Co-sleeping.

Co-sleeping, sleep-sharing, bed-sharing, what ever you want to call it, has been one of the most debated subjects when it comes to newborns and motherhood. I have found myself in many discussions about it and have found alot of people aren't educated enough on the subject, they simply make things up or go from guidelines without researching the subject at all. I myself have to research something before I can put my view across I like to see something from both point's of view before making my mind up on where I stand with something. It's something I did before I gave birth to Eva and something I did again before having Archie. I was amazed at the difference from then to now.

Note : Eva did not sleep with my covers over her.

Back in 2009 when I first looked into co-sleeping almost every website highlighted all the risks and how you shouldn't under any circumstance sleep with your baby. I struggled to find any websites that offered advise about the subject. I think this was why my view for a while was "why put your baby at risk?". Of course I no longer think this way, but at that time I did. I was completely against the whole thing so when I began co-sleeping with her I felt awful and vowed not to do it the next night. Over time this feeling did go and we got into a good bedtime routine (although the first night she slept though aged 9 weeks I woke every hour) I had the full support of my health visitor who then was quite pro to the whole idea of co-sleeping which made me feel a whole lot happier about doing so.

 
When it came to Archie I was set once again that he wouldn't sleep in my bed, but breastfeeding at night meant it was just easier having him in my bed with me rather then having to take him in and out of the cot to feed him. As i said in my breast feeding post, I found it very painful for the first week or so and laying down on the bed was the only way I could feed him at first. He'd fall a sleep and having to move him back to his own bed would wake him up and I didn't see the the point in that. He's 8 months old now and still in my bed with me. I do of course plan to get him into his cot soon, I want to do that once I stop breast feeding which I am currently in the process of stopping.

Everything has changed now that attachment parenting has become more popular. These days if you search the internet (as I did before writing this blog post) you will find almost all co-sleeping information positive information about the subject. It talks about both sides to allow you to make your own mind up about where you stand about it, and over all it's a much more helpful and accepting view. I am not pro co-sleeping nor am I against it, I believe completely that as parents we have the right to choose what's best for our children without having to get into silly arguments about it all.

A girl called Eva.

Eva Ann Hopkins,
Age 5 years.
Favourites-
TV show : She's crazy on anything to do with animals, always has been, her favourite being any David Attenborough documentary. Cartoon wise she adores Tom and Jerry or Scooby doo. 
Food : Jacket potato. She could live off them given half the chance.
Colour : Pink. She does like purple too but pink is always her first choice.
Animal : She's Owl crazy, I think her obsession with them began as a toddler when she saw a barn owl for the first time. By the age of 2 she was able to tell you all the breeds. Her favourites still remains the barn owl.
Dislikes-
Having her hair washed. Flys or spiders. Meat. Wearing trousers. Dirt. The wind blowing her hair. Not getting her own way. These are the main things that can cause a melt down. She's beginning to get that teenage temper already, many days I've had her bedroom slammed in my face! She's a diva that's for sure.

A day at birdland.

Saturday we took the children out for the day to Birdland (Bourton on the water). Archie's finally better after having a bad round of chicken pox and the sun was out so we thought there was no better way to spend the day. We last went here when Eva was smaller, a year or so ago. She's a massive fan of British birds, mainly owls, and loved coming here back then, Saturday was no different. We planned to leave around 9am but it ended up being 12pm as Eva and the boyfriend decided to watch his birthday gift from the children "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2". Archie slept the whole journey down the car while Eva enjoyed eating the travel sweets I'd brought that morning. I love driving through the countryside, Eva and I like to spot how many animals we can see on our way. This time we saw sheep, horses, pheasants and a ginger cat. This game keeps Eva happy so we don't have the whole "are we there yet" routine which drives me insane!

The first thing I noticed while walking around was how many wild birds there were hanging around. We saw three herons sitting around watching and waiting for fish, lots of small birds eating from the feeders in the woods and then the black swans and ducks (I didn't take any photos of the last two)

They have lots of different birds here, from the common to the uncommon, birds from all over the world! Eva enjoying finding them all and loved how funny some looked. Archie found the noises the parrots made very funny.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eva's favourite part of the day was finding the baby chicks, We had to back and see them again before we left just so she could say goodbye!

Six months.

 September

28th - Archie arrived in the world.

October.

3rd - Heel prick test (everything was fine)

23rd - Hearing test (everything fine)

28th - First smile. 

November.

2nd - Starts babbling.

26th - First jabs

 December.

5th - Rolls belly to back.

25th - First christmas.

31st - Second jabs.

January.

6th - First laugh (to soft kitty song from the big bang theory)

28th - Third jabs.

 February.

There were no milestones this month, but his hand eye coordination greatly improved.

March.

11th - found his feet.

13th - sitting unaided.

14th - First word ; Dada.

16th - First swim.

26th - Rolling back to belly.

Weaning.

Yes Archie is really at that stage already, I'm as shocked as you! He's been showing signs of wanting solid food for a while now, and I've been putting it off for two reason's. The first being his age, I wanted him to be at least 6 months and secondly - with is probably a selfish reason - I didn't want him to grow up so quickly, putting him on solid food like admitting he is getting older and is no longer that baby who needed me for everything! Although he still does. 

When it comes to weaning I am all for homemade food rather then the vile pots you buy from the shops. Seriously anyone buying those for their child have you tasted them! I brought one for Eva - chicken dinner I believe - and tasted it before I gave it her, It tasted like mashed up cardboard with a hint of cat vomit. I read into baby led weaning and I do plan to do it this way later on, right now though I don't have a high chair, or the room for one so I am sticking to the well known puree method.

  I made up three puree's yesterday, Butternut squash, Broccoli and Parsnip. I had a taste of all three and the only one I wasn't happy with was the broccoli  one, I think this might be because there is no salt or pepper so it's very bland. I'll see how Archie takes to this one soon enough.

The first one he had was the butternut squash. His face on the first mouthful was a picture but he soon hoovered it all up and and a huge smile on his face. Yes, he loved it!!

I've been reading up on some recipes for puree's and I'm quite excited by some of them - small things - once he's got the hang of these ones I'll be moving him on to some fruit puree's. I'll be doing many blog posts on this subject mainly for my own personal use and also for anyone who's also weaning their children. 

I'll be adding the recipes of any foods I make for him as well, so keep your eyes peeled.

Chicken Pox

On Tuesday (11th march) I was stood on the school playground waiting for Eva having a conversation with another mum about chicken pox. It was just a random conversation, and I didn't think anymore of it until 4am the next morning when, Eva came out of her bedroom lifted her top and showed me a red itchy spot on her chest. That conversation popped back into my head. Yes Eva has the chicken pox!

For the past week we've all been stuck in the house, going crazy. She's thankfully not been ill with it, she's just had the spots and one day of really bad itching. I was hoping - as mean as it sounds - that Archie would get them too, just to get them out the way but nope. Nothing yet!

Archie's first swim.

I am whizzing through my "things to do this year" list. Another crossed off, Take Archie swimming for the first time. I'm a little late writing this post as we took him on Sunday (16th march) but hey, better late then never. I got his little swim suit from Matalan for £8. I love it and he looked super cute in it. 

The first two minutes of being in the water were spent in tears, him not me, I think this was more the water felt cold and it was a little noisy - he's not a lover of noise - but he soon started to enjoy himself, kicking his legs about in his rubber ring. I took him out of the ring for a short time where he found the edge of the pool was a great place for splashing and of course we both ended up giggling and soaked! His big sister spent alot of time with him splashing in the pool, he was a bit unsure of the water over his head at first but was giggling away with her in no time. He stayed in the water for 20 mins, then we got out as he got cold, but I can say that the first swim went, well "swimmingly" well.

I have no photo's of him in the pool, it's not allowed, which I totally get but it would have been nice. 

Archie learns to sit.

Archie has wanted nothing more then to sit up for a while now, if you try to lay him in your arms he will wiggle and moan wanting to sit up. Even while on his play mat he gets frustrated after only a few minutes, so I've started sitting him in either his Bumbo or between my legs so he can play. This week for the first time he started to sit unaided, first for only a few seconds but by the weekend he was doing it for long periods of time! I'm amazed, and slightly tearful at this. Another milestone hit, another reminder he's growing up.

The mummy tag.

  I found this while looking through some other blog's and thought I'd give it a go.

1. Are you a Stay at Home Mum, or a Working Mum?

I'm on maternity leave at the moment, but I consider myself both as normally I am at home all day then once my boyfriend is home I head out to work for the evening.

2. Would you have it any other way?

Now I know some mum's are all for 'this stay at home' stuff but honestly, I love working, I love earning my own money and having a little bit of freedom away from home to talk to adults and have a bit of time to myself.

3. Do you co-sleep?
Yes I do. I've done so with both my children. I plan to write a blog post on this in the future.

4. What is your one must-have item for your baby?
A noisy toy or his white blanket. 

5. How many kids do you plan on having?

Once we'd had our son we said "no more",  5 months on we are now talking about having a third. I'm not sure when or if this will happen but I always said I'd like 3 children.

6. Date night? How many nights per month?
We don't really do the whole 'date night' thing. We go out normally around once a month if that, and only when there are special dates, the rest of the time the kids are with us. We're fine by that and our relationship isn't suffering in anyway.

7. Your child's favourite show?
Eva loved Peppa pig until about 6 months ago, now she's more a fan of Tom and Jerry. Archie doesn't watch TV to have a favourite show yet.

8. Name one thing you bought before you had your baby and never ended up using?
 A bumble bee car seat wrap thingy. He wore it once or twice but that was about it.

9. Your child’s favourite food?
Eva loves Jacket Potato's. Archie is yet to be weaned so Milk.

10. How many cars does your family have?
Just the one.

11. Weight gain before pregnancy, during and after and now?
Before my first pregnancy I was 8st just over, afterwards I'd gained only a stone. At the start of my pregnancy with Archie I weighed 9st 7lb and by the end I'd gone right up to 10st 10lb, which stayed for two weeks afterwards. I am now around 9st 2lb.

12. Dream holiday with your kids?
Disney Land.

13. Dream holiday without your kids?
New York, although I'd love to take the kids with me here to, but one child free day to just shop would be amazing.

14. How has your life changed since your baby has been born?
I've matured, my whole way of thinking has totally changed.

15. Finish the sentence: 'It makes my heart melt to see … '
My children laughing together.

16. Where do you shop for your kids?
Mainly Asda living.

17. Favourite makeup and skincare products?
I don't wear makeup. I wear a Nivea face cream.

18. Huggies or Pampers?
I used Huggies with my daughter as I found Pamper's leaked with her. Huggies are no longer around, we did manage to get some before all the shops sold out but they leaked so I use now mainly Morrisons little big.

19. Have you always wanted kids?
Yes. But not until I was in my 30's. My mum was a young mum and I watched her struggle on her own.

20. Best part about being a mum?
Hearing my daughter tells me she loves me, it makes everything worth while.

Eva turns 5.

Monday (3rd) my gorgeous little lady turned 5 years old and I am amazed just how fast the past years have gone. She's now properly into the child years, in some way's I'm happy about this, excited about this even but for so many other reasons it makes me sad. My 5lb 15.5oz baby has gone, and her place I have a happy confident little girl, who's very clever for her age. I miss all of those first moments, first smile, first steps.. of course we have so many more firsts to come, I know this and yet I'm still sad. I guess only another parent will understand what I mean. 

Birthday presents

- Body game for the LeapReader

- Doll and horse

- Bath crayons

- Snow white dress

- Scooter

- Watch

- Small doll with toy cats

- Clothes

- Dart board

- things for her doll.

It would seem..

That after 5 months I have hit that broody stage once more and I never thought that day would ever come. Maybe it's because so many people around me are having babies or are pregnant, Or maybe it's because Archie is no longer a new born, he's lost that new born smell and is slowly becoming a "real baby" (what ever that means) I'm shocked that I ever got to this stage again, seeing as I am still in pain from his birth and I'm so not ready mentally to go though pregnancy any time soon. But every part of me aches for another baby. I want to pee on that stick and see that second line, to lay down on that couch while some women puts cold gel on my swollen tummy and searches for a new life in my womb, to feel first kicks, hiccups and stretching.. I can't say labour is something I ever want to put myself through ever again. It hurts ALOT! (that I do remember) however, bringing a new life into the world is very much something I want to do. Maybe not now, but in the years to come. Adding to my family would be amazing.

One year.

Today marks one year since I found out I was pregnant with Archie. It's amazing how fast time has gone. I still remember that day & that moment like it was yesterday. I remember the feeling of picking up the pregnancy test and seeing the second faint line.. I remember doing a double take because I almost put it in the bin without really looking at it. I remember going online and excitedly sharing the news with a group of online friends. It was the beginning of an amazing journey & Although I had the worst pregnancy I enjoyed every second and would give my arm and legs just to re-live each and every second of it. 

 ^ early weeks ^

 ^ 20 weeks ^

 ^ 30 weeks ^

 ^ 40 weeks ^

^ Archie, hour's old ^