I go riding in my car

Wilbur in his cart

trundled round the living room

"daddy this is fun!"

Nightime

I woke in the night,

you were squeezing my thumb tight,

with tiny fingers.

Oh little boys

Huxley wrapped up warm,

Wilbs builds a nappy tower,

Monkey watches them.

Sunday Birthday

Granny Dave's birthday, lots of fun.

Wilbur loved playing with everyone.

Huxley slept all day through.

While Wilbur ate naan for two.

But I'm hungry, not tired.

While Wilbur has finally sorted out his sleep, Huxley has decided that 1am-6am is awake time! Little sweetie spent the whole of this time feeding. But he still looks great this morning!

Sleepy boy and clay

Well, the babymoon continues. And it is lovely! Have only worn pyjamas for the last six days, have had several hot baths and lots of cuddles with both boys. Huxley is a dream and still a teeny tiny cutiepie. I have been eating chocolate and reading blogs and stroking Hux's soft velvet hair.

Also, although Wilbur is too little for it yet, found this fabulous aromatic play clay. Like playdoh but in yummy scents like lavendar and bergamot. Yum!

Welcome to the world little boy, we love you so much,

With a big surprise, in a hurry and with a splash little tiny (6lb11oz) Huxley Winston was born on Thanksgiving. 25th November 2010.

Birth Story

Finally got to sleep at 2am on Thursday morning, but woke up again at 4am, feeling totally alert. Went back to sleep for an hour and woke up with backache at 5am. I got up and went downstairs for a drink and a couple of paracetamol. Put on tv but couldn't comfortably sit down, so I went upstairs and ran a bath, lots of lovely oil and jumped in. Contractions started coming, no problem, could breathe through them, if I was on my knees. After 20 minutes and 3 contractions I got out and decided to try and relax properly. Switched on my visualisation recordings (which I had made on Tuesday night) and tried to lie down (thinking I was in for the long haul).Lying down was impossible and I could only cope if standing up, so got up and danced around through 3 more contractions. At 7am I went in to see Wilbur and Chris who had just woken up. I took Wilbur who was totally confused as to why I wouldn't (couldn't) sit on floor to play with him. He started to get stressed so Chris took him down for breakfast and said he was going to call hospital (my homebirth having been vetoed a few weeks ago because of my blood count). The hospital asked that we come straight in, as contractions were 5 mins apart, but I told them we would have to wait an hour for my parents to come and babysit Wilbur. Chris suggested we take Wilbs and meet my parents at hospital, but I didn't feel right about getting in car, so told him we would wait till they arrived. They went back downstairs to pack a "granny bag" for Wilbur, and as another contraction came my waters went with a gush on top of the landing. I went into the bathroom, expecting that contractions would be faster but pressure would now be less, however the pressure got worse. I couldn't really feel contractions, just a long drawn out ache. I put on my headphones, switched off the light and moved around, holding onto the towel rail and making the famous "mooing noise". I was aware that I had to keep calm and keep the noises on a lower register, so I just went with it. The pressure got more and more and I could feel his head a few inches away. I called to DH to call an ambulance and midwife and tried to stay in the zone. I had about 1 minute of saying over and over: "I can't do this, can't do this," before my concious brain said "Oh that means it's almost time to push". The pressure grew and I half-heartedly pushed through the next contraction. Another contraction came and I squatted on the loo and pushed, but not hugely so. The pressure suddenly went and it took a second for me to look down a see a grey DS2 in the loo. For a second I just thought "oh my god". Then it clicked that I had to get him out. He slipped once and then he was through my legs and on my chest. It was 7.55am. I called down to Chris "he's here, he's here," and he came up, looking admirably calm. The 999 call operator told him to get me to lie down, but I couldn't, it didn't feel right. Chris untangled the cord from around my legs and told me the ambulance was coming. There was a knock at the door, he went down to answer it and as he walked away my placenta just fell out.
The paramedic's face was a picture and he had a huge smile; "wow, a birth, that's a surprise". (He told Chris later that they had been told they were coming to a 38 week miscarriage ???, so quite a nice surprise for them). He cut the cord and his colleague came up to wrap up Huxley and get me in shower. (Chris was still trying to calm down Wilbur, who was hysterical by now). A trainee paramedic made my bed all comfy and found me pads, pyjamas and knickers, so I hopped out of shower and into bed. Chris came up and 5 mins later my parents arrived, expecting to find me in labour! Mum made me tea and toast and dad brought Wilbur up to see Huxley. The paramedics tried to locate a midwife but the cmw office phone wouldn't pick up, so they reluctantly and apologetically transferred me in for baby checks. We were given the home from home room and spent a few hours snuggling and eating croissants. The doctor said Huxley was "perfect" and discharged us. We came home to mum's homecooked food and a clean bathroom (albeit one with no flooring left!).

So amazing. Little man did all the work himself. It really wasn't "labourious" at all. Still on a high!

Toy madness

With Wilbur having Christmas and birthday squashed up in December it is going to be an onslaught here! Especially with mad Granny Dave and Grandad involved. I have managed to do most of my shopping on ebay, Natural Mamas and NCT sales, including this Goethe's Colour Wheel for £3!!! (Rrp £45)!

Officially HUGE!

It's true. I am indeed massive.Goodness knows how big this baby is going to be!

So last few hours. days, weeks? And what to do? Have just recorded my hypnotherapy scripts to take with me, with the lovely waterproof MP3 player my brother bought me last year for Christmas (perfect for the birth pool), I have my bags packed and my notices (ie. DO NOT OFFER DRUGS, WE ARE USING HYPNOTHERAPY) are made.

So what next...

My list of fun and happy things to do over next few days:

Make and freeze dough to defrost later for gingerbread house!

Send off secret santa present.

Meet up with NCT mummies and babies so Wilbs gets some friend time.

Go to Muji.

Baths.

Work the door at the NCT sale on Saturday.And grab bargains.

Go to Eliza's party.

Go to Petworth for a walk and a visit to the fab looking Coco Cafe Sugar Lounge.

Watch Inception

Wax eyebrows

Plan Wilbur's birthday

Make handprint angel cards and decorations

Make sweets.

Kingston craft fair.

Send ebay stuff off.

Bellydancing and yoga.

Type up essay.

Urban Outfitters

Lovely gifts at Urban Outfitters.

Loving the lamp that is a bookrest too.

A

Muji Christmas again.

A year on and Muji are again doing some fab gifts which get better every year: My top picks.

Endangered species in a bag. Balancing Penguins

Japanese Garden in a bag. Wooden forest play set

And last year's dog now comes in ...PIG!

On a less exciting note I am reluctantly dragging myself to the hairdressers tomorrow. I don't why hate it so much, but I do. I hate having to make conversation, I hate people touching me. Am going to go for the haircut I had when I was 5.

A Pageboy!

Nearly november and nearly time for another baby!

How crazy is that? It's almost November and only 5 weeks to go until little Hux arrives! I have had precious little time and space to relish the magic of pregnancy this time round and suddenly I've not read all the books, done all the preparation I wanted to. I'm now sitting up after midnight with my birth plan and thinking...what??? Silly really because I know just what I want! Splish splash, splish splash!

This time last year we were so organised and so baby focused but this time it's all about making sure that Wilbur is ready and that he is going to be happy once Hux arrives.

Birthing from within

Birthing from Within is an alternative antenatal book, based around the concept of Birth Art, the central belief is that the key to childbirth education is self-discovery. With the arrival of BabyBoy 2 just 13 and a half weeks away, I have begun the Birthing from Within process, hopefully to clear my mind of the less enjoyable parts of my last experience and to find more strength.

Exercise 1: A representation of a Pregnant Woman.

The pregnant woman in my picture is proud of her life giving body. She cradles her stomach to connect with her baby. Her and her baby are also protected by centuries of women who have safely birthed their babies, who bestow upon the woman a primordial knowledge or instinct . Her position as bearer of life places her firmly in a central role in the Earth's history.

Exercise 2: A representation of being pregnant.

Being pregnant is being a beautiful part of the Earth's promise. A place that will change and bring joy. It needs protection and yet is a part of a greater thing. The roots are firmly in the Earth.

3. A fantasy of labour and birth

I am inn a room filled with pillows, cushions, blankets and beanbags. A breeze comes through the window, candles glow. I am humming and relaxed.. My baby is in the optimum position aand relaxed. I can move easily. The room smells good. My husband ans son are relaxed in the doorway. Music plays. Across the hall a warm, scented baths awaits.

Planning a Blessingway

I've never really "got" baby showers, to me they're a bit like wedding lists, an excuse to get presents and a way to make people feel that they should get you something. An American import that we really didn't have a need for. I've always wandered if they really play those weird games of "Guess the Baby Food" and stuff like that? Anyway, this time around, even though he will only be one when little Boo arrives, I really want to do something to connect Wilbur to his little brother and something that will celebrate the growth of our family.

I really like the idea of creating a birthing necklace, which I will wear on the day and also would like a henna design created on my tummy. I would like to maybe have people write messages to little Boo and to Wilbur in their "life books" (need to buy one for little Boo) but most of all would just like to have people here to share some lovely homemade food and to have a lovely enchanted evening / day. Traditionally a blessingway should take place on the last full moon before the due date, which will be Sunday 21st November.

Sweet sweeties

One of my lovely birthday books was this:

So this week with some mummies coming round for a bit of river garden relaxation I am hoping to give it a go and try out:

Rose creams, Peanut Butter Fudge, Pecan Pie Chunks and (from a different source) Turkish Delight Fudge. Hhhhhmmmm.

Babywearing

Okay, so my Maternity Allowance has now stopped and I have no income of my own for the first time in my adult life, which is terrifying. However, I have got swept up in a ridiculous new hobby which is all consuming in terms of time, money and brain space.

It started with this very comfy and stretchy wrap, which Wilbs loves and which has 6 carrying positions.

Well then that got hot in the summer so I decided to try a Mai Tei and bought this one:

Then that one wasn't as comfy as a wrap, so I decided to get a lighter wrap, so I bought this lovely one by Wrapsody.

Then I saw this bargain one and decided it was too much of a good deal to miss.

And finally, I saw some videos on You Tube about African Khangas, so I got one from ebay - photos to follow.

Oh dear.

I am hoping that I will not be tempted by more at Eastend slingmeet on Thursday. Ah oh...

Guess who's back?

Wow, time flies. Wilbur is now almost 7 months old and baby number 2 (another boy) is due on December 6th!

Insane

Well, over a month since my last post, for a number of reasons: We have moved into our lovely, beautiful house and made it more inhabitable than it was when we moved in (gone are the layers upon layers of vile wallpaper and in are nice muted walls of fresh paint). We have a blackboard wall and Wilbur's room is blue and purple with some great stickers, which he already loves staring at.

And of course Wilbur is growing by the day and has already doubled his birth weight. He has also really started to become a little boy, rather than a newborn baby. He loves to explore and has really taken to his classes - baby yoga and baby sensory. He has also been swimming and last night slept in his cotbed for the first time (he had been co-sleeping, which we all loved). He is a very chatty little boy and can easily sit and babble for over an hour. He has really taken over our lives, in such a good way!

Baby yoga

Today Wilbur went to his first baby yoga class (now he is 8 weeks old a whole new set of opportunities are open to the little social monkey)! He loved it and chattered all the way through and only cried a little bit at the end, when he was supposed to be doing the final relaxation. He then slept all afternoon - what a good boy! And while he was busy putting himself into various bendy positions Granny and Grandad were painting his bedroom in the new house. He chose a very classy combination of Whisper of Powder Blue and Whisper of Rodeo Drive.

Anyway, while Wilbur is mastering turning his body into a temple, I feel I need to do the same, so my (somewhat hopeful) exercise regime looks like this:

Mondays: Baby and Postnatal Yoga

Tuesdays: Morning swim and post natal fitness.

Wednesdays: Morning swim and 2 mile walk.

Thursdays: Lunchtime gym or at home yoga.

Fridays: Post natal fitness and Vinyasa yoga.

Saturdays: Evening swim or gym.

Sundays: Walk or at home yoga.

Anyway, we shall see!

Orfeo

Such a beautiful website with beautiful things for beautiful little people.

Chair envy

eames rocker, originally uploaded by no.56.

We're in

the new house! Hurrah. Here are the "before" pictures. Although I forgot to get downstairs ones!

And here are the front and back bedroom views.

Loving these too

JACK AND SAMS ROOM, originally uploaded by JetCityModern.

Inspire me nurseries

6a00d83501265b53ef0120a5ba3f4b970c-800wi, originally uploaded by dollylovespink.

With the move only 8 days away I am looking forward to creating a space for Wilbur that he will love. Here are some of my inspirational nursery finds.