SB is having one of his epic morning naps, I love this time at the weekends because I get time on my own with BB. We are currently playing with his wooden train track.
Me: can I have a kiss?
Bb: no.
Me: please?
Bb: no.
*lays down on the floor and pretends to cry. Loudly.
Bb: mummy?
Me: (hopefully) yes?
Bb: you're laying on my train track.
Me: oh. *shuffles sideways and continues wailing*
A few minutes pass.
Bb: mummy?
Me: yes?
Bb: chocolate biscuit please?
Me: no.
Bb: I give you kiss?
He's two years old and already bargaining with me.
And yes, he's currently eating a chocolate biscuit. I needed a kiss. Bad mummy bear.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Friday, 19 July 2013
This has been a crappy week...
Literally!!
I have cleaned up so much poo this week I have it down to a fine art.
I don't have an issue with poo. It's not pleasant but I've become immune to it over the past two years. But this week both my Bears have insisted on pooing everywhere. It's hot. It stinks. It's gross.
Two poos in pants from BB, who then freaks out because when you pull his pants down he gets poo all down his legs and you have to hose him off in the shower if you don't want to use 150 wet wipes.
One poo on the floor from BB. He was running up the stairs to get to the toilet, naked after his bath... and couldn't hold it so managed to get poo all the way up my stairs. Impressive, but disgusting.
And now SB had his first nappy off time for weeks. And crapped in the middle of my rug before crawling off and smearing it across my carpet. Nice. Thanks for that.
And to top it off I've been on early shifts this week, having to drag both babies out of bed to take them to nursery in the mornings and having very tired grumpy babies. And this morning, when I don't have to wake up, SB's eyes ping open at 6am. Sigh.
I'll be the one in the corner propping herself up with coffee, with a faint smell of poo wafting around her...
I have cleaned up so much poo this week I have it down to a fine art.
I don't have an issue with poo. It's not pleasant but I've become immune to it over the past two years. But this week both my Bears have insisted on pooing everywhere. It's hot. It stinks. It's gross.
Two poos in pants from BB, who then freaks out because when you pull his pants down he gets poo all down his legs and you have to hose him off in the shower if you don't want to use 150 wet wipes.
One poo on the floor from BB. He was running up the stairs to get to the toilet, naked after his bath... and couldn't hold it so managed to get poo all the way up my stairs. Impressive, but disgusting.
And now SB had his first nappy off time for weeks. And crapped in the middle of my rug before crawling off and smearing it across my carpet. Nice. Thanks for that.
And to top it off I've been on early shifts this week, having to drag both babies out of bed to take them to nursery in the mornings and having very tired grumpy babies. And this morning, when I don't have to wake up, SB's eyes ping open at 6am. Sigh.
I'll be the one in the corner propping herself up with coffee, with a faint smell of poo wafting around her...
Thursday, 18 July 2013
More breastfeeding battles
I naively thought that breastfeeding was the easiest, most natural thing in the world.
With BB, I gave up after lack of support and supply issues made me feel like a failure.
With SB, I had wonderful support from a Breastfeeding Support Worker, The Breastfeeding Network and lovely mummies on Facebook groups.
With them, I have battled through a tongue tie, a lip tie, colic, having a needy baby and a young toddler and hard night after hard night.
But 10 months on, we still have issues.
Feeding an older baby comes with it's own stack of problems.
We have no immediate plans to give up, despite the weird looks, I will give up when it is time for both of us, not when anybody else thinks it's time. I'm hoping it will get to a point where he chooses to wean himself, but we will see how it goes. We've fed on buses, boats and the tube, in taxis and cars leaning over his car seat, in aquariums, restaurants, and walking around the market in the sling. It suits us, and that's all that matters.
With BB, I gave up after lack of support and supply issues made me feel like a failure.
With SB, I had wonderful support from a Breastfeeding Support Worker, The Breastfeeding Network and lovely mummies on Facebook groups.
With them, I have battled through a tongue tie, a lip tie, colic, having a needy baby and a young toddler and hard night after hard night.
But 10 months on, we still have issues.
Feeding an older baby comes with it's own stack of problems.
- Teething. He doesn't latch on properly when he's teething, so grumpy baby aside we have to struggle with oversupply issues, windy tummy and a sicky baby.
- Biting. Usually comes hand-in hand with teething, but with three sharp teeth, it's enough to bring tears to my eyes. He bites when his gums hurt, he bites when I offer milk and he doesn't want it, he bites when he's tired. If it's a cheeky bite, I take him off and pop him on the floor, but when he's tired and miserable I don't want to upset him more so I tend to ignore it.
- Distraction. A noisy two year old makes for difficult feeding! SB is more interested in watching BB running around than feeding. and if he is interested in booby, BB thinks it's hilarious to blow raspberries on his tummy, or tickle him, or get impatient because he wants to play with his brother and try and pull him off, because he's helpful like that.
- Judging. I got enough weird looks feeding a smaller baby, apparently feeding a 10 month old is past the limits of normal social behaviour...
- Nursing strikes. SB has recently gotten over tonsillitis, a scary time when he refused booby or bottle completely for three days, took tiny sips of water and refused to eat. He's only just getting back into the swing of feeding again, and it took 24 hours of constant feeding to get my supply back up.
We have no immediate plans to give up, despite the weird looks, I will give up when it is time for both of us, not when anybody else thinks it's time. I'm hoping it will get to a point where he chooses to wean himself, but we will see how it goes. We've fed on buses, boats and the tube, in taxis and cars leaning over his car seat, in aquariums, restaurants, and walking around the market in the sling. It suits us, and that's all that matters.
Potty training - the first edition
So we have begun potty training. BB has shown signs for a while, holding his wees, squatting when he was going and saying 'I've done a wet', using the potty occasionally. But I didn't have the time to give it a proper go whilst working full-time. My original plan was to try whilst I ahd a week off, but it was a week of visits to the aquarium, the fire station, harbour tours and going to visit my sister-in-law so by the weekend I'd given up and figured we'd just wait a little longer.
But on the Saturday, we had a rare day at home and so I left BB's nappy off and left the potty in sight. By the end of that day, we'd only had one accident, all other wees had gone in the potty without much prompting. So I took this as a promising sign, and again on the Sunday, left his nappy off. Again, he told me when he needed the toilet, and used the potty all day. So on the Monday, when he was back at nursery, I took him in pants with the nappies in the bag in case, expecting that he probably wouldn't be interested in using the potty at nursery.
He didn't! Nursery were really impressed and all week he used the potty or the toilet with one or two accidents a day!
He still is having the odd accident, usually if he is busy playing or eating but we have been able to go out for the day and he's happy to use the toilet when he needs to go, and he likes wearing pants. Even if it means that none of his shorts fit without a big cloth bum to hold them up...
The poo battle is a story for another time but for now, we have conquered the wees!
But on the Saturday, we had a rare day at home and so I left BB's nappy off and left the potty in sight. By the end of that day, we'd only had one accident, all other wees had gone in the potty without much prompting. So I took this as a promising sign, and again on the Sunday, left his nappy off. Again, he told me when he needed the toilet, and used the potty all day. So on the Monday, when he was back at nursery, I took him in pants with the nappies in the bag in case, expecting that he probably wouldn't be interested in using the potty at nursery.
He didn't! Nursery were really impressed and all week he used the potty or the toilet with one or two accidents a day!
He still is having the odd accident, usually if he is busy playing or eating but we have been able to go out for the day and he's happy to use the toilet when he needs to go, and he likes wearing pants. Even if it means that none of his shorts fit without a big cloth bum to hold them up...
The poo battle is a story for another time but for now, we have conquered the wees!
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Breastfeeding at work...
I went back to work when Jacob was 6 months with plans of feeding him expressed breast milk during the day and breastfeeding as normal at home. Except the weeks coming up to my return were filled up with moving house instead of pumping milk and filling up my freezer so I was completely unprepared!
Then I started my new job, and turned into a shy five year old when I met my new (male) manager and couldn't find the courage to ask for the facilities to pump at work. I know, it's really stupid.
So I began combination feeding.
Squish has god knows how many feeds in the mornings and evenings when I'm at home with him and three 4oz bottles of formula at nursery. Not that he even finishes them, he has about 10 oz max all day! Plus his normal meals and water.
This worked fine. Until they announced a rolling rota. And every 12 weeks I have to work 12-8pm. This messes with my pattern as I can't feed when I get home as DB has already picked the boys up and put them to bed! Add into that the fact that SB chose this week of all weeks to sleep through the night, and you have two very sore, very swollen boobies and one growly Mummy Bear.
So I tiptoed into my manager's office, and took a deep breath...
And told him I was struggling with the new shifts, explained that I was still breastfeeding and having a few issues with it, and that I knew that I had rights but I wanted a solution that worked for everybody.
He was quiet for a few moments and looked a bit embarrassed, but just as I was about to flee, leaving a trail of breastmilk behind me... He said he didn't see why as my son was at the onsite nursery I couldn't go and feed him in the evenings, or have the time to pump if I needed it.
YAYYYYY!!!
Score for mummy. Extra milky cuddles with the babe AND no sore boobies/waking up drowning in puddles of my own breastmilk.
So, my message to you lovelies will be - don't be afraid to ask! You do have rights ( Continuing to breastfeed on return to work - Maternity Action ), it might not be the solution you wanted (really I would love to not do late shifts at all!) but do ask, don't suffer in silence like I did. I'm just glad my breastfeeding journey has overcome another hurdle and I can continue.
xxx
Then I started my new job, and turned into a shy five year old when I met my new (male) manager and couldn't find the courage to ask for the facilities to pump at work. I know, it's really stupid.
So I began combination feeding.
Squish has god knows how many feeds in the mornings and evenings when I'm at home with him and three 4oz bottles of formula at nursery. Not that he even finishes them, he has about 10 oz max all day! Plus his normal meals and water.
This worked fine. Until they announced a rolling rota. And every 12 weeks I have to work 12-8pm. This messes with my pattern as I can't feed when I get home as DB has already picked the boys up and put them to bed! Add into that the fact that SB chose this week of all weeks to sleep through the night, and you have two very sore, very swollen boobies and one growly Mummy Bear.
So I tiptoed into my manager's office, and took a deep breath...
And told him I was struggling with the new shifts, explained that I was still breastfeeding and having a few issues with it, and that I knew that I had rights but I wanted a solution that worked for everybody.
He was quiet for a few moments and looked a bit embarrassed, but just as I was about to flee, leaving a trail of breastmilk behind me... He said he didn't see why as my son was at the onsite nursery I couldn't go and feed him in the evenings, or have the time to pump if I needed it.
YAYYYYY!!!
Score for mummy. Extra milky cuddles with the babe AND no sore boobies/waking up drowning in puddles of my own breastmilk.
So, my message to you lovelies will be - don't be afraid to ask! You do have rights ( Continuing to breastfeed on return to work - Maternity Action ), it might not be the solution you wanted (really I would love to not do late shifts at all!) but do ask, don't suffer in silence like I did. I'm just glad my breastfeeding journey has overcome another hurdle and I can continue.
xxx
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Let's talk about sex, baby!
Now I adore my boys, I wouldn't swap them or change them for the world. (unless we were talking about sleep. I would definitely make them sleep more if I could.) I love them, bogeys, willies, snails, slugs and all.
I will love playing trucks and trains.
I will love building elaborate toys.
I will love building dens.
I will kiss many grazed knees, bumped heads, and twisted ankles from rough play.
I will clean up dirty hands and muddy shoes.
I will tend to hearts broken by mean girls.
I will weather through obsessions with their willies (and accept that this is one phase that will never die!)
I have a bond with my sons that is unbreakable, unchanging, and forever. Their tiny hands have made the biggest imprints on my heart.
And yet, when I found out my sister-in-law is expecting a girl I felt a knot in my stomach. I felt the unspeakable nausea from knowing a secret we don't speak about as mothers.
I'd love a little girl.
If given the option to swap my boys for girls, I'd say no in a heartbeat. I've always wanted boys. I love picking out their clothes and playing cars and having mummy cuddles.
So why, when I found out she was pregnant did I wish so hard it was a boy? And why was I so disappointed it was a girl?
I think I've had to come to terms with feelings I didn't realize were there. I don't want any more children, SB was my last Bear. I think it's knowing that I won't ever have a girl that makes me a little sad.
But nowhere near as sad as not having any more babies. As SB is beginning to crawl, and cruise, and grow, it tugs at my heart that this baby phase will only last a little longer. That soon he will push away my arms when I want a cuddle. That I'll never again feel that rush of emotion when my new baby is first in my arms.
Feeling the overwhelming urge to wake my sleeping babies for cuddles!!
xxx
I will love playing trucks and trains.
I will love building elaborate toys.
I will love building dens.
I will kiss many grazed knees, bumped heads, and twisted ankles from rough play.
I will clean up dirty hands and muddy shoes.
I will tend to hearts broken by mean girls.
I will weather through obsessions with their willies (and accept that this is one phase that will never die!)
I have a bond with my sons that is unbreakable, unchanging, and forever. Their tiny hands have made the biggest imprints on my heart.
And yet, when I found out my sister-in-law is expecting a girl I felt a knot in my stomach. I felt the unspeakable nausea from knowing a secret we don't speak about as mothers.
I'd love a little girl.
If given the option to swap my boys for girls, I'd say no in a heartbeat. I've always wanted boys. I love picking out their clothes and playing cars and having mummy cuddles.
So why, when I found out she was pregnant did I wish so hard it was a boy? And why was I so disappointed it was a girl?
I think I've had to come to terms with feelings I didn't realize were there. I don't want any more children, SB was my last Bear. I think it's knowing that I won't ever have a girl that makes me a little sad.
But nowhere near as sad as not having any more babies. As SB is beginning to crawl, and cruise, and grow, it tugs at my heart that this baby phase will only last a little longer. That soon he will push away my arms when I want a cuddle. That I'll never again feel that rush of emotion when my new baby is first in my arms.
Feeling the overwhelming urge to wake my sleeping babies for cuddles!!
xxx
Friday, 5 April 2013
Dinosaur Pasta
Finding meals that are fussy toddler and BLW baby friendly isn't always easy. SB will eat anything but BB turns his nose up at most food that isn't beige. So I concocted Dinosaur Pasta. Full of veggies, BB-friendly, quick and easy, and... green!
Dinosaur Pasta
(Made enough for 2 toddler portions and 2 baby portions)
4 broccoli florets
1 stick celery
1/4 courgette
small handful of spinach
1 slice ham
Big spoon of soft cheese
Penne pasta
small knob of butter
Boil up pasta, whilst this is cooking chop up all veggies and ham, and sauté gently in the butter. Once soft, add a small amount of water and reduce down for a few minutes. Puree up veg, stir in soft cheese and mix with sauce! serve with cheese for extra toddler points :)
Dinosaur Pasta
(Made enough for 2 toddler portions and 2 baby portions)
4 broccoli florets
1 stick celery
1/4 courgette
small handful of spinach
1 slice ham
Big spoon of soft cheese
Penne pasta
small knob of butter
Boil up pasta, whilst this is cooking chop up all veggies and ham, and sauté gently in the butter. Once soft, add a small amount of water and reduce down for a few minutes. Puree up veg, stir in soft cheese and mix with sauce! serve with cheese for extra toddler points :)
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