Every time I went to check on him he'd moved round 90 degrees until his knees were tucked him and he looked as though he were praying to Mecca!!!
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
Understanding
I find myself wondering how much Joel understands at the moment.
If we talk to him, he listens, and he certainly knows what 'no' means. Maybe it's the tone with which we say it rather than the word itself.
This is the face I get at dinner when he's considering flinging his food.
This morning we've been up since 6.30 and my Mum has recently bought him a V-tech walker from Ebay and he decided to play it with his feet, but when the annoying puppy said 'clap your hands' he did!!
I then sat him up and kept saying 'clap hands Joel', 'Mummy says clap your hands' (in manner of simon says like puppy), 'if you're happy and you know it clap your hands' and he didn't do it again. Coincidence? I'm not sure!! I know I'm biased but I think he's a clever little boy!!
He's been to my parents today whilst I've had a day doing bits for Steve and general housework which is so much easier without Joel to watch as well and they sent me this:
It seems he wanted to go straight to his toys without even taking his hat and jumper off!! He loves that ball toy and hammer they've got and he puts the balls in the right holes and everything, very carefully! My parents think it's very funny as they can't even pick the balls up once in the holes, they have to push them through!
What else have we been up to since the last post? Just lots of playing really. Trying to think of new things to do every day such as:
And going out for fresh air to the castle with Izzy to play around:
Every day seems to bring something new. He's now getting into a proper crawling position on all fours, he can get around faster every day. He's very careful at putting things in things, he's learnt smaller things can fit in bigger things and he loves to clap and applaud himself when he gets it right! His palette is expanding as well and he's very good at eating most things I give him.
He was a bit ill this week with an upset tummy for a day so I looked up online what he should be having and found the phrase BRAT - bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast! So he had bananas and toast for breakfast for a couple of days, pasta with a bit of grated parmesan and olive oil, stewed apples, risotto and lots of toast and he was fine very soon after that. Except that now he's come down with a few sniffles so has gone to bed at 5.30pm after hardly any tea (fish pie which will be lunch tomorrow for him now) so I'm anticipating a bit of a rough night. I can envisage us both up watching Waybuloo on catch up eating toast at 1am so we'll see how we go and whether we make it to Mums and Toddlers in the morning!
If we talk to him, he listens, and he certainly knows what 'no' means. Maybe it's the tone with which we say it rather than the word itself.
This is the face I get at dinner when he's considering flinging his food.
 |
| Calculating!! |
I then sat him up and kept saying 'clap hands Joel', 'Mummy says clap your hands' (in manner of simon says like puppy), 'if you're happy and you know it clap your hands' and he didn't do it again. Coincidence? I'm not sure!! I know I'm biased but I think he's a clever little boy!!
He's been to my parents today whilst I've had a day doing bits for Steve and general housework which is so much easier without Joel to watch as well and they sent me this:
What else have we been up to since the last post? Just lots of playing really. Trying to think of new things to do every day such as:
And going out for fresh air to the castle with Izzy to play around:
 |
| Ignore the crows feet!! |
He was a bit ill this week with an upset tummy for a day so I looked up online what he should be having and found the phrase BRAT - bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast! So he had bananas and toast for breakfast for a couple of days, pasta with a bit of grated parmesan and olive oil, stewed apples, risotto and lots of toast and he was fine very soon after that. Except that now he's come down with a few sniffles so has gone to bed at 5.30pm after hardly any tea (fish pie which will be lunch tomorrow for him now) so I'm anticipating a bit of a rough night. I can envisage us both up watching Waybuloo on catch up eating toast at 1am so we'll see how we go and whether we make it to Mums and Toddlers in the morning!
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Joel The Pickle
We are entering a new phase of babyhood at the moment where Joel is earning a new nickname of 'Pickle'.
He has decided to test his boundaries and is becoming more challenging by the day.
At the moment, he'll calmly look me in the eye during meals and toss his food over the side of his high chair. I say 'no Joel' in a stern voice and he regards me, as though to say 'what are you going to do about it' as he just throws more food over. He knows what no means, I'm sure of it.
I don't know what to do about it. My Mum says take the food away and show him that I mean business. But I don't want him to go hungry. But I don't want him to think he can get his own way.
Today he was just throwing his eggy bread about, so I took it away and gave him a yoghurt for his pudding and that was it. He hasn't asked for more food. He's having quite a bit of milk so I guess he's having his nutrients from that.
He also yells a lot. For no apparent reason other than the fact his Dad sometimes lets out yells, and roars (he thinks he's singing) so Joel too shouts a lot. And screams. He can be quite shrill at times.
He's been having his inductions at nursery, and this morning I dropped him off for an hour to leave him there on his own. When I got back, he was red, he'd been crying and the nursery worker said that that he'd been playing and fine, and suddenly, just began yelling. She put it nicely, but as she said 'he has a good set of lungs on him doesn't he' I knew he'd been loud. Mind you, he's been loud since a tiny baby, and the Dr's have made the same comment, so I doubt that's the last time I'll hear it. At the nursery he was munching a bread stick whilst sniffling so I don't think he was too upset, (if he's really cross then food won't placate him).
He's going to go back next week for lunch time so we'll have to see whether sitting with the other toddlers and babies helps distract him from the fact I'm not there, so he gets used to be dropped off.
But he's also so clever, and bright, and funny, and charming. He takes time now over putting his Lamaze fish in their fish bowl. He carefully takes them out, and puts them in again over and over. This can occupy him for 20-30 minutes!. I showed him that he could fit balls into some of his stacking cups, but not all, and he's delighting in copying and putting smaller things in the bigger cups. He looks so pleased with himself and claps and beams when it's worked.
I've also shown him Timmy Time on CBeebies, and he loves the introduction and theme song and bounces and claps along to it. The actual program doesn't hold his interest but we sing along to the song which is fun.
He's been napping now for a while. I must admit I've left him longer than I should, as it's been peaceful but it's time to see whether I can wake him up and then it's play time again!
He has decided to test his boundaries and is becoming more challenging by the day.
At the moment, he'll calmly look me in the eye during meals and toss his food over the side of his high chair. I say 'no Joel' in a stern voice and he regards me, as though to say 'what are you going to do about it' as he just throws more food over. He knows what no means, I'm sure of it.
I don't know what to do about it. My Mum says take the food away and show him that I mean business. But I don't want him to go hungry. But I don't want him to think he can get his own way.
Today he was just throwing his eggy bread about, so I took it away and gave him a yoghurt for his pudding and that was it. He hasn't asked for more food. He's having quite a bit of milk so I guess he's having his nutrients from that.
He also yells a lot. For no apparent reason other than the fact his Dad sometimes lets out yells, and roars (he thinks he's singing) so Joel too shouts a lot. And screams. He can be quite shrill at times.
He's been having his inductions at nursery, and this morning I dropped him off for an hour to leave him there on his own. When I got back, he was red, he'd been crying and the nursery worker said that that he'd been playing and fine, and suddenly, just began yelling. She put it nicely, but as she said 'he has a good set of lungs on him doesn't he' I knew he'd been loud. Mind you, he's been loud since a tiny baby, and the Dr's have made the same comment, so I doubt that's the last time I'll hear it. At the nursery he was munching a bread stick whilst sniffling so I don't think he was too upset, (if he's really cross then food won't placate him).
He's going to go back next week for lunch time so we'll have to see whether sitting with the other toddlers and babies helps distract him from the fact I'm not there, so he gets used to be dropped off.
But he's also so clever, and bright, and funny, and charming. He takes time now over putting his Lamaze fish in their fish bowl. He carefully takes them out, and puts them in again over and over. This can occupy him for 20-30 minutes!. I showed him that he could fit balls into some of his stacking cups, but not all, and he's delighting in copying and putting smaller things in the bigger cups. He looks so pleased with himself and claps and beams when it's worked.
I've also shown him Timmy Time on CBeebies, and he loves the introduction and theme song and bounces and claps along to it. The actual program doesn't hold his interest but we sing along to the song which is fun.
He's been napping now for a while. I must admit I've left him longer than I should, as it's been peaceful but it's time to see whether I can wake him up and then it's play time again!
The Power Went...
I've had a right week of it this week!
On Sunday my MIL was visiting so I got the vacuum cleaner out, plugged it in to go round the lounge and 'whirr' it just died. I was cross as I've only recently had it fixed up, and decided to check the plugs. It seemed to be the plug socket which was the issue, not the vacuum as that worked when plugged into the kitchen.
So I ignored it and went to church and met Wendy, we went out for lunch and on getting home later on I realised the extent of the issue.
The plug sockets in the lounge were not working, neither were the bedroom sockets. This includes the socket which controls the combi boiler, so not only did we have no tv or heating, the internet had also disappeared.
I got onto Virgin straight away and they promised to send an engineer out on Tuesday, and on Monday I used my mobile to ask for the details of an electrician. Thankfully, a friend's Dad is an electrician and he came out at lunchtime on the Monday. It turned out that a whole circuit had died, possibly due to a slow burn of a wire, and he'd gone round every socket testing them when I remembered the boiler socket. It turned out to be that one, with a faulty wire in a junction box.
All these months of boiler issues, and the problem could have been electrical. I'm trying not to think about that. The main issue is that everything is fixed and sorted now!
However, the internet and tv weren't. The engineer came out on Tuesday and said it wasn't my modem, there was a different issue outside, and another engineer would need to see to it that night. Wednesday, it still wasn't working and I called again this morning and was fobbed off more!
Finally, another engineer came out to say that there had been a power surge which had frazzled the cables and it's all fixed and I have the internet once more. I was going rather crazy without it. I've come to rely on it rather a lot!!
All this and with the extra issues from Joel.
He's becoming a bit of a pickle to say the least. And that will be another post entirely.
On Sunday my MIL was visiting so I got the vacuum cleaner out, plugged it in to go round the lounge and 'whirr' it just died. I was cross as I've only recently had it fixed up, and decided to check the plugs. It seemed to be the plug socket which was the issue, not the vacuum as that worked when plugged into the kitchen.
So I ignored it and went to church and met Wendy, we went out for lunch and on getting home later on I realised the extent of the issue.
The plug sockets in the lounge were not working, neither were the bedroom sockets. This includes the socket which controls the combi boiler, so not only did we have no tv or heating, the internet had also disappeared.
I got onto Virgin straight away and they promised to send an engineer out on Tuesday, and on Monday I used my mobile to ask for the details of an electrician. Thankfully, a friend's Dad is an electrician and he came out at lunchtime on the Monday. It turned out that a whole circuit had died, possibly due to a slow burn of a wire, and he'd gone round every socket testing them when I remembered the boiler socket. It turned out to be that one, with a faulty wire in a junction box.
All these months of boiler issues, and the problem could have been electrical. I'm trying not to think about that. The main issue is that everything is fixed and sorted now!
However, the internet and tv weren't. The engineer came out on Tuesday and said it wasn't my modem, there was a different issue outside, and another engineer would need to see to it that night. Wednesday, it still wasn't working and I called again this morning and was fobbed off more!
Finally, another engineer came out to say that there had been a power surge which had frazzled the cables and it's all fixed and I have the internet once more. I was going rather crazy without it. I've come to rely on it rather a lot!!
All this and with the extra issues from Joel.
He's becoming a bit of a pickle to say the least. And that will be another post entirely.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
9 Months Old
My little tiny baby was born 9 months ago today.
And today he looks like this...
Hasn't he grown up nicely!
And today he looks like this...
Hasn't he grown up nicely!
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Playtime!
Bits and Bobs
I'm writing this from a very bleary perspective. And chilled perspective!
Joel has decided 1am is a great time to get up and play and chatter, and the boiler is on the blink. Whenever it's freezing outside, it doesn't come on and the pilot light struggles to stay going, but when it's more mild, it's fine. It's very annoying but I can't have Joel in a chilled house so we've decided to bite the bullet and get a new one, and have it relocated from upstairs to the kitchen.
It's going to be a bit job, reorganising the kitchen, gas pipes to be fitted but it needs to be done and may help our house sell, and keep us warm in the meantime.
Yesterday I gave Joel a taste of marmite for the first time. It's not something I have in as although I don't mind it on a crumpet, I'm not obsessed with it! So after getting a little pot I popped a little on a bit of toast for him.
I missed the full reaction with a yell and sticking his tongue out with a proper 'bleurgh' and it swiftly went over the side of his high chair to Izzy, who rejected it too!
We went along to Mums and Toddlers but drove as I needed the car for the afternoon and it meant we were late organising the car swap with Steve but being tired it was good to not have to walk for once!
Considering he was up from 1-4 am Monday night, he managed to stay awake through it all, and dropped off at midday when I pulled up at home so I lifted him into the house, undressed him all whilst zonked and put him down in his cot. I then had to wake him at 1.30 as he'd had no lunch and I didn't want him oversleeping if he was going to have another nap later on.
So we ran a few errands during the afternoon, going to get hay and food for the guinea-pigs, doing a shop at Lidl, popping to the bank and then on getting home again we took Izzy out for a walk whilst it was sunny. She loves frolicking in the frost!
It's amazing how he can have a very disturbed night as well but seem bright as a button on getting up whereas I'm struggling this morning after a second disturbed night and need at least one more cup of tea to feel that I can function!
Joel has decided 1am is a great time to get up and play and chatter, and the boiler is on the blink. Whenever it's freezing outside, it doesn't come on and the pilot light struggles to stay going, but when it's more mild, it's fine. It's very annoying but I can't have Joel in a chilled house so we've decided to bite the bullet and get a new one, and have it relocated from upstairs to the kitchen.
It's going to be a bit job, reorganising the kitchen, gas pipes to be fitted but it needs to be done and may help our house sell, and keep us warm in the meantime.
Yesterday I gave Joel a taste of marmite for the first time. It's not something I have in as although I don't mind it on a crumpet, I'm not obsessed with it! So after getting a little pot I popped a little on a bit of toast for him.
 |
| Having a taste... |
 |
| Woah - taste explosion |
 |
| Not liking it... |
 |
| Not impressed at all.. |
We went along to Mums and Toddlers but drove as I needed the car for the afternoon and it meant we were late organising the car swap with Steve but being tired it was good to not have to walk for once!
Considering he was up from 1-4 am Monday night, he managed to stay awake through it all, and dropped off at midday when I pulled up at home so I lifted him into the house, undressed him all whilst zonked and put him down in his cot. I then had to wake him at 1.30 as he'd had no lunch and I didn't want him oversleeping if he was going to have another nap later on.
So we ran a few errands during the afternoon, going to get hay and food for the guinea-pigs, doing a shop at Lidl, popping to the bank and then on getting home again we took Izzy out for a walk whilst it was sunny. She loves frolicking in the frost!
 |
| All snuggled up.... |
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Nasty Nappies
Each time I deal with one of Joel's nappies at the moment I'm preparing for the worst.
They have not been pleasant since he went onto solids but with being a bit poorly at the moment they have been the worst ever.
Each nappy I get, in my mind, is the worst ever, that is until the next one which surpasses the previous one! I get ready with a scented nappy bag to try and mask the odour, wipes already pulled out (at least three) to ensure I don't have to try and get more out whilst only holding his legs up with one hand, sudocrem at hand in case of redness, two small toys to occupy his hands, and a new nappy all pulled out and ready to wear with a swift change. It's a bit of a military operation. And then I have a big breath as I try not to breath too much as I tentatively open it to see the damage!
I know it's not his fault, but I miss the easy breast milk nappies of yesteryear!! Formula makes his nappies far more stinky. Illness has given him a bit of an upset stomach. You can imagine the rest!
And the little monkey loves it, thinks it's playtime and wants to roll over, grab his bits, kick about and generally scoot off the mat as soon as possible. And he's fast now when he wants to be, and surprisingly strong for a baby!
Fun times.
They have not been pleasant since he went onto solids but with being a bit poorly at the moment they have been the worst ever.
Each nappy I get, in my mind, is the worst ever, that is until the next one which surpasses the previous one! I get ready with a scented nappy bag to try and mask the odour, wipes already pulled out (at least three) to ensure I don't have to try and get more out whilst only holding his legs up with one hand, sudocrem at hand in case of redness, two small toys to occupy his hands, and a new nappy all pulled out and ready to wear with a swift change. It's a bit of a military operation. And then I have a big breath as I try not to breath too much as I tentatively open it to see the damage!
I know it's not his fault, but I miss the easy breast milk nappies of yesteryear!! Formula makes his nappies far more stinky. Illness has given him a bit of an upset stomach. You can imagine the rest!
And the little monkey loves it, thinks it's playtime and wants to roll over, grab his bits, kick about and generally scoot off the mat as soon as possible. And he's fast now when he wants to be, and surprisingly strong for a baby!
Fun times.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Poorly Baby
After he came down with his temperature on Wednesday evening, he seemed in bright enough spirits yesterday for the better part of the day, until late afternoon when it all got a bit much and he was miserable again. He was dosed up on calpol to keep his temperature under control but he was still over 37 for much of the day.
Then before bed, I noticed a little spot on the back of his left hand but didn't think much of it as I'd put his temperature down to teething along with his extra drool at the moment and not letting me in his mouth to check.
Until this morning when I noticed a couple more spots on his bum, and a cluster at the top of his leg.
Could it be chicken pox?!!
This morning he was due at nursery for his first induction session so I rang them up to explain I'd found some spots on him, he'd been ill with a temperature and after having had two disturbed nights I wasn't sure about him going into a room of babies. The manager was very nice and reassuring and said I could take him along and she'd have a look in the first instance, as I needed to drop my forms and deposit off anyhow, and Joel likes a morning stroll so off we set.
She'd also said that feet were the first places to find spots for chicken pox and hand foot and mouth, and I'd not found any there, so wasn't too worried.
When we got to the nursery we took his socks off and suddenly, there was a big spot on his heel and a number of little spots across the top of his feet which had not been there thirty minutes ago. We decided not to let him meet the babies, and I handed the forms and money over, and we booked his induction for next Thursday instead.
So off we walked, and I rang the doctors straight away who had an appointment in thirty minutes time, so from the University we walked into town and got straight in to see dishy Dr Hodgkinson (who'd made the nice comment about Joel being a handsome chap previously so we like him!!) and he was intrigued by Joel's symptoms but said it wasn't chicken pox or hand foot and mouth.
It was a non-specific virus which has caused spots on him and he is likely contagious but should feel better after the weekend.
He's not really eaten well since Wednesday lunchtime when he munched down three chicken legs (I took the meat off the bone, don't worry!!) and a bread roll but has had some banana today and a bit of bread and some blueberries. He's happy to drink water when I offer it from my glass and dinner times are pretty much just a bit milk at the moment.
At the moment he's rolling around the floor clutching a wooden spoon and singing to it loudly so I'm not too worried that he's feeling ill in himself anymore but he's more tired than normal so I'll try putting him down for a nap shortly.
Aand maybe I'll try to catch a doze too because I've been up in the nights with him so it's taking its toll on me as well!
ZZzzzzz!
Then before bed, I noticed a little spot on the back of his left hand but didn't think much of it as I'd put his temperature down to teething along with his extra drool at the moment and not letting me in his mouth to check.
Until this morning when I noticed a couple more spots on his bum, and a cluster at the top of his leg.
Could it be chicken pox?!!
This morning he was due at nursery for his first induction session so I rang them up to explain I'd found some spots on him, he'd been ill with a temperature and after having had two disturbed nights I wasn't sure about him going into a room of babies. The manager was very nice and reassuring and said I could take him along and she'd have a look in the first instance, as I needed to drop my forms and deposit off anyhow, and Joel likes a morning stroll so off we set.
She'd also said that feet were the first places to find spots for chicken pox and hand foot and mouth, and I'd not found any there, so wasn't too worried.
When we got to the nursery we took his socks off and suddenly, there was a big spot on his heel and a number of little spots across the top of his feet which had not been there thirty minutes ago. We decided not to let him meet the babies, and I handed the forms and money over, and we booked his induction for next Thursday instead.
So off we walked, and I rang the doctors straight away who had an appointment in thirty minutes time, so from the University we walked into town and got straight in to see dishy Dr Hodgkinson (who'd made the nice comment about Joel being a handsome chap previously so we like him!!) and he was intrigued by Joel's symptoms but said it wasn't chicken pox or hand foot and mouth.
It was a non-specific virus which has caused spots on him and he is likely contagious but should feel better after the weekend.
He's not really eaten well since Wednesday lunchtime when he munched down three chicken legs (I took the meat off the bone, don't worry!!) and a bread roll but has had some banana today and a bit of bread and some blueberries. He's happy to drink water when I offer it from my glass and dinner times are pretty much just a bit milk at the moment.
At the moment he's rolling around the floor clutching a wooden spoon and singing to it loudly so I'm not too worried that he's feeling ill in himself anymore but he's more tired than normal so I'll try putting him down for a nap shortly.
Aand maybe I'll try to catch a doze too because I've been up in the nights with him so it's taking its toll on me as well!
ZZzzzzz!
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Clap Hands...
We have a clapping baby now and he's so proud of his new trick!
If I sing the little green frog song, when we get to the *clap* la di da di da bit he claps along and waves his hands! So very clever and cute!
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
37.7
My baby has a temperature and has refused any dinner so I'm stressing about him :(
I've looked all over him for any sign of a rash which there isn't, I've tried to offer him water and he's had a few sips from my glass but nothing from his cups! He went to bed after 7pm and hasn't wanted to play this afternoon. He just wanted to sit and cuddle.
He was fine this morning. We bounced and rhymed and mooched around the Co-Op where I found this 1st
Christmas snow globe reduced from £15 to £4.97!
I bought it to bring out next Christmas as Joel won't know he didn't have it for Christmas!! (I also previously got him a 1st Christmas photo frame and have put a cute photo in of him on his first Christmas day from ebay!)
He then had a rather nasty nappy this afternoon and has been producing some rather viscous drool.
So I'm hoping this is the last push through for his next teeth???
He's still hot despite having calpol at dinner time, and I've given him another dose just as he woke up and we've been cuddling for over an hour. He's had a fresh nappy as his bedtime one felt pretty heavy and he's gone back down to sleep.
I'm not anticipating a good night's sleep though!
I've looked all over him for any sign of a rash which there isn't, I've tried to offer him water and he's had a few sips from my glass but nothing from his cups! He went to bed after 7pm and hasn't wanted to play this afternoon. He just wanted to sit and cuddle.
He was fine this morning. We bounced and rhymed and mooched around the Co-Op where I found this 1st
Christmas snow globe reduced from £15 to £4.97!
I bought it to bring out next Christmas as Joel won't know he didn't have it for Christmas!! (I also previously got him a 1st Christmas photo frame and have put a cute photo in of him on his first Christmas day from ebay!)
He then had a rather nasty nappy this afternoon and has been producing some rather viscous drool.
So I'm hoping this is the last push through for his next teeth???
He's still hot despite having calpol at dinner time, and I've given him another dose just as he woke up and we've been cuddling for over an hour. He's had a fresh nappy as his bedtime one felt pretty heavy and he's gone back down to sleep.
I'm not anticipating a good night's sleep though!
Book Worm
I forgot to mention yesterday that after his check, the health visitor gave me a bookstart bag for Joel which was a very nice surprise.
I've always loved reading myself and am keen for Joel to enjoy books as well, and we've already joined the library and go every Wednesday for the Bounce and Rhyme class.
And here is his bag with his two free books on the right, and his current acquisition of library books on the left! We try to get four out a week!
Groovy!
I've always loved reading myself and am keen for Joel to enjoy books as well, and we've already joined the library and go every Wednesday for the Bounce and Rhyme class.
And here is his bag with his two free books on the right, and his current acquisition of library books on the left! We try to get four out a week!
Groovy!
The Horror
I have a confession. I've discovered that my driving license is out of date. I have a photo license and must have had a letter but not really focused on it and now it's really overdue. Plus I've not told them I got married and changed my name. So we have quite a sense of urgency about it now.
So off I went to the post office and got the relevant form and went to get my photo taken. The photo booths at Asda and Tesco were out of order so decided I might be happier with a picture from Peter Rogers so popped in after getting Joel weighed last and I was a bit rosy from the heat of the doctor's surgery.
I thought I might have time to sort myself out, but after a swift hair brush, I was sat on a stool and didn't even have time to smile or think about anything and one click, and it was done. I was shown the camera image to which I said, 'oh, that's awful' and the photographer paused, and then said '....it's not that bad'.
The guy printed them, took my money and then I was left with a permanent reminder as to how awful I looked. I didn't look like me, or at least how I thought I looked. A haggard, tired, red faced woman was looking back at me with hair that screams for attention, a lack of make up and bags under her eyes. You know the sort, the 'before' pictures where everyone feels sorry for the woman on programmes such as 'Ten Years Younger'.
Not good. I'm torn between just sending that picture off or getting a new one done. It's only vanity I know but this picture will haunt me for ten years.
With going back to work in the not too distant future I've decided I'll be getting a good haircut before then, having a make up trial at boots and then getting a few items of work clothes since not a lot of my skirts or trousers from before Joel fit me. I'll make a day of it and try to make myself feel better. And with having sorted my driving license by then it'll be a shame not to have that picture on it!
So off I went to the post office and got the relevant form and went to get my photo taken. The photo booths at Asda and Tesco were out of order so decided I might be happier with a picture from Peter Rogers so popped in after getting Joel weighed last and I was a bit rosy from the heat of the doctor's surgery.
I thought I might have time to sort myself out, but after a swift hair brush, I was sat on a stool and didn't even have time to smile or think about anything and one click, and it was done. I was shown the camera image to which I said, 'oh, that's awful' and the photographer paused, and then said '....it's not that bad'.
The guy printed them, took my money and then I was left with a permanent reminder as to how awful I looked. I didn't look like me, or at least how I thought I looked. A haggard, tired, red faced woman was looking back at me with hair that screams for attention, a lack of make up and bags under her eyes. You know the sort, the 'before' pictures where everyone feels sorry for the woman on programmes such as 'Ten Years Younger'.
Not good. I'm torn between just sending that picture off or getting a new one done. It's only vanity I know but this picture will haunt me for ten years.
With going back to work in the not too distant future I've decided I'll be getting a good haircut before then, having a make up trial at boots and then getting a few items of work clothes since not a lot of my skirts or trousers from before Joel fit me. I'll make a day of it and try to make myself feel better. And with having sorted my driving license by then it'll be a shame not to have that picture on it!
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
9 Month Check
This morning we had a lovely time at mums and toddlers. After the play session was done, and the story was told, Ruth brought out her cd player and the toddler music! I must find out what the tunes are as they're great for babies and children and we all got ribbons and silk scarves to wave and we danced around the hall and Joel loved it! I trailed the scarf over his face and he giggled and waved and we waved it around and he thought it was great! Then we did the hokey cokey and when we all went into the middle of the circle he kicked his legs as though he thought he was actually dancing like the other toddlers were! It was very cute! And then he clapped his hands together when we all clapped the end of the song!! He's been banging two objects together for a little while but hasn't managed to work out clapping until this morning!! It was a one off today but we'll practise tomorrow!
Off we went to the surgery this afternoon for the weigh in clinic. I think we're very lucky in our Doctors to have their own health visitors who are actually really nice and very helpful compared to some of the tales we've heard about others. Our health visitor is Alex and she came to my house for Joel's first 8 weeks and we see her every month.
Today was meant to just be a weigh in for Joel, as he had an appointment tomorrow for his 9 month check which was fine with me. I like having things to do and the oppurtunity to walk there. But when I saw Alex, she said she could everything today in one go as they were quite quiet and I was quite happy to let her!
So firstly, Joel was weighed, and after his measly 5oz at the last weight in taking him to 17lbs 6ozs, today he was 19lbs! So that's over a pound and a half putting right back on the track he was on previously with a pound a month so I was really pleased! He has been eating well this past month after he got over his sniffles!
Then he was stripped down below to have his testes checked and he wasn't too enamoured about this, but both testicles were found which Joel and I were relieved about!
Then he had his head circumference and length measured and he'd grown perfectly.
He then had his development check, and Alex handed him two little wooden cubes to hold, then took one away. He was meant to pass them from hand to hand, which he does all the time at home, but of course he didn't today! But she was impressed that when she took them off him, he watched carefully to see where they went and tried to get them back again! She commented how well he remembers and acts on it!
The last test was trying to see his pincer grip, and she brought out some tiny toys and offered Joel a mini farm pig, but didn't let go, and sure enough, he was trying to very delicately take the toy! I told her how good he was at picking up blueberries, peas and sweetcorn and popping it in his mouth, and this has been a good progression from him holding food in his closed fist and wondering how to get it to his mouth, to just doing it easily!!
After the health visitor was done, she sent us to see the baby doctor as his excema is still irritating him on his shoulders and we got some different cream to try. The doctor also recommended not bathing Joel every night as this dries his skin out, and apparently, Stafford water, being hard is the worst for exacerbating excema as well! We've been bathing Joel nightly since he was a tiny baby to establish his bedtime routine, but I guess 3-4 times a week will be the new routine!
Joel only had one nap today, 12-2 and he was up at 7am so went 5 hours before a nap, then went four hours till 6pm and I put him to bed early after his tea at 6pm as he was so tired, and a nap would have ruined night time! I hope he sleeps though and is bright and breezy for bounce and rhyme tomorrow!
Off we went to the surgery this afternoon for the weigh in clinic. I think we're very lucky in our Doctors to have their own health visitors who are actually really nice and very helpful compared to some of the tales we've heard about others. Our health visitor is Alex and she came to my house for Joel's first 8 weeks and we see her every month.
Today was meant to just be a weigh in for Joel, as he had an appointment tomorrow for his 9 month check which was fine with me. I like having things to do and the oppurtunity to walk there. But when I saw Alex, she said she could everything today in one go as they were quite quiet and I was quite happy to let her!
So firstly, Joel was weighed, and after his measly 5oz at the last weight in taking him to 17lbs 6ozs, today he was 19lbs! So that's over a pound and a half putting right back on the track he was on previously with a pound a month so I was really pleased! He has been eating well this past month after he got over his sniffles!
Then he was stripped down below to have his testes checked and he wasn't too enamoured about this, but both testicles were found which Joel and I were relieved about!
Then he had his head circumference and length measured and he'd grown perfectly.
He then had his development check, and Alex handed him two little wooden cubes to hold, then took one away. He was meant to pass them from hand to hand, which he does all the time at home, but of course he didn't today! But she was impressed that when she took them off him, he watched carefully to see where they went and tried to get them back again! She commented how well he remembers and acts on it!
The last test was trying to see his pincer grip, and she brought out some tiny toys and offered Joel a mini farm pig, but didn't let go, and sure enough, he was trying to very delicately take the toy! I told her how good he was at picking up blueberries, peas and sweetcorn and popping it in his mouth, and this has been a good progression from him holding food in his closed fist and wondering how to get it to his mouth, to just doing it easily!!
After the health visitor was done, she sent us to see the baby doctor as his excema is still irritating him on his shoulders and we got some different cream to try. The doctor also recommended not bathing Joel every night as this dries his skin out, and apparently, Stafford water, being hard is the worst for exacerbating excema as well! We've been bathing Joel nightly since he was a tiny baby to establish his bedtime routine, but I guess 3-4 times a week will be the new routine!
Joel only had one nap today, 12-2 and he was up at 7am so went 5 hours before a nap, then went four hours till 6pm and I put him to bed early after his tea at 6pm as he was so tired, and a nap would have ruined night time! I hope he sleeps though and is bright and breezy for bounce and rhyme tomorrow!
Quesadillas
But he had the longest nap and I ate all the mousaka leftovers in the meantime so thought I'd try this recipe on him and he seems to like it a lot.
He's had wraps before but I added grated carrot and apple to the cheese before dry frying to toast it and melt the cheese which has helped him not pick the carrot out.
I'll have to see about a proper tea for later on after his weigh in this afternoon as we're off to see the health visitor!
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Sunday Musings
This week has been a fun one. Joel has been enjoying playing and his new favourite game is crawling after his stacking cups, built into a tower which are then sent off in the back of his choo choo train!! It's really helping with his speed! He's still sort of commando crawling, dragging himself along on his elbows, pivoting to turn corners and pushing up with his legs. He's also working on transitions from sitting to lying down, rolling and crawling.
He's also babbling a lot and stringing syllables together and sounds as though he's talking! And he likes shouting now too. He can be quite loud! He has a lot to say and he wants people to listen to him!
He likes giving kisses which are big open mouthed wet splodgy kisses that he plants on your face and neck! They're very cute!
He seems really into his books at the moment, especially the touchy feely ones, and he enjoys turning the pages. This has now turned into opening and shutting doors as well. He loves nothing more than playing peek-a-boo with me in the kitchen whilst Daddy holds him up and he peers round the door to giggle with glee when I express surprise at seeing him there!
The other day he emptied out a toy tub at Grandmas and we sat him in it, and he loved it! Emptying is a favourite past time as well. I bought three toy containers from Ikea and each one has a variety of toys in and he really enjoys taking everything out one by one. It'll be good once he can learn to put things in as well as out!!
Tomorrow we're doing something new. He's going to Grandma's for the day and I'm going to be doing some work with Steve for his business and I'm a bit excited at the prospect of a day to myself doing normal things! He's also got his nursery induction on Friday, and he's seeing the development consultant on Wednesday for his 9 month check but I'm pretty sure that everything's hunky dory with him!
He's also babbling a lot and stringing syllables together and sounds as though he's talking! And he likes shouting now too. He can be quite loud! He has a lot to say and he wants people to listen to him!
He likes giving kisses which are big open mouthed wet splodgy kisses that he plants on your face and neck! They're very cute!
Saturday, 7 January 2012
One Born Every Minute.....
This TV series was shown in my last months of pregnancy and I remember watching it with trepidation but unable to look away for any of it in a desperate attempt to prepare myself for the inevitable!
Turned out that nothing could really have prepared me. All our ante-natal classes and ball bouncing, and breathing relaxation techniques were not put to much use whatsoever, but I still enjoyed the TV show.
It's now back for a third series so I sat down with Steve to watch it on catch up last night and it brought it all back.
Sorry to say it Steve but the main bits I remember were him being rather rubbish!
He had it in his head that induction meant he could play computer games whilst waiting for things to happen so from 12 noon till 3pm on Joel's birth day, he played Pokemon on his laptop whilst I writhed on the bed with ever increasing painful contractions and all I wanted was for his support, holding my hand, fanning me as I was terribly hot, and maybe rubbing my back but I didn't get any of that. I was pretty much ignored. Why Steve thought this was acceptable was beyond me. I was wishing I had my sister there instead to be honest.
After that it all went wrong and I was on gas and air and Steve did put his laptop away.
It came back out again though once Joel was born and I was in my room over the next few days. He just sat and played and I couldn't understand how he didn't want to just look at Joel all the time as he was so beautiful. Don't get me wrong, he did take some nice pictures, and he had plenty of cuddles but maybe that's the Dad side of things. I know tiny babies aren't of interest to some guys and now he's a lot better with Joel.
The other irking matter was that on OBEM you saw all these Dads walking along the hospital corridors with bunches of balloons and flowers. I didn't get anything from Steve. No card. No flowers and no balloons. He doesn't think that's a big deal. His Dad didn't get anything for his Mum. His brother doesn't think it's the husbands place to get the wife anything. Well, maybe that's a Cranston thing but my Dad got my Mum flowers. And I expected the same.
he says no one told him that men are meant to give gifts on the birth of their baby. He was told at our last antenatal class, and my Mum told him he was meant to but he's 'forgotten' about those conversations. (Forgotten conversations are a frequent convenient get out clause for Steve).
Be assured he'll do better next time.....
Turned out that nothing could really have prepared me. All our ante-natal classes and ball bouncing, and breathing relaxation techniques were not put to much use whatsoever, but I still enjoyed the TV show.
It's now back for a third series so I sat down with Steve to watch it on catch up last night and it brought it all back.
Sorry to say it Steve but the main bits I remember were him being rather rubbish!
He had it in his head that induction meant he could play computer games whilst waiting for things to happen so from 12 noon till 3pm on Joel's birth day, he played Pokemon on his laptop whilst I writhed on the bed with ever increasing painful contractions and all I wanted was for his support, holding my hand, fanning me as I was terribly hot, and maybe rubbing my back but I didn't get any of that. I was pretty much ignored. Why Steve thought this was acceptable was beyond me. I was wishing I had my sister there instead to be honest.
After that it all went wrong and I was on gas and air and Steve did put his laptop away.
It came back out again though once Joel was born and I was in my room over the next few days. He just sat and played and I couldn't understand how he didn't want to just look at Joel all the time as he was so beautiful. Don't get me wrong, he did take some nice pictures, and he had plenty of cuddles but maybe that's the Dad side of things. I know tiny babies aren't of interest to some guys and now he's a lot better with Joel.
The other irking matter was that on OBEM you saw all these Dads walking along the hospital corridors with bunches of balloons and flowers. I didn't get anything from Steve. No card. No flowers and no balloons. He doesn't think that's a big deal. His Dad didn't get anything for his Mum. His brother doesn't think it's the husbands place to get the wife anything. Well, maybe that's a Cranston thing but my Dad got my Mum flowers. And I expected the same.
he says no one told him that men are meant to give gifts on the birth of their baby. He was told at our last antenatal class, and my Mum told him he was meant to but he's 'forgotten' about those conversations. (Forgotten conversations are a frequent convenient get out clause for Steve).
Be assured he'll do better next time.....
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Baby Bolognese
Nursery Times
It's done. Joel is booked onto his first trial session at nursery. It'll be next Friday for a couple of hours. After that he'll go for some time on his own. Then for his third session he'll stay for lunch, and his fourth he'll stay for lunch then a sleep, then he should hopefully be ok to stay for a day as of February.
Obviously, there's no rush on the first full day as I'm not going back to work until April now but it'll mean he gets into a good routine beforehand, and I'll get a day a week to help Steve with some of his business stuff.
Joel will also begin going to Mum and Dad's for a day a week and I think he'll enjoy that one for sure. And Grandma and Grandad will love it too.
Obviously, there's no rush on the first full day as I'm not going back to work until April now but it'll mean he gets into a good routine beforehand, and I'll get a day a week to help Steve with some of his business stuff.
Joel will also begin going to Mum and Dad's for a day a week and I think he'll enjoy that one for sure. And Grandma and Grandad will love it too.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Big Boy
We went to Wales today to spend the day with my sister and her family.
Joel loves watching other children and he seems to love hanging out with his cousins and wants to do what they do. He's a very good mimic! At lunchtime a tin of chocolate biscuits was passed around and Joel was very aware that everyone had something he didn't and he therefore wanted one too. So we decided that we would let him try a chocolate finger. I guess there's no going back now. He loved it, and sucked all the chocolate off!
So at tea time they all sat round having eggy bread and Joel loved sitting up to the table (albeit slightly low on a booster set!) and eating the same as Theo and Isaac!
As we drove home I watched him sleeping and wondered whether this amazement ever ends?
I still can't believe we have a baby, let alone one so good and wonderful! And for me, as someone who's not had much to do with babies before, I can't believe how well he's doing! He's thriving, and developing and I guess that means we're doing ok! And that will never cease to amaze me!!
Joel loves watching other children and he seems to love hanging out with his cousins and wants to do what they do. He's a very good mimic! At lunchtime a tin of chocolate biscuits was passed around and Joel was very aware that everyone had something he didn't and he therefore wanted one too. So we decided that we would let him try a chocolate finger. I guess there's no going back now. He loved it, and sucked all the chocolate off!
So at tea time they all sat round having eggy bread and Joel loved sitting up to the table (albeit slightly low on a booster set!) and eating the same as Theo and Isaac!
As we drove home I watched him sleeping and wondered whether this amazement ever ends?
I still can't believe we have a baby, let alone one so good and wonderful! And for me, as someone who's not had much to do with babies before, I can't believe how well he's doing! He's thriving, and developing and I guess that means we're doing ok! And that will never cease to amaze me!!
Happy New Year
I think he's quite pleased to be up to welcome the new year in though to be honest!
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