because I wanted to write about the huge change in my life I had gone through becoming a mum. Motherhood is something that you cannot prepare for. No amount of baby books and antenatal classes can get you ready for the change you will experience when you hold that baby in your arms for the first time and they look into your eyes.

The moment I met my little man and my life changed forever

For some, admittedly, the transition is bigger. If, like myself, your pregnancy was unplanned and you had been used to a totally different lifestyle, it might seem like your whole world has been tipped on its axis. For me, I had got my crazy partying days out of the way back when I was eighteen, but I was on my placement year at University. I was working part time and had just come out of a six month relationship which had gotten serious very fast, with a whole lot of drama due to a big age difference and him living in London. I was in a weird place and drinking and eating too much, not getting enough sleep and not really knowing who my real friends were.

A few months before I fell pregnant

Falling pregnant was probably the best thing that could ever have happened to me. If I had not have found out I was pregnant and been forced to start taking care of myself and making sensible plans for the future, then I would have probably ended up back with my toxic ex boyfriend and wasting my time away. Instead, I was eating properly for the first time in years, spending quality time with my best friend and my mum, and preparing for my final year of University, more determined than ever to graduate and make something of myself.

With my mum at her graduation when I was 7 months pregnant

When I had Cameron in September 2010, I was a much stronger person and, although as I say motherhood is not easy to get used to, I have really enjoyed learning how to be the best mum I can be to Cameron. Every day I learn something new from him. He is amazing and makes me re-evaluate my way of thinking. Before he was born I would think nothing of going out and drinking or walking alone to my car, but these days I am much more streetwise because I know that there is someone depending on me. He makes my world complete.

My gorgeous little boy

I have also managed to lose weight since having Cameron, I am a stone and a half lighter than before I was pregnant and so much healthier. I eat more sensibly and recently stopped drinking totally. I still like to take care of myself but have to be more creative with my time. I can put on makeup in record time, and can make my hair last four days without washing it if necessary (dry shampoo and curling my hair really help)! I don't spend much money on myself anymore so make sure when I do treat myself I get something I really want and will use again and again.

I like to take care of my appearance still, it's part of who I am

I like being a 'yummy mummy', but being Cameron's mummy is the most important thing to me and the most important job I will ever have. My aim is to make him proud of his mummy and I work at it everyday.

Things You Should Know about Toddlers

I have posted previously about things I have learnt since having a newborn, and since having a young baby. Cameron is now 17 months and the bar has been raised yet again. For any mummies out there approaching toddler territory, or fellow mums already in the thick of it, here is my rundown of the biggest shocks I have come across (all to be taken lightheartedly!)....

1. You will end up knowing the words to shows such as In the Night Garden and Fireman Sam off by heart and will probably start singing them to yourself even when your little one is nowhere in sight.

2. Mummies to little boys, you may have survived up until now without being peed on but there is an even higher risk once your toddler decides they want to start using a potty....

3. Those toys you used to wish your baby would play with back when a cardboard box was more interesting? You will be harbouring secret plans to find and destroy each and every one of them if you hear one more chorus of "1,2,3,4,5 all aboard the counting train" at half six in the morning.

4. Bathtime is fun. Getting out of the bath time not so much....

5. Remember watching that advert on TV with the woman getting on the floor and banging her fists and screaming to stop her little boy from having his tantrum in the supermarket? Remember thinking to yourself, who in their right mind would actually resort to that? Yeah, that could be you soon. Believe me, when it happens, all rational thoughts go out of the window and you just want the screaming to stop right away!

6. Gone are the days you could shove a whole sharing size bar of Dairy Milk in your mouth when you were having a bad day. The eating of chocolate, or indeed any 'bad' food, must be carried out like a military operation. Your child is playing happily with a toy? Go, go, gooooo!! Believe me, if they catch you eating it, they will want it, a lot more than those healthy raisins in their hand.

7. Be prepared for your adorable baby to suddenly change into the child from the omen complete with evil eyes and strops that definitely resemble a demonic possession. They may hit, bite, punch, slap and headbutt you to within an inch of your life, but trust me, they love you really.

8. The rivalry between mums you may have come across when your baby was younger will still be there with statement such as "My little one has been sleeping through the night since they were only a few days old", "I don't ever resort to using calpol/bonjela/cough mixture on MY child" and "We only eat all organic, freshly sourced foods in our house" being the weapons of choice. Who cares if you aren't 'doing it by the book'?! Every child is different and you always know best.

9. If you were lucky enough to have a routine from an early age, this could all be disrupted by something as minor as a cough, cold or yet another tooth coming through. Bigger changes such as moving house could mean having to start from the beginning again.

10. Don't spend too much time comparing those children the same age as your own especially when looking at developmental milestones such as walking, talking and potty training. Every child is unique and will get to these milestones at a different point. Cameron didn't walk until he was 11 months old and I was all set for calling up the health visitor as I walked at 9 months and thought he was unable to do it!

No matter how many hard times there are raising a toddler, I wouldn't change Cameron for the world.

Every day he amazes me. I love him so much!