….or at least that is how it feels at the moment. The last few weeks have passed in a blur with both highs and lows.
A dear friend, who we have known a long time; who was part of the crowd who we spent New Years Eve with, and we have been on holiday with, killed himself a few weeks ago. It begs the question how well did we really ‘know’ him? He drove his car into a local barn and turn on the engine. It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing. He had obviously planned it. But no note and we were all left asking "Why”.
A few days later it was my birthday. I had organised a cocktail evening at a local restaurant (www.damons.co.uk ) with some of the yummy mummy’s. Sadly two were missing; the wife and the sister-in-law of Allen, and of course people asked where they were, and the story had to be re-told. I still feel a bit numb and on the night of my birthday I didn’t really know what to say to those who had asked what had happened – still don’t really……
For my birthday treat me and Michelle (mother of twins born a few days after Jamie) were treated to a day at Eden Hall (www.edenspa.co.uk/nottinghamshire/). Again, Allen’s sister-in-law should have been with us but didn’t feel up to coming. I cried as I left Jamie with his Nanna. This was the first time that I had left him for a whole day. However, Eden Hall wasn’t actually as far away as I thought it was and we were there in under 30minutes (Michelle drove!!). The day was truly relaxing. I attended a Aerobics class for the first time in about 2 years and really enjoyed it as the music was so motivating. A few days later it wasn’t so great but it was worth it!! We had a swim, a bubble in the hot-tubs and we both had a treatment. I had an Aromatherapy massage which was heavenly. We were so chilled afterwards we just sat in the post treatment room and drifted…… Then we finished the day off with pink champers and strawberries. Happy Birthday!!
In amongst all this I went back to work; which I am really enjoying and of course the money will come in handy to help with my resolutions. The only drawback is the child care which was a nightmare to sort out but so far seems to be – almost – working out. My sister in law has him on a Wednesday afternoon; which is great because he gets to spend time with his cousin Noah and Hannah is brilliant with them both. Nanna has him all day Thursday which they both love. They go to Asda – great now Jamie can sit up in the trolley. Nanna gets to chat to everyone she meets and of course Jamie loves all the attention!! Often she pops to see my auntie and I know they have a play in the afternoon with all the toys Nanna has at her house. I am able to pop back for my dinner, so I get to feed him; which often means I go back to work with lunch and/or sick over me! Friday morning Granddad comes here and stays with Jamie until I have my lunch at 12.30 and then Daddy comes back at 1.30 as he finishes early on a Friday. The one problem we have had so far with childcare – other than the snow the first week – is that my other sister in law turned up last Friday and left her daughter with Granddad while she went off to the hospital. I was mad for a few reasons; a) The reason her daughter was with her was that she was off sick from school; so if she was off sick from school what was she doing bringing her round to give her germs to Jamie? b) I thought it was a bit naughty bringing her here without asking me or her brother. My house has only just become baby proof let along 5 year old proof. And c) I am a bit worried about Jamie being shut out from his time with Granddad…..
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Saturday, 9 January 2010
9 Months Old
We had our 8 month visit on Tuesday from the Health Visitor. Jamie now weighs 19.5lbs. His length is 71cm and his head circumference is 45.5cm. All this means he is still following the 50th centile line quite nicely.
The Health Visitor asked loads of questions about me and Jamie. I am suffering with a bad back at the moment. This, she pointed out, could have been aggravated by having to chase after the ever mobile Jamie. Daddy simply pointed out it might be the extra weight I am carrying. According to the gm.tv Dancing Queen website my BMI is 28.2 = Overweight!!
She could see straight away that Jamie is very active; as he was into everything the whole time she was here! She saw him crawling and said that although he used his arms more than his legs, he was certainly moving about as he should, and the legs would soon follow. He sat up straight(ish) and for a short time unaided – show off! She was pleased with his head shape – no longer as flat as it was, and even called him ‘cute’. I mentioned we often put him in the baby walker, and she said babies often move backwards before they move forwards so not to worry he was only going one way at the moment!
I explained we had been having problems with feeding Jamie and him not taking the Stage 2 meals. I had been out first thing to buy more Stage 1 meals, but was told to persevere with Stage 2 and even let him eat whatever we eat. Also to give him plenty of finger foods to play with. This will also help with his development. I asked about the flavoured mineral water we gave him last week, but she suggested water only with his meals; as a lot of the juices contain too much sugar. We have been giving him a bottle of milk with his meals but he doesn’t necessarily need one (he certainly hasn’t finished the one I just gave him with his dinner). As he is getting nearer to one year we should start giving him full fat cows milk in his beaker and at a year he can stop the formulae altogether. She also pointed out (which hadn’t occurred to me) that with him moving about more this would make him hungrier!!
She could see I was a bit upset with regards to his feeding. I said we had attempted to make our own meals but our attempts had been less than successful as Jamie had been sick. She added that as he was not totally confident with his sitting, he may not yet be fully ready for the next step – but the word given was PERSEVERE! I made a list of foods to try with him and she said she would get one of her colleagues to give me a call in a few weeks to see how I was doing! (We are being visited on the 25th January).
She suggested trying to get him to have his afternoon nap as soon as possible after his lunch. This might make him more likely to be tired around 7pm – instead of staying up to 9pm like he has been doing recently! And Yes, we should be cleaning his teeth but (again) let him play with the toothbrush and paste first.
I asked about the head shaking and the thumb sucking, but she said there wasn’t anything to worry about at this stage, but she did mention – which I wasn’t aware of – that Jamie is entitled to a medical check (same as the 6week check) with his GP at about the one year mark.
The Health Visitor asked loads of questions about me and Jamie. I am suffering with a bad back at the moment. This, she pointed out, could have been aggravated by having to chase after the ever mobile Jamie. Daddy simply pointed out it might be the extra weight I am carrying. According to the gm.tv Dancing Queen website my BMI is 28.2 = Overweight!!
She could see straight away that Jamie is very active; as he was into everything the whole time she was here! She saw him crawling and said that although he used his arms more than his legs, he was certainly moving about as he should, and the legs would soon follow. He sat up straight(ish) and for a short time unaided – show off! She was pleased with his head shape – no longer as flat as it was, and even called him ‘cute’. I mentioned we often put him in the baby walker, and she said babies often move backwards before they move forwards so not to worry he was only going one way at the moment!
I explained we had been having problems with feeding Jamie and him not taking the Stage 2 meals. I had been out first thing to buy more Stage 1 meals, but was told to persevere with Stage 2 and even let him eat whatever we eat. Also to give him plenty of finger foods to play with. This will also help with his development. I asked about the flavoured mineral water we gave him last week, but she suggested water only with his meals; as a lot of the juices contain too much sugar. We have been giving him a bottle of milk with his meals but he doesn’t necessarily need one (he certainly hasn’t finished the one I just gave him with his dinner). As he is getting nearer to one year we should start giving him full fat cows milk in his beaker and at a year he can stop the formulae altogether. She also pointed out (which hadn’t occurred to me) that with him moving about more this would make him hungrier!!
She could see I was a bit upset with regards to his feeding. I said we had attempted to make our own meals but our attempts had been less than successful as Jamie had been sick. She added that as he was not totally confident with his sitting, he may not yet be fully ready for the next step – but the word given was PERSEVERE! I made a list of foods to try with him and she said she would get one of her colleagues to give me a call in a few weeks to see how I was doing! (We are being visited on the 25th January).
She suggested trying to get him to have his afternoon nap as soon as possible after his lunch. This might make him more likely to be tired around 7pm – instead of staying up to 9pm like he has been doing recently! And Yes, we should be cleaning his teeth but (again) let him play with the toothbrush and paste first.
I asked about the head shaking and the thumb sucking, but she said there wasn’t anything to worry about at this stage, but she did mention – which I wasn’t aware of – that Jamie is entitled to a medical check (same as the 6week check) with his GP at about the one year mark.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Happy New Year
Can’t believe how the year has flown by. This time last year I was pregnant but it only seems a few months ago. It is true what they say that the older you get the quicker the time passes. But I worry about the time I am spending with Jamie – is it enough and is it of value? I seem to have loads to do at the moment – the house is a right post-Christmas mess – not to mention Daddy going back to work on Monday and me starting work (2&half days a week) on Wednesday. How am I going to keep the house running, go to work, try to keep all my New Year resolutions, and ensure that Jamie is getting the correct amount of stimulation? Or am I worrying too much?
New Years Eve was spent with some very good friends, and we decided to hire out a local hall and order a takeaway to be delivered there, to save on the mess at someone’s house. On the way there however, Jamie’s pram came from together and he ended up falling out – while still in his car seat – and rolling over. Thankfully he was only a little shocked, but it all adds to my paranoia about what could happen and will I be able to cope? Luckily, once we got over the initial distress of the incident and realised Jamie was fine and crawling all over the floor, we were able to relax; have a catch up and a bit of a dance. Daddy set up some lights and Cobbs had organised some music. It was great for the children as the 5 girls (ranging in age from 4 to 9) could run around like mad (and wear themselves out) without any of us adults worrying too much. Jamie stayed awake all night and actually didn’t seem affected by it; although he did sleep most of New Years Day. And it has to be said that we didn’t actually make midnight, we all decided 10.30pm was enough for us all; but a good meal, good wine and a good time was had by all!!
Resolutions?
To keep Jamie as Number One. Everything else must come second; including Blog time and especially FaceBook time! I must remember that time is precious and to say No to things unless I really want to say Yes. I will also try to find time for my writing resolutions (see http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/).
I will try to remain Positive at all times about all people and all situations!
I will aim to reach my pre-pregnancy weight within 3 months (if possible before Jamie's 1st birthday) via diet and exercise; and will eat healthily and exercise at least 3 times a week.
I will save some money every week.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Easy Weaning?
I don’t think so!! I am finding all this information confusing…....what am I supposed to be feeding him and when? Just given him some stage 2 finger food that looks like wotsits. Its everywhere!!
Is your baby ready for weaning? First signs include:
Still seems hungry, even after more milk.
Shows an interest in your food.
Puts toys in mouth.
Is able to sit up without support. (Hipp Organic)
Never introduce solids before their 4th month.
Make all solid foods smooth, mild and runny to start with, gradually increasing the thickness of the puree as your baby gets used to taking solids from a spoon. Don’t worry about giving them too much – they will turn their heads and refuse to open their mouths when they are full. Don’t forget that variety of food is key in order for baby to grow up loving food. (Hipp Organic).
All fruit and vegetables should be washed and peeled. Remove any pips, cores and bruised areas. Cook (or steam) all fruit and veg during the early stage of weaning (to ensure tender), before whizzing in a blender. Banana and avocado can be mashed from the beginning. (Tesco 20 easy steps).
At 6/7 months you should introduce fish, chicken and meat purees. Babies grow extremely fast in their first year and need nutrient-rich, higher calorie foods. In the first year of life a baby’s brain grows rapidly. A large proportion of the brain is composed of fatty acids. It is important to include oily fish such as salmon as it is rich in fatty acids – vital for brain and visual development.
Yesterday Daddy blended what we had for lunch, which was salmon and veg. Jamie seemed to love it, but 5mins later it all came back.....
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in babies and toddlers and the iron a baby inherits from his mother runs out at 6 months. Red meat provides the best source of iron so combine it with root veg to make tasty purees. Chicken is another excellent first meal – it blends well with veg and fruits such as apple and grapes.
Most babies will give foods with lumpier textures a go at 7/8 months. Even without teeth babies can manage lumpy foods. To start, rather than pureeing foods, try mashing or stirring in tiny pasta shapes to make the transition gradual. Encouraging them to chew will help speech development (Tesco) as the muscles used for chewing are also used for speech. Your baby’s coordination may also be improving, so now’s the time to begin introducing finger foods. Small pieces of cooked, mixed vegs and little cubes of fruit are ideal to start with. (Cow & Gate Weaning Guide).
Water is the best alternative to milk. If you give juice, make sure it is diluted one part juice to 10 parts water. Introduce a trainer cup at 6 months and aim to have your baby off the bottle by 1 year. (Tesco 20 easy steps) It’s best to put juice in a cup and put only milk or water in your baby’s bottle. (Boots Weaning Q&A). Full Fat pasteurised cow’s milk can be introduced from 6 months in cereal or cooking. Skimmed or semi skimmed don’t contain enough vitamins for children under the age of two.
Is your baby ready for weaning? First signs include:
Still seems hungry, even after more milk.
Shows an interest in your food.
Puts toys in mouth.
Is able to sit up without support. (Hipp Organic)
Never introduce solids before their 4th month.
Make all solid foods smooth, mild and runny to start with, gradually increasing the thickness of the puree as your baby gets used to taking solids from a spoon. Don’t worry about giving them too much – they will turn their heads and refuse to open their mouths when they are full. Don’t forget that variety of food is key in order for baby to grow up loving food. (Hipp Organic).
All fruit and vegetables should be washed and peeled. Remove any pips, cores and bruised areas. Cook (or steam) all fruit and veg during the early stage of weaning (to ensure tender), before whizzing in a blender. Banana and avocado can be mashed from the beginning. (Tesco 20 easy steps).
At 6/7 months you should introduce fish, chicken and meat purees. Babies grow extremely fast in their first year and need nutrient-rich, higher calorie foods. In the first year of life a baby’s brain grows rapidly. A large proportion of the brain is composed of fatty acids. It is important to include oily fish such as salmon as it is rich in fatty acids – vital for brain and visual development.
Yesterday Daddy blended what we had for lunch, which was salmon and veg. Jamie seemed to love it, but 5mins later it all came back.....
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in babies and toddlers and the iron a baby inherits from his mother runs out at 6 months. Red meat provides the best source of iron so combine it with root veg to make tasty purees. Chicken is another excellent first meal – it blends well with veg and fruits such as apple and grapes.
Most babies will give foods with lumpier textures a go at 7/8 months. Even without teeth babies can manage lumpy foods. To start, rather than pureeing foods, try mashing or stirring in tiny pasta shapes to make the transition gradual. Encouraging them to chew will help speech development (Tesco) as the muscles used for chewing are also used for speech. Your baby’s coordination may also be improving, so now’s the time to begin introducing finger foods. Small pieces of cooked, mixed vegs and little cubes of fruit are ideal to start with. (Cow & Gate Weaning Guide).
As your baby gradually begins to take less milk and more solid foods, it’s important to make sure they are eating a balanced diet. This means making sure they eat a wide variety of foods from the main 4 groups:
1. Dairy Products like cheese, yogurts, fromage frais and suitable milks.
2. Starch foods like bread, cereals, rice, pasta and potatoes.
3. Fruits and vegetables.
4. Protein foods like meat, fish, chicken, eggs,
Water is the best alternative to milk. If you give juice, make sure it is diluted one part juice to 10 parts water. Introduce a trainer cup at 6 months and aim to have your baby off the bottle by 1 year. (Tesco 20 easy steps) It’s best to put juice in a cup and put only milk or water in your baby’s bottle. (Boots Weaning Q&A). Full Fat pasteurised cow’s milk can be introduced from 6 months in cereal or cooking. Skimmed or semi skimmed don’t contain enough vitamins for children under the age of two.
Monday, 28 December 2009
How was it for you?
Was that it? All that build up and then it was over so quickly.... What am I talking about? Christmas of course!! Christmas Day we went to Nanna's (my mum) with my brother, his wife and Noah. Daddy stopped en-route at the pub and missed some of the present un-wrapping but made it in time for Christmas Dinner. It was certainly very different from any other Christmas Day I have been involved with previously. Jamie is now pretty proficient with his crawling - still a bit haphazard as to which bits move where, but he can certainly move when he wants to!! Noah has just reached the smiling stage so not too much trouble. Both of them had their 5-10mins of crying during the day and of course there was the constant Nappy changing, but I think they were both very well behaved and had a fabulous first Christmas. We all left about 5pm - Nanna went off to her sisters and my brother was entertaining his wife's family. Daddy went off to see his family but came back within the hour as Nanna Mo was her usual self. I went to bed feeling slightly merry!!And yes, it was a kinda white Christmas as we had snow last week and there was a lot left on most surfaces. However, a lot of this had turned to ice by Boxing Day which made it difficult for me to collect Nanna from her sisters. For some reason I felt really depressed / 'off it' all day. Was it too much wine, too much turkey or just the sense that it was all over so quickly?
Friday, 25 December 2009
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Me? Babysitting?
God knows how long its been since I last babysat for anyone and, now I think about it, why did anyone in their right mind leave me (no experience whatsoever) alone with their precious children? Now I have Jamie I doubt I will leave him alone with anyone other than fully certified relations, someone who has had a child of their own, or at least someone with a degree in childcare. But then I was in tears last Saturday when Jamie’s auntie and uncle looked after him! I would certainly not leave him with a young teenage (as I was) whose only aim was to eat everything in the cupboard and ring everyone I knew on their phone!! I suppose it’s a bit different now with mobile phones…… Anyway, I do remember babysitting for our next door neighbours at Pendine and after mentioning how I didn’t like the dark (or something) they never asked me again!! But that (and the revelations from the friend who accompanied me on a few occasions) is reserved for my other blog.Anyway, back to 2009, and my brother asked my mother to babysit for him on Saturday night. She can’t do it (another Christmas party) so she asks me for him as its their anniversary. What she doesn’t tell me is that it is a surprise so when I say; ‘Still looking for a babysitter’ it kinda ruins it! So Saturday night I am driving down the A46 thinking ‘I don’t like the look of this snow’. They still decide to go out, but do return early because Horncastle has over an inch of the said white stuff while they are eating. They didn’t find me panicking about the dark but rather caught up on a lot of paperwork and feeling competent in the old babysitting. Noah; my nephew, only woke up once to be fed – the sucking of my finger told me what he was after. What was bizarre though was their AngelCare monitor. A write up says; Whether your baby is awake or asleep the sensor pad will detect all your baby’s movements - even the slightest breathing movement. The Alarm will sound on both monitors after 20 seconds of no movement. Well, this was like Chinese water torture, as the monitor lets out a beep at various intervals to confirm that they are still breathing. However the beep is not regular – as babies don’t actually breathe regularly – but even a fraction of a second later than before and my heart was in my mouth – madness!! And then when I took him out of the cot to feed him, the bloody alarm went off and I could only stop it by putting him back!! Other than that and the lack of knowledge about my brother's house and all their gadgets i.e. heating, TV, lights, kettle etc. I think I did well and felt a bit better about forgetting my Secret Santa at Noah’s Christmas party on Thursday. My babysitting may have made up for my baby brain – that is as long as they have not noticed I knackered their kettle!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)