Overdue again

My friend has just picked up Oliver for a few hours, so I thought I'd write a quick blog as it may well be another six months before I get another chance.

I have found this pregnancy so much harder than with Oliver mainly because I have a toddler to occupy and cannot just sleep when I feel like it. Also, I have had a lot more sickness than I did when I carried Oliver. The main problems have been my back and pelvis, but I cannot complain as there are many people that would like to be in my place. On Monday I was pretty upset and fed up, but then I heard from my friend (who has been trying for a second baby via IVF) who told me the IVF had not worked. I told Steve and he said it puts things into perspective because when you hear something like that we realize how lucky we are.

I guess any day now we could have a brother or sister for Oliver and everyday I think "is today the day". I don't really want to be induced again but as we have to make arrangements for Oliver we can't afford to keep hanging on. Tomorrow, the midwife is visiting and going to do a membrane sweep to see if that helps to move things along. If we still have no joy by Monday I will be admitted to Stepping Hill and will be induced, so fingers crossed.

Steve has been such a gem the last few weeks and been so patient whilst I moan about all my aches and pains. I think he can see how much harder this pregnancy has been but I feel so lucky to have him around. Oliver absolutely adores his Daddy to the point he lets go of my hand or jumps off my lap as soon as Daddy appears. I know Oliver loves his Mummy too but he is with me all the time and Daddy throws him in the air and plays with him constantly when he is around. However, Mummy has to cook, wash and clean and is not always able to drop everything when Oliver says "HAND". When Oliver says Hand he wants to take your hand and take you to play and sometimes I just have to say Mummy can't right now. I am trying hard to just let the dust stay put and the washing pile up but it's hard as I know certain things just have to get done. I am a little worried about how much play time I'll have for Oliver when the new baby arrives but I know Steve and I will work together to try to spend time with both children, and if we are real lucky each other somewhere down the road.

The first few months will be hard as we do not have family around, but I know life will get easier and we will have a lovely little family and time for each other once again.

Not enough hours in the day

Ok Ok so it's been over a year since I last added an entry, but hey running a home, childminding and having an 18 month old is not like I have any spare time. Of course, on top of that I am now 16 weeks pregnant. I just wish I could find some more time. I feel like I am on a treadmill and it barely stops except if there is a power cut. Life is just so busy going to play groups and classes, cooking, cleaning (the latter seems to go to pot too with Oliver, although he is handy with the hoover). I would not have things any different except I'd love to have more time. I need to figure out how to juggle everything as we will have more pitter patter feet to occupy our time soon. Right it's that time already...I have to get Oliver and my minded child wrapped up and ready to go to Jo Jingles, music class, so see you again in about another year.

Solid Food - When is the right time to start?

Oliver is growing so quick and is nearly drinking all five 8oz bottles each day. We are trying to hold off on solid food until we really need to. The health visitor has told us that research has now shown that a babies intestines are not all fully developed until around six months and therefore it is better to try not to give solid food to a baby until then. However, if Oliver shows signs that he is not willing to wait then we will feed him sooner, but not before four months of age.

Oliver still wakes up in the night for a feed but once is better than three or four times like in the beginning, and he still is only little. I really don't mind getting up with him and think my cognitive clock is set to four each morning as I usually wake around that time waiting for Oliver to murmur. I hear little murmurs some mornings and then go and make his bottle but by the time I get back upstairs Oliver is asleep. I try not to wake Steve as he has to go to work but I think I have only managed this once since Oliver was born. Of course, Oliver makes little whimpers throughout the night and we hear them so this wakes us up. I don't want to have the monitor down to much because I am worried I will not hear him. I hope that once he starts solids he might skip the 4am feed but I am told he may go backwards for a while first. Fingers crossed for a good night's sleep soon ;-)

Bedtime Story

I have been searching for ages for a little book I used to read to Joshua. For those who don't know, I helped to take care of Joshua when I lived in America, although he is not so little these days and will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah next May. Anyway, I remember a book Joshua used to love called "Goodnight Moon", but I have found it hard to find here until I tried in Borders the other day and to my delight they had two books in stock. We have started to add this into Oliver's night time ritual and hope he will also like this lovely little book.

First Injections :-(

Oliver had his first injections today and his first check up. I had to wake him up to go to the doctors so he was already not happy, but who can blame him nobody likes to be woken when their in a deep sleep, especially at two in the morning :-(

Bless the little man he was not happy. First Oliver was weighed and measured. He is in the 50 percentile for his weight and 80th percentile for his height. His head is in the 91st percentile so I guess he has a lot going on up top ;-)

I felt absolutely awful having to hold my little man whilst the nurse gave him two injections. I started to worry that Oliver would associate sitting on Mummy's lap with pain because I held him. My friend Lisa (One of Oliver's God Mother's to be)offered to hold him whilst the deed was done but I declined the offer knowing I wanted to be able to hold him, and whisper in his ear that I loved him and everything would be ok.

I asked myself how anyone could ever hurt their children as I sat there almost in tears watching Oliver get so upset. Oliver is so precious and I love him so much. I keep praying that I will be a good mum and that Oliver will always love his mummy. I think about people who fall out with their parents and wonder how that can be. I would be devastated if that ever happened. I can only hope I do right with Oliver and listen and understand his needs. I want Oliver to grow up to be a confident and secure man and want him to have the freedom to explore life and experience true happiness like I have with Steve. To do this, I will be supportive, and encouraging as much as I can, and hope that I can advise Oliver well on decisions I might not think are always the best, but that ultimately are Oliver's choice.

Tomorrow, I have my post natal check and will no longer have an excuse for not going to the gym (apart from finding the time to go). I have to get back in shape now and get fit and healthy for Oliver's sister or brother one day (fingers crossed).

Oliver has started to go to bed a little earlier the last few days and sleep longer, hence the reason I have had time to write a long blog. I am trying my best to write as often as possible, but find having the time and energy to do so is pretty hard right now. I know Steve writes a lot more that I do, and often does this during his lunch times at work, so at least someone is on top of our families events and happenings. I can assure you, I have plenty of things to keep me busy throughout the day and night, and a litle man named Oliver who needs a lot of my attention, not to mention all the other jobs to keep our household ticking. I just wonder how people with twins cope, or how folks that have several children under the age of five manage. Of course, having more than one child under five could be us one day!