Zoë Bowyer

Bunny, originally uploaded by ZMB.

Bunny on Ravelry

A little toy for Martha to throw out of the buggy. We have already lost a bunny, a duckie and a wooden spoon.

Explorer, originally uploaded by ZMB.

A little change of scene here, I was getting bored of looking at the post below.

Martha is 10 months old today and has just returned from her first holiday to the Dingle Peninsula. She went for houndie walks, explored and stood without support. A good holiday.

I busied myself with a spot of knitting and I hope to have it finished before Martha grows out of it.

Ok, so I’m a few days late with the Happy Half-Year Birthday greeting (which was on Friday) and a day early in taking the photograph, but the important thing is that we remembered on the day.

I know I am so bad not writing for so long. In my defence – I have been busy. Now I shall try my best to give an update on the adventures of Martha. Martha is doing well, she is still exclusively breastfed and thriving on it. She will be 24 weeks old on Saturday and will get her first bit of real food (though she has already licked apples, bananas and orange juice).

On Mondays Martha goes swimming with Dave and I. We attend a free swimming class for babies, the first 15 minutes are spent singing songs and swishing Martha about in the water and the final 15 minutes are for play. She absolutely adores it all and squeals with joy throughout.

Every other Wednesday Martha goes to the local breastfeeders anonymous group at the library, where she smiles at other breastfeeding babies and I get to eat scones. When we are not at breastfeeders anon we go to a parent and toddler group.

Most days we take the dogs for a walk in the afternoon. Martha loves to watch the dogs, especially when they are wrestling with each other. I think that Martha really wants to dig her fingers into the dogs’ fur – Gracie is having none of it and scarpers every time she sees a baby limb move, Maya is more accepting of being touched by a baby (she is just glad of any attention these days).

Martha despises housework and computing. She reserves her foulest screams for when either of these activities may be taking place (please note she is currently asleep and doesn’t realise that I am using a computer). She doesn’t mind baking and helped make soda bread and a coconut and raspberry loaf cake yesterday. However, when it came to cleaning up the mess I had made while baking, she protested very loudly.

And that’s all for now folks.

Martha and the Rabbit Tail from Zoe Bowyer on Vimeo.

The Lip, originally uploaded by ZMB.

My little one is upstairs in bed babbling away. I am just catching a moment before her contented babbles turn into cries. I know that when I go up to her she will give me a giant smile. This makes me happy.

hoursold, originally uploaded by waveneyavenue.

I would say that every person who reads this blog is already aware that I have had my baby. Just in case there is anyone out there who does not know – I had little Martha Amy on 19 September. We have spent the last 4 weeks getting to know each other and it is bloody hard work, but very rewarding.

The dogs were extremely interested in her when she arrived home. We sat her in her car seat on the floor and both Gracie and Maya sniffed and licked her. They were very gentle. When Martha cried both dogs started vibrating in fear – they have since got used to the sound of crying.

winding, originally uploaded by waveneyavenue.

Naturally I haven’t had much on the way of free time and I haven’t yet learned the art of multi-tasking feeding and typing. Though we have got to grips with sleeping and knitting or reading.

Happy Birthday Gracie, originally uploaded by ZMB.

4 today.

Mentally I am the same size I was before I grew my bump. Physically I cannot fit through the same tight gaps – especially between car wing mirrors. According to my mother my arse looks bigger. I guess it’s a balance thing, my arse grows to balance out the big belly so that I don’t topple forwards.

I have a new hobby – sleeping during the day. It is brilliant! The dogs love it too, we all pile up on the bed and rest a spell.

If it is quiet here it is because: I have been away; I am sleeping; I am working; I am talking about bathrooms; I am knitting; I am walking the dogs; I am eating my dinner.

I am slowly gathering together all the basics I will need for the arrival of my baby. Some stuff is bought and some is made. I threw together a quick homemade version of this. Dave wasn’t very impressed by it, his attention was only held for a couple of seconds. He reckons a boy would never be engrossed by something so silly. I said, just you wait to see your wee idiot son playing away with it! Actually, I didn’t really say that, I said something a lot less PC and had myself a hugh, wobbling belly laugh.

I read in the paper this week about pregnancy causing absent-mindedness. There were many theories as to why, such as the brain shrinking, hormones and tiredness. Of course, I thought, none of this will happen to me – I will remain on the ball and alert. So why then did I pour milk over my muesli and then proceed to pour milk over Maya’s dog nuts? It wasn’t a disaster, Maya was very grateful for the tasty addition to her normally dry breakfast. In my defense I would say that her nuts could easily be mistaken for some kind of chocolate puff cereal.

I managed to complete two knitted garments last week. One was a little cardigan for the baby and the other was a bolero for me. I am very happy with the bolero, although it is far too warm for the weather we are having. Really this is bra and panties weather – or is it just me that feels so, so warm?

On Saturday Dave and I went to a basket weaving class near Portaferry. I made this and I am very proud of it!