Our wonderful friends (and English family) Rob and Kerry stood, together with my oldest and closest friend Tanya, as God Parents and I just know with people like this in her life our youngest will be very very blessed.
As with Nick's blessing it was lovely to have my mom with us and to see the love on her face as she watched her four grandchildren during the service, a very special and significant day for all involved.
Mom's trip this time seemed to fly by way to fast and I can't believe that she is gone again for another year. Her little touches are still in the house and when I stand at my kitchen window looking at the gorgeous garden she has helped us create I know that a little bit of her heart remains with us and that she is never far away in spirit.
Again it was thanks to the unselfishness of my Dad that we were able to have this wonderful time together and I only hope he knows how much we appreciate his sacrifice, Mom certainly leaves a HUGE hole in the house when she is not there.
The morning dawned grey and raining, but as we had booked a hall for the event the stress levels remained low and I was able to really enjoy the final preparations. The boys had an absolute blast and loved all the Gruffalo themed food and decorations.
Meg and Phill where wonderful keeping the little ones entertained at the biscuit decorating and craft tables and in Nick Nick's words it certainly turned out to be "the best party ever". A happy day for my darling little boy and one made extra special by the fact that his Nanny was there to share it with him.
This morning we decided a family road trip would be doable and so packed our car to the rafters and headed down the coast to Pagham, a small seaside village near Chichester, and also the site of my family home.
The weather was glorious and the whole family enjoyed time lying on the beach chatting and relaxing before a lovely lunch in a quaint beach cafe followed by a trip to the local parish church to visit my great grandparents grave.
The children were enchanted by the history my mom was able to tell them about my paternal family and it was fun to drive around finding houses that used to belong to aunt and uncles and to see "White Rock" restored to it's former glory after years and years of neglect.
Mom is now just over half way through her trip and without her I can say without doubt I would have been sunk, my antidepressants are certainly helping to keep me on an even keel, but her presence is vital in the house at the moment...I have said many times I am terrified of how I am going to manage this without her, but she keeps reminding me that Elizabeth is growing up by the day and before long (with luck) the house will be running smoothly around us and our happy balance will be restored.
Si and Mom have also been working hard on our garden this trip and it is really starting to take shape now. I love the fact that when she goes home we will have little reminders of her in our home until she can come back again.
Emotionally I have been on a bit of a roller coaster and finally on Friday gave in and saw the doctor who has prescribed a mild antidepressant to help stabilise my mood swings and help me to get a little more balance. Having been a sufferer of Post Natal Depression in the past I am terribly afraid of falling down into that pit again and am hoping that with the help of these little white tablets I will be able to ward it off this time round.
Having Mom here has as always been a Godsend as she keeps me busy and active which also helps with the erratic emotions....once again I find myself counting the blessings of wonderful people that I have in my life and thanking God everyday for each and every one of them.
As of Monday Megan and Phillip will be catching first a taxi to the station, then a train to Haywards Heath before walking the remaining distance to school and in order to prepare them for this quite mammoth task Si and I decided that he should do the trip with them today in order to make sure that they are fully equip for the new week. This of course meant that I would be home alone with Nick and Elizabeth.
As my caesar scar has healed up a treat the family took the opportunity to go on a little outing to the park yesterday and it felt INCREDIBLE to be out in the gorgeous sunshine holding Nick Nick's hand as we strolled along, Phill pushing his new sister in her fab pram whilst Si and Meg walked up ahead, arms linked, heads together solving the mysteries of the world....a perfect moment and a diamond in my tennis bracelet!
