Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Project 365 Week 6

{22nd February}  Good morning baby.

{23rd February}  Bathtime baby.... Nate LOVES baths.  He would happily spend all day in the bath if he could.  He is a proper water baby isn't he?  He was born in the water and loves to spend time in his bath.

{24th February}  My little man got weighed today.... at 5 1/2 weeks he weighs 11lbs 13oz after being born at 8lbs 8oz!!!  Thriving is the word the health visitor used :)

{25th February}  At the end of the first week of James working away in London we were all pleased to have him back for the weekend.  He and Ollie spent time together watching Thundercats!  Retro!

{26th February}  My chunky monkey moved up a size in nappies :)

{27th February}  Brotherly snuggles in Ollie's bunk bed.

{28th February}  After having a bad night, my amazing mum came to the rescue and took us to stay at her house to give me a hand since James is away.  

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Project 365 Week 5

(Posting a bit late!)
{15th February}  Tonight was the first night that we put Nate to bed at a proper bedtime.  7.00pm, I fed him in our room and settled him to sleep.  It was nice, but strange, to have the evening downstairs just James and I!


{16th February}  Happy boy in his bouncer.

{17th February}  Brothers <3

{18th February}  

{19th February}  Boys in the bath.  I love the baby bath we got as Ollie has so much fun having Nate in there with him!

{20th February}  The Dr. told us Nate has silent reflux and we were given Infant Gaviscon and Carobel (a milk thickener).  Poor wee man's tummy just isn't right and he is so upset after his feeds!

{21st February}  After the carobel not doing much to ease Nate's discomfort, but rather being uncomfortable for him to drink, I changed his formula to the comfort version.  The change has been huge so far!!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Completeness

I posted in December wondering how you know your baby will be your last.  I assumed that when I was home from the hospital and cuddling up with my boys, that I would have a 'feeling' of completeness.

I can honestly say in the month that Nathaniel has been a part of our family, I have had the 'feeling' more than a dozen times over.  It's a comforting and warm feeling.... knowing that our family is complete.  I snuggle both of my boys and my heart feels so full... I can't imagine ever wanting more!

James and I went through so much to get here.  We had 2 miscarriages and were trying for a baby for about 21 months in total.... and then came little Nathaniel.  It's comforting to know that our child bearing years are over and we're going to grow together just the 4 of us.  Yep... me a mum of TWO BOYS!  Who would have thought!?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Soon to be single parenting!

...but don't worry, James isn't leaving me FOREVER.... just for 7 weeks... just weekdays!

Yep.  On Monday James leaves for London on business and won't be back until Friday night, to spend the weekend with us.  This is how our weeks will roll until mid-April.  It's crappy but there you have it... I have to suck it up and hope the weeks fly by!!  I remind myself that it's because of James' career that I am able to be a stay at home mum to my boys!

I am so worried about how it will go!!  Until now, James has done more than his fair share of night feeds, so really I am going in at the deep end doing all the feeds, every night!  How will I cope with the tiredness?  Eek!  I'm a nightmare when it comes to being up in the night.... (Adriel over The Mommyhood Memos posted about nighttime parenting V daytime parenting).... Nate's crying at that time of the night/ morning makes me so upset!  My heart breaks!  I've cried while he has cried, but wake up in the morning and his cries throughout the day just aren't the same as those in the night.  I have to deal with that!

Maybe the weekdays will be nice just me and the boys... maybe it won't be so bad.... James works all day and doesn't get home until close to 5 everyday anyway and the kids go to bed at 7...so maybe I'll manage just fine....

Maybe the key is super-organisation.... get everything ready for the nighttime when I get a free minute during the evening..... get everything ready for the morning before I go to bed...

How much is James going to miss?  This part makes me sad.  In 7 weeks time Nate will be a week off 3 months....he will grow a lot in the coming weeks and change so much.

Any advice on how to make the next 7 weeks run smoothly would be much appreciated!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Project 365 Week 4

{8th February}  Little hand <3

{9th February)  My lovely friend in Canada knitted this entire outfit for Nathaniel.  It fits so so well and is so snuggly and cute!  Doesn't he look handsome!

{10th February}  ...

{11 February}  Little feet <3

{12th February}  We are trying to establish a routine... Gina Ford worked the first time, so seeing how it goes with a baby and an almost 4 year old!

{13th February}  Perfect little man

{14th February}  Nate spent our Valentine's hot chocolate date asleep so here is a photo of Ollie and I!

Nate is one month old today!

I can't believe that our little Nate is ONE MONTH already.  Oh my gosh how fast the time has gone!!  And can you believe that Ollie is going to be 4 in less than 3 months?  The time just goes too fast and I wish it would slow down just a little!


At one month old:

Nate smiles sometimes
Drinks a 5oz (150ml) bottle...
Approx every 3 hours or so
Is now in 0-3 months clothes
Wears a size 2 nappy
Loves to be held A LOT (while having his bottom patted!)
Pees on me almost daily during nappy change
His eyes are still blue...
...and his hair is still brown
Loves his vibrating bouncer chair
Loves being sung to
Loves baths
Likes his paci SOMETIMES (sometimes he really wants it... sometimes he REALLY doesn't)
Is having his first night with a proper bedtime tonight!
Makes mine, daddy and Ollie's hearts melt every single day

Saturday, February 11, 2012

The Story Of Us!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

James and I have been together for almost 8 years!  8 years is crazy long.... married for almost 5!  

2. How did you meet? 

James and I met while we were both working in a shop that sold games consoles etc.  I worked on the shop floor and he worked upstairs in the stock room, we didn't see a lot of each other.  I thought he was handsome.... but gloomy and dark, he never said much and I assumed he didn't like me.

I was already in a relationship when I started to have a crush on James... and the more time I spent with James, the more I liked him.  My current relationship was boring as heck and there was no love there anymore.  We had been together for almost 2 years and I think I stayed for that long out of habit.... because he was my first long term boyfriend.  James and I finally got together after 4 months.  It should have been a lot sooner but I was too silly to see that he was my soulmate.

3. How long have you been married?


It will be our 5th Anniversary this May!!!  It's gone by so so fast!

4. Where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? 


Our venue choice was Belle Isle Castle in Enniskillen. The castle has been there since the early 17th Century and is surrounded by trees and gardens and the beautiful Lough Erne. We hired it for a whole weekend, starting on the Friday and leaving early Monday morning. I thought this would be a lovely idea considering a lot of my family were flying from England and also the fact that we were now having a wedding WEEKEND rather than a wedding DAY!  We had 32 guests at our wedding.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

Hmmmm.... I tend to call him Jamesy!  Nothing slushy gushy here!

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love that he is a seriously amazing daddy and husband.  He is funny and makes me laugh/ smile.... and he takes care of me (us).... it's because of him that I am able to be a stay at home mum and have this amazing life :)

7. Tell us how he proposed? 


James proposed 2 days before our 2nd year of being together.

He proposed to me at a music festival called Give It A Name in London.  I was completely taken by surprise and so was James.  It was totally unplanned.  He popped the question with a jelly ring he nicked from a sweet stand.  The proposal was perfect.  He was on one knee in front of loads of people and I wasn't sure if he was joking or not... when I realised he was serious I obviously said yes!  

We got married a year later on 26th May, 2007!  I was 22!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He is neither!  We don't do an awful lot for Valentine's Day!

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Definitely a movie on the couch kind of girl!  With some wine and an indian takeout!

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

Travel!!  James is amazing to travel with and if we had unlimited funds, there are so many amazing places I would like to see with him.  We plan on doing A LOT of travelling when the kids go to off to college.  I'll only be about 47 when Nate goes... so young enough to still do a lot of stuff.  

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Absolutely nothing.... well nothing with hubby anyway.  He is going to be in London for business for the whole day.  I may do something with Ollie.... maybe a hot chocolate date after school or something :)

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
Nope!

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Saying I love you everyday!

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.



Linking up to From Mrs. To Mama.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Project 365 Week 3

{1st February}  We registered Nathaniel's birth!


{2nd February}  Today was my first day of taking Ollie to school on the bus, with a baby too!  It went ok.  I panicked but it all went ok!  Ollie was very good and held onto the pram to whole way to school.


{3rd February}  Snuggling brothers.


{4th February}  Me and my two boys.


{5th February}  Nate got dressed up all trendy in this little car outfit!  It's coming to the point where I want to put him in clothes instead of sleepsuits all the time.... and comfort is key :)


{6th February}  Nate had his newborn hearing test today.  All went well and his hearing is perfect!


{7th February}  Milky dribbles <3

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Life as a mum of 2!


I am LOVING being a mum of two.  It's hard work.... I feel like I am on the go and doing SOMETHING every minute of the day.... I finally sit down and relax later in the evening when Nate is snoozing in his moses basket beside us, and Ollie is in bed!

Ollie and Nate are getting on well.  There still have not been too many jealous incidences, but he is definitely acting out a little at the moment.  I then feel bad disciplining his naughty behaviour, because I feel like he is acting out because he wants more attention.... and I feel mean putting him in timeout and getting my cross face on.  I can't let the naughtiness slide though.  Apart from this he is lovely with Nate.  I found them together under the baby gym a couple of days ago when I had left the living room for just 5 mintues.  He strokes Nate and kisses him and sings him songs when he is crying.  Anytime Nate grunts or squeaks or squirms, Ollie shrieks "HE NEEDS A POO MUM" and then runs away laughing.  Toilet humour is just wonderful!

James is helping out with (and by helping out with I pretty much mean, he is doing...) the night feeds.  Nate is waking at approx 2.30am and 5.00am.....hungry boy!!  Though last night he did only wake once for a feed at 3.00am..... maybe this won't be a one off!  He is taking 5oz feeds now!  He normally settles back to sleep ok!  Ollie wakes about 7.30 these days so were not entirely sleep deprived!  Isn't my hubby a star for helping out so much?  He did the same with Ollie!  James copes much better with tiredness than I do!

It is hard to fit things in and find a routine.  I find it hard to know when its safe to shower..... Nate wants fed at the same time as I'm making Ollie's lunch and running for the bus.... and again he likes to feed when I'm about to make dinner!!  I like routine.... it keeps me sane, so thats what were trying to figure out in the next couple of weeks.

I am back to fitting into pre-pregnancy jeans!  Pretty much all my pre-pregnancy clothes fit me now and I've lost all the weight I put on!  I'm really happy about this!  There is still a bit of a tummy there that I need to work on, but no rush!

Nate is going to be 3 weeks old tomorrow and I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  He hasn't been weighed since he was 10 days old (back to birth weight) but health visitor is coming to us on Monday.  He is definitely filling out though as some clothes are nearly too small already!  He is really strong and has super head control... and just this week has started to hold our gaze.  It's adorable.


I'm enjoying every single day with my two boys.  I definitely feel super lucky to have been blessed with them both and it's true what my mum says....... when you have another baby, you don't split your love between them.... your heart GROWS so that it has twice as much love as before.

This morning when we were chilling and watching tv and the 3 of us were snuggled together, Ollie said "We're all best friends aren't we mummy?".... so lovely.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Show Off Your Shot {8}

and then, she {snapped}




I was out of the room for just a couple of minutes, leaving Nate under his baby gym.  When I came back in Ollie was lying under the baby gym too whispering to Nate <3  I love my lovesome boys!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Self Portrait


I find it so hard to take a self portrait.  The camera is so dang heavy and it hurts my wrist holding it at a funny angle to get a shot of myself.  I like this one though :)  I am linking up with The Paper Mama's self photo challenge.

Currently I'm:

Obsessing over…
My amazing little boys.  BOYS. Plural!  How lucky am I to have TWO amazing little children.  I'm also obsessing about my 365 project, baking, Pinterest

Working on…
Losing the baby weight, keeping on top of household chores (hard to do with a newborn!), sticking to a budget and being the best mum and wife I can be.

Thinking about…
How fast time goes when you are busy.  Nate is 2 1/2 weeks old now and it doesn't seem like 6 days since he was born.  Where has the rest of the time gone?  I feel robbed.  I don't feel like I've really had 3 1/2 years with Ollie either.  I wish time would slow down sometimes, so I have more time to take everything in!

Anticipating…
A possible 8 week adventure, finding out what school Ollie has been accepted to and starting driving lessons next month.

Listening to…
Loving Lana Del Ray - Video Games and M83 - Midnight City at the minute!

Eating…
Nothing right now!

Wishing…
That I had some sort of baked good in the house right now.  Would love to sit down to something sweet with a cup of peppermint tea!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Ollie's favourite things (at 3 years 7 months)!


Cereal.  Trains.  Train Tracks.  Youtube.  Pineapple.  Milkshake.  Kisses.  Dancing.  Pretending the wooden floors are made of ice... and sliding around.  Construction vehicles.  iPad.  Spicy nuts.  Animals.  Playing with imaginary friends (normally characters off tv).  Pink donuts with sprinkles.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Melon.  Singing the songs he has learnt at school.  iPhone games.  Bodyslamming daddy.  Moonsand.  Lego.  Mouk.  Curious George (the stories, the tv show and his own cuddly George soft toy).  Running about naked.  Playing with his vehicles in the bath.  Chocolate.  Playdoh.  Turning his bed into a fort.  Bedtime stories from daddy.  Mookie World Indoor Play Area.  Drawing.  Starbucks dates with mummy.  Talking on the phone.  Olives.  Rambles (otherwise known as puddle hunting) with daddy.  Jumping.  Running.  Snuggles.  Reading books.  Surprises.  Sleepovers at Grandma's.  

On the 19th June 2008....

I wrote the exact thing about Ollie as I'm writing now about Nate!

My baby thinks daytime is night-time and night-time is daytime... how do I fix this???

Project 365 Week 2

{25th January}  Nathaniel and I went for a lovely lunchdate with my mum.  Felt good to get out and about!

{26th January}  I was finally able to eat goats cheese!  The food I missed the most throughout pregnancy!  I topped the meal off with a cherry wheatbeer.... luxury!!

{27th January}  The 4 of us went for a Starbucks date!

{28th January}  Our first family of 4 photo!

{29th January}  Brothers <3

{30th January}  Almost a smile!

{31st January}  Milky sleep