Every Single Day

There is nothing quite like a hospital stay to make you realise how special every single day is.  As stressful as it was spending a few weeks on the ward, we knew what was wrong and were busy fixing it.  Other children came in with serious problems, lifelong problems and unknown problems.  We never know what is right around the corner.  Every single day together is a blessing and I am determined to make the most of this summer as we were unsure whether we would see any of it at all.

Every single day is an opportunity to play, to learn and to spend time together.  We are lucky enough to live within walking distance of shops, parks and beaches and this summer we will be there.  When Archie and I had a few hours off from the hospital, we went for walks along the beach, saw friends and went swimming and kayaking in the sea ( It may have been more of a paddle for Archie).

Now we are home, we will not let Dylan's bad leg stop us from getting out and having fun.  It may be a little while before he walks but there is so much you can do sitting and I am determined to do something different and something new every single day, even if it is only something little.

Today, I bought a huge milkshake with all the trimmings and Dylan and I tucked in together, two straws, two scoops.  Somehow we had never yet done this and we giggled as we licked the whipped cream and slurped up the dreggs.  Tomorrow, who knows!  Every single day is a blessing though and after weeks cooped up in a cubicle, I can't wait for our adventures.

Every single day is precious so here is to the start of a fun filled summer!

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Fisher Price Piano Gym

A little while ago we were sent a lovely new playmat for Archie and he has been loving it.  The Fisher Price kick' n' play piano gym has actually kept both children rather amused.

It works when baby is lying on his front or back as the toy bar can be attached along the floor, giving Archie a little mirror to admire himself in as well as toys within easy reach..  He is happiest on his tummy so this mat is perfect for him as many are designed only for lying on your back.  

The mat comes with four different toys which you can alternate so they never get bored and the mirror which hangs centrally.  Archie is a big fan of the frog and cooes away at him whilst trying to get the rings into his mouth.  

What really sets this mat apart, is the kick piano at the end.  As Archie excitedly throws his legs around, he kicks the keys on the piano and sets off notes and tunes.  The musical rewards help teach about cause and effect and Dylan loves watching Archie make a noise.

The piano can also be turned so that you can sit and play and Dylan loves to join in and play his own tunes.  He has even had a go at lying under the mat as baby toys appear to have become more exciting suddenly now somebody else wants to play with them!

I have found that although the arch is easy to remove and change, the piano part cannot be detached which I would like as once Archie is a little bigger, he won't be able to fit under the arch and reach the toys and still straighten his legs.  It is the perfect size for him now though and really it won't be long until he has outgrown lying under a playmat as he rolling around the room now, therefore the piano to sit at will be perfect for him.

I love this playmat for Archie and think they are invaluable at stimulating play and developing their little skills and more importantly, my little tester loves it too.

Disclaimer:  We were sent this activity mat free of charge but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

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A Very Hungry Catepillar Nursery

Very Hungry Caterpillar, baby boy nursery, unisex nursery, VHC nursery theme
Archie's new nursery is finally finished and it has a beautiful The Very Hungry Caterpillar theme.  I love the simple white with pops of colour and it will last him through from his baby days to toddler.

Whilst we were in hospital, Archie was given a lovely big cot to sleep in, and despite the hospital noises and disturbances, he fell into a lovely little sleep pattern.  Coming home has been wonderful, but trying to get the little man back into his crib has been challenging and sleep is now a thing of the past.

All of this has spurred me on to finish Archie's Very Hungry Caterpillar nursery and tonight he is sleeping in his big cot for the very first time.  Dylan went into his own room at 11 weeks as he outgrew the crib but Archie still feels so little.  He is rolling around all over he place though so I think he needs the freedom and space of a proper cot now.

When we found out we were pregnant for the second time, I went out to buy something for my new baby, and happened to choose a Very Hungry Caterpillar blanket.  It has become the theme which his bedroom has been designed round, so here is a tour of Archie's very own nursery.

I like a baby's room to be calm and it will be a long time before he is playing in there so keeping it simple seemed the best option to help promote restful sleep.  We painted the walls white and got a dark blue carpet (which will hopefully hide the inevitable stains)

Two of my friends painted beautiful pictures for the walls, and I made some simple fabric canvases of my own.

We ordered a cot bumper and matching pillows for the nursing chair and found some great coordinating storage boxes too.

I still have a lovely caterpillar to hang on the wall, to hang little coats and jackets from but this involves a drill so has taken a bit longer to get round too.  We also still need to buy some blackout curtains to finish off the room.

I love the simple theme, the handmade pieces and the calm feel of the room and I am  hopeful that my little man finds it comfy enough to sleep in.

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How to Make Very Hungry Caterpillar Wall Art

When we decided on a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme for the nursery, I browsed online shops and ebay looking for the perfect little touches to make Archie's room special.  I could find wall stickers, but there didn't seem to be many pictures. 

After using my creative side when we originally did Dylan's nursery, I decided to make Archie some wall art and it was the simplest thing to do.  I bought 4 blank white canvases and 4 fat quarters of different Very Hungry Caterpillar fabrics.  

Armed with a heavy duty stapler and a pair of scissors, I had some lovely wall canvases in no time, and enough spare fabric to make a little taggy or sew some shapes on a plain blanket.

I think they look fun and are so easy to do that you can make them for any room theme given the right fabric.  It worked out only £10 to make 4 new pictures for the little man's beautiful room.

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How to Survive a Hospital Stay - Staying Sane

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

As you may well know, we have recently moved into our local hospital.  Dylan managed to break his leg just as the summer weather was starting and so the boys and I are now inmates.  Days are long and difficult as keeping two immobile under 2s occupied when they have such different needs is a challenge in itself.   Add in that the usually active toddler cannot wear himself out and the days go on for a long long time.

I am busy writing a couple of posts about how we are surviving our stay but I thought I should start with the most important lesson - staying sane.  

Being cooped up in a cubicle with your beautiful but exhausting children takes its toll and at the end of the day I have very little time for myself before I need to curl up on my chair-bed and try and get a little rest  It is very important to use this time wisely, and make sure you relax as everything else can wait.  A happy mamma makes for happy children.

My number one lifesaver comes in a purple packet and tastes utterly scrummy.  That's right, Cadburys produce sanity in shiny little bags called Chocolate Buttons.  I was recently asked to shop for Cadburys products in Asda and you really don't have to ask me twice when it comes to chocolate!

Every night, when the boys eventually drift off, I escape as fast as I can to the children's ward garden armed with a sugary snack.  Every day I reward myself for surviving, for keeping my cool, for playing all day long and for staying strong for them.  The fresh air revives me and the sugary treats relax me.

Every now and again I do share - not with the children of course, but with the friendly nurses who are helping make our stay bearable. Sometimes they come and talk to Dylan, sometimes they take Archie for ten minutes for a walk around, sometimes they bring Dylan gifts for his stay, toys, books and stickers and they are always there when I need to hear a friendly adult voice.

My secret stash is hidden in  . . . well obviously I won't share that information, just in case you know where we are! But lets just say I don't let my stash get too low.  

Parenting can be hard, there are ups and downs and many hurdles along the way, but thank goodness there is always chocolate to brighten even the cloudiest of days!  It didn't take me long to realise how easy it is to run yourself into the ground in this situation and spending my day out of hospital unable to get out of bed was a bit of a wake up call.  Now I make sure I relax when I get a chance and of course a chocolate biscuit or two doesn't hurt!

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5 Months In

We are now 5 months in to our life as a family of four.  This last month has had its ups and downs and Archie has celebrated turning 5 months old in the hospital.  5 months seems to signal a huge change and my baby boy seems to be growing up rather too fast.

 Archie is well and truly a mummy's boy.  He can look rather serious at times, but the moment he catches my eye a huge smile spreads over his face.  He is happiest in my arms and doesn't like to venture too far from me.  He has become very smiley over the last month though and he now gives out gummy grins to anyone who will talk to him.  He is laughing more and more and loves my silly voices.  I think he will be the thrill seeker of the family as he loves being thrown in the air, or when I make sudden movements or loud noises.

He may not be crawling yet, but Archie is well and truly on the move.  He explores every corner of his cot as he twists, turns and rolls around and in the blink of an eye he has moved across the room somehow.  He likes to curl his legs underneath him and then push off against them to go forward.  He is still happiest when he is stood up and hasn't quite mastered sitting unaided yet.

It appears that I breed big hungry babies, and just like his big brother, Archie has stopped putting on weight when he turned 4 months old and started dropping through the centiles in his little red book.  Despite me wanting to wait until 6 months to wean, we have been advised to start now and from 5 months our weaning journey will begin.

Dylan has always been affectionate with his kisses and hand holding, but he is now asking for cuddles with 'Bubba' all the time too.  Dylan loves to show Archie everything he is doing and all day long I hear 'Look Bubba, look' as Archie is shown everything from a toy, to grapes, to Dylan's knees.

Teething is well and truly underway and Archie is soaking through bibs in no time (chewing them probably doesn't help).  Everything goes straight in his mouth and I have invested in a Sophie Le Giraffe after reading such fab reviews.  Archie fell instantly in love with it, and his little legs stiffen in excitement when he hears the squeak.  I see no signs of any imminent arrivals but Dylan didn't get his first two until 8 months so I expect Archie will be similar.

Breastfeeding is still going well and we are still demand feeding with no real schedule.  Nights are all over the place but we are sharing a room on the ward with a child who wakes up screaming at random points in the night as well as having children that need inhalers or medicine through the night, and don't always take them quietly.  I have no idea how much Archie is waking up from other noises or from wanting milk but even on our night at home we have two night feeds still. 

At 5 months Archie is a happy, healthy and beautiful little baby but I can see him growing up before my eyes.

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It Goes Too Fast

It seems like only last week that I was in the Midwife led unit ready to meet my baby boy.  Only yesterday that I had a tiny newborn curled up on my tummy as he slept so peacefully.  In a flash the months have passed and today it is 5 months since that life changing moment that Archie entered the world.

My baby no longer spends his days snoozing on me.  He no loner feeds every hour or two and he no longer fits so comfortably in his pram.  His little limbs have uncurled, his hair has fallen out and re-grown in the lightest blonde.   His face has taken on personality and is often adorned with the most perfect smile.

My beautiful boy is well and truly on the move, even if he is not yet crawling.  He examines and explores every corner of his cot as he twists and turns and rolls.  His hands find the bars, his gums inspect anything in reach.  His eyes search out people and toys and his legs stiffen and wriggle in excitement.

His beautiful face is lit up with smiles and the whole room lights up when he lets out a laugh.  There is no sound more precious than a baby's gurgling giggle and Archie is getting more generous with his.  The best smiles are still reserved for mummy but he is a happy and content little man.

At some point in the next month, we will start our weaning journey.  Archie is increasingly interested in what we are eating and there will come a point when milk is not enough for him anymore.  There is something immensely precious about these first few months where I am his only source of food, nutrition, sustenance and I am sad about the prospect of this ending.  It is astonishing how much a baby grows up with that first mouthful.

Over the next month we will also be making the transition from Carry cot to pushchair, another change that I am reluctant to make.  My baby is not so little and already looks squished in his cosy buggy but as a tummy sleeper, I know that the carrycot is still the best choice both for his development and his rest.

In the next month we will have to move the little man into his own bedroom.  He is outgrowing his crib and the cot is all set up for him in his very own room.  I am still not ready to make the move but I know our days of sleeping so close are numbered as babies do not stay small forever.  Archie is not sleeping through the night and as well as dreading the distance, there is the added negative of night time wanderings for feeds.

Every month is full of choices and changes, yet this one seems even more so.  Every single day I see my teeny tiny newborn growing before my eyes and as wonderful as it is to watch him turn into the amazing little boy I know he will be, it is all going far too fast.

Disclaimer:  I have been compensated for the link in this post

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