My Sunday Photo 27/09/15

Wicked Wednesdays #33

You could look a bit happier to be at soft play Noah.

My Sons Tongue Tie Experience

I wanted to share my son's tongue tie experience. It wasn't a simple at birth it was detected and cut. It took a month! One long month, his very first month in the world that was full of struggles because of his tongue tie.

I still feel angry at how long it took to get detected. If it had been detected earlier I believe our breastfeeding experience would have been a better one.

I told my midwife and my heath visitor that feeding wasn't right. They knew something wasn't right as he wasn't gaining weight at the rate a baby should. He was tiny, scrawny even and it was so hard to see.

As I had breastfed my eldest son I knew what breastfeeding felt like. And this wasn't right. Noah sucked his lip in and it hurt, a lot. I know it does to start with but this didn't stop hurting. I winced every time he went to latch on. I was scared for each feed time because I knew how much pain I was going to be in.

I had never heard of a tongue tie until Noah had it. He was never referred for one until exactly a month after he was born. Our health visitor was still visiting the house because Noah's weight gain was slow. She came to the house and I just broke down. I felt like the worst mother in the world as my baby was not gaining weight from the milk I was providing him with. I wanted to succeed but if it wasn't to be I wanted to know. I didn't want to keep on struggling. She checked for a tongue tie for the 3rd time but this time wasn't sure. She said she was going to refer us but it could take weeks.

She headed back to the office and made the referral. Within hours I had had a call saying they had a cancelation and could we make it that day. Obviously we could, found a babysitter for Finley and were off to the hospital an hour away. This was the closest tongue tie clinic.

I can remember the relief I felt when she said it was a tongue tie. That it wasn't me or anything I was doing to make feeding so hard.

They cut it there and then. It wasn't a pleasant experience and I cried along with Noah, even though I was told it wouldn't hurt him. But seeing my baby cry from being held down is one of the worst things I have ever experienced.

The first feed after the cut was incredible. How it was supposed to feel. How I remember it to feel. No pulling off, no tugging and no fighting to get milk. We were both happy and relaxed. Felt perfect.

It continued like this, feeding well but the weight wasn't going on as quickly as we had hoped. I didn't feel full after he had had a good nap and I didn't wake up feeling like they were going to pop from him sleeping all night.

My health visitor suggested supplementing, so we did, anything to make our little baby put on weight. And he did.

What had happened was my milk supply hadn't established properly. I just wasn't producing enough to satisfy his appetite and enough to feed him. Not going to lie I felt a failure. But he was happy and gaining weight with the supplementing so whatever my feelings were I needed to do what was right for him.

I managed to combine feed for 4 months but at the end feeding from me was just a comfort and his main source of milk was the formula. So I made the decision to stop. I had tried my best but unfortunately due to the tongue tie it was just not meant to be.

I truly believe a tongue tie should be checked for at birth. I know they aren't all the same and some aren't easy to notice but if he had been checked maybe things would have been different. I was told when Noah had his cut that tongue ties are more common than people realise.

Tiny little Noah - 2 years ago



My Photo Of The Summer

With the beginning of September and the summer coming to an end it has made me have a look through all our summer photos. It made me realise just how much we have done and how much fun we have had.

We have had lots of days out while daddy was at work but we also made sure we had some family days out.

This photo sums up our summer with two f's, Fun & Family.

I took this photo while we ventured to Millet Farm and did some fruit picking, you can read our whole day here.

This picture has the three most important people in my life and the ones that make me smile every day.

We will continue to have days out but they will be into the autumn and winter, so here is to what the summer bought us. It wasn't really sun but it was full of love, and that's the most important thing.

Wicked Wednesdays #31

 

 He hasn't fallen over - he's just led down playing with the bark as you do.

My Sunday Photo 30/08/15

The Bus Ride

Last Thursday we had plans to have lunch in town with a friend and then head to the park. I would normally have driven but as Wednesday had been a total washout we needed to get out so we walked. It's a good 30 minute walk, up a huge hill but then down the other side. Finley walked nearly all the way and I had promised we would get the bus home. We have been on a bus before for not for a while.

When I first suggested this they were both so excited. Noah proceeded to sing 'The wheels on the bus'. So after lunch and a play in the park we headed to the bus station.

So we got to the bus station and I had done my research so knew which bus we needed but not which bus stop number to go to. So I scanned all the timetables until I found the right bus we needed to get on.

We were about 10 minutes early and a kind lady gave her seat to Finley, which I thought was very sweet of her. Finley was pretty excited to be sitting in the bus station seeing all the buses and so was Noah. He was asking a million and one questions which I didn't mind answering as he couldn't wait to get on the bus.

A bus arrived into the bus stop that our bus was going from but it had 'Out Of Service' on its screen but loads of people were getting on it. So we made our way over and I asked the driver if it took us to Sainsburys, which is the nearest bus stop to our house. He was pretty rude and grunted along with nodding his head so I took it that it did as he let us on. Also he told me it was £2 and tutted at me giving him a £10 note. Oh well this didn't bother Finley or Noah so that was the main thing.

I had to laugh because as I was putting the brake on the pushchair and getting Noah positioned Finley had got himself into the seat and was putting his seat belt on. He asked me to put it on and told me 'I'm safe now aren't I Mummy!'. I had to giggle as his excited little face that couldn't wait for the bus to move. I looked around as everyone could hear his excitement and Noah's singing and smiled but was greeted with straight faces or ignorance. Not to sure why people are like this but its sad when you feel you cant even greet someone with a smile. Maybe I am just too friendly.

Loving the bus

Happy Chappy

Finley was still asking questions and was asking about the bell. I told him you only press it when you want to stop. He turned around to look at it and the lady behind him told him in a very stern voice 'No!'. This made him sit back down very abruptly and I was a little annoyed as he hadn't actually gone to touch it. 

When we started to move the boys faces were a picture, it was like they had never been on a bus before. Finley was so excited to be sat in his own seat and had asked if I had my seat belt on, then looked around the rest of the bus to see if others had theirs on too. Thankfully he didn't ask anyone as I don't think he would have got a response.

When we approached the next stop there was a lady with a pushchair with a newborn in and a little girl. I got up and moved next to Finley and squeezed in the buggy in front of so she could get on. The lady behind had moved and a little girl sat there while her mum sat with the pushchair and baby. The lady then muttered, rather loudly, 'I moved for an older person and a younger one sat there.' The girl wasn't older than about 8 so didn't want to sit too far from her Mum. Not sure why some people have to be so mean and rude.

Mesmerised

Noah loved watching the world go by.

The boys were enjoying themselves and Noah was singing his song. We were about 5 minutes from our stop when I turned round and next to me Finley was asleep. All the excitement had tired him out.

Sleepy head

I had promised he could press the button so I woke him up so he could, and also we needed to get off the bus. Normally it takes a while for him to wake up properly but with the question of pressing the button he woke up instantly.

He pressed the button and 2 minutes later we got off the bus. I think the bus driver was a wannabe racing car driver as he took the corners and roundabouts rather quickly. Despite this the boys absolutely loved it and it was the best £2 I spent that day!

My Week At A Glance 17/08 - 21/08

 

This week has been just what we needed - chilled and relaxed with some fun thrown in.

 

On Monday we enjoyed a trip to Westonbirt. My friend was poorly so I said I would look after her little girl so she could get some rest. All three loved running around and we spent 5 hours there!! Couldn't quite believe it when I looked at my watch and it was 4pm.

 

Tuesday saw us spend the day with my old school friend. She has two boys like me and after they got on so well last week we organised another play date. Again they enjoyed themselves and there was lots of play fights - which is what boys do!! I then headed to the gym to burn off all the chocolate I plan to eat at the weekend with it being my birthday.

 

Well Wednesday was a total washout weather wise. We had a friend over for lunch with her children so at least the boys were entertained while we sipped tea and ate cake. They must have been so worn out from the playing they both fell asleep in the afternoon.

 

We needed to get out the house so on Thursday we headed in to town for some lunch with another friend and a play in the park. We took the bus home which the boys loved! I'll be writing about our bus trip next week.

 

To end the week we headed to Westonbirt again, but this time with a fully recovered best friend which I had missed all week! We also met my sister in law and nephew. Seeing all the children play was lovely. We found the new Gruffallo's Child and I obviously had to have a selfie.

 



I'm all refreshed now for my birthday weekend - yay!

My Youngest Is Starting Preschool And I Don't Know How To Feel About It

In just under 3 weeks my 2 year old is going to be going to preschool. Granted its for only 3 hours a week but its still a big step. Am I doing the right thing? I really don't know.

Before Finley's old preschool closed I was all for Noah going in September for half a day. I felt comfortable with the setting and I knew the teachers and parents. Finley has only been at his new preschool for 3 months, he's settled but in all honesty, I'm not.

It's nothing to do with the running of the preschool or their ability to look after children. The teachers are lovely, Finley loves it but I am not sure if its the right place for Noah. Finley has been to 3 nursery/preschools now so is used to change and takes change well.

I didn't go back to work after having Noah so became a stay at home Mum. More recently I have become a work at home mum but I have always been home and Noah has always been with me. He has had nights away with grandparents and when we went to South Africa I was away for 5 days which is the longest I have ever been away from both my babies.

Noah has never been to nursery and with him being the second we rarely go to stay and play sessions due to other commitments and the boys ages not quite fitting in with the requirements. He does have a lot of interaction with other children, his age and both older and younger but I am always there.

He can be very nervous, very different to Finley. Finley has always been to nursery from the age of 9 months when I went back to work. So he is used to it. And when he started we had a few tears due to it being a different place but he soon settled and couldn't wait to go in.

I keep asking myself am I doing the right thing. I have geared myself up for the tears and am really hoping this doesn't happen. He may surprise me and go in as happy as anything because he will have his brother by his side. I really am hoping.

When he stays with friends he is used to or family members he doesn't cry or kick up a fuss. But it will be all new. And it will break my heart. I think it will break my heart even if he doesn't cry because it will be 3 hours that someone else is looking after him when I don't have a reason for them to. I will walk home and be alone for 3 hours!!

I have said I can go into the office for this time on a Friday but not for the first few weeks. We need to adjust to this new routine. I think its more me that needs to adjust as I know once we are in the swing of things he will love it.

I just wish I was more familiar with the preschool. Finley is very resilient but with Noah being the youngest I think he has been guarded. And with him being maybe my last baby this 3 hours a week preschool is huge!!

When did my babies grow up to be pre-schoolers?!

My Week At A Glance 10/08 - 14/08

We're here again and another week has past in a flash. This week again has been like most, filled with fun and laughter. Followed by a very tired Mummy and Daddy! But all worth it.

We started the week off by the boys spending the day with their friends while I took my nan to a hospital appointment so no photos here. Before I went to collect the boys, Nan and I popped into the garden centre for some lunch. It was lovely to spend time with her and chat without having to run around after the boys. I am very lucky to have such amazing friends to look after the boys as they would have been seriously bored at the hospital.

Tuesday there are no photos again but we spent a lovely day with a school friend. She has two boys too and they all played so well together. They had a ball and were so tired when we left. Tuesday evening I went to boxfit again with a friend and after a freshen up we enjoyed a meal at the local pub, in their garden which was lovely as the sun was just setting.

On Wednesday we spent the day with my mother in law. The day started early with us leaving at 8am and arriving at Nana's just in time for breakfast. They enjoyed it naked as I didn't want their clothes getting dirty before our planned day out lol! We then headed to Noah's Ark Farm Zoo. I had won a competition to hide treats for the elephants which included a family ticket entry. It was the best day and the boys loved playing on all the play areas they had. It was great hiding a pineapple for the elephants to find.

We ended Wednesday with a 'paddle' in the sea, as my in laws live just across from the beach. The paddle turned into a dunk but they had so much fun!

Thursday we had the most hilarious day at Westonbirt Arboretum with my best friend and her little girl. Just so many things happened that make us laugh so hard, best day!! I took the shot of the three kids on my new camera in the woods.

On Friday we had more viewers for the house so we all descended on my best friends house and she made us the yummiest lunch. It was lovely just chilling together. We then ended the week by planning out visit to Disneyland Paris for Finley's birthday - so excited!!

Another awesome week with the boys!

10 Things You Say That Make You Realise Your A Parent

There are certain things I say which I then think 'Did I really just say that?' and then I realise this is what parents say. If anyone heard me saying any of these and didn't see one of the boys stood next to me they would think I was a little bonkers.

 

So here are 10 things we say that makes us realise we are parents:

 

1. 'Do you need a wee/poo?'

 

2. 'Stop picking your nose, please' Small holes and toddlers, they just love them don't they!

 

3. 'Please take your hand out of your trousers' Probably more relevant to mums of boys.

 

4. 'If you play with your willy much more it will fall off' Again Mums of boys.

 

5. 'You can wash my car wheel as you wee' When your in a car park and your toddler needs to wee right NOW this is the only way!

 

6. 'Please stop poking your brother in the eye'

 

7. 'Please pull your trousers back up' Not funny when your in the middle of a supermarket!

 

8. 'Look where your going please' I am constantly saying this when Finley is on his bike as he likes to watch his feet.

 

9. 'Take your fingers out of your mouth please' What is it with toddlers and putting their hands in their mouths, especially after saying point number 3 or 4.

 

10. 'Please don't eat the sand' Noah does this all the time, why? I don't know but it makes for nasty nappies!

 

I expect all parents have said at least one of the at least one millions times in one day!

 

Noah and sand do not go well together!