News from our house

Dear Olivia,

You have a new baby sister!

I say new, she’s now 7 weeks old. You’ve been a fantastic big sister for 7 weeks already.

I suppose this means the name of this blog will have to change – letters to Éloïse are on the horizon!

I’m so proud of how well you’ve adapted to having a new baby in the house. I know Éloïse feels so loved by you already.

My experience of having a baby this time around has been so different, too. I am probably one of the only people who is grateful for the coronavirus and the lockdowns that have allowed me to spend so much time with you. Even now, despite being back at work and you back at school, our new baby bubble is protected a little by me mostly working from home and having more time with you both than I usually would. I hope you remember this time as such a happy, wonderful time – that is how I will treasure these moments with you both forever.

I love you so much my gorgeous girls. It’s been a long time since I’ve written one of these letters, but I hope to be able to write more soon.

Love, Mummy xxx

Letter Fifty Two: storybook soldiers…

Dear Olivia,

Before Daddy left, I made him go along to this session where he could record himself reading a story to you for bedtime. This is the sort of thing that your dad gets ridiculously cringed out by, but now that it has turned up, I am so, so glad that I asked him to do it…

Letter Fifty One: the morning drop offs

Dear Olivia,

Since Daddy left us almost 3 months ago (I know! That means not long left until he’s back home!), you’ve understandably had a bit of separation anxiety.

Letter Fifty: our newest adventure…

Dear Olivia,

It seems crazy to think that you’re now 2, and even crazier to think that I’m now leaving the world of studying behind! That’s right, Mummy has completed the BPTC and starting Monday I’ll have a full time legal job! 

Letter Forty Nine: whoa we’re half way there…

Dear Olivia,

We’ve just celebrated your second birthday party, and, of course, Daddy was on the other end of the phone!

We’re now coming up to the half way point for Daddy being away, and it’s been pretty tough at times, but on the whole it seems to have gone pretty quickly. We’ve had to keep ourselves busy – and planning your birthday party definitely did that!

Letter Forty Eight: we’re doing okay…

Dear Olivia,

Daddy has been gone for about a week and a half now, and I’ve only had you back from Nanny’s house since last Saturday, but things are alright for us at the moment.

You’ve been clingier than usual, which is understandable, and you’re testing boundaries a lot more because it’s only me you’re up against. You’ve always been a handful for me anyway but now it’s even more so with nobody to help calm your terrible tantrums. But despite all of that, we’re doing okay.

Letter Forty Seven: au revoir à papa…

Dear Olivia,

Daddy was supposed to be leaving us last week, but guess what? HE’S HERE FOR ANOTHER WEEK!!!!

We’re stuck with him for another week until he goes away for four whole months… How I’m going to cope with you on my own for those four months I have absolutely no clue. You are honestly so naughty at the moment and it’s really testing both mine and daddy’s patience, and I know that you’re even worse without him around.

Sleeping is a nightmare – you just won’t do it. It takes, on average, about 4 hours to get you to go to sleep.

Letter Forty Six: being a mummy without a mummy…

Dear Olivia,

Days attributed to parents have always made me feel really quite rubbish, but I always used to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mum. It’s only been the last five or six years that I haven’t, but since you’ve been here this is the first one without her around or at the end of a phone call. What makes it harder is that she’s not around by choice.

Letter Forty Five: I miss you…

Dear Olivia,

It may go without saying, but I really, really miss you. Right now you’re having lots of fun with Nanny