You know, I’m not much of a shopper. Hopeless, really. I’m not particularly brand-conscious, I don’t have the latest
anything and the thought of finding myself in a giant shopping mall fills me with dread. I do, however, enjoy going to markets, op-shops and art shops for it is in these places I find myself creatively inspired.
Seeking some of this inspiration yesterday, the two little kiddos and I traipsed through our local art shop picking up random supplies for an afternoon of fun. It was just what I needed. The past week has been hard. I’ve found myself feeling so low in energy I thought I must surely be afflicted by some mysterious disease... But, as my girl and I played with paint yesterday, it dawned on me that there is no mystery at all to how I have been feeling: I am getting too little sleep, and even that is disrupted by baby feeding or Miss Three waking up and climbing into bed with us. And I am breastfeeding a steadily growing 6-month-old baby who is thriving at the same rate I am wilting. These factors are obviously related to my energy levels.
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The remedy? Well, I definitely need to rest-up and go to bed earlier wherever possible, for example. I’ve instigated a new, earlier, dinner, bath and bedtime routine for the girls to see if I can get to bed earlier myself. And I need to watch my own nutrition - perhaps supplement some of the nutrients I’m starting to feel depleted in... I also think it might be time for the littlest kiddo to start her journey into trying solids. She is so keen on grabbing everything off our plates and she has stopped drooling so much – both signs she is fit to give it a go.
Meanwhile, back in craft-land, Miss Three and I made good use of those new art materials with a spot of printing (below).
Interestingly, I spontaneously chose to experiment with fruit and vegetable printing. Could it be my subconscious drawing me towards thinking about nutrition? Anyway, it was good and messy fun. If you decide to try it yourself, I can tell you the onions printed the best for us, but there are so many more possibilities with this activity...
Okay. I’m signing off for the weekend early. Regular blogging to be resumed next week – hopefully with me feeling somewhat replenished.
Head on over to Kirsty’s blog,
Kootoyoo, for more creative spaces.
x
p.s Thank you Kristen, the lone, kind, commenter on this week’s Monday Mama post. I ended up deleting the post because, once I read it again the next day, it just seemed so scattered and lame... I was too tired to write anything coherent that morning. Thanks all the same Kristen, your effort was appreciated even if I did delete it. xo
Oh, it looks like lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteThe printing looks gorgeous. What a fantastic Mummy you are going to all that trouble to do art with your child when you are so tired. Protein at 4pm. That's what I was always told when breastfeeding. A tub of yoghurt or a piece of cheese. Keeps you going. And zinc/iron often helps too. I hope you manage to get the rest you need. Sending you some virtual chicken soup and a big hug x
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great. From one breastfeeding mama to another, it's hard to make the body keep up with the brain, and when the brain goes too... whoa... have an easy (you know what I mean) weekend.
ReplyDeletefab idea with the cauliflower lovey!
ReplyDeletepoor you, with the sleep depravation. big hugs. xx
the printing looks fabulous such a great idea to use vegies other than the old standard cut out spud I am loving the way the onion has worked
ReplyDeleteHere, here I love shopping at places that make me think a bit.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly though when you step back a bit at shopping centres you can find it too. I've had to go a bit lately with the big girl & do feel quite excited by all the circles I've been seeing...even at Supre! Who'd have thought?
Thank you for the inspiration. Printing vegetables! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHave fun starting on the solids. All that messy food all over the floor. i sort of miss that mess.
Oh NO!!! You deleted your Monday Mama post. I really really liked it ... the ikea one... I just didn't leave a comment because I was feeling so busy at the time. I'm sorry. I really really liked it. I look forward to your Monday Mama posts and have been drafting a post of my own in my mind for over a week now... just got to get it typed out so that other's might get what I'm on about. I do hope you re-post the ikea catalogue. I though the observations you made were really important and I appreciated them muchly.
ReplyDeleteOn other points - yep - sleep more look after yourself better ... such easy advice to say but so tricky to do. Getting to bed early is a killer for me - I love the house all quiet and to myself of an evening. My 18mnth daughter is still breast-feeding like a trooper and she ends up in our bed a lot (colds, teething...) and the three year old joins us too. So it is often an uncomfortable sleep the little that I get... BUT that beautiful time in the middle of the night when I have all the personal space I want. The eternal search for balance hey?
It looks like you all had such fun! And this time with your beautiful girls would be such a boost ~ in all manner of ways I imagine.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing amazing stuff Megan ~ never doubt that.
Good for you for vegie printing with your beautiful girls and for still breastfeeding.
ReplyDeleteThe hump hits a few times in that first year with feeding, but I still think it is so great to keep going. So many girls give it up, tiredness, hard work, cant be bothered...Im still feeding,a nearly 20 month old, she is my third and I fed all mine till they gave up themselves...the lack of sleep has made my last year a blur though..she is in our bed, and feeding through the night, upsets sleep I know........but you know, the way she snuggles into me in the still of the night...there is a word for it, for mummy and baby and it is called BLISS..and I wouldnt swap it for a week of sleep...........xx well done to you, I hope you get some rest and start to feel alot better...Suzanne.