Wow, technology is great! It was my birthday yesterday and I was lucky enough to receive enough money to buy myself an iPod touch. Right now I'm currently lying in the bath and using it to blog! How fab is that?! I had such a lovely day and was very spoilt but the very best present was one that couldn't be bought. My wonderful mother-in-law very kindly babysat for us while Adam took me out for a meal. It was so lovely to spend time together, just the two of us. The meal was delicious. Afterwards we met up with Adam's sister and her fiancé for a couple of drinks. Adam's step dad also played chauffeur for us so that we didn't need to worry about taxis or buses. A great night out and a very thoughtful gift for which we are both very appreciative. More to say but battery dying (too much playing!) so will leave it there.

Monday 5th January 2009

We went to the Trafford Centre on Saturday morning. We got there for 8.30, thinking that the shops opened at 9am. We all had breakfast and started to wander, only to discover that in fact, most of the shops didn't open until 10am! Fortunately Boots was open, and we managed to spend ages in there browsing the sale goodies. Adam bought me a couple of Singstar games for my birthday (this Saturday), and I bought myself some clothes in the sales.

On Monday we went to the dentist. I hadn't been for around 18 months, and Adam hadn't been for abut 4 years, so we're both pretty chuffed that our teeth are fine! Joseph now has 2 teeth of his own, so he'll be seeing the dentist when we go again in 6 months time.

On Tuesday we went to Rhythm Time. We've changed classes this term, as we used to go on a Monday, and in a couple of weeks time, Mondays will be nursery days for both of us. Joseph seems to be getting more out of it now, and was happier to sit for longer, although he still wants to eat the instruments rather than play with them! From my point of view it wasn't as enjoyable, as the other mums are quieter, and the instructor not as good. But, we go for Joseph not for me, and he seemed to enjoy it, so that's the main thing!

Yesterday I used another Keep in Touch day and went to work. Everything is very different now as there's been a lot of staff changes, and we are gearing up for an Ofsted inspection. I see the majority of the changes as positive though, and am still very much looking forward to going back. Adam and Joseph had a good day at home - they only have 2 more days together before Joseph comes to nursery too.

Today we have been to the baby clinic. Joseph is now 20lbs, and has almost doubled his birth weight, just another 4oz to go. We have also been out to a local cafe with Sally and Elliot for a rather scrummy hot chocolate.

All in all, quite a busy week, especially when you include all the housework etc that is far too dull to mention here. I really am worried about what'll happen when I go back to work, and how we'll struggle to keep on top of things. I guess we need to work out where our priorities lie, and compromise on the things that are less important

Joseph at Chester Zoo on New year's Eve 2008 (aged 6 months)

Happy New Year everyone!

Since I last updated, my parents came to visit, and we said a tearful goodbye to my mum, who is working in New Zealand for a few months. She flew out to South Africa on Boxing Day and is currently staying with my brother in Cape Town. She'll then spend a few days in Sydney before making her way to NZ. It's a wonderful opportunity for her, and she will have a fabulous time, but we will miss her very much.

We've also had an enjoyable festive season with ups and downs. I managed to pick up a tummy bug, which laid me low for a few days, Adam had flu, and Joseph got his first tooth for Christmas, which made him a bit cranky and put him off his food. We're all fighting fit now though, with the exception of Adam, who always an ailment of some description.

Joseph was thoroughly spoilt on Christmas Day, and had a mountain of presents to open. Santa was also very kind to Adam and I. We are currently drowning in a sea of chocolate! We saved Christmas Dinner for Boxing Day, as Adam wasn't up to eating it. It was quite nice to do things like that as it meant that we could focus more on enjoying the festivities without stressing about the food. This year we had roast duck, potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts. Joseph had the same (without the chestnuts and pancetta), just blended up, and he loved it.

We also travelled back to Leicester for the weekend, and spent some time with my dad, and Adam's mum. We also took the opportunity to do some shopping, and I treated myself to some underwear now that I am no longer breastfeeding during the day!

New Year's Eve was a quiet affair. Joseph was in bed, and Adam and I played Singstar and watched a bit of TV. We toasted the New Year in and then went to bed, after settling Joseph who had been woken by the fireworks.

So, 2008 was about as life changing as it gets. We started the year having just moved into our new house and then spent the next few months trying to make it a bit more habitable. Mum took me on holiday to Tunisia in February, as I was shattered from working too hard, doing too much at home, and being pregnant! I started my maternity leave in May, and spent the first few weeks putting together flat pack furniture and madly organising things. I then twiddling my thumbs in the blistering heat for a few weeks. Finally, our amazing baby boy was born on the 20th June after a fortnight of contractions and 4 consecutive totally sleepless nights!

We spent the next couple of weeks getting used to our little bundle of joy. Then Adam contracted food poisoning and I found myself with 2 boys to look after. How did I find time to work? September was a hideously busy time for me as a new mum - Joseph and I started Rhythm Time and Baby Massage, and along with Buggyfit and baby clinic visits, there was little free time. October saw our first family holiday, which was a bit of a flop. The weather was awful, the accomodation dire, and the location dismal. Still, we got to spend some time together, and that was lovely. The rest of the year continued to fly by, and culminated in a wonderful festive season.

So, what does 2009 bring? Well, I'm back at work in February, and will be working once a week in January leading up to that. I'll be working 3 full days; Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Joseph will be coming in to nursery with me. This means that I have every other day at home with the little guy, and it's never a big deal to go to work, as there's no long period off. I'll be starting my NVQ when I start back, and my aim is to be qualified and promoted to Senior Nursery Nurse before the year is out. This may sound optimistic, but is definitely acheivable. I want to focus a little more on my career before we hear the pitter patter of any more tiny feet.

We also intend to start living a healthier lifestyle. We both need to exercise more, and our diet leaves a lot to be desired at times. I also still have around a stone of baby weight to lose. I want to acheive this by Joseph's birthday, which gives me plenty of time to do it slowly and sensibly. I have started to come to terms with the fact that my body shape has changed, especially my tummy after the caesarean, but I am definitely still carrying extra weight. Finally, we'd also like to move house, but it won't be easy, especially in the current economic climate, but it's certainly something we'll be looking in to.

11 November 2008 - 20 weeks & 4 days

Well, I was saving this picture for 1st December, but as usual, I'm behind with my posting! It was taken during a photo shoot I did with Joseph to try and get some pics to use for Christmas cards. I got some lovely shots, but in the end we decided not to use them as the cost of producing them was so much greater than just buying cards.

Fortunately I was well enough to go in to work. I was feeling much better and then started to feel worse again. Apparently it was some viral thing that I must've picked up from work - worse than a cold, but not as bad as flu. Work was good, and Adam and Joseph had a really good day at home too.

We then went down to Leicester for the weekend to see family and exchange Christmas presents. The following weekend we went down to Cambridgeshire to stay with my brother and his family. We had a lovely time, it's just a shame the car journey is so long.

So after all the travelling from the previous weekends, last weekend we stayed at home and had a nice relaxing time. We went to the Trafford Centre bright and early on Saturday morning. We were there at opening time, and all had breakfast while we waited for the shops to open. It was a great time to go and we got everything done quickly and easily. It was only really starting to get busy as we left, and we were home in time for lunch.

I went out to the work Christmas do on Saturday night. I drove, as it was in Manchester, so a bit of a pain to get back from, but I still had a good time. Joseph fell out with me before I went though, as he could obviously tell I was going out. He refused to cuddle me or let me kiss him goodbye. He wouldn't even let me feed him! So I had to express milk so that he could have a bottle instead. I think he thought that would stop me going.

Joseph has become an absolute joy to be around. He's so happy and chatty, full of smiles and giggles. He's developing such a jolly character and I find myself falling in love with him over and over again. His physical development is slowing coming along now as well. He is now able to sit up, although not for very long, and most of the time he decides he doesn't even want to try! He is more tolerant of being on his tummy now, and holds himself up really well, and has even started to push up on to his knees a little bit. He is capabale of rolling from his tummy to his back and also from his back to his tummy, but again, he chooses not to. He rolls all the way to one side, and then back again - he really manages to wriggle his way round the room! He'll be 6 months old tomorrow - I can't believe how fast the time goes.

Unfortunately Joseph has not been well today, he has been running a temperature, has a furry tongue, has been very sleepy, wanted lots and lots cuddles, not happy to play and off his food. I took him to the doctor, as I thought his furry tongue was thrush, but apparently it isn't, and together with the other symptoms, the doctor thinks he has a viral infection, er that'd be doctor speak for a cold then. Hmm, we'll see.

I'm not feeling good today. I'm really tired and woozy and hot and cold, got a cough and a headache. I don't have time to be ill - I was hoping to do some shopping and housework today, but I'm just fit for relaxing on the sofa. It makes looking after Joseph hard, but it means that he's getting plenty of cuddles, which he likes. I hope I feel better tomorrow, as I'm meant to be going in to work.

Joseph at 5 months old - 20th November 2008

Lots to update, yet again!
We didn't go swimming, as Joseph's cold got worse before it got better, and Elliot caught it too. We had several very interrupted nights, but thankfully the cold finally left after hanging around for over a fortnight.

Mum came to visit us for the weekend, which was lovely. Adam met up with a friend in Manchester for the day, while we went to the sensory centre, and then did a bit of shopping, and also took Joseph for a photo shoot. It was a "free" one with a complimentary print, but the other photos we so good that, of course, we ended up buying more. I have vouchers for several more free sessions with a complimentary print, but I'm not sure I'll use them again, as it's just too tempting and the photos are so expensive. Joseph loved the camera and seemed to really enjoy the shoot. I'm looking forward to collecting the photos on Friday. They're mostly presents though, so we won't be keeping many ourselves. I have looked into modelling for him, as I'm sure every new mother does, but it doesn't seem all that lucrative, and as I'm about to go back to work, it's probably a no-go.

We now have a highchair, but Joseph is struggling with it as he is so lazy! If he is sitting upright it is too much effort for him to swallow, so we have to recline it if we actually want him to eat his food.

Adam and I went to see The Feeling in concert last Monday and had a great time. Sally and Shaun babysat for us. We took Joseph to their house, bathed him, fed him and put him to bed. We then made sure he was fast asleep before we left. The gig was great and apparently Joseph was very well behaved while we were out and stayed asleep. He was a nightmare for us though! As he now is most nights. He really struggles to settle himself when he wakes in the night, so we're trying to leave him to settle himself before his daytime naps now to see if that helps. I'm also trying and failing to cut out his 10pm feed, as I'm not convinced he needs it.

I've done two full days at work now and Joseph has stayed at home with Adam. It's gone really well for me, I've settled back in as if I haven't been gone, and the days have gone really quickly. For the boys it's a different story, but I think things are improving! Unfortunately Joseph is a bit of a mummy's boy, so he's not impressed when I leave him for a long time. I went to the crop for a few hours at the weekend though, leaving him at home, and he was absolutely fine, so maybe we're turning a corner.

I know I say this a lot, but I really must try and keep on top of my updating!

Monday 3rd November 2008, 19 weeks & 3 days

So once again I find myself with a couple of weeks to update on. Joseph loves his food, and now eats 3 meals a day. I haven't yet given him anything he doesn't like or that doesn't agree with him, so it's all good.

Joseph and I travelled down to Leicester last week to visit a friend of mine and her little girl. They emigrated to Australia at the weekend, and we went to say goodbye. We then spent a few hours with my nan, before spending the night at mum and dad's. We also went shopping in Leicester, which is something I miss, although Manchester is better, not that I go there often either!

A couple of weeks ago we discovered JJ's Sensory Play Centre, which Joseph really enjoyed, so we went again last week. It was good to find a play centre that we can go to while he is still little. Soft play centres are quite easy to come across, but we wouldn't get much out of it while Joseph is still immobile.

Tomorrow I am hoping to take the little guy swimming for the first time, but he's full of cold, so we'll have to see how he is in the morning. He's got a really nasty cough, and it sounds like he's really suffering, although he doesn't seem to be too bothered by it. He's a little bit grumpy and clingy, but on the whole he's coping very well. I was expecting to be up all night with him last night, but he actually slept the best he's done for a long time, and we didn't have to get up to him at all.

We went in to nursery yesterday and it was lovely to catch up with all the girls. Joseph is starting to get used to the environment now, which is great. While I'm on maternity leave, I can use up to 10 keeping in touch days, which means I can go into work and get paid without losing my maternity allowance. I'd planned to use them as half days, with Adam using half days holidays to stay at home with Joseph. We planned them all out, and apart from the Christmas fortnight I'd be working at least one afternoon a week from next week up until me going back in February. But, unfortunately I've now found out that I can't use them as half days. Each time I work is classed as a day even if I only work an hour. So now I need to sort something else out. I'm so disappointed, as I was really looking forward to going back to work, and for Adam and Joseph to spend some time together. The biggest issue is that I'm still breastfeeding, so being away from Joseph for a full day is a bit of a logistical problem, although work are legally obliged to allow me time to express milk. I'm sure we'll sort something out.

This week's big news is that Joseph has now learnt to roll from his tummy to his back. He did it twice on Monday, but not again since!