Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Where on earth does time go?
It feels like only yesterday that I was turning off my computer and setting aside the keyboard to start my maternity leave and yet here I am, having returned to work after 10 months off.
I know it’s said a lot but time really is flying by and I really wish it would just lay off for a little while.
I don’t mind admitting it’s been much more difficult coming back to the office this time, leaving behind two little beautiful faces.
Now, I have two little sets of baby blues glaring up at me, clutching at my coat tails, begging me not to leave in the mornings.
Instead, they want me to play dress up, have a cuddle under our favourite fluffy blanket to watch Tangled and line up our noisy toy cars to play on the floor.
My heart constantly feels like it is breaking these days and although everyone keeps telling me it will get better, it just doesn’t feel like it.
With our little Abbie having turned a big two at Christmas and our new little addition James now 10 months, our home life is never dull and is a full time job in itself.
Our beautiful boy, James arrived into the world on March 4 last year, weighing an impressive 11lb 3oz.
Unfortunately, things were not as smooth this time and our little big man had to spend his first few weeks in the neo-natal unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The experience of leaving hospital without him and seeing him every day in the unit really knocked me and I found it a real struggle to keep my chin up.
Really, if it wasn’t for the help and support of our families, I’m not sure where I’d be.
My husband Darren managed to hold me together through all the ups and downs and our families helped pull us both through the experience.
That said, James became a bit of star while he was in the unit because he was so cuddly and I’m told he was the talk of the hospital because of his impressive weight. He was certainly hit with the nurses, who loved cuddling him and caring for him.
Thankfully after many, many, many prayers and trips to Clonard, and lots and lots of tears, we finally took James home on March 21 and since then, he has thrived and is just a joy.
He and Abbie get on like the best of buddies – except when he tries to touch her toys - and then it makes for the funniest and cutest of battle scenes in the kitchen.
Whilst Abbie has become a real little girly girl who loves her doll and pram, dressing up and watching Frozen, James is a real little boy, who loves his cars, musical elephant and our dancing dog.
He also adores music and likes to sit on the floor swaying from side to side to his tunes.
He is also pulling himself up on the sofa and taking little assisted steps and I’m in no doubt he will be on his feet any day now.
Darren and I are still adjusting to life with two little folk and while it can be hectic, it is also such a blessing.
Of course, I’m not sure what I would have done without Darren these past few months, he has been my rock.
That said, now that I am back at work, life has become even more busy and leaving my babies in the mornings is very difficult. At times I feel like my heart is just going to break.
Of course, now that I am back to work, I have all you lovely readers to help me along the way.
I’m open to any and all advice and I just hope you will all be there with us as our little family grows and develops.
So, jump on board the McConville train of adventure.
There’s no telling where we’re heading. I just know it’s going to be loud, messy, teary and incoherent at times – and that’s just me.
Off we go …
Competition
With spring almost upon us, now is the time to refresh, renew and replenish and what better way to do that than with a new make-up look.
And if you’re planning on giving your trusty make-up bag a good spring clean, bear in mind that multi-award-winning make up artist and entrepreneur Paddy McGurgan has just won a lucrative contract to be the sole stockist in Northern Ireland of Parisian based make up collection, Make Up For Ever.
The collection, which is adored by a host of A-List celebrities, was created by iconic make up role model Dany Sanz and it is now available in Paddy McGurgan’s flagship Make Up Pro Store in Royal Avenue, Belfast, and will soon be available in his Newry and Derry shops.
Delighted to have been chosen to be the Make Up For Ever stockist and ambassador for Northern Ireland, Paddy McGurgan he was “confident” the range was “going to be a huge success”.
I have three Make Up For Ever goodie bags, each worth £60, to give away to three lucky readers.
If you fancy winning a Make Up For Ever goodie bag, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday, February 7 at 12 Noon.
(Q) Where is Paddy McGurgan’s flagship store in Belfast?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
The winner of the Fifty Shades competition is Geraldine Burns, from Banbridge
What’s Hot?
Rom-Com – Our favourite forty-something could be back in our front rooms this week as Bridget Jones’s Baby is out on DVD. As usual, our Bridget is as hilarious and as fabulous as ever.
Love – If you’re searching for a little Valentine's gift, how about a `Be Mine Valentine Love Letter’ from M&S. It’s a solid milk chocolate letter, which comes with a white chocolate icing pen to write your own edible message. Very sweet.
Tunes – I’m loving Little Mix’s new single, Touch. The upbeat tune gives me a little lift in the mornings now that I’m back on the daily commute.
So Not!
Sickness - I'm so sick of being sick. If it's not my throat, it's my ear and if it's not my ear, it's my throat and then there's my nose and the sneezing. Honestly, I wish all these bugs would just naff off.
Shock - Doctor Who fans have been left shocked and disappointed after Peter Capaldi announced he is to quit as the iconic TV character at the end of the year after, just three years in the role. The 58-year-old has backed a female to become the next Doctor Who.
Reality telly - Why is Celebrity Big Brother still on? It is just awful. Get it off - for good.
Easy Peasy Recipe
This week’s Easy Peasy Recipe is Leek and Pea Soup, courtesy of Asda
You will need:
50g Dromona butter
350g Asda Grower’s Selection leeks, trimmed and sliced
200g Glen’s of Antrim potatoes (peeled weight), sliced
800ml hot vegetable stock
2 sprigs of Asda Grower’s Selection mint
200g frozen peas
100ml Dale Farm single cream
To Make:
Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the leeks and potatoes and turn them in the butter so that they're well coated. Cover and cook over a very low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the stock, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the mint and peas and bring back to the boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Leave to cool slightly for about 15 minutes, then purée with a hand blender or in a food processor.
Return to the pan, stir in the cream and reheat. Serve with croutons.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Marie Louise McConville,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
m.mcconville@irishnews.com
