Oh Em Gee. Penultimate day today! Where has the time gone? Utter madness. 

Another good night from Daftie and no sleeping in! Which was useful as we were off to the new playgroup we started going to last week. It is such a lovely group and one that I plan on going to as often as possible. 

One thing that really made me do a wee Mammy Moment dance was watching Wee Daftie interact with one of the volunteers, a lovely woman called Joan. Daftie and I haven’t​ spent a lot of time apart over the past almost 9 months. With one thing and another, my girl hasn’t really been much out of my care, even for an hour. I can’t say she is clingy but that’s only really because we haven’t yet tested those waters. She certainly has her clingy days, especially when teething, and she definitely likes knowing where I am. Through Joan’s encouragement, I sat with another Mammy Mate and had a cup of coffee and just let Daftie muddle on. She did occasionally look over but was very content to play and chat with Joan. 

May not be much, but it was big for us. I want a raise her to be confident, content and courageous so it is reassuring to see glimpses of what can be. 

Speaking of courageous…

After the play group, another Mammy Mate and I went for a huge big walk down Leith Walk, along Great Junction St, past Ocean Terminal and half way home. Not going to lie, as soon as my wrist tracker started flashing, we hopped on the next bus home! Managed to get the 10,000 done before we made it home for lunch. Get in. 

Same day, same face, different table to lean on…

Thanks to our epic walk, I was able to have a nice afternoon at home with my girl. We had a picnic for lunch, did some more washing together (cos let’s be fair, a Mammy’s washing is never done) then lots of singing and stories. Such a great way to spend my second last day of my challenge.

Today’s dinner was brought to you in conjunction with, you guessed it, vitamin drops! Two days in a row! I am the greatest. Ish. 

Oh my goodness. Twenty-nine days done! Crazy. Know what’s even crazier? I REMEMBERED VITAMIN DROPS! First time in…a while. Let’s just say that. Whoops. Best bit? The drops expire at the end of the month. I am such a great parent. 

Wednesday is baby sensory​ day. Ever since we’ve moved up a class, I haven’t​quite got myself and Daftie into the swing of getting to class an hour earlier. Not that 10am is early. Not by a long shot but, routine wise, I am just so used to leaving the house at a certain time that I sometimes struggle with getting us both up, cleaned, dressed, breakfast, out in time. I went to bed last night full of high hopes and idealism that today I was going to get it right! 

So we both slept in. 

Cue a bit of a dash to get us sorted and out the door. Made it though, with minutes to spare. Breakfast may have been boob for Daftie and an apple for me but at least we made it. And, with all her sniffles, coughs, snots and teething, the lie-in was very much deserved and appreciated.

If you’ve ever wondered, this is the correct way to eat a pear. Obviously. 

After class, we had a domestic afternoon at home before finishing off the steps with a walk before dinner.

Dinner this evening, by the way, was roasted chicken breast and veggies in a homemade sauce with pasta. Oh and vitamin drops. Did I mention the drops? You know, because I remembered them. 

You turn your back for a second and your Daftie finds her way into your Mammy Bag, unravelling nappy bags as she goes. 

Goal achieved. Housework done. Vitamin drops administered! Good Mammy today. Normal service will resume tomorrow. 

Big Human headed back up to Aberdeen this morning and Wee Daftie and I took a trip on a train! 

I love trains. I even spent the bulk of 2011 working on one. It was a lovely way to see some amazing parts of Scotland that I would not have seen otherwise. And Dundee. We saw LOTS of Dundee train station that year. 

Forgive the blurry pic but I wanted to share my accidental matching with Daftie. Now. I regularly admit that I am happy to dress us in silly matching outfits because I am ridiculous like that. And I have no shame. And it is hilarious. Today though was not actually intentional. As she’s so snotty and continuously soggy, we’ve been using all her dribble bibs, all of the time. Today’s lovely camouflage one looked just perfect against the backdrop of my own olive triangle scarf. Whoops. I thought I should probably change before we left. 

I didn’t.

We met Numbnuts at Waverley at 11am and jumped on the first train to Glasgow. She is on holiday at the moment so suggested a trip through to visit Kelvingrove. It’s a fab museum and gallery housed in a totally stunning building. We had a good wander about the exhibits, had a tasty lunch (baby led wins again as I could eat my lunch nice and hands free as Daftie tucked into some fruit and cauliflower fritters I had made that morning) and lots of chatter. 

After soaking up the culture, we went back to the station via Buchanan Galleries, namely the Lego shop! Daftie won’t be big enough for her new Duplo set juuuust yet (give or take 15 months) but I could not resist! I’ll eventually let her decide her own hobbies, I promise. Maybe. I won’t always make her like what I like, honest. Well. I’ll try at least. Maybe. 

I won’t.

A lovely train journey home, with Daftie sat on Numbnuts’ knee (eating another homemade treat) and making the very nice lady sitting opposite us laugh. She’s such a funny wee thing so I love it when others see it too. She’s not the smiliest of babies. She seems to prefer a good old stare instead. Moments when she’s hanging out and being silly make me so happy. Especially when it involves her clambering off her Auntie’s lap and onto the table, chewing on an unopened bag of Haribo. 

Steps very nicely achieved before we left Glasgow so feeling very proud of myself, after a couple of days of low motivation.

And only three more days to go!

Such an idiot. And Daftie. 

Last night wasn’t great again but a decided improvement on the night before! Poor Snot Bag. I mean Wee Daftie. She is a bag of snot though. Bless her. 

Here is Wee Daftie playing on her mat. When she sits up straight, her head hits the arches. She used to struggle to reach the toys that dangle down and now she barely fits! Giant Baby. 

We had a few errands to run so Daftie and I went for walk in the morning air first before heading out with Big Human to do the important stuff. There’s a pier that runs through the middle of the small beach by the flat. The wind wasn’t​ high so we took a spin down the the pier. 

The rest of my steps were completed running errands with my Humans. 

Not a super exciting day today but a nice, normal, happy day with the family. 

Here’s a picture of Daftie eating a muffin. Utter weirdo. 

Happy Mammy’s Day! Firstly, I would like to say that today has been the most I’ve struggled with motivation to get my steps done. Secondly, I am sure you have a wonderful mother of your own, or perhaps you are one, but my mother is the best. Hands down. Yours might be high up there on the list of awesome mothers but mine will be number one. Thirdly, I plan on using this blog as a platform for telling you just how fab she is. 

For as long as I can remember, my Mama has been my friend. I am sure there were times (I was a bit of an asshole as a preteen) when I didn’t always realise how brilliant she is or that when she said “No” to something, it really was for my own good. I had friends as a teenager who didn’t always see eye to eye with their mum but I never really understood why as my mum was (still is) wonderful and we never really fought. 

I definitely wouldn’t have said that Mama was strict but I definitely knew what was expected from me and, on the whole, I tried my best to make her proud. What I love about her parenting is that she really knows how different me and my sisters are. Yes, we’re all good people, with strong work ethics, strength in our convictions (stubbornness may run in our family but we still haven’t decided who is the most stubborn. It’s currently a three way tie), we all know right from wrong, we all have a very strong connection but we’re also three very independent individuals on three differing paths. 

I always knew that Gayle is kinder and more nurturing than me and that Gillian is smarter and more caring but I never felt that their wonderful qualities were greater than mine. We were all encouraged to be ourselves, to be unique, to be different from each other. 

This has always been a huge comfort to me as I am the only member of the family with tattoos, mutliple piercings in my head and a tendency to dress like an idiot. My Mama never really dissuaded me from expressing myself through my appearance. Though, and I love her all the more for it, I have some fond stories of her reactions to some of my choices.

I always wanted my ears pierced from the age of 8. Mama said no, as I was too young then, but if I still wanted them done, I could get them done when I was fourteen. “Fine!” Says asshole 7-11 year old Calli, in a bit of a strop “I’ll wait.” So I did and true to her word, I got the first set done on my 14th birthday. By 16, I had three sets in each ear and one cartilage done. Weirdly, the more I got, the more Mama liked them. Though she did put her foot down when I said I was thinking of getting my lip pierced. On the basis that Mama wouldn’t like it, I didn’t go through with it. I was 24.

From talking me out of getting my lip pierced to telling me to drop out of uni (“Why go back? You hate it. It’s literally making you sick.”) From talking me down from each and every high horse I ever decide to climb on (“Not everyone sees things like you do, Cazzikins”) to supporting me through my weird journey to becoming a Mammy (first reaction “Oh Lord”) From talking me through panic buying scratch mitts to listening to me cry as a flood of hormones (bad hormones) that I wasn’t used to took over my usually tearless life, Mama has always let me make my own decisions (right or wrong), has never judged me for making the wrong decision but has always trusted me to do the right thing. I am so, so blessed and thankful. I am the luckiest daughter ever and I couldn’t do any of this without her.

The best thing about my Mama is everything. The worst thing is that we don’t live in the same city. 

Back to today. Today was hard as Wee Daftie had a really bad night. Neither of us got much sleep and both ended up with a much later start thanks to us both (finally) collapsing into sleep in the early hours. A mix of coughing, teething and mucus kept waking my poor girl from her sleep. That said, I have a mission to do so my Big Human took us three out for a fab drive and a lovely walk in the amazing sunshine today. Thankfully once she was up, she was in lovely form, just the night was rough. Ended up finishing my steps with another post Daftie bedtime jaunt. 

Nobody puts baby in a corner. We do however put her in a box. 

A poorly, snotty Daftie yesterday had me preparing for a bad night of being up and down but the wee champ powered through and only woke twice. There was a bit of stirring but, the superstar that she is, managed to settle herself back down. 

Any new parent will have heard of the fabled “self-soothe” so it was a great proud Mammy Moment to see it in action. And we didn’t have to go through sleep training​! Not something that I want to do but definitely something I have read up on. I read a lot. I found that nursing Daftie gave me good opportunity to do some low-light reading. My Internet search history makes for some hilarious and very specific reading. The things I could tell you about baby poop! 

This was the day today. Gorgeous, warm, sunny. Amazing. Wee Daftie was definitely maintaining a good balance of incredibly gross and bunged up and happy spirits. We had a lazy morning of playing and sleepy snuggles. She did want to doze more than usual during the day but that is understandable seeing as she’s a mucus monster. 

Mammy getting creative. 

Daftie getting destructive. 

Steps hit thanks to a lovely big walk to Ocean Terminal, and half way back, in the stunning weather. Daftie wrapped up nice and warm, strapped to my chest off we went. Very good day. Daftie nicely asleep so I’m getting a bit of batch cooking done so that I can enjoy a lazy Sunday tomorrow, just me and my humans. Not that tomorrow is important or anything. (Squee! First Mother’s Day!)

Cannot believe that we’re in the home stretch! Only seven days left of my walking 10,000 steps every day for the month of March. I am honestly quite proud of myself that I’ve already done so much. I have walked in rain, hail, sunshine, uphills, along beach, around Glasgow, circled our kitchen…70,000 left to go! 

This is how you eat, apparently.
Back to today! Poor Wee Daftie didn’t have a great night last night as she’s got a bit of a cold at the moment. Nothing too bad, just super snotty and a bit of a cough. As she sleeps on her tummy these days, she was struggling to settle as there was extra pressure on her chest. She only woke a couple of times but was up for a bit longer each time. Poor kid. 

Friday is music class so it was a good brekkie and then a bus to class. Seeing as Daftie isn’t 100% (though in beautiful spirits) I didn’t want to take multiple trips out so we wrapped up well, got off the bus a few stops early, went to class and then made like little piggies and walked all the way home. 

If only I had discovered this sign earlier! Could just have done 20 laps. Circuit training for the win.

Music class was great today as I caught up with a Mammy Mate from the baby massage class we did in January as well as one of my baby sensory mammies (the good ones) was there with her gorgeous gal for a trial. It’s so weird for me at times as I remember turning up to these classes and baby groups knowing no one and now I’m seeing friends from other places. It’s crazy and amazing. I never thought I’d be in this fab place and making so many new friends at this stage of my life. Truly blessed. 

Early​ Mother’s Day gift from my Big Human. He’s the best. Just don’t tell him I said that. He may get a bit head. 
Steps smashed by 1:30pm thanks to our gigantic walk, which meant me and Daftie could have a lovely, lazy time at home. She had her second nap, tucked up on my lap. Love those snuggly moments from my non-cuddly baby.

So sweet. So cute. So snoring like a walrus.

Can I just exclaim loudly about how cold it was this evening?! Thanks to some poor planning on my part, I finished off today’s steps with a swift lap around the block and came home partially frozen. 

Also incurred the first walk related injury as I forgot about the uneven ground out the back, skipped out the back door and onto my face. My knees look worse in person, I promise. I will be sore tomorrow.

It was another, lovely day filled with my Mammy Mates. One of the lovely ladies from baby sensory suggested that we meet at a mum and baby group this morning, held in St Paul’s and St George’s church at York Place. It’s a lovely big space and have different areas for the different age ranges. It was teeming with loads of little ones, mammies, daddies, grandparents and volunteers from the church. Teas, coffees and a sing-song to finish. Love it. 

What was really great about this morning is that there were actually quite a few of us from the baby sensory class there. Now. These are my Mammy Mates from the later class on a Wednesday, that Daftie and I have just moved up from. These are the good ones. Not that I’m suggesting that they are nicer than the other ones (I am) or that they aren’t as cliquey (they aren’t​) but I am saying I like them more (oh yes I certainly am). It was awesome to sit about, let the babies play and have some proper chat. Especially as I only see them at class change over these days.

My favourite moment was when I tuned into a conversation about Brexit. Me and my Mammy Mates, drinking tea, talking politics. Delightful. 

Dafties on a bus selfie. 

It’s also such a pleasure watching Wee Daftie interact with other people (babies and otherwise) and see her gain a bit of independence. She still likes to know where I am, but will also crawl away and have a play. I don’t know what will happen when we send her to nursery or off to a babysitter as it’s just been me and her for so much of her life so far but these small snippets reassure me that she’s doing well. 

After the playgroup, it was off to a baby cafe to hang out with some pre-Daftie pals, the Cranston Sisters. Elder Cranston had a little girl 5 months ago so it was lovely to spend time with her and meet her baby. It was also fab, as always, for Wee Daftie to spend time with her Auntie Cranners. Look at her stupid face and how pleased she is. Daftie I mean. Auntie Cranners’ face is not stupid, just lovely. 

I definitely feel it’s important for me and Daftie to spend time with my Mammy Mates but also with my pre-Daftie Pals. I wouldn’t be who I am without any of them. I am a supremely lucky gal.  

Steps hit after a nice and busy day.

Current favourite pic of Daftie. 

Wee Daftie only woke once last night! The blackout curtain is working well as she is settling herself down to sleep so, so well. It works so well in fact that when she wakes needing a feed, I have to do this awkward shuffle to her cot to scoop her out, crab walk to the bed, sit and feed her, edge back to the cot and then try to put her back the correct way round and not to stub toe on the retreat. Fail final step every night. 

Wednesday is baby sensory so we set off nice and early. I frequently joke that my girl is stubborn like her Mammy but today’s class prove to me that my instincts are entirely accurate! Picture the scene. A big canvas in the middle of the room with lots of lovely different fabrics, finger puppets and stuffed toys scattered about. Plenty of rubber duckies, balloons and bubbles for the babies to interact with. Cue Wee Daftie crawling away from the action, sitting in the middle of an empty space, looking at her toes. 

(She did join in later) ((When she wanted to)) (((Stubborn))) 

After class, Big Human came to pick us up and we took a daytrip to Glasgow. We thought it would be fun to have a family trip as Big Human will be heading back to Aberdeen on Friday for an unspecified time. It was a lovely drive, a bit soggy in places but also lovely views of snow topped mountains. 

There is only one thing happier than Daftie with a spoon and that is a Daftie with two spoons…

Thanks to baby-led, feeding her in public is a messy but gratifying production. We just plop her in a high chair, offer some bits and then we all get to enjoy our time together. 

Steps achieved quite nicely thanks to wandering around Glasgow. Took in a bit of culture, did a bit retail therapy (Big Human may have found his happy place) and ate a whole heap of food, before whizzing home via the Kelpies. Very excellent day. Happy Achy Mammy. 

Today’s blog is brought to you today by a lack of vitamin drops and the letter “H” – primarily for hailstones (two days in a row? Really Edinburgh?) but also for “Help”. 

I am not good at asking for help. Fact. I will ask questions and try to garner information so that I can come to my own conclusions but, unless it’s something I legitimately know that I cannot do, I’ll carry on regardless. I’ve always been quite self reliant (stubborn) and pretty independent (stubborn) and I been called obstinate before (very stubborn). I definitely know my own mind (stubborn). I just always assume that I can, and will, get the job done myself. I will accept help if offered, if I genuinely feel like I need it. 
I was thinking about this today as we waiting for our bus home from town. We met my lovely American for lunch again but ended up in a flash of hail and rain on our way to the bus. The shelter was crowded so we just stood back a bit, still getting a bit of precipitation falling on us but generally okay. This dude spotted us and stood in the rain so that Daftie and I could be sheltered. Sweet right? 

Two of my favourites. 

Now, being a young Mammy who drags her Baba around in a sling all day, I get a lot of buses and most of the time, people just ignore us or have a small conversation. I don’t regularly have people offer seats (I didn’t get much of that while pregnant either) and I generally wave people onto the bus first. I have been conducting a small anthropological study about this and, on the whole, the same three people offer help. The granny, the fellow Mammy, the workie. I kid you not. If I need to cross the road at Granton Square, where there is not a single pedestrian crossing for a good half a mile either side, I guarantee you that it’ll be the white van man who stops. 

Helping others, on the flip side, I live for! I am in a baby-led weaning group on Facebook and, as I could talk for months on the topic, I always try to offer advice or support or even just a long distance hug. My Humans and I may be nailing this family thing just now, but it’s not always easy and we do all need a hand sometimes. 

I just may not always think to ask for it. 

That’s just my face on a smaller face.

Steps crushed today thanks to morning walk to the post office, our luncheon date and the dash through the hail. Daftie was delighting the staff in the cafe with her beautiful staring and considered lack of smiles. Long may her suspicion of strangers continue.