James.

I wasn't sure where to write this post. I'm worried that I will forget the little things about James when he was a baby. So I thought I would write a post to help me remember.

The fact that it was 2 weeks before I figured out that after James had fallen asleep on me after a feed, that I could put him down in his mosses basket. I was worried that I would wake him up, so used to sit with him on the sofa not moving, until I began ache.

The way after I had feed him he would need winding and if he had fallen asleep he would curl himself around my arm like a little hedgehog.

If he wanted feed he would snuffle like a pig on my chest, like a pig finding truffles (little truffle pig).

His first proper food was a rusk in milk, which he had at 4 months. Katie feed him his first banana because I hate bananas, it is one of his favourites now. He first yoghurt was strawberry and he had it at a Roman fort on Hadrians wall.

When he was 6 months old Colleen tried to juggle with him and dropped him on his head. It gave him a black eye.

Up until he was four months old he growled a lot.

After a fed even if he was asleep, when he was finished he would stretch he little arms and curl his legs into an S shape.

Up until 4 months every time he was winded after a feed he was sick everywhere. Not only did we carry spare clothes for James around with us, but also spare for John and I. We use to cover all the surrounding surfaces with muslim cloths, then one under his neck, plus a bid. You never saw the nice clothes he was wearing because he had a bib on. At 4 months we started to fed him, use a small spoonful of rusk and milk after that the being sick stopped and so did the whining. I guess he either had a milk colic or he was hungry all the time.

The way it took us a while to pluck up the nerve to bath him when we first got him home. He had a bath at the hospital and screamed all the way through it. We had a go about 2 weeks after we got him home. We did the temperature that is recommended, still he screamed. The next bath we did we ran the water warmer and he loved it and has loved water every since.

Due to me and James having to stop an extra night in the hospital we ran out of baby clothes. John had to go to Asda and get some before he visited us. He also bought a blue blanket.

Before he was crawling, he used to commando shuffle backwards. John and I would leave the room for a few minutes and when we return we would find him sat up in a different place. We knew he could get about but didn't realise he could sit himself up. Was quite a while before we caught him doing it.

This is all I can think off at the moment.

Off to Bristol this weekend for wine tasting.

x

This week I have manly been...

Have a bit of a busy week. To my suprise I have managed to get all 10 return to work day on school. I even having to turn work down. So things are looking good for October.
We have all been bunged up with colds. James seemed to have got it the worst and is keeping us awake most of the night. Luckly John gets up to him a lot.
Have started Christmas shopping. The we are not going to get James a lot because he won't remember, has gone out of the window. He would probably be just as happy with a new water cup, a cardboard tube and a piece of cheese.
Went to Stanford book fair yesterday, but it was rubbish. It was nice seeing katie. We had lunch and a wonder around, but didn't really like the place and it was a nightmare to get parked.
Went to see Jane Eyre with mum. It was ok. Quite true to the book. It seemed really slow but then the book was. I prefer Jane Austin, there is more humour.
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General stuff.

Been busy working this week. It is nice to be back. James has started to crawl backwards this week. He looks a bit like a seal out of water. But he is getting better. He is being a bit of a pain at night, because he can wiggle and move around he goes and explores his cot. He ends up stuck at one end telling his head off. Just watching Holby, someone always falls over outside the hospital. 

School.

Had a fab first day. It was in a lovely little school. Pleased it is over with as now I know that I'm ready to go back and haven't forgotten how to do it. Spent this morning ringing a few school to tell them that I am back. I also need to go into town today and go to the bank, boots and it do a bit of shopping.

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First day of school.

OH Gosh.

Feeling a little nervous today as it is my first day back at school. I sound like I'm 5 years old. I have new trousers which are a rubbish fit, but the only ones I could find, and new shoes which I know are going to give me a blister. I can feel myself getting tense. I have already shouted at John for whistling, but it really wasn't necessary.

At least I'm starting slow an afternoon only. Apparently I'm teaching netball and taking them swimming. Have been on the internet this morning trying to remember how to play netball. Hope the school has a court and balls.

A cup of coffee I think to calm the nerve then off.

Wish me luck.

Katies birthday

Had Katies birthday party last night. We were having a bbq at dads but unfortunatly the rain meant we had to have it in the shed. It was a good night. Ros came down so did Lou. Dad smoked us all out by putting the fire pit in the shed. James went home with mum. Everyone slept in tents in the garden. Spent today recovering. X

Shattered.

Right in a few minutes I'm off to bed. I thought I would write a post first. I'm finding it quite difficult to think of thing to write about. This tells me that I need to start doing more exciting stuff. Tonight for example I played scrabble with John and won. In fact he hasn't beat me yet. I also won at croquet as well.

I have booked a campsite for next weekend for Col, Peter and Vic. We are going to Yorkshire and heading down gaping gill cave system. Though I don't think I will be going as someone need to look after the babies. But I'm defiantly looking forward to getting away for a few days. It is going to cramped in our tent though. As it is a two man tent and there are three of us.

Will take lots of photos to put on here.

Night x

Smell.

Not sure why people sniff babies and say they like the smell. James smells of sour milk combined with an after smell of talc. Yuck. Also is is half 12 and he has managed to do the trebble (sick, poo and wee). Daddys turn to sort him out next. Off to bed. Night.

Birthday.

Johns birthday today. Lots and presents and cake.

Northern Lights

Apparently the Northern lights were visible last night as far down as Kendal. It is one of those things I would love to see. Put unfortunately I live in a town and therefore visability is rubbish. John is going to keep an eye on reports on twitter tonight and if it looks that there might be a chance of seeing them we might head to somewhere dark to check it out.

HOT HOT HOT

Gosh it is hot. I love this kind of weather. Going to go in the garden in a minute after I've uploaded some photos on to facebook. James is asleep so I'm going to make the most of it and have a cup of tea and finish the book I'm reading.

Have been busy today. I have...

Made a new pendant (though it was in the microwave for slightly too long and it now the best I have done).

Washed up.

Teaked the garden furniture.

Nearly unpacked the suitcase from the weekend.

Hoed the front garden.

Busy Busy.

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Jewellery show

I have got another jewellery craft show on Sunday at the Embassy Centre in Skegness. Looking forward to it, hopefully there will be lots of people.
The last 3 shows have been really good. So good, I need to make some new pieces before Sunday. I made on today using my glass kit. Unfortunately it has an rough side so that is one for me to keep.

Bewiderwood

James on a zip wire.

Bewilderwood

Had a fantastic, manic few days. Shel is back from Dubai and has been stopping at Col's the week. So have been spending time with them. Thursday we all had a meal at pizza hut. Holly, Ben and Vic came along. Friday James and I went to Hunstanton. James is like me he loves the sea and kept squealing at it in delight. He had a paddle. Felt like a bad mother as he got really cold on the beach.
On Saturday we went to Bewilderwood, which is near Wroham in Norfolk. It is like a load of tree house with rope bridges and swings, slide and zip wires you can play on. Is was really good. James went on a baby zip wire and the swings.
It was a shame john missed it. He was away caving in yorkshire. He got back yesterday all covered in bites. He seems to attract the bugs. 

New phone.

Hurray. Got a new phone for my birthday and have just figured out it can do Blogger. This should make it even easier to post. No excuses now.
Had a busy day today. The been babysitting Marley while Col and Em have been at the pictures to see Harry Potter. It is an easy job, allhe has done is sleep. Maybe I should do this for a living and become a childminder.
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Breastfeeding.

While I was pregnant it was drummed into us that you must breastfeed, you must breastfeed. I know that it is the best think for the baby, which is why I felt so under pressure to continue to try and breastfeed James even though James wasn't get enough and I was getting very upset and struggling with it.

A nurse came round a week after James was born. She weighted him and said that because he had lost of much weight we need to go back into hospital. Naturally I was devastated. I had been trying so hard to get the feed right. I was sore and it was so painful it brought tears to my eyes. I was also very upset because I was finding it so difficult especially as Col and Marley seem to be coping.

After crying at the nurse, she rang the hospital and asked their advice. I didn't mind if I had to take James in every day to be checked out, I didn't want to stay over night. I would have no sleep in the wards and no support from John to help me. The nurse said she would come round again in a few days and check him out. Before she left she showed me again how to feed him. I was determined that we would not go into the hospital, even if it meant going on to formula. I sent John out to get some just in case. I watch a you tube video which showed, with a real baby how I should be feeding him it was different to the hospital advice. I used a lot of pillows to support him weight and held how I found it comfortable not how the nurse showed me. Eventually we managed. I think it took about 3 weeks for us both to be completely happy about it and for the pain to wear off. Even then 4 months in a blocked up and the whole pain thing began again. I can completely understand why people use formula and I think if it wasn't for Col and Marley I would have given in ages before hand, but because they was able to do it I was determined that I could.

Doing well

I'm so far doing well at keeping this up again. 2 days, 2 post. Though I may have to go in a moment as James is crying on his mat. It is OK Daddy has just turned up to settle him.

Was meant to go swimming today with Col, but money is a bit tight this month as there is lots of stuff I want to do so something have to give way.

John brought a new tent yesterday in preparation for his solo trip to Yorkshire caving. Hopefully he will go this weekend, if the weather is nice.

Going to try hard.

From now on I'm going to try hard and write this thing at least 3 times a week. I think it will be a good way to remember thing, 1, because I have still got baby brain and 2, it is like a diary and would be nice to remember important thing that have happened. So once again this is a catch up post. I will try and keep it short.

Baby was born on the 20th Feb 2011. He was 8lb 15oz and born at 01:04 in the morning. Waters broke at 09:00 on the Saturday morning. Lots of pain the whole thing wasn't good. Drug do not help. We named him James George Metcalf.

He is now 22 weeks today. He was a miserable thing to begin with. He had upset tummy until he was about 17weeks. But he is now very smiley and lovely. Today he was on his tummy and managed to move to get a toy. I wouldn't call it crawling but it is getting there.

Swimming with him and Marly tomorrow, looking forward to it.

Update.

It has been so long since I have written anything in the blog. Pregnant is still going well. Defiantly getting larger, most of my clothes don't fit any more. I'm in week 22 now, so instead of counting up was are going to start counting down, so 18 weeks to go. Still have so much to organise. Spare room still needs emptying and painting. We have managed to get a second hand cot, door bouncer, bouncy seat, travel cot and a pushchair. I just wish we could get a move on with the spare room.

Col and Peter got married a few weeks ago. A lovely weekend, with a super band called the Hound dogs. Will put some pictures on in a bit. They went on Honeymoon to Cuba, it looks a nice place to visit. It was also nice to see people I haven't seen in ages Dave, Gray Ros.

We have managed to book a week away in half term. Going to Skye, should be lovely and quiet.

x