September always seems like the start of something new, a new season, a new school year (even though I left school decades ago the feeling still remains), so I've decided to set an intention for the month.

Since Bub arrived life has been very different. I knew that, no matter what people told me or how much I prepared for life with a baby, I could never really be imagine what life would be like. Those first few weeks went by in a blur as we found our feet. 

I knew I wouldn't be taking on any design work for at least three months, and even as we approach that time frame I'm not convinced I could take on any work even if I wanted to. But what I would like to do is make progress - on anything, on everything. So that's my intention, my word for the month - Progress.

I have so many things to do, projects to finish, projects to start but my time is limited to bite sized chunks that fit around Bub. We're lucky that she's really quite content but even so she takes up a lot of my day (and night). She doesn't sleep much during the day, she has short naps that are already over by the time I decide what to do whilst she sleeps. I'm not complaining she's wonderful, and I love motherhood.

When I was pregnant I read a quote that went something along the lines of 'Looking after a baby is easy, it's trying to do anything else at the same that's hard', and I couldn't agree more. I know that these early baby days are limited and I'm not wishing them away, but at the same time I'm itching to tick things off my to-do list.

These days as I sit and feed her I look around and notice all the things that need doing. Pre-baby I would've just done them, now I have to wait until I have time, which is in short supply. I'm used to being able to devote time to things whether it's housework or craft projects, or work, the garden, but now I have to do things a little bit at a time, a bit here, a bit there. It's taken me a while to get my head around it, I dislike leaving something half done, but this is just how it is now.

My hospital bag still isn't fully unpacked, I need to pack away summer clothes that didn't get worn, and jumpers that I can't wear whilst breastfeeding, and find clothes that will work. I've been wearing the same three tops on rotation since Bub was born. I have maternity clothes to list on ebay and piles of things that need to go to the charity shop. The greenhouse has been neglected, I'd like to tidy it ready for Spring in the hope that I'll have a tiny bit more time then. And I'd really like to plant the violas in my hanging baskets that I purchased three weeks ago...

Whilst pregnant I had the bright idea to simultaneously decorate Bub's room (which was my office), and my new office (which was the spare room), and although the actual decorating has been done there's still a lot of stuff that needs sorting, curtains need to be chosen and hung, furniture needs to be bought, shelves need to be put up. I have piles of stuff on the landing and in the hallway just waiting for my attention. I'll do it bit by bit. This drip feed way of doing things is the only way it's going to get done.

As long as I can make even a tiny bit of progress each day, whilst taking care of Bub, and myself, I'll be happy.

There's nothing to do but to do it.