More?

Elizabeth has a new, very useful word - 'more'. She can say 'more' to food, suncream, blankets (believe it or not she likes to have two, even in the warm weather) and to dancing!

We've been away for Bank Holiday weekend, to a cottage in the Cotswolds. It was a bit of a new experience for us, as we've never travelled after Elizabeth's tea-time, but made the decision to get down there and start the bed-routine on arrival. We didn't know how it would pan out, but as it was she stayed awake after tea, was golden all the way - singing and looking at lorries, then went calmly to sleep with no bath after her story at about 9pm.

She coped remarkably well with changes to her routine over the weekend, and seemed to enjoy being outside in the garden, and having other people to play with. She fell over a few times, got muddy, played at the park, had lunch in a pub... all good!

At home our turf was finally laid on 19th April and it is growing well. It looks like a 'normal' garden at last, although Elizabeth hasn't played out on it yet - still watering and tending to it. I've been laid low with a cold/feeling rundown/exhaustion, and husband has had a cold too. Elizabeth had a runny nose for best part of a week, and had a few disturbed nights, but is back on form now.

Her routine now is awake any time from 6am, but happy to play in her cot until 7am. She breastfeeds at 7am, has her porridge and toast between 8am and 9am, having had a wash and got out of her pyjamas. She plays all morning, lunch at midday (to 1pm) then a two hour nap. Smoothie at 4pm, tea at 6pm, then bath, story, breastfeed and bed at around 7-7.30pm.

She can now say more, no, mum, dad, yes, bird, cat, poo, bye bye, baby, ... and can signal for aeroplane (in the sky), brum brum (car)... she can recognise upteem things - cars, whose drink is whose, whose shoes are whose, who she is, who Grandad/Nan/Uncle Mark etc are, she doesn't like dirt on the carpet, or hairs, or spiders... she likes to put her own trousers on, to wash her own face, to drink from her own cup (two-handed), to wear stickers (e.g. the vegetable weight stickers in Sainsburys), to wear name-ID badges, to wear a hat... she still loves dancing, and reading her books. She gives proper kisses, and every night on her way to bed she gives me a cuddle, patting my back with both hands. She still loves swimming - still going every Thursday, and group is still every Tuesday. She has 'special friends' - James at group and Rebecca at swimming. She kisses them goodbye, and nods that she wants to see them. She is walking well although still occasionally on tip-toes, and eating lots and lots (haven't had her weighed for ages now).

So - more? I'm officially on CD13 - due to ovulate tomorrow - so we're going to try again. I think the plan is tonight, tomorrow and the night after!!! Utterly terrified - firstly that I could become pregnant again quickly, like last time, and secondly all the what-ifs etc if I don't. Assuming I do become pregnant I'm not sure where to look first for my biggest challenge - the return of morning sickness, but with a toddler in tow? The return of SPD but with a toddler in tow? Trying to take it easy but with a toddler in tow? The prospect of labour and birth again? I've been reading up lots on natural birth and yoga etc, and am in two minds about whether to have a doula, whether to try hypnobirthing, whether to take up yoga (friend from group goes so might join her). Trying to stay positive, but then get very panicky. House needs lots doing to it, bedroom needs decorating for Elizabeth, plus I'm feeling the most 'normal' I've felt in a long time. The exercise is starting to pay off (although I've just had a week off) and am looking forward to a lovely Summer - I just hope that I can get pregnant and that it will be an easier pregnancy than last time! Watch this space - in two weeks time I will have my first answer!