Today I have mostly been scuttling

Her, not me.

We did nothing, she roamed around and played a lot. We read a couple of books (My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Henry's Rabbit, and Monsters Are Like That), and had some naps.

Wish my life were that easy.

Orna's first football match!

And what an exciting day it was! At 12:15, we toddled off towards town with Orna in the carrier to get the bus up to the City of Coventry Stadium *cough* Ricoh Arena *cough*. We got our shuttle bus under the ring road and away we went! 

We got to the arena, had our bags thoroughly searched then went in. The great big steps up to the seats seemed positively enormous with the extra weight of a baby strapped to my front but somehow I made it up there.

Orn was brilliant, she slept for most of the first match, woke up and had a bit of a shout after a goal (not sure if she was happy for Mexico, or, like me, sad fo Gabon). After the first match I ventured off to find somewhere to change her and had to ask a lot of people for the key to the changing room. I then tried to express in there too, but could hear a queue building up outside that really put me off. I returned Orn to Daddy, and went off to the ladies to do the other side.

She was more awake during the next match (S. Korea vs Switzerland), and at half time I underwent a somewhat misguided attempt to change her nappy on the seat which resulted in her a) screaming and b) banging her head and screaming more. Ah well, you live and learn. 


We finally got home at 8ish, what a long day for all involved.

The Ornlympics Opening Ceremony

Adorable snapshot of Orn and
a little friend holding hands!

We did the traditional Friday trip to the NCT group in Rugby (having missed the last two waiting for a parcel...the same parcel...). We were discussing homeopathy (pffft), essential oils (and the consensus was that tea tree is good for EVERYTHING) and the Grow Your Own Drugs book. I mentioned that the amber teething anklet hasn't worked (shock horror!) but it is so very cute.


In the evening we went to Orn's 3rd BBQ at the house of one of the students in Daddy's lab. We watched the Olympics opening ceremony projected onto a sheet on their back wall. She was in good sprits, entertaining everyone by trying to grab beer bottles. Around 9:15 she had a big cry and seemed tired, after a bit of a struggle she slept in her pram (eek, her spine!) until midnight when the ceremony ended and it was time to go home. This earlier to bed thing is starting to work.

Some of the fireworks!

 
 

13lbs

I thought I should probably get her weighed today, it'd been a while. I also wanted to ask whether I need to worry about her getting enough vitamin D. She's dropped a bit (though she actually dropped to the 25th percentile a few weighings back, they just kept putting her age wrong and I didn't tell them. They're not worried, but I wasn't as I think she shot up rather unnaturally to the 50th!

She's not really enjoyed the heat today, and has struggled to nap. I feel the same! She is trying very hard to crawl though, her legs now get in about the right position, but her face plows down forwards.

Draycote Water (or Holy Crap it's hot!)

Today we met up with the antenatal people to go for a nice walk and a picnic. The weather had been perking up, so it seemed ideal. Unfortunately we didn't bargain for 26C heat and no shade.

I'd got the train to Rugby, where we were being picked up to get to the resevoir. I realised in the morning it was going to be too hot for Orn to spend the day in the car seat, so off we toddled to the train station with Orna in her car seat, the pram seat lashed to the back of that, changing bag, coolbag with my lunch and her milk and the UV tent. We got there and our train was 5 mins late, not too bad, but then it turned out that someone had jumped onto the tracks and there would be no trains going north or south. A Virgin train stuck at the station had to turn back, but would only be stopping at Watford and London, but fortunately for us they changed their minds and it also did Rugby and Milton Keynes so away we went.

The walk would have been lovely if there had been a bit more of a breeze, as it was it was a tad toasty. It also took longer than we expected, and it turns out I can walk around while expressing...I was also savaged by a horsefly, but Orn was safe from both the sun and marauding beasts in her UV cover.

We got the train back, and Daddy collected us from the station. Orn and I went for much needed showers, then we went out to the crayfish party at Ikea (or Orna's second home as it's turning out to be). Yum!

Weigh? No Weigh! (or Toasty Tuesday)

This morning we waved goodbye to Grandma and Grandad D, then toddled off to the clinic only to find they've cancelled the Tuesday one without notice. I decided we may as well pop to Liceland to avoid having to go to the supermarket that night, and at the greengrocers noticed raspberries on 2 punnets for £1.60. I had to then buy eggs and cream and make a pavlova.

 Poor Orn seems to have had a bit of an upset tummy, with 3 horrific nappies and being generally a little unsettled. Hopefully it won't last

Ikea again

Today Grandma and Grandad D came to visit. I suggested we wander in to town and have "afternoon tea" at Ikea, as I wasn't quite sure how we'd fill an entire day sat at home! They bought Orna some bath time toys which we'll have to try soon, and a few bits and bobs of clothing.

While in town I got some vacuum storage bags to keep the old clothes I can't bare to part with, yay!

We tried to go for Carvery in the evening, but they'd run out of turkey and the other menu options were crap. We ended up at TGIs, Orna was tiiiiny last time we were there. Aww.

Orn's First Graduation

Today, Mummy graduated (probably for the last time), despite finishing well over a year ago! Daddy should have done, but an admin boob meant that he wasn't eligable for this ceremony but would have to wait until January. We borrowed some robes to take a nice family photo anyway.

She was good as gold in the ceremony, a little screamy baby had to be taken out and I'm fairly sure Orn was egging her on as I could hear the "hrrrrrrrrrrrrr" noises she makes.

Afterwards Grandad and Grandma S took us for a pub dinner, and she stared around a bit and made friends. Unfortunately by that point she was so wound up that she wouldn't stay in her car seat, and was a nightmare to get to sleep when we got home! Still, it's not every day you get to see your parents wear large winged costumes.

First Cinema Trip

Today we went to the cinema for the first time to see Ice Age 4. The Odeon do a "Newbies" showing for people with babies, so it doesn't matter if there's a bit of crying. We sat down and she was transfixed by the screen, but after about 15 minutes wanted to stand up and look around in the dark, then had some food, then had a bit of a scream and needed swaying to sleep (it was probably a bit stimulating and she didn't want to drop off). She slept through the rest and woke up when we left.

Lunch at Ikea (soup and chips, om nom nom) then a quick whizz around the shops which she slept through. I'm wondering if all this daytime sleep is because of the jabs yesterday as it's a bit unusual. Dropped the Baby Einstein CD back at the library (since she wasn't impressed) and the Hannukah picture book. Nice to know I can take books back to central library that were taken out from another one.

Jabs #3

Well, what a "fun" night! After a fairly promising early bed (bath at 9pm, in bed after with not much of a fight) Orna decided to wake up every 3ish hours, eat about 10ml, then go back to sleep. Unsurprisingly I was exhausted this morning, and we both fell asleep after I pumped. I set an alarm to do it again at 9:30, but when it went off felt tired and just closed my eyes for a second. I woke again and it was 10:17, our appointment was 10:30, so I grabbed some clothes and she went in her PJs.

We made it there 5 mins late, so not too bad. She was happy and bouncy when we went into the room, smiled at the nurse, but as soon as the nurse bent over to say hi she burst into tears and buried her head in my armpit. It was fairly clear that she remembered what was going to happen, poor thing. She cried for a bit afterwards, and the nurse said if she didn't get a temperature her legs would be sore, so if she seemed particularly out of sorts give her calpol to help with that.

She was OK when we got home, had a big eat, then a nap while I ate my lunch. When she woke up she was a little bit grumbly, and every time she bounces she cries so I think her legs are hurting. We red a couple of books; got all the way through Elmer, had a few nursery rhymes, and then half way through Mr Percy's Magic Greenhouse before she seemed tired.She's napping again now, so will hopefully be a bit happier when she wakes up. 

My copy of Elmer, the dedication reads "For Emma who loves books, and her mum who loves patchwork". The date is Oct '92. David McKee visited my school, I think for some sort of book week, but don't remember it very well given I was 7!

DIY Sunday

Today I built some of Orn's furniture. I ordered some stacking storage cubes that I thought looked rather cute, they have a little window in the front that you can put pictures in. All her clothes are now conviniently stored in our bedroom, but we need to find a new home for the bin...I also managed to blow the cover on the latest nappy I've bought by suggesting Daddy feel how soft it was. Oh well.

The rain continues, so we've not gone out. Come on summer, let us leave the house! We were hoping to go to the Festival of History next weekend, but it's been cancelled due to the torrential downpours. 

Managed to freeze another 500ml for the milk bank, so that's good too. I'm so paranoid about getting bugs in it though!

Friday, I'm in Love

As predicted. Night from hell. 45 mins of solid screaming, 200 mls of milk, lots of cuddling, bouncing, and only standing stopped her crying. Eventually a bit of milk settled her and we all got to sleep.

She's been in a lovely mood today, lots of naps, lots of eats, and is now having her usual evening nap. Freddie the Firefly went down a treat, and I caught her picking up a book so had a look at "Round, square!" and "Big, small!". She reached out and turned some of the pages herself, I'm not sure how intentional it was, but it was very cute.

Thundery Thursday, again

Today, Orn and I started building an ark.
Well, not really, but it'd be a good idea. There was a bit of sun in the morning, it didn't last. I'm still feeling grotty, but she's pigging out so must be better.

The highlight of our day was an evening trip to Tesco, I bought Orn "Freddie the Firefly" since she seems to love her other Lamaze toys. Freddie has been surface washed and is dangling from the door waiting to dry. Orna is having another "I DON'T NEED TO NAP" night, which means we're in for a rough one at bed time. Poor thing is suffering with her teeth.

Wet Wednesday

Will the rain ever stop? We'd quite like to go out at some point, please.

Everybody bounce now

I'm poorly

Now I know how Orn feels! Woke up with a sore throat, which I assume is what she's had. I'd quite like to nap until it goes, but that's not an option. Some new nappies arrived, and a hoodie with ears, that cheered me up.

The weather has been rubbish, but we did venture out to the post office to send more clothes I'd sold on ebay (waaaah). All the short sleeved 0-3 vests, the adorable tiny little newborn footless sleepsuits that she outgrew in 30 seconds and the most girly 0-3 sleepsuits.

I also rammed her into her "Little Farmer" outfit for another comparison photo...*sniff*

1 day, 6 weeks 1 day and 17 weeks.

 Aaaand sorted out breast milk donation, hopefully the bottles will arrive soon and I can get started!

Walk-in Round 2

After another refusing to eat day I decided that we needed to see a doctor, so off we toddled to the walk in clinic. It said there'd be a 3 hour wait, but I assumed that a little baby who hadn't eaten properly for 3 days who had a temperature would be a priority. Oh how wrong I was. Eventually, we were seen and it seems to just be an upper respiratory infection. She was given a pad to wee on to test for a UTI, but just at the point I thought "I should take that out before she poos on it" she beat me to it...
Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Poorly Day

This is the second day she's really been off her food. She's also been clingy and whingy, though generally a silly noise gets a smile. She's had a temperature too, so has needed a couple of doses of calpol (god it's horrible nowadays).

In better news, she's trying to blow raspberries which is very cute. She's not quite got the hang of it (and wouldn't do it for Daddy), but tongue certainly goes between lips and creates bubbles and lots of dribble!

Great Alne 2012

Today we went to Great Alne show, Orna's second hamster show! This time I was judging, and she spent some of the day sat in her snug watching me judge, which was rather cute. A hamster friend (not a friend who is a hamster) brought her 2 week old who was heavier at birth than Orna and she was just so small. It's hard to believe my great big standing monster was ever that tiny. Everyone assured me that she was at her first show at 2 weeks old! I also had the amusing experience of sitting in the car expressing while people stood around me and chatted.

In the evening we went to Orna's second BBQ, where she was so excited to see what was going on she refused to sleep. She's too nosey for her own good.

Rockin' Robots

I have a minor robot obsession. I love them, I wish there were more acceptable adult clothes with them on. Now I have my little doll to dress up, here she is with "Rusty" and "Betty" on her robot blanket and sporting her robot nappy wrap (she also has a robot print nappy).


We've had a lazy day today, catching up on Ally McBeal. It's been nice and peaceful!

Sad things

When I was pregnant, I joined a forum for people due in March 2012. We were all going through the same thing at the same time, had the same worries, shared the highs and lows. As time went on, and we got closer to due dates there became many more highs than lows, but it can't always be happy times.

One lady in the group had a son who was born very ill, and never managed to leave hospital. Sadly, little Milo passed away yesterday, and some of the other Mums have been fundraising in his memory to support the work of the hospital he was staying in.

http://www.justgiving.com/march-mums

A message for you, Rusty