The Beginner Mum

MrsM: didn't realise I was raising a banshee

BabyM: *squeeeeeeeeee squawk squawk squeeeeeeee*

So today, and the last few weeks if I’m honest, have been all about gathering essential items for our new arrival in April ‘16. Ok, I know it’s a while away but who am I to ignore a downright bargain or some gifts from my awesome mother-in-law? Funnily enough, it’s all items that we need and have been looking at and she has been looking too and seen the exact same item as I have and bought it. It’s like we are linked. Ooooooh.

Part of me really wants to open a pack of nappies and have a really good look, a feel, a play around. Maybe even try one on the cat. No? Alright then. He might protest anyway. But something about this all is making me slightly more maternal. And I’m nesting, by the sounds of it. 1.30am cleaning sprees are NOT normal in any sense of the word. But it needs to be done.

But it has got to the stage now that our new nursery is getting clogged with unbuilt furniture and the likes, so maybe it’s time to start assembling things and get it organised before anything else turns up on our doorstep requiring space in the house, otherwise we will be having Christmas in the bathroom, and I really wish this is an exaggeration, but it’s sadly not.

I also find myself looking at lists of lists saying what to buy, what not to buy, which new-fangled items are great for infants, which can kill them because one idiot made a mistake and has tarred the rest of society and mothers with the same brush. Seriously. If you want me to take your advice as gospel, just don’t. It will all be listened to, yes, but with a pinch of salt. Everyone has their own idea of the best way to do things. It’s like cooking. Or cleaning. Or driving. Or anything else for that matter. Anything and everything is a risk. It’s about minimising that risk as much as you can and in your own way that you trust.

It turns out pregnancy isn’t quite as bad as I was led to believe. Ok, that’s a pretty unfair statement to make. So far my symptoms have been:

Mood swings. Just don’t pull shit that pisses me off. Simple. And don’t wind me up. But that goes without saying because that annoys me anyway. So no change really.

Lack of appetite. I dropped a significant amount of weight in my first 15 weeks of pregnancy. I think it has stopped now, but lets face it, I had extra weight that I could afford to lose!

Tiredness. I was wiped out for weeks and weeks, but now I’m not as bad. I still like my sleep though. Mmmmm... Sleeeeeep....

And you know what? That’s about it. Yup, no morning sickness, or nausea, or skin problems, or back problems. No bump appeared yet and my clothes still fit me. Alright, I like to stretch out a bit more now and when I do fall asleep, I’m always on the same side and wake up without having moved. Unless I need to pee. God damn the need to pee. I can go to the loo, feel relieved for approximately 2 minutes, before I look at my husband with apologetic eyes. He rolls his back to me, and I know what he wants to say. I then run back upstairs and pee for the SECOND TIME in 5 minutes. I mean, seriously... what the hell?

Good evening everyone. This is my first post on Tumblr so be gentle with me. As the title suggests, I am indeed a beginner mum. I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and completely clueless. You know that instinct that kicks in and you just know what you’re supposed to be doing? Yeah, that hasn’t kicked in for me. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I doubt I’m the only person in the world that feels like this, right? So the purpose of this blog, I guess, is to upload my experience of being pregnant and starting a family (that phrase gives me the heebie jeebies, FYI) and hopefully help others who are stranded in the same boat of first time pregnancy and feeling the same terror, anxiety and excitement as I am.

A bit about me? Alright, if I must. I’m 25, live with my husband and work full time as a relief front of house manager for contract catering within Aberdeen city and shire. We have 2 cats, one dog, too many vehicles and I have a slightly unhealthy addiction to Supernatural and Harry Potter. Don’t ask. Unless you’re a fan, in which case, why have we never met?

I just so happen to have the most amazing friends around me. I’d love to include my family in that, but their track record leaves a lot to be desired. The family I have married into, on the other hand, is unbelievable. I have felt like part of it since the day I met them all. And let me tell you, that was one hell of an experience. But back to the matter in hand.

As you can see from my picture, which was taken at our wedding in my dad’s house (while he was in hospital with a stroke - I told you, crazy!), I play the violin - or more accurately, the fiddle. I play Scottish Traditional Music which may not sound like fun but by gum it is. I also teach around the shire.

One more thing... I’m a foodaholic. I love food. I work in catering and have learnt a lot from the chef I was working with. I knew a lot about food before then but since we met, my knowledge has increased to the point where, in emergency situations, I can cover if he is off sick. Scary or what?! He’s a brilliant tutor...

Enough. I ramble. Apologies.