Well it has been ages since I wrote a blog, between tiredness and having a million things to do I just haven’t had the time or inclination.
Been an exciting few days though – Thursday I went to London to see Westlife! It wasn’t all plain sailing though – stupid travel lodge messed up our room booking. So we ended up in London with nowhere to stay. We found an internet cafe and hour and a half later, numerous phone calls and dead ends we finally found a hotel with two rooms. Jumping on a tube we rushed to the hotel. Hoping we would have time to change, eat and manage to be on time to see Westlife. Arriving at the hotel we were then told they have two single rooms. Noooo – our hearts sank! There were three of us, but the receptionist didn’t know what she was talking about and they had two double rooms. So finally we were in our rooms.
Rapid change and tube to arena, we found some food and got to our seats as Wonderland were finishing. That was a good thing as they really aren’t my cup of tea. Westlife on the other hand were absolutely AMAZING!! The set list was awesome and the lads were on top form – the medley as always was the best part of the night. The energy and enthusiasm they put into it was immense – you can tell it’s their favourite part of the concert. It definitely got the crowd dancing that’s for sure. The encore on the other hand had me in floods of tears. They sang ‘I’ll see you again’ Sad enough at the best of times, but they added something to it (which I’m not gonna say for those who haven’t been) and the tears I was holding back came pouring out. For those of you who have read the personal story I wrote about the song will understand why it affect me so much to. Although I think there were many people in the room without dry eyes.
May I add to that, that Mr Filan was looking gorgeous as always – even if he does have the same hair cut as Nicky!
Friday I came home, nervous, scared and excited about what the afternoon would bring. I made it to work, and sat nervously doing not alot of an hour and a half. My mind elsewhere – finally I got to leave and head with an extremely full bladder to the hospital. The fifteen minute wait jiggling my legs and chewing my nails was the longest fifteen minutes. Finally we were called, I lay on the bed –cold chew was squirted on my stomach and I always couldn’t bear to look at the screen as Ant helf my hand. Finally I heard the words I was praying for ‘Look there is the heartbeat’ YES! My face broke into a smile. We were in the scan around 20 mins, much longer than normal because baby was being awkward and would not roll over so they could get the measurements they needed. I had to half empty my bladder – that’s bloody hard. Then she tried again – nope baby was wiggling and stretching but would not roll over. So off to the loo I went again – but nothing worked. Awkward baby! Saw his little nose, and jar and fingers, legs – everything. Honestly it’s the most amazing feeling, words really cannot describe the feeling it gives you!
Back to work and time to start breaking the new – reactions were mixed, excitement, shock and just ignoring me (the latter was my parents) But onto something just as exciting Joshua is walking – he was doing a few steps for about a week, but now he walks everywhere. Looking so pleased with himself – can’t believe my baby is no longer a baby but a toddler. Scary scary! Very exciting though – so much fun we can get up to!
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Monday, 17 May 2010
Sunday, 7 March 2010
You know you're a Mum..
When you have been in your pyjama’s for three days running, have greasy hair, unshaven legs but your baby has been bathed every day and is in clean clothes.
When every outfit has a splash of food, dribble or baby sick on it – honestly no outfit is completely without it.
When people no longer use your name but refer to you as ‘Joshua’s Mummy’ or just ‘Mummy’
When you hear your baby snore you think it’s cute, but when you other half snores you want to punch them in the face
When you reach out to catch baby sick in your hand – I did this when we were at mother and baby group, it was pure instinct and a lady who works there actually said ‘Only a Mum would do that.’
When you wipe snot with your hand because you don’t have any tissues to hand.
When you can do everything one handed and continue to do it one handed even when you aren’t holding your baby because you are so used to it.
When every cup of tea you drink is cold – well near enough every one
When you are not embarrassed at singing some ridiculous song such as ‘five little speckled frogs’ loudly in the supermarket, doctors etc
When you know your baby is awake even when they haven’t made a sound
When all you do is talk about your baby
When you get excited and have a conversation with your husband about the contents of your baby nappies – yes really!
When you have toys/dummies in all your coat pockets – I went on my works Christmas party, all dressed up with a rattle in my pocket!
When you know longer have a handbag, but a giant changing bag with everything you can possible think of in it.
When having a lie in is now getting to sleep till 9am
When you refer to your husband as ‘Daddy’ more often than not
I could go on and on... but I think I will stop now before I bore you all to death!
When every outfit has a splash of food, dribble or baby sick on it – honestly no outfit is completely without it.
When people no longer use your name but refer to you as ‘Joshua’s Mummy’ or just ‘Mummy’
When you hear your baby snore you think it’s cute, but when you other half snores you want to punch them in the face
When you reach out to catch baby sick in your hand – I did this when we were at mother and baby group, it was pure instinct and a lady who works there actually said ‘Only a Mum would do that.’
When you wipe snot with your hand because you don’t have any tissues to hand.
When you can do everything one handed and continue to do it one handed even when you aren’t holding your baby because you are so used to it.
When every cup of tea you drink is cold – well near enough every one
When you are not embarrassed at singing some ridiculous song such as ‘five little speckled frogs’ loudly in the supermarket, doctors etc
When you know your baby is awake even when they haven’t made a sound
When all you do is talk about your baby
When you get excited and have a conversation with your husband about the contents of your baby nappies – yes really!
When you have toys/dummies in all your coat pockets – I went on my works Christmas party, all dressed up with a rattle in my pocket!
When you know longer have a handbag, but a giant changing bag with everything you can possible think of in it.
When having a lie in is now getting to sleep till 9am
When you refer to your husband as ‘Daddy’ more often than not
I could go on and on... but I think I will stop now before I bore you all to death!
Monday, 22 February 2010
Co-Sleeping
Would you? Wouldn’t you?
Before Joshua was born I swore I would never have him in my bed at night time, especially when he was tiny. Fear of rolling on him or suffocating him, made the thought impossible. However when he was a few weeks old he was in my bed every night and I thought nothing of it. I co-slept to protect my sanity; Joshua fed every two hours day and night. That was two hours from the start of the feed not the end – so feeding him, then trying to get him back into his own bed took time and I felt like the living dead. So into my bed he came, we fed lying down and went back to sleep when we were. Some woman can even sleep while their babies are feeding, that HAS to be a benefit right? Yet people are quick to criticize. People always say ‘You need to cut that habit out NOW, or he will never leave.’
Yes I admit at 8 months old he is still sleeping in my bed for part of the night every night – but we all sleep better, and really enjoy co-sleeping so what’s the problem?
Many co-sleeping parents report that their children become willing to leave, with little or no persuasion, on their own around age two or three, as they mature physically, emotionally and cognitively. These families also report that there are many ways to help children find their own sleeping space. Co-sleeping families tend not to see things in terms of habits that need to be broken, but as patterns that can be established, but that continually evolve and change. For co-sleeping families, laying the foundation for security and closeness takes precedence over early independence.
It’s true isn’t it? How many 16 year olds still share the bed with the parents? None - exactly. So I have every faith in Joshua that he will sleep in his own room when he is ready and until then if he needs me and wants to be close to me then that is what he shall get. I find too many people want babies to be independent, to sleep through the night on their own from as young as possible. It’s like a competition between some mothers... apparently a friend of a friends baby slept through every night from day 1! I am sorry but I don’t believe this, and if it’s true then what the hell? Babies that young need feeding though the night! I got sick of people telling me I had to stop feeding Joshua at night as he didn’t need it, that he was waking up out of habit... but no I was right he wasn’t waking out of habit, he was having a bottle because he was hungry and like I told everyone he would, he stopped having the bottle on his own with no influence from me. So why should co-sleeping be any different?
He’ll suffocate...another popular one! Actually no he won’t if you co-sleep correctly and there is research that has proved co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t put baby on a pillow, give baby their own blanket and do not cover them with you duvet...all common sense things really.
Does co-sleeping have any effect on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?
Actually, it appears so! Studies have discovered that in cultures where co-sleeping is a common practice, SIDS rates are at their lowest. Conversely, where co-sleeping is least likely, the rate of SIDS is highest. These two facts have led researchers to suggest a strong link between co-sleeping and lower risk of SIDS. Why? Evidence suggests that some babies may have abnormal sleep patterns, or sleep apnoea, in which, during an unusually deep sleep, they forget to breathe. Co-sleeping may help address this problem via two paths. One is simply that, if a parent is nearby, any disturbances or problems with breathing are more likely to be noticed. Furthermore, evidence also suggests that babies may regulate themselves to the parent's breathing patterns, so simply being close by may also help reduce your baby's SIDS risk.
I found that I was very aware of Joshua’s presence and I still am, the moment he wakes up I wake up. Even now he can crawl, I don’t fear that he will fall from the bed as there is no possibility that he could have time to wake up and crawl out of bed before I woke up. I don’t know what it is, perhaps it’s just a mothers instinct?!
Co-sleeping promotes sensitivity. Many parents who co-sleep feel that they become more attuned to their baby and child. They feel that their sensitivity to the needs and patterns of their baby translate into daytime sensitivity as well. - I agree with this, I feel I am completely tuned with my baby, that is not saying that parents who don’t co-sleep are not equally as tuned but personally I feel that this has helped us bond a lot.
It reduces bedtime struggles. -100% agree!! We have tried to get him to sleep at 2am in his room and he fights and fights, but bring him into our bed and he goes straight back to sleep.
Parents of co-sleepers know that children who sleep in their parents'' room have no reason to be afraid of bedtime. As they grow older and move into their own rooms, they have positive, secure images of sleeptime. They have no reason to equate bedtime with being alone. – too many children hate the dark and get scared at bedtime, I hope I have gone some way to teaching Joshua that night time is safe!
It fosters an environment of acceptance. Underlying the choice to co-sleep is a willingness to accept a child's need for the parent both day and night. A parent essentially communicates that while the child is small and needful, the parent will be there to help the child and address their needs. Co-sleeping parents tend to believe that this willingness to respond to the child's needs carries over into the daytime, and this powerfully contributes to the overall relationship with the child. –I don’t co-sleep all night, only when Joshua wakes and I bring him from his cot to my bed and only if he wants to. I believe in letting him lead me with his cues. I do not believe I am creating a spoilt child, I believe I am teaching him to trust me 100% and letting him know that any time he needs me then I will be there for him.
Co-sleeping is just as safe or safer than a crib. Existing studies do not prove that co-sleeping is inherently hazardous. The elements of the sleeping environment are what dictate the level of danger to the infant. When non-smoking parents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs sleep on a firm mattress devoid of fluffy bedding, co-sleeping is a safe environment. In addition, it is likely that there are many children whose lives have been saved by sleeping next to their parents. There is anecdotal evidence, for instance, of mothers who have noticed their child not breathing and were able to stimulate them to breathe. – Have already written about this!
I have no clue if people are interested in reading post like this, but it’s something I feel passionate about and I wanted to share my experiences with people.
Before Joshua was born I swore I would never have him in my bed at night time, especially when he was tiny. Fear of rolling on him or suffocating him, made the thought impossible. However when he was a few weeks old he was in my bed every night and I thought nothing of it. I co-slept to protect my sanity; Joshua fed every two hours day and night. That was two hours from the start of the feed not the end – so feeding him, then trying to get him back into his own bed took time and I felt like the living dead. So into my bed he came, we fed lying down and went back to sleep when we were. Some woman can even sleep while their babies are feeding, that HAS to be a benefit right? Yet people are quick to criticize. People always say ‘You need to cut that habit out NOW, or he will never leave.’
Yes I admit at 8 months old he is still sleeping in my bed for part of the night every night – but we all sleep better, and really enjoy co-sleeping so what’s the problem?
Many co-sleeping parents report that their children become willing to leave, with little or no persuasion, on their own around age two or three, as they mature physically, emotionally and cognitively. These families also report that there are many ways to help children find their own sleeping space. Co-sleeping families tend not to see things in terms of habits that need to be broken, but as patterns that can be established, but that continually evolve and change. For co-sleeping families, laying the foundation for security and closeness takes precedence over early independence.
It’s true isn’t it? How many 16 year olds still share the bed with the parents? None - exactly. So I have every faith in Joshua that he will sleep in his own room when he is ready and until then if he needs me and wants to be close to me then that is what he shall get. I find too many people want babies to be independent, to sleep through the night on their own from as young as possible. It’s like a competition between some mothers... apparently a friend of a friends baby slept through every night from day 1! I am sorry but I don’t believe this, and if it’s true then what the hell? Babies that young need feeding though the night! I got sick of people telling me I had to stop feeding Joshua at night as he didn’t need it, that he was waking up out of habit... but no I was right he wasn’t waking out of habit, he was having a bottle because he was hungry and like I told everyone he would, he stopped having the bottle on his own with no influence from me. So why should co-sleeping be any different?
He’ll suffocate...another popular one! Actually no he won’t if you co-sleep correctly and there is research that has proved co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t put baby on a pillow, give baby their own blanket and do not cover them with you duvet...all common sense things really.
Does co-sleeping have any effect on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?
Actually, it appears so! Studies have discovered that in cultures where co-sleeping is a common practice, SIDS rates are at their lowest. Conversely, where co-sleeping is least likely, the rate of SIDS is highest. These two facts have led researchers to suggest a strong link between co-sleeping and lower risk of SIDS. Why? Evidence suggests that some babies may have abnormal sleep patterns, or sleep apnoea, in which, during an unusually deep sleep, they forget to breathe. Co-sleeping may help address this problem via two paths. One is simply that, if a parent is nearby, any disturbances or problems with breathing are more likely to be noticed. Furthermore, evidence also suggests that babies may regulate themselves to the parent's breathing patterns, so simply being close by may also help reduce your baby's SIDS risk.
I found that I was very aware of Joshua’s presence and I still am, the moment he wakes up I wake up. Even now he can crawl, I don’t fear that he will fall from the bed as there is no possibility that he could have time to wake up and crawl out of bed before I woke up. I don’t know what it is, perhaps it’s just a mothers instinct?!
Co-sleeping promotes sensitivity. Many parents who co-sleep feel that they become more attuned to their baby and child. They feel that their sensitivity to the needs and patterns of their baby translate into daytime sensitivity as well. - I agree with this, I feel I am completely tuned with my baby, that is not saying that parents who don’t co-sleep are not equally as tuned but personally I feel that this has helped us bond a lot.
It reduces bedtime struggles. -100% agree!! We have tried to get him to sleep at 2am in his room and he fights and fights, but bring him into our bed and he goes straight back to sleep.
Parents of co-sleepers know that children who sleep in their parents'' room have no reason to be afraid of bedtime. As they grow older and move into their own rooms, they have positive, secure images of sleeptime. They have no reason to equate bedtime with being alone. – too many children hate the dark and get scared at bedtime, I hope I have gone some way to teaching Joshua that night time is safe!
It fosters an environment of acceptance. Underlying the choice to co-sleep is a willingness to accept a child's need for the parent both day and night. A parent essentially communicates that while the child is small and needful, the parent will be there to help the child and address their needs. Co-sleeping parents tend to believe that this willingness to respond to the child's needs carries over into the daytime, and this powerfully contributes to the overall relationship with the child. –I don’t co-sleep all night, only when Joshua wakes and I bring him from his cot to my bed and only if he wants to. I believe in letting him lead me with his cues. I do not believe I am creating a spoilt child, I believe I am teaching him to trust me 100% and letting him know that any time he needs me then I will be there for him.
Co-sleeping is just as safe or safer than a crib. Existing studies do not prove that co-sleeping is inherently hazardous. The elements of the sleeping environment are what dictate the level of danger to the infant. When non-smoking parents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs sleep on a firm mattress devoid of fluffy bedding, co-sleeping is a safe environment. In addition, it is likely that there are many children whose lives have been saved by sleeping next to their parents. There is anecdotal evidence, for instance, of mothers who have noticed their child not breathing and were able to stimulate them to breathe. – Have already written about this!
I have no clue if people are interested in reading post like this, but it’s something I feel passionate about and I wanted to share my experiences with people.
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