Edward... the story so far...

I don't feel I've been recording Edward's achievements and milestones recently, and this blog has become more of a record of my pregnancies... so here goes:

Edward is 13 months old now. He has pretty much dropped his morning nap, and has one substantial nap of about an hour and a half to two hours in the afternoon. He breastfeeds on waking (at about 6am), after lunch (at about 1pm) and at bed-time (at about 7pm). He cruises expertly, and has just started standing with both hands 'free'. He eats his meals in his highchair and drinks from an open cup (although I hold the cup for him). He eats most food, and likes to feed himself with a fork or spoon. He loves yoghurt, banana and most fruits (kiwi, melon, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apple, pear, peach, mango, pineapple, dates, raisins etc). He has toast and porridge for breakfast (wholemeal bread) and has something like oatcake and cheese/cheese on toast etc for lunch followed by his fruit course. He has whatever we have for tea. He doesn't watch tv. He's never had a dummy. He likes walking around the living room with a chair or his Thomas the Tank Engine ride on (pushing it sideways). He's had cruising shoes for a few weeks now. He loves having a bath with his sister, and brushes his teeth afterwards before Daddy gets him dressed ready for bed. He has his 'funny face' where he opens his eyes wide, (and his mouth) and puts both hands out to the side and shakes!! He is teething at the moment, but is usually a very happy, chilled out fellow.

could I be less tired?

Not sure whether I'm getting through the wall of tiredness. Still largely existing on lots of Lucozade and hot chocolate, and a daily regime of trying to move as little as possible, but have been falling asleep less in the evenings, and have had a bit more tether to get to the end of...

Work wasn't too bad last week. Took the positive approach to achieve as much as I could in terms of the obstacles that are hacking me off, so got my keys sorted, got a new ID badge, went to the library, got a lesson planned and did the photocopying, sorted out the cable for my laptop, and came home feeling human, for once.

We had a bit of a flat weekend, with husband been called (on-call this weekend) and having to work on Saturday, cutting short our brief library trip. Went to the town park on Sunday, and then I had an optician's appointment and ordered my new glasses.

Battling with behavioural issues as usual with Elizabeth, in particular struggling with 'quiet time/time out' as per Triple P course, but am trying my damnedest not to lose my temper. Have just upped her nursery hours so she will go for a whole day next Monday.

Edward's naps have been a bit all over the place. He has been dropping his morning nap unless I'm exhausted, but teething again has meant he's been waking at 4.30am or 5am (this morning) so seemed sensible to reinstate the nap again. He doesn't have a comforter at all, just rips up the sheets and holds onto them when he's sleeping. Doesn't suck thumb either!

ups and downs...

It should have been a good week... but one way or the other last week was quite a trial. On the Wednesday I was rushed off my feet trying to get everything ready for work the next day, and Edward ready for me to go to my course in the afternoon. Dad failed to turn up, so I had to ring him to remind him, then had to dash Elizabeth to nursery school and turn up at the course late. Little did I know worse was to follow. Was behind with the washing, so left the nappies in overnight, and found that they were still wet in the morning, the spin element of the washing machine had broken.

Panic! We ordered a new Bosch machine almost instantly, and husband collected it from Comet when I arrived home early from work the next day. But, before we unpacked it and plumbed it in we realised it was a 5kg machine, far too small for our needs, so we had to order a new one - a 7kg machine, that didn't come until Sunday. Two emergency loads were washed by my mum, and when it finally arrived on Mother's Day we were off again.

The washing machine thing did send me over the edge though. Had some sort of mini-breakdown this week, possibly exacerbated by the mental exhaustion of work. Nothing was arranged for my tutorial or financial management classes so I just had to wing it completely, not a nice feeling. CM is off sick pending Ofsted, and I sloped off home as there was still no mention of my afternoon class.

Was exhausted, absolutely exhausted as in crying and unable to move after that. Not a good way to start my birthday on Friday. Despite the exhaustion we pushed on and went to Cadbury World, and had a nice morning out. Edward got a bit over-whelmed in the final exhibition rooms, and with him and Elizabeth both crying I was beginning to wonder what was going on. We stopped in Harborne to go to Pizza Express, then home to see my parents briefly before tea.

Exhausted.

Exhausted on Saturday but we had in-laws to visit and 2nd birthday pressies to drop at nephew's house. Put bread machine on and tried our first wholemeal loaf (quite successful!). Exhausted again yesterday. Spent some time in bed. Edward and Elizabeth both have colds. Elizabeth had a bad dream last night and was awake for about three hours so I feel like I've been shot in the head. Utterly exhausted. When will I feel normal again???!!

13 weeks today, had scan... all well

Revised due date is September 10th. We had the scan yesterday, plus consultant appointment and midwife appointment for urine test and blood pressure etc. We took Edward along with us, largely asleep in his buggy, and Elizabeth stayed at home with Grandad drawing and playing pretend 'go to Sainsburys' etc.

The scan involved the usual nervous wait for something to appear on screen, followed by my craning around to see if I could see any movement (still can't work it out, but was reassured that the heart was beating) and then the reassurance that there was just one baby in there. That was all fine, big relief all around.

Then the meeting with the doctor, which just filled me with dread. Because of the pph with Elizabeth it was decided I'd definitely be booked for the consultant unit, which I wasn't happy about, even though she wrote in my notes that I didn't want continuous monitoring. Really really wanted to be able to use the birth pool. Really wanted to avoid the consultant ward at all costs. The Group B Strep swab came back positive but still need to have another at 36 weeks, so could end up having to have intravenous antibiotics as well as the venflon in my arm because of the risk of pph. Not happy. Then came home and decided there was no point being negative about it. Just have to have firm birth plan, and stick to my guns.

Edward had his twelve months jabs, no adverse reaction. The last few days he had been far less sick, and we've actually left the muslins on the shelf. Somewhat unbelievable. No muslin draped over shoulder, or lingering around in the living room! He took a fairly tentative step between husband and I before bath-time the other day, and I trimmed his hair because husband was worried he was developing a mullet. Still feel knackered. Had very tense argument with husband last night about my birthday next week.