The first cry

I was not looking forward to this day 😦 her first vaccinations and her first cry!

She’s been such a good baby – apart from the odd small moan she’s never really cried. That’s despite the three-hourly blood prick tests at the hospital when she was first born and the midwife’s heel prick test – which she slept right through!

Although she’s now well on her way to being protected from a host of horrific and potentially life-threatening illnesses, it was horrible having her upset. But, to be honest, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

So, I had psyched myself up for an 8am appointment – get it over with early, then have the rest of the day to cuddle a potentially grumpy baby I thought. Only to be told when we got there that the appointment was for that afternoon! To top it off, when we came back a few hours later, it turned out I had been told the wrong time and the health visitor had left for the day, so we have to come back again in a week – typical NHS organisational skills!

But at least we got the vaccinations done – one injection in each thigh for the five-in-one against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and Hib, plus an oral vaccine against rotavirus – a nasty bug responsible for half of child hospitalisations for diarrhoea.

We did the drops first, then changed a poopy nappy (she has the best timing!), then the two injections while I held her still. She started crying straight off and sounded very annoyed -made me feel all the more guilty! But she calmed down as soon as we walked out the room – and fell asleep as soon as we got back to the waiting room.

Some babies are also irritable for a couple of days afterwards but she was just a bit louder than usual, and was fine overnight. Back to normal!

In the end it was much worse for me – what’s it going to be like when she bumps her head, or scrapes her knee and needs a plaster, or (fingers crossed never) breaks a bone!

Day out at Welcome Italia 2013

Pics and more from baby’s day out at the Welcome Italia food expo!

TheMakingBox

Last week I had olive oil ice cream – as a (trying to reform) fussy eater, how’s that for adventurous!

Ava, the lovely Keynko, my mum and I went to sample some new Italian products at a food expo in London. We did the sampling, baby Ava looked cute and was ah’d over by everyone. Proud mama moment 🙂

We spotted Nancy Dell’olio in the tallest high heels I’ve ever seen, who opened the day, and TV chef Francesco Mazzie who was on hand doing food demonstrations.

Strolling around the expo we spotted a great range of products, including some exclusives not available in UK the yet like pistachio-flavoured honey – score! Along with a huge range of olive oils – I had never realised they could taste so different – there were stands offering fruit jams, gelato, several types of cheese, cakes, kiwi juice, chorizo jam, lemoncello, panetone, carrot…

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Fab facilities at Mothercare

Last week, as plans with a mummy friend of mine were cancelled, I decided to check out the Mothercare in Colliers Wood. It was only a bus ride away and I desperately needed some nursing bras (and to get out of the house) – using normal ones is such a palava, especially when feeding in public. And I’m not graceful at the best of times so I end up flashing random people 🙂

I grew up near there, and a (very) long time ago I did work experience at Merton Abbey Mills, so I know the area-ish. But it’s much nicer than I remember. There are now also two large retail parks – one with the Mothercare and a Toys ‘r us, one with a Mamas and Papas; a trip for another day.

Firstly, the facilities were awesome! I know I’m new to the whole being a mum and finding somewhere to feed my baby thing, but so far I’ve just come across smelly loos with decidedly unsteady-looking fold-down changing tables. Here they have ‘changing stations’ – two of them. With padded, wipe clean mats and safety bars, perfect for wriggly babies. There were also two milk warmers, a handy sink with antibac soap and (a first for me) a non-smelly nappy bin!

Spacious changing area with room for two babies at once

In the same space, divided by a wall, there’s a lovely feeding area too. This was awesome. A peaceful room with comfortable chairs, a little table and chairs for older children to use and a long mirror to check you’ve got everything tucked in where it’s supposed to be before setting off again. You’re not overlooked by anyone and I felt very catered for. Also, as there are no doors between the feeding and changing areas, you can go to change a nappy and leave your pram without having to pack everything up!

Chilled out room for feeding, again – with space for two or more!

After shopping we took full advantage – changing, feeding, then changing again. She always poops during a feed, does anyone else’s baby do that?

So if you’re in the area check out!

Sweet dreams

Do babies dream? I think Ava does – she makes little chewing movements when she’s in the middle of a deep sleep.

I also dream about food, but it’s usually ice cream 🙂

The one with the projectile poop

On the day I was taking to mentally prepare myself for writing about the projectile poop, it happened again!

The first time I woke up for one of several night time feeds, as usual, then changed her nappy, as usual. To make things easier I keep the changing mat next to the bed along with nappies and wipes.

Then (and I swear this bit was in slow motion) just as I was about to put a new nappy on a spray of baby poop shot my way. Cute little baby Ava projectile pooped all over the changing mat, me and the sheet. At least at this stage it doesn’t smell and isn’t too poop-like, but at three in the morning the last thing I wanted to do was get up, have a shower and change the sheets.

B slept through the whole thing, lucky devil, and only woke up when I poked him going, “there’s poop everywhere!” – never seen a man jump out of bed so quickly!

Skating season

TheMakingBox

It’s here already! London skating season starts pretty early but the weather has turned just in time – it’s pouring with rain at the moment and the idea of some mulled wine after a (slightly wobbly) skate is very tempting!

There are rinks all over the capital including the Tower of London, the Natural History Museum (I used to work at this one a long time ago!), Somerset House, Hyde Park and Canary Wharf.

I wasn’t good enough to be a skating marshal but I did help the kids – they had large plastic penguins to hold onto while they skidded around the rink. Very cute! I’m looking forward to taking baby Ava when she’s bigger 🙂

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Time flies when you have a baby

“Appreciate every moment, it will go so quickly!”

I heard this so many times from many different people before having Ava, and it’s true. The last month has flown past incredibly quickly.

For the first couple of weeks it was hard to believe we had a baby, I’d just about gotten to grips with being pregnant! I’m not completely used to the idea of being a parent now but can’t imagine anything different.

We’ve done so many things in the last four weeks, she’s been on buses, on the tube. She’s projectile pooped all over me at 3am (this deserves it’s own post – to come!), grown out of the smallest baby grows we had and had her first bath.

Every moment, even the poop, has been fantastic and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Happy one month baby!

Knitting a teddy bear

TheMakingBox

I made a teddy bear!

Well almost – I still have to take off the arms and legs and swap them around so they’re in the right place – but I knitted a teddy bear!

As you can tell I’m quite proud of this amount of technical knitting. It took several quizzical looks from my other half for me to admit that I’d sewed the limbs on upside down (I’m blaming the scant instructions that come with free patterns) but it looks pretty cool anyway! If anyone asks the different coloured wools are on purpose 🙂

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London baby – out and about

The first time walking to school by yourself, the first solo long-distance train journey, and the first time taking your baby out of the house. Three of the most anxious journeys ever undertaken!

Is her head straight? Is there too much pollution? That dog looks aggressive! Did I remember to bring house keys? Is the sling secure? Have ambulances always been so ear-splittingly loud? Why hasn’t she woken up, that was loud!

Ok, so it wasn’t that bad – it was actually really nice. (And technically she has been outside for a few minutes on the way home from the hospital but that doesn’t count!) We’d been in a bit of a bubble for the first few days so it was nice to get out of the house.

The sling is a Caboo Close – one of five different slings we’ve been given by very generous friends, family and colleagues (second hand is the way to go!). It’s made from lengths of jersey fabric to keep the baby snuggled tightly against your chest and is very comfortable. The combination of body heat and walking motion sent Ava off to sleep almost instantly and she stayed like that even after we got home. See model posing below.

We started off slow; walking a few blocks then coming home. I was so achy during the last few weeks of being pregnant that it was probably the furthest I’d walked since then!

It does take watching a couple of YouTube videos to figure out how to arrange the straps and baby limbs but it’s worth it.

I’ve taken her out in it a couple of times since and we’ve gone further afield – it still knocks her out completely and keeps me warm and toasty too!

The Caboo Close slings are actually 5% off at Kiddiecare at the moment (I’m not being paid for this post, promise!) and come recommended by me 🙂

 

Back to blogging – again

So the blog has been neglected for a few more months – it’s hard work growing another person! But my plans for posts are still there and, now I’m officially on maternity leave, I should have some time to keep it updated.

A lot has happened in the last few weeks – we (my other half and I) have bought a house and had a baby. We managed to cram two of the most stressful life events into a very short period. Not usually recommended but it’s not been half as stressful as I would have imagined a few years ago. A few years ago I would also never have dreamed of doing either, and probably would have burst out laughing if someone suggested it to me!

So, this is baby Ava…