Posts Tagged "after"

Happily Ever After

Posted by cafebebemama on Jun 30, 2010 in Blogger Love, Gallery, Writing Workshop | 16 comments

In March of 2006 I became a wife to the love of my life.  We found each other across the ocean and began our happily ever after in an amazing ceremony attended by friends and family.  The American contingency was well represented and as is American tradition, we held a “rehearsal dinner” after the rehearsal for the wedding on the night before the wedding.  The Reverend marrying us had never seen so many people attend a rehearsal!

To get the Americans and English to mingle properly before “the big day”, we had a brilliant Chinese dinner at a local hotel.  There was too much food and way too much wine.  I ended up in tears far too many times, mostly due to stress but courtesy of some amazing friends, family and memories.  My Dad and Mom presented everyone in attendance with Mardi Gras beads in the colours of our favourite American Football team, the Green Bay Packers.  My husband-to-be, however, got a Harley-Davidson set of beads.  I found this particularly amusing, as is evident by the picture above.

In the church photo session hubby decided to sweep me off my feet and show me just how much he loved me…I love these moments.  They’re a bit fewer and far between now but he’s always brilliant at sweeping me off my feet.

In the moments that followed after we left the church as husband and wife on that cold, crisp day in March, hubby and I looked at each other and said, “WE DID IT!”  It was a blissful moment that was OURS and OURS alone.  Who would have imagined that a girl from the midwest of the United States could find the love of her life in an Englishman 4000 miles away?  We did do it and we are living our happily ever after with our amazing daughter.  Bliss…

Thank you Tara and Josie for another brilliant Gallery/Writing Workshop prompt…this week- EMOTION!

Before and After

Posted by cafebebemama on Mar 2, 2010 in Motherhood, Pregnancy & Baby | 3 comments

Before Baby

Before Baby

BEFORE BABY…

• I used to have lie-ins until 10am on the weekend.
• My hubby would bring me tea in bed and we’d enjoy a cuppa together before getting ready for work.
• I worked as a teaching assistant dealing with unruly and difficult students who hated following rules.
• My house was far cleaner and tidier.
• There was far less clutter in our house.
• I was approximately 2 stone (28lbs) lighter.
• I walked for fitness and for fun.
• I spent money on things like books for myself and makeup or magazines.
• I NEVER WATCHED CBEEBIES or any other children’s television.
• I took a bath every day and was slightly better groomed.
• I never left the house without doing my hair and putting on lipstick and makeup.
• It didn’t matter when we went places, how long it would take to get there or where we went.
• I didn’t know the first thing about pushchairs!
• Blogging was not invented and who knew what Twitter was…it was something Ashton Kutcher did!
• Practical Parenting & Mother & Baby magazines stayed on the shelf while I purchased Health & Fitness
• Dr Seuss was a memory from my childhood.
• Milton wipes, nappies and a change of clothes were unheard of!
• My handbag was MINE.
• I took pride in my appearance and tried to look nice for my hubby.
• I thought I knew what love was.

After Baby

After Baby

AFTER BABY…

• A lie in meant sleeping until 7am after being woken up 3-4 times in the night.
• There’s no more tea in bed unless one of us is giving the other one a lie-in and we’re feeling particularly loving!
• I work at home all day with a delightful child who’s learning to test the “rules” but still makes me happier doing this “job” than any job I’ve ever had.
• My house is far messier and less tidy than ever before…and I don’t care!
• The amount of clutter is reaching epic proportions…never know when a cardboard tube might be useful!
• I am approximately 2 stone (28lbs) heavier and find very little motivation to do anything about it.
• I walk to restore my faith in the world and give my Little Miss some fresh air & sunshine (when it manages to make an appearance).
• I spend money on things like wipes, nappies, sippy cups & children’s books.
• I never see anything other than Cbeebies during the daytime hours.  If a major news event happens, unless it’s to the Piplings in Waybuloo, I’ll have no clue about it until well after the fact!
• I sometimes resort to a “sink bath” to get out of the house faster.  A short glance in the mirror is all I get these days.
• I have left the house without makeup and I now only wear lipbalm and the occasional swipe of lipgloss and very minimal makeup…I look tired and a bit older.
• We now plan out where we are going based on its family-friendliness and when a nap might come into play.
• I know far too much about pushchairs and have approximately 8 in my house at the moment! (I test and review them for MadeForMums website)
• Blogging is a life-line and a source of “work” for me and I am a PERSONA on Twitter (Klout ranking, thank you very much).
• The Dr Seuss ABC book is a firm favourite as is “Run, Run, It’s Scary Poo”!  Who knew!
• You should see what’s in my bag!
• My handbag is Little Miss’ (but I quite like it to tell you the truth).
• I forget what my appearance should look like but my husband still seems to fancy me!  Thank goodness!
• I now know what love is…an unconditional, beautiful thing that changes and grows every day.

The inside of me is a vision of loveliness thanks to my daughter and husband.  The OUTSIDE of me is not.  Anyone who would like to help me with this is welcome to contact me!  What do you do to retain YOU after baby?  I’d love your advice and tips.