Mummascribbles – Mummascribbles meets…Life With Baby Kicks – Mummascribbles
Today we meet the lovely Laura from Life with Baby Kicks. Thank you Laura for taking part in the mummascribbles meets series 🙂
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your family.
Myself, the husband, the toddler terror and bump (due end of April agggggh!)  are all living the dream life as expats out in Dubai! Though it is definitely not as rose tinted as everyone believes, the summers are unbearably hot and the driving is manic as well as the ever changing people in your life due to the cyclical nature of the place! However we love it, and I really really really didn’t want to move here originally. I sulked. I pouted. I moaned. And now? I love it! I wouldn’t change it for the world.
For now we are living in the moment out here as we don’t know when we will be heading back to UK shores or if indeed we will head back to UK shores as the husband came home last night with a glint in his eyes and asked if I would consider anywhere else in the world!
And now, my sense of adventure is that I would go anywhere as long as I have the husband and the kid(s!!!!!) and we are together all is good.
What do you like doing to be you, when you are not parenting, working (if you do), or blogging?
I don’t work, it was one of the benefits of moving out here I get to be a SAHM. Which along with blogging and parenting takes up most of my time! I think being pregnant as well has kind of morphed me into “Mummy all the time” mode! Though the husband is often on the case that I need to not lose me, so we go out for dinner (one of my favourite things to do, lots of yummy food) I love to bake in the kitchen (more food, generally cake) and I like to read!
What is your biggest achievement to date?
I could be corny and saying having babies! They are my biggest achievement I guess but not my only achievement. I was progressing through my career nicely before having the terror and was about to head back to work when I found out I was expecting the bump. I have an amazing husband and family life which we work hard at, so that in itself is an achievement!
Though I guess if I was to say anything I would say that my ability to adapt to any situation, such as emigrating, whilst also being there supporting my family through the change until we are all settled is probably the best thing I have done!
From your own experiences, what do you find the hardest part of parenting and what is the easiest/most rewarding part?
The hardest was definitely the beginning, trying to work out if I could do this, how you deal with a baby that only sleeps for 20 minutes. I think I placed a lot of reliance on books and would cry when it wasn’t working. It took the husband coming in to tell me to read the baby not the book that gave me the strength to believe in myself as a mother. Since then there have been rough times but I know now that I am the best I can be and the terror adores me for it!
The easiest? Loving him and watching him grow into such an amazing little person learning new things every day and realising that I am part of why he is such an amazing little boy! (Except when he tantrums, then he is all Daddy’s!)
Parenting in itself is no mean feat; how do you juggle everything you need to in order to get everything done on a daily basis?
I have 3 mornings a week when the terror is in nursery, generally on one morning I will go do the dreaded weekly food shopping, the next morning I will clean the whole house, and the last morning I do the ironing.
Though I have been slacking recently and have been using that time to blog and rest (I am pregnant it is allowed!!!).
Other than that I try to fit everything round the terror, I do one form of activity in the morning/afternoon be it a playdate, baking, swimming lessons, a walk to the shop, helping me sweep. I figure that this time with him I will never get back and though I don’t always appreciate the time we have, especially when he is being frustrating, I do have to remind myself to try to! I find planning the week really helps my mind set!
And for now he is still napping so I get some me time too!
I haven’t figured out the plan for when I have 2 yet……
Why did you decide to start blogging?
It was literally one of those spur of the moment decisions, my friend had been blogging a while and was talking about it and I just thought “I can do that” so I went home and did! Its only been a couple of months but its wonderful, it makes me feel like me again and gives me something other than being mummy and wife!
Tell me a bit about your blog?
It’s just a bit of a mish mash of bits of our lives. I include bits about being pregnant, what the toddler terror does, what I do with the toddler terror, life in Dubai, a weekly what we eat series and I am about to look at doing a travel with toddler section! Phew, bit of everything!
What do you want your blog to achieve and where do you hope to see it go as it grows?
Right now, I’d love to just increase the number of views and followers that I have. Eventually I would like to see the blog making me a small income, nothing major, even if its only £1 I would be so proud of myself!
Though right now, my plan is to get up to 6 months and see where the blog has evolved, whether its worth going self hosted, what will happen when the second baby arrives!
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting a blog?
Do it but give yourself realistic goals! But don’t expect it to be a get rich quick scheme, it’s a lot of work and you have to really put yourself out there in the blogging community but the sense of reward you get is incredible!
If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
1. My dad; he passed away 3 years ago and I’d love the chance to speak with him again to see what he makes of the move to Dubai, the blog, the grandchildren I’ve since produced!
2. Paul Hollywood; I have a bit of a crush on him, he’s a silver fox and can bake! Winner!!
3. Princess Kate; she is about the same age as me, Prince George is a similar age to the toddler terror and we are due number 2 around the same time, I’d love to know how she combines royalty with parenting, what help they get, what help they refuse. All whilst sharing some of Paul’s bread
Tell me three random facts about you
1. I have a tattoo that I hate, I only got it to annoy my mum. It worked but she got the last laugh as I really hate it now!
2. I am incapable of having a cup of tea without dipping a biscuit in
3. I have a masters degree in Chemistry and secretly love the periodic table, its my party trick name the element and the only thing that would get me onto the husbands “Phone a Friend” list!
You can find Laura at http://lifewithbabykicks.blogspot.ae and also on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+
 
