When the babies were super small we were bought a lot of clothes by people who loved us. Basic baby-grows and vests, nothing too fancy. Just the sort of clothing that you need to be able to put them in when they do a poo after every feed.
But over the last four and a half months, as they have grown, a whole new world has opened up to me. That world is called ‘Buying Clothes For Your Children land’ and it is a great deal of fun to live in.
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you’ll have seen that a few days ago I bought Anaïs some day-shorts with matching tights. I was disproportionately excited about returning home with this outfit and trying it on her.
The shorts were awesome little gray felt things that are currently in the laundry (no surprise there then!)
But the tights?
The tights I had a problem with.
Dude!
They were like this when I took them out of the packet and to say I was devastated is an understatement.
“What about her outfit????” could be heard across the South Downs as I wailed like Cathy looking for Heathcliff.
And then I remembered these.
These, my friends, are clothes plasters and were sent to me weeks ago by a reader who knows the lady who makes them.
All you do is iron them on.
So I did what it said on the tin and ironed them on. It took me all of a minute. The hole was sealed, the tights intact and the outfit was saved.
You can buy them for girls and boys and they come with full instructions and lots of different designs and sizes.
And this is what I’m talking about when I say that this is a whole new world to me. Before having kids I would never have known that such joyful things existed. And I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that being a kid is far more fun than being an adult. Anyone else agree?
But seeing as I can’t turn back time I can certainly indulge in decorating my babies clothing in plasters and pretending that I’m still a member of the Famous Five. Nobody gets hurt, I get to grin from ear to ear and the world is a calmer place.
I should admit at this stage that I totally hijacked the tins that the plasters came in and they are currently housing my coloured pencils. The babies can have them back at a later stage.
I never would have thought that I would be this happy to decorate my home in baby things. She who would scour the thrift stores and magazines and vow never to have toys strewn all over the place. What I didn’t realise was just how sunny and beautiful children’s toys are. That’s the whole point of them. They sit on the floor of almost every room in the house like giant sweets or plastic jewels.
And they make our house happier.
I thought of Lilly Allen ever such a lot yesterday. I hope she’s OK. I was very lucky, in the circumstances, to lose my babies in the first three months of pregnancy – thirteen weeks and nine weeks – but to lose one at 6 months is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to her as she’s a young girl who’s very famous. Not the easiest of lives to lead at the best of times.
Ahhhh, my angel. Looking resplendent in her healed tights.
See what a lovely thing Jennie has created! Sunny, happy and fun. I feel like I’ve visited her world and it’s a wonderful place. You have to visit her website to get the full measure of what a delight she is. Thank you Jennie for ALWAYS wanting to be an illustrator. Because you followed your heart, head, talent and dreams there are people like me out here who have been made happy.
Anaïs says thank you also. In the form of a song…. a sort of song.
Mummy – Hello Ned
Ned – Hi
Mummy – Would you like a clothes plaster to wear?
Ned – Um…..
Ned – YES!
Mummy – There you go son. You can have a robot.
God bless Ned, his green socks and his new friend the Robot.
Jennie, thank you for letting us in to your world. It’s a wonderful place to be.
Here is a link to Jennie’s home page – http://www.jenniemaizels.com – you’ll love it!
Our kitchen is a fairly wonderful place to be at this time too. We’ve de-camped from the dining room by the fire to the kitchen by the Aga and the food splattered radio is on each morning as Robert leaves for work. Chris Evans is our DJ of choice as Robert and I have listened to him for a long time. In fact my favourite ever radio show in the whole wide world ( I’m talking like a child nowadays, it’s fun, try it) used to be his last show before Christmas.
Chris, you’re another person we love in this house.
Babies lie alongside muddy Dubarry boots, both staying warm. It gets very muddy in the country at this time of year as we fight for space around the warm hearth.
While I examine feet in many guises.
This is the Hiding Toes foot
And this is the Hello World foot.
This is the Fluffy Toes foot.
And this is the Scrunch on Mummy foot.
I feel like I’ve waffled today. A post that more resembles a stream of consciousnesses than anything else. But that is OK as again I find myself learning.
Learning about my children, learning about others and learning about myself.
Some days all you can do is to consciously fill your house with love. Inject it spiritually and trust that it is there. It may be occasionally messy, sometimes muddy and almost always noisy but it’s loving and it’s full.
Robert and I love it and we want it to grow and grow and grow. And we don’t know how that will manifest itself but that is part of the fun right now.
So we keep on keeping on.
What an adventure. What a life. What a day. What a moment.
A whole new world.
Thank you.
I love you and thank you for reading.
Cherry x
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Oh I love how you write. I love you!!! There are so many “mommy blogs” out there, that I just kind of skim over
but not you – I read every word (sometimes twice!) Thank you for warming my heart and sharing your cozy home with us.
Oh Reeve, thank you so much. I love you too!!!
Cx
What a lovely post. I immediately went on to the talented jenniemaizels website yesterday. What a talented lady. I think I recognised her books from teaching days. I would never have known who she was apart from you Cherry. Now she is a face and a real live person in my life. How superb that you girls boost each other up. I love it. Let’s celebrate each others differing gifts.
Cherry.
I am so grateful. Such kind words from someone so creative and gifted, I am honoured. Truly. I have posted a little something here: http://jenniemaizels.blogspot.com/2010/11/cherry-menlove.html I hope one day I can repay you xxxx
Lovely post, Cherry. The babies look adorable in their new clothes; such a fun age! I too, have been thinking about Lily and you are so right it is bad enough having an early-ish miscarriage (I had one at 11 weeks) but to have one at six months must be almost unbearable, I feel for her so much. x
I reckon the best kinds of posts are the ones that just follow your thought process rather than an actual theme
) The clothes plasters are adorable, especially the Matroshka… I will always have a soft spot for them as I saw so many beautiful ones during my time in Russia (incidentally, handicrafts are such a big thing over there, my own attempts at wood painting were nothing compared to the immensely beautiful pieces others produce daily).
Clothes plasters are adorable! I hope they’ll be available in the US soon. I confess I play the baby toe game with littlest six month old granddaughter; telling her I’m sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on her little toes then kiss them like mad. She laughs and when I stop puts her little foot up to my face. Ridiculous I know but it’s so much fun. As I care for the girls every day during the week I get to have loads of sugar and cinnamon toes! Then I lay her sideways and play the Roly Poly game pretending to roll her in pie crust like Tom Kitten, which only means I dip her down saying “R-O-L-Y-Y-Y” then roll her up to me tight saying “P-O-L-Y-Y-Y-Y”. The older ones will still want a turn which is hysterical since they are far too big. If they are having a cranky day I’ll tell them they need a bit of roly poly pudding. People ask why on earth I would care for my granddaughters instead of larking about? As long as I’m physically able I feel very fortunate to share their young years. It won’t last long and they’ll be off to school. Your babies are so very fortunate to have a home where they are a welcomed part and not considered an inconvenience
I think it’s the greatest gift a child can receive; to be the light and smile in their parent’s eyes.
Vicki, I have got to play Roly Poly with mine. In fact, where are they………Cx
Hi Cherry, I stumbled across your website a few weeks ago, I read it now every day in between conference calls and the hum drum of daily working life. I had a miscarriage also at 8 weeks, and now have the most wonderful baby Boy, Billy who fills my heart with so much joy I can feel it almost swell. And alas I am pregnant again – early days yet, but hopeful everything will go OK so that Billy has a brother or sister who he will love and who will love him and we get to be new Mummy’s and Daddy’s all over again
I thought about Lily Allen a lot too yesterday – she is so young and lives in such a crazy place, I hope she gets strength from the people around her.
Your blog is in insipration to all Mummy’s who want to create the best for our families and fill our homes with happiness and love.
Love you Pip xx
Hello Pip
I wanted to wish you many congratulations on your pregnancy. May you have a wonderful time and a wonderful Christmas with Billy. What an amazing 2011 you’ll have.
Lots of love
Cherry x
Good Morning!
I think the time difference between us is a lovely blessing because it means I get to read posts like this when I get to my desk each morning!
Thanks for adding a little cheeriness to my day!
Cheers,
Di
Ah! I have that beautiful book. Children Learn What They Live. Right, now I’m heading off (online) to buy clothes plasters… I keep meaning to applique the boys’ holey clothes but iron on just seems the way to go… Thanks xx
Hi Cherry
Amazing post, Jennie’s world is truly a very wonderful place and I feel honoured that I get to share it. She is truly a very special person.
PS I love listening to Chris Evans too, always have. He was doing Radio 1 when I was pregnant with Lydie, after she was born when she heard his voice it would stop her crying and she appeared to be hanging on his every word!
Thank you Cherry x
A really sweet homely post Cherry – and thank you for the clothes plaster tip – they are so lovely and handy too. I became obsessed with tights when I had my daughter – I just love brightly coloured stripey, spotty, rainbow tights. Such an injection of colour and fun into our home.
Your babies are growing more gorgeous by the day! Thanks for sharing all their delicious scrumminess.