Don't forget the sugar!

Last Sunday it was Beatrix's Christening. 

Nick, Beatrix and I all went to a family friends house before hand to get her dressed and push her up to church.

She behaved well in church and loved smiling at people and enjoyed the lights. Towards the end she became restless and after a short wonder round with Nick she fell asleep in his arms. 

All of our photographs around the font with the family and godparents are all with Bea asleep. Quite funny! 

We pushed her back & got her in the car seat- still asleep, her dress was stuffed in pockets and corners just to get her strapped in!

We arrived at the reception venue and Beatrix woke up and sprung into smile action to greet her guests. 

Again, she was very good and we fed a couple of times under the cloak, but she was more interested in the people, noise and talking to eat, so I knew she'd be ravenous when we got home.

Once the guests started leaving Bea again became restless and I thought we should get her home so she can have a sleep & some tea in peace! 

We left and Bea started to cry, the crying got louder and louder, so we pulled into Sainsbury's car park to get Bea out for a feed to settle her. 

I stayed in the front of the car & Nick got Bea out and brought her round to me. As he held her outside the car I could see yellow ( Chicken Korma colour ) poo up her back and through her dress. 

We were in a car park and couldn't put her down. 

I stupidly took nappies and wipes etc in a handbag and left Bea's changing bag at home... This included her changing mat! 

We ended up putting the parcel shelf down & using the dress bag from her gown to lie her on! What a palarva! 

Once Bea was clean & fresh and in a new set of clothes I dispatched Nick for pizza & sugar, whilst I gave Bea a feed. 

Well I tried to! 

Naturally I parked out of the way by trees!! She couldn't concentrate because she wanted to look at the trees! So there I was sitting in Sainsbury's car park with a stray boob out whilst Bea was sitting up watching the leaves blow in the wind!

The photo is my view! 

The only thing that made this worse was the Chinese man who walked out of the back of the Chinese take away & stood watching me & Nick remembering pizza, but forgetting the sugar!!

Give generously...

Now I started a very heart felt blog on Friday morning as I watched Beatrix playing on her gym wearing her Children in Need Pudsey shirt. Sadly this did not save when I returned to continue.

I began to feel sad and thankful. Sad that there are many children who will not be playing underneath a gym, either because they are not fortunate to own one, or because they are not well enough.

I began to think mainly about the disadvantaged children in the UK, those that go off to school in pain and suffering, suffering from verbal, physical or mental abuse.

Children in need helps many different children, not least poorly and terminally ill young people who require extra help that Children in need give so generously.

I have watched the Friday night Children in need programme for many years, I have also done my fair share of fund raising. I have attended school and work  in my PJ's, dressed as a doctors, an old lady, a hippy, Marilyn Monroe... The list goes on, but nothing has made me feel more involved than watching Children in need for the first time as a mummy, with my own child.

My husband is more of an observer with Facebook and rarely updates his status, but even he was moved to tears and took to his profile to note : 

" Watching children in need for the first time as a parent is a real eye opener and makes us realise how lucky we are. Love you Beatrix Jessica "

And we did feel lucky, it was very sad, almost too sad to watch.

Bea was feeding during the last story before the BBC1/BBC2 switch over and I was sobbing so much that I had to pull her off my breast to hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I loved her.

Naturally she was confused and wanted to get back to her supper, but I needed to hold her and to tell her how I felt.

I think we should all be thankful for all of the people in our lives a give generously to children's charities.

Well done Pudseyx

Baby led Beatrix

Sleep, who needs sleep?! Sleep is for wimps right?!

As I have mentioned Beatrix is a napper! She won't be competing in the great British sleep off! 

Beatrix from 6ish- 15ish weeks slept from 9.30/10.30- 6ish with 1-2 feeds.

Around 3.5 months the feeds increasing to 2-3, 3-4 and then at 4 months she had a mammoth growth spurt which she went crazy for milk at night. 

She then developed a cold, so that brought with it the regular coughs, snotty noses and inability to breath, so the restless nights continued, but of course I was happy to help her, as it was horrible listening to her struggle.

Whilst her cold has lingered on, the night time is much worse than the day. I have been using baby Olbas oil on her sheets, but I think that helps me more than Beatrix!

The feeding has just continued at this frequency & now we are feeding far more than sleeping, that & the napping in the day surely can't last forever!

I am thinking that Beatrix is now ready for a bit extra & may now be ready to start weaning. But this makes me sad! Aren't I suppose to wait until she's 6 months old? Have I failed her because I can't give her enough?

And then there's the mind field of weaning! Mush, purée, baby led, spoons, bowls, pots, risks, rice! Who knows what's best!

I am waiting for a visit from our health visitor. Wish me luck!!!! X

Nice to see you, to see you nice!

Last Saturday Bea had her Baby Sensory Halloween party.

Whilst I can choose her outfits, ( I know it won't be forever!)I dressed her as a pumpkin & took her along.

My mum & both of Nick's parents joined me to watch Bea.

It was an action packed hour, which we followed with lunch & more playing and eventually got home about 4.

Now Bea is not a day time sleeper, ( sometimes, she's not a night time sleeper either!). She grabs 5-20 minute naps, or part of a journey in the car, but never for any significant amount of time.

Beatrix was clearly over tired & began to cry on the way home, the cry turned to a scream and the scream turned to a roar & I was very grateful when I pulled up at home. I ran round to get my little pumpkin with a beet root face & real tears cascading down her little round cheeks.

I ran in, grabbed the V pillow & the milk shop was open for business.

We fed for 15 minutes & then was fast asleep in my arms.

Once asleep, I like to let her stay comfortable until I know if she's going to wake or not.

After 25 minutes, I thought I would lay her onto the V pillow on the settee. This was a seamless transition, sometimes I feel I need training from Army bomb disposal experts, it's such a task to put her down without waking her!

I stayed next to her for half an hour & then went and made a drink ( and treated myself to a couple of biscuits ) and sat back down- she was still asleep!

I enjoyed my hot cup of tea & then the pumpkin stirred... She was mouthing at my chest like a muted lion, so I opened the milk shop for my favourite customer.

After a small drink feed she fell back to sleep again. I tried my luck and put her down in her Moses basket. She slept for another hour, this was most unheard of.

She must have heard the start of Strictly, because when she woke she was in such a wonderful, happy mood.

We sang along and danced to the show and it occurred to me just how much I had missed her whilst she'd been asleep. It may sound silly, but I was so excited! I couldn't stop kissing her. I love my baby Beatrix so very much xxxx