CharlieBeth's "My Life As Mumma Walker"

Yesterday was my last day at work. I don't go back now until Jan 2013... that sounds so far away at the moment! I'll be calling in to see folk, especially after Smudge is born. But it's all so odd because I know that everything will be so drastically different when I go back. So many people have left, and there are still more to go. Friends of mine... It makes me very sad because in a lot of cases I'm not saying "see you later" I am actually saying "goodbye". Keeping in touch with folk via Facebook & Twitter isn't the same as seeing them every week and going out for meals & drinks. The lovely ladies from the office did though me a surprise baby shower! I was sent on the tea run - a long one since EVERYONE wanted a brew, even those who never have one... And when I came back there were balloons and banners, and party food, and presents for Smudge! It brought a couple of tears to my eyes *sniff* So we sacked off the afternoon to stuff our

Photos of Jacks Birthday  |  Video of Jack's Birthday Jack's birthday was a very busy day!!! Up around 6ish, presents from us, Nana & Grandad John, and Mame & Pape, then breakfast and off to nursery. He had a little party at nursery (he and another boy called Thomas) with bread-bun pizzas! The other birthday boy brought some bread buns and tomatoes and cheese, so Jack took some more cheese and some ham & pineapple for toppings! He came home with a card from nursery and a toy from the birthday box (a jumping ladybird). Since I was at the GD clinic for Smudge and Mark was working, my mum came over to mind the boys for the afternoon and then come to Jack's party. Jack loved "teaching" his Nana how to play Guess Who, and tried showing her how to use the Wii :D 4pm was Jack's birthday party at Pizza Hut! 8 kiddies and assorted parents: Jack & Tom, Adam & Connor, Katie, and his 3 friends from nursery Rory, Henry & Lucas. I think it

Talk about a busy day yesterday! It was Jack's 4th Birthday so we were up nice and early so we could see him open his presents before he had to go to nursery and Mark had to go to work. AND it was Jack's birthday party at 4pm so I was a bit rushed at the hospital. Mum came over to mind the boys so I could get up to the GD clinic in peace. I had a lucky run, finding a parking space quickly that was close to the doors (unheard of) and then being told the clinic was quiet and I was only 2nd on the list too! Fab! I had a lovely young lady to my scan, she was chatty and friendly and managed to find Smudges face on the scan! I said it was typical since this was the one time I hadn't brought any money for a photo... so she gave it to me for free!!! It was a very short wait to see the GD clinic. They confirmed that Smudge was still measuring big (3423g so over 7lb 7oz already) so suggested I be booked in for an induction if I was ok with that. I said I was and they put me i

It only took a week! How impressed am I with our super boys? Basically all I did was stick to our original bedtime routine, but putting Tom in his new bed. That way there was only the one change for him to deal with. Then just putting him back to bed, silently, each time he got up. That took 3 nights. Not bad. Next I started to put both boys to bed at the same time, but with the same routine, and I introduced Tom to the bedtime story - which Jack has had since he moved into that room. That went well too. Tom got a little giddy but I ignored the silliness and put him back to bed. By night 5 he was used to it. Night 6 was easy and by night 7 we'd done 3 nights in a row without Tom getting up or crying! Sadly both kids (and me) have now come down with nasty colds complete with coughs and wallpaper paste snot, so we are having disturbed nights while they are ill but even now they aren't giving us any problems going to bed and they do stay put... They cry coz they have headaches

Midwife appointment, it's a little late (I should have seen her on the 7th, but they were fully booked) but not to worry. She checked my blood pressure (fine), my pee (fine), felt my tummy (Smudge is head down & "free" as in not engaged yet, so fine), listened to Smudge's heart beat (fine), had a bit of a natter about the silliness of the GD clinic, agreed that Smudge will likely be along the same weight as Jack & Tom, and off I went! Ever so simple, and so nice. Wish the GD clinic was that easy... I'm back to see the midwife on the 4th (booked it already so I don't wind up getting in too late again) but there is the GD clinic next week too. Ohhh... and it's EXACTLY ONE MONTH TO DUE DATE!

Impressed.... it's night 3 and he *seems* to have settled on the first try. He is being fairly compliant this eve, no fuss brushing his teeth (50/50 for a kick off) and even his face washing (90% chance of a screaming fit). He was asking for his "baby bed" as we passed the nursery room door for the bedroom, but I said no he was a big boy now. Kissed, cuddled, tucked in with toys, gloworm pressed, "night night, love you", shut the door...... and silence! So I made a run for the stairs :D Dunno if he'll STAY down for the evening, and I'm certain he'll be up in the night at least once or twice, but I'll work on that bit later.

Well... Since it was the 1st of March, and  only 6 weeks to Smudges' due date, and Mark was working late, I thought "Why not?" I really need to get Tom out of the nursery before Smudge comes, even though Smudge wont be going in to the nursery right away I do need to break Tom's bond with the room so he doesn't think the baby has taken it off him. We did the same with Jack before Tom came along but he was easy to move. You see (if you don't remember or didn't follow my blog 2 yrs ago >>  post  << the move was hardly mentioned let alone given its own posts) we made a big deal of Jack moving in to the "Big Boy Bedroom" on his 2nd Birthday. It was part of him becoming a "Big Boy". He saw us getting the room ready by decorating it and getting the bunk bed in etc and was thrilled to be moving in. Plus, he is a very independent little lad - a bit too keen to grow up. Tom is a different story altogether. For one, he is nothing