Group Hug

Evie is just over 8 weeks old and the past few weeks have really shown me the importance of friends. Or more importantly, 'mummy friends'.

Let me take you back a few years to 2007. I decided that I wanted to buy a flat. I couldn't afford to live near my friends and family so I took the leap and moved, all on my tod, to a completely different town, about 30 miles north of my home. At this time I travelled with my job and was away from home 3-4 nights each week. My original group of friends were all still based in North London and even though we didn't see each other weekly, we were still close and through the wonders of facebook etc they never felt far away.

Maybe it's because I've got such a solid group of friends that I love dearly that I've not really tried to make friends where I live now? I think that is the case. I've also had these friends since I was 11. It felt so much harder to make friends at this age than it did back then. So for the past 4 and a half years, the only other person I've known where I live is my husband.

And then I fell pregnant. All of a sudden, I had a powerful need to discuss my pregnancy with others. I needed to share my cravings, my body malfunctions, my emotional breakdowns! I was reluctant to go to NCT classes, I'm not sure why. Logistically it was tricky anyway due to mine and my husbands work loads but I'm sure, had I really tried, we could've made it work.

So I turned to the computer. From one forum to another, I started to drum up conversations. This led to a facebook group being set up with 100+ amazing ladies who have been with me through every step of the way. I even dictated my 'In Labour' post to my husband in between contractions, such is the bond. Through that, I met a lovely lass who lives a stones throw from me and we started going to Aqua-natal classes together. Now, even if we don't see each other regularly, it's nice to know that I have a friend nearby.

Through the aqua-natal facebook group, I started attending a monthly Mummy meet-up. This was the chance to meet, breastfeed with no embarassment and have tea and cakes with other mums and still pregnant mums to be.

A smaller group of us then branched off to meet on a weekly basis in a local Starbucks where we clog up the whole place with our huge buggies and take up tables for hours whilst eeking out this one Large Hot Chocolate with Extra cream. I also invite along a lady who I met in hospital in the adjacent cubicle. Her baby girl was born 1 day after Evie and we took it in turns to comfort each other over various hormonal breakdowns. We have onded so much that I'm pretty sure I'll be in touch with her for life. If not forever, then for many years to come.

The moral of this blog post is that I've learnt, no matter how close your group of friends, when you have a baby, you NEED to have mummy friends. I'm lucky, I have 130 through my facebook group and 5 locally who I meet up with regularly. My home town friends are fabulous with Evie and listen to my woes with no judgement or boredom (that they show!). However, there is a deep rooted need to be with people who are going through the same utter, gut wrenching exhaustion and hormone battering mood swings as you are. The camaraderie that comes from the sheer overwhelming responsibility of keeping your child healthy and getting through day to day is paramount to Good Mental Health.

I raise my glass to my good friends. Even though it has no alcohol in it, I toast you all.

Katy x

My Change Bag

I've never been a designer handbag kind of girl. I do however appreciate the virtues of a good bag. I tend to keep a bag and use it for at least 6 months and then switch it seasonally. Someone however informed me that, once le bebe arrives, your handbag gets relegated in favour of your change bag. Because you wouldn't want to carry both would you? Well to be honest, I'd not realised that!

So I put a lot of thought into the change bag I wanted and did hours and hours of research. I traipsed round shop after shop both on the high street and online. Then I had a client come to mine and I loved her bag and copied it! Simple as that.

The design of the bag is a little 'out there'. I really fancied something different. Which I think this definitely is. My pram is mainly black and dark grey so it wasn't hard to find something that matched or coordinated.

The Anorak Kissing Stag Change Bag is the only style they do, do check out the other items they have as well as the other designs other than the stags.

It's quite a big bag but that's good. The sheer volume of necessaties that are needed on a daily basis astounds me every time I leave my house.

I carry with me-

• Nappies, at least 5 depending on length of time away from home
• Wet Wipes (Huggies Pure)
• Nappy Bags
• Spare Outfit X 2 (this was increased from 1 after a particularly explosive afternoon)
• Sudocrem
• Mini Dettol Spray
• Hand Sanitizer
• Vaseline Lip Balm X 2 (Aloe Vera for me, original for Evie)
• Breast Pads
• Cereal Bars of at least 2 different varieties. (This is because I was told that breastfeeding takes up lots of calories and energy and now I'm petrified of starving to death...)
• 1/2 cartons formula, just in case my boobs break
• 1/2 Dr Browns bottles (see above)
• Medela Swing Electric Pump (if I'm staying away from home).

The change mat is reasonably large and double sided. My logic tells me to use the shinier side due to it being wipe clean. Whether that's right or wrong I do not know.

There are 2 end pockets. One holds a small bottle, the other holds my iphone. The internal pockets hold all the little bottles and tubs. The zipped compartment holds my Red Book if I'm seeing the HV or doctor.

My wallet also gets shoved in along with sunglasses. What has been pushed to the wayside is my make-up bag. I no longer have the time or desire to touch up my lipstick after lunch. A total about turn for me. A sure sign that my daughter totally over-rules my needs with her own. And I'm so happy that she does.

Katy x

Evie's First Photo Shoot - Video Montage

I'm very lucky that in my line of work I get to know lots of creative genius'. This is the case with the lovely ladies at Cocoon Photography who have also gone on to become very good friends.


They did our Bump Shoot and I was thrilled when they offered to do our shoot for Evie.


The key to your first baby shot is to have it done before they're 10 days old. This is because babies faces change so quickly and under 10 days they still have that curled up look that is so cute.


Our shoot was held at my mums house and my mum herself made a guest appearance in some shots taken at the end. Evie posed like a professional model and did me very proud. She actually smouldered into the camera.

I sobbed like a deranged woman when i first saw this. I hope you enjoy it too.


This Video montage is a selection of some of their favourite shots.

Katy x