Monday, December 25, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Merry Christmas
Dear All,
Apologies for a boring blog and what will be a rather inadequate entry. I have already said how it is amazing how little time I have to myself, and more amazing how little I seem to be doing. Dave and I agreed that it is much harder than either of us imagined. But these are the first few weeks really, we are still adjusting to our new life of nappies and sleeplessness and learning to look after a little baby who could not be more helpless. But we love him so much, we spend hours marvelling at how good he is and how beautiful he is. He is simply incredible. That cuddle you get after a nappy change makes it all worthwhile.
Probably only have 5 minutes more before I (well, my boob) is demanded elsewhere so I will go with the faithful dot points
It will be a quiet Christmas here for the three of us, but I am looking forward to it. Neither Dave or I have had the time to do presents or a Christmas tree this year, but we bought some lovely food and I'm sure Dave has some good wine for us to drink this Monday. Plus, we pretty much have had the best present of all in a healthy and gorgeous Fred.
He is so freakin beautiful, i can't even begin to explain. It makes me want to cry.
In a suprising turn, Ginny and Rachel have decided to come visit for a couple of weeks arriving next Thursday. It was very unexpected but both Dave and I are absolutely delighted to be having them. It will be so great to have some familiar faces to bring in the new year with, and I am oh so excited to be sharing the amazing Fred to more of his family.
Anyway - As it is highly unlikely that I will find the time to call everyone (or anyone) that I want to on Monday, I will use ye olde blog to wish everyone an amazing day on Monday. Thank you everyone for your support and friendship (and readership?) over the past year and especially the past month. It's been extremely emotional and I feel so fortunate for all that I have, for the people I am so, so lucky to call my friends and family.
Merry Christmas
XXXXXXXXXXX
much, much, much love
Heather, Dave and Little Man Fred
Apologies for a boring blog and what will be a rather inadequate entry. I have already said how it is amazing how little time I have to myself, and more amazing how little I seem to be doing. Dave and I agreed that it is much harder than either of us imagined. But these are the first few weeks really, we are still adjusting to our new life of nappies and sleeplessness and learning to look after a little baby who could not be more helpless. But we love him so much, we spend hours marvelling at how good he is and how beautiful he is. He is simply incredible. That cuddle you get after a nappy change makes it all worthwhile.
Probably only have 5 minutes more before I (well, my boob) is demanded elsewhere so I will go with the faithful dot points
- took Fred to the Borough Market for the first time today - a christening as such - as we bought food for Christmas lunch. He slept through the whole event, snug in his sling against Dave's chest
- At the market I overheard a pretentious university student in front of me say to a girl he was trying to impress 'I don't read books that aren't worth reading twice. I dont want to be a prolific reader, I want to be a careful reader' What an idiot.
- Fred appears to have blue eyes, dark hair and... my skin colour. It is still early days, but both dave and I are hopeful that he will grow out of my pasty complexion.
It will be a quiet Christmas here for the three of us, but I am looking forward to it. Neither Dave or I have had the time to do presents or a Christmas tree this year, but we bought some lovely food and I'm sure Dave has some good wine for us to drink this Monday. Plus, we pretty much have had the best present of all in a healthy and gorgeous Fred.
He is so freakin beautiful, i can't even begin to explain. It makes me want to cry.
In a suprising turn, Ginny and Rachel have decided to come visit for a couple of weeks arriving next Thursday. It was very unexpected but both Dave and I are absolutely delighted to be having them. It will be so great to have some familiar faces to bring in the new year with, and I am oh so excited to be sharing the amazing Fred to more of his family.
Anyway - As it is highly unlikely that I will find the time to call everyone (or anyone) that I want to on Monday, I will use ye olde blog to wish everyone an amazing day on Monday. Thank you everyone for your support and friendship (and readership?) over the past year and especially the past month. It's been extremely emotional and I feel so fortunate for all that I have, for the people I am so, so lucky to call my friends and family.
Merry Christmas
XXXXXXXXXXX
much, much, much love
Heather, Dave and Little Man Fred
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Silent Blog, Holy Blog
Well, running two blogs whilst looking after a newborn might be a little bit more than I can chew. Add in the fact that I’m meant to be reading Booker Prize winners (though technically not due to kick off till next year), I think I have definitely taken a rather large mouthful. Oh well. See how we go.
Apologies for the lack of posts on this site, but it is a combination of not having a proper 5 mins to myself coupled with…. nothing to say really. I could prattle on about how much hard work this past week has been, but do you really want to hear this? I suspect it will be slightly boring/familiar reflections from a new mum – which is why I have tried to refrain from saying anything at all. But I’m personally finding the silence harder to bear, so perhaps I’ve decided something is better than nothing but I will try to keep it as brief as possible.
At the moment I am stuck on a perpetual wheel of breastfeeding, nappies and ‘entertaining’. And if there is five minutes to myself I use it to wash, feed myself, do washing/dishes – unfortunately writing a blog is pretty far down on the list.. Its all a bit consuming at the moment, Fred is very demanding, but we are learning and he is simply the loveliest thing ever. Despite being pretty drained, Dave and I often catch ourselves marveling at how utterly amazing he is. Last Thursday he had his first official outing (besides a coffee and trip to the supermarket earlier in the week) to celebrate his one week on this Earth, when we took him to the Garrison (a pub) on Bermondsey street where athletes1 (dave’s company) was having their Christmas Lunch. For the couple of hours we stayed there, he was a model baby, sleeping the whole time, allowing everyone a cuddle. If only that was what I had every day at home!! To be by myself, without reprieve for ten hours a day, (sometimes much longer – like on Wednesday when Dave went to see Newcastle v Chelsea and then to the pub – not home till 12.30am tsk! Tsk!) with literally no-one else to ‘hold the baby’ for five minutes is something I am getting used to. Some days are really good, a lot of the time it is frustrating how very little I find myself achieving on a day to day basis. Getting the washing done is a high achievement. But I know this is normal, normal and all I need to do is be a bit easier on myself. And we are only one week into the whole experience. (So a personality shift is required. Argh.)
In summary: I am well, Dave is well, Fred is brilliant, and yet a tough ruler. We are slowly getting there. Blog suffering... but slowly getting there.
xxH
Apologies for the lack of posts on this site, but it is a combination of not having a proper 5 mins to myself coupled with…. nothing to say really. I could prattle on about how much hard work this past week has been, but do you really want to hear this? I suspect it will be slightly boring/familiar reflections from a new mum – which is why I have tried to refrain from saying anything at all. But I’m personally finding the silence harder to bear, so perhaps I’ve decided something is better than nothing but I will try to keep it as brief as possible.
At the moment I am stuck on a perpetual wheel of breastfeeding, nappies and ‘entertaining’. And if there is five minutes to myself I use it to wash, feed myself, do washing/dishes – unfortunately writing a blog is pretty far down on the list.. Its all a bit consuming at the moment, Fred is very demanding, but we are learning and he is simply the loveliest thing ever. Despite being pretty drained, Dave and I often catch ourselves marveling at how utterly amazing he is. Last Thursday he had his first official outing (besides a coffee and trip to the supermarket earlier in the week) to celebrate his one week on this Earth, when we took him to the Garrison (a pub) on Bermondsey street where athletes1 (dave’s company) was having their Christmas Lunch. For the couple of hours we stayed there, he was a model baby, sleeping the whole time, allowing everyone a cuddle. If only that was what I had every day at home!! To be by myself, without reprieve for ten hours a day, (sometimes much longer – like on Wednesday when Dave went to see Newcastle v Chelsea and then to the pub – not home till 12.30am tsk! Tsk!) with literally no-one else to ‘hold the baby’ for five minutes is something I am getting used to. Some days are really good, a lot of the time it is frustrating how very little I find myself achieving on a day to day basis. Getting the washing done is a high achievement. But I know this is normal, normal and all I need to do is be a bit easier on myself. And we are only one week into the whole experience. (So a personality shift is required. Argh.)
In summary: I am well, Dave is well, Fred is brilliant, and yet a tough ruler. We are slowly getting there. Blog suffering... but slowly getting there.
xxH
Saturday, December 09, 2006
With Love....
Well it was inevitable really, so I won’t bother apologising. Please click hereto see the newest blog in town, or on the link to the left.
Firstly, a big THANK YOU to all the well-wishes both Dave and I have been receiving over the past few days. The texts, emails, comments and phone calls have been appreciated. It really is the most amazing thing, we simply love sharing it with all our friends and family. I intend to reply to and speak with all of you, but as the days slip away from us under a haze of nappies, breastmilk debates and simply staring at our son; I have not been getting around to it. Similarly, I promise the a more detailed recount of the birth will come when I am back on top of the game. Which hopefully is not too far off.
Anyway, much love to you all. We are so, so happy at the moment. Life is pretty wonderful for our little family, we feel quite blessed.
xxx Heather
Firstly, a big THANK YOU to all the well-wishes both Dave and I have been receiving over the past few days. The texts, emails, comments and phone calls have been appreciated. It really is the most amazing thing, we simply love sharing it with all our friends and family. I intend to reply to and speak with all of you, but as the days slip away from us under a haze of nappies, breastmilk debates and simply staring at our son; I have not been getting around to it. Similarly, I promise the a more detailed recount of the birth will come when I am back on top of the game. Which hopefully is not too far off.
Anyway, much love to you all. We are so, so happy at the moment. Life is pretty wonderful for our little family, we feel quite blessed.
xxx Heather
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Introducing Fred Coutts Ligertwood.
(name subject to a technical finalisation)
Weighing in at 8.5 lbs after a mammoth 33 hour labor and terrors inappropriate for a blog which other pregnant ladies are reading, we are proud to give to readers of this blog the first glimpse of a future Australian Legend. Born 4.40am, Wednesday December 6, 2006.
Weighing in at 8.5 lbs after a mammoth 33 hour labor and terrors inappropriate for a blog which other pregnant ladies are reading, we are proud to give to readers of this blog the first glimpse of a future Australian Legend. Born 4.40am, Wednesday December 6, 2006.
Monday, December 04, 2006
And Still We Wait....
**The following post may touch on topics that some find not that pleasant, so perhaps the faint-hearted (ie. males) should skip this entry.**
Well, it's Monday today and I am now 40weeks+4. I saw my midwife this morning and had a 'sweep' done... I won't go into too much detail as to what a 'sweep' entails other than to infer that it could broadly be related to a pap smear. Although considering I let my last pap smear be taken by a nursing student at the local hospital - a lot less painful.
Anyway - what has come to light is some pretty good news in that I am 1 cm dilated, that the baby's head is in the right place and fully engaged (the midwife was able ot tap it on hte head!)and that my cervix is naturally positioned in the 'middle' (as opposed to towards the posterior) which should mean an easier and quicker passage for the baby when he/she chooses to come out.
The 'sweep' or 'general rummage' as my midwife phrased it at one point, should hopefully serve to kick things off in the next 24 to 48 hours all going well and during this time I should stick to the sacred mantra of keeping active, eating curries, drinking raspberry leaf tea and having lots of sex.
If nothing kicks off in the next 48 hours, I will be given another week to wait for things ot happen naturally and if we are still babyless then, we are booked for an induction on the 12th of December - at which point I will will be 1 day shy of 42 weeks which is pretty much as far as they like pregnancies to go (as the placenta starts to degenerate).
As you can see by the photos below, my bump is still riding quite high, which has worried me somewhat that I'm nowhere near ready, and has lead me to have frightful dreams of c-sections and the what not. But the midwife said to not even worry about what the bump looks like - is is simply how my body is built to carry a baby and that as the head is in the right place and engaged, we are ready to go.
And whatever happens, by the end of next week we will have ourselves a little baby and THAT is so exciting.
Anyway, apologies for the baby monologue - it is by far and away the overwhelming story in my life at the moment.... and probably the next 20 years. A few other thoughts
- thank god for the fine batting we saw in the ashes overnight and the Aussies reaching a total of over 500. I'm loathe to get too into things but after watching slightly smug English commentary for 2 days straight, I can't help but revert to schoolboy tactics and want to yell 'In.You.Face.'
- had my most significant celebrity encounter yet. Literally almost ran into Naomi Watts at the Electric on Portobello Road (Notting Hill) for breakfast on Saturday as she dodged my bump (and gave me a big smile) as she vacated her seat and I took it. I was suitably nonchalant.... It was a moment. Wasted on Dave of course.
Well, it's Monday today and I am now 40weeks+4. I saw my midwife this morning and had a 'sweep' done... I won't go into too much detail as to what a 'sweep' entails other than to infer that it could broadly be related to a pap smear. Although considering I let my last pap smear be taken by a nursing student at the local hospital - a lot less painful.
Anyway - what has come to light is some pretty good news in that I am 1 cm dilated, that the baby's head is in the right place and fully engaged (the midwife was able ot tap it on hte head!)and that my cervix is naturally positioned in the 'middle' (as opposed to towards the posterior) which should mean an easier and quicker passage for the baby when he/she chooses to come out.
The 'sweep' or 'general rummage' as my midwife phrased it at one point, should hopefully serve to kick things off in the next 24 to 48 hours all going well and during this time I should stick to the sacred mantra of keeping active, eating curries, drinking raspberry leaf tea and having lots of sex.
If nothing kicks off in the next 48 hours, I will be given another week to wait for things ot happen naturally and if we are still babyless then, we are booked for an induction on the 12th of December - at which point I will will be 1 day shy of 42 weeks which is pretty much as far as they like pregnancies to go (as the placenta starts to degenerate).
As you can see by the photos below, my bump is still riding quite high, which has worried me somewhat that I'm nowhere near ready, and has lead me to have frightful dreams of c-sections and the what not. But the midwife said to not even worry about what the bump looks like - is is simply how my body is built to carry a baby and that as the head is in the right place and engaged, we are ready to go.
And whatever happens, by the end of next week we will have ourselves a little baby and THAT is so exciting.
Anyway, apologies for the baby monologue - it is by far and away the overwhelming story in my life at the moment.... and probably the next 20 years. A few other thoughts
- thank god for the fine batting we saw in the ashes overnight and the Aussies reaching a total of over 500. I'm loathe to get too into things but after watching slightly smug English commentary for 2 days straight, I can't help but revert to schoolboy tactics and want to yell 'In.You.Face.'
- had my most significant celebrity encounter yet. Literally almost ran into Naomi Watts at the Electric on Portobello Road (Notting Hill) for breakfast on Saturday as she dodged my bump (and gave me a big smile) as she vacated her seat and I took it. I was suitably nonchalant.... It was a moment. Wasted on Dave of course.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Bump Progress: Week 40
Yup. Baby still in there.
(Also - just a note that I have updated and added to some of my online photo albums. If interested, please click here or on the link to your right)
(Also - just a note that I have updated and added to some of my online photo albums. If interested, please click here or on the link to your right)
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