Don't Go Mummy!

Leaving for work in a morning is always a military operation.

Trying to get ready before Leo awakes so that I can spend that little bit of the morning with him. Maybe even squeeze in breakfast together if I have a spare 20 minutes before I have to run away for the day.

Leo was 13 months when I returned to work, and he didn’t really care whether I was there or if I wasn’t. It made no difference to that beautiful boy of mine if I was to leave the room or go to work, but now he is getting older he is starting to really hate my exit each morning.

It is as though he anticipates me putting on my coat and picking up my car keys, as it is this moment he chooses to cling to me. When I pick up my hand bag he knows I really mean business and my exit is imminent, and he will throw a real stinker if he is not coming with me!

Leo associates all of these little things with me leaving, if I pick up my hand bag while Leo is in my arms, he will persistently wave at everyone in the room as he thinks that he is coming with me.

The next task in my 007 mission to leave the house, is to hand him over to Granny so he doesn’t follow me out.

This is where he holds on to me for dear life and buries his head into my shoulder. He screams out and the tears are falling down his cheeks, but the anger is very obviously there and it is temper that is out to play.

He is angry at me for leaving him, and he is too young to understand why I have to leave him. No amount of reassuring him that I will be back later gets through to him quite yet. I know as he gets older we will have this understanding, but for now this is something that he has to experience: Separation from his Mummy.

I know that 5 minutes after I have left, I am just a distant memory as he sets his sights on playing football with the vase in the living room, or posting anything and everything he can find into the mystery draws. He gets on with his day and probably doesn’t even give me a second thought, but that goodbye we share in the morning, makes him angry.

Very angry as he wants to come along with me.

I am looking forward to the day where we can say goodbye for the day without him getting upset. Where we can exchange a hug and he doesn’t cling on to me like I am about to abandon him forever. A goodbye for when he knows that I will be back in a few hours time.

I want my Mummy...

Since Leo turned 6 months old, he has been on mission GO.
He seems to be going through a 'Mummy' phase currently, which is just lovely for me, but I cannot help wondering about Luke and how it makes him feel. Obviously it is perfectly normal for a baby to want his Mummy, and it is very rewarding when Leo reaches his arms out for me to come and get him from whoever may be holding him.

Yesterday we paid a visit to Luke's Mum's, Leo's Nanny took him away for a cuddle and for the first couple of minutes he was fine, all smiles and no problems. Then he looked straight at me and his bottom lip started to drop, his arms stretched out and he wanted to come back to his Mummy. His Nanny quickly brought him back and placed him in my arms, as she had observed Leo was quickly becoming a Mummy's boy. As soon as I had my baby boy closed tightly in my Mummy huggle...Leo was silent and contented once again.

I am determined to enjoy all the attention Leo throws at me, as I know there will come a day where all he is going to want is his Daddy, and Mummy wont be good enough to do things that only the 'boys' can do together. I know Luke is looking forward to the day where Leo can join him on the Kit Bikes and when they can go on boys only camp nights. For me though...When this time comes, I am going to miss my little baby that just wanted his Mummy.
I was shocked when I realised Leo was reaching out, I did not think this development would come for a few more months. Luke is in awe when he walks in from work and Leo lunges forward to get into his arms. When bedtime comes around, this is our time and only Mummy will do. I hope this lasts for many years to come.

Leo's sitting is getting more steady and he is starting to roll more and more, when did my little baby stop being my little baby? When did he turn into a 6 month, 18lbs 6oz little monster? I seem to have blinked and the time has just swept past me so quickly.

It is now only 6 months until I return to my 9-5 job, and the thought fills me with dread. How can I even consider leaving Leo? Yes he will be 12 months by the time of my return, but I can't help feeling I am going to miss out on so much being a working mum. I love my role as stay at home Mummy, but that role is going to time out. Some how I am going to have to split my time between two roles, when really...I just want to be with my little lion.

I would love to know how you working Mum's managed to tear yourselves away from your maternity leave and your baby? I would love some advice.

When did your little munch kin's start reaching for you?
Laura xx

A December Weekend Away

It is all go this month for my little family, and actually my entire family! You see it is a yearly occurrence for the whole extended family consisting of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, to go away for a long weekend, usually in the instance of a birthday.

So this weekend we are heading towards Ludlow and staying in a stately home for a few nights! I am barely un-packed from the last holiday, only to be off away again, after only getting home a week ago today.

I have to admit, the house does look very inviting and festive. We are packing a very warm attire in case the house is a bit cold, we are taking the steriliser again and of course all of Leo's essentials.

This doesn't even seem remotely daunting now after travelling abroad with Leo, I know he will do well in the car and most likely sleep the whole duration. I know Leo will enjoy all the attention that comes with going away with so many family members.

It has been manic getting everything ready to go though, there has been so much going on. My car got rushed into the MOT men yesterday for a speedy MOT....as it actually ran out at the end of November. Luckily Halfords have a half price MOT available at £27.00! The cheapest MOT I have ever had! It passed thankfully, otherwise we would be stuck today!

We have been rushing around getting every ones Christmas presents sorted and then on top of that I have had all the usual bits and pieces to complete with Leo, along with all the washing from Tenerife.

We were preparing a few bits and pieces last night, so while I was running around Leo had some Daddy time. I came in with Leo's bottle and as soon as Leo saw me he started crying. I picked him up off Luke and as soon as he was in my arms....silence! Luke noticed that he had been crying for me, so I passed Leo back to Luke to see what happend....and the crying started again.

I think Leo associates me with food, I am usually the one to do most of the feeding and implementing the bed time routine. It was nice to know that I am known to him and coveted, but I couldn't help feeling for Luke a little bit...as he did look a little disappointed. How do I prevent Leo making this into a habit?

So now I must continue getting everything together so we can all make a swift exit this evening after Luke finishes work, for the hour and a half drive over towards Ludlow. This afternoon Leo and I are squeezing in some baby yoga!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!