As a first time expectant mother, it goes without saying that 2016 is undoubtedly going to be a year of change, not just for me but for my husband, my family and to some extent my friends. Our lives will suddenly become very different, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We kind of knew what we were signing up for when embarking on this crazy adventure but anticipating upcoming change is different from 100% knowing what those changes will be.

I anticipate the following:

  • much less sleep (although, no way of knowing how to quantify this)
  • a whole lot of love (for our baby Pickle, for my husband, for anyone that brings us food)
  • a whole lot of anxiety (Am I doing this right? Is Pickle okay? Is this normal? Who am I?)
  • feeling overwhelmed
  • tears (of joy and frustration, from me, probably from Pickle and maybe even Little Pickle’s Dad. Maybe)

I already know there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of other ways in which our lives will change that aren’t captured in that list. Ways we can’t even imagine right now. Some wonderful and some a lot more challenging. I don’t want to sound naïve going into parenthood, but I suppose actually, we all are very naïve as first time parents.  We all prepare ourselves as best we can, but we can never really know what it’s like until it happens. And that’s because every parent is different. Babies and children are definitely not one size fits all so there’s no way of knowing the impact until they’re here.

Resolutions Scrabble Tiles

So what are my New Year’s Resolutions?

With so much uncertain change in the air, it seemed a little bit futile to make any New Year’s Resolutions this January. Let’s be honest, I’m already doing a dry-January (and indeed it looks like it’ll be a very dry 2016!), I’m trying to eat well to give Pickle all the necessary nutrients a developing baby needs and I’m hoping to start antenatal yoga classes this week. That ticks off the usual resolutions just by being pregnant anyway. Of course, then I do tend to counterbalance some these good intentions by lounging on the sofa binge-watching Making a Murderer all weekend and eating two Millybar yoghurts for breakfast… but that’s okay. Right? Yeah.

I suppose rather than New Year’s Resolutions, there is a small bucket list of things I’d like to do for myself before Pickle arrives.

My pre-baby bucket list includes:

  • doing some formal sewing classes (I’m already booked into a Roman blind making workshop this March at Guthrie & Ghani and there’s an Introduction to Dressmaking 6 week course I’ve got my eye on too at Sew Me Something)
  • enjoying as many guilt-free lie ins as I can
  • prioritise going on ‘dates’ with Little Pickle’s Dad (LPD) to make the most of our couple time together
  • taking a cooking class at Eckington Manor
Masterchef The Professionals Mark Stinchcombe

Mark Stinchcombe, one of the head chefs at Eckington Manor who very recently won Masterchef: The Professionals

Add to that list getting parentally prepared for Pickle’s arrival too, I think that’s PLENTY to be getting on with. I rather like these kind of New Year’s Resolutions… maybe I should focus on a bucket list of sorts every year! Way more fun that cutting down calories or upping the time spent at the gym.

Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? What changes are you anticipating this year? Do you have a baby bucket list?