What’s in your changing bag? // Laura from Life. Love. Laura

Welcome to “What’s in your changing bag?”; my weekly Tuesday feature where I ask one Yummy Mummy (or Daddy) to share the innermost secrets of their changing bag, and the five items they couldn’t possibly live without!

This week I’m joined by my Twitter pal, Laura! We share very similar views regarding returning to work…

Hi Laura – great photo! Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself. 
Hi, I’m Laura, a first time mum to my beautiful 14 month old Little T, born 1st September 2012. We live with Little T’s daddy (Big T), our daft Labrador and Little T’s best friend (Daisy) and our tabby cat (Tilly), just outside of Hull – the newly named City of Culture 2017, yippee!! I spent a year on maternity leave with my little boy and it was the most amazing time of my life, so returning to work full time at the end of July was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’ve quickly come to realise that I’d be happy to relive the 1950s as I’d love to stay at home, wear pretty dresses, cook nice meals and make babies. I’m not sure about the cleaning though, I’d probably pay someone to do that!

I hear you!
What would you say is your favourite thing about being a Mutti?
I still think it’s weird being referred to as a “mummy,” I haven’t even got used to calling Big T my “husband” yet! But, I just love being known as “mummy,” knowing that I have brought a little person into the world that I will love unconditionally and who will (hopefully) love me back the same. It is the most amazing feeling holding this mini person that you created in your arms. It also means I can carry on acting like a big kid too without looking like a weirdo!

What would you say is the hardest thing?
This will sound ridiculous, but so far I’ve found the hardest thing is seeing him grow so quickly. It seems like five minutes ago that I was in the hospital after having him, looking at his tiny fingers and toes. Now he is almost walking, is into everything and his cheeky little personality is shining through. I am loving seeing him grow and develop into a proper little person, but it gives me butterflies in my tummy when I think about how quickly the time is passing!

I completely agree… Busby turns one in less than a month?! Where does the time go?
What three words would you use to describe Motherhood?
Magical, happy, knackering.

Isn’t it just?
How do you preserve/maintain your sense of self?
I am lucky that with my job, I do get some time off during the week. Sometimes, my days off coincide with Little T’s day at his child minders. On these days I make sure I have a lie in as this NEVER happens any more and I do love my bed! I am also very lucky that Little T has always been a good sleeper so when he goes to bed in an evening I use the time before going to bed myself as ‘me’ time – having a bath, tweeting, blogging, catching up on TV or going to bed early. It is very important to carry on doing things for yourself.

Fabulous!
So the last question, before we find out about your changing bag; if you could share one piece of Motherhoodly wisdom with us all what would it be?
Everybody approaches parenting differently and every baby is different so don’t ever doubt yourself by comparing yourself to other parents and other babies. Only do what feels right for you and your baby. At the end of the day, if your baby is happy, you will be happy!

Most definitely – great advice!
It’s business time: what make is your changing bag?

I have to admit, Little T’s changing bag, or “nappy bag” as Big T and I call it, isn’t the most exciting or pretty thing in the world. It came with his Joolz Day Expedition pram and I haven’t got round to getting a newer, prettier one. I’ll probably wait until we have our next baby now, whenever that may be (no plans as yet!)

What are the five items in your changing bag that you just can’t live without?

1.Wipes. Kids are mucky little things!
2. My purse. I no longer use a handbag, T’s nappy bag also doubles up as my handbag. Before I had T I used to use a massive handbag filled with rubbish that I thought were essentials. These days, the only things I leave the house with that are mine are my phone (tucked in my bra), my diary, some face powder, a lipgloss and most important of all, my purse. I wouldn’t get anywhere or anything without that, credit cards are an essential!
3. Ella’s Kitchen Puffits. Life outside the house wouldn’t be worth living if we didn’t have a stash of these in the nappy bag. T loves his snacks and these are his favourite!
4. A change of clothes. If you leave the house without them, your baby WILL have an accident. They will make sure of it, just to test you.
5. Milk/bottle. T has set nap times, you can set your watch by him. If I happen to be out and about across his nap time, no matter where he is he will need a bottle to get him off to sleep, it’s his comfort. I have been known to sit in the Next shoe trying on area many a time giving T his bottle whilst he falls to sleep in his pram. Awkward.

Thanks for sharing the contents of your changing bag with us, Laura. We haven’t tried the Puffits yet – I’ll have to seek them out!

Laura blogs at Life. Love. Laura and tweets as @life_love_laura.
Hannah