I took the above photo last week, on Monday 4th January :: the views from my Attic window have been extraordinarily beautiful just lately, the wintery white countryside and the glow of morning light have combined to make everything look so magical.
Last Monday, on the morning that these photographs were taken, I got out all my new calendars and began to contemplate the business of being in a new month and a new year. I started to write my customary January Calendar post (which will come soon), and set about telling you a little of what I was feeling at the time. I was pondering the fact that I had only two more weeks before Baby-day (I had an elective cesarean section booked for 18th January). Was thinking about how huuuuuuge my belly was and how tired I was beginning to feel. I never got chance to publish my January post that day, because I was taken unexpectedly into hospital with very little time to prepare.
During that previous weekend I'd been very busy exhausting myself with tidying, arranging, sorting and nesting in the little bedroom that we've made into a nursery. I made and hung curtains. I filled drawers with little tiny vests and sleepsuits, with nappies and muslin cloths. Arranged a chair with crochet blankets and cushions. Stood and looked out of the window at the familiar view of the houses and rooftops that make up our street, and thought how beautiful it is to see a patch of golden sun streaming in through a window to light up a room.
And I tried to feel ready. Ready for Bump24 to become a Little Person.
As it turned out, I had no choice but to be ready a whole lot sooner than expected....and in so many ways I am really glad that I was spared the extra waiting, the extra days of plodding. But my goodness, the past week has been so stressy at times! I'm trying not to dwell on the negatives, trying very hard to apply my usual upbeat take on things and to concentrate on the Good. I keep telling myself that what took place in hospital (which was at best a challenge, at worst an anxious tear-and-snot fest) is in the past, and what is happening right now is sooooo much better. I am home, and I am slowly on the mend, and I have the most gorgeous new baby boy to fill my heart with joy.
My View this week, which you can see above, is mostly being taken from the sofa. Due to my blood pressure still mucking me about I'm spending huge ammounts of time with my feet up, snuggling with Tiny Man under soft ripply waves. Not moving from one hour to the next. Feeding, snuggling, sleeping, cuddling, marvelling at little teeny tiny feet and teeny tiny hands, at the incredible softness of baby skin.
And I've been using my enforced feet-up time to read too :: reading through your wonderful messages of congratulations which have poured into my little blanket-wrapped sofa-world has been AMAZING. Thank you all so very, very much. AmAZing I tell you.
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Lovely to catch up with you and your lovely addition Lucy. Hope things are settling for you all.
PS: You're looking good for the Olympics ;-)
Posted by: Titch | February 10, 2010 at 07:21 PM
dear lucy,
congratulation on your new bundle of joy..
Posted by: nora halim | February 02, 2010 at 02:51 PM
Hi Lucy,Just found your site and I wish I could start life over and decorate my house as yours. It's such a happy, homey look. Thank you for your wonderful tutorials...you are too kind.
Posted by: Mary Kay | January 19, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Congratulations to you on your little boy. Been there done that with the blood pressure thing. What a pain that is. But enjoy the rest while you are forced too. & enjoy the snuggles of the wee one...
Posted by: Mandy | January 18, 2010 at 06:56 AM
That light is absolutely magical. Get lots of rest!
Posted by: Mildawg | January 17, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Lucy, you would simply be amazed at how often I think of you, well not just me, all of us who follow your blog. I'm so very glad to hear you are resting as ordered and enjoying your baby...they grow so quickly. Take lots of toes and fingers pictures for us. I love all those Anne Geddes type pictures with the babes and wish I had known to do such things when my own were tiny.
You'll be pleased to know I am at last making that lovely bag for my yarn that you showed us all how to make, it took me a few hours to get it figured out then oh my how I hated to leave it in Dubai when we came home for this visit. I will be anxious to return to it. I am using a rather thick cotton yarn, just lovely.
You take care, get better and enjoy your family time.
Posted by: Becky Cochran | January 17, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Thank you so, so much for all the time you have spent on the blogs, I love them all and find them so so inspiring. I am so envious of your life with your tiny one's,(in a nice way) I am at the other end of my life and would love to go back and do it all again. Cherish every moment you have with them, there will never be anything to match them.
Bless you and your family.
Briony
Posted by: Briony | January 16, 2010 at 01:16 PM
Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I just love your blog and you! I love your wonderful way of sharing your life. Thank you so much!
It's so weird, I feel like you are a good friend, and you are on another continent. Thank you for allowing me to feel I have a new friend, whom I will probably never meet, but enjoy very much reading about.
You take care of yourself and that tiny little man of yours! :)
Posted by: Susan | January 16, 2010 at 07:26 AM
Morning Lucy and family he obviously wanted to play a bigger part in the wonderful series of the Attic24 show hehe....we all love it so much but rest rest and more rest for now strength will return and your fabulous story will continue
Looking forward like everyone to the Attic24 adventure in 2010
Lots of Love from Shropshire hugs Suz xx
Posted by: Suz | January 16, 2010 at 04:56 AM
How exciting and stressful and wonderful and amazing all at the same time!
Posted by: Adina | January 15, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Hi Lucy, it's a great view today! Congratulations again on your new baby boy. It's good that you can snuggle inside while the weather looks to be so cold & grotty outdoors. It's the absolute best time to snuggle. It's brilliant sunshine here in New Zealand, I woke up this morning and threw all the windows and doors wide open. I've started a "little flower square" blanket for a friend's soon-to-be-born baby girl, thankyou so much for posting the tutorial, it's looking lovely so far.
Posted by: lekki | January 15, 2010 at 09:44 PM
Enjoy your rest, he'll keep you busy once he starts moving!
I had an emergency c section 20 years ago, took me a while to get back to being myself. You will soon be back to normal. 3 is such a nice number for kids, I always found that 2 can play while you spend time to the other one. have fun Lucy.
Posted by: Jody | January 15, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Hi Lucy,
Love it when they tell new Mums with more than one child to just rest and take it easy, who do they think is going to do everything?!! Easier to say that you should fly to the moon and give it a clean whilst you're there. However, having been at the other end of an emergency and then an elective section, make sure you try to do the minimum and remember to take your pain killers. Enjoy the quiet times whilst you have the chance, I found that TLC for the Mum gets shorter with every child and you'll be back cleaning the kitchen floor before you know it!
Sarah x
Hope I didn't nag!
Posted by: Sarah | January 15, 2010 at 02:57 PM
Dearest Lucy,
Congratulations on the birth of your new stripy baby :-) It couldn't be in a happier home. I love your blog - it's inspirational, colourful and always so happy! I love checking in every morning with a hot cuppa before starting work. I hope that you have someone there to look after you; to deliver tea and biscuits whenever you need them!
Best, Stacey
Posted by: Stacey | January 15, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Oh gosh, you know what? I wish I had your life right now...whatever your mood...you have so much love in it...and I feel like I could do with a little more than I have! Oh well...I'm sure it will come! Say hello to your little boy for me! xxx
Posted by: The Curious Cat | January 15, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Hi Sweetie,
Hope You, your lovely family and darling baby 24 are having a Wonderful, snug and Happy weekend.
Thinking of You lots xxx
Sumea
Posted by: sumea | January 15, 2010 at 10:59 AM
I am so very happy to see you are taking the rest you need. After my babies I felt compelled to be up and about far too fast and I really missed out on sleepy "getting to know you" time with them. You are setting such a good example to others! Not just with your crochet-centric house!
Posted by: Roobeedoo | January 15, 2010 at 10:17 AM
hello Lucy! Glad you are home and recovering. i couldn't think about the birth of Jake for weeks without wanting to burst into tears and when I wrote my birth story down I ended up sobbing so you have my sympathies! But as you say, it's all in the past, we have our fabulous teeny men now and all is right with the world. Take your time and enjoy these precious early times xxxxxx
Posted by: rosepetaljam | January 15, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Your photos have such a warm glow, that just mirror you. Enjoy every moment of the snuggling and sleeping and you will soon be better. Emergency C-sections are traumatic for all the family, I know through experience and you need this time of quiet reflection. So take care and I looove the red and white stripes!!
Posted by: alisonb2 | January 15, 2010 at 09:51 AM
Rest up and enjoy your baby-moon, Lucy.
Posted by: Ali | January 15, 2010 at 07:02 AM
Wow! Congratulations! Take care. I have something I would love to send you by mail. I follow your blog and I love crochet. Would you mind sending me your address? Maybe a post office address? I am from Elgin, IL. United States. I don't want this to be uncomfortable or awkward. My email address is
[email protected]
My name is Madeline Hallock
Posted by: Madeline Hallock | January 15, 2010 at 04:50 AM
thinking of you... glad you are home.
Posted by: gardenymph | January 15, 2010 at 02:51 AM
Lucy,
Many Happy Congratulations on your new little guy! So sweet!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 15, 2010 at 02:21 AM
PS: I too had an unexpected C-section for high blood pressure/foetal distress. 19 years ago already, and she's 5ft 10in but I can still feel that soft, snuggly little body and dear, sweet smelling head. Sigh. Enjoy!!!
Posted by: Jen | January 14, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Ooh ooh ooh!! I'm so excited for you!! Welcome to the world, baby boy :) I'm sorry you had a bit of unexpected arrival in the world, but glad that you are here safe and sound and that mummy's ok too, even if she has to take it easy for a while.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Jen | January 14, 2010 at 11:43 PM