Searching to make mum's life easier

It feels like just a moment ago that I was hauling my gargantuan pregnant belly to the hospital, and though the labour pains are a hazy memory, the first 6 weeks of babies life have gone in a flash.



And with time in total freefall, I wish I could be reporting on a fantastic new invention that somehow slows the clocks down a little... something that allows the user to just take a moment and breathe. Because I don't know about anyone else out there, but my life is utter chaos - in the nicest possible way of course!

But is there any way that we can pause the bedlam for ourselves?

Enjoy every moment
Something we always hear, and something we often say to ourselves. But do we ever really make an effort amidst all the mayhem to actually do it? Well, I've made a concerted effort over the past week to find enjoyment in everything I do.

• Explosive nappy change at 3am? Absolutely. Because once it's over and baby is wrapped and snuggled back in my arms, the relief and smug pride of pulling it off without waking the whole household is tremendous.
• Hanging out the tenth load of washing? Love it. Because for these few short months I'm in the sunshine and not in the office.
• Debating the value of washing hair with a 3 year old? Hilarious. The logic they project whilst I attempt to remove half the sandpit from behind his ears makes me laugh out loud - even when I end up jumping into the bath fully clothed myself.
• Baby wakes every time you put her down? Hmm... to be honest I'm still looking for the smiley-moment in that one?! Do let me know if you can find one...

Go outside and look up
Have you noticed that the more caught up in the modern world you get, the more you automatically look at the ground, as you rush from A to B?
Looking up (and I mean literally, not metaphorically), has always been my motto in life, and one I've neglected recently.
Now, every day, I take a moment to look up at the sky.
Try it - if you are in the city, stop and look at the tops of the buildings, they are spectacular and very rarely appreciated.
Out in the park? Check out the tops of the trees, the clouds, the huge free space above our heads.
And as it forces you to stop walking (or you'll fall over!), you have to stop and just take things in for a moment.

So once the kids are in bed (for the moment anyway), and the house is quiet for the first time in over 14 hours, I stop to smile and reflect for a second on another day flown by.
Despite the blips and bumps along the way, and the few more grey hairs that I've gained in an incredibly short space of time, it was another good one... and one I wouldn't change for the world.