8 Weeks Old

These first 8 weeks have been full of drama, tears, change and learning, but things are starting to feel more settled and on track.  There were things I thought I knew about parenting after having two, but Finn is rewriting the book, and I feel like a first time parent with him all over again.

We finally have some growth, although he is still a teeny 8lb 8oz (Still smaller than Dylan was at birth).  Finn still fits in newborn or up to 1 month clothing and the smallest nappies we can get.  People often comment on how alert he looks as his size is misleading.

He is a very alert baby though, awake for long periods of the day and his wide eyes always search for me.  He likes to be able to touch and see me at all times but I am rewarded with smiles and coos now.  I wouldn't describe him as the smiliest of babies, but if you catch him at the right time of day, you see his beautiful little face light up and his brothers delight in telling me that they are his favourite every time a smile goes their way.

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The First Three Weeks

When our beautiful baby boy was handed to us three weeks ago, we had no idea what was in store for us.  He looked healthy and happy and as we counted his fingers and toes, wondered at how tiny he was and enjoyed those precious first moments, we had no idea it would be days before we could take him home and really start life as a family of five.

Our little Pretzel was born with a rare virus, which meant his first days were punctuated with tests and scans to try and find out more.  Thankfully many things which we find painful didn't seem to trouble the little guy who managed to frequently fall asleep during blood tests.  We were well looked after in the Special Care Baby Unit and once he had a diagnosis we could start all the relevant medicines.

After nearly three weeks, our baby was finally able to come home, and real life could start.  Things are not over and we were sent home with lots of medication and follow up appointments but our family is together, and on Monday night we all slept under the same roof.  We are so thankful to everyone who visited, messaged us, sent gifts, prayed for us and thought of us.  

Whilst there was plenty that wasn't positive about those first few weeks, the things I want to remember are those special moments, some completely ordinary, some more amazing because of the circumstances.

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Pretzel's Birth Story

For some reason, despite having had two babies born before their due date, I was convinced that our little pretzel would be late.  At 39 weeks exactly, nothing was ready, the crib sat waiting in the box to be built, a half packed hospital bag had a list of things still to buy and to pack and the car seat to bring our little guy home in was stored away for 'nearer the time'. 

Tuesday 24th February was my first real day of maternity leave, and after dropping the bigger boys at nursery, I went to get my hair done - something I tried to plan as close to the arrival as possible so that in those first pictures I look nice and blonde.  I had a few very mild contractions throughout the morning, but they were completely irregular and not painful - I knew they were different to Braxton Hicks but I could go between 20 minutes and 2 hours between them.  

I came home for a quiet afternoon, a lie down on the sofa and some catch up TV, and collected the boys from nursery.  Nothing seemed to be happening, but I felt like this may be a slow lead up to the big day and once the boys were in bed, I decided we should really start getting organised!  I got the crib out and gave the bloke instructions on how to build it, and I finished up my hospital bag, packing those final tiny sleepsuits and nappies. 

At 10pm, I decided to have a bath, thinking it would either stop anything completely and buy me some more time, or start something real, but after an hour's soak without a single contraction I decided it was the former.

At 11pm as I climbed out I felt something, and suddenly there was a regularity.  I was having contractions every 5 minutes and they were about 30 seconds long.  I found my birth ball and supervised the rest of the crib building, waiting to see if they progressed.  I started practicing the hypnobirthing techniques I had learnt and the wave breathing and I felt in control.

At midnight, I rang my mum, who we were relying on to look after the other two, and told her to keep her phone nearby tonight.  She decided to come straight over as it was late, and arrived about 1pm.

By this point, things were pretty regular and I was struggling to talk through them.  I rang the midwife led unit and they agreed that I should come in to be checked.  We arrived at 1:30am, but during the taxi ride over, things had slowed down and by the time we walked in, I could walk and talk through contractions.  I was shown into a lovely room, similar to the one in which Archie was born, and told they would come back in when things picked back up.

At 2:30, I was examined by both the student midwife and the midwife in charge, and told I was 5cm dilated.  One went to fetch some gas and air in case I wanted it and the other started running the pool as I was hoping for another water birth.  Things suddenly picked up though, and the space between contractions was not long enough for me to climb off of the bed.  My birth had been active and perfect until then, but suddenly I felt like I was losing control.

I felt a lot of pressure and was told it was my waters bulging, I grabbed the gas and air and I pushed to try and pop them, but suddenly the midwife's were back at the bed and as I heard the waters go, I was told to just do another short push.  I had no idea what was going on at this point, but with a little push, my baby was born.

At 2:46 am after a 16 minute established labour, my baby boy was placed on my chest.  His head had been born still in the water, and I had birthed him on the bed as there was no time to get to the pool.  Due to a bleed, I had to have the injection to deliver my placenta, but I didn't care by this point.

A tiny pink baby was screaming, opening his little eyes and kicking his skinny legs.  A baby much smaller than we had envisaged but one who stole our hearts all over again.

Baby Pretzel was born 5 days early after a quick labour with only a couple of minutes gas and air.   He weighed 7lb 1oz and had dark hair and dark eyes.  He looked like both his big brothers, and totally different at the same time.

After a quick shower, we were moved to a different room for skin to skin cuddles, and as there was meconium in his waters, we were told it would be 12 hours before we could go home.

Unfortunately, we didn't make it home that night, and our little Pretzel is still in special care, where he is doing really well.  That is a whole other story though, and one I will write up once we are all home.

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37 Weeks Pregnant

I have made it to full term, which means in the next 5 weeks my little Pretzel will no longer be in my tummy, but in my arms.  It seems crazy to think how fast 37 weeks have flown and I still can't get my head around the fact he could arrive any day now.

I am mostly still quite comfortable with this pregnancy, although I am getting a lot of Braxton hicks, they really aren't painful.  At my 37 week check up, the baby was head down but not engaged at all, which is probably how I am managing to avoid the familiar waddle at the moment.  The midwife wasn't bothered as their heads can pop in and out quite frequently by the third baby.  All was looking well and I am not measuring too many weeks ahead so they aren't worried about his size (although they did confirm that he feels big still).

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29 Weeks Pregnant

I am most certainly in the third trimester and I am starting to feel it now.  Whilst compared to most, this pregnancy is still pretty plain sailing, having two toddlers at home means that the vital rest I need just isn't happening.  I can feel the strain on my body if I overdo it, and with Dylan having had a bad week and weighing rather more than he did last time I was pregnant, I have found myself struggling to lift him, and feeling it all the next day if I do.

There are points in each day where I feel invincible, and I think I have finally got the energy back, but by 2pm, I am ready to curl up for a nap and there is no sound more welcome than the bloke's key in the door at the end of the day.  Generally I am not too bad, and I am thankful that the boys have a nice nap together in the afternoon so I get a chance to have a little snooze or at least put my feet up.

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Preparing the Nursery

Last weekend, we moved Dylan and Archie into the same room (which so far has been a success), meaning we have a nice empty room waiting for Pretzel's arrival next year.  With Archie still being small, his cot and furniture has moved with him, meaning the room is literally empty (or will be once we stop storing 'stuff' in there, and we have a nursery to prepare.

We know that bump will be a boy but with him being our third, I am actively avoiding baby blue as far as possible.  We have chosen a relatively neutral theme, of grey, white and yellow and once Christmas is out the way, I can't wait to get decorating! I want the nursery to be simple and relaxing, but bright at the same time.  I need everything to be practical and I have learnt after two others what to prioritise.  Marks and Spencers have a new baby section on their website with some great nursery inspiration - This fabric giraffe would go perfectly in Pretzel's new room.

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Hello Daisy Review and Giveaway

After 2 boys, it is safe to say our house has seen enough baby blue.  It looked lovely on Dylan, but it didn't take long for me to realise that it isn't the only colour little boys can wear, and for some it just doesn't suit them. I have always preferred Archie in brights and colours and it suits his personality.  Blogging has opened up my eyes to so many different styles of clothing, and I am loving finding some less 'baby blue' clothes ready for our newest arrival.

Hello Daisy asked me to check out their website and the first place I looked was the clothes.  I loved the colours and styles in the boys and unisex sections and how unique they were.  We chose a lovely organic sleepsuit ready for Pretzel's arrival next year and I can't wait to see our little guy in it! It is beautifully soft, feels well made and I just love the colour scheme.

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Three Boys

Three boys, this is my future.  My one tiny tot became the troublesome two and soon I will have a trio of terrors.  I announced that we were expecting another baby when we were 13 weeks pregnant, which meant seven weeks of being told 'you must be hoping for a girl this time then'.  

I would have been over the moon had the sonographer seen the telltale signs that told us to buy pink, but I was equally as excited when she told us that the boys would be welcoming a little brother in the new year.  Our baby is growing well, it looks healthy and he even gave us a hi5 from the womb.

In many ways we are geared up for another boy.  I have boxes upon boxes of boys clothes, and with this little dude due shortly after Archie's birthday, it should all be the right season too.  Our house seems to be full of blue and my experience of nappy changing revolves completely around boy bits.  Dylan had already let me know he would like another brother as 'boys are the best' and I have to agree (with absolutely no experience to compare to of course).  I love having boys, I love being a mama to boys.  Whilst growing up I had always pictured myself with one of each, my vision soon changed after the birth of Dylan and I saw myself surrounded by boys - a vision soon to come true.

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13 Weeks Pregnant

As the first trimester comes to an end, I am finally coming out of the tired fog that characterised the first few weeks.  Whilst that pregnancy glow is still a distant dream, I have enough energy to get through the day again and things are only getting easier.

Now that my pregnancy is finally in the open, I can wear what I like again without worrying people will think I just ate a bit too much cake.  It feels like I have known for so much longer this time, but in a way I have as I found out a week earlier than with both the boys and my scan was later on too.  

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Pregnancy - The Early Weeks

5 weeks Pregnant

If I have learned anything by now, it is that life doesn't always go to plan.  At 18, when I looked at my future it was full of possibility.  I had it all mapped out - married at 25, first baby at 27 and of course a high flying, well paid job at the same time.  At 23 I fell pregnant unexpectedly with a man I had really only just met.  

Looking back now, it feels like it was all meant to be.  It wasn't part of the plans, but the plans changed and accomodated this baby and another little boy joined our family only 18 months after the first.  From single to mother of two in less than three years.

Today my boys are 34 months and 16 months.  They are little balls of energy, racing towards milestones, growing at a ridiculous speed and challenging me every day.  They make me laugh, cry, smile and shout on a daily basis and our family and house are full of love.  

Today I took a pregnancy test.  My period was only two days late - something that has happened so many times, I barely even register it.  I don't really have any symptoms other than tiredness, which I had put down to lighter mornings (thank you sunshine!) and a crazily busy June.  I took a test because of the dreams.  Every night this week I have dreamed of being pregnant.  I woke to find myself with a pillow between my legs and under tummy, just as I slept when I was pregnant before.  I took a test because my head had doubts and I needed to quiet them.  The test was positive.

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Thing 1, Thing 2 and Thing 3

"We are all a little weird, and life is a little weird and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love"

I found someone to share mutual weirdness with, and then we made our two little things.

Next year will see the arrival of Thing 3

Thing 3 is due early March 2015

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