The Mummy Tag

Well it appears that the lovely Squirmy Popple has nominated me to answer The Mummy Tag questions. I’ve been enjoying reading my fellow Mummy Bloggers answers over the last week, so here goes with mine;

1. Are you a Stay at Home Mum or a Working Mum?

Stay at home Mam (Geordie Girl)

2. Would you have it any other way?

Nope. I decided not to return to work whilst on Maternity Leave with my daughter after we worked out that after paying for travel and childcare I’d be left with about £50 per month. No way was I going back to work just to pay someone else to look after my child. Fortunately G has a good job and was more than happy for me to be a stay-at-home Mam, especially when we found out we were expecting another. So I’m skint, permanently knackered, always covered in baby food, baby dribble or baby sick (probably some baby sh*t in there too) and gaining new wrinkles by the day (at 27!!) but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂

3. Do you co-sleep?

Not with my daughter, I was too scared when she was a baby and as she got older she just didn’t like sleeping in our bed with us and couldn’t settle. My son is much more cuddly (clingy!) than his sister but is an amazing sleeper. He sleeps in his cot all night but will come into bed with us for an hour or two each morning. Anything for a bit more sleep eh?!

4. What is your one must-have item for your baby?

I’m a formula feeder so it has to be my Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine. That white box is a lifesaver. Bottles made at the right temperature in under 2 minutes- yes please!

5. How many kids do you plan on having?

I always said four, G always said two, but now we have two- even though our boy is only four months old- I think he’s coming round to three, possibly four. (I ALWAYS win)

6. Date nights? How often do you have them?

Our date nights are usually spent at home with a take-away, some booze or a film once the kids have gone to bed but since we bought a new home our in-laws visit from Wales quite a lot. This means that every now and again we get a few hours to go have a quiet meal or a few drinks along the local club with my Dad. Whatever we do I love our date nights- you definitely appreciate those few hours a lot more after having kids!

7. Your child’s favourite show?

This changes all of he time but once she gets hooked on something it’s on repeat for weeks! She keeps watching something called ‘The Lava’s’ or something (no idea) on Netflix at the moment but the one she never, ever, EVER tires of is Peppa flaming Pig!

8. Name one thing you bought before you had the baby and never ended up using.

With my daughter- Swaddlepods. I had my eye on them for ages but couldn’t bring myself to pay the thirty odd quid they were at the time. I ended up finding a pack on the sale shelf in our local supermarket a few weeks before she was born for £3.50- absolute bargain and the cutest patterns ever! My daughter absolutely HATED them and wouldn’t be swaddled at all!

9. Your child’s favourite food?

Absolutely anything. No kidding. She absolutely loves food and isn’t picky at all. Major thing is crisps which she gets from me- I could live on them- but she eats loads of fruit and veg too so I don’t mind too much. And I’m good at making homemade fruit crisps these days! 

My son is going the exact same way as his sister. At nearly 17 weeks he demolishes porridge every morning, two bowls of savoury puree and a fruit pot each day! I’m over the moon because I really don’t think I could handle picky eating kids!

10. How many cars does your family have?

Just the one, nice blue Ford Focus, G’s though, I can’t drive yet.

11. Weight gain, before pregnancy, during, after and now?

Pah! Constant! I love food and booze too much to be anything less than a size 16. I lost 3.5 stone after having my daughter by quitting smoking, joining Slimming World and starting exercise classes but then found out I was pregnant with our boy so went back to eating what I wanted- best way to enjoy pregnancy! I’m back to booze and food alongside exercise classes and healthy eating plans now- it all balances itself out I guess.

12. Dream holiday with your kids?

As cheesy as it is, any holiday is a dream holiday with my kids! We haven’t had many, and none with our baby boy yet but I guess it would be DisneyLand Orlando because that’s what kids dream of. G’s parents took him when he was young and he remembers every part of it and always says he can’t wait to take our kids when they’re older.

13. Dream holiday without your kids?

Bora Bora! One of those apartments out in the sea which you see on the brochures!

14. How has your life changed since having kids?

Well I used to work full time, Monday to Friday, then drink booze and watch sport part time from Friday evening to Sunday evening. Now I spend my days with a toddler and a baby, occasionally at toddler groups, doing three loads of washing per day, cleaning urine and baby sick out of the carpets. Bliss.

15. Finish the sentence “It makes my heart melt when…”

…I see my daughter singing to her brother to comfort him when he’s upset and hear her whispered words of “It’s alright Billy my little brother, your sister is here and I love you”

16. Where do you shop for your kids?

Nutmeg, George, Matalan, Primark, H&M. Anywhere cheap and cheerful because I cannot face spending a fortune on their clothes when I know that within a minute of wearing a new top there’ll be a spag bol stain down it, even if they’re not eating spag bol! Absolutely love Nutmeg stuff because they put up with all toddler damage and still come out the washer looking brand new!

17. Favourite make-up and skincare products?

Not really something I’ve ever been big on- I don’t really wear makeup just the occasional CC cream and mascara. I have mild rosacea so don’t really know where to go with makeup- any suggestions are welcome!

18. Huggies or Pampers?

Neither. Has to be Asda’s own Little Angels for me.

19. Have you always wanted kids?

Always. I had a few babysitting jobs through my teens and could never say no. They took the p*ss a bit if I’m honest, every weekend and some nights through the week, but I could never say no cause I just loved being around kids.

20. Best part of being a mum?

Which part isn’t amazing? I love every single aspect, good and bad. Having a small person you created learning from you and telling you ten million times a day how much they love you has to be the best part though.

So there you have it! I’m not nominating anyone directly as I think most of my fellow Mummy Bloggers have done this already- but if you haven’t and you fancy a go- feel free!

Mother Hermit xx