#jamielouise

[mummystorybook]

It's 2am and baby boy is showing no signs of sleep just yet so I may as well update.

Danny: is now 7 months old. Can sit up if put in that position but can't quite get in to position himself yet. Can kneel and will try and stand if he has something to hold onto, has been caught doing this in his bed and caught climbing parents. Still army crawling rather than going on his knees. Tried blw, he loved it, I had panic attacks is now eating slightly lumpy puree's to save me stress. Babbles like mad, loves to blow raspberries and will try to eat your chin if you ask him to give loves. Adores Jamie-Lou. Has a Drs appointment tomorrow as he keeps scratching at his ear.

Jamie-Lou: a lot more confident as a big sister now. Will actively play with him and encourage him in trying things. Best at making him laugh. Doing brilliantly at school. Has really improved with her eating, especially fruit. Still has ridiculously long hair. Is forever writing stories and songs. Is currently being extremely good about that fact that I've asked her to do a giant clear out.

Me: forever tired and struggling with my anxiety. Must make a Drs appointment to deal with it. Currently in charge of packing an entire house almost entirely alone while looking after baby boy. Moving house is exhausting but it will be so worth it as the new place is gorgeous. Going back to work. Because I'm not busy enough. Determined to get my teaching assistant nvq set up by the end of the month. Need a hair cut and my nails done. And a full nights sleep.

Boyfriend: on the fast track at work it seems. Been given lots of new responsibility. Super proud.

We move in 11 days and go on holiday in less than 80. Must get Danny a passport.

[mummystorybook]

Been a while

Danny.

Almost 6 months old.

Army crawling and getting absolutely everywhere.

Semi nap strike during the day.

Forever teething but still no teeth.

If you sit him up he can stay there for a bit but can't yet sit up himself or stay up for long.

Loves to hit things and makes noise.

Tells me he's hungry by smacking my chest.

Grab faces and tries to eat them.

Is fascinated by the cats.

Jamie-Lou

Just took part in a concert with the world's largest school choir. She sang at the same arena as little mix and is on cloud 9 about it.

Is almost ready for her first thai boxing grading.

Has gotten much better with processing her emotions and not freaking out at school, not so good at home. But progress

Is doing great with her eating.

Is reading at a secondary school level.

Has very kindly given boyfriend one of her cuddlys so that all 4 of us now own a cuddly thumper.

Us

There's a hole in my ceiling. It's getting fixed this week.

Are looking for a new house to rent as there is not anywhere near enough space here.

Are still discussing the possibility of another baby in the future. I say yes, he got scared by the emergency c-section, extra time in hospital and brief baby blues.

My grandad is terminal but still fighting, my grandma has dementia. I'm trying not to think about it too much but...

[mummystorybook]

Cute things.

When feeding while sleepy Danny likes to stroke my chest with his hand. He'll also reach up for my face.

When vaguely hungry but not yet bothered about eating he'll headbutt my chest with his mouth open and laugh at me.

When finished eating, whether sleepy or not, he'll look up at me, giggle and then bury his head in my boob, laughing.

He'll lie down when he's in a good mood and sing and wriggle.

Jamie keeps drawing adorable pictures of everyone in dream jobs and they're so sweet.

She's learned all the words to the song we use as Danny's lullaby and sings it to him constantly.

She's forever cuddling and kissing everyone lately. She's never been huge and that sort of show of affection so yay.

Dance parties are her current favourite thing.

She tells Danny everything she's learnt at school.

She's trying to learn how to use her Daddy's dj decks so they can make mixes together.

She's trying to learn chess too.

All of this is to help remind me things are ok because my anxiety has suddenly rocketed sky high and I don't know why but I'm full of nervous anxious energy and that used to lead to self harm so I'm a little bit of a mess and trying to concentrate on just about anything else.

[mummystorybook]

It has been a week.

And not a very fun one either.

J had 2 projects to be that I'd completely forgot about. 1 we did the night before. The 2nd was a costume to do with the human body. I was sewing a skull shaped pillow too her top 10 minutes before we left the house this morning.

She won the competition for her costume. So go me.

I've been for a scan since I've still been bleeding on and off. They couldn't see anything though so fingers crossed I'm all good. I was put on iron tablets too because of dizzy spells but I'm gonna stop as Danny hasn't been pooping right since and he's just been utterly full of wind. He's not been sleeping great the last few nights either. Very tired mummy here.

Washing machine and tumble dryer have both died on me. Been handing my washing out to various family members and then constantly having the radiators on to dry it all. Fun times.

My grandma spent a week in hospital due to fainting. She's back home now but isn't great. She forgot who my uncle was today.

And boyfriend had another seizure. He hit his head really bad of the corner of the door so he's been left with a huge gash on his eyebrow and a black eye. I was so scared. Hearing him hit the floor and the noise he makes when it happens. He's feeling fine now, utterly unbothered but I spent most of the day in tears. And I'm panicky every time he's out of sight.

So yeah. It's been a week.

[mummystorybook]

All the updates....

I know I keep saying I'll get better at this regular blogging thing but in my defence it's been a hell of a few weeks.

Danny

15 weeks old now.

Babbling like mad and starting to develop and actual proper giggle instead of just the new born giggle.

Can roll from front to back and can get from back to his side. Can't quite make it all the way over yet because his arms are in the way.

Loves kisses and being tickled.

Will be weighed on Thursday so looking forward to knowing his weight.

He loves bath time, naps brilliantly most of the time and loves a good snuggle.

Jamie-Lou

Brilliant big sister. Forever singing to him and asking to hold him.

Currently doing glee club, swimming and Thai boxing. Wants to add either dance or cheerleading.

Has come on leaps and bounds with her self-esteem, perfectionism and anxiety issues. Feeling very proud of her.

Created her own board game with her daddy. Unbelievably happy with it.

Doing amazingly at school despite a few bullying issues. Some girl wanted J's attention solely for herself and wasn't happy when J made it clear she was still going to play with her other friends. But it's been dealt with and is being monitored.

Cats

Mitten: hates me. He has to have special creams and bandage changes because of his skin condition. He hates it. And hates me for doing it. It makes me sad that I now get hissed at but I know it's for his own good.

Alfie: getting old and going bald. Still not sure about having so many cats here. Has attempted to spread his scent throughout the house. Still loves a good cuddle.

Bugle: escape artist and wanderer. Managed to get out the other week and make it all the way back to boyfriends old area. Luckily another mate lives there so was able to bring him home once he was found.

Moobear: an utterly cheeky eating machine. I just need to look at the fridge and he's there begging for food.

Me and boyfriend.

All going well.

His promotion is going brilliantly and they're and now getting him the training and qualifications he's meant to have for the job he already has.

I'm loving being home so much but have done a couple shifts at the pub. Just when no one else is available. It gets me around other people for a bit and gives me a bit of extra cash.

Main reason I've been gone, my grandad came out of his coma and has had a large portion of a brain tumour removed. But it is terminal. So I'm just soaking up all the time with him I can while I can. Not easy when he lives on the other side of the country.

My grandma has also had a hospital stay after several falls but no underlying reason. Just old age.

I'm having a scan this afternoon because I'm still bleeding on and off. Relatively nervous and terrified about it.

Health scares all round. It's been fun.

[mummystorybook]

Good Lord I need to do an update. Life just ran away with me.

Danny is 8 weeks today. He sleeps through the night and is happy and smiley and lovely when awake. He's over 10lbs now.

Jamie is an amazing big sister and adours him. She's started a play therapy session at school to help with her self confidence and the negative thoughts.

Boyfriend is killing it with his promotion. But always shattered when he gets home. And being a truly brilliant dad.

I've got in to a routine at home now and am starting to settle as a mum of 2. Breastfeeding is going well.

More detailed update coming soon. And loads of pictures. But for now I'm off to the besties charity coffee morning with my mum.

[mummystorybook]

So yesterday was the first day of doing combination feeds.

3 big feeds on boob, 1 comfort feed on boob, 2 breast milk from bottle, 2 formula from bottle and 1 tiny formula top up.

I'm happy with that. If I can keep that going I'll be happy with it and I'll know that my mental health isn't going to suffer for it.

Gotta get my right boob working as hard as my left though.

And next challenge is organising our mornings so that once j is back at school she can actually be on time.

[mummystorybook]

Been up since 5. Back ache, up and down to the loo, cats being annoying and wind making way too much noise.

I was also absolutely starving. Which is odd as I haven't actually been able to eat until at least 10 or 11 this entire pregnancy.

Weather is meant to be a bit cooler today. I sincerely hope so as I have to go pick J up from her nanna's and then go do food shop.

I've got weird, period like, dull cramps at the minute. Really not nice. But hoping it means some progress. Baby boy is currently wriggling and stretching. I'm ready for him to be here now. I want snuggles..... And to be able to bend down again.