July 2006 Archives

This weekend we got a few boxes down from the loft and started on the epic sort out of baby clothes. There is so much stuff it is unbelievable and we only got down the first 6 months! Its very hard sorting through these as every item has a memory and I can remember Emily wearing them and where they came from and every five minutes was spent saying 'Look! Remember this!'. It was lovely and definitely has put me into an ickle baby mood!

So I have washed the first batch (which was a lot) and it is hanging to dry. About two thirds of it is pink so if its a boy he will either be wearing pink girly things or we will have a lot of stuff to get! We still have a ton more things to get down in order to get organised and although it is still early to be doing this, there is that much that needs washing and sorting it will probably take the next 3 months to do it.

I am finally feeling a little excitement about our forthcoming bundle of joy though. :) Oh and sorry about the lack of punctuation but this is a good reflection of how I am feeling!!

Lately I realised that when Emily paints, I just put out all the colours and paints and leave her to do whatever she likes. Although this is great freedom and I am a big believer in letting her explore and be creative without any restrictions, I also realised that she could still maybe do with a little direction.

So this week we have been learning how to mix colours and try to paint within the lines of an image. I drew a big fish for her and showed her how to be a bit more focused and paint the object rather than her usual frantic paint everywhere. Also instead of putting out all of the colours, which she normally mixes into a lovely muddy brown I put out different dishes and talked her through making new colours. It was good fun and I have to say when you have no energy it is actually a good task as to do.

Recently Emily has taken a real liking to this shopping list game that I bought her from the car boot sale for 50p! It has started coming out after dinner for us all to play and I have to say it is really great! I'm not sure if you can get it any more but I would definitely recommend it.

Basically everyone gets a shopping trolley and shopping list and the rest of the counters, which are items from the lists are placed face down. The object of the game is to find the items on your list and fill your trolley. Simple fun.

I am sure everyone is completely sick of hearing me complaining and every time someone asks how I am they get the truth! Not the pleasant reply of 'I'm good' whilst hiding the actual truth, as most of us tends to do, but the hard moany facts! So I am sorry, I am not very good at hiding how I feel.

I am just so exhausted 90% of the time and when I have a burst of energy it is really short lived and I pay for it. I remember being tired with Emily but it just seems worse this time. Maybe its because I can't just go to sleep whenever I feel like it or have long lies in, I have to be constantly available for Em. Then when I don't have the energy to play with her or take her out I feel guilty.

On top of the that my joints are so sore - my hips and all of that area, so it can either be painful to walk or I can only walk at a snails pace. Even lying in bed isn't comfortable at the moment. I am hoping this is just a pregnancy phase but I am also aware that things will probably get worse before they get better, but I have to hope don't I?

I am certainly not enjoying this pregnancy like the first thats for sure. I'm sure the novelty factor kept me going first time around but this time I just want to rush ahead to November and get it all over with.

Sorry about the rant, hopefully my next post will be full of energy and nesting enthusiasm - fingers crossed!

Despite moaning about how exhausted I have been feeling I managed to sit out and enjoy some of the lovely weather with Emily. Warren blew up her new paddling pool and pushed the bench right up to the edge so I could dip my toes in the water. Nothing for me to do except sit, relax and chat to my little princess. You should've seen her face when the hose was turned onto her, she just loved it!

Its so nice to see her having so much fun and to be honest it makes me feel a little less guilty for not playing with her as much and allowing her to watch far too much TV, just so I can lie down on the sofa. Thanks for being off this week Warren, we have both loved having you around you have really taken care of us both. :x

Well the past week and a half has been a real change for me. I have had a real slump in energy and feel totally exhausted all of the time. I thought it was the journey to Dundee that did it but I am still feeling wrecked. It is getting to the point now where I am sick of moaning about being tired all the time, it feels a bit pathetic! All I can manage to do is lie around or sit down, going upstairs or doing even the smallest physical task is beyond me.

I suppose it doesn't help that I have also started having trouble sleeping (I can get to sleep alright, its the waking in the early hours thats the problem). I just can't get comfortable in bed and junior is becoming more active by the day so that doesn't help either.

I remember the tiredness being the worst thing about the pregnancy last time, I will have to read some old posts. Mostly I like being pregnant, its an amazing experience. But at the moment I long for being myself again, being able to do everyday tasks without a weeks recovery after each thing.

Last weekend we went to see our lovely friends Sally and Paul in Dundee. Its been a good while since we attempted such a long journey with Emily, especially as she is now out of nappies. The ferry crossing was about 1.5 hours and then it took us about 5-6 hours to drive to Dundee. It should've been about 4 hours but we had a good stop at Deans Castle in Kilmarnock and then there was the toilet stops too. All in all Emily was a brilliant traveller and amused herself, slept and was really well behaved.

It was so nice to chill out with friends for a few days. As soon as we got there the paddling pool was out and Em was having a ball splashing about and splashing Paul! Emily helped Sal dig up potatoes and carrots, shell peas and it was so lovely to see her picking wild strawberries and eating them too. It seemed like these are the important things for her to learn about and it made me so happy to see her enjoying it. You can see a few more picks here.

We went to a wonderful park too and saw lots of animals, went on the fair and played in the park. The only drawback for me was that I had a real dip in energy this weekend and I had to keep going to bed in the afternoons and having early nights, I think the travelling must've taken its toll.

Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend Sal & Paul. We really enjoyed ourselves and it was great seeing you again and being in your lovely house!