He's The Boss

After four weeks of denying it, I have finally realised my life will never be the same anymore. Not for a long time, will I be able to do things on a whim, on my own accord, without giving much thought or consideration.
Before it was so easy to just jump in the car and go shopping, go out for a meal, visit friends. Now there is this whole other mini person who needs to be consulted first. And to be perfectly honest, at the moment, he's not too agreeable.
The reality of it all is just setting in (and I say this in a good way, not in a depressed, I can't believe what I have got myself into, kind of way)
There is definitely no denying it, the power has shifted, there is a new boss and he will be my only ever real boss from here on in.
Watching tv this morning with the baby in his bassinet beside me, I instinctly reached for the remote control to turn down the sudden burst of crying. To my initial surprise, the noise did not cease!

The good days definitely out weigh the bad days; the days when all he wants to do is drink, slowly, very very slowly, then decides getting sick all over himself, me and the sofa is a cool thing to do.

Lots going on the last week..mostly behind closed doors as getting out of the house at the moment is a 3 hour marathon.

Mini birthdays...

Last week we celebrated Tic Tac turning 3 weeks old

This is my favourite pose...tongue out

Look at my long legs...I definitely didn't get them from my parents

Big toe! 

Yesterday Tic Tac turned 1 month. He is changing every day, every hour! He looks different each time he wakes up from a nap...a little more hair, a few more eye lashes, darkening eye brows, chubbier arms (although, they are not quite at chubby stage yet)
His appetite is growing massively; the only thing he is interested in is milk, milk and more milk.
He is much more alert and spends more time awake (mostly looking for milk) and is beginning to recognise there are people around him, poor shmucks waiting on him hand and foot!

We celebrated this one too...

All things small...

My first two books

Random picture: loving my curtains

I said small...

Really small

Have a great week everybody!

What's Been Happening

Our first walk
Last week we decided to christen the buggy and take Noah out for his first walk.
We couldn't have had a more perfect day. The sun was shining, barely a cloud in the sky and lots of people out and about enjoying the fine weather.
Having been cooped up in a hospital for 3 nights and being at home for a few days without going anywhere, it was a great feeling to be outside and to breathe in the fresh air again.

Noah slept almost the entire time so we had a chance to relax a little and take in our surroundings.

We stopped off next to the Dinghy club for a mini-picnic. If we had been a bit more organised, I would have packed up a proper lunch. Unfortunately, at the moment, it takes me 4 hours to get ready to leave the house!
If the weather stays fine, that will be my excuse to buy a proper picnic basket!

We celebrated 2 weeks of life! (And almost at the 3 week mark now)

Visitors
Auntie Jac and Uncle Rafa!

Skype dates
Met his Auntie Belu for the first time. Yes, it was over Skype, but we hope one day soon they will meet in real life. I'm so lucky to have such amazing friends that even though they are on different continents, they are still such a huge part of my life and now I hope of my sons.

World Cup
Since my little Tic Tac came so early, we have been able to enjoy the World Cup with him as well as Wimbledon a few weeks ago. A good time to come into the world! As he has 'family' in so many different countries, he hasn't made his mind up who he supports yet but he is with Argentina for the final!

First dinner out! 
We went out for dinner last night for the first time since Noah came. It wasn't planned, we hadn't even prepared the milk correctly, but I had a (post pregnancy) craving for a cheese burger and were right across the road from TGI Friday's. We went for it! Tic Tac behaved like a perfect gentleman all through the meal. And by 'perfect gentleman' I mean he fell asleep at the table and didn't wake up until we got home. Perfect!

I still can’t get over how tiny Noah is. His pictures make him look way bigger than he actually is. I see pictures of other new babies and can’t believe they are the same age or younger than Noah when they look so big in comparison. It’s hard for me to imagine him getting any bigger; I know he will, but at the moment, he is still my sweet, tiny little boy.
I want to embrace and cherish this time and not wish it away because of lack of sleep or being overwhelmed. He will never be as ‘new’ as he is right  now, so I want to take it all in.

I'm trying to find some good baby/mommy blogs/forums. Does anybody have any recommendations?
It would be great to get some advice and share stories with other new moms.

Have a great weekend!

NOAH

22nd June, 2014 - the day my life changed forever - I became a Mammy.

Three weeks early, nobody was expecting a surprise arrival. Being my first baby, everybody warned I would go at least 1 - 2 weeks over; even the doctor. 

This little guy had other plans.

At 21.45 on June 21st, my waters broke and I went into hospital. Despite one nurses initial request for me to go home, I was admit to the ante-natal ward where I waited from 23.30 - 05.45 to be told I was finally in active labor (1cm). NO ONE in all my ante natal classes told me there was so much pain before labor even begins!! I mean seriously!!!
Hours into the battle, I was asked if I wanted pain relief to which I shouted YES! The nurse came back with 2 Panadol. Really? We thought maybe they were for Alan's headache.

At 06.20 I was finally brought to the labor ward, in massive pain, thinking I still had hours to go but ecstatic I could finally get the Epidural. Once again, this little guy wasn't hanging around. I was already at about 9cm! I don't think I wanted anything more at that point than to get that needle into my back as soon as possible! For someone who is terrified of injections or a bit of blood, I would have happily allowed them inject Epidural into my eye balls if required.

At 07.18, we welcomed our 5lbs, 8ounce tiny baby Noah into this world. It was a beautiful Sunday morning with the sun shining in through the windows. What a nice time to come into this life. Without doubt, the most amazing moment of my life. The smell of a new born baby is something I will never forget. He smelled so so sweet, I can't compare it to anything or describe it more than that - just so sweet. {I hope it's not a direct result of the amount of sweets I ate throughout the pregnancy?} The feel of him on my chest, the little noises he made, and that smell are things I will never forget.

Just moments of life...

Meeting his Auntie for the first time. Love at first sight

Getting ready to go home!

With Papi!

After 3 days in hospital, so happy to be home...

Excited to be 5 days old!

Thank you to my Dutch family for my first book! I was doing some good reading! 

I am so grateful to all of my family and friends, near and far (and very far) for their unbelievable generosity with gifts and cards flying through the international mail services.
Mostly, I feel incredibly lucky to have such an amazing family so close to me and who can watch Noah growing up to be the amazing boy I know he will.

Visits with Auntie Dearbh

I definitely have a whole new appreciation for all the mommies out there. Being at home with a new born is definitely a full full full time job. Everyone always makes it look so easy. I find it hard to get time to go to the bathroom, let alone take a shower or eat when I am home alone. Only positive of that is, I should lose my extra pregnancy pounds pretty rapidly!

Celebrating ONE WEEK last Sunday!

I can't believe it's almost time to celebrate two weeks.

What an amazing time.

Thank you Auntie Dearbhla for my little outfit and Eva for my amazing blanket! 

To all the mommies out there - All tips and advice welcome!!!

Have a great weekend!