Anyway, enough of all that. You'll certainly forgive me when you see this, taken this afternoon (6 weeks, 3 days)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Smiles!
I know I haven't been around much lately, but I had a horrible stomach bug which started on Tuesday night, and then Sophia got it. She's on the up, but still pretty clingy.
Anyway, enough of all that. You'll certainly forgive me when you see this, taken this afternoon (6 weeks, 3 days)
Anyway, enough of all that. You'll certainly forgive me when you see this, taken this afternoon (6 weeks, 3 days)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Things I've learnt
in the past 5 1/2 weeks.
It is possible to go through 4 or 5 complete outfits in half an hour if you and your baby try hard enough.
Sophia's party trick is to wee in the two seconds between removing the old nappy and putting on the new.
A microwave steriliser is a great idea - just 5 minutes and you're sorted. Fantastic if you've forgotten to get the bottle ready for the next feed and your daughter is screaming.
If you have a few friends who've had babies already it's unlikely you'll have to buy any baby clothes if they're as generous as our friends have been. The same goes for baby equipment - I think we've only bought a buggy and things like nappies. And even then lots of people have bought them for us.
Olive oil from a pharmacy is great for the dry skin that newborn babies often have.
Baby nails are sharp, and I really need to buy some nail scissors.
Muslin squares are great for wiping up milky sick and are thin enough that they dry quickly when you've washed them.
It's easy to while away time just sitting staring at my daughter, marvelling at how amazing she is.
Having a baby really does change your life forever, but it's totally worth it.
It is possible to go through 4 or 5 complete outfits in half an hour if you and your baby try hard enough.
Sophia's party trick is to wee in the two seconds between removing the old nappy and putting on the new.
A microwave steriliser is a great idea - just 5 minutes and you're sorted. Fantastic if you've forgotten to get the bottle ready for the next feed and your daughter is screaming.
If you have a few friends who've had babies already it's unlikely you'll have to buy any baby clothes if they're as generous as our friends have been. The same goes for baby equipment - I think we've only bought a buggy and things like nappies. And even then lots of people have bought them for us.
Olive oil from a pharmacy is great for the dry skin that newborn babies often have.
Baby nails are sharp, and I really need to buy some nail scissors.
Muslin squares are great for wiping up milky sick and are thin enough that they dry quickly when you've washed them.
It's easy to while away time just sitting staring at my daughter, marvelling at how amazing she is.
Having a baby really does change your life forever, but it's totally worth it.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
One month
Dear Sophia,
You are now one month old. Actually, due to internet issues (Daddy was changing our internet to a new wi-fi system) and lack of time you're actually more than a month old - you're five weeks old today.
Already you have grown and changed in so many ways. Looking back on photos from the first few days you looked so small and scrunched up, and now when you stretch out you're long enough to kick things off the end of the changing unit. In fact we may stop changing you up there soon because you're so wriggley.
I never knew that having a baby would be like this. I've known for years that I wanted to have children, but the reality is so much more than all the ideas. More tiring, more painful, more challenging, but so much more rewarding. Your daddy and I are just overwhelmed sometimes by how much you've changed our lives, but also how much we love you.
As I write this you're staring up at me from the moses basket. You're kicking your legs and waving your arms - I joke that you're doing semaphore. Your kick is very strong and sometimes we find that you've pushed off from the end of the basket and are trying to head for the other end! Actually, you're so long that I wonder just how much longer you'll fit in the basket before we have to come up with other options. At the moment you sleep in your crib in our bedroom at night and in the moses basket in the living room during the day. When you're awake and lying in the basket you love looking around, so I think a bouncy chair might be a good idea to allow you to look around more.
The midwife came on Saturday, the day you turned one month, and finally declared that you'd put on enough weight for them to discharge you. It's be a bit of a rollercoaster month. Most babies drop weight in the first week or so, and anything up to 10% is considered ok. You lost around 600g, which was more like 16% so we needed to add in formula top-ups as well as my milk, to help you put on weight again. Tracey, our midwife, was a wonderful support and in my opinion went above and beyond her role to support us as we looked after you. She also helped me as I struggled with mastitis. I think we've had three extra trips to the hospital in the last month - who'd have thought we'd be back there so soon after your birth, but hopefully we won't need anymore visits for a long time!
In the first couple of weeks everything seemed like a sleep-deprived blur. You woke a lot at night, and we wouldn't have survived without the support of people like your Nana and Grandad and Aunties and Uncle who stayed over at various times, or visited and let me and your daddy sleep while they looked after you. Once we got you on the formula you settled into a better sleeping pattern - meaning that you actually slept! And now you tend to go down to bed around half eight or nine and sleep right through until two or three in the morning. Sometimes it's even as late as four. We get up for a feed, which still takes us about an hour, and then you settle again until seven or eight. This morning you slept until nine and I actually got to have a shower before you woke up. That's sheer luxury, and I don't expect it to happen very often.
I couldn't have survived the past month without your daddy. He's been a rock of support, even at times when he's been more tired than me. And I must mention how fantastic he is at cooking and cleaning. I'll have to get him to teach you cleaning skills when you're older, because he's better at it than me, and a lot tidier!
We've also been really blessed by our extended family and people at Jubilee Church. So many people have given you presents that I sometimes wonder if you have more clothes than me and daddy together! Luckily most people listened when I asked them to go for things in bigger sizes. Your legs are very long and you have big feet (taking after your mummy) that mean that lots of the newborn babygros we have for you are already too small because they squish your toes. I've got a bag hanging on the back of the door in the spare room to put clothes in as we discover you've outgrown them.
I'm amazed by your eyes. The day you were born they were a vivid blue, but I noticed that even by the next day they'd started getting darker. They went darker and darker, but kept a blue outline, that looked like someone had outlined your eye in blue biro. Today I look at your eyes are they are a beautiful deep brown, sometimes looking so dark you can hardly see the pupils in the centre, but there's still a blue line around the outside. You were born with hairy ears and they're still hairy. You also have a lot of hair that you were born with, but shows no signs of falling out, despite lots of people suggesting it will. It started off pretty straight, with just a hint of curls at the ends, but now more and more it seems to be getting curlier. When we bathe you and wet your hair it goes into beautiful little ringlets.
You're now sat on my lap, trying to help me type as you wave your arms around. Daddy complains that you've already managed to bop him on the nose with your waving arms as he cuddled you. You're wearing mittens because your nails are pretty sharp and we still haven't got around to buying any nail scissors. Last week you scratched yourself on the eyelid, and although its healed, you have a lot of dry sore skin on your face and we don't want it to get any worse. Every time we change you we put a little olive oil on your face, and about once a day we oil you all over. That makes you extra tricky to hold as you're such a wiggler already and the oil makes you slippery!
Auntie Hannah will tell you that mummy is good at giving people strange nicknames (case in point, I currently call her Chicken if we speak on the phone!). Mummy's given you lots of nicknames. In the early days I called you a little frog because of the way you would lie with you legs up in the air, bent like a frog's legs. I call you my little sausage, and when I wrap you up in a blanket to go to sleep you're my little sausage roll! We also call you Little Miss Squeaky because sometimes you can sound just like a creaky door. You also squeak when you're waking up to tell us you're hungry - it's as if you want to warn us you'd like to be fed, but you're not actually ready to wake up yet. Ideally I think you'd like to just feed in your sleep, or at least that's what you seem to suggest since you fall asleep on me almost every time I feed you.
You have a lot of aunties (related and honorary), and I'm sure in the future you'll have lots of fun with them all. At the moment they mostly just argue over who gets to cuddle you the most. You've got to spend time at Nana & Grandad's house and with Nan & Grandad and auntie Yvonne. I think they'll spoil you like crazy as at the moment you're the first grandchild on both sides!
I'm looking forward to the next month with you and I'm sure we'll see you smile for the first time soon - there have been times that we've been almost convinced you were really smiling at us.
We love you Sophia Louise,
love Mummy
You are now one month old. Actually, due to internet issues (Daddy was changing our internet to a new wi-fi system) and lack of time you're actually more than a month old - you're five weeks old today.
Already you have grown and changed in so many ways. Looking back on photos from the first few days you looked so small and scrunched up, and now when you stretch out you're long enough to kick things off the end of the changing unit. In fact we may stop changing you up there soon because you're so wriggley.
I never knew that having a baby would be like this. I've known for years that I wanted to have children, but the reality is so much more than all the ideas. More tiring, more painful, more challenging, but so much more rewarding. Your daddy and I are just overwhelmed sometimes by how much you've changed our lives, but also how much we love you.
As I write this you're staring up at me from the moses basket. You're kicking your legs and waving your arms - I joke that you're doing semaphore. Your kick is very strong and sometimes we find that you've pushed off from the end of the basket and are trying to head for the other end! Actually, you're so long that I wonder just how much longer you'll fit in the basket before we have to come up with other options. At the moment you sleep in your crib in our bedroom at night and in the moses basket in the living room during the day. When you're awake and lying in the basket you love looking around, so I think a bouncy chair might be a good idea to allow you to look around more.
The midwife came on Saturday, the day you turned one month, and finally declared that you'd put on enough weight for them to discharge you. It's be a bit of a rollercoaster month. Most babies drop weight in the first week or so, and anything up to 10% is considered ok. You lost around 600g, which was more like 16% so we needed to add in formula top-ups as well as my milk, to help you put on weight again. Tracey, our midwife, was a wonderful support and in my opinion went above and beyond her role to support us as we looked after you. She also helped me as I struggled with mastitis. I think we've had three extra trips to the hospital in the last month - who'd have thought we'd be back there so soon after your birth, but hopefully we won't need anymore visits for a long time!
In the first couple of weeks everything seemed like a sleep-deprived blur. You woke a lot at night, and we wouldn't have survived without the support of people like your Nana and Grandad and Aunties and Uncle who stayed over at various times, or visited and let me and your daddy sleep while they looked after you. Once we got you on the formula you settled into a better sleeping pattern - meaning that you actually slept! And now you tend to go down to bed around half eight or nine and sleep right through until two or three in the morning. Sometimes it's even as late as four. We get up for a feed, which still takes us about an hour, and then you settle again until seven or eight. This morning you slept until nine and I actually got to have a shower before you woke up. That's sheer luxury, and I don't expect it to happen very often.
I couldn't have survived the past month without your daddy. He's been a rock of support, even at times when he's been more tired than me. And I must mention how fantastic he is at cooking and cleaning. I'll have to get him to teach you cleaning skills when you're older, because he's better at it than me, and a lot tidier!
We've also been really blessed by our extended family and people at Jubilee Church. So many people have given you presents that I sometimes wonder if you have more clothes than me and daddy together! Luckily most people listened when I asked them to go for things in bigger sizes. Your legs are very long and you have big feet (taking after your mummy) that mean that lots of the newborn babygros we have for you are already too small because they squish your toes. I've got a bag hanging on the back of the door in the spare room to put clothes in as we discover you've outgrown them.
I'm amazed by your eyes. The day you were born they were a vivid blue, but I noticed that even by the next day they'd started getting darker. They went darker and darker, but kept a blue outline, that looked like someone had outlined your eye in blue biro. Today I look at your eyes are they are a beautiful deep brown, sometimes looking so dark you can hardly see the pupils in the centre, but there's still a blue line around the outside. You were born with hairy ears and they're still hairy. You also have a lot of hair that you were born with, but shows no signs of falling out, despite lots of people suggesting it will. It started off pretty straight, with just a hint of curls at the ends, but now more and more it seems to be getting curlier. When we bathe you and wet your hair it goes into beautiful little ringlets.
You're now sat on my lap, trying to help me type as you wave your arms around. Daddy complains that you've already managed to bop him on the nose with your waving arms as he cuddled you. You're wearing mittens because your nails are pretty sharp and we still haven't got around to buying any nail scissors. Last week you scratched yourself on the eyelid, and although its healed, you have a lot of dry sore skin on your face and we don't want it to get any worse. Every time we change you we put a little olive oil on your face, and about once a day we oil you all over. That makes you extra tricky to hold as you're such a wiggler already and the oil makes you slippery!
Auntie Hannah will tell you that mummy is good at giving people strange nicknames (case in point, I currently call her Chicken if we speak on the phone!). Mummy's given you lots of nicknames. In the early days I called you a little frog because of the way you would lie with you legs up in the air, bent like a frog's legs. I call you my little sausage, and when I wrap you up in a blanket to go to sleep you're my little sausage roll! We also call you Little Miss Squeaky because sometimes you can sound just like a creaky door. You also squeak when you're waking up to tell us you're hungry - it's as if you want to warn us you'd like to be fed, but you're not actually ready to wake up yet. Ideally I think you'd like to just feed in your sleep, or at least that's what you seem to suggest since you fall asleep on me almost every time I feed you.
You have a lot of aunties (related and honorary), and I'm sure in the future you'll have lots of fun with them all. At the moment they mostly just argue over who gets to cuddle you the most. You've got to spend time at Nana & Grandad's house and with Nan & Grandad and auntie Yvonne. I think they'll spoil you like crazy as at the moment you're the first grandchild on both sides!
I'm looking forward to the next month with you and I'm sure we'll see you smile for the first time soon - there have been times that we've been almost convinced you were really smiling at us.
We love you Sophia Louise,
love Mummy
Showered with gifts
Recently I was, or rather we were lucky enough to be involved in the Fall 2009 Etsy Baby Shower. This is an event organised by etsy members for etsy members, and since I was pregnant and then had Sophia while the event was going on, we qualified to recieve presents from some lovely Etsy sellers.
The event was organised by Jessica from BuggaLove and Deniz from DecorativeLabels and I figure they deserve a couple of links here on my blog for all their hard work, so please so check out their etsy shops.
I'll be blogging to show off each of the gifts we received and to share links to the shops the gifts came from. Please check them out too, if at least to admire their handiwork, because they deserve some attention!
The event was organised by Jessica from BuggaLove and Deniz from DecorativeLabels and I figure they deserve a couple of links here on my blog for all their hard work, so please so check out their etsy shops.
I'll be blogging to show off each of the gifts we received and to share links to the shops the gifts came from. Please check them out too, if at least to admire their handiwork, because they deserve some attention!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
sneeeeezy day
I'm too busy sneezing to think of much to say.
Earlier I put Sophia up on my shoulder to burp her but she was so desperate to keep sucking that she got a hold of my ear to suck on! Her breath really tickled.
Earlier I put Sophia up on my shoulder to burp her but she was so desperate to keep sucking that she got a hold of my ear to suck on! Her breath really tickled.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
We made it out the house
Yesterday we stayed in all day cos we were both a bit under the weather, however by the end of the day I was feeling a bit emotional and stir crazy. Today we're out (I'm writing this at my mum's house) and I'm heading off to enjoy it. Back tomorrow, possibly!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
sniffles and snuffles
Now obviously I've hit a fundamental problem if I were try to do NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) as I didn't post on the first! However I am trying to write more on my blog now life's beginning to settle down a little.
This is for several reasons, firstly I like writing, and I'm constantly thinking of things that I want to say on here, and if I'm only posting once or twice a week, I've forgotten most of those things by the time I come to write. Ok, so maybe that means you don't have to read so much of my drival, but, and this leads me on to my second point... I want to remember the little things from these early days. Already it's going so fast, and details are beginning to fade. I know when I was younger I wanted to hear lots of stories about when I was a baby, and if my blog will help me to remember those stories for Sophia, then I'm all for it. Obviously there will be things that won't go on here as it's a public forum, but lots of the little things can.
Sophia's still got a cold. She spent a lot of last night coughing and sniffling and sounding like she was trying to cough up a fur ball. As it's pretty yucky again outside, I think we'll just be staying in most of the day, with perhaps a quick blow in the park or a pop to the shop up the road for milk and bread. She doesn't seem too unhappy today, it's just me that's in distress seeing my baby snuffle and sneeze. (And actually I'm doing ok, I think it's Daddy that's most concerned, but then he did have to go to work and leave us).
Sophia's developed a couple of new cries in the last few days. They have elements that sound like 'ai' (as in rain), 'ee' (as in beech) and 'i' (aye). We're now two fifths of the way to teaching her the names of the vowels ;)
This is for several reasons, firstly I like writing, and I'm constantly thinking of things that I want to say on here, and if I'm only posting once or twice a week, I've forgotten most of those things by the time I come to write. Ok, so maybe that means you don't have to read so much of my drival, but, and this leads me on to my second point... I want to remember the little things from these early days. Already it's going so fast, and details are beginning to fade. I know when I was younger I wanted to hear lots of stories about when I was a baby, and if my blog will help me to remember those stories for Sophia, then I'm all for it. Obviously there will be things that won't go on here as it's a public forum, but lots of the little things can.
Sophia's still got a cold. She spent a lot of last night coughing and sniffling and sounding like she was trying to cough up a fur ball. As it's pretty yucky again outside, I think we'll just be staying in most of the day, with perhaps a quick blow in the park or a pop to the shop up the road for milk and bread. She doesn't seem too unhappy today, it's just me that's in distress seeing my baby snuffle and sneeze. (And actually I'm doing ok, I think it's Daddy that's most concerned, but then he did have to go to work and leave us).
Sophia's developed a couple of new cries in the last few days. They have elements that sound like 'ai' (as in rain), 'ee' (as in beech) and 'i' (aye). We're now two fifths of the way to teaching her the names of the vowels ;)
Monday, November 02, 2009
Random Thoughts
My baby girl is almost 4 weeks old. This was taken at 3 weeks exactly by the lovely Sarah C who came to visit us last Wednesday.
Apparently for me it's all about pillows. When I was pregnant the thing I used most was probably the L shape pillow that I used when I was sleeping. I'd stick one prong between my legs and the other went under my bump to support it. Now Sophia's here it's all about my breastfeeding pillow. It's a sort of C or half moon shape, and although I'd probably never have bought it myself, having been presented with it by some lovely friends (who also gave us lots of other baby equipment and clothes!) I use it all the time. I even take it with me if I know I'm going to need to be feeding Sophia in someone else's house!
One of the things that's really blessed us has been all the food that people have prepared and brought round to us. There's nothing like just having to pop something in the microwave for a few minutes, but knowing that you're not eating junk, but something that's been lovingly homemade from scratch. We've also been blessed by all the people who've shopped for us and continually supplied us with important things like toilet paper and tissues and fresh fruit and vegetables. Not to mention all the gifts we've been given for Sophia - I'm sure she now had more clothes than me or Menard.
We're battling the damp in our flat. It's hard because combine a baby and several wet days, and you have to dry your laundry indoors (because there are some days where she can manage to get through 4 outfits in half an hour!) Add to that things like wardrobes being built against outside walls, without any extra panelling inbetween which led to a wardrobe full of mildewing clothes, and it's a bit of a nightmare. We've got a dehumidifier, but it's only little and we're so aware of the electricity it's consuming.
Sophia's suffering from her first cold. She's been a bit snuffly for a few days, but when she woke up yesterday she was sniffling and snuffling on every breath so we stayed home from church - it was also pouring with rain, so we were quite happy to stay home in the warm. She's a bit better today, but still very clingy, if a baby can be called clingy. And talking of clingy, she's very firmly telling me that it's time to pick her up again, so I'd better go.
Apparently for me it's all about pillows. When I was pregnant the thing I used most was probably the L shape pillow that I used when I was sleeping. I'd stick one prong between my legs and the other went under my bump to support it. Now Sophia's here it's all about my breastfeeding pillow. It's a sort of C or half moon shape, and although I'd probably never have bought it myself, having been presented with it by some lovely friends (who also gave us lots of other baby equipment and clothes!) I use it all the time. I even take it with me if I know I'm going to need to be feeding Sophia in someone else's house!
One of the things that's really blessed us has been all the food that people have prepared and brought round to us. There's nothing like just having to pop something in the microwave for a few minutes, but knowing that you're not eating junk, but something that's been lovingly homemade from scratch. We've also been blessed by all the people who've shopped for us and continually supplied us with important things like toilet paper and tissues and fresh fruit and vegetables. Not to mention all the gifts we've been given for Sophia - I'm sure she now had more clothes than me or Menard.
We're battling the damp in our flat. It's hard because combine a baby and several wet days, and you have to dry your laundry indoors (because there are some days where she can manage to get through 4 outfits in half an hour!) Add to that things like wardrobes being built against outside walls, without any extra panelling inbetween which led to a wardrobe full of mildewing clothes, and it's a bit of a nightmare. We've got a dehumidifier, but it's only little and we're so aware of the electricity it's consuming.
Sophia's suffering from her first cold. She's been a bit snuffly for a few days, but when she woke up yesterday she was sniffling and snuffling on every breath so we stayed home from church - it was also pouring with rain, so we were quite happy to stay home in the warm. She's a bit better today, but still very clingy, if a baby can be called clingy. And talking of clingy, she's very firmly telling me that it's time to pick her up again, so I'd better go.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
In case anyone is worried
I know that 3 weeks after giving birth is still early days. I guess what I mean at this stage is taking hold of my eating habits. I've eaten a heck of a lot of junk in the past couple of months - late pregnancy and early days, and I need to break the habit of wanting to reach for a chocolate bar or something equally bad for me, and instead be reaching for a pear or an apple when I'm desperately hungry and trying to grab a snack.
I know that if I don't take a hold of those habits now, I'm going to find it even harder to get going when I'm actually actively trying to lose weight.
BUT, I'm also getting lots of rest, drinking lots of water, and sleeping when I can (which isn't often in the day, cos Sophia has a nasty habit of cat napping for only 10 minutes at a time!)
I know that if I don't take a hold of those habits now, I'm going to find it even harder to get going when I'm actually actively trying to lose weight.
BUT, I'm also getting lots of rest, drinking lots of water, and sleeping when I can (which isn't often in the day, cos Sophia has a nasty habit of cat napping for only 10 minutes at a time!)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Taking control
Sophia is three weeks old today. It's time to start taking control of my weight again.
I'm blogging again at my personal weight loss blog, and also at One Weigh or Another.
I'm blogging again at my personal weight loss blog, and also at One Weigh or Another.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Early Days
A few photos from the very first day, in fact from the first couple of hours.
And one from today - blending into the buggy!
She's yelling for a feed, so I don't have time to comment anymore. Enjoy!
And one from today - blending into the buggy!
She's yelling for a feed, so I don't have time to comment anymore. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Go to bed sleepy head
My beautiful baby girl is actually sleeping better, only waking for one feed a night. She lost a lot of weight in the first 10 days or so, so as of last weekend we've been adding in formula to top her up. It was a hard decision for me to do, because I've always known that I wanted to breastfeed. I am still breastfeeding, but we're adding in formula after some of the feeds, and in particular the evening and night feeds.
Since we started them she's been sleeping so much better, only waking for one feed in the night, and sleeping for between four and six hours at a stretch.
However, while we were still being woken up at least 3 times a night, or woken up for long stretches of time, there were several things that I did or said which illustrated just how sleep deprived I was. Unfortunately the lack of sleep has also made me forget all but one of this things I planned to write in this blog post, so I'm only able to share that one...
I made a cup of tea for Menard. It was only when I stopped to wonder why it was taking so long for the teabag to make the water turn into tea, that I realised that although I'd filled the kettle, I hadn't actually boiled it!
Since we started them she's been sleeping so much better, only waking for one feed in the night, and sleeping for between four and six hours at a stretch.
However, while we were still being woken up at least 3 times a night, or woken up for long stretches of time, there were several things that I did or said which illustrated just how sleep deprived I was. Unfortunately the lack of sleep has also made me forget all but one of this things I planned to write in this blog post, so I'm only able to share that one...
I made a cup of tea for Menard. It was only when I stopped to wonder why it was taking so long for the teabag to make the water turn into tea, that I realised that although I'd filled the kettle, I hadn't actually boiled it!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep.
Not a proper post, just checking in to say we're alive. My baby girl is two weeks old now, I have no idea where that time went, all the days just seem to blur together!
It's been a tough week, I've had mastitis and Sophia lost a lot of weight - more than the expected 10% of her birth weight. Things are settling down a bit, and I think we're on the up.
Not a proper post, just checking in to say we're alive. My baby girl is two weeks old now, I have no idea where that time went, all the days just seem to blur together!
It's been a tough week, I've had mastitis and Sophia lost a lot of weight - more than the expected 10% of her birth weight. Things are settling down a bit, and I think we're on the up.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
One week old
Sophia Louise is one week old today.
The very first evening at home
Tiny hand, day 4
Here's looking at you kid
She's got hairy ears!
And her feet are big like mummy's!
The very first evening at home
Tiny hand, day 4
Here's looking at you kid
She's got hairy ears!
And her feet are big like mummy's!
Thursday, October 08, 2009
She's here!
Tiny's here.
We're all doing great. Totally exhausted, but great.
She doesn't have a name as yet.
She was born at 3.33am on Wednesday the 7th, weighing 8lb 2oz.
We love her more already than we ever thought possible.
We're all doing great. Totally exhausted, but great.
She doesn't have a name as yet.
She was born at 3.33am on Wednesday the 7th, weighing 8lb 2oz.
We love her more already than we ever thought possible.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
D-day!
D being 'due date'.
Things might be happening a little around here. Certainly not labour yet, but signs that it might be on the way. Tiny's at least reminding me that he won't be staying in there forever. We'll keep you posted.
Things might be happening a little around here. Certainly not labour yet, but signs that it might be on the way. Tiny's at least reminding me that he won't be staying in there forever. We'll keep you posted.
Monday, October 05, 2009
bleugh
I hab got a cold and a sore throat and earache. The doctor says it is just a virus (thought it best to get checked out, just in case).
I feel a bit icky. Tiny can stay put for a couple of days, and I'll snuggle down with a duvet on the sofa. I think Menard has it too, but he's still gone to work this morning. Hopefully we'll both get better soon.
I feel a bit icky. Tiny can stay put for a couple of days, and I'll snuggle down with a duvet on the sofa. I think Menard has it too, but he's still gone to work this morning. Hopefully we'll both get better soon.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Psst
Tiny here. I've got to stay in a bit longer so that mummy can disprove all the old wives tales about ways to bring labour on. Although she says she's not convinced by the castor oil idea, so we might give that one a miss.
I'll be out and about soon, but in my own time. We'll keep you posted...
I'll be out and about soon, but in my own time. We'll keep you posted...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
I will follow him
follow him wherever he may go.
My bump's taken on a life of its own in the last couple of weeks. It's at its biggest, and I'm acutely aware that I'm following it around anytime I go anywhere. Tiny's certainly making his presence felt, as no doubt he will in an entirely different way once he's actually here in person.
In the meantime, I'm just getting increasingly uncomfortable and so ready to have this baby. Please come soon, Tiny.
My bump's taken on a life of its own in the last couple of weeks. It's at its biggest, and I'm acutely aware that I'm following it around anytime I go anywhere. Tiny's certainly making his presence felt, as no doubt he will in an entirely different way once he's actually here in person.
In the meantime, I'm just getting increasingly uncomfortable and so ready to have this baby. Please come soon, Tiny.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
one more river *
One week today. Well, till the due date anyway. Who knows how many actual days it'll be. As HP said in a text to me yesterday, it could be a couple of weeks, or it could all kick off in the next half hour!
Hopefully it won't be in the next half hour, cos I can smell something delicious cooking, and I'd like to still be feeling like tasting it once it's cooked (My wonderful husband is cooking curry. Yum!).
This afternoon I actually started packing my hospital bag. Well, actually there's stuff piled on my bed, but it's actually there, not just ideas in my head or in my notebook! I will start putting things in the suitcase, but that's currently in the wardrobe and it's booby trapped under something else, and if I try to get it out by myself there's bound to be trouble. But yes, we have stuff. Lots of stuff, ready to be packed in the suitcase. It's definitely better than yesterday's 'start'!
* I was going to title this 'one more week' but that somehow reminded me of a line from a song, which is how it ended up being 'one more river'. That may make no sense to anyone but me, but I get it, so that's ok.
Hopefully it won't be in the next half hour, cos I can smell something delicious cooking, and I'd like to still be feeling like tasting it once it's cooked (My wonderful husband is cooking curry. Yum!).
This afternoon I actually started packing my hospital bag. Well, actually there's stuff piled on my bed, but it's actually there, not just ideas in my head or in my notebook! I will start putting things in the suitcase, but that's currently in the wardrobe and it's booby trapped under something else, and if I try to get it out by myself there's bound to be trouble. But yes, we have stuff. Lots of stuff, ready to be packed in the suitcase. It's definitely better than yesterday's 'start'!
* I was going to title this 'one more week' but that somehow reminded me of a line from a song, which is how it ended up being 'one more river'. That may make no sense to anyone but me, but I get it, so that's ok.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Still pregnant - 8 days til due date
I'm still pregnant. Contractions come and go, but since they're not developing into anything I've told them that I'm ignoring them until they decide to shape up properly and get on with it.
Not a lot else to report. I've written the list of things to take to hospital, that's a start, right?!
Not a lot else to report. I've written the list of things to take to hospital, that's a start, right?!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Showered with blessings
Tiny and I were well and truly showered on Sunday afternoon. A couple of friends organised a surprise baby shower for me, and Menard was in on the surprise too. A bunch of crazy but lovely folk invaded our home for a couple of hours, bringing fantastic decorations, yummy food, and lots of presents for me. It was lovely cos my Mum, Menard's Mum, Yvonne his sister, and my sister Bekki were all there too. A great combination of friends and family.
I didn't take any photos, but I know Bekki and a couple of others did, so I'm sure they'll appear online at some point...!
(Our net's been down for a couple of days. Well, I say down, what I actually mean is we need to buy a new top-up voucher for it. This is written at my Mum's house, but hopefully we'll have the net up and running at our place again soon).
I didn't take any photos, but I know Bekki and a couple of others did, so I'm sure they'll appear online at some point...!
(Our net's been down for a couple of days. Well, I say down, what I actually mean is we need to buy a new top-up voucher for it. This is written at my Mum's house, but hopefully we'll have the net up and running at our place again soon).
Friday, September 18, 2009
More photos
HP's hen party, 25th July.
Yes, I have pants on my head!
At HP and Steve's wedding, 15th August. Check out that bump! And my wonderful purple shoes :)
Yes, I have pants on my head!
At HP and Steve's wedding, 15th August. Check out that bump! And my wonderful purple shoes :)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A few photo highlights from the year
Progression of bump:
At our wedding, 5th April. Not much of a bump, indeed I'd lost weight in the week leading up to the wedding, so the dress actually fitted me less well than it had the week before.
Outside the registry office, May 30th. Definitely the beginnings of a bump. I'd bought this dress the week before in a charity shop, and only wore it the once. By a week or so later it no longer fitted!
At my cousin Pete's wedding, 8th August 2009. Wearing the dress I'd worn to his older brother's wedding back in summer 2007 which was pre-weight loss. I'd been intending to try to sell it on e-bay, but it's coming in handy again as it goes over the bump!
At HP and Steve's wedding rehearsal, 13th August. I was worn this dress/top and trousers so many times. In fact, if you asked someone who saw me a lot over the summer to predict what I'd be wearing the next time they saw me, if they said this outfit they'd probably be right about 90% of the time! (Obviously I washed it lots too!)
At our wedding, 5th April. Not much of a bump, indeed I'd lost weight in the week leading up to the wedding, so the dress actually fitted me less well than it had the week before.
Outside the registry office, May 30th. Definitely the beginnings of a bump. I'd bought this dress the week before in a charity shop, and only wore it the once. By a week or so later it no longer fitted!
At my cousin Pete's wedding, 8th August 2009. Wearing the dress I'd worn to his older brother's wedding back in summer 2007 which was pre-weight loss. I'd been intending to try to sell it on e-bay, but it's coming in handy again as it goes over the bump!
At HP and Steve's wedding rehearsal, 13th August. I was worn this dress/top and trousers so many times. In fact, if you asked someone who saw me a lot over the summer to predict what I'd be wearing the next time they saw me, if they said this outfit they'd probably be right about 90% of the time! (Obviously I washed it lots too!)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
List writer extrordinaire
As anyone who knows me could probably tell you, I love writing lists. I am a list writer. Whether it's a shopping list, or a to-do list, or a packing list, I love it. There's something about taking a fresh piece of paper, and a pen, and organising thoughts into a logical process.
Some of my lists have become famous, or at least immortalised, within our family. There's my shopping list, which is a tick box sheet of things that we regularly buy, laid out roughly in the order that you encounter each product as you go round the store. It's saved on the computer, so every couple of weeks my dad prints out a few more, and they sit on top of the freezer. That way as soon as someone thinks of something that needs to be bought, they can tick off the item, and when my mum goes shopping, she knows at a glance what needs to be bought. I think I need to steal or reinvent the list for me and Menard to use too, cos it is a handy way of keeping track of the fact you're out of beans or sugar or soy sauce, without having to make sure you tell everyone verbally six times.
Then there's the holiday list. It started off as pen on paper, but later also got transferred to the computer. It was the list we'd use as a reference point when we packed to go on summer holiday together (so again, I'm talking about me and my sisters and parents). Each year I'd update it, taking into account the location we'd be staying, and for how long, and all those sorts of things, but the basic backbone of the list remained the same.
So yes, I love writing lists. I wrote lists for my wedding, I wrote lists for HP's wedding. I even wrote a list for HP (or rather in consultation with her) to help her know what to pack to take on her honeymoon.
I've said all that to ponder the question, why have I not made any physical lists to do with having Tiny? Sure, there are many lists going round in my head all the time. Things like what we need to buy/make/get ready for Tiny's arrival, what I need to get for me before Tiny arrives, what I need to take in my hospital bag, even what to put on a birth plan etc etc. But I've yet to actually put pen to paper on any of these.
I think part of the problem is that I am the sort of person that does things at the last minute. All my best essays at university were written as all-nighters the night or two nights before they were due in (as were my worst pieces of work, but for the sake of argument we'll just talk about the good stuff!). Our wedding was planned in two and a half weeks, we had to just get on and do it, and we did. But, the thing about Tiny's arrival is that it could happen tomorrow (or even today, although it seems doubtful, given that I haven't really noticed my bump drop, which suggest Tiny isn't very engaged as yet), but it could also not happen for another month. Babies are considered to be full term when born any time between 37 weeks and 42 weeks. Yesterday I hit the 37 week mark, which means the end's in sight, but it's not near enough in sight to motivate me to write lists!
I can't cope with the anticipation. Tiny may be born this week, it may be another few weeks. I don't know. And the not-knowing stalls me into inaction. It's almost as though once I've done something, like pack my bag for hospital, I won't have anything left to do. So I don't do it, cos that means I can still have something on my mental to-do list. However, I can't leave everything until I'm in labour, which means I need to take myself in hand. Which means actually writing some lists. The most obvious of those lists that need to be written at the moment is knowing what to pack in my hospital bag. I've got several different suggestion lists from a number of sources, and I plan to consult those, but I'd also like those of you who've ever been there and done that with the whole giving birth thing to weigh in with your suggestions. Pretty please!
Also, as a slight aside, I look at some of the lists and think "heck, that's a lot of stuff", so I'd also like to know what you actually packed your stuff in. Is this a pull out the holiday suitcase type of event, or a couple of rucksacks, or what? (I know at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what you take and what you take it in, it'll just be comforting to me to know what other people have done!)
Oh, and yeah, it appears I'm blogging again. I have got some belly pics from the course of the pregnancy that I want to share at some point, but I really need to upload stuff from my camera - it currently still has photos from our wedding way back in April on it, not to mention all the other stuff that's happened since!
Some of my lists have become famous, or at least immortalised, within our family. There's my shopping list, which is a tick box sheet of things that we regularly buy, laid out roughly in the order that you encounter each product as you go round the store. It's saved on the computer, so every couple of weeks my dad prints out a few more, and they sit on top of the freezer. That way as soon as someone thinks of something that needs to be bought, they can tick off the item, and when my mum goes shopping, she knows at a glance what needs to be bought. I think I need to steal or reinvent the list for me and Menard to use too, cos it is a handy way of keeping track of the fact you're out of beans or sugar or soy sauce, without having to make sure you tell everyone verbally six times.
Then there's the holiday list. It started off as pen on paper, but later also got transferred to the computer. It was the list we'd use as a reference point when we packed to go on summer holiday together (so again, I'm talking about me and my sisters and parents). Each year I'd update it, taking into account the location we'd be staying, and for how long, and all those sorts of things, but the basic backbone of the list remained the same.
So yes, I love writing lists. I wrote lists for my wedding, I wrote lists for HP's wedding. I even wrote a list for HP (or rather in consultation with her) to help her know what to pack to take on her honeymoon.
I've said all that to ponder the question, why have I not made any physical lists to do with having Tiny? Sure, there are many lists going round in my head all the time. Things like what we need to buy/make/get ready for Tiny's arrival, what I need to get for me before Tiny arrives, what I need to take in my hospital bag, even what to put on a birth plan etc etc. But I've yet to actually put pen to paper on any of these.
I think part of the problem is that I am the sort of person that does things at the last minute. All my best essays at university were written as all-nighters the night or two nights before they were due in (as were my worst pieces of work, but for the sake of argument we'll just talk about the good stuff!). Our wedding was planned in two and a half weeks, we had to just get on and do it, and we did. But, the thing about Tiny's arrival is that it could happen tomorrow (or even today, although it seems doubtful, given that I haven't really noticed my bump drop, which suggest Tiny isn't very engaged as yet), but it could also not happen for another month. Babies are considered to be full term when born any time between 37 weeks and 42 weeks. Yesterday I hit the 37 week mark, which means the end's in sight, but it's not near enough in sight to motivate me to write lists!
I can't cope with the anticipation. Tiny may be born this week, it may be another few weeks. I don't know. And the not-knowing stalls me into inaction. It's almost as though once I've done something, like pack my bag for hospital, I won't have anything left to do. So I don't do it, cos that means I can still have something on my mental to-do list. However, I can't leave everything until I'm in labour, which means I need to take myself in hand. Which means actually writing some lists. The most obvious of those lists that need to be written at the moment is knowing what to pack in my hospital bag. I've got several different suggestion lists from a number of sources, and I plan to consult those, but I'd also like those of you who've ever been there and done that with the whole giving birth thing to weigh in with your suggestions. Pretty please!
Also, as a slight aside, I look at some of the lists and think "heck, that's a lot of stuff", so I'd also like to know what you actually packed your stuff in. Is this a pull out the holiday suitcase type of event, or a couple of rucksacks, or what? (I know at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what you take and what you take it in, it'll just be comforting to me to know what other people have done!)
Oh, and yeah, it appears I'm blogging again. I have got some belly pics from the course of the pregnancy that I want to share at some point, but I really need to upload stuff from my camera - it currently still has photos from our wedding way back in April on it, not to mention all the other stuff that's happened since!
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Back to work AGAIN
Tomorrow school starts again and I have to go back to work. I have no idea where I'm gonna find the energy to survive it, but at least I only have to do 7 days of it, and then I'm off on maternity leave.
Being realistic, I'm likely to be scarce around here again for a bit, but I'll be back again once I'm done, hopefully!
Being realistic, I'm likely to be scarce around here again for a bit, but I'll be back again once I'm done, hopefully!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Hey
It's just struck home to me that after all these years reading Mum/Mom blogs, I am a blogger who's going to be a Mum! Ok, so talk about stating the obvious, but remember this is the girl who can freak herself out by forgetting that she's pregnant when she wakes up in the night, and then get a shock catching sight of the BUMP* in the mirror.
I'm still working on what exactly I'll be sharing on here. It's one thing blogging about myself, it's another blogging about others like Menard and Tiny. I don't think I've crossed the line yet, but I'd also rather stay the right side of the line, while also sharing with the many many friends I've made in the blogging and online world. It's a tough one, so bear with me!
* written not in capital letters just didn't convey the size of the bump well enough, hence BUMP!
I'm still working on what exactly I'll be sharing on here. It's one thing blogging about myself, it's another blogging about others like Menard and Tiny. I don't think I've crossed the line yet, but I'd also rather stay the right side of the line, while also sharing with the many many friends I've made in the blogging and online world. It's a tough one, so bear with me!
* written not in capital letters just didn't convey the size of the bump well enough, hence BUMP!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The afternoon nap
is here to stay.
My husband knows me more than I'd sometimes like to admit. Especially when it involves his saying words like "Debs, go have a lie down, you know you're tired". Somehow those words desperately make me want to fight against sleep, to stay awake to prove my point, that I'm right, and no, it's not tiredness that's made me go all grumpy and slightly spaced out, and just sit in the chair and stare into space and.... But he is right. He's so right. And for the last two days I've reluctantly admitted that, and gone to lie down. And today I didn't wake up for another two and a half hours. I really did need that nap!
I have no idea how I'll survive going back to work this week. School starts again on Thursday, and I'm working until the following Friday (so seven days). I've already warned Menard that I'll probably be horrible to live with, and that I imagine it'll be similar to when I started the job - I cam home and went to bed, my parents woke me for dinner, and then I went to bed again! I have a feeling he's going to be taking a lot of the household load for the next couple of weeks, but I guess it's good practice for when Tiny's here.
My husband knows me more than I'd sometimes like to admit. Especially when it involves his saying words like "Debs, go have a lie down, you know you're tired". Somehow those words desperately make me want to fight against sleep, to stay awake to prove my point, that I'm right, and no, it's not tiredness that's made me go all grumpy and slightly spaced out, and just sit in the chair and stare into space and.... But he is right. He's so right. And for the last two days I've reluctantly admitted that, and gone to lie down. And today I didn't wake up for another two and a half hours. I really did need that nap!
I have no idea how I'll survive going back to work this week. School starts again on Thursday, and I'm working until the following Friday (so seven days). I've already warned Menard that I'll probably be horrible to live with, and that I imagine it'll be similar to when I started the job - I cam home and went to bed, my parents woke me for dinner, and then I went to bed again! I have a feeling he's going to be taking a lot of the household load for the next couple of weeks, but I guess it's good practice for when Tiny's here.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A history of cravings
The first was burgers. Not just any old burgers, mind you, none of that McDonalds or Burger King ickyness with all their weird extras like mayonnaise. No, preferably a barbecued burger, in a bun, with plenty of fried onions, and nothing else.
Next came chocolate spread. I couldn't get enough of the stuff. I think I killed that craving when I bought the biggest jar of nutella I could find. There's nothing like having a large amount available to kill your craving. I am, however, still addicted to most things chocolaty.
Around this time I also had a brief flirtation with fruit. I'd sit with my chopping board, knife, and a big bowl right next to the fruit bowl, and chop up at least one of everything in there, and then crunch and munch my way through the lot.
Next came the one that most people probably know about - ritz crackers and cheddar cheese. This has probably lasted the longest of my cravings, but I think I'm finally over it as I sat down with a little pile of them the other day, and didn't even make it through the initial pile (whereas previously I could easily go back for a second or third helping).
At some point jelly babies also became a particular favourite. I wasn't fussy, the supermarket own brand ones were almost as good as the original Bassets jelly babies, although I think the Sainsbury's one tasted better than Tesco's. It was probably the Tesco's ones that put me off them again. I could still happily eat a jelly baby or two if they were offered to me, but I would no longer want to scoff the whole bowl.
And now, with only a few weeks to go, I'm back on the fruit and veg kick. That's partly cos I woke up the other day with an ulcer on my tongue, and realised I hadn't eaten much fruit and veg for a few days, and that I was feeling a little run down. It's also connected to me finally finding counter space for our new juicer to stay out, and not have to be put away and then taken out again anytime you want to use it. So whether this is strictly a craving, or just me attempting to get my diet back on track a little, I reckon I'll be sticking with the fruit and veg for a while. Or I will be once I've stocked up again - right now there's only one apple in the fruit bowl, and quite a lot of carrots slowly dying in the fridge. Time to go shopping, methinks.
Next came chocolate spread. I couldn't get enough of the stuff. I think I killed that craving when I bought the biggest jar of nutella I could find. There's nothing like having a large amount available to kill your craving. I am, however, still addicted to most things chocolaty.
Around this time I also had a brief flirtation with fruit. I'd sit with my chopping board, knife, and a big bowl right next to the fruit bowl, and chop up at least one of everything in there, and then crunch and munch my way through the lot.
Next came the one that most people probably know about - ritz crackers and cheddar cheese. This has probably lasted the longest of my cravings, but I think I'm finally over it as I sat down with a little pile of them the other day, and didn't even make it through the initial pile (whereas previously I could easily go back for a second or third helping).
At some point jelly babies also became a particular favourite. I wasn't fussy, the supermarket own brand ones were almost as good as the original Bassets jelly babies, although I think the Sainsbury's one tasted better than Tesco's. It was probably the Tesco's ones that put me off them again. I could still happily eat a jelly baby or two if they were offered to me, but I would no longer want to scoff the whole bowl.
And now, with only a few weeks to go, I'm back on the fruit and veg kick. That's partly cos I woke up the other day with an ulcer on my tongue, and realised I hadn't eaten much fruit and veg for a few days, and that I was feeling a little run down. It's also connected to me finally finding counter space for our new juicer to stay out, and not have to be put away and then taken out again anytime you want to use it. So whether this is strictly a craving, or just me attempting to get my diet back on track a little, I reckon I'll be sticking with the fruit and veg for a while. Or I will be once I've stocked up again - right now there's only one apple in the fruit bowl, and quite a lot of carrots slowly dying in the fridge. Time to go shopping, methinks.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
This post is powered
by very little sleep, and I actually feel quite woozy. However, I'm determined to meet up with my friend Hayley in town for an hour or so. Once I get home I'll be heading right back to bed.
Hopefully at some point soon I will find time to be at home and not asleep, or sleepy, but actually write something proper on here. No promises though, or only that I'll be back eventually. Sorry!
Hopefully at some point soon I will find time to be at home and not asleep, or sleepy, but actually write something proper on here. No promises though, or only that I'll be back eventually. Sorry!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sneak preview
Wedding went well. Still recovering from all the excitement. This is me and Tiny in the bridesmaid outfit I wore. On Saturday I was 32 weeks and 4 days, I think.More to follow once life's calmed down a bit.
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