Big Boy's Big Day

There were no tears from either of us. Just lots of big smiles from a very proud Big Boy and his mamma.

Luca's first day at 'school' {which is actually like a nursery or kindergarten as it is 9am-12pm, 5 days a week but they wear a uniform!}was something I have been anticipating with many mixed emotions, as I'm sure every other mother also experiences.

I have been looking forward to:
- Luca being able to get out of the small space that is our London flat, letting him run around and scream as much as he wants with other kids his own age and meeting new friends.
- seeing him in his new school uniform

{No confidence issues for this child}

- having quieter mornings at home
- having some special Mamma & Beni time


I have not been looking forward to:
- walking away and having to leave him at school because he is only 3 years old!!...

But hey, we are in England and this is how they do things here and - after all - he will come away with a very cute English accent.

Being Luca's first day of school I got to stay with him as part of a settling-in period, which was a good thing because we only just got back from our 2 week holiday in Italy in the early hours of this morning so we were all feeling a little fragile...

He was a little unsure at first so sat on my knee and gave me cuddles for a couple of minutes which was nice.
{I am needed!}
 ... until he saw the toy dinosaurs and then he was off!
And low and behold, guess who was one of the toy dinosaurs...

"Look Mamma, it's Aunty Gretchie!" {otherwise known as Luca's Party Entertainment}.
Oh how I chortled.

And so I passed the hours by proudly watching my little Big Boy make himself familiar at his new school. I love the way he quite often stands and stares at other children, sussing them out, watching how they do things.

I watched from a distance with a smile on my face as he took himself to the toilet, did the Big Boy Standing Up type of wees, pulled his undies and trousers up, washed soaped rinsed and dried his hands before heading out to play once more.

I watched from a distance, itching to be the teacher as she sat down with him at the computer and showed him how to use the mouse to draw pictures and paint.

I watched from a distance as he sat down with another teacher who helped him spread cream cheese on a biscuit and then place bits of dried fruit on it to create a face.

I watched from a distance, stifling a giggle, as he devoured that biscuit with much appreciation.

And all the while I kept thinking how blimmin CUTE my little Big Boy is!

And you know what? It made me see that, actually, we have done a great job thus far at raising this little guy.
He is well-mannered, sweet, loves to laugh, full of life, tender, thoughtful, imaginative, playful, creative, determined...

As much as I am looking forward to having a bit of 'space' in the mornings, I am also feeling rather saddened by the fact that my first born baby who I pushed out not that long ago is already starting school!

Another benefit I can see of Luca going to school in the mornings is that he came home today happy and exhausted, thus having a hearty lunch and a long afternoon nap.

Yessssssss.
I like. I like this a lot.

The best things in life are free

They say money can't buy you happiness.

I would quite like to be able to speak from experience and say "Yes the above statement is adsolutely true" because that would be WONDERFUL to have lots and lots of cash-oh-la! But I somehow think I would, if I had to choose, still go for happiness over money. But both would be nice, of course.

Happiness is something you simply cannot put a price on nor take for granted.

I keep getting drawn back to the simple pleasures in my life that cost nothing and yet make me do the 'double-lung' sigh of contentment when I experience them.

Today Beni did his first real giggle and oh my goodness I thought my heart was going to explode with delight! It was so flippin CUTE and he had me cracking up and it resulted in a laughing competition between us. Priceless!

This got me thinking on the many simple pleasures in my life that are free and that I can so easily take for granted. Things I love, things that make me feel happy and content and remind me that my world is a beautiful place.

So here is a quick list of 15 simple things that make me happy:

1. The smell of...
- fresh cut grass
- bread baking in the oven
- freshly ground coffee
- my husband's D&G aftershave (DAMN he's hot!)
- puppies
- my children's skin after their bath
- my pillow (it's a childhood thing ok?)

2. Climbing into a bed with fresh linen

3. Listening to the rain on the roof when I'm tucked up in bed

4. Fluffy clean towels

5. Hearing my children laugh

6. A spontaneous embrace from my husband

7. Hearing my mum & dad's voice on the phone (that costs them for the long distance call though...)

8. Reading in bed

9. Spending quality time with my friends (which doesn't happen enough)

10. Lying in a hot bath with scented water and candals

11. Sitting down with a cup of tea and my knitting (say what you like, I know I'm still cool!)

12. Breastfeeding my babies

13. The sun on my skin

14. My freshly painted fingernails and toenails

15. Having my children fall asleep on me - I could stay cuddling them forever

...there's so much more I could list here but it's nice to get some of them down on 'paper'.

I need to remember to come back to this list if I'm having a particularly bad day and re-remind myself of all the simple things in life that I love and that actually make this life of mine a beautiful one.

La vita è bella.

Don't forget it Brigitte.

Goodbye to a week of sickness

This week our household has been plagued with a stomach bug - vomiting and diorreahea (I can never spell that word).  But not on a massive, crippling scale, just enough to really annoy you and zap your energy levels.

And I've discovered that it is very difficult to look after two little children when all you want to do is lie on the couch and groan...

Yep. Poor me.

Today I ventured out of the house (first time since Tuesday...) and took the little peeps down to the baby wellness center for their weigh-ins. (That was so much easier to type than it was to actually get them out of the house)... Oh. My. Goodness. What a frustrating episode that was! Because Luca was feeling so much better today he was ready to kick the door down to get outside so was a wriggling little worm tying to get all his layers of clothes on and unfortunately for my children, because I wasn't feeling well, my tolerance levels were pretty low and I'm sorry to say I was not a totally 'in control' mother... Oh to be able to revert back to childish behaviour and scream and cry and stamp my feet, just for once!! *sigh*

But eventually we were ready to go and it was good to get some fresh air on the way to the clinic - Beni falling asleep as soon as the motion of the buggy started and Luca pointing out 'Porsche Car!' and 'Mini Car!' and 'Fast Car!' (any car that looks cool) along the way.  I must admit I'm a little concerned that he is already developing into a Petrol Head. LOVES his cars!

We had to wait for a bit before we were seen at the clinic so I breastfed Beni while Luca sat and ate crackers.  But he soon tired of that and decided to play infront of the automatic doors.

One step forward = doors open
One step back = doors close.

Hours of entertainment!

I was desperately wanting Luca to burn off some energy at the playground so his nap time after lunch would be longer (!) but as soon as we stepped outside again it started to rain... Ah well. DVDs it is then. I have no energy for anything else today I'm afraid!

We got through the afternoon ok and I was able to manage Luca's energy without passing out (such a drama queen I know!). It was so much easier when he was not well and all he wanted to do was sleep on the couch!

Although it's really horrible and sad when our children get sick, one thing I treasure during these times are the wonderful snuggles they give.  I love it when Luca sits on my lap when he's unwell and falls asleep with his head on my chest while I stroke his hair.  Very precious moments that I LOVE! It's so nice to be the one able to offer some comfort during his pain and discomfort.

That's one thing I know I'm really good at as a Mamma! ;-)