My Dad.

As father's day approaches I have been thinking about my dad. I sadly don't have many pictures to show you of my dad .... but as an avid fan of Downton Abbey, I think of my dad everytime I see Mr Bates. My dad was very kind hearted but sadly not strong hearted and died of a sudden heart attack at the young age of 49. I was seventeen and it broke my heart. To anyone out there who has maybe lost their dad recently I would love to tell you that it hurts less as time goes on - sadly it has been 22 years since I lost mine and I am crying while writing this. It doesn't hurt less as such - but you will have more and more days / months as time goes on where it isn't on your mind - you will be able to remember the good times as well as the hurt and you will be able to love them just the same as if they are still on this earth. My dad was not a noisy boy - just the opposite in fact if you would've met him socially, but the time I think of my dad the most is when I am in my studio (as well as when I am watching Downton!) My dad is the one who taught and encouraged me to draw. My dad was the one who would come home from work with books on drawing from thrift stores, fancy pastels he had seen, different pencils, paints and paper on a whim. It was my dad (a technical drawer) who let me play in his office (the garden shed) with his fine pen inks, his stencils, his measuring and shaping rulers. It was my dad who told me what he liked and what he didn't like about my art projects - it was my dad who let me storm out the room, slam the door in frustration at a criticism and then let me back in the room when I was ready to discuss and improve it. It was my dad who made me laugh out loud and it was my dad who made me smile inside when I made him laugh out loud. It was my dad who drove me absolutely EVERYWHERE and would pick me up late when he would rather have been in bed. It was my dad who tested me on fractions when we were in queues on holiday, my dad who kept quiet while I tried out different 80's fashions, my dad who read the board game instructions so fast we never understood a word, my dad who let me dry his hair on a Sunday night..it was my dad who spent a whole day cooking a Chinese meal for me and my friends on a birthday, my dad who fried us chips as a secret treat when mum was away..and most importantly it was my dad who showed me how wonderful husbands and dads can be. To my dad I say thank you - I miss you - but I am lucky to have married a man as lovely, hard working and as funny as you - who sadly loves bacon as much as you! Happy Father's Day.

A not so noisy girl!

Poppy Ellen Storie was born April 7th. She arrived a little earlier than expected and a lot faster than anticipated - but all in all a great birth. The midwives called it beautiful - I'm not quite so convinced of that - more messy, suddenly painful and rather primal for a reserved British Lass - but no lasting damage to my knowledge and a beautiful little girl at the end! The little noisy boy is prooving to be an amazing big brother - with kisses, songs and gentle hugs. Now I just need him to stop jumping on the sofa during the feeds or trying to get her attention with drums and noise makers. I have been a good girl this time round and have stayed at home, rested wherever possible and not tried to dash about too much. Poppy has repaid me by sleeping and "hanging out" - with just a small, occasional fuss. After having a poor baby with colic for the first 10 months of his life - I am taking nothing for granted and can be found clutching random pieces of wood when telling people abt my experience this time round of having a baby. She really has been more "text book" so far than my poor first child. She can be soothed by the routine things when my first child always seemed so inconsolable. Please, please let this stay. To anyone out there currently coping with a colicky child - I am thinking of you! I still have vivid memories of the insanity and the utter feeling of failure as a mum (non of which of course is true). Any advice I would give for a child who seems so unhappy is to stop reading or listening to other people's advice - it probably won't work - they don't know your child like you do and there really isn't a magic cure no matter how hard you search. I am sorry to be the bearer of this bad news, but I found once I accepted the situation and stopped asking people for advice, manically reading all the books or wondering exactly where I was going wrong - I actually felt better. Baby Salsa, Stroller Fit, Mummy competitive coffee visits and all the other nonsense we think we should be doing first time round all went on hold while I rested and slept whenever the crying subsided. Instead of blaming yourself be nice to yourself - you are doing an amazing job dealing with a poor fussy baby and they WILL grow out of it to show you the wonderful human being they were trying to be all along - I promise!

An easy project for the nester!!

I am sorry I have been so remise in updating this blog. The months since Christmas have been busy with finishing orders, helping my husband with his business and getting very, very pregnant. I am at that stage when everything either hurts, puffs, stabs or scars. I guess this is necessary so that you can say to yourself - ok I am ready for childbirth!! I suppose if we were just singing and skipping along we would hold on for longer than an elephant! My Noisy Boys Designs wise I have had to close my shop for a little while just so I can try and get things ready for the baby (this appears to actually mean - so I can lie on the couch and eat naughty things). The real nesting urge has not fully set in and I am sadly not scrubbing away at any floors or rooms like I should be, but I did get the simple job of making each noisy child a little bag with their name. I have been wanting to do this all winter as I constantly lost hats, gloves - or found said hats, gloves littered around the house. These bags are perfect for children to store their own seasonal accessories and limit the time spent nagging and screeching on a busy morning "well where did you last have them?"

Well - my work is done here for now - baby is due in nearly 2 weeks and I will of course keep you all posted - now time to waddle with the dog and noisy boy!