Day 34: Circle of Life

Today is a family day. No work. My little brother is back home! I love the bones off him. We're all heading to mum's for lunch. I'm tearing my hair out over the state of the house. Unfortunately the kids have seen a very cross mummy this morning. Some days I am just fed up with the endless planning and reactive tidying up. We do what we can and call it a day. Mum's prepared some more gorgeous home cooked Vietnamese food. Of course!

Mr K has bought some tickets to see the new Lion King film at the cinema as a little surprise treat. I remember seeing the original animation movie at the cinema 25 years ago! TWENTY-FIVE years! Urgh! I feel (and look) old now. The kids are besides themselves with excitement. My brother and his girlfriend are only here for an overnight stay. We squeeze in a trip to the local farm ice-cream parlour before saying our goodbyes.

My brother and his girlfriend are expecting their first child. It's all very exciting and anxious times. It feels odd sharing our pregnancy experiences when I know we've had family pregnancy failures in the past and there's been a family funeral this week. Both my pregnancies never made it to 39 weeks. I fell very unwell in my first pregnancy with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. I was told there would be 25% chance of developing preeclampsia in my second pregnancy - the 25% chance won. I feel blessed and very lucky to have Noel and Neve. Motherhood was not something I thought my life would follow and I was content with that. For the past 8 years, motherhood has been a rollercoaster of emotions but what I feel for my children is so powerful and so overwhelming it's beyond 'love'.

Listening out for baby... feeling for kicks #CountTheKicks

The new Lion King movie was great. It isn't my favourite Disney movie but I got swept by the emotion as Neve was balling her eyes out at 'that scene'. Immediately I showered her with hugs and kisses. She's 5, already demonstrates empathy and recognises emotions. There are so many wonderful quotes in the movie. Summer holidays has started at The Kilmo's!