Progress

So I have been working on teaching my son to self settle for a little over a week now. There has definitely been progress, sometimes it takes a little longer than others or he may need more help from me.

Overall though, I am pretty pleased with how things are progressing. Generally he will whinge for 5 mins or so and then falls asleep. Sometimes he will be out to it almost straight away, but those times are rare.

He even surprised me a couple of times lately by sleeping longer than one sleep cycle, if only he would do that more often...

Now if I could just get him to sleep longer overnight!

Also it is lucky we didn't go ahead and book our flights yesterday as our first phone bill has come in since we moved in to our new place, which includes a $299 charge for connection (thankfully that will be reimbursed by the real estate but we still need to pay it upfront). We also have car rego due so it is an expensive month.

Time apart

My husband will be going away for a few nights for work next week. Initially we were looking in to the possibility of extending it to the weekend and making a small family holiday out of it. Realistically though, we are not in a position financially where we could spare the cash that would be needed to make it happen. We could have but then it would have been struggle street for the rest of the month.

Plus the more I think about it, the more I realise it would have been a little difficult being interstate without all of the comforts of home when it comes to looking after a baby. Although that is bound to happen at sometime in the future but at least then we wouldn't be left to our own devices during the day while daddy was at work.

It is going to suck, I will miss him. I am not worried about having to look after our son on my own, although I do look forward to when my husband gets home so I can have someone else to take a bit of the load off. We don't often spend time apart, in the whole 12 years we have been together, there have only been a handful of times away from each other. 

So I am not looking forward to that...

In other news, it looks as though our son might be teething. I didn't think he was as the only symptom he had was excessive drooling. But it looks as though he may have a little toothy peg trying to come through, time will tell I guess.

Knackered

It's been a busy weekend.

The Baby Expo yesterday was a little nightmarish...neither me or my husband are particularly fond of big crowds. Especially when you throw in to the mix a shite load of prams and people clogging up the aisles and I was sorely tempted to start barging people with my pram (not that I would but I do believe pram rage exists!).

Needless to say we decided to bail fairly quickly, bit of a waste really. There wasn't a hell of a lot there to tempt me anyway, just annoyed that we spent money on petrol getting there and back, plus expensive parking and entry. Ah well, live and learn...don't think I will be doing that again.

We didn't end up making it to the movie this weekend either, maybe next weekend instead...

Today we went and brought ourselves a new laptop (yay a new toy) and visited my mother-in-law, my husband washed the car and we all went for a family walk together...not a bad Sunday.

Woo Hoo it's the weekend

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my husband from work, I love weekends...if only they didn't go by so quick.

Today has gone by rather quickly as I have had a couple of separate visits from girlfriends today. It is always nice to have that interaction with friends but I can't help but feel as though I don't have anything of value to contribute to the conversation. My days consist of the same thing, looking after my baby.

We have a Birthday Party to attend tonight, it should be good...I am looking forward to getting out of the house. I am currently without my own set of wheels as the car my husband was driving finally kicked the bucket (well it happened a few weeks back) and therefore he has been driving the 'good' car to work...leaving me stranded at home. Unless I want to drop him off and pick him up (which I sometimes do), which wouldn't be such a big deal if his office wasn't almost an hours drive away. Plus let's not forget the cost of petrol! It gets a bit pricey, so I usually wait until I am getting a little stir crazy being cooped up at home before I do that.

Tomorrow we are going to a Parenting & Baby Expo which should be interesting (if not potentially expensive if they have really good deals there!). I'm not going there with the intent to spend lots of money but of there is a bargain to be had and I can justify the purchase...well then I can't say no.

We are also potentially going to attempt to go to the movies and leave our son with his nanna for a couple of hours. Whether this actually happens or not is another thing...I still haven't been away from my son for more than an hour and nor have we ever left him with anyone other than ourselves.

I can't help but feel a little anxious at the thought of what if he gets upset and she can't settle him, he will get himself worked up in to a state and I won't be there to comfort him. It is not that I am worried about whether she is capable of looking after him, more so his reaction. I would feel terrible if he got all upset, I know it needs to be done at some stage. I would just feel more at ease if I knew he was at a point where he would be fine and it wouldn't phase him.

I guess we won't know until we try. I will report back...

Parcels in the post = Pressies

We had a couple of deliveries today, one was an ebay purchase for the phenomenon that is 'Sophie the Giraffe'. It is a teething toy which is rubber and has a squeaker in it, my son has already had a bit of a munch on it.

I am not sure that he is teething yet, apart from drooling a lot and constantly (which he has been doing for awhile) he doesn't have any of the other symptoms. I got the toy as I like to be prepared and it is incredibly popular so I am hoping it will help when the time comes. I am also contemplating buying the amber bracelet/necklaces that are supposed to help with teething as well.

The other package was some more handmade goodies! This time some lovely knitted items from Well I'll Be Darned.

Well I'll Be Darned Facebook Page

I ordered my son some gorgeous little booties and a custom beanie in the colours of my husband's AFL team - Collingwood. They both turned out incredibly well and you will have to take my word for it when I say he looks incredibly cute in them.

I can see myself getting a little addicted to buying cute things online for my little man, lucky for my hubby I try not to spend too much or go too crazy, just little bits here and there.

Now, what else can I get...ha.

Daily musings...

So I previously mentioned that my hubby and I were meant to do a food plan and try and be healthy...blah blah blah. As I thought, we still have not got around to doing a food plan and his ideas are a little more extreme than I would like.

The reason I am mentioning this is because I did the food shopping on Monday and went out of my way to only buy 'healthy' items, lots of fruit and veg etc. and I need to vent about the fact that it always cost tons more to do a 'healthy' shop than it does a 'normal' shop!

You would think with the obesity problem all over the world that they would make healthy eating more affordable...sigh. It is a sad state of affairs when it is cheaper to eat junk than it is to eat well.

Also wanted to mention a snippet of conversation between hubby and I last night. He said to me "it is hard to imagine life without our little sausage now isn't it?" and I replied "It changes everything but you wouldn't change it for anything".

So true, once you have your little bundle of joy it really is a struggle to imagine what life would be like without them. As much as you sometimes reminisce about the 'old days' you wouldn't change it for the world. While I sometimes miss the freedom you once had, it doesn't even come close to the love you feel for that little person that you both made. So incredibly proud of ourselves, ha ha...we often marvel at how we could of made something so damn cute (if I do say so myself).

Handmade with Love!

As a new mum I have recently discovered the world of adorable handmade treasures for bubs and children.

Today in the post I received one such item from a very talented lady, her company is called Mahlimae and she does the most gorgeous little creatures.

I ordered a ‘Twinkle’ for my son as a custom order, she was very accommodating and lovely and the turnaround was incredibly quick.

I have posted the links below for both her Facebook and Etsy page as well as sharing of photo of our gorgeous Twinkle.

Mahlimae Facebook Page

Mahlimae Etsy Page

 
Twinkle has a cute little rattle inside him and is great for babies to munch on, my son already has!

As I discover more talented mummas out there I will share them here with you.

Sickness...blerg

Thankfully it is not I who is sick! My poor hubby has a touch of the flu and has been home from work (so I have two kids to look after, ha). I went out and brought some Glen 20 yesterday to try and kill the germs he has been spreading around with his cough. I am hopeful that he won't make the baby sick, fingers crossed.

I am also hoping that I don't get it as I need to be well to look after our son, it just makes it that much harder when you aren't 100%. Although I would gladly be the one to get sick if it spared him, it is horrible seeing your baby unwell and not really being able to do much to help them.

I am meant to have a girlfriend and her baby girl over for a visit today but I have texted to warn that my husband is home and not well as I would hate for him to make them sick! So I am not sure that will be happening anymore, I was looking forward to it as we haven't caught up in a few weeks.

Being a stay at home mum now means that contact with others and the 'outside world' are a treat, that sounds a little dramatic but all I mean is that it is nice to have some company.

Well I'm off to clean the house some more, joy.

Weekends go too fast

I used to dread Sunday nights because it always meant back to work for another week. Now I slightly resent them as it means my husband is back to work for another week and those 2 precious days we get to spend all together as a family just never feels like enough!

I really enjoy our time together and though I wish it could be longer (as I'm sure does my husband), I understand that it has to be done.

The weather was especially lovely this weekend, made me appreciate where we live and the quality of life we have here. We spent time with visiting family, a spot of shopping (I could always find something to buy for my boy) and of course eating out.

Also I have to gush a little about my husband, not only did he still pull his weight even though he has been under the weather...he also brought me a lovely Thomas Sabo necklace which I loved (it was a belated birthday present). I am a lucky woman to have such a supportive husband who really is a great dad.

I wonder what the week will bring?

Catch ups...

Whoops, didn't manage to post on here yesterday!

Instead we were busy catching up with a girlfriend who had a gorgeous baby girl a month ago. It is amazing seeing how small she was in comparison to my son and to think that it really wasn't all that long ago that he was that tiny.

It really is fascinating watching them grow, he changes from week to week and learns new skills all the time. It is a proud moment when they master some new skill.

My girlfriend and I were also talking about how proud you are when they burp and poo and yet how utterly disgusted you are when your partner does it!

As a mum it is a great past time to trade war stories (birth) and compare traits and just generally seek advice. I vowed when I was pregnant to not be one of those mums who only talks about her child, I have to say though...when you are around other mums, it is hard not to. Not to mention the fact that I don't have much else going on at the moment so that is my main topic of conversation.

It was great to catch up and just hang out, so many of my days are spent just the two of us so it is nice to get out and about and enjoy other people's company.

On on a non baby related note (shock horror) I am getting my hair dyed today...going from blonde to brunette (less maintenance, although I am worried it may show up the greys more...ha). Fingers crossed it looks good.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend.

Holding my breathe

As I have previously mentioned, we are yet to master more than one sleep cycle during the day.

Typically he will last roughly 40 mins each sleep, with the occasional 50 mins to an hour. No amount of shushing, patting or rocking will convince him to go back to sleep once he has decided he is awake!

If my attempts to get him to fall back asleep haven't succeeded after 5-10 mins I will usually accept defeat.

The reason I am holding my breathe is it looks as though I managed to get him to go back to sleep and he may just last that elusive second sleep cycle...has been an extra 20 mins (so far) and counting.

I just hope I am not jinxing it by mentioning it on here, I swear babies have a sixth sense when it comes to this stuff.

So fingers crossed, now if only we can make this happen more than just a 'one off'.

Chocolate equals weight loss...right?

When I was pregnant I didn't really have any cravings, towards the end I always felt like (and indulged in) chocolate milk. Not to mention sweet things in general, I typically have a bit of a sweet tooth but try not to cave in too often. 

I am guilty of using pregnancy as an excuse to eat all things delicious, whilst being mindful of weight gain and not going too crazy! I told myself that I would cease eating so much 'naughty' food once my son was born...that I would be 'good' and get back to trying to be sensible when it comes to my diet. 

Well we are 4 months in and I am still craving chocolate and dessert like it is going out of fashion, I 'need' to have at least 1 yummy thing a day, ha. I think I must have developed a taste for it (not that I hadn't had it before but never quite so much). 

The thing I find perplexing is that I have done nothing to really try and lose the pregnancy weight (thankfully it wasn't astronomical) and yet I have still lost weight. I am now about a kilo less than when I first found out I was pregnant, imagine what I could achieve if I actually tried!

I really need to find the motivation to get active and fit, ideally I would like to lose roughly another 8kg's. My husband is always on at me to start being healthy (the both of us, not just me) and we keep talking about doing a food plan but never get around to it. Plus I am guilty of buying sinful items when I go to the supermarket without him. 

I need to make some sort of commitment, although I find it hard to want to exercise when I am so tired! It's a lame excuse I know...I am sure I will get there in the end. I'm sure my husband will be instrumental in making me participate in his getting fit & healthy plan, even if he has to drag me kicking and screaming :) 

Will keep you posted on how that goes.

Testing a new tool

So I downloaded a program called Windows Live Writer that I can use for making blog posts and editing etc which then publishes it to your blog online. Let’s see if it works!

Another cool thing I have added is the function that when I put up a new post it will automatically add a link on my twitter feed.

Also I have been contemplating whether to add photos on this blog, I am in two minds about it. Whilst I currently have photos on my personal facebook page, they are restricted to friends only. My concern about putting photos of my son out there is that they could be used inappropriately, the mere thought of that turns my stomach.

So am I being paranoid? I would love to hear from people and get their opinion on whether I should incorporate photos or not.

Getting the hang of things

As you may have noticed, I have been fiddling around with the settings trying to get to grips with this.

I am a complete novice and I am learning as I go so bare with me, the more I learn, hopefully the more interesting this blog will become.

The hubby is back at work today so back to just me and the boy. I am hoping that he will go back to his usual self and not fight sleep so much. I dream of the day when my baby sleeps through, I can't remember the last time I got a good night's sleep!

To be fair though, I haven't tried to get him in to any sort of routine...I feed on demand and put him to bed when he shows tired cues. I'm not too keen on being restricted by the regimen of a routine, I like to go with the flow. On the other hand, I have seen how it can work for others and the benefits it can bring, a well rested mum is a happy mum. Sometimes being tired can make you less patient, god knows I am not the most patient person at the best of times. I haven't had any meltdowns (yet) but it can be exhausting and I definitely count down till the hubby gets home. There are days when he can walk through the door and I practically thrust the baby at him - take your son! Those days have been few and far between but it can certainly be trying at times.

As a woman (and I am sure some of you will agree) sometimes I feel like the men don't truly get it or appreciate just how hard this mother malarky can be. (No offence honey if you are reading this, you are a great help). Being a stay at home mum is a new experience for me, I am used to pulling my weight financially. There is almost a certain amount of guilt that comes with no longer contributing (apart from centrelink, not that it amounts to much), all of the pressure resides on hubby to 'bring home the bacon' etc. But at the end of the day I also feel like I am working 24/7, with no sick pay or holidays, ha ha. I take my hat off to single mothers around the world, I don't know how they manage. Having the support of my husband certainly eases the strain and having an extra set of hands makes all the difference.

Anyway I am ranting, I could babble on and on, I am good at that! However, this isn't a novel so I will leave it there for now, I am sure that topic will come up again.

Right now I am watching my son jump about in his jumperoo and having a great old time, talking to his new mate Spike the Dinosaur, too cute. I could watch him all day...

Coffee is my friend

The aftershocks from shots! It definitely has an effect as he seemed unsettled, however last night (day two) confirmed it.

During the day wasn't too bad aside from the fact that he refused to sleep and what little sleep he had was not nearly enough...he wasn't even making it through one full sleep cycle. This made for an overtired and cranky baby later in the night, which then led to hysterical crying that not even the boobie could cure.

Eventually he went down but it was a very restless night with lots of waking up and just generally being upset and not his usual self. This my friends, is why coffee is an essential part of my daily routine. Especially after a night like last night! I should have brought shares in Zaraffa's before he was born as sometimes it feels as though myself and my husband are keeping them in business.

Thankfully today he seems a lot happier than he was on the weekend, still not quite back to his usual self as it is still proving difficult to get him to go to sleep. Although he did have one decent sleep this morning in the car & pram as we were out and about, he definitely needed it. Thank-god it's a public holiday so the husband was on hand to help ease the load. (If only he would take a bottle of formula so I could leave him with daddy and go catch up on some zzz's).

In other news, we have started him on some solids...he seems to be taking to it quite well. It is an interesting time watching him experience these new tastes and sensations, his facial expressions are golden. Hopefully if we feed him veggies now he won't be as fussy an eater as his dad is!

Here's hoping he reverts back to his normal self soon, a baby that doesn't sleep makes for a very tired mummy.

Suffering from anxiety!

The reason I am suffering from anxiety is because today was my son's 4 month shots!

It has to be one of the hard parts of being a mum, watching your child in pain and knowing that you are partly responsible. I said to my husband 'it feels like taking a lamb to the slaughter'. A bit dramatic I know, it is made harder by the fact that he had no idea what was coming.

To be fair, he was a little trooper...yes there were tears (thankfully not from me this time) but he was over it fairly quickly. Cuddles from mummy and daddy helped as well and he was smiling and back to his happy self in no time.

I think this time was a little easier than the last, he was so much smaller then and I think as a mum you are so emotional in those earlier days. He was a little unsettled the for a day last time so I am not sure what to expect this time round, so far so good.

I guess I will see what the rest of the day brings...fingers crossed.

Let's kick things off...

So where to begin? First of all, I am trying to get this done in the short window of opportunity while my 4 month old son sleeps! We are yet to master longer than one sleep cycle during the day and certainly haven't mastered sleeping through the night...but I am sure we will get to that.

I suppose I should begin by introducing myself. I am a first time mum, 30 years old and married to the love of my life. My husband and I have been together for 12 years and married for 4, it was this time last year as we were heading towards the big 3-0 that we took the plunge and decided to start our family.

We were living in London at the time and had been there for close to 4 years, we had made the choice to move back home to Australia to have the love and support of family and friends for the adventure that is parenthood.

I won't bore you with the details of the pregnancy (I had a fairly easy pregnancy, no morning sickness!), or the subsequent birth. God knows I don't have the time to go back and cover the last 4 months in detail. It has been a whirlwind, everyone tells you that they grow up so fast and it is so very true!

There are highs and lows, good days and bad but at the end of the day there is no greater gift than looking at my gorgeous son and listening to him babble baby speak, giggle and give me a big smile - it makes it all worth it.

Lately I have been struggling with the lack of adult interaction, whilst hubby is away at work we are often left to our own devices during the day and as much as I love my son, it can get a little lonely. I would even go so far as to say I miss working (I was good at my job and enjoyed it).

On the other hand, I am nowhere near ready to leave my baby in the hands of others. As it is, I haven't spent more than an hour away from him since he was born. It also makes it difficult as I am breastfeeding and he currently only lasts not even 3 hours before he'll start crying for a feed. We tried to introduce formula...disaster! He screws up his face and spits it out everywhere and starts getting a little hysterical, I guess he is a fan of the boob.

It was my husband who suggested I start a blog as he had recently started one of his own. I finally decided to take the plunge, I have no idea if I have anything of interest worth sharing. This could be therapeutic, a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings and get it all out.

So if anyone reads this, that is a bonus...and if you are reading this now, I hope you enjoy it! Experience this first year and the trials and tribulations ahead of mummyhood. xo