Bags Of Prepartation

Both mental and physical prepartaion. Today is a first, my boys are spending the afternoon with a childminder. Phew. It's exciting as it means I can now do home visits and man a phone line and do a one-to-one drop in advice session but I have a very sick feeling. Nathaniel is very excited and has taken his lunch box to B's and is looking forward to playing with the other little boy there who is two too. Seb is smiling and laughing and his usual self (even after having an awful night with his teeth), I have filled his belly, sent some cheesie leeks, some rice and fruit and some EBM and his Doidy cup. I know in my rational mind that this will be wonderful for the three of us. They can have an adventure once a week with a lovely lady that I know will give them everything they need and love them. I can have some time for me and be someone other than Mummy.

In panic style, very true to my nature I knocked up some bags;

One for B to hang on the pram when she has the boys with enough room for everything they will need (no room for me though);

Spare clothes incase of spills, wet play or muddy puddles and a nappy packet;

Enough wipes for lots of dirty faces and bottoms;

And a new Boobie Kit Bag for me with enough room for everything I need;

That matches my eveidence file beautifully (even if I do say so myself);

Today I am not doing anything boobie related, I am having some me time (the first for a very long time) and I have already changed the beds, taken stuff up to the attic and done some laundry, next to do is hang the laundry, clean the bathroom, vac through, mop the floors and then maybe have a little sit down and sew and maybe watch 60 minute makeover as I know the woman who's on this week, she is the grandmother of one of Nathaniel's girlfriends!!

A Busy Two Days

I am much much better and want to say a big thank you for all the lovely comments left on my last post.

Yesterday saw the boys and I on a very exciting adventure to visit some new friends. We travelled across to the Black Sheep Barn, somewhere I will definately be going back to, to meet the lovely Jo and her beautiful son Aidan. He is small and clever with shining eyes and a mop of curly blonde hair. He and Nathaniel are very alike; they think far too much for boys who are only two! We did a little shopping at the big barn (oooh, it was so exciting, could have spent a fortune) and then set off to the nearby village of Culcheth to find some coffee and cake.

We had a lovely chat about our boys and babies and breasts (yes, sorry) and swap anxieties (so glad to know it's not just me that suffers).

Nathaniel met Postman Pat;


And a Thomas impersonator;

Then Nathaniel completley showed me up in public lodged a very vocal complaint at having to visit another wool shop. So we wound up our visit and headed home. I think had it been warmer and we'd have been in the park the boys would have been happier and our conversation would have gone on much longer (thought of loads of things I wanted to know after we'd parted) but it was just all too much for two small, serious, blonde boys. Nathaniel only just made it out of the car park before falling asleep;

And the reason we met up was to exchange our Seven Days Of Specialness Swap gifts in person. We know it's a little late but figured what Ali didn't know couldn't hurt her!

I am so excited for the coming week, look at all these goodies;

They are wrapped in crafting magazine pages and a dress pattern, very imaginative Jo, I may be stealing the idea. I numbered my gifts for Jo so she would know what order to open them in, I'm not sure if there was any reasoning behind my numbering other than my terrible anal retentiveness. The gifts I was given are not numbered. Jo only said to open the biggest one last. So I grabbed the biggest one and quickly wrote '7' on it. I then asked Elizabeth to randomly number the others one to six. I was concerned that it would have taken me a good hour every day this week to decide which gift to open, this way I'll know.

And then today has seen a huge boobie meet up day. It's called a 'Planning Day' and happens a couple of times each year where all the peer supporters from the surrounding area come together and discuss issues that affect some or all of us and how best to address them. It's also a chance for us all to meet socially and update any training.

As I missed my graduation last thursday I was handed my certifictes and ID badge and gubbins* today infront of everyone. As the guest who delivered the certificates to the rest of my group wasn't there I was given my certificates and a big hug from a lovely lady called Tina who is the chair 'breast mate' over in Rossendale. She also happens to be the very nice staff nurse who supported my choice to breastfeed during Sebastian's hospital stay before christmas!

I am knackered now, a very long day indeed (although probably longer for Simon as he has had the big three and is also marking exam scripts for AQA).

Another long day tomorrow as I am entertaining three of Francesca's friends who are coming to make some crafty goodness and celebrate her birthday.

Night all, Daisie xxx

*I will elaborate at a later date.

A Breast A Day

Do you all remember my prize winning breast? New comers may not so click the link and go see the story behind my breast;

I graduate on Thursday next week, very exciting, mayor and press arriving, certificates dished out and smiles all round, clothing nightmare (do I go with jeans and a black tee or jeans and a black tee?!) aside I have a knitting problem. One of my class mates asked me to knit a breast for her. I said I would and then I thought how nice it would be if we all had a DaisieDavies breast in our kit bags. Well, I said that and then other things kinda got in the way......... so now I have seven days in which to knit seven breasts. If there's a funny smell it'll be the smoke from my needles!

I have now completed the La Leche League Peer Supporters course and a UNICEF accredited course in breast feeding management that works in conjuction with The Baby Friendly Initiative.

It's official, I now know what I'm talking about!! I now have six months of training to back up my six+ years experience of breastfeeding. I can't wait to get out there and making a difference and maybe when Seb ventures into the world of nursery and school I may even get paid for it too. Blimey. Employment!

Daisie xxx

An Apology

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that my wobble post of a few days ago has been removed. I think maybe I was wrong to share the information with you, maybe it makes me as unprofessional as she was. Who knows but it's gone now. I don't want to paint the centre in a bad light and put people off. Things are being sorted, issues dealt with and it'll all be ok. It has bolstered me and swelled my confidence again to know that you are all behind me and care about the same things I do :-)

There are a few crafty things happening here at the mo but for swaps and presents so I need to keep them under wraps for now.

And because I hate posts without pictures here are my princesses at christmas, see it really is hard to get a good photo of them;

Hope they forgive me!

Daisie xxx

Little Angels!

Sebastian is much much better so yesterday we ventured out of the house (for the first time in what seems like years) and attended our 'boobie training' last session where we were having a little party. We are back agin after christmas to complete training but any excuse for a party.

As a fleet of volunteers we are called Little Angels and I found some wonderful little chipboard tree hanger decorations and turned them into personalised cards for all my little angel pals;


My contribution to the party was some homemade mince pies;

Nathaniel helped me;

But Johanna stole the limelight by bringing this amazing cake that her friend made for us;

The angels were so cute;

The cake was very tasty too!!

It was lovely to see everyone after the events of last week and two of my angel buddies were very pleased to see us as they had been to the hospital and seen Sebastian when he was very ill. It was good to get lots of things off my chest about the care we recieved too. A fabulous de-brief, thanks ladies!!

Then this morning we have snow (well, a small whiteish covering), Nathaniel was very pleased indeed;

He made lots and lots of lovely footprints and got very wet and cold on the way to school as he had to keep stopping to touch the snow;

School finishes today so we can all snuggle up tonight and hope there is more snow so we can go out tomorrow in our wellies!!

I have two sewing projects to complete for gifts but other than that I am completely organised, I think!

Hope this coming week doesn't disappear too fast and that you all get time to be ready to enjoy the big day on friday (this time next week it'll all be over).

Daisie xxx

Make The News

The voting blog is now up and voting ends midnight on sunday so click on the link and go and have a look!

The breast is entry number 6, incase you have lost all function of your eyes and mind!! It is saturday morning after all!!

Hopefully am off to Preston in a little while to buy something for the something Simon bought me for Christmas.....oooh, the intrigue.........I love a good mystery............will be back later....

Daisie xxx

Breast!!

I know, I know, here she goes again!!

This is my entry for the Folksy "Make The News" competition;


You can see it and all the blurb here. The brief was to handcraft an item that was inspired by a news item. The story that has struck a chord with me of late is how Facebook have been deleting pictures of women breastfeeding their children from profile pages as they have deemed them 'pornographic' and 'indecent'. You can read more here. I know I always bang on about the same old shit but at least I am consistant!!

The deadline for entries is midnight tonight and voting (as far as I know) is over the weekend. I will be back tomorrow with a link to the blog post on Folksy. I am assuming it will be the same as the Folksy Angel comp where votes are cast by leaving a comment with the name of your favourite. Don't think I'll be as near the top as last time, some of the entries are fab!!

Where have you been all week? I hear you all ask (or not as the case may be)!

Well, I have been stomping around with the pram in the cold burning off all those extra Christmas calories and doing school runs and running a breastfeeding group (a bit quiet this week but it was the first one and we're hoping we'll be busier in future), meeting with Elizabeth's teacher (she's having trouble with her confidence when it comes to maths and I've got some reinforcement work to do with her at home), struggling with a double buggy and two small boys (pics will follow) and singing and playing at assorted playgroups! I have also been highly deprived of sleep as Nathaniel is very unhappy at the moment with his teeth. Nothing seems to be combatting his pain and he cries alot! Still, only four more to go and then he has a full set and hopefully we can get some sleep.

Our bedroom is looking wonderful and we're just waiting for a plasterer and then hopefully we can move back in (and off the futon in the spare room) and then soon after the children's bedroom can be organised and redecorated, woo-hoo!

Daisie xxx

A Good Remedy.....

.....for cold bones from stomping to school and back and playgroup and the supermarket in the sub-zero temperatures; a big deep bubbly bath;



Followed by ten minutes wondering just where does the water go when it leaves the bath....?



A busy day tomorrow as I have an early, half eight meeting with a teacher at school (must make sure I am up early enough to shower and dry hair and find clothes without snot on) and then the very first meeting of "Bosom Buddies" starts at 9am!! Our breast feeding support group is finally underway, am very excited indeed! My CRB is done. Everyone is briefed. Just have to hope that we get some Mums dropping in to chat!

Will be back tomorrow with tales of how it all went...

Daisie xxx