Things getting better...?

I've had my grievance hearing at work. That was last Wednesday - 10th October. It was very stressful, and they still just don't 'get it'. They think it is my 'personal choice' not to opt for daycare, and were only too willing to show my a glossy brochure and arrange for me to talk to the Mason Road Nursery manager to reassure me. Kit was great - stating that I was constrained by my childcare and had been very flexible beyond that. Came away not expecting too much really, although the man did say that the situation was slightly different now than it was when the business reasons were cited for not offering me work. Still get the impression they want to barter with me, and obviously I can't.

Elizabeth is in a bit more of a routine now. She sleeps at 9.30/10.00am for about an hour, and sleeps again at 2pm for about an hour. Her day looks something like this now:

6.30am - wakes up
7.00am - breastfeeds (both sides) for about 15 minutes
8.00am - breakfast of porridge + fruit
9.00am - washed and dressed, then down for a nap
11.00am - wakes up, breastfeeds
12.30pm - lunch (e.g. cheese on toast, raisins, yoghurt + fruit) water
2.00pm - down for a nap
3.00pm - wakes up, breastfeeds, nappy changed etc
6.00pm - tea followed by bath, sleepsuit on, story, then
7.00pm - bed

She is eating finger foods more readily now - cheese on toast, apple ricecakes, raisins, toast with puree on, banana, apple, pear, melon; I've tried cream cheese sandwiches with her but she can't quite manage that yet. She ate cod and potato bake, same as we had, last night, and has also eaten lamb casserole, spaghetti bolognaise, rice pudding.... she still only drinks water (thank God!) and no sweets, chocolate etc (thank God!).

She is beginning to learn things which is really interesting. She has just managed to learn the answer to "Where's Mummy's nose?" and "Where's Daddy's nose?" - she points correctly in response, but won't point to her own nose. She is just mastering "Where are Mummy's ears?" in addition to her previously understood "clap hands" and "kiss kiss" (which comes and goes). I've just started doing 'round and round the garden' with her which she seems to enjoy - she puts her hand out and sort of points at it with the other hand which I take as a signal that she wants to do it again! She is more affectionate towards her toys - she kissed little nutbrown hair and Simbob the dog, and will pass them to me for me to kiss them. She is tentatively taking a few steps with her walker, but is much more proficient at getting along the side of the table and sofa.

Her sleep has been disturbed the last couple of nights, could be teething, not sure. Still haven't fed her - those days thankfully are gone. Still haven't made big decisions about who would look after her in the event of something happening to me and husband, although organising a will was one of the first things we were supposed to do when Elizabeth was born.

Her first birthday is approaching rapidly and we think we have decided that we will all spend the day together on the day after her birthday and go to Hoo Farm, then on the Sunday if friends and family want to come over they can. We (well, I) think it is more for us than it is for anyone else.

She came with me to the chiropractor this morning and sat good as gold. Things seem better on that front, although I wasn't in the best of health over the weekend. I felt really sick on Friday night (it was like morning sickness but I knew it couldn't be!) and woke up at about 11pm to be violently sick. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night, and was totally wiped out the following day. Having to look after Elizabeth was SO difficult, could have really done with the day in bed. I though I'd be alright to go around Sainsbury's in the late afternoon but thought I was going to pass out. By the time I'd fed her and she was in her cot I staged a bit of a recovery - but only after lying in bed for about an hour. Being a Mummy means no time off - so hard when you're ill, and particularly hard on your body when you are breastfeeding. I think that is why I was so exhausted. Now I'm just full of cold, but that's not too bad. Miraculously (touch wood) so far Elizabeth hasn't come down with either ailment!