About Them Goals.

I like to think I'm a pretty focussed person, particularly when it comes to things that are important to me. Writing a list of goals has been a January ritual for the last ten years and an important one, too; it gave me something to strive for, something to look back on come December and something that, in moments when everything got hectic or stressful, gave me focus.

This January just passed, two months after becoming a Mum, preparing for a move to a new apartment, I still wrote those goals with the hope that I could find a moment here or there to push my way through them. I look at that list with August just around the corner and I realise that achieving them all just ain't gonna happen, not this year. And I'm okay with that.

It would be easy to beat myself up over not retaining that focus this year. But when I look at how I've spent my time and where my attention has been instead, I have to cut myself some slack; it's going to take a moment or two for me to get up to speed again and I have to wait a little while longer for that moment, that focus, to return. It doesn't hurt, however, to give myself a little nudge in the right direction.

I turn 27 this year. That means I've got three more years until I hit the big three-oh and you know, I've always fancied doing one of those '30 before 30' things. So on my birthday, I'll be starting a new challenge and tucking my '10 Things' away. I'm excited, taking time to really think about what I'd like to accomplish, for myself and for my little family. Having three years to complete it takes the pressure off a little, too!

Here's to the end of July, to the start of August and to some serious thinking, planning and awesomeness!

Love, K.

Tea And Crumpets.

Crumpets are one of my favourite foods.  I didn't realise that until I had made the voyage across the pond and discovered that crumpets, essentially, didn't exist in America.  And, you know, for a while I didn't even miss them.  There were so many other, delicious, exciting new foods to try that they simply slipped my mind.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago.  We three are out at Trader Joe's, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over cookie butter and artisan fruit pies and the most gorgeous punnets of cherries when out of nowhere, these crumpets appear.  I may have done a little happy dance in the shop.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of eating a crumpet or two, the closest thing I can think in comparison is an English muffin.  They have that same light, doughy, toothsome texture.  A bit of chew with each mouthful, deliciously dissolving in buttery goodness.  I've no doubt there is some debate over exactly how to eat your crumpets.  I personally like them well-toasted, with a bit of crunch, and a spread of butter.  Perfect and simple.

It may seem a bit much to write a whole post about crumpets (which, by the way, absolutely must be eaten with a cup of tea).  But these little bready wonders were a taste of home, which sometimes seems really very far away.  It's a bit of nostalgia, as they remind me of cold mornings before school and Sunday brunches, my Mum toasting piles of crumpets for us all to eat around the kitchen table, listening to Radio 2.  They are comfort food, pure and simple, and the best kind of it!

It's nice to know I have a little slice of England in my fridge, ready to be thrown under the broiler when I fancy it.  I can't wait to introduce them to Vi when she's old enough for a nibble and I'll be stashing some away for chilly winter mornings too.

What foods bring back memories for you?

Love, K.

Eight Months.

My bub is two-thirds of a year old!  I can hardly believe it.  We've found ourselves in a rather nice little routine which tends to make the days feel like they're flying by.  The routine is good, but the rapid passing of time, not so much.

It's been a month of firsts for this little bean.  She fed herself for the first (and, as of yet, last!) time, she got her first owie when she bumped her head and managed to pull herself up so she was standing without any help!  Her first word was definitely Dada, which she now associates with S; if he calls me, she'll start saying 'Dadada!' and smiling when she hears him on the phone.  It's so cute!  Possibly my favourite first - Vi can now say Mum!  I'm not sure she knows it's me quite yet, but it makes my heart happy every time I hear her little voice calling 'mumumum'.  And not forgetting, she learned how to wave this month too!  Such a clever clogs!

Vi is getting much better at settling herself down to sleep.  It's a relief in some ways, knowing that when she's tired she can make herself comfortable and drift off rather than needing to comfort nurse.  She still loves to be held while she's sleeping and I admit I do love the naptime cuddles.  She still has some separation anxiety, which has been exacerbated by the fever she had a few days ago; feeling unwell made her extra clingy and wanting me all the time, so everything else got put on hold for a little while and we had lots of snuggles, read lots of books and watched a whole heap of T.V. curled up on the sofa together.  She's such an active little creature, so it was weird to have her be so still and wanting to rest all the time.  She's feeling much better now though, and we're hoping that a tooth may appear in the next few days.  Watch this space!

She is, more often than not, a blur these days.  Getting a picture of her in focus is a task!  Vi is a happy, chatty, interested-in-everything kid who I've no doubt will have me chasing after her.  She loves Pearl and is always trying to stroke her.  She laughs at silly noises and funny faces, she gives awesome cheek kisses that are significantly less drooly (woo!) and she still wakes up smiling every single day.  I'm so excited to see what she'll learn over the next month, how she'll grow and change and become even more amazing than she is now.  I both can and can't wait!  Happy 8 months baby Vi!

Love, K.