Holidays and High Jinks

Last week we went on our first family holiday to Dorset. We stayed in a lovely little cottage, about 6 miles from Lyme Regis, and celebrated 3 milestones - J's birthday, Harrison reaching 7 months old and J leaving his job in London. 

We had a really wonderful time and it was so good to spend quality time together, surrounded by glorious countryside, rolling hills and the breathtaking Jurassic Coast. We spent days eating fish and chips and fudge on the beach at Lyme Regis, climbing up Jacob's Ladder and exploring deep underground caves in Cheddar Gorge and trekking miles of perfect powder-white cliffs at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. 

Harrison, always such a chirpy ray of sunshine, took the change in scenery in his stride and slept well in his travel cot, quite possibly exhausted from the exciting adventures of the day. As for me and J, we got to spend evenings cuddled up drinking in this view and some delicious moscato rosé. 

It's no lie that that we face some real changes as a family now as J embarks on a new path for his career, but perhaps it was the long car journeys filled with good conversation, the moments of peace surrounded by nature, the fun of the seaside or the joy of standing on a cliff top marvelling at our beautiful world with the two people I love best in all the world, but I feel renewed. I feel whole. I feel like we have made amazing memories for us and our boy. And I feel excited for these new changes and for how they will shape our family's future.

As for the latest on our little bundle of joy, he is learning new skills at an alarming rate! Sitting up on his own is now a doddle. He now does a funny little wiggly dance when he's excited. He reaches out for me, J, his favourite toys. He grins and giggles with glee when he hears his Iggle Piggle sing it's song. He laughs at my silliness and revels in the dodgy dances, songs and tricks I perform. I'm his personal entertainer and have an embarrassingly large repertoire of daft things I will do to see his gorgeous, gummy grin. Of course, when J does something silly or joins in, it's even better and we will lapse into our comedy duo routine, much to Harrison's delight. 

J's career change means that currently we are blessed with lots of family time whilst things get up and running. I'm so overjoyed that J gets to see more of his son now, at this most precious and exciting time of his life. Now I have someone to share those magical moments with when Harrison performs tricks of his own, whether it's finishing a bowl of porridge in the morning without a fuss or doing his little jig when In the Night Garden comes on the TV. 

Sometime I do feel like it's the little things that matter the most in life. And Harrison is the littlest of us all. 

Half Birthday

This weekend saw our baby boy turn 6 months old! I know I wrote this on every post but seriously - where has the time gone?! It feels like only yesterday we brought him home from the hospital and I laid in bed listening to every snuffly breath he made, exhausted but barely able to sleep because of the adrenaline pumping round my body - our baby was here at last! I remember sneaking out the room and sitting in the nursery with him, the weak early morning light streaming in through the curtains as I breastfed him properly alone for the first time. How proud I felt, how I radiated love for this new tiny person from ever fibre of my being. 

Six months on and I'm still breastfeeding, though I have obviously introduced a few solids to his diet now. Harrison is now a fan of porridge, banana, sweet potato, butternut squash and apple. Today I'll try him with some peach purée I made and hopefully he'll like it. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't be with my baby boy for his half-birthday morning as I had to go into hospital to finally remove that pesky wisdom tooth! They do say that you lose a tooth for every child you have! I got sent this photo of my two best boys though, which really cheered me up.

And this weekend we welcomed a new addition to the household, a shiny new car... This one actually fits the pushchair and a weeks worth of shopping in the boot!

Harrison has reached such a lovely age, he learns something new everyday and is now into everything - grabbing everything he can reach, trying to kiss my face, pulling my hair...he is such a good natured boy and always has a big smile for his mummy and daddy. 

One Year On...

It's so hard to believe that a year ago now I'd just found out I was pregnant. Remembering the nerves and the odd feeling of realising something, a tiny little life, was growing inside me. The incredible journey I've been on in the last year has been overwhelming, exhausting, a huge learning curve but undoubtedly the greatest year of my life. Looking down at my little boy who is fast asleep in my lap, I get a lump in my throat as my mind replays the sorrows and fear when I thought I was losing him, and also the indescribable joy as I felt him kick and writhe inside me. 

I'm still on that journey. Everyday brings a new challenge, a new song to sing to soothe him, a new game to play, a new experience of being Harrison's mummy. On Friday last week he rolled over for the first time - from his tummy to his back. Of course, it happened as I went out if the room for 10 seconds to put a nappy in the bin! I returned to see my boy's wry grin as he realised what he'd just done. There was most definitely a twinkle in his eye! I would have felt terrible if he hadn't rolled straight back over when I flipped him over again. And now that little manoeuvre, that used to take 10 minutes of coaxing and dangling squeaky toys near his head, now takes seconds as he rolls himself every time he's on his tummy. Of course, it's only in one direction now, but who knows? Maybe next week he'll conquer the other side, his little fists bunched with pride and his eyes a-gleam. 

Other things Harrison can do...

1. Coos, sighs and makes funny sounds as he learns that making noises whilst moving your mouth and lips makes different sounds

2. Supports his head (he's done that from a very young age anyway)

3. Supports his head, neck and shoulders by lifting them off the ground during tummy time

4. Copies sounds (especially when I say and sign 'I Love You' - it really does sound like he's trying it say it back!

5. Kicks his legs like he's running on the spot

6. Splashes in the bath with all limbs

7. Grabs toys, hair, clothes etc and puts them in his mouth (or tries to)

8. Swats at things, pushes toys away

9. Stands up and sits up sturdily if supported

10. Giggles and laughs at things he finds funny (normally me and J)

It's so funny to think that a year ago he was just a few cells rapidly multiplying and now he's a living, breathing baby, kicking around on his playmat, getting cross with me when I put his coat on and laughing away when I catch him spying on me. Harrison is a proper little baby boy now with so much character. He is just a joy to be around and I'm so excited for the next year! What will he be doing one year on from now I wonder...

One Month On

Harrison had his one month old birthday yesterday and what a whirlwind of a month it's been! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone and it's both exhilarating, watching our little boy develop everyday, but also bittersweet with the realisation that he will grow up so fast. So, what has happened in the last month? 

J returned to work after his paternity leave ended. That was hard. Really hard for me to see him leave us, knowing that his heart was breaking a little bit to say goodbye. Most week days I spend on average 2 wakeful hours with J. Whilst it used to get me down, now we have a child it really upsets me. In the minutes before he's expected home I'm like our old family dog, Cassie, pacing the hallway, looking through the spy hole in the door every few minutes, eagerly awaiting his return. I carry Harrison around, geeing him up saying 'Daddy will be home soon!' And then the magical moment comes when I see J's bike lights flash up our driveway and I open the door to him and then our evening feels like it's finally begun. Watching Harrison and J spend quality time together is the absolute highlight of my day. 

Harrison has changed so much already. He was focusing on objects and lifting his head up from birth, but everyday his eyesight gets better and his body grows stronger. He is a very happy baby too who (when he's not feeding or sleeping) loves to be cuddled and played with. 

He's just getting used to being on his rainforest gym playmat. Though he can't handle it for very long before becoming bored / overwhelmed, he will happily kick his legs about and be spellbound by the lights and sounds. It's very cute to watch!

Harrison is also sleeping pretty well. Most nights I only have to get up to feed him once, usually at some point between 1:30am and 3am. He is also usually fairly easy to settle afterwards so I've not been too sleep deprived. But sometimes we have bad days (or nights) where he'll just want to be cuddled and played with at 3am! There's also the fun of getting him fed, changed and all drowsy, only to discover his nappy has leaked or he sicks up all over himself, and then I have the hilarious, bleary eyed task of getting him changed whilst he becomes evermore displeased at having been rudely woken from his milk drunk stupor. 

We've been out and about a lot this last month and had lots of visitors. I try to keep his days busy and we always go for a walk somewhere as I'm a firm believer that the fresh air will do us both some good. He normally falls fast asleep as soon as we go out too and so far hasn't screamed in public! We've also had a few play dates with my old best friend from school, Laura, and her little 9 month old boy Coby. Whilst they're both too young to really interact, it's nice to introduce Harrison to socialising with other children so young. 

Breastfeeding is going well - it's definitely got easier but sometimes it's frustrating having to do it whilst out and about or at 3am when I'd rather be asleep! But overall I'm loving being Harrison's mummy. He is such an adorable, lovable little boy that has brought so much joy to our lives already. I can't really imagine what my life would be like without him and I certainly don't want to try. He's just filled our lives and hearts completely.

I will try and post another update soon but as I have discovered, finding the time to grab a few minutes to update this blog is a rarity. I hope Harrison will read this blog one day and realise how much he's been loved and cherished before he was even born.

Boy

You're a boy!

We are so happy and excited to see that you are growing healthy and strong. We love you so much already and can't wait to hold you in our arms for the first time.

Please keep safe and well. We'll do our best to protect you and nurture you until the end of our days.

Love Mummy and Daddy xxx