Wednesday 29 August 2007
Monday 27 August 2007
internet picnic!
Yesterday something very exciting happened! I met some virtual friends (virtual in the sense of being made over the Internet, not in the sense of almost being friends ;o)
Since early on in my pregnancy, I’ve been part of an Internet forum birth board for mums whose babies were due in December 2006. At first I just used to read the posts – which reassured me that my worries were quite normal and that various physical niggles were common to pregnant women. Gradually I found I had things I wanted to add to the discussions … and sometime after Simon was born – once he was sleeping better and I was feeling vaguely human again – I really got stuck into the birth board community. I honestly think it’s helped me to be far more laidback about parenting than I could have been. Instead of panicking about tiny things that then blow up in my head and keep me awake at night, I can simply post a question on the board and either one of the mums with older children, or another mum who’s had the same problem as me, will put my mind at rest. And we can laugh at ourselves too, which is always a good way of getting things in perspective!
And I do feel that despite never meeting, those of us who do post frequently on the board have built up trust between us, and we know that if any of us can do anything for the others, we will.
Those who live near each other have met up and become face-to-face friends, and there was a Big Meet at Alton Towers last month, that I missed because of being back in France. Then yesterday we had a Bedford mini-meet, which was me, Marc and Simon meeting up with a Bedford mum and her baby, and an Essex mum and her baby (plus my mum, Ali and the Bedford mum’s sister!). We had a picnic together in Bedford Park. It was fun to meet the other mums, and really quite moving to meet the babies who I’ve seen growing up through their photos on the board! They aren’t really old enough to play together yet, but it was cute to see them interacting a bit.
Since early on in my pregnancy, I’ve been part of an Internet forum birth board for mums whose babies were due in December 2006. At first I just used to read the posts – which reassured me that my worries were quite normal and that various physical niggles were common to pregnant women. Gradually I found I had things I wanted to add to the discussions … and sometime after Simon was born – once he was sleeping better and I was feeling vaguely human again – I really got stuck into the birth board community. I honestly think it’s helped me to be far more laidback about parenting than I could have been. Instead of panicking about tiny things that then blow up in my head and keep me awake at night, I can simply post a question on the board and either one of the mums with older children, or another mum who’s had the same problem as me, will put my mind at rest. And we can laugh at ourselves too, which is always a good way of getting things in perspective!
And I do feel that despite never meeting, those of us who do post frequently on the board have built up trust between us, and we know that if any of us can do anything for the others, we will.
Those who live near each other have met up and become face-to-face friends, and there was a Big Meet at Alton Towers last month, that I missed because of being back in France. Then yesterday we had a Bedford mini-meet, which was me, Marc and Simon meeting up with a Bedford mum and her baby, and an Essex mum and her baby (plus my mum, Ali and the Bedford mum’s sister!). We had a picnic together in Bedford Park. It was fun to meet the other mums, and really quite moving to meet the babies who I’ve seen growing up through their photos on the board! They aren’t really old enough to play together yet, but it was cute to see them interacting a bit.
Friday 24 August 2007
Wednesday 15 August 2007
celebrations
Last Saturday was my 31st birthday, yesterday was our 3rd wedding anniversary, and tomorrow it will be Marc's dad's 60th birthday! So lots of celebrating has been going on here in Jouy-le-Moutier!
On my birthday we went for a walk at La Terrasse de St Germain-en-Laye, looking out over a rather hazy view of Paris.
Then yesterday evening Marc and I left the grandparents to babysit and went out for a meal at a restaurant! I enjoyed getting dressed up and then being able to spend an evening out somewhere where we could eat good food and talk! It was fun to look back over the last 3 years of marriage and last 6 years of knowing each other!!
Wednesday 8 August 2007
a bit of news
We had a relaxing week in Cardington, returned to France yesterday, and are getting started on another couple of relaxing weeks at Marc's parents'. What a challenge ;o) I think we need it after the move ... and we'd better make the most of it, as our year at ANCC will probably be a very full one!
Simon doesn't seem too bothered by all the changes. His tooth continues to grow, he's standing up as much as possible (holding onto things or being held) and today he learnt to go from a sitting position to his hands and knees. He just doesn't know what to do once he's got there and ends up squealing for help!
During the week in England he really got stuck into his food. I think it was probably because his routine had shifted slightly, and so he was awake when we ate and therefore able to eat with others. He seems to appreciate the social side of mealtimes! And he loves having grandparents to smile at, whichever side of the Channel we're on!
Simon standing up with some help from Papa (and his Great-Grandpa and Grandmum in the background).
Thursday 2 August 2007
All done!
The move went smoothly and we are safely in England at my parents’. The rest of our furniture was picked up by a friend-of-a-friend and a charity on Saturday, and so in the afternoon we moved out of our flat and into our friends Alex and Guillaume’s flat, which we were sharing not with them but with another friend, Fidèle! A and G have a little boy six weeks older than Simon, so Simon had a proper cot to sleep in and a little bucket bath to try out.
In the evening my sister Ali and a friend of hers arrived with an English van. They did the whole journey over on Saturday, and drove all the way back again on Monday! What stars!! It was fun to have them staying too, despite the exhaustion on both sides! They were able to stay in Kate’s flat. My sister said, “I love it – everyone living at everyone else’s! That’s church for you!”
On Sunday we went to church for our last service there. Fortunately it didn’t feel like it was, and tiredness seemed to be keeping me from feeling anything much more than relief that soon the move would be over! We ate kebabs with friends at lunchtime, and then Marc and his team of wonderful, willing helpers went and put everything left in the flat into the van. We are so blessed by the church family God has given us in Nancy. Finally, Marc and I spent the evening cleaning what still needed to be cleaned in our flat … it smelt wonderfully of wax after Marc re-did the parquet floor!
On Monday the girls had to leave really early with the van, and we spent the morning tying up loose ends – things like getting the keys to the agency. We tried to leave once, and had to turn back after 5 minutes because Marc had forgotten his telephone and Simon had filled his nappy! We eventually got away about midday, and as we hit the motorway Simon was chewing on my hand and I suddenly – and painfully! – realised that he had cut a tooth!! With no fuss at all!
Another highlight of the journey was the meal we had at a motorway service station. It was great, thanks to baby-led weaning! Simon chewed on a bit of bread for most of our main courses, and then tried a bit of burger and a chip! Ok, so not the most balanced diet, but he had had cucumber and nectarine for breakfast!
To be continued…
In the evening my sister Ali and a friend of hers arrived with an English van. They did the whole journey over on Saturday, and drove all the way back again on Monday! What stars!! It was fun to have them staying too, despite the exhaustion on both sides! They were able to stay in Kate’s flat. My sister said, “I love it – everyone living at everyone else’s! That’s church for you!”
On Sunday we went to church for our last service there. Fortunately it didn’t feel like it was, and tiredness seemed to be keeping me from feeling anything much more than relief that soon the move would be over! We ate kebabs with friends at lunchtime, and then Marc and his team of wonderful, willing helpers went and put everything left in the flat into the van. We are so blessed by the church family God has given us in Nancy. Finally, Marc and I spent the evening cleaning what still needed to be cleaned in our flat … it smelt wonderfully of wax after Marc re-did the parquet floor!
On Monday the girls had to leave really early with the van, and we spent the morning tying up loose ends – things like getting the keys to the agency. We tried to leave once, and had to turn back after 5 minutes because Marc had forgotten his telephone and Simon had filled his nappy! We eventually got away about midday, and as we hit the motorway Simon was chewing on my hand and I suddenly – and painfully! – realised that he had cut a tooth!! With no fuss at all!
Another highlight of the journey was the meal we had at a motorway service station. It was great, thanks to baby-led weaning! Simon chewed on a bit of bread for most of our main courses, and then tried a bit of burger and a chip! Ok, so not the most balanced diet, but he had had cucumber and nectarine for breakfast!
To be continued…
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