Our family of four: Weeks 5/6

Niall is 6 weeks old! We've had to move him into size 3 nappies so he is more comfortable but these should fit him for quite a while now. Rio is only in size 4 pull ups so it seems really strange moving him up so soon.

Rio still hasn't ventured onto the toilet but assures me he will soon, just not today!

Niall is more alert now and loves to show off his cheeky smile. He smiled at Craig this week too..it was adorable to watch the happiness come over his face. (Craigs)

He's done a few random 3/4 hour gaps between the night feeds but mainly still wakes every 2 hours. And is taking 4/5 oz. He is also now in his cot as he was getting to long for the moses basket and, like Rio, hated being able to touch the sides. He's now in Next upto 1 month clothes and sleepsuits.

Rio has started saying "BAHH" or "MEHH", instead of haha. It makes us chuckle every time and we do it back to him. We're a weird family.

Second baby worry

When Rio was born I had that 'rush of love' that everyone tells you about. Only it was much stronger than I ever even imagined it to be. It was like I was made to be a parent and I loved him immediately with everything I had/was. So its hardly surprising that although Niall was planned and very much wanted, I still had those 'second baby worries'. How could I possibly love another child as much as I did the first? What if I didn't? When I was pregnant with Rio I got to cherish every kick and milestone, but this time around I hadn't had as much time too. What if I couldn't cope with two? Heck what if Rio didn't even like being a big brother?

Craig reassured me whenever I gave it too much thought. When I asked "how will we love someone else as much?", he'd reply "we just will". And he was right!!

He might of been covered I thick white vernex, a bit funny looking and screaming blue murder but I instantly fell in love with him. Craig told me when we discussed it later that he did too. And speaking of Craig..I fell in love with him all over again when he took hold of Niall's hand and the screaming instantly stopped.

Loving another baby? Check!

As I was blessed with another amazing, straight forward labour, I was allowed home 5 hours after he was born. I couldn't wait to introduce him to his big brother. Neither me or Craig cried at the birth, again!! But on the way home, imagining them meeting for the first time made me tear up. As soon as we pulled onto the drive I could see Rio's excited little face peering through the window. We didn't even make it through the door before he was upon us. He'd been awaiting and anticipating this moment for as long as us, so I think to actually see Niall overwhelmed him at first. He hid behind my Dads legs and I have to admit I had an 'oh-ohh' moment. Was my second fear coming true?

Suddenly he said "he's got a tiny nose, and got lots of hair on mummy", and knelt beside him. They've been inseparable ever since!

Liking being a brother? Check!
 

Craig's two weeks paternity soon came and went. I managed to get them both downstairs, fed, changed and happy..but was clueless how I was ever going to go to the toilet. Could I trust my little helper not to try and pick his baby brother up if he cried while I was gone? I couldn't hold it any longer. I was going to have to. I devised a GENIUS system. I told Rio to sit in the hallway and I shouted every two seconds "are you still there?", and used my 'hearing skills' to work out where it sounded like it was coming from. I told you..pure genius!

After that it was pretty plain sailing. I actually find that I get more done now weirdly enough. I guess its because you really do make the most of every spare minute that you have.

Coping? Check!

I'd be lying if I said it was a walk in the park. At times its exhausting and I don't think I'm giving one of them enough attention. But mainly, its the most rewarding thing in the world. My family of three, now well and truly a happy little family of four!

How will I cope having to leave him to go back to work in April? Who knows, only time will tell.

.

Our family of four

What they wore on Wednesday!

Top: Mothercare
Pants: Next
Socks: Mothercare

Top: Next
Shorts: Cutup jeans from Next..waste not want not!
Trainers: Nike

Our family of four: week 4

Niall is now a month old! I took him to our village children's centre to be weighed yesterday and he looked so long and big compared to the other babies already :( not surprising when it turned out that he is now 10lb9oz!

 

 

That means Rio is 28 months and in a few months time he will be 2 1/2. I'm aware that it seems like I'm updating more about Niall now that he is here, and I feel bad, but in reality it is because Rio is actually like a child not a toddler in terms of development now. He has full speech etc. So the only thing he really need to do is be potty trained but he isn't quite ready and I'm not going to push it because he knows when he wants a wee/poo and will tell us and will help to change his own pull up after. But at the moment he doesn't want to try on his underpants or sit on the toilet. So at the moment we are leaving it in his hands but giving encouragement and praise.

 

I've cut down on the breast feeding (see last post) and now only feed him once or twice a day on the boob (delaying the inevitable). He's on 5oz formula every 2 hours. And really is a happy content little baby. Everyone said that we wouldn't get two the same but we really have been blessed.

His tiny baby outfits are now on the small side so he is now wearing his newborn ones. However his newborn sleepsuits are getting abit snug length wise but upto 1 month doesn't quite fit yet.

 

Niall's head control has always been good but hit a whole new level this week!

 

 

At 4 weeks post partum I'm obviously not 100% happy with my body image. I still have extra weight on my hips and thighs that I will need to work on when the time comes to work out. And at the moment I am avoiding the scales as when I stepped on them at 2 weeks post partum the number horrified me! My belly is at that wrinkly loose mum tum stage but I'm back in my pre pregnancy high waisted skinny jeans so that is easily hidden. I have now stopped bleeding and need to go arrange my contraception as I don't plan on having another baby anytime soon..or probably ever!

Our family of four: week 3

Niall is now 3 weeks old.

He was weighed again at 17 days and we was both discharged by the midwife. The little chunk had put on 1 pound 1 1/2 oz in 5 days..thats 17 1/2 oz! He went from 7lb6 to 7lb1 all the way back upto 8lb8 1/2 in that time. My milk still isn't filling him despite all the mars bars etc so I am still combination feeding. I know at some point I will have to stop breastfeeding, but at the moment im too selfish. I love the closeness of it. My only regret with Rio is not breastfeeding, or even trying to for that matter. The thought of stopping at the moment brings me to tears every time. All I want to do is be able to feed my child. To fill him. The midwifes didn't seem concerned when I said I was still topping him up though. I guess the way they see it is some mummy milk is better than none, and so do I. My motto has been "he gets the goodness from me, and the fullness/sleepiness from the formula". I mainly now just use it as a comfort for him while the bottle is being made in the night, and to quench his thirst in between feeds in this hot weather. Its not ideal but its what works for us, and I guess that's all that truly matters.

He's at that peely stage, mainly on his forehead.

He is still in Next newborn and Mothercare tiny baby but I don't know how long for as we have made the switch to size 2 asda nappies (6-1lb).

The weather has been too hot for Rio, never mind a newborn but we have managed to slip a bit of outdoors family fun in (village fair etc).

Rio has been so helpful which has made my first week 'solo parenting', while Craig is at work an easy adjustment. I seem to be more organised now and get more done, which seems crazy but I think its down to the fact that you really do make the most of every spare minute. Even though those spare minutes should be spend napping ;) not making homemade lasagnes!

Speaking of naps, Niall has changed from feeding every 3 hours to every 2. I'm currently surviving on very little broken sleep.

Rio is currently back obsessed with reading stories together (which I love), and sticker books! And finally seems to be filling out weight wise.

Our family of four: Week 2

 

 

Little Niall is two weeks old. He's so much more alert now and that has come hand in hand with him feeding better. So much so that he put on 4oz in 2 days and if he gains again I will be 'discharged' by the midwifes on Sunday as he is now above his birth weight.

The health visitor was full of praises and apparently witnessed a 'real smile'. She was also full of praises for Rio as usual, he never fails to entertain..little chatter box.

His routine varies, sometimes he will wake every 2 hours in the night..others he can go as long as 4. I'm feeding on demand so we are just going with it. Speaking of feeding i'm currently still trying to make my milk more fatty by eating flapjacks and mars bars daily. But it seems to be working as he will now fall to sleep after a feed instead of still being starving, albeit for 40minutes but it is still an improvement. I'm then topping up with formula. So I guess you could say i'm 'combination feeding'..getting the goodness from my milk, and the contentment and fullness from the formula.

He's in Next newborn sleepsuits and Mothercare tiny baby outfits.

He's seemed to like his baths this week too, and cried when we took him out. Which isn't surprising as he still dislikes bum change. Especially if its a poopy one!

Rio has started coming out with the most funny and clever things this week, being a big brother has really made him grow up. And although I love how helpful he is trying to be, I have had to tell him a few times. Resulting in a terrible two tantrum..oh ohhh! I mentioned to the health visitor that I feel like I am getting on at him and not spending enough quality time but she said this is normal and will pass as we all get used to being a family of four now, instead of a family of three.

Him being two weeks old also means that Craig is back at work on Monday! You'll see how I got on solo parenting in next weeks update!