It’s Friday, and that means a new episode of #coolmumclub, meet the members…the only guest series guaranteeing a number one linked post spot on the #coolmumclub Linky. Today we give a massive *High Five* to Abi, the Mum behind ‘Something about Baby‘ blog. She’s the #coolmumclub resident member of TOWIE (okay, maybe not!) so I’m waving across the Thames to you Abi from neighbouring Kent!
This series is perfect for new bloggers to introduce themselves to the rest of the blogging world, so show her some love guys! One day she is going to be a hugely successful novelist…follow your dreams Abi!
x MMT
A little about me
I am absolutely delighted to be taking part in the Cool Mum Club: Meet the Members series. My name is Abi, and I am the face behind the blog, Something About Baby. I am an Essex girl, (not quite) born and bred! I have lived in a few places around Essex, but I currently reside in a lovely little town, with my wonderful husband Craig and our amazing baby Alfie.
Craig and I have been together for ten years this year, and married four. Alfie came along 9 months ago, and our lives haven’t been the same since! Before I had Alfie, I worked as a Legal PA in London, and I plan to go back once my maternity leave has finished (I have 3 months left, so trying not to think about it too much!) I’ve always lived a quiet kind of life – I’ve always loved reading (my siblings used to joke I’d be a librarian when I was older!) and eventually grew to love writing when I started secondary school and had to create stories for my English classes. I have dreamed of being a writer or working in publishing for years, but have been unable to make the transition, mainly due to time, money and opportunities. I’m known for my love of tea (literally addicted, I’ve tried many time to give it up or make the switch to green tea, but I just can’t do it). More recently I have been reaching for wine over tea…not quite sure why that is?!
Since becoming a mum
Since I’ve become a mum, I’ve definitely changed. I feel like I’m more laid back, yet have less patience to put up with people’s bullshit. I’m not easily offended, as I really don’t care what people think about me, but if you do or say something I don’t agree with, I will tell you! I’ve come to realise that my baby and my husband really are the most important things in the world to me, and I’ve come to learn that a mother’s love really is very fierce!
I’ve learned lots of new skills as a mother – for example, surviving on 4 hours or less sleep, taking a shower in less than 3 minutes and making a sandwich with a baby balanced on your hip. I’ve become passionate about things that never crossed my mind before, like breastfeeding, baby-wearing, co-sleeping and extended rear-facing car seats. I’ve had full blown conversations with complete strangers about everything from my interesting labour (induced, 3 days of contractions, emergency c-section, 10lb baby), to the contents of Alfie’s nappy (big wee’er, breastmilk poops, solid poop, spinach poop, basically all kind of poop!), to my views on cloth nappies (we use them, I love them, husband hates them, they are CUTE!).
Why did I start a blog?
As I said before, I’ve always love to write, although it has always been fiction. I wrote a novel when I was 21. It’s not been published, or even read by that many people as I’m quite shy about it, but I believe it’s pretty good, and one day I will get it out there (I hope!). But I found I couldn’t find the time to write as much as I wanted to, and I was also finding that a lot of stuff was happening whilst pregnant that I wanted to document, but I didn’t know how. I’m very much a hoarder of memories. I have 10 years of love letters, soppy cards, silly notes and thousands of photo of my relationship with Craig, so why wouldn’t I want to do the same for my baby? I briefly started a blog about 6 months before I got pregnant, but I wasn’t dedicated enough, or really have a focus for it. So when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to remember every single little detail, and considered the idea of starting a blog. Of course, I got caught up in the excitement of telling friends and family the news, and then I got bad morning (all day) sickness, then I was preparing for my maternity leave and STILL hadn’t started the blog!
Before I knew it, I was 41 weeks pregnant and had been on maternity leave for 4 weeks and was super bored because the baby hadn’t arrived. I had done all the things I wanted to before the baby came – made curtains and bunting for the nursery, washed and sorted all the baby clothes, finally packed my hospital bag and had a wax and pedicure in preparation for the birth (you still got to look good!) This is when I thought it would be a good time to start a blog – 7 days overdue with my first baby, with no idea how I was going to take to motherhood!
I was very OCD about how I was going to write my blog. I wanted to document my pregnancy journey, in order, and so didn’t “announce” the birth of Alfie until he was 6 months old! It was so strange trying to write about a baby that was already here, as if he wasn’t, especially as we didn’t know the sex of the baby until he was born! The worst thing was probably writing about my expectations for a calm, relaxed, drug free water birth, when in fact I knew I’d had an unsettled induced labour resulting in an emergency caesarean.
I didn’t intend to share my blog with anyone I knew at first – I had a twitter account, and tentatively started following people and writing tweets. Then one day a fellow blogger shared a blog post of mine, and tagged my personal Facebook in it, which revealed me to the world (thanks Mrs Lighty!) Honestly, it’s the best thing that could have happened, as I don’t think I would have plucked up the courage otherwise. I now share everything on my personal page, and often have friends and family comment on things I have written on my blog (although I do find that a little bit uncomfortable at times!)
What now?
For now, I am enjoying documenting my time as a first time mum. I blog when I want to, about whatever I want to. I love that there are people out there reading my blog! I love to see my stats increasing, but I don’t get too hung up over it. I love interacting with readers on social media – I recently shared a photo on my Facebook page that reached over 24,000 people. To me, that’s insane! It was a one-off, but it has shown me what *could* happen if I am prepared to put in the time and effort. One day, I would love to be able to make an income from my blog – that’s the dream. But for today, I’m just happy writing for myself, with no pressure. I love linking up with other blogs, and enjoy reading about their adventures and successes. I love getting to know fellow bloggers, and learning from them. One day I hope to be able to teach a fellow blogger things I have learnt.
I will continue to write about all things bump and babies, and continue to share my blog with the world. Who knows where it will take me? But for now, I’m just going to enjoy it!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed getting to know me and Something About Baby!
Check Abi out on Twitter:@AboutBabyBlog
Mrs Lighty April 29, 2016
Hello Mrs Jones! *Waves!* Love this! The introduction about TOWIE made me laugh (especially as we first met in person in TOWIE-land, I mean Brentwood! ;D) as did the photo of Alfie with the hot cross bun again!! Sorry (not sorry! ;D) for outing you to the world aka Facebook, I hope that’s true that it was the best thing that could’ve happened. I look forward to reading many more blog posts as the years go on and, of course, that novel one day! Xxx
Mrs Tubbs April 30, 2016
Love this series 🙂 Always cool to learn more about the person behind the blog 🙂
MMT May 1, 2016
Would Love to feature you Mrs tubbs!! Fancy letting us into your strange place? Xx
justsayingmum May 5, 2016
Aww lovely to meet you Abi – fellow Essex girl! Love your approach to blogging – completely realistic. And 24,000 reach – wowzer! Good luck with your plans lovely – to make a living from blogging – wonderful! #coolmumclub
beautybabyandme May 5, 2016
Lovely to meet you Abi. Sounds like you are doing amazingly! I’m on a similar journey with my little one so it’s always lovely to read about others experiences and how you’re getting on. Looking forward to reading more about you xx #coolmumclub
Mrs Lighty May 5, 2016
Just popping back again from #CoolMumClub. Hi Abi!! *waves again* Thanks for hosting, MMT xxx
ourrachblogs May 5, 2016
Really interesting! I particularly enjoyed the bit about not putting up with peoples bullshit. I’ll tell you why, because as soon as I became a Mum nearly 3 years ago, I became the same. I can’t be arsed to ‘play the game’, if you’re fake, I’ve got not time for you and I just point blank refuse to spend time with people I don’t want to. I really like this new side of me, it’s great for the soul! #coolmumclub
Lisa Robb (@workingmumy) May 5, 2016
Love this series!! Im quite nosey 🙂
Lovely post!
Lx
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#coolmumclub
Fran @ Whinge Whinge Wine May 5, 2016
Nice to meet a new face! I’ve followed you on Twitter and look forward to reading you blog.
These are my favourite posts, I’m so damn nosey.
#coolmumclub
Mess and merlot May 5, 2016
Lovely to get to know you a bit more Abi, your comment about the pedicure made me laugh, I did my own mani (no easy task at 9mths+ as you know) and the nursing staff made me remove it! Gutted Good luck with that novel x Coolmumclub
Faye Elizabeth May 5, 2016
Lovely post! I’ve popped over and followed Abi on Twitter 🙂 thanks for introducing us 🙂 #coolmumclub
islandliving365 May 5, 2016
Fellow Essex girl here *waving* although now living in Jersey. I am loving your approach to blogging you are doing a fab job #coolmumclub
Cheryl @ Tea or Wine May 5, 2016
I love finding out about bloggers! I’m also from Essex (Chelmsford) where are you? And like you I love books, writing, tea and wine! I love the bit about new skills you’ve learnt since being a mum, that rings true! #CoolMumClub
Tall Mum in Manchester May 5, 2016
Hi Abi. Just found you on Twitter. Lovely to get a sneak peak behind the scenes of your blog. Hope you find it in you to publish your novel one day! Good luck! #coolmumclub
motherhoodtherealdeal May 5, 2016
Hurrah for Abi! Great to have you as part of the #coolmumclub gang! Looking forward to next week’s spotlight! xxx
Life Love and Dirty Dishes May 5, 2016
Nice to meet you Abi. The worst thing that happened to me with my blog was when my mother-in-law found out about it. Now I can’t write about her, and believe me there’s a lot of material there! #coolmumsclub
bloodsugarecmomagik May 5, 2016
Love it! Wine over tea #coolmumclub xxx
ljdove23 May 5, 2016
Lovely to meet you!! I too was gutted the day that my mother in law discovered my blog, I have several blog posts in my drafts that will never see the light of day!! Well done you on writing a novel too, I have just started and have no idea where I will find the time to finish! #coolmumclub
My Petit Canard May 5, 2016
Loved reading this Abi! Its so nice to find out a bit more about you and your blog and how and when it all started. Such an interesting story and journey. Its been great speaking to you on twitter and having you on the #BreastfeedingStories series so far 🙂 Emily #coolmumclub
jaxbest May 6, 2016
Lovely to meet you! x Alfie is just GORGEOUS! #coolmumclub
Savannah (@HowHesRaised) May 6, 2016
I love this! It’s so wonderful to meet you, Abi <3 It truly is amazing how we change when we become parents-things I once knew nothing about, I now find myself reading, breathing, living! Yay for a fellow cloth diaperer-I am the one who loves them in our house too, ahah! Isn't it crazy how quickly people find out about your blog?! Nice meeting you <3 #coolmumclub
Mrs Tubbs May 6, 2016
Love this series! I love finding more about my fellow bloggers
tammymum May 6, 2016
Hey, nice to meet a new member and find out a little more about them. Wow 24,000 people that’s insane, must have been a great photo. Xx #coolmumclub
Something About Baby May 7, 2016
Thank you all for your lovely comments! I loved writing this post! Huge thanks to MMT for featuring me, it’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the #coolmumclub xx
rightroyalmother May 7, 2016
What a lovely explanation of why you started blogging. I hope it’s been brilliant and has allowed you to document Alfie’s – and your – story as you wanted. I started for similar reasons and it’s such an excellent way of keeping your brain active, I think (what’s left of it at the end of a day, anyway!) #coolmumclub
DomesticatedMomster May 11, 2016
Always enjoy reading about the members of #coolmumclub. I have to agree that I put up with less shit from other people since having kids…maybe because I put up with so much shit from my kids…lol…jk. Great post and thank you Sarah for hostessing the fab #coolmumclub