Lara Percival

Category: Our Journey To You

  • 25 Weeks Old

    Hey Lara,

    Today is a big day…you are sleeping in your own room tonight. We have been putting your Moses basket in your cot for your naps today and you seem to like it. Daddy has just settled you in for your first night in your own room. You are almost too big for your basket now, so time to make that lil leap to becoming an independent Lara. Don’t worry, we have a baby monitor so we can hear you from wherever we are.

    It’s nearly Christmas and you becoming 6 months old. You have come so far…you are babbling and making lots of noise whilst you’re learning to talk. You are rolling about all over the place. You are looking at and grabbing everything. Your core is getting stronger so sitting up isn’t far away either.

    You are so beautiful and funny. When I look at you, my heart aches I have so much love for you. When you laugh, it never fails to make me smile a huge smile.

    I love you so much,

    Mama Bear x

  • 15 Weeks Old Today

    Hey Lara,

    15 weeks since we brought you into the world. Who would of thought you’d change so much in such a small space of time. Your Daddy and I were looking at photos were taken of you since you were born and you’ve changed so much!

    You’re smiling and laughing loads now. We’re beginning to learn your little ways, like why you’re crying (despite others thinking they know better), usually your grandparents (your Daddy’s parents).

    Nanna Helen misses you so much. She hates being so far away from you. From us.

    You had your second lot of immunisations on Thursday, you were so badass, you let out a one cry when the needle went in and that was it! I had an appointment of my own just before yours, and I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. It’s not your fault, it’s just something some Mummys suffer with after having a baby, and dealing with other stresses, for me it was moving house, moving jobs, your Daddy moving jobs, falling pregnant, having you, planning a wedding and getting married, getting us all to Cornwall safely. It’s all been a bit crazy and I think I hit my limit of things and feels. I started taking tablets this morning, and we shall see if they make a difference. But enough about that, onto more positive things.

    It was my birthday on Wednesday, and to celebrate your Daddy managed to get some time off work so we could spend some time together as a family…or Team Bubble as we like to call ourselves, even before you were born.

    Your Daddy is getting closer to fixing Mummy’s car and getting it ready for it’s mot. I really miss driving Kiko, and being able to get about on my own.

    Here are some photos we’ve took of you this week…

    Love,

    Mummy x

  • Advice To My Daughter

    Hey Lara,

    I while ago, I read an article about a letter a mother wrote to her daughter, some rules to live your life by. I would like to share them with you…

    • Don’t apologize when someone else bumps into you.
    • Don’t say “sorry to be such a pain.” You’re not a pain. You’re a person with thoughts and feelings who deserves respect.
    • Don’t make up reasons as to why you can’t go out with a guy you don’t wanna go out with. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. A simple “no thanks” should be acceptable.
    • Don’t overthink what you eat in front of people. If you’re hungry, eat, and eat what you want. If you want pizza, don’t get a salad just because other people are around. Order the damn pizza.
    • Don’t keep your hair long to make someone else happy.
    • Don’t wear a dress if you don’t want to.
    • Don’t stay home because you don’t have anyone to go out with. Take yourself out. Have experiences by yourself and for yourself.
    • Don’t hold back your tears. Crying means you’re feeling something that needs to get out. It’s not a weakness. It’s being human.
    • Don’t smile because someone told you to.
    • Don’t be afraid to laugh at your own jokes.
    • Don’t say “yes” to be polite. Say “no” because it’s your life.
    • Don’t hide your opinions. Speak up and speak loudly. You should be heard.
    • Don’t apologize for being who you are. Be brave and bold and beautiful. Be unapologetically you.’

    Don’t let anyone stop you being the amazing and beautiful girl you are.

    We love you Lara Bug!

    Mummy x

  • Fun with Lara

    Hey Lara, You’re so much fun! We love playing with you, and making your smile and laugh. Here you are playing with Daddy…

    I like playing with you on your crunchy tube…

  • Back To Work

    Hey Lara Bug,

    Tomorrow is my first day back at work since I left mid June for maternity leave. Hard to grasp that I’ve been off work for 2 months.

    What a mad 8 weeks it’s been, being blessed with you and getting married to your Daddy. It’s been an amazing and emotional time.

    I am really nervous about going back, but soothed by the knowledge that your Daddy is looking after you tomorrow. Tuesday is your first day with your childminder Lyndsey, who promises faithfully to look after you while your Daddy and I are at work. Making sure you’re fed, happy and developing well.

    If I could if stayed of maternity longer to be with you I would have done. The guilt of leaving you with a stranger a whilst you are still a young is tearing me apart. We even toyed with the idea of your Daddy giving up work to look after you. But we couldn’t afford it. Keeping you fed, clothed and a roof over your head was more important.

    We love you so much, and hope we don’t miss too many of your firsts whilst we are apart from you.

    Mummy x

  • Last Day Of Maternity

    Last Day Of Maternity

    Hey Lara Bug,

    Today is officially my last day on maternity. I have one more week off with you before I go back to work. Luckily Daddy is off as well as it’s wedding and honeymoon, and we get to spend it as a family. Unfortunately Nismo is going to have to stay home, but she is being well looked after, and we will miss her very much.

    I am nervous about going back to work. Leaving you with a stranger while Mummy and Daddy are working hard to make sure we can buy you the things we need to keep you all happy, and in our home all safe and warm.

    We are excited about having your first holiday with you. Seeing lots of cool places, getting you down on the beach and into the sea.

    All this said, I have not been apart from you for more than an hour since you were born almost 6 weeks ago, so being away from you for 8 hours is going to be really tough, and I’m going to miss you so much. I’m glad that on my first day back your Daddy will be looking after to you. It will be his first time looking after you alone all day. I’m sure you two will have some awesome Daddy / Daughter time together.

    Much love,

    Mummy x

  • Hard Times

    Hey Lara Bug,

    We have had a couple of hard days. Lots of crying. Lots of explosive nappies. Lots of being sick everywhere.

    Being alone with you is awesome, but sometimes Mummy needs a break from the screaming. Yesterday I tried a dummy on you and it soothed you. I felt guilty as I feel like a failed you. But I don’t want you being upset and getting you in a state.

    Also, you have been struggling to sleep in your basket during the day. You will only fall asleep on me, which is lovely as I love your cuddles and your smell, but I get backache and get uncomfortable.

    I love you so much.

    Mummy x

  • Standard Day

    Hey Lara Bug,

    Wanted to give you an insight of what a standard day is like after your Daddy leaves for work. Your general state of being mostly breaks down to these percentages:

    40% Crying / 40% Feeding / 20% Sleeping

    Where as I spent my time doing one of the following:

    • Feeding you
    • Changing your nappy and clothes
    • Soothing you between feeds
    • Making you a bottle
    • Cleaning bottles ready for next feed
    • Expressing milk for your next feed
    • Emptying and reloading the dishwasher
    • Emptying and reloading the washing machine
    • Dusting
    • Feeding / Stroking / Grooming the cat
    • Crying on the back step because I can’t get you to stop crying
    • Squeezing in breakfast or lunch for myself
    • Squeezing in getting dressed myself
    • Taking delivery of the food shopping whilst rushing the food back into the cupboards before you start crying again
    • Planning a wedding

    I love you loads, but you make the day a challenge. You have no real feeding pattern as we just feed you when you ask for it, which is most of the time when you are awake. They call it responsive feeding.

    I look forward to your Daddy getting home, as I miss his hugs, kisses and company, but he also takes over whilst I can get a bath or shower. I don’t like leaving you alone where I can’t get to you quickly and soothe you when your crying.

    Although is sounds cruel, when I know is you’ve been fed, nappy changed, cuddled and burped, I leave you to cry a little bit as sometimes you cry because you’re tired, and you then cry yourself to sleep. I hate doing it, but it’s best for you. Mummy still loves you.

    Lots of love,

    Mummy x

  • Lara Loves Snuggles

    Lara Loves Snuggles

    Hey Lara Bug,

    You’re almost a month old and we feel like we know you so well now. Your Daddy and I are in a routine with you with your feeding. You wake us up, I change your nappy while your Daddy gets your milk and my breast pump sorted. Daddy feeds you while I express milk for you. Daddy puts the bottles and the pump back in the sanitiser and I cuddle you and get the last of your burps out of you, and sooth so you go back to sleep again.

    We love you so much, and can’t imagine our lives without you in it.

    I have been enjoying my maternity leave looking after you. There are days where I have felt I am not doing it right or felt useless. But after a chat with your Daddy, I always feel much better.

    Quite often you’ll cry just because you want a cuddle, and I am more than happy to oblige.

    You and I will sit in front of Homes Under The Hammer quite happily snuggling. But then Mummy will need a drink or the loo and have to put you back in your Moses basket. You keep me warm and you love to snuggle up under my chin.

    Keep on being cute my little bug.

    Lots of love,

    Mummy x

  • Officially A Percival

    Officially A Percival

    Hey Lara,

    Even more good news, you are officially a Percival!

    When you were first born, you were given my surname. I won’t be married to your Dad until 7th August, when we will all have the same surname and be a happy little family.

    We are still deciding what we want you to wear on the big day. I bought a couple of dresses from Modified Nationals on some 50s style dresses for you, but your Dad thinks they might be too big for you, as you will only be 6 weeks old, but we will try them on you and see how they look.

    We are so excited to have you with us to tie the knot and have you in our photos. You Dad and I love you so much!

    Lots of love,
    Mum x