Your first sleepover

Just before you were three months old me and you dad decided to have a night off to ourselves, your Anti Heidi had agreed to have you for the night, so that morning we went to Abererch to take a few school photos, they also added you into them also. As soon as that was done you went with Heidi and we went to Llandudno.
You were a good boy for them and you slept well although Heidi didn't and kept checking on you! You had fun playing with both your cousins and didn't seem to mind being away from your dad and I.

Bed!

At 6 weeks old we moved you to your cot bed  which was placed at the end of our bed. You had grown too big for your carry cot and was making you unsettled and you couldn't stretch. It did take us a day or so to get you used to the space of the cot bed but once you got over the initial shock you seemed to like it and there was no looking back.

You looked so small in the bed I must admit, we'd been so used to have you in something so small in comparison. But I'm glad that we did when we did and bypassed any tantrums and disturbed nights.

Feeling like a failure

When you were just over 10 weeks old you decided that you would test me. At this point I was still breastfeeding you and seemed to go well.. until this day.
When you woke up you fed for a little while, nothing to your usual self, but throughout the morning you screamed and resisted any further feeds I attempted to give you. This carried on through the afternoon.

I called my health visitor (by this time I was crying along with you and we were both a mess!) she told me to keep trying and she would come to see me the next day... I don't think I could have coped until then if it continued. What made it worse was the thought that you were in pain because you had missed so many feeds.
I called your Aunty Heidi, who suggested we buy some formula for the evening and night to settle you and to try breastfeeding again in the morning when we were a little less stressed. You drank so much formula from a bottle when we got it and immediately you were settled.

But unfortunately you had enough of me and wanted to drink only from a bottle, I did manage to feed you at night for almost a week but then i dried up and that was that.

Its peculiar that until your aunt suggested for me to try a bottle i wouldn't have thought of it, from all the talking with other professionally and the push for breastfeeding it wasn't mentioned.
But it didn't stop me from feeling as if I had failed you.

Thankfully the thought went away and I got to thinking that so long as you were fed then it shouldn't matter what type you had, and it's not like I hadn't tried at all.

Terry Nappies

Here's a picture of you wearing terry nappies. You look very bulky and somewhat uncomfortable.
We were given a large amount of these nappies from your Aunty Heidi, They did prove useful but i dont think I will be using them overnight as you do seem more restless and irritable at times.

There are positives in using these, some being

• Cheaper to use
• Better for the environment
• Looks adorable in certain outfits

But there are negatives, such as

• They are big and bulky
• If not changed often can create bad nappy rash
• Adds a massive load for washing 

Considering the above, what I was doing was putting one to two of them on you a day and then switching to disposable nappies for the rest of the time. So at least this way we were still saving on nappies in a way and not creating too much washing for ourselves.

Feet!

I love feet photos, and thanks to Aunty Sarah they look even better!

I dread to imagine how big those feet will get the older you go! We'll have to wait and see I guess.

Circus

At 9 weeks old we were delighted to hear that the circus was in town, and as i'm a child in disguise and hadn't been to one since i was very young we decided to go. Your nannan, my sister and her 2 kids went with us as well.
We were unsure as to how you would react to the noise and lights, and when it all went dark and started with a loud gunshot, you surprised us all and wasn't phased at all, you kept moving your eyes to follow the spotlight and the reflections on the roof.
Even though you won't remember this and next time we take you to one you will more than likely scream but its a nice day for us to remember.

Skype

Unfortunately one side of the family lives in Grimsby so unfortunately unable to see you very often. But what has been fantastic is using skype with Grandma, Granddad and uncle Dave.
To begin with you were in our arms not taking any notice, but as time has passed you love to see them on the screen and giving an instant smile of recognition.
This way your grandparents are able to see you grow. We have a few videos of your conversations with them and your attempts to attack the laptop.

Your first snow!

4th April came with your first snow, at five and a half weeks old you were unaware of the fun to be had, but we did make sure that we had a picture or two of the occasion. As exiting as it was there was a downside, we didn't have electric from 4am until about 8pm. It wouldn't have been too bad but we couldn't leave either, the roads were blocked. 

So we huddled in front of the log burner all day drinking tea and keeping warm. I've never been so glad that you were breastfed as we didn't have to worry about any sterilising or warming things up for you. As well as that if the electric hadn't have come back on when it did we all would have had to sleep downstairs.

I do hope that when we get our next snow fall you will be a bit older and more aware and want to experience it for yourself.

A small buggy addiction!

Dear Sam

Mam has been at it again and found you a lovely buggy to go for walks with you, especially around the hills and off road walks around the area. I was so happy with it we used it the very first day it arrived and you seemed to love it too.
Here's a picture of you in it all snug and happy.

I will add here that this buggy we got the nipper 360 by out'n'about has been fantastic. It a 3 wheeler that is suitable from birth and has made life easy at our home, it is easily dismantled and wheels pop off when needed. It fully reclines and comes with a rain cover. The only thing i would suggest to definitely buy is a foot muff. But what they have also made for it now is a carry cot and a car seat adapter which may come in useful for some.

Small update on how you've grown

Here you are at one week old after your first bath, you look angry but you loved your bath.

 You're 3 weeks here and changing every day!

Here you are at 5 weeks old and you have changed so much already, you're not a newborn any more. You still enjoy your baths but still hate getting out but easily soothed with some baby massage.

Week 6 - 8

Week 6 - The dreaded week where you had your first immunisation and gp check. I knew you were having these regardless but it didn't make it any easier. All went well with the gp and nothing to worry about.
But next came the injections 2 x IM's one in each thigh administered by the health visitor.
One went in and wasn't too bad, you started to scream and we had to hold you to have the next one to which you screamed your head off. We fed you to ease the pain and to soothe you. But you did have a bad few days after this, but I can't blame you they weren't the nicest of things to have.

Week 7 - This week we took you swimming for the first time, we went to Pwllheli leisure centre with Heidi and the kids. You screamed for a few minutes but I gave you your dummy and you settled and was happy in the water, but then you've been happy in your bath since the first time you had one. We were only able to stay in for little under half an hour as the water was cold and you got cold as well.

Week 8- We  had our first trip back to Grimsby to see Grandma Grandad and uncle Dave, as well as all the other side of the family that we hadn't seen yet since your birth. The trip took longer than normally as we had to stop a few times to feed you and to let you stretch. That weekend we saw a massive number of people, family and friends and you did very well and coped with being handed from person to person very well.
You were given many more gifts from other people.

Group

At 5 weeks old I took you to your first twf group in penygroes with Elizabeth where we did some baby massage and you seemed to enjoy it and we have continued with it and many others, but at this group we had a gift box with goodies from twf as it was their anniversary.
This box i noticed was the perfect size to use as your keepsake box. I decorated it with some wrapping paper and have kept certain things to remember you at this stage. Included currently are

• Your small hat given in hospital after birth to keep you warm
• Your umbilical cord clip
• Wrist and ankle identity tags 
• My identity tag
• First scratch mits
• First socks
• First shoes
• New baby cards
• My written birth story
• Handprint and footprint in clay
• Handprints on paper

As well as the box, Nan nan gave us a 'My first year' book which we have been filling up slowly as time has passed where i also keep hand prints, newspaper clippings and some pictures.

First week

It was lovely having you home with us on 23rd feb, but there was a thought of 'now what do we do!' but you kept us busy as well as the stream of visitors we received but thankfully we were given some alone time for you me and Mark.
You did your best to keep us awake for those first four days, you and I staying in the lounge for the whole time almost as you had no concept of day and night and seemed to prefer being awake at night but after those first few days you managed to get yourself a little routine and sleeping a bit better.
Im glad of family members whilst this happened as they were amazing and at a week old they took you out for a couple of hours for us to have a sleep.
Breastfeeding was something I definitely wanted to do and made sure I wasn't tempted to change to bottle feeding we made sure there were no bottles or formula at all in the house. It was a challenge and the pain that came with the beginning of each feed was toe curlingly bad, but i persisted and it became a lot easier and painless.

You became more aware and amazed us each time. You made sure to let us know that you wouldn't sleep in the moses basket! so slept in the carry cot that came with the buggy.

Sam!!

Here is one of the first pictures we have of our beautiful boy Sam, although he does look a tad grumpy but can't blame him really. 

When you were checked over by the paediatrician he noticed that you had a heart murmur and wanted it to be checked out before we left the hospital. It was found only to be mild and wanted a checkup later on this year. But we were to keep an eye on you, make sure you were growing well.

Labour and birth!

After waiting so long and being 10 days overdue already, lets say I was fed up and wanted too see my baby, but still there was no sign of anything.
On Wednesday we were asked to go to the hospital for monitoring in preparation for induction on Friday, I had heard bad things about inductions so it definitely wasn't something I wanted to have if I could avoid it. I was advised to ask for a sweep whilst I was there. Baby was behaving and moving happily for the monitor, but to have a nice surprise the midwife stated that I was already 2 cm and things were looking good. Finally something I needed to hear! and was hoping that this would get things going.

What was to follow lasted just over 8 hours and after all the time I read/ watched one born every minute and what they told us at the antenatal classes it was nothing I ever imagined it to be. I understood why other women found it so hard to describe what the pain was like and what to compare it to.
I felt I was so close to panicking and the only way I was able to cope with the contractions was to stand with my head against any wall I found, and with either my partner or my mother rubbing my lower back, I felt that if I did let go and panic then there would be no stopping it and I would be screaming until he came out.
I must add here I have a new found respect for those ladies who have to labour on the bed I have no idea how you manage or cope, the only time I was on a bed was when we initially went into hospital a few hours after the contractions started and they were pure agony, and the other time was when I was pushing. The rest of the time I was stood against a wall or pacing back and forwards as much as my gas and air tube would allow me!

The car journey to the hospital was torture! I felt cramped and couldn't move which to me made the contractions feel much worse to the point I would have happily jumped out of the car. Trying to leave the car to get to the ward was a challenge by itself stopping anywhere and everywhere when a contraction hit, i had 3 just getting from the car to the main entrance (those who know how far that is realise how short a distance it is) finding the railings and looking a prat when people were passing... I was glad it was 7.30pm!
We arrived at the ward to be told they weren't expecting us even though Mark had called beforehand, and i was put in the bay with the women who were being induced. I must have been there for a maximum of 5 minutes when another staff member said I cant stay there as I was and took us to the treatment room and monitored us, and we were at 5cm already!
Thankfully we were then off to labour ward and i had my taste of gas and air... not what I expected it to be. Contractions continued until 11pm when my waters finally broke, and by god did they break! Sorry for too much information but it was like a waterfall!

I was ready to push, and pushed for an hour and it hurt like anything id ever felt before but i'm guessing it stung more as I was tearing but after 8 hours our little man popped into the world at 00:02 on 23/2/12 weighing in at 9lb 5oz and I cant describe the feeling, it was so overwhelming.
Unfortunately I did have a secondary tear and needed stitches which the second midwife did quickly for me, I was allowed to stay on labour ward until 6am ish where I was rudely awoken by two other staff from Llifon ward to collect me.

All in all that's the most part of it, and have deliberately left out the gory details that I will keep to myself. But in comparison to many other labours I had it pretty easy and if ever we had another baby I wish it to be the same as this one.

Scans and pregnancy

Here's where we meet you for the first time at our 12 week scan. So much excitement and apprehension with what was to come, up to this point we were coping well, i had next to no symptoms other than exhaustion.

Finally we were able to spread our secret to the world!

At our 20 week scan we saw you once more, you were awkward and didn't want your picture taken, but I must congratulate the sonographer, she succeeded to make you look like stitch (from lilo and stitch!).
Again you were the perfect baby, and growing well inside.

However although you were a perfect baby you did give me some powerful kicks and made sure that I remembered you were in there especially at night! 

This is the last picture we have of you before you popped your way into the world, 6 days late already but still 5 days before we finally met you. You seemed too happy where you were and had no intention on making it easy for us.. maybe a sign of things to come?!

My first ever blog!

I'm sat here thinking on what to write as my first ever blog, lo and behold nothing in particular comes to mind. So I'll start with I've been wanting for a while to make a personal space to record my lovely Son's development and achievement. Something that will stay longer than any paper copy I have.
Unfortunately as I have already stated I am a late starter and little Sam is already passed his 9th month and so much has happened and so much has changed.

I know that many that know me will think of me odd wanting to keep a copy this way, and once upon a time I would have thought the same, isn't it odd how we all change depending on our circumstances.

For my own piece of mind I think I will spend some time in the past reminiscing about my pregnancy, the birth and everything i would like to remember following his arrival.