Day 7- The Photoshoot

Since the birth of our son in August 2011, we have spent hundreds of pounds capturing his first months.  There are so many professional photographers preying on proud mothers that is easy to get caught up in it, taking every opportunity and filling your home with beautiful images of your baby so that even when they are asleep you cannot forget about them.


We currently have a giant image of Dylan, 2 months old hanging above our fireplace, which we payed a considerable amount for.  We have the bounty photos (They are only a new newborn once), Photo shoot photos (They had novelty hats, and do look stunning- check out the wonderful Kidz-Unlimited  ) and we have several sets of pixifoto photos (It's only five pounds, and every time I convince myself I will just get the free one- never works).  I have turned down several hopeful photographers who have rang or sent letters offering their services for very reasonable prices, relying on that newborn squishy-faced cuteness to do the selling for them.


It's not like we don't take photos of the little man, we have albums full of them, and my phone camera contains very few photos that he does not feature in, but we get caught in the professional trap every time.  The second child will probably end up with none as we will be so broke from shelling out on Dylan!



Today, I attempted my own photo shoot.  It didn't look quite professional, the lighting was nothing special, and the sheet needed an iron, but the boy sure does look cute.

    

Ok, I couldn't resist but add a few.  Point is, I love them.  They show my beautiful baby boy, in a very simple way, looking happy.  Not sure I will stop with the photo shoot addiction, but I have some of my own to add to the collection too now!

Read more ⇨

Day 6- Ice Cream and Thumbs

Today Dylan celebrated his first national day.  I made sure to pick one wisely, one that would benefit us both.  Today is national 'Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast' day.  Sounds good? I thought so, the baby not so much. His face says it all!

Dylan has a very polite way of saying 'no more thanks' - the thumb goes in his mouth, and nobody or nothing is going to get it out.  Offer him something he is interested in, (like a finger to chomp on) and the thumb is forgotten and dribble once again pours out the open mouth, but he knows when he has had enough.


Many people seem to have strong opinions on thumb-sucking and it is a common debate at our baby groups.  I have been told by one mother that it is 'the worst thing you could ever let them do', on the basis that you can never take their thumbs away.  ( 4 out of 10 thumb suckers are still at it at age 9) Others tell me dummy's are unnecessary and that if your baby doesn't like their thumb, you should always offer them a finger to suck on.  Some parents even wish their children would opt for a thumb over dummy.


I knew before he was born that I didn't want him having a dummy.  The four year olds walking round with a soother permanently attached to their face put me off, and although they are the exception, that is an image I cannot erase.


Experts opinions vary greatly, and Sir Truby King, who preaches a method of childcare not often followed today believed that thumb sucking should be stopped by putting the babies arms in splints of corrugated cardboard.  This extremist view would surely break laws nowadays, but was followed in the early twentieth century by some.  In 1970 a Mrs Frankenburg wrote that the "continuous sucker of a dummy is fortunate if he does not become a chain-smoker, a drunkard or a drug-addict". Again this is an extremist point of view, but one that was taken notice of at the time.   My views are not this strong, I think it is more about what is right for each individual family.  .





Dylan found his thumb on October 29th, and I will always remember this magical date as the day he learnt to sleep.  Suddenly i went from feeding him every two hours in the night to sleeping through! (unfortunately the thumb started losing its magic a month later).  I love seeing babies sucking their thumbs.  Babies can suck their thumbs in the womb, it is built in mechanism to self soothe, however it is a rarity nowadays.

My favourite part of the day, is after his bath, after he is dry and dressed and zipped up in his gro-bag. It is the cuddle as we walk upstairs to his bedroom.  He knows what is going on, the thumb goes in and he snuggles into me, content, happy and sleepy.  I realise I have gone off on a tangent here but to bring it back.  Ice cream was an interesting experience, but as soon as the thumb went in, I knew he would prefer a nice fruity puree.

Read more ⇨

Day 5- Snow Day like Today

After spending most of last night in a childlike excitement, bubbling over in anticipation, it started snowing!  All night my facebook and twitter news feeds were taken over by weather reports, and the jealousy was starting to kick in.  Living on the south east coast however we would be the last to see the magical white stuff.

Eventually, after much curtain twitching I spotted the first falling flakes just as I was going to bed, and for once when the alarm clock (Dylan) started crying, getting out of bed was a fraction easier than usual.  We went and looked out the window and lo and behold, the world was covered in a thick layer of white.  Icing sugar had sprinkled from the sky dusting the trees, plants and fences.

I like to think that Dylan's eyes were wide in amazement, but in reality 6 months is a little young to really understand.  He would have been happier if I had let him eat some.  

As soon as we were all up and dressed (after lunch) we wrapped up, booted up and mittened up and ventured out.  Snow does something wonderful to the world.  It hides it's imperfections and flaws, covering them in something pure and natural.  The roads are no longer full of cars, headlights and horns, but snowball fights, snowmen with carrot noses and excited children being dragged along on sledges by equally excited although somewhat more tired parents.

We took the baby to the park, and the snow must have been so overwhelming he napped almost the entire time we were there.  Snow seems to bring out the child in all of us though, as me and the bloke jumped through the highest snow and felt the need to stamp through any untouched snow patches( As the park was busier than in the summer these were rather rare).  

Snow may not be popular with everyone but in this house, it means family time, excitement, magic and fun.  

Read more ⇨

Day 4- When to Wean

At five months, we were advised by the health visitor to start weaning.  The baby was not putting on weight fast enough and was being fed near enough every hour.  At a rather large 18 pounds, the five month old was hungry!


The department of health recommends giving a baby nothing but milk for 6 months, however my baby is clearly not 'a baby', he is Dylan.  New research opposing the current guidelines is gaining momentum, and studies are being carried out to determine whether late weaning is the culprit behind certain food allergies.


The Daily Mail recently ran an article 'So when IS the safest time to wean your baby' which opened up the debate and features experts advising parents to remember that guidelines are just that, not rules.  After 5 months of trying very hard to follow the guidelines in every area like they were rules, I was apprehensive to break one.


End of the story is that I wish I had done it sooner.  We introduced one meal, then two and since he hit six months he is now on three meals a day.  He is sleeping better, happier, feeding a more reasonable amount of times, putting on weight well, and it is brilliant albeit messy fun.


Before weaning commenced, I had such good intentions for making my own foods.  I planned all the fresh fruit and vegetables I would buy, stocked up on freezable pots and bought an expensive blender.  The reality of the matter is that we have a cupboard full of jars and pouches.


At first I felt very guilty, and then I convinced myself that as I was still breastfeeding it balanced out.  In reality they would not be able to sell the jars marketed at babies if they were not suitable, however making your own is nicer, fresher and you can make a better consistency. (My son does not get on with proper puree he needs it much thicker).


After 3 weeks of jarred food, today's 'new thing' involved me - in the kitchen.  Anyone that knows me will be laughing right now.  I am not a natural in the kitchen, I do not cook.  I microwave, I order take-away, and I tell the other half what I would like for dinner.  That is all.  Today, I boiled, mashed, blended and mixed.  I stocked up the fridge and freezer with my very own creations!

I want to do the best for my son- what mother doesn't?  I am very proud of my kitchen antics today, and have the best intentions to continue but with a cupboard full of back ups, I am not promising anything.

Read more ⇨

Day 3- 'It didn't go to plan'

'It didn't go to plan' must be an extremely overused phrase - by parents, teachers, politicians. . . the list goes on.  Being a parent  involves a certain amount of leeway. 'Be there at 11' becomes 'be there at 11ish', 'We are having a roast for dinner' becomes 'I'm too tired let's have beans on toast'.

My plan that Dylan always sleep in his crib 'didn't go to plan', he ended up sleeping on me more than I care to remember in those first few weeks.  My plan to go running 3 times a week after having him 'didn't go to plan', and unfortunately today's 'new thing' 'didn't go to plan'.

I had several possible ideas to fit into our already busy day, however an impromptu nap in the pushchair put a stop to them all.  Today's 'new thing' is therefore failing on day 3-  Not sure I have got that far before!  A long day of baby sensory and play was a wee bit too much for the little man.

My twenties are not 'going to plan', I have a baby.  That was never part of the plan, but it is a great transgression.  I swapped the plan of sunny beaches and cocktails for a living room covered in soft toys and decaff tea (can't handle the caffeine since pregnancy).  Bikinis for nursing tops and sparkly jewellery for teething bling.  I wouldn't change a thing (-most of the time!).  Digressing from the plan can be the best part of being a parent.  Adapting, changing and mostly just making it up as you go along.

Read more ⇨

Day 2- The Half Birthday

6 months seems like a turning point.  My 'baby' is now closer to being a toddling, talking one year old than he is to that helpless little newborn.  He is now on solids, smiling, laughing, rolling, sitting unaided, chatting away (although not in words yet), eating his toes, teething and sleeping in his own room.  He has a beautiful personality and his features  are becoming more prominent and gorgeous every day.


Today we celebrated Dylan's half birthday for the first time.  No cards or fancy presents, but some extra special cuddles and kisses.  Of course we did keep the most important part of the birthday tradition going - cake.

For our 'new thing' today, Dylan had his first lunch ( we are now on 3 meals a day!- how grown up) and he had his first cake.  Granted he only ate a miniscule amount of it, but he had a lot of fun smearing it round the highchair.  The candle light was present enough for him, watching it flicker could have entertained him all evening.

Celebrating half birthdays will definitely stay as a tradition in our house - any excuse for cake is good with me!

Read more ⇨

Day 1 - Building a Fort

When I was a child, nothing beat rounding up all the duvets and blankets in the house and dragging them down the stairs. The coffee tables, dining room chairs, large toys and anything else suitable was also collected and lifted (read dragged) into the living room on a rainy day to create my own private den.


There was something magical about that cramped, dark space- it was warm, safe, people could only come in when they were invited, and that meant a 'No Brothers' sign hung over the entrance.  We could spend all day playing under some chairs and blankets, oblivious to the world around us.


For day 1 of the February Challenge, I built Dylan his first ever den.  Chairs, the sofa, and five different blankets all came together to form a lovely hidden retreat, and the moment I put the last blanket up, and created our little bubble, his face lit up with excitement. I had taken in a torch, so we lay on the floor and watched the torch light dancing on the different blankets and body parts, and he looked engrossed in the moment.

I'm not sure whether today was more for me or him, but as he tried to catch the light as it flickered on the blankets, or grab whichever limb it was lighting up, it felt enjoyable for both of us.  We just need to make a 'No Daddys' sign for next time!

.

Read more ⇨