tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:05:59 +0000MeMeme;Bottle FeedingJo WhileybehaviourGrandmaDIYFamily SundaysNurseryOverstimulatonBirth WeightGraziatheatreTiredTest for Downs SyndromeHiccoughsThe BirthCarpal Tunnel in PregnancyOsteopathCafeDrawingIsle of Wight Festival 2008TrampolineEarly WakingKway YinBaby Gender ScanrecipesNew ArrivalsCryingVideoShowBugaboo24 weeks pregnantZoe WilliamsThe GalleryIslandHayley28 weeks pregnantJo FrostDaycareSymphysis Pubic DysfunctionGlucose Tolerance TestWeddings39 Weeks PregnantChristmasGTTPhotography34 weeks pregnantBirth RegistrationThe Hut12 week scanOvertiredBritish Mummy Bloggerssex during pregnancyOrkestra del SolPicniciPhoneBruisesNHSBosepaintingBestivalDepressionGlampervanTantrumsSwine FluGymboreeReviewPregnancy and Birth MagazineFirststravel sicknesswineHospital BagFinancesleepMorningsBaby BjornZikoyogaTestsMiniMumsnetVW CamperStorytime; TalkingAwardsIsla36 weeks pregnantbabycinobad backMMRWillow FoundationDressing UpExpressing Milk38 Weeks PregnantPro-sleepshoesBedtimeLondon ZooPelvic Floor Exercises in PregnancyTuesdaysOutfitsCookingMaternity NotesPilates8 Weeks OldChanging BagGina Ford31 weeks pregnantPooThe GuardianFearless FridayCousinsMemeBuggyBraxton HicksBuddhaPilates on the Greenmiscarriage23 Weeks PregnantBaby Clothesromantic notionsRecyclingLochiaPoorlySpirituality4D ScanDizzyScrapbookMothers DaymobileNuchal TestReadingBaby BooksHairPotty TrainingHormonesBaby SlingDisciplinePDPaperchaseBaba BingBicycleVery Early LabourheartburnMaternity BrasPregnancy in the workplaceCar sicknessiPodcybermummyNappiesReturning to WorkMy World in MotionPelvic Floor Exercises after Pregnancy32 weeks PregnantDragon Boat RacingArts and CraftsMe TimeSun FunImmunisationswalkingLife modellingPub LunchParkSPDColdsDR Gowri MothaHeel Prick Testcampingbaby genderBreastfeedingLabour SignslabourTalkingTeethingnew businessLearningCommuting20 week scanToddlersittingBathtimeBabyCentretele21 weeks pregnant18 months3D ScanHigh ChairDisneyFestivalNeroPostnatal Depression (PND)KindleSingle MumMamas and PapasBumps and bruisesWeaningFamilyMidwife CareOur FamilyDadDancingTagsAnomaly ScanAlphaMummymorning sicknessCar SeatDiddi DanceMeme; MeThankyouNine Months PregnantBaby Loves DiscoRaspberry Leaf Teawaters breakingsewingMayan ball27 Weeks pregnantCuddlesPregnanacy HormonesBook ReviewPramProud DadGodparentsthree weeksQuinnyBonding ScanHiccupsslummy MummyInductionWordless WednesdayFresco BloomGrowth SpurtPreganancy Weight GainLearning to ride a biketoysNipperboutdreams2nd BirthdayDog phobiaPlayingNCTWeightBooksI was pregnant, now I'm a parent and it still comes as a surprise. So here I am a single mum.http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)Blogger921125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-4097575632546759470Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:05:00 +00002012-11-05T11:05:59.968ZPfffft *blows off the dust* Ah, there you are, I can see you now. As Isobel starts school next week I realised how much I have missed the little hidden hole of musings. I've had no-one to tell about little girl's fascination with Holby and how that has meant I have had to explain about heart transplants mean taking a heart from some one who no longer needs it - 'because they are dead mummy?' http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/K1O4FhgcNwg/pfffft-blows-off-dust.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/K1O4FhgcNwg" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2012/11/pfffft-blows-off-dust.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-1282890619911380096Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:04:00 +00002012-03-18T10:04:12.633ZI may not be there to make you breakfast in bed (I made Little Girl breakfast in bed today), but I am thinking of you. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/o5KRhkHun0o/happy-mothers-day-mummy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/o5KRhkHun0o" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-mothers-day-mummy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-8595907406600844612Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:27:00 +00002012-02-23T11:36:59.730Z Hello Blog,   You may not remember me, but I am the Surprise Mum in your title.   I am the mum that loved you, that loved expressing myself on your ever waiting pages.  I used you to celebrate the triumphs of motherhood, to dispel myths and more than occasionally to weep into.   Where have I been lately?  The answer is no where.  You became a ‘should’ a source of shame if I looked at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/SasE9Nnd0dY/hello-remember-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/SasE9Nnd0dY" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2012/02/hello-remember-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-6151316390891235309Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:21:00 +00002012-01-05T20:28:49.197ZOh my have the chats in my house got a hell of a lot more interesting since little girl turned 3 and 3/4. There was the 'you are quite old mummy so someone will marry you' chat. The conversation comparing a friend to big Karina at nursery and the use of the F word - Fat. I think I came out quite well in this conversation because, apparently, I'm not fat I'm 'just short like me mummy'. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/3DP6bHoOTAs/un-has-nothing-on-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/3DP6bHoOTAs" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2012/01/un-has-nothing-on-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-7597842269990070422Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:40:00 +00002011-12-24T19:40:47.018ZDear Father Christmas,I have checked NORAD and I know you are on your way. I just wanted to let you know that I have been a VERY VERY good girl this year. Now I know this probably puts me on the Nice List, but I can't help feeling that in a grass-is-always-greener kind of way, that those on the Naughty List are probably having a lot more fun.I hope Rudolph does his stuff for you tonight and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/yT3lAnWfV9U/hes-coming-to-town.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/yT3lAnWfV9U" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/12/hes-coming-to-town.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-1176782035812503795Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:20:00 +00002011-12-12T21:20:36.287ZDepressionI'm feeling slightly guilty. This was meant to be a Mental Health Carnival in the style of the lovely Carol over at Dance Without Sleeping, but I can't help feel I have let her down by not promoting hard enough and by not getting many contributions. In fact hers is the only one, not including my introductory post.  Carol's is a great post, read it here, her Christmas Crazy is something I am http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/D7KPk5jJKO0/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-my-sanity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/D7KPk5jJKO0" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/12/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-my-sanity.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-4614488786443389235Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:36:00 +00002011-12-03T08:36:58.975ZNurseryThis evening during the FINAL bedtime cuddle, little girl was telling me about her nursery play. A play in which she is an Elf (remember this, it is important in a few sentences time). We discussed that Mummy was going one day and Daddy another. We sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star'. The Little girl told me what she has to say in the play. Yes, a speaking part no less. Proud mummy bubbled http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/8uZ0bgL2wYc/im-celebrity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/8uZ0bgL2wYc" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-celebrity.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-774322267095374806Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:19:00 +00002011-11-28T20:12:07.904ZThis time last year I should have merrily been skipping towards the festive season on the arm of a new beau. It was a time for celebration and falling in love. Well, it should have been. Instead I lost the plot. Maybe not entirely, but as close as I would ever like to come: mind-numbingly, stare-at-the-wall-for-hours close. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t festive. As the festivities mounted thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/EicJyqwA2fE/this-time-last-year-i-should-have.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/EicJyqwA2fE" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-time-last-year-i-should-have.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-576473550593899937Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:55:00 +00002011-11-27T19:55:20.234Zhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/1e9VNLRDRXk/silent-sunday_27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/1e9VNLRDRXk" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/silent-sunday_27.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-7794684270211333263Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:53:00 +00002011-11-23T19:53:11.283ZMy little girl is far too clever for my good. Actually, she is a 'clever clogs', if I just refer to her as clever I am instantly corrected:'No, mummy. I'm not clever I am clever clogs'Nope, this isn't a Peppa pig affectation, it's my fault, it's what I normally call her. And, she beams with pride. Little also beams when you call her pretty. A pretty clever clogs what more can a mother be afraid http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/t52pYP-BGcQ/little-mouse-with-clogs-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/t52pYP-BGcQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/little-mouse-with-clogs-on.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-211062048900183746Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:18:00 +00002011-11-14T14:18:17.368Z   It has to be said that in surprised terraces we have not been having a good November.   The house has been filled with the glorious sound of coughed up lungs and midnight vomiting.   Sleep has become a precious commodity and tempers are definitely fraying at the edges, well and the middle…   But, I am thankful that, as yet, we have not been stranded in the dark by a sea of sick.    http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/cQ8wasfz1nI/all-adrift-on-sea-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/cQ8wasfz1nI" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-adrift-on-sea-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-3398296248248584896Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:30:00 +00002011-11-06T17:30:43.389Zhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/hTvMMZbOObI/silent-sunday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/hTvMMZbOObI" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/silent-sunday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-356593642156800481Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:25:00 +00002011-11-05T19:25:41.265ZtheatreEvery now and then I get a glimpse of the mother I thought I'd be, of the romantic notions I built up around having a daughter. Today, just for an hour I lived up to my own expectations. This morning I took little girl to the theatre. Richmond Theatre has always been a favourite destination of mine, they was a time I went there more often than I did to the cinema. ( remember Miss B?) It's a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/hRjiL_lOKuI/just-for-moment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/hRjiL_lOKuI" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/just-for-moment.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-4087365424454702115Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:04:00 +00002011-11-04T21:04:09.617ZWell our mini sleepover ended with little guest coughing and vomiting on her father as he picked her up to take her home.Guess I'm not the host I thought I was either.Where's the wine... - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/FtOKPhXiEyM/alls-well-that-ends-well.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/FtOKPhXiEyM" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/alls-well-that-ends-well.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-398623516058149417Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:23:00 +00002011-11-04T19:23:03.898ZI am sitting here in my pjs surrounded by Duplo and tv characters.Snow white is on the telly and two little girls are having a pretend phone conversation about bed time.All is well accept I have run out of tonic to go with my gin.Oh dear, I really am not the mum I thought I'd be.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/dvk5zGMc_rs/tonic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/dvk5zGMc_rs" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/tonic.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-9039991568042286416Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:37:00 +00002011-11-02T15:45:02.157ZTidy Something I really need to do! I would love to be a tidy person, mess drives me mad but not enough to tidy, obviously. This post is my entry for the infamous Tara's weekly gallery. Click here to see lots more entries! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/nH1C38Iyw68/gallery-t-is-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/nH1C38Iyw68" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/gallery-t-is-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-2145450080715031267Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:25:00 +00002011-11-02T08:51:54.508ZI can't grow a moustache and, as much I would love to, there is no way I could manage the novel in a month. Maybe next year... The latter that is, I hope it will be a long time before the first is a possibility.There is a thing I loved in my life, something I let become tarnished, that I didn't pay enough attention to nor notice that the love was slipping away.I want to rekindle that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/R881g7lq3z8/november.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/R881g7lq3z8" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/11/november.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-8581461611023376080Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:31:00 +00002011-10-24T13:31:48.740+01:00Little girls grasp of language never ceases to amaze me.Having been told the night before that Sue was coming to visit on Friday afternoon it was the first thing on her mind. And I mean first thing. At 6:10 in the morning I was greeted with the now immortal words:'Sue-sue is a bit like wee-wee, isn't it mummy?'A somewhat sleepy me was instantly confused. Was this another wee -poo joke?'mummy, Suehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/E_z4q7uXsno/i-sure-there-is-word-for-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/E_z4q7uXsno" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-sure-there-is-word-for-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-353455124100145097Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:38:00 +00002011-10-15T17:39:02.633+01:00With her 'pet' lunch.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/vN2hdS8xY28/off-to-school-apparently.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/vN2hdS8xY28" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/10/off-to-school-apparently.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-6779522615689260363Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:29:00 +00002011-10-12T20:14:14.572+01:00MeMy dearest darlingest ZoëWe have known each other for a very long time now, longer than perhaps we care to admit, I just wanted to take this opportunity to write you a little note.It is now 20 years since you left home, left the island to spend a year in Oz before traipsing off to uni. Your life is amazing and I want to point out that that is down to you and your energy. I know you feel that youhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/N5dC1rVLa7E/from-me-on-great-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/N5dC1rVLa7E" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/10/from-me-on-great-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-6987063493781748166Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:47:00 +00002011-09-24T20:51:33.993+01:00MemeI was fortunate to be tagged by the lovely Jo for this Meme and it really had me a little stumped until I had a couple of hours alone in my car with my ipod on shuffle.now these aren't necessarily the songs that mean the most to me - songs can be so emotive.No, these are songs with a message I love for what they say.Firstly I was raised in a house surrounded by music and Neil was a favourite, andhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/fneTuyRJPK4/songs-to-live-your-life-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/fneTuyRJPK4" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/09/songs-to-live-your-life-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-2862325976956878896Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:34:00 +00002011-09-14T19:34:36.599+01:00This evening little girl was discussing the fact that poo and wee come from her bottom (high brow stuff I know).I pointed out that wee comes from the front and poo from her back bottom ( too much toilet for you? well, I'm sorry)'no mummy I don't have TWO bottoms!''I'm not a bottom-bottom'Well, it made me laugh. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/Nus367XKxcM/ah-fatty-bum-bum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/Nus367XKxcM" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/09/ah-fatty-bum-bum.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-6999118211763055693Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:26:00 +00002011-09-06T19:35:00.349+01:00So camping was fab except....My eye swelling up to elephant man proportionsLittle Girl and her easily wound up epic dramasMy tonsils swelling to the point where at 2am I would happily have had a headectomyThe moments when 2 little girls decide that they won't share and can't agree on playingOr the time when Little Girl's Daddy and I fell out about parenting.But, you what? I still love camping. - http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/Wh4GLyy6HqY/clouds-gathered-though.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/Wh4GLyy6HqY" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/09/clouds-gathered-though.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-7282848100616503391Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:21:00 +00002011-09-03T20:30:28.566+01:00Last weekend we went camping in our Campervan. (sung as if Peppa Pig)I love camping. Well, I love camping now we have Clementine. We went with our usual camping crew and this time Little Girl's daddy came too. This time I not only booked the site (Ashurst) but also picked our pitch; a daunting task for a camping novice to carry out on behalf of her camping Gurus. We did good though: a pitch with http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/iMRD-BaWTcY/sunny-camping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/iMRD-BaWTcY" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunny-camping.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182468359602459765.post-5105098997297269321Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:47:00 +00002011-08-30T12:47:31.525+01:00It's August people.It's midday.And I am in bed in pjs and fluffy socks.The doctor thinks I'm run down, basing this on the fact that I have tonsillitis, an eye infection and inflamed sinuses (or something like that - I'd stopped listening by then).With three 'ituses I'm not in bed alone.It's not, however, the most fun I have ever had in the sack. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~3/5MAsL9x_G48/roll-in-hay-it-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Zoe Findon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/EXdh/~4/5MAsL9x_G48" height="1" width="1"/>http://diaryofasurprisemum.blogspot.com/2011/08/roll-in-hay-it-not.html