Even though my husband Ryan and I spend most nights together, Friday nights are the night we have put aside...
We go out as a couple, have a few glasses of wine, debrief about the week and have a few laughs. Sundays are generally our days too. For us, having a baby hasn’t necessarily reduced our quality time together – we still tend to have that time, it just happens that Evie is around as well!
It’s important to feel satisfied and fulfilled not only in your role as a mother but also in your relationships and career...
For me, I don’t think sacrificing one for the sake of the other is an option that would work. I’ve found that organisation is the absolute key to having it all – if that’s possible – and making the work/life balance a little less painful. I also think it’s imperative that while you are with your little bub, to block out work commitments and make them your focus so that little time spent together is quality time. Scheduling in play time with Evie after work, making time to go out for dinner with my husband as well as knowing that I can pursue a career at the same time makes me extremely happy.
For the first couple of months after the birth, I really spent the time getting to know Evie...
I think I had to really relax into the role before I could even begin to think about exercising again. I really kept up with my Pilates while I was pregnant so I found that was the exercise I most naturally continued afterwards. I also found that going for long walks with Evie in those early months not only allowed me to get back outdoors, but also served as a good time to get active again. Now, I find that running for an hour in the morning while Evie sleeps is enough to clear my head and get the endorphins pumping again.
The most surprising thing about motherhood is how much this little being needs every part of your body, heart and soul...
I obviously expected to be needed but to be honest, I was blindsided by just how much of me Evie would take and really how hard it is. In saying that, I was also completely surprised to discover how much of myself I was willing to give to this being — selflessness has now completely replaced any selfish parts of the old me.
I often wonder how some women have more than one child and make it look so effortless...
I think it’s really admirable that women can devote so much of themselves to their children and still be able to run a household.
Having a baby in my life has instilled in me the importance of calmness...
It sounds mad, but I think I have learned to be a lot more calm in times of crisis, as I’ve found that being highly strung and stressed with a baby is completely counter-productive and I have begun to see how this also translates to other circumstances in my life.
During my pregnancy, I didn't really crave anything weird or wonderful...
It was more of a case of being repulsed by foods I previously loved. Although my obsession with sweets only became worse while I was pregnant, I couldn’t stand the sight or smell of green vegetables or fish, both of which I ate every day before the pregnancy. I will say though, my appetite was never better than while I was pregnant.
I am proud of how far I have come in life...
How I have managed to find the perfect husband and father, build a beautiful home and the beautiful little girl we have both produced.
I have quite a relaxed structure with Evie...
Rough nap-times work for us as well as feeds at certain times of day, however I use these times only as rough guides. I like her to work around my routine a little as well so that we’re both happy.
Those first few months can feel very solitary and incredibly exhausting both mentally and physically...
All the hard work will bear extremely satisfying results once the initial stages of new motherhood pass. Also, I don’t think a lot of new mothers realise just how much support is out there for them – I know I certainly didn’t. Everything from free breastfeeding classes to home visits by midwives to post-natal depression servicers. Ask for as much help as you can to try and ease the burden on yourself.
I love Country Road, Baby Gap and Seed for everyday...
I love PureBaby for their beautiful organic knits and Jacadi for something a bit more indulgent!
In Evie's nursery, I love her sheepskin flat bear...
It was a gift from my mum. Also her paper flower lights, a series of circus prints given to us by a dear friend and her nursery rhyme books – I know she doesn’t understand them yet, but I read them to her every night.
It took both my husband and I the full 40 weeks to decide on the name Evie...
There is just so much divided opinion out there when it comes to names, who knew it was a subject so many people got passionate about! We just ended up going with the name we liked the most at the beginning – Evie – and decided on the name we liked second-best – Isabel – as her second name. Someone did tell me not to do this in case we ever have another girl, because then we’d have used up our most loved names!
A really good feed before bed always helps Evie sleep better...
Also we’ve found that playing with her quite a lot before bedtime seems to wear her out to the point where she actually wants to go to sleep at which point we zip her up in her sleeping bag, pop her in her darkened room and bottle-feed her to sleep. This rarely fails us.
I like to think I try and make an effort most days...
I really love dressing up and a bit of make-up for a night out, which is probably about once a week at the moment. Nothing makes me feel better than a pair of heels and catching up with friends over a glass of wine or two. I like to reserve heels for those occasions that don’t call for handling Evie and pushing a pram. I think it’s difficult enough steering and navigating with a pram without the added stress of getting your heel caught in a cracked pavement. Unless I am at work or a night out, I can’t go past my eternal staples: K. Jacques or my Nikes and leggings for long walks with Evie.
It's important to be as healthy as you can be in those first few months...
That way, your body will not take it so hard when the sleep deprivation hits. I know a lot of people say sleep when the baby sleeps but I found I could never relax while she slept for fear of her waking up! I think the key for me was getting to bed at around 7pm every night so I could get a decent five hour block while Evie had her first sleep of the night. I think it’s also very important from a psychological perspective to remember that the broken sleep WILL pass as your baby grows older to a level that is tolerable.
I always thought I wanted a boy first for a lot of reasons...
The main reason was that a number of our friends had incredibly adorable, cheeky boys causing me to desperately want one of my own. We found out the sex of our baby quite early on in the pregnancy and when we discovered it was a girl, everything changed. I think no matter what you may or may not have wanted, it all goes out the window when you know what you’re having or see he or she for the first time. It’s unconditional love and you are just happy with ANYTHING!
Photography: Julie Adams Makeup: Sarina Zoe Hair: Zoia Cartisano from Oscar Oscar Salons in Paddington Words: Georgie Abay
Sanaz Manii-Bodger might have fashion in her blood – she’s one of the most stylish mothers we know – but the fresh-faced beauty works in finance. Sydney-based Manii gave birth to her adorable daughter Evie back in November 2012, returning to work nine months later. Its important to feel satisfied and fulfilled not only in your role as a mother but also in your relationships and career,” says Manii-Bodger. “For me, I don’t think sacrificing one for the sake of the other is an option that would work. I’ve found that organisation is the absolute key to having it all if that’s possible and making the work/life balance a little less painful. Scheduling in play time with Evie after work, making time to go out for dinner with my husband as well as knowing that I can pursue a career at the same time makes me extremely happy.
Like a lot of mothers, Manii-Bodger lived in fashion brand Bassike while she was pregnant. “I love Bassike for their relaxed, effortless pieces and found that a lot of what I already had from them in my wardrobe pre-pregnancy, transitioned seamlessly right through to my last trimester.” Since her daughter arrived, her staples include: “K. Jacques sandals or my Nikes and leggings for long walks with Evie.”
Manii-Bodger says she’s also a lot calmer since she became a mother: It sounds mad, but I think I have learned to be a lot more calm in times of crisis, as I’ve found that being highly strung and stressed with a baby is completely counter-productive and I now see how this translates to other circumstances in my life.
Sanaz’s little list of loves:
Morning coffee.
Freshly cut flowers.
Rainy Sundays spent baking.
Green juices.
Cuddles in the morning with my husband Ryan and Evie.
Aesop everything.
Friday night date nights.
Girl talk.
Throwing dinner parties.
May 2013