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Maya Angelou

We, this people, on a small and lonely planet  Traveling through casual space  Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns  To a destination where all signs tell us  It is possible and imperative that we learn  A brave and startling truth

And when we come to it  To the day of peacemaking  When we release our fingers  From fists of hostility  And allow the pure air to cool our palms

When we come to it  When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate  And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean  When battlefields and coliseum  No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters  Up with the bruised and bloody grass  To lie in identical plots in foreign soil

When the rapacious storming of the churches  The screaming racket in the temples have ceased  When the pennants are waving gaily  When the banners of the world tremble  Stoutly in the good, clean breeze

When we come to it  When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders  And children dress their dolls in flags of truce  When land mines of death have been removed  And the aged can walk into evenings of peace  When religious ritual is not perfumed  By the incense of burning flesh  And childhood dreams are not kicked awake  By nightmares of abuse

When we come to it  Then we will confess that not the Pyramids  With their stones set in mysterious perfection  Nor the Gardens of Babylon  Hanging as eternal beauty  In our collective memory  Not the Grand Canyon  Kindled into delicious color  By Western sunsets

Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe  Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji  Stretching to the Rising Sun  Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,  Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores  These are not the only wonders of the world

When we come to it  We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe  Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger  Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace  We, this people on this mote of matter  In whose mouths abide cankerous words  Which challenge our very existence  Yet out of those same mouths  Come songs of such exquisite sweetness  That the heart falters in its labor  And the body is quieted into awe

We, this people, on this small and drifting planet  Whose hands can strike with such abandon  That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living  Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness  That the haughty neck is happy to bow  And the proud back is glad to bend  Out of such chaos, of such contradiction  We learn that we are neither devils nor divines

When we come to it  We, this people, on this wayward, floating body  Created on this earth, of this earth  Have the power to fashion for this earth  A climate where every man and every woman  Can live freely without sanctimonious piety  Without crippling fear

When we come to it  We must confess that we are the possible  We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world  That is when, and only when  We come to it.

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5 and half months - laughing, smiling and bouncing

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Young Man is getting big now - he is 12 weeks today 

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We've exceeded the goal of £1,000 for Jack's Memorial orchard we're up to £1300 which is amazing, everyone is so generous. I am so glad that it will happen. It will be good for mum and i and hopefully somewhere I can take Theo when he is bigger.

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I am busying myself with the idea of a playroom for Theo. I've started a Pinterest board *obvs with some ideas and have decided that it MUST include a Tipi. 

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Jack

My brother Jack sadly died of a brain haemorrhage on 20th April, he was only 36 and our family and his friends are devastated.

Last Friday (16th May) we held his funeral at St. Mary's Church - the church right next to my mum's house. His best friend Steve and I wrote and read out his tribute. This was my bit...

Jack was born in Bristol to Ronnie and Clare and 3 and a half years later I came along, I am his sister, Amy. In 1985 me aged 4, Jack aged 7 moved to Wales to Pear Tree Cottage. Jack and I loved Pear Tree Cottage it was a wonderful place to be children with 5 acres of trees, fields and streams to romp about in and all our friends never far away. Summers in those days seem to last forever - either making hay, camping in the orchard, hiding out in the tree house, making dens or racing scaletrics. I remember Jack devising complicated games of 'army' lasting hours and hours, which were rarely the domain of a little sister & often led by Jack under a kind of juvenile military dictatorship with loyal pals Martin, Edward, Leighton, Adrian & Darren in tow. We both attended Forden School with Mrs Dixon, Miss Benbow and the awesome Head Teacher Mr Brignell later rev Brignell. Mr Brignell was a great influence on Jack, he encouraged his love of planes and history and was a wonderful example of how a man could be both gentle & kind. Jack loved Wales our annual holidays to Tenby on the Pembrokshire coast with our cousins and local family gatherings in Castle Caereinion with Kate, Henry and Alice.

We were always encouraged by our mum to have hobbies mines being dance, drama & horse riding and Jack's gaming, reading, Lego and military amongst many others, this gave us a rich childhood and taught us skills that we have both used later in life, that are a credit to our dear mum. Things I would tell Jack. Theo, your nephew has a moustache and he's only 8 weeks old. Jack would say something about him taking after me. I would roll my eyes at him. I’d tell him that mum and I laughed heartily at discovering the comedy value he had found in teaching his online American pals English swear words. I'd also tell him that I love him and thank him for looking out for us and for his devotion to mum and I. I am proud of my brother he was loyal, generous and a good friend and I look forward to telling Theo all about his uncle jack over a root beer. I look forward to us picking muscles off the rocks in Tenby and helping him to scrape the barnacles off with his very own Swiss Army knife just like Jack did, when we were kids. I look forward to telling him how Jack would go to great lengths to make people laugh, how much he appreciated nature and science fiction and how he had made friends from all around the world through online gaming (all who will miss him very much). But perhaps most importantly I'd tell Theo how his uncle Jack has taught us just how essential it is to enjoy our lives, our friends and family for as long as we have them.

………………………………………………………………..

We would like to do something positive to mark his life, and are raising funds through YouCaring.com for an orchard to be planted in his memory at Llyn Coed y Dinas in Welshpool by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Orchards produce a range of valuable benefits over and above the fruit they supply. They are goldmines for biodiversity, providing unique and valuable habitats for wildlife and enhance the quality of life for people living around them.

Since 1982, the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT) has been the leading voluntary organisation promoting wildlife conservation in Montgomeryshire.


Their mission is to rebuild biodiversity and engage people with their environment by being an active and influential wildlife champion. 

For more information and to give a donation please visit:

https://www.youcaring.com/Memorialforjack

To see our slideshow click here. 

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This is Jongens Pop he has been hand stitched by Sophia Smeekens from Studio-escargot. 

With an education in styling and upholstery Sophia worked for several years at a big international fashion business as visual merchandiser, when numbers started to be more interesting then creativity she decided it was time to follow her heart. She went back to school to broaden her knowledge and define her identity as a stylist/designer. After finishing school she founded studio-escargot in 2011, a small label which represents handmade dolls and illustrations.

Sophia's Etsy shop has a full cast of other dolls including 'Mouse' a smart young man in a bow tie and Pink Bunny - just in time for Easter.

See them all here.

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This magical baby whisperer lady has a photographic memory of sound and believes that you can better understand your baby's needs by listening to his or her cry. You must listen carefully to the cry before it gets to '11' though, and becomes that frightening 'I'm being savagely attacked' kind of a cry, you aren't reading anything from that.

This makes a lot of sense though and there are only 5 different types of 'cry' so enough to remember and learn. This is only suitable for babies up to 3 months old, after that they speak a type of Russian, Mandarin fusion language that you need a PHD to understand. Good luck solider. 

Five types of Newborn Cries

Neh – The "neh" sound in the secret language of newborn basics means "I'm hungry". Apparently as a baby's sucking reflex kicks in and the tongue is pushed to the roof of the mouth the sound that comes out is a "neh" sound.

Owh – The "owh" sound is made in the reflex of a yawn which means, yep, you guessed it, "I'm sleepy".

Heh – the "heh" sounds (similar to "neh" so be careful that you hear the beginning /h/ sound) means discomfort. This particular of the newborn cries is to let you know that the baby is uncomfortable – cold, itchy, need a new diaper, need a new position in which to lie, etc.

Eair – The "eair" sound means lower gas. It's a deeper sound that comes from the abdomen. It is a bit more difficult to distinguish than the rest but is usually accompanied by a newborn pulling his/her knees up or pushing down and out with his/her legs. Baby's body, not only his/her face, will look uncomfortable.

Eh – The "eh" sound means that a baby needs to burp. It is similar, again, to "neh" and "heh" but remember that you are listening for those beginning sounds, not the ending sounds. When you hear, "Eh, ehhhhh" your newborn is telling you "Burp me, please".

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The Just So Festival is an annual weekend-long camping festival for children and their families.

Rowan and Sarah set up Just So Festival in 2009, to create an amazing, spellbinding weekend where families could play, dance and create together and see breathtaking theatre, dance and music. 

Theo will only be 5 months old by the time the festival comes round this year - but I am really keen on taking him. Babies under 3 go free and there are loads of cool things for teeny tiny people to enjoy...

Lots of tiny tots are coming to the festival, and we are keen that their first festival is a pleasure for the whole family. You can find our lovely nappy-changing tent with mats, nappies and wipes in the peekaboo glade. This is also where you can find the baby feeding boudoir, sponsored by Medela, so mums can relax and breast or bottle feed their babies in relative peace. Bottle and food warmers can be plugged in and used in the Peekaboo Cafe we'll provide a bottle warmer or bring your own. From 5-7 each evening, baby bathtime will take place in peekaboo, with baby baths and bubbles. Please bring your own towel. We're thrilled that Weleda Baby will be joining us again in 2014 and will be hosting our baby massage and baby yoga as well as a really relaxing environment for parents and babies.

Just So Festival 2014 will take place on 15/16/17 August 2014 at Rode Hall Parkland, Scholar Green, Cheshire.

Tickets are available here and more information here.

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MilK Magazine is a contemporary children's fashion and lifestyle quarterly magazine based in Paris. It is beautifully put together and well worth a look. Available in English from Molly Meg.

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3 weeks old.

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My first Mother's Day and a lovely pair of sneakers from my beloved.

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A cool mother's day gift...

Pioneers of the Possible honors twenty of the world's most inspiring women, spanning the last century through today. From a business tycoon to an author, a dancer to a dreamer, a social activist to a spiritual leader, a painter, and even a bullfighter, each one was driven by passion and an ability to imagine and aspire to what did not yet exist.

By celebrating these women, we carry on their collective fearless spirit and encourage one another toward greater and deeper lives. Profiles include: Martha Graham, Ella Fitzgerald, Frida Kahlo, Simone de Beauvoir, Wangari Maathai, Estée Lauder, Zaha Hadid, Helen Suzman, Jacqueline Novogratz, and many more. Pioneers of the Possible was written by Angella M. Nazarian, author of 2009's Life as a Visitor.

Featured Women: - Amma  - Martha Graham  - Simone de Beauvoir  - Wangari Maathai  - Conchita Cintrón  - Ella Fitzgerald  - Helen Suzman  - Frida Kahlo  - Forugh Farrokhzad  - Golda Meir  - Rigoberta Menchú Tum  - Nawal El Moutawakel  - Anaïs Nin  - Estée Lauder  - Marina Silva  - Somaly Mamchap  - Dharma Master Cheng Yen  - Zaha Hadid  - Jacqueline Novogratz

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Pure J O Y.

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Today Theo and I went to a drop in breast feeding clinic in Kings Heath at Poplar Rd Doctors. If you are brum based - I highly recommend this - it is on every Friday morning from 10.30am-1.30pm (0121 441 6300). 

Theo has been breast feeding just fine, but we've been having wind problems as he is so hungry all the time he feeds like it's his last meal, taking huge gulps and with it lots of  air. 

The lovely ladies at the clinic taught us this hold - which is called the laid back position. 

It does feel funny as he is face planted into my boob, but gravity is on our side and he can use his strong little arms to reposition himself if he goes squiffy and I have an arm free to eat cake or write a concerto or you know whatever I fancy. It also combines 'tummy time' which stops him having a flat head and helps him to strengthen his neck. All good. 

This is how you do it….

Laid-back breastfeeding, or Biological Nurturing, means getting comfortable with your baby and encouraging your own and your baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts. See biologicalnurturing.com for further information.

Dress yourself and your baby as you choose.

Find a bed or couch where you can lean back and be well supported— not flat, but comfortably leaning back so that when you put your baby on your chest, gravity will keep him in position with his body molded to yours.

Have your head and shoulders well supported. Let your baby’s whole front touch your whole front.

Since you’re leaning back, you don’t have a lap, so your baby can rest on you in any position you like. Just make sure her whole front is against you.

Let your baby’s cheek rest somewhere near your bare breast.

Help her as much as you like; help her do what she’s trying to do. You’re a team.

Hold your breast or not, as you like.

Relax and enjoy each other.

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Newborn baby - 1st week survival guide

Here is a list of things that have really helped me get through the roller coaster first week of my baby being home. 

1. Miffy Light.

Being up throughout the night, feeding and changing nappies is unavoidable until your small person has a routine, when they're about 25 and no longer live with you, so you may as well do the midnight all night changes bathed in the warm glow of a Miffy lamp. Available from Cissy Wears here. 

2. Lanolin. 

A magic ointment for nipples and dry patches - fine for both baby and momma. 

3. A soft blanket. 

Worth investing in a good soft blanket that can be used in a moses basket or when out and about. We got ours from Sarah Elwick and it's made from Merino wool, in a gorgeous bright geometric pattern. Available here.

4. A massage at home. 

On day 4 post birth I was aching all over, my muscles felt as though they had been through the mill and back again, I had been adopting some pretty weird hunched over breast feeding positions and just the strain of labour had taken its toll. I had been having pregnancy massages in the weeks running up to the birth and the lovely Rachel also offered a mobile service. She came with her table and set up in the nursery I had a blissful 1 hour massage - stopping half way to breastfeed and it was magic. 

5. Sleep gowns also known as baby bundlers.

These are surprisingly hard to get hold of, I found some plain white ones from Amazon and grey marl ones from American Apparel they have in built anti scratch mittens and an elasticised hemline. They keep your baby comfortable and warm throughout the night and have no buttons to undo, making night time nappy changes easy peezy lemon squeeze, especially with the addition of no.8.

6. Bed Nest 6 month Rental.

A crib that secures on to the side of your bed, making co-sleeping safe. It means on the first night you bring your baby home you can stare at him all night from the comfort of your bed (you will do this). Genius. You don't have to get up and out of bed to feed him and the best thing is because you are only renting it for 6 months - you haven't got the huge expense of buying it in the first place (they retail at over £200) and the inconvenience of having to sell it on Ebay afterwards. NCT have Bednests and mattresses to rent here. Don't forget your sheets though.

7. Noise app.

So your womb isn't quite the serene environment that you might imagine. Your baby has been living with the whooshing of your blood and digestive system, the thumping of your heart and your voice, which sounds louder than it would transmitted through the air since it reverberates through the bones and fluids in your body. Apparently the noises in there are only a little off being as loud as a lawnmower which is why babies respond so well to white noise. I downloaded a free app called Sleep Bug and we've been listening to 'beach sounds', Theo loves it and we sure don't mind anything that helps him sleep for longer. Here is an article about why babies love white noise.

8. Hairdryer.

A top tip that Gavin found online. This is A M A Z I N G. So you're a baby and you are sensitive to changes in temperature, I get that, but why at 3am when you are simply getting your nappy changed, do you have to sound like you are being brutally savaged? It is just awful, plus tricky as all those legs and arms go all bunched up whilst you are trying to wrestle this little guy's duds on just so you can all go back to sleep. Then comes in the hairdryer. Wow. Pop it on a gentle heat and waft at a safe distance over his ickle body and baby goes 'gahhh' he loves it. I think it has saved our relationship with the neighbours and our sanity. Thank the lord for the Internet. 

9. Infacol.

Great for gas. That is all. 

10. A tumble dryer. 

Because of the tsunami of washing that is about to hit you. Just do it. Get one. If you can't have one plumbed in because you live in a rented house  just get a condenser tumble dryer - you manually empty the water every 3rd/4th wash and just plug it in to the wall. No problemo.