16 week appointments

This week saw Russell the Brussell hit the 16 week mark and the obligatory hospital appointments. 

Wednesday afternoon was the consultant appointment at the hospital. My appointment was at 2:30 and we finally got seen at 3:25. It's no fun when trying to keep a 14 month old entertained with very limited toys in quite a crowded waiting room. 

I wouldn't have minded waiting if the appointment had been of any use. When E was born, I had the most lovely consultant. He would always take the time to listen to what I had to say and would always give advice or comments, even if he thought I was being daft. 

I saw a registrar today, as sadly Mr R has now retired so I am under a different consultant. She was useless. She didn't listen and I had some genuine questions to ask. All she was interested in was my high BMI and the risks that posed and the fact that E was small for gestational age (she was 7lb 3oz). She didn't have a clue about me, hadn't read the notes from my last birth and just presumed things were difficult because I am 'bigger'. With any luck shall see someone else next time. 

Thursday saw my 16 week Midwife appointment which was much better. Hearing RtB's heartbeat and it being so strong is just a wonderful feeling. All was good with BP etc and she set my mind at rest with the sickness and the pain that I've been getting. 

Can't believe it's only 3.5 weeks until we are half way through. RtB will be here before we know it. 

E's First Birthday

E turned 1 on 2nd December and I honestly can't believe where a whole year has gone. As I write this, nearly 2 months after the event, I'm 4 months pregnant with Baby Flash v2.0 and apart from being a little daunted at the thought of two little people to look after, I couldn't be happier. 

This tiny little bundle that turned our world upside down in the most brilliant way...

Has turned into the sweetness and most loving little girl. She literally lights up my world every single day. Although it isn't without it's challenges 

E had 2 birthday parties. 1 for her family on the day before her birthday and 1 for her friends. Looking back, I think I would have done it differently as it was rather overwhelming for her, but she seemed to enjoy it. She had lots of wonderful gifts. So many toys we can now open our own branch of Toys R Us (other retailers also available!) but it was lovely to see the look on her little face with all the paper and the oohs of excitement. 

And so here's to the next year flying by. At her next birthday, she'll be a big sister! 

It's been a while...

Hello blog world. 

It's been a little while and I'm sorry for that. The small steps along the path have involved some rather large rocks that have needed negotiating and well, there simply hasn't been 5 minutes to write. So therefore, I shall be boring you all to death over the next few days with various blogs and ramblings. 

Lots of love

Mrs F x

Sleep is for the weak....

We are finally out of a hideous 3 weeks with E. 

Since we have moved, we have had hardly any sleep and she has only slept through 1 night. We were really beginning to struggle and so was she. She was grumpy in the day and completely refusing to nap. 

3 days ago, things got to a head and we decided something needed to be done. 

We have changed her nursery around - she only now has a cot and a chair in there (E has the little room in the house) and so technically has her own dressing room!! 

We also changed the milk. We have moved her up to Cow and Gate growing up milk and she is a million times more settled and sleeping though. Who would have thought that something so simple would make the world of difference...

Trigger 3 Teeth

Ellie's new gangster nickname. 

Last week saw Ellie's 3rd tooth start to break the gum but also a visit to the doctors.

When E was born, she had a clicky thumb, just like Mummy. The top of her thumb could over extend and she would often click it back into place whilst holding into toys etc. Whilst Daddy thought that this was pretty grim, I didn't think anything of it as both of my thumbs do the same thing. I just thought it was something 'inherited' 

However, last week, we noticed that it had stuck in a bent position and no amount of trying would shift it. So off we trotted to the doctors. 

E has trigger finger. Our doctor has never seen it in someone so little but we have found that you can be born with it - hence the clicking of the joint when she was diddly. 

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Trigger-finger/Pages/Introduction.aspx

So now we are waiting to be referred to the Paed Orthopedic team to see what can be done! 

It's been a while

Hola blog world! 

Apologies, it has been a while. Life got a whole lot hectic round here so I thought I would briefly fill you all in. 

September has gone by in a complete blur. We were really lucky to get a new house that we have absolutely fallen in love with and it is making such a lovely family home for us. 

In with the normal day to day jobs, packing became an almost daily activity. Let me tell you, packing up a house with a 9 month old inquisitive baby is no easy task. For every 1 thing we put in a box, she took 2 out! However we are now moved, unpacked and accepting visitors (who bring wine and cake!)

Other stuff - E is doing really well. She still amazes me every day. September saw not only her first steps and her first rugby match but her first tooth and she just loves life. She spends lost of her time smiling or laughing. She 'passed' her 9 month check with flying colours however sleep is proving tough sometimes! 

October has seen another 2 teeth and she walks all over the place. She grows in confidence every day. 

Chris is still Chris. My wonderful husband who puts up with me on a daily basis. Hopefully soon we'll get an answer to what is going on with him. Although everyday we take a step in the right direction. 

And me - well, I'll let you know when I get 5 minutes :-) 

It's the small things...

When I first found out I was going to be a Mummy, and when E was born and I first held that tiny baby,  I thought that I would have a baby baby for a long time. How wrong was I....

E is 9 months old today and I cannot believe how fast it has gone. My little baby is now her own little person, no so reliant on me, and amazes me every single day:

> She can now stand herself up without holding onto anything, just pushes up from the floor. She stands and balances for a few seconds (15 is the record) before she bumps back down

> She says "dada", "gaga" and "mama" (the later only when upset or at 2am)

> She crawls so quickly that we spend half the day playing hide and seek

> She adores our cat and chases after her squealing Ca Ca Ca 

> She communicates in her own little way and points to things she wants, picks her toys

> When you say "bye-bye", she waves

I know to most people these are just boring baby updates, but to me they are marvellous little milestones that make me realise she is growing so fast. 

There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think how lucky I am to have my little family. I feel so privileged that I didn't have to go back to work so that I could enjoy all these little moments.  The proud smile when she has achieved something, the cheeky grin when she has opened a cupboard even though she knows she shouldn't have done it. I feel that I have savoured all these moments but looking back, they seem to have gone so fast. 

9 months, it doesn't seem 9 minutes in truth! But so many more exciting things to come in our next chapter...