nearly 13 weeks!

Always seem to be so busy on a Friday, so am blogging early this week.

Elizabeth's behaviour has been slightly better!! We've plumbed new depths with the daily struggle over eating - mealtimes drag on and on as she resists all prompts to get her to eat more than a couple of forkfuls. We've tried bribing her with her next course (which we feel isn't the right approach... and didn't work either), have tried taking her plate away, have tried ignoring the behaviour and letting her get on with it... all to no avail. Today though I tried the kitchen timer, put 10 minutes on the clock, and lo and behold she ate everything up before the timer went off! Am going to try it again at tea-time, and may need to introduce it at bath-time too.

We had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Went shopping on Saturday to pick up various bits and pieces, Cardingmill Valley on Sunday for a picnic (although I was stressed out and nearly defeated by the changing bag - having to have so many things to hand, and having not enough space in the bag, plus the challenge of keeping Edward out of the sun on a blazing hot day!!).

We had a short walk on Bank Holiday Monday, and I completed some reports for my Dad, then we went to 'group' on Tuesday. Edward is nearly old enough now to go in the 'baby corner' although I'll have to remember to bring his support, as I never lie him down flat on his back anymore. He had a bath in the 'big bath' with Elizabeth for the first time tonight - that might shorten the seemingly never-ending bedtime routine!

I've been to the chiropractor with both of them today; My back is in a terrible state - I think a mixture of feeding Edward in a terrible position propped up in bed, and on the dining chairs, and lifting Elizabeth and pushing the heavy pram. Feel a bit better now, but really need to be careful.

Edward has his jabs tomorrow and I've got to try to get him weighed as well, then we're seeing Anna and Raj on Friday, and I'm getting my haircut on Saturday (woo hoo! First time since about October - lets hope she doesn't mess up like my last hairdresser managed to do!).

12 weeks

I was thinking that Edward was getting better reflux-wise, but yesterday and today he has been sick big time. This morning was the first time in ages that it was more projectile, just when I'd removed the green blanket thing that I cover my pillows and the top of the duvet with. In himself though he's been fine - unsettled the last couple of evenings, and feeding until 10pm the evenings before that, but sleeping through 6-8 hours so not too bad.

Elizabeth has actually been better today behaviour-wise. After a few days of not eating (!) and being a nightmare, today passed by quite calmly (relatively speaking). We went to the Pirate Playpit for Oliver's birthday and she seemed to run off some energy there. I feel a lot better for having a more positive day - the last few days I've really been at my wits end with her. I know rationally that she is only two, and is going through big developmental changes in addition to the upheaval of having Edward, but the reality of dealing with her is something else. She is so difficult. So wilful. So demanding. So intense. She has me screaming and shouting and in tears and usually before 8am! There are so many funny things she does and says, and so many positives, which are very easy to lose sight of when I'm stuck in the middle of this. I know their childhood will whizz by and I'll regret wishing this time away, but I do long for a bit of an easier ride.

Nothing remarkable about the week really. Saw Lorna and Louisa on Monday, didn't make group on Tuesday, went to Sainsburys on Wednesday... Been trying to get into affiliate marketing, and have been accepted by a few different programmes. Not made any money yet though!

Edward is 11 weeks old now...

Haven't had him weighed this week. Has been an up and down kind of week. We stayed at home for most of the time, battling with the washing (endless loads of) and tidying (never-ending) while Elizabeth increasingly tantrums and shrieks, and Edward feeds and is sick. Went out to meet friend with baby on Monday for a lunch-time get-together at a pub. Nearly had a nervous breakdown as trying to manage Elizabeth was so exhausting, then Edward wouldn't stop crying and having changed both nappies in the boot of the car and managed to drop blankets and all sorts all over the place... well!! I was approached by a complete stranger who said how well-behaved Elizabeth was though! We also got out on Friday to Pirates Playpit, an absolute Godsend. She ran off loads of energy and could go on the slides and ball-pit etc by herself, so I could wander around with Edward. The only problem came when it was time to leave!

The car went in to get its window/alarm problem fixed but they weren't able to fix it, so I've got to have another day without the car this week. Other than that, a quiet week.

We went shopping yesterday, Edward in his sling and Elizabeth in her buggy. Husband has a £30 haircut but it still looks like it hasn't been cut. I got a couple of packs of t-shirts in 6-9 size for Edward from Primark (£2 each) - he's just moving into 6-9 month now. I'm considering putting the bath into the loft now as he's getting too big for it. I've tried him a couple of times in a sleeping bag at night, but with little success. In fact he had a dreadful night last night, and woke up 3-4 times. He's grown out of the first size sleeping bag before he's even been in it! The products we bought from the Reflux company have arrived, namely a series of plastic blocks to raise one end of his cotbed, and a cotbed wedge to save me having to use the small pregnancy bump support that is quite useful on his changing mat and gym. So far not had much real call for them as he's still in his small cot, but their time will come. He's been playing on his gym a lot more, and is a lot more into grabbing his toys.

We've been thinking about making money again. Need to make £40,000 to get a new house. Had the house valued on Friday evening, and that is the basic maths!

The zoo!!!

Well, he's 10 weeks old now. I saw the health visitor at home on Wednesday - he was 16lb 1oz. We did the Edinburgh PostNatal Depression Inventory, and she decided I was quite 'low' and gave me some advice about seeing people for adult conversation and getting my haircut. I did actually feel quite a lot better for talking to her about it - and realise that I do have to take steps myself to cope better with my situation. So I made an appointment to get my hair cut, and accepted an invitation to the zoo.

We stayed in for the rest of the week though. Elizabeth played out in the garden with her new sand table. Edward has been much better in terms of projectile vomiting, but a bit tetchy in terms of sleeping. I started him on the EASY routine this week, and have been putting him down for a nap in his cot with the curtains closed about an hour after his feed and it has been working. Still cluster feeding in the evening though, and mixed results at night. He did sleep through for about 6 hours one night, but other nights he'll be up at midnight (or before) and every couple of hours after that.

Saw Grandad in hospital yesterday on his birthday, which meant leaving Edward and Elizabeth in husband's hands. No problems - Edward was awake when I got back but only just.

Our first day trip as a family today then - to Twycross Zoo. Up at 6am to commence packing and washing and changing and feeding, then left soon after 9am. Edward fed just after we arrived, then again at around 1pm. We test drove the new Maclaren XLR for real, after its maiden voyage indoors at the Town Centre yesterday. All went well but got very dusty! We realised how difficult it is to have two buggies, laiden down with changing bag, cool bag, changes of clothes, handbag and camera. Good to have two extra pairs of hands to help out though, and Elizabeth really enjoyed it. Made us see that we should spend leisure time more like this and less doing jobs. We have some really lovely, kind friends - must see them more.

9 weeks old - May Day Bank Holiday... new stroller!

Well, we took Edward for his 8 week jabs on Thursday, and it wasn't too distressing. Elizabeth looked on, nonplussed, and he screamed when the needles went in but calmed down very quickly. We went through to see the Health Visitor afterwards, and he was weighed. 15lb 15oz, so on the 98th centile, no longer above it.

He's been very unsettled ever since, and yesterday was phenomenal - he didn't sleep from about 11am until 9pm. I had one of my lowest days ever... while we were walking around town (our only 'activity' of the Bank holiday I had a huge argument with husband about how fed up I am with everything in general. When we got in he printed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale off the internet and read it out to me while I lay in a darkened room, and concluded that yes I do have depression. Personally I think I feel a lot worse when I'm tired, and the previous night I'd had very little sleep and we were late to bed (at ... ooooh 11 o'clock!). I generally feel very anxious and panicky about everything, so the fact that she's been ill and he's got this reflux thing are not helping at all.

We finally bit the bullet today and bought a Maclaren XLR stroller. It is, I think, the most expensive umbrella fold on the market, and although there was 10% off in Mothercare this weekend and we were able to use the vouchers that husband's work colleagues presented us with, it still set us back £190, which is probably quite a lot more than we wanted to spend.

Why do we need the new buggy? Well, we're off on holiday in about 8 weeks, and Elizabeth's buggy doesn't lie flat and doesn't have suspension, plus the handles are low so uncomfortable to push for husband. We decided if we were going to buy a new one to see us through future children (!) we should get a big one, because lets face it I don't think we are destined to have small children. This one is big for baby, and has adjustable handles so big for us too. I ordered it in store today, and it should arrive this week.

Boringly we've also ordered a door mat. After three years of having the most horrendous porch - dirt and gravel, and shoes lying all over the place we're smartening up our act. Ordered a turtlemat with supposed dirt-stopping qualities, and husband constructed an under-stairs shoe rack this morning so the shoes are out. Feel marginally better that I'll be able to keep the porch clean and the shoes are now banished, although the hall is now looking quite cluttered with the PC, book case, coats, filing cabinet, laser printer and shoe rack.

We got the Micra MOT'd on Saturday (Bank Holiday fun again) so the cars are all up-to-date I think, got both of them insured, and nothing else to worry about hopefully until the Autumn on that front. We've also sent a cheque off for the remaining money due on the holiday.
Am awaiting the arrival of my reflux book this coming week to help me 'solve' all our problems. The Health Visitor is coming on Wednesday. It's Grandad's birthday on Saturday. Its raining.