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!