Home
All post
"Will I need to learn American?"
This was one of the many pressing questions Morayo-Hope needed to have answered. "Yes", her dad teased, to which she said "Can I still learn Shona?"(Zimbabwean native language).
She was our biggest concern when it came to this move. She's so settled in her school and has a good group of friends whom she loves so dearly & one in particular that she has such a strong bond with. Many a week was spent trying to introduce the idea of moving and each conversation was greeted with a resounding "No! I need to see which class I'll be in at senior school!" Well then. But when the moment finally came, it went smoothly and her enthusiasm has been infectious.
 |
For me, it's been a mixed bag. Naturally I am excited and nevous at the prospect of a new start. I love meeting new people and I have nomadic habits. But on the other hand, the idea of moving away from my nearest and dearest friends is not easy. They are practically family. We have family in the UK who will be missed. Morayo-Hope and Judah's cousins that we had envisioned them growing up with. The fact that neither set of our parents are in the UK has perhaps made this a bit easier.
Breaking the news has been difficult - you are excited for yourself but are also conscious that for those to whom your presence matters a great deal, it is not the happiest news. In some instances I did feel like one who was delivering news of my own death. In those instances it hit me that we live life as though we have all the time in the world when in fact none of us knows when our last breath shall be taken.
I have spent the weeks in the run up to this trip thinking of missed opportunities. I've thought of all the "yes, we must's" and "I'll call you later" that never materialised. Funny how when the choice is taken away you feel you might do things differently given half the chance.
So America here we come. Massachusetts (or Rhode Island) to be exact. The land where dreams are made. The land of opportunity, where - we're told - if you're willing to work hard anything is possible. "Welcome to America! What's your dream? Everyone that comes to America has a dream! What's your dream?" (The funny man from the movie "Pretty Woman", paraphrased ;) )
We're ready to learn American.
**images are of the kids as we arrived into Boston on Monday. Judah was trying to make a run for it as usual!**
New Beginnings
There's nothing like the beginning of a new year to have you feeling energised and full of optimism. I find it has the same effect that moving to a new location does. The opportunity of a fresh start. The chance to meeting new people and build new relationships. A blank page on which to write new memories.
Now imagine the possibility of starting a new year in a New location. What chance 'eh? Such opportunities are rare and so when they come along one finds themselves unwilling to believe it could be so. Until a freezing cold morning - one of those odd days between Christmas and new year when you don't quite know what day it is - a surly man with a thick accent looks at you from behind a glass and says "Your visas have been approved. Passports will be with you within a week."
You look at your husband with a mixture of love and intense pride. He did it. You look at your daughter who you just told about all this last night and whose little head is brimming with questions. These spill freely out of her mouth as she bounces out of the building. "Are we going to the airport now mummy?". "Not quite darling", you reply - determined to sound controlled and dignified as you push the pram, even though inside you feel like climbing the buggy board and scooting the pram down the stairs! You pass the police holding guns and smile nervously. One can never get used to seeing guns.
Then you pass through security where you just had to chuck away a nail clipper on the way in. Finally you're out and all you can think is - it's happening.
A little over a week later you're sitting on a plane, realising there is no dignified way to remove a pomegranate seed that has decided to become one with your tooth. The first page of your new beginnings is just starting. You imagine your arrival at the terminal. You wonder if they'll be as glum as the last time you were there. Or maybe this time they'll smile a little after thoroughly examining the visas. After all their counterparts in London happily issued you.
Maybe they'll even go as far as to say "Welcome to America".
To be Continued....
Life with Judah, it's a musical
We are in the final moments of July as I type this message to you. You turned 3 on the 2nd of this month & I am still in shock at how fast time flies.
The last year has had some tremendous highs and some painful lows. We've been through a lot together. I learned to ignore the milestone emails a while back. They just served as a painful reminder of how far "behind" we were. But as I discovered the joy of celebrating each new thing you do / say; I understood what it meant to live in the moment. To truly savour each day. Your smile is often the first thing I am greeted with each morning - as you've usually climbed out of your cot and made your way into our bed. You grip my neck so that when I make a move, it serves as your alarm clock & you just grin at me. Then sometimes you indulge me spontaneously with a song. Yesterday it was Chris Tomlins "Good, Good Father". You sang it in your beautiful inimitable way.
"You're a good good father, it's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are;
And I'm loved by you,
That's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am"
My heart melted. You smiled and sang away, "It's who I am!", and I thought "Yes! That's who you are! A God-loved boy!"
Because sometimes when we spend so much time asking "but why?", we seem to think that because the situation isn't perfect, we've been given "seconds" and not Gods best.
But perfect you are. You are perfect for me. I've learnt patience by you. I've learnt to be kinder to myself and others. I've learnt to be slower. I've learnt to appreciate the little things because they really are the big things.
I love watching you in your favourite place - the outdoors. You're an intrepid explorer so I've nicknamed you Bear Grylls. You could happily live outdoors. You're happiest sitting in the grass singing, or lying in the trampoline singing, or walking amongst the plants - singing.
When we awake, and you beam at me, my world is complete. I never knew a love like that existed. The joy I see in your face when you see me, makes me feel like the only mum in the world.
So we'll sing through our days and dance through the storms.
I love you so much Judah. You are perfect in every way, and I have no doubt in my mind that you will live up to your name: Iyanu ~ a wonder. God's wonder.
Happy Birthday Morayo-Hope
Dear Morayo-Hope,
Today is the last day of June.
I promised you we'd celebrate your birthday for the rest of the month, and I think we have. So now I feel I can really say Happy Birthday my baby.
I promised you we'd celebrate your birthday for the rest of the month, and I think we have. So now I feel I can really say Happy Birthday my baby.
I can't believe you are 5. Mainly because I remember being 5 and it feels like just yesterday. You are such a mature little girl, always surprising us with some of the random things you come out with. You are so thoughtful and kind. Patient with your little brother and fiercely protective of him.
I'm so proud of the person you're growing into. Inquisitive, intelligent, compassionate and a little peacemaker! This year the professions you wish to have when you grow up have varied from nurse to doctor to pilot to astronaut - I can't wait to see what professions this year brings.
This year, as always, I pray you continue to live up to your name - Morayo-Hope Anashe { I have seen Joy, Hope, Has God by her side}. I pray that all your dreams come true - well, maybe except the Ayla-Rose one! I'm not quite ready to be a mum of three just yet!
I am determined to make the most of every single day with you in this next season of your life. You have taught me so much in the last year & being with you makes me want to be a better person. You've made me more patient, and helped me see the beauty in the small things. You've reflected back to me the less desirable parts of my personality and I am endeavouring to change them. I love you so much and can't believe the next time I'll be writing you another one of these letters you'll be turning 6!
Remember to always be yourself, the world needs you as you. Keep laughing. Keep singing. Keep loving ballet. And watch tennis with me. oh yes, and thank you for making me love Pointless...you're kind of a weird kid!
Happy 5th birthday my darling. I'm so proud and honoured to be your mother.
The Art of saying "No"
I've often heard my mummy telling her friends how difficult she finds it to say "no" to people. At such times my jaw literally hits the floor and drool flows freely from my mouth as I try to count on the few digits God gave me, the number of "no's" I endure on a daily basis. Climbing up the stair gate to jump over? No Judah! Emptying the cutlery drawer onto the kitchen floor to make music with the awaiting pots and pans? No Judah! Eating a mushroom I've found in the grass? No Judah! Ok fine, just let me clean the loo with your toothbrush...that's a no then. Humph. Seems to come easy by my reckoning!
 |
| I'll just join the ducks in the river...... "NO JUDAH!!!!" |
 |
| I'll just scoot down these steps then... "NO JUDAH!!!" |
But this week I was witness to an event unlike any other in my 2 short years. There we were relaxing in the house after mummy completed her chores (she's on a new daily cleaning fad - let's see how long it lasts...) when mummy spotted a ladder leaning against the wall next door. Ladder...hmm..she thought. Next thing she jumped up. "It's the window cleaner! We need to get dressed and outta here Judah!"
You see, mummy had all but blown her remaining budget for the month after failing to amend her online groceries shop and getting two of everything. Window cleaning was a luxury she wasn't eager to stretch herself for now. Not when it was raining anyway...
 |
| Woohoo, no fence to scale this time! "NO JUDAH!!!" |
 |
| Just thought I'd sneak through a hole in the bottom fence and pay the neighbours a visit.... "NO JUDAH!!!!" |
She didn't want to tell the guy no though. She felt bad. So she decided to do a runner. That way he wouldn't clean the windows because she wasn't home. I've never seen her dress so efficiently and clothe me with such military timing. We flew out of the front door undetected and mummy felt triumphant. She drove to my sisters school. we killed time listening to some classical music to calm mum down as she searched for a comb or anything resembling such in the car. Yes her hair was a tangled mess. She found an Afro comb which was a godsend under the circumstances. She found a way to make it work. We picked MH and drove home confident the window man was gone. And indeed he was, not a ladder in sight.
Mummy opened the front door triumphantly only to spot a white envelope on the floor. She hoped in vain it was a winning cheque from postcode lottery, but ofcourse it wasn't. A lovely stamp across the front emblazoned with the cleaning company's name confirmed her worst fears. Inside was a lovely invoice for the window cleaning letting her know that payment would be gratefully received.
 | ||
I'll just check myself out whilst you take your selfie #photobomb!........"NO JUDAH!!!"
|
Moral of the story: just say no. Mummy is now training herself to say no by picturing me standing atop my high chair about to perform a stunt each time she needs to say no. She's calling it picture-your-toddler-doing-
Right, I'm off to try something new. Gotta give mummy fresh material & all that.
Ciao,
Judah
summer is here!
welcome to may - even though we are fast hurtling towards the middle of the month! the last couple of weeks sped by and are now a mere blur in our memories. or rather mummy's memory! my memory is sharp - i'm only 4! nothing escapes me, mummy however is another kettle of fish entirely. she's nicknamed herself Dori from Finding Nemo. daddy always says if her head wasn't attached to her body she'd forget where she left that too!
may has been good so far. it has brought with it the sun - and for that we can only rejoice! bank holiday monday was a bit drab but by today, we were positively sweltering in the high 20s centigrade! so what have we been up to? well, in the spirit of getting out & about a bit more, mummy bought this amazing picnic blanket (her words, not mine!). she is in love and believes it shall increase her desire to go out & about. because it is pretty. and she likes pretty things. she got it from Great Little Trading Company after missing out on last year's edition that she loved so much but procrastinated on till they sold out. This year she wasted no time as soon as they had one of the 20% off everything days! she loves it because it's a good size, has waterproof backing, rolls up into a bag with carry handles, and is just so pretty! oh, and it's lovely to sleep on in the sun. #fact.
we went to a food festival on bank holiday monday and forgot the blanket at home! what a clever blanket - fulfilling it's purpose without even having to be present! mummy pretty much starved herself that morning in anticipation of a bbq'd burger or some other such bbq style meal. unfortunately for her, there was not a burger stall in sight. just all kinds of street food, whose prices were polar opposite to the container sizes. the food was tasty but as mummy had come prepared for a carb fest, she left needing to top up at home.
judah's been continuing to provide amusement as is his custom! mummy took us to the park to feed the ducks after a classmate's birthday party. (i tell you, the sun brings out a different side to my mummy! normally she can't wait to get home and bemoan how her social life consists solely of my social life. not so now - these days her optimism knows no bounds - i love you sun!) back to the park - we fed the ducks quite fine, but judah was keener to be at one with the river thames. "not on my watch!", said mummy - as she quickly took a picture, then rescued him from the fence. #priorities!
again, blanket wasn't really required as we just had a bag of crisps and rather dry bread. bread for the ducks, crisps for mummy to fuel up & keep up with judah!
 |
| oh dear, what's he up to now??? |
 |
| that's right - about to scoot down some steps... |
today after church we were back in the same gardens, enjoying a lovely picnic lunch. judah wasn't as keen on the old ducks - more interested in going after people's water bottles and chasing unsuspecting kids. oh, and crying for my scooter each time he saw me on the move. mummy has promised she's getting him his own now. le blanket was definitely in full use today and i must admit it is pretty! "it looks like it has giant cupcake sprinkles!" i exclaimed.
now we want to keep the dream alive! we want to hit as many gardens and beaches as we can over the next few months with our picnic blanket! any suggestions?? we'd love to hear from you as i'm worried mummy will wind up just sleeping on the blanket in the back garden and call it a summer!
morayo-hope
xoxo
GOODBYE MY FRIEND
There's a strange noise - it's far away but insistent. It's coming closer. My throat. I think I'm choking. There's something digging in. I catch a whiff of something. It stinks. The noise is close now - I catch it. "Mummy! It's morning!".
My throat , why can't I talk - oh, it's an elbow happily nuzzled in that soft spot, digging deeper.
"Mummy!" Oh, there's that smell. It's her. And him. In my nose, literally.
"I need breakfast! Wake up mummy!"
I still can't open my eyes. I reach over for my phone - it can't be 7. I manage to force one eye open - it's 5:47am. What day is it? Is it Monday? Did I sleep through the weekend?
"Cmon mummy!"
"No!" I mutter, "go back to bed! It's still night time!"
"No it isn't! I can see the light. Is it time for me to put on my ballet shoes? Remember I have to dance!"
Damn you British summer time! The sunlight sure knows when to come up but the heat clearly doesn't!
I remove the offending elbow from my throat for the umpteenth time and like a Boomerang it returns. "Judah!"
No use, he's fast asleep. Like gone. Mouth wide open, facing me and emitting toxic fumes in the process. I thought baby & toddler breath was meant to be sweet. Another lie from the baby magazine centrefolds.
"Mummy! Ok daddy! Daddy, come downstairs with me!"
"No."
And he's the morning one.
I lie still. I remember a time. A time when I didn't know time on a Saturday. When being ready for anything before midday was a chore. The time of the Saturday morning lie in. The days when I'd clean the house late on Friday night so I could wake up super late and enjoy the breeze blowing through the whole place. Yes those days. I speak to Saturday Morning Lie In.
I apologise to her. I apologise for not fully appreciating all that she was, for now - she is no more. I look through the album of our time together, from childhood till 24th June 2011 when she had a sudden and untimely death. I was told time is a great healer, but the pain of her passing appears to be getting stronger with time. On days like today I feel it the most.
I clamber out of bed, one eye still stubbornly sealed shut, whilst a bright eyed and bushy tailed Morayo-Hope springs into action. Down the stairs she runs, shouting out her breakfast request. Once upon a time my boob was the breakfast (or silencer as I called it).
As I sit in the car park waiting for her to finish her dance / theatre class, I wonder if I should switch my eulogy and direct it at Saturday as a whole. Because I'm going to have all of 3 hours to do something non kid related before we race across town to a birthday party.
Oh. Judah starts nursery in September.
Forget it.
RIP WEEKEND.
It was good while it lasted.
**images from Sunday about to tuck into some Nandos! Yum!**
The Most Beautiful Girl In the world
Soon there was nothing much to talk about. And as for fashion - forget that. I was only allowed to wear skirts, so with 90s being the jeans era I was well and truly out of sync with the cool kids. There I would be on non uniform day in a black pencil skirt and embroidered blouse whilst every other kid rocked up in levis with no belts - cos that was just sad- and doc martens. The girls loo became my domain, my diary my best friend, and self loathing an active pastime. I began to refer to myself as the loch ness monster. Each day was ended with a swift round up of things that had taken place that confirmed my ugliness and lack of belonging: did a boy look my way today, no. Did anyone compliment me, no. Did I spend lunchtime in the loos again? Yes. Yep, I'm repulsive. Why God did you have to create me?
The days my dad would take us to school, we would listen to the radio. On one such rare occasion, a song came on the radio that I couldn't but pay attention to. It had me at that little guitar and drum intro. Then he sang:
Could you be
The most beautiful girl in the world
It's plain to see
You're the reason that God made a girl
The most beautiful girl in the world
It's plain to see
You're the reason that God made a girl
Thank you Prince for using your gift. We never met, but for this one girl that cried on her house master's shoulder lamenting her existence as he awkwardly tried to reassure her that one day boys would be queuing up for a date (don't ask!), you made a huge difference. And when I tell my daughter the most important place to be beautiful is on the inside, I can say it with conviction, because I know it to be true. Thank you for the music. RIP.
The most beautiful girl in the world.
xoxo
Sunny Side Up
Last week was a good week. It was a full week: I went back to school after the briefest of Easter holidays, mummy had an interview & baby shower to attend and Judah was looking for new ways to get mummy's pulse racing.
Let's start with me. I was pining for my friends - and ballet - so by the time Wednesday arrived I was well and truly ready to get back to school. Mummy however wasn't. She was an emotional wreck that day. She kept going on about how fast time was moving and that she couldn't believe it was my last term as a reception girl. She was close to tears as she waved goodbye to me at the door. I didn't get the whole drama. I was just so excited to be back at school and in my summer dress. Oh, and some of the mummy's and daddy's kept walking past mummy as they didn't recognise her with her new hairdo!
And so to mummy. With this mini depressed state she was in, she was struggling to get herself together for an all important interview for a role she hadn't even applied for directly. She was very excited but at the same time petrified. She felt out of her depth and very much out of touch with the business world after a year plus of being at home generally talking to inanimate objects & Judah.
So nervous was she that she decided to go to the bathroom for a quick pep talk after checking in at reception. As she walked out of the bathroom, a guy walked in and muttered "I thought these were the men's toilets??!". And pop that balloon of confidence! Mummy decided to just own it and smiled sweetly all the way back to reception - "he is not interviewing me, it's cool!" she figured. She managed to get through the interview without doing anything crazy (this point needs verification by video ofcourse), and we await the outcome.
Whilst mummy attended the interview, Jodie our amazing babysitter that looked after both of us at our old nursery looked after Judah. They went to a local softplay and mummy prayed she wouldn't find Jodie standing outside her interview venue holding out Judah and swearing never to do this again! Thankfully all went well. Mummy ended the week on a hunt for a nursery for Judah to attend in the hope it would help with his speech. So far, everywhere good is full. The only one with spaces left mummy with no reason to wonder why it had those spaces!! So the search continues!
At the weekend mummy hopped on a train and escaped to London to attend her oldest friend's baby shower. She says she'll blog about that separately as it was another "aha" moment for her. She came back lighter than air and decidedly more upbeat and jovial with a cornish pastie from the train station in her hand. On Sunday we hot footed it to church and Judah & I had tons of fun in our respective kids church rooms. Afterwards we were driven back to mummy's new favourite photo spot: ye olde green gate, for a quick session with the instagram husband, aka daddy.
It all feels a bit like a distant memory now as we are halfway through this week! Hope you're having a fab week!
I wore:
Double Sided Jacket - La Redoute
Shoes - Zara, (old), similar here
Judah Wore:
Chinos - H&M
Shoes - Mothercare, alternative here
Tshirt - Zara (old)
Mummy Wore
Necklace - From a boutique in Paris, you could achieve something similar by making one using craft beads like these
Handbag - Vintage LV Beverley briefcase, sometimes available on Etsy or good vintage outlets
Morayo-Hope
xoxo
grease is the word!
this is my godsister ivana. she's been invited to a grease-themed party and her mummy reached out to my mummy for some help with a cute outfit for her to wear. after years of buying different outfits for themed parties that never get worn again, she's decided she wants to get some non-costume pieces that ivana can wear again and again outside the house! as ever, mummy was ready for the assignment! she loves to shop - whether it's for herself or someone else!
character-wise, there are no black girls in the original movie. however in january this year, FOX released Grease:LIVE which was broadcast live in the US to much acclaim. in this version, we see keke palmer take on the role of marty, the ‘beauty’ of the Pink Ladies. marty is pretty, looks older
than the other girls, but betrays her real age when she
opens her mouth. she tries to act sophisticated.
this sounds a little like ivana :)
so what are we looking for with this character? well, all the girls wear the "pink ladies" jacket, which is an iconic element of the movie's costumes along with the leather jackets the boys wear. the jacket was always teamed with a neckerchief. for marty we'd then have to source a pretty yellow top & blue skirt and we're done.
1. Jacket - New Look
2. neckerchief - asos
3. yellow top - river island
4. blue skirt - river island
5. shoes - monsoon
another character to go for would be sandy, the main girl.
a look that screams "grease!" is the black fitted jumpsuit that sandy wears in her transformation scene. obviously, worn as is, it could be a little too sexy for an 8yr old. one could take elements and create a cute outfit.
Sandy's pre-transformation outfits are definitely more likely to easily translate to an 8yr old girls wardrobe. they have a very "park avenue princess" feel to them. key elements of sandy's style: flared skirts, feminine blouses (think ruffle details / lace / pearly buttons), dresses with flared skirts, gingham checks, cute ballet flats & ofcourse the cardi thrown over the shoulders. she also always wears a ribbon alice band!
1. blouse - la redoute
2. prom dress - river island
3. white cardi - zara
4. white belt - zara
5.silver ballet pumps - la redoute
6. skirt - la redoute
7.blue cardi - zara
hopefully ivana and her mummy love some of the suggestions mummy has made. we'll share pics with you once we hear from them!
we love hearing from you! if you would like help with achieving a particular look or have any other style queries, please contact us: tanaka@whatmummywore.com.
**marty character synopsis source
 |
| Ivana, my other godsister Carmen & I at the end of my 4th birthday party |
this sounds a little like ivana :)
so what are we looking for with this character? well, all the girls wear the "pink ladies" jacket, which is an iconic element of the movie's costumes along with the leather jackets the boys wear. the jacket was always teamed with a neckerchief. for marty we'd then have to source a pretty yellow top & blue skirt and we're done.
1. Jacket - New Look
2. neckerchief - asos
3. yellow top - river island
4. blue skirt - river island
5. shoes - monsoon
another character to go for would be sandy, the main girl.
a look that screams "grease!" is the black fitted jumpsuit that sandy wears in her transformation scene. obviously, worn as is, it could be a little too sexy for an 8yr old. one could take elements and create a cute outfit.
Sandy's pre-transformation outfits are definitely more likely to easily translate to an 8yr old girls wardrobe. they have a very "park avenue princess" feel to them. key elements of sandy's style: flared skirts, feminine blouses (think ruffle details / lace / pearly buttons), dresses with flared skirts, gingham checks, cute ballet flats & ofcourse the cardi thrown over the shoulders. she also always wears a ribbon alice band!
1. blouse - la redoute
2. prom dress - river island
3. white cardi - zara
4. white belt - zara
5.silver ballet pumps - la redoute
6. skirt - la redoute
7.blue cardi - zara
hopefully ivana and her mummy love some of the suggestions mummy has made. we'll share pics with you once we hear from them!
we love hearing from you! if you would like help with achieving a particular look or have any other style queries, please contact us: tanaka@whatmummywore.com.
here's to a stylish weekend!
morayo-hope
xoxo
**marty character synopsis source
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)