Weekends alone....

My weekend this week kicked off as many will for the next term, with Tomas's swimming lesson. This was his second swimming lesson as a space only became available last week for him to finally start (after 2-3 months on the waiting list). 

Splash Swim School in the vale of Glamorgan are fantastic. They coped really well with my eldest son when he was with them as he is absolutely petrified of the water and it took him a lot to even get in. He would cry and all sorts. Needless to say he only lasted one term with them because I couldn't put him through the torture every week. He had a week swimming tuition through school and also learned whilst in Spain on holiday with his grandparents. He's still cautious in the water and holds onto me but he's getting better. 

Tomas on the other hand, he's a maniac in water anyway, and when my husband takes him swimming he jumps in off the edge and goes down the slides (the top of his head is literally on the safety line, hehe). He also loves the lazy river! 

So swimming lesson No.2 went very well. Tomas can now happily swim without aid from the swimming coach, and the only aid is his armbands. Granted he's slow but he won't let the coach hold him at all, and he also loves "being a rocket" which is holding onto the side and pushing away with his feet so he springs into the water. 

He came out after his 30 minutes and was gutted as he wanted to stay in there longer. I was so so proud of his performance I decided I'd treat him with a movie night before bed! 

James was at his grandparents for the weekend, so it was just Tomas and I for the next two nights. As mentioned in my introduction post my husband is a serving member of our armed forces. At the moment he is currently away for an overseas exercise. Unfortunately with this exercise comes zero contact. My last contact from him was Monday morning before I rushed into work, and it was only via Whatsapp. Thankfully I managed to ask for a little selfie, and seeing his face that morning after a week apart already was bliss. So handsome! 

This weekend was a weekend of fun and love from my littlest boy! We sat down Friday evening with a special make-your-own pizza from Asda and little bowls of snacks. Chose a film off on-demand on the TV and snuggled down. It was precious. Moments like this were simply some of my favourite memories! We opted for Dennis the Menace movie and Tomas was hysterical. I love watching and hearing him giggle. Dennis also reminded me of Tomas's cheekiness, smart answers back and accidentally causing trouble, even though it was genuinely an accident. 

We ended up getting sleepy together, and went to bed at the same time. A successful evening, regardless of both of us missing two of our specials! 

Saturday morning seemed just as eventful with a family fun day at our local church. Meeting new friends, painting faces and drinking lots of tea... Oh not forgetting bouncing up and down, and side to side on the bouncy castle (Tomas not me). 

The remainder of our Saturday was a lot less busy, visiting family and snuggling on the sofa again, this time to watch Princess Diaries. The empty space on the sofa usually occupied by my husband was more apparent this time. Putting Tomas to bed and climbing into bed alone was worse than the night before. Maybe I wasn't as sleepy. This resulted in odd dreams and waking due to being uncomfortable throughout the night. 

Waking on Sunday, with a sneaky little dude in my bed made me feel a tad better about my broken sleep. We spent the morning lazing around and when we finally got ourselves dressed we found ourselves in a coffee shop having a teacake and pot of tea. Waiting patiently for the call from my mother to say what time dinner will be ready. 

Tonight brings a bit more normality to our lives. James comes home, and it's early nights (I hope) ready for school in the morning... Another successful weekend down without "Daddy" and "hubby". 

Standard 1st Post - All About Me

Hi

I hate the awkwardness of introducing myself for the first time, always reminds me of Hollywood movie AA meetings - "Hi, I'm Kirsty and I've been sober now for 5 months. Not out of choice but due to baking a baby".

Well, now that awkwardness is out of the way...

Hi, I'm Kirsty, I'm 28, currently mother of 2, soon to be mother of 3! My story is probably similar to most mummies these days, I did everything backwards but then I never did like living by the rules.

I had my first son, James, when I was just 18. Not something I had planned, but not something I would change. Although who has the power to change destiny? My eldest child has made me the mother I am today, and although he tests my patience (like most children) he is the corner stone of my household.

When James was just 3 years old I split from his father. It was a decision that took me 2 years to make. Living with a man who I didn't love, due to not wanting to be a single mother, along with being the teenage mother society referred to me as. Labelled!

Within months of becoming single I met a man who would change my life, make me believe I wasn't just what society thought of me. I was a student in Cardiff University and one of my fellow students was having her engagement party. I decided to go along, not realising I would be the only one from uni there. Needless to say I needed Dutch courage to socialise in a room full of people I didn't know. "Same again?" The barmaid would say, double vodka and coke down the hatch. I turned from the bar clocking this tall man, wearing a baby blue jumper and jeans. He was gorgeous. I stumbled over and managed the words "You're lush you are". That was the start of my budding romance with the man who made me his wife. He clearly saw potential in that drunken mess of a girl in an incy wincy navy polka dot dress.

Maybe it was the dress...

Within the first year of our whirlwind romance we planned our first child together. My (now) husband is a serving soldier in the British Army, and within a year of my first loving words he was to be deployed to Afghanistan. I had my coil removed, despite both of us being convinced it would not happen prior to this operational tour. The first month my menstrual cycle came and went as normal. The second month I hastily  awaited his return home for the weekend, eager to know the reason why my period was late with crossed fingers. He came home, it was Friday 13th, typical. I pee'd on the white stick, left it on the bathroom floor and sat on my bed, I want to say patiently but that would be lying. After the said waiting time he went to check. I moved back to lean on the pillows. He came in, head hanging down with the test in his hand. He shook his head, looked up at me and I squealed. His eyes wouldn't lie! We were pregnant!!!

Baby number 2 (for me) was baking away nicely. My husband left for Afghanistan within a week of my 12 week scan. The remainder of the pregnancy was going to be like an operational tour of my own, alone. My due date was approaching and I found myself hobbling along on crutches due to suffering from SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction). My partner wasn't due to fly home until after my due date, but I was convinced I would go early as my first son was a week early as I was induced due to being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Despite my first labour being induced I was still convinced this baby would come before my mans return.

One evening I sat in my living room, waiting for my in laws to pop in with baby things they had purchased for me. James was in bed. There was a knock at the door about 19:30, FINALLY I thought as I was shattered and ready for bed. Opening the front door I was faced with a uniformed man, I stumbled backwards having no idea what was happening. I managed to muster the words "What's going on?"

"It's me baby" the man said. He came and held me up. Kissed me and said "that wasn't the reaction I was expecting". Need I say, I went into labour the next morning. After a 2 and a half hour labour our beautiful baby boy Tomas was born, 15 days early. How special it was to have had my man at the birth, after such anxiety thinking I would be doing it alone!

The following year I became a Mrs. His Mrs. We made the decision to not move into military quarters and I stayed in our family home in Wales, whilst he was based 3 hours away. People say marriage is just a piece of paper, but it is so much more.

That brings me up to the present day. Baby number 3... This special little bean was our lovely surprise. Unplanned but not unloved. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant with baby boy number 3. Convinced I will create my own army of boys.

Now it appears you know my mummy story so far... Military and milk!