These daily scribbles are going to have be renamed “whenever-I-get-a-chance” scribbles… almost two weeks now since I last wrote one. The trouble is that the only real opportunity I’ve had to write has been in the evenings once Bowie is asleep and usually I’m so tired and fuzzy-eyed that I can’t muster up the energy to do much more than flop on the couch.

With any other pockets of free time, work for Caraliza Designs is the priority now as we approach Christmas.

I feel so restricted with my lack of free time and guilty to use up any valuable chunks on any activity that’s not for the business. The list of things to get done for Caraliza is never-ending. And that’s before you factor in things like laundry, cleaning a messy kitchen, preparing food (both for Mama and baby these days) or meeting up with a friend/fellow Mum.

I knew having a baby would be life-changing and my “free time” would become a thing of the past…

I knew it. But I actually had no idea.

I might have to ruthlessly cut out all unnecessary extras in the coming weeks, things like scrolling through Instagram in the evenings, going out for coffee with Alex a couple times a week.

Then again, I’m prone to getting mastitis when I get too tired and stressed, especially while Bowie still isn’t sleeping well at night (we’ve had a slight regression recently on all our hard work). I was only just thinking how well I was doing; a full month since I last had any issues besides one possible niggle that cleared up almost instantly.

Bam! Cue a big sore lump in my right boobie and the intense anxiety that always accompanies it for me. Ah Jesus, breastfeeding is fucking hard going! I love it, I’m immensely grateful that I was able to get through the initial period when it felt like razors going through my nipples during each feed, to the joy of pain-free snuggly time with Bowie. And it’s amazing to think that this great massive 7 month-old has grown so big and strong thanks to the wonders of my human body.

But it has been tough. At times exhausting, overwhelming, frightening, excruciatingly painful, distressing, depressing and incredibly stressful. And that’s with a huge amount of support around me…

It really does take a village to raise a child. I cannot imagine how a single mother does it and it feels so unfair that some ladies end up in that situation.

To end this on a lighter note, Bowie is doing great these days. Absolutely flying it, as they say! He’s eating more and more at each meal and adores:

• Broccoli & Cauliflower
• Dhal – a very simple unsalted version of lentil curry
• Pancakes (made from just eggs, banana, cinnamon and buckwheat flour – they’re delicious!)
• Sweet potato
• Porridge (once it’s got some pear or apple puree mixed in)
• Parsnip & Carrots
• Avocado
• Spelt bread

He’s doing so well and so is Mama (it’s a bit nerve-wracking watching his eyes water and his face go red as he gags on something before either swallowing it or spitting it out!).

And the best/most terrifying recent development? He started crawling! One day before he turned seven months, he made his first few moves and he’s getting faster and more adept at it every single day.

Never mind leaving him for a moment to grab something from another room, if I take my eyes off him for a second now he’s trying to get into the coal box or head for a socket or poke the dog in the eye… I do wish babies could develop their mental faculties as fast as they do their physical ones. You know, like if they could start crawling at around two years of age and then walking at three, that would be awesome.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. Til the next scribble (possibly in 2020 at the rate I’m going)…

Ciao darlings!

Liz