Motherhood – Jessica Livermore

Holy Mackerel – Alfie’s Party

October 20, 2018October 22, 2018 SwenglishlivingLeave a comment

Holy mackerel. What a party! 💙 Today we celebrated Alfie with lots of our family and friends.

As usual I was running around all over, (#threekids) but we all had such a lovely time. The kids had decided we should have a Under the Sea theme.

I love a party theme.

To be fair, I love a party. In fact, if you know me well you’ll know not only do I love a party, but I particularly organising and planning a party. Any kind of party!

The morning was spent sorting out the party food and decorations.

I got most of the decorations and balloons from eBay and some of the helium balloons from Morrison’s. Their party section really is excellent and good value too.

I’m in love with these honeycomb decorations. And you can order a set in a colour scheme which is so handy too. I chose blue green and then bought some Aqua blue shade fans to go with it.

We put popcorn in little buckets and added a sprinkle of mermaid glitter.

We had personalised Alfred banners and Blue 1st birthday balloons. (You can never have too many balloons in my mind)

I love serving salads at parties as it’s simple to make for big numbers and easy to individualise by adding a few ingredients here and there.

Also. Salads mean I can have lots of cake for dessert. Win – win.

Today was no different and this is one of the salads on the party smorgasbord.

This super yummy (and healthy!) salad is made up with green leaves, spinach, roasted pumpkin, roasted sweet potatoes, walnuts and pomegranate.

Drizzle some balsamic glaze over and you’ll be all set.

Another popular salad is a broccoli coleslaw salad with roasted cashew nuts and dried cranberries from Costco. It’s simply divine and a firm staple on all our party tables.

As well as some good old sausage rolls I also made ham and cheese sandwiches in the shape of dolphins for the kids that all went down very well.

Under the Sea Quiz. Kept the adults busy for ages – result

Alfred’s granny had made all the cakes and they looked and tasted amazing!

Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing and edible sea creatures on top

And how about this weather we’re having?!We were sitting outside, in the sunshine, whilst the kids were running around playing in the garden in October!

We couldn’t have asked for a better set up.

Now it’s time to put my feet up, have some bubbles and catch up on Strictly. Happy Saturday everyone!

First Birthday Milestone

October 15, 2018October 22, 2018 SwenglishlivingLeave a comment

He’s one. One. A whole year has passed since he join us.

How is that even possible? He was only a newborn yesterday!

I remember lying on that hospital bed and they placed the most perfect little boy on my chest. He had black hair and huge, beautiful blue eyes.

We were both pretty exhausted after a long labour and so we just lay there, so happy and content.

We had achieved a VBAC2 and although elated, pretty shellshocked.

Alfie’s such a delightful little person and nothing makes him happier than hanging out with his older siblings. Or Buddy the dog. He loves them no end.

He loves to explore and is such a confident little boy.

He’s extremely sociable and loves to be around people – especially kids.

He’s adventurous, and will try and climb any kind of stair, ladder, stool – you name it, he’ll try and conquer it.

But he’s also extremely affectionate and will give you the best snuggles imaginable.

The moment he joined our family I became a mother of three. Everything changed from then on. The way we live, travel, eat. I’ve changed.

But all to the better mind. I’m more confident and self assured. In a kind of “I’ve got this – bring it on” way.

It’s reassuring to know and trust what I’m doing. In the same breath, also having the confidence to ask for help and advice when needed.

It’s going to be hard being the youngest but he has the bests of prospects with such caring and loving siblings.

Jackson and Maggie were up at 5.30am this morning. They had tidied the front room and decorated the room with birthday presents and balloons. Such super stars. They will always have your back.

So, happy birthday little man. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

It takes a Village

October 11, 2018October 22, 2018 SwenglishlivingLeave a comment

This is a still from a film Brooks worked on recently called Cold Hands.

It’s written and directed by Mac Carr, shot in beautiful Falmouth, Cornwall.

Brooks’ portrayal in the film really is stunning, and I hope you get a chance to see it. I’m a little biased, of course, but it really is a fantastic film.

Being cast in films and TV projects means that sometimes he has to be away filming for lengths of time – either in the UK or abroad.

His jobs are often fun, sometimes crazy and intense, at times weird and unexpected.

He can tell you all about that time he arrived in the Ukraine on a grey winter’s day to film an advert and he was picked up at the airport by a proper James Bond caricature villain.

This man was huge. A good 2 meters and 2m wide. (Okay. No. But he was huge)

He was standing in the arrivals foyer with a note that said Brooks in large letters. Brooks walked up to him and said cheerfully that he was Brooks. The man didn’t respond, but rather looked at him in complete silence. Then he simply gestured for Brooks to start walking.

The James Bond villain walked him, in silence, to the car park where he gestured for Brooks to get in the back of a huge black Mercedes (- villain).

There was a bullet proofed window between him and the driver (- villain) and the man drove him, in silence, all the way to the centre of the town to a manicure salon (er… – villain?) and then later the hotel. (- villain). Again, all in silence.

Brooks rang me so many times that night. To make sure the kids and I were okay of course.

Although we’re obviously overjoyed when he gets a job, because it’s his passion in life and he works so hard, it’s tough when he goes away, not only from a logistical point of view.

Anyone with kids will tell you that it’s not an easy feat to look after kids on your own and three of them?

Well, let me tell you – it’s a completely different ball game altogether.

It’s the Big League people.

This house runs a military camp.

Everything is ready and set out the night before.

The kids know the drill. When daddy is away, they must help mummy more at home. When daddy is away, mummy turns into a drill sergeant.

The food for the week is prepped and ready. The school bags are ready for school, their water bottles, packed lunches done, books, after school and club stuff sorted, tennis lessons, guitar and piano lessons, Taekwondo, football and swimming and Lord knows what else – all of it has to be ready and organised. Mine and the kids’ clothes are ready and laid out ready for the week. We arrange play dates, we head to the library and go to the park after school.

Sounds fun yes, but it’s exhausting.

If you’re on your own you don’t really get a break either. My kids have never been great sleepers and so they tend to be up a few times every night.

I also sometimes get a bit scared. It’s a big house and I’m forever grateful for my dog’s presence – just in case.

It also reminds me how lucky I am to have the best of friends. My friends will offer to give the kids a ride to and back from school, have them over for play dates – you name it.

Especially if you’re an immigrant like myself and my family are miles and miles away. My in laws are incredibly supportive as well, and will always help when Brooks is away.

There’s a saying isn’t there. It takes a village and never was a truer word spoken.

Separation Anxiety and Why We Need More Coffee

October 7, 2018October 11, 2018 SwenglishlivingLeave a comment

I can still hear him. It’s almost inaudible, but there. He’s softly humming to himself.

I hold my breath. I can feel sweat running down my brow. I exhale slowly and try ignore it.

I extend my foot. Very slowly I set the foot down on the floor.

A floorboard creaks loudly and I freeze to the spot.

The humming has stopped.

He is listening.

I shift my weight somewhat and press my body next to the wall. If I can just move out of the room fast enough he won’t detect me.

I take another step and there’s no sound. I exhale slowly. I can see the light coming from the other room. Two more steps and I’ll be out of here.

I take another step and suddenly my knees croak. It sounds like someone just broke off a branch off an old Oak tree. Thank you Age.

Suddenly I see a dummy flung across the room. This is not a good sign. I peek around the corner.

He is definitely awake. He is listening and he is NOT happy.

I know what must be done. I don’t like it as the risk of getting spotted are extremely high. I lie down flat on the floor and army crawl over to the dummy. With the dummy safely in my hand, I crawl over to the cot and deposit the dummy inside the cot. I look up tentatively. He’s taken the bait.

It seems he has settled back. There is hope yet. For now.

I stay lying down for what seems like hours. I can’t hear a thing apart from my own heartbeat.

I crawl back to the door and slowly get up to my knees first, then to standing.

I decide to risk it and take another step. I’m so close, I’m in the light, I’m standing at the opening.

The new episode of Bodyguard is lined up and ready on catch up downstairs.

That’s when it starts. First, a kind of anxious and low key sound that progressively moves into full blown screaming…

The baby is up and the baby wants Mama.

Recognise the scenario?

Separation anxiety in children is a BEAST. They never tell you that in your NCT classes do they?

My youngest is 11 months and have for the past month or so been going through a tough phase of separation anxiety. No one but Mum will do.

I can leave him for a few minutes with someone else, but after a while he will look around for Mum and cry. Nighttime is a real killer.

I know it’s anxiety, rather than say hunger or thirst, as he will stop crying as soon as I pick him up or soothe him.

So what do you do? You ride it out.

There’s nothing for it. Cuddle baby, soothe and comfort baby. Soon she/he will understand that Mum (or Dad) has to go away for a little while but they always come back.

I know the books that say “let baby cry out” and all that. If that’s how you want to approach it then by no means do so. No judgement. But it’s not for me. I’ve found with all my kids that patience and perseverance do the trick.

It doesn’t mean it’s an easy ride though. My brain feel like porridge. I’m tired and short tempered. I feel about 200 years old. My god, I’m so, so tired.

How long can you actually function on zero sleep but huge quantities of tea and coffee? Has there been a study on this? If not, there should be.

But the truth is – these days fly by so fast. Blink your eyes and they’ll be teenagers begging you to stay out of their room.

My oldest is 9 and he doesn’t need me in the same way anymore. Although I welcome the maturity and independence in him, I do also miss hearing those little feet tiptoeing into our room and snuggling up to us in bed.

So for now, I’ll have to keep my Ninja moves nimble and ready for action and up my coffee consumption.

Richard Madden will have to wait.