Sleepy

Today we were concerned that we couldn't find Lydia. On closer inspection, I found her asleep in her bed, tucked in very nicely.

It turns out that Miriam realised her sister was a bit tired, and took her to bed for a nap. What a good big sister!

Aquarium

The girls had two in service days last week and we were very happy that Sandy was able to take one of them off to spend with us.  It was only our council that was off so we decided to venture just a little bit further for a fun day so that things would be quieter with most children still being in school.

Granny and Grandad had given the girls some money for their birthdays so we could go somewhere fun and we decided to go to the aquarium at Loch Lomond Shores, in Balloch (which happens to be a place that Sandy and I went on holiday many years ago).

The girls had a brilliant time, Lydia loved looking at all the "FISH!!!!" and the older two had a great time exploring and we were more relaxed about it because there weren't so many people there that we couldn't see them.

Here's some pictures of our very cold (-5 on the way over!) and foggy day.

We finished the day with a cake and drink, the way any great day ends

The day was fantastic and we all (apart from Sandy who was driving) fell asleep in the car on the way home!

Non-napping

I have been dreading this day since almost the day Naomi was born!  She is giving up her nap :-( this is tiring for Mummy and hard work for Naomi as she doesn't really need the nap but doesn't quite have the energy to get through the day without being really naughty!!

Anyway, on the plus side, it now provides us with lots of opportunity for going out in the afternoon where as before we had to come back home for sleep.

Today was a beautiful day so we went to the park

Naomi was so fast at throwing herself down the slide there was barely time to capture the picture

The slide continues to be one of Naomi's favourite toys at the park

There are lots of bridge type things to walk up/along

For once, Naomi was being careful and holding on!

This is the most rubbish roundabout in the world,  but Naomi gave it a quick go

In some exciting news, Miriam tried out the swing for the first time

Looking a little nonplussed!

Both girls enjoyed going on the big swing.  Together!

Perhaps I'll share some more of my afternoon antics with you over the coming weeks...

What we get up to

A wee while ago I did a post about all the things that Naomi and I get up to, of course, as Naomi grows the things we do change too, so I thought I'd do another post telling you about now!


Monday sees us go to a group called Little People, it is run by one of the local churches and is just an opportunity to play with lots of toys and other children in a bigger space than we have at home!  Naomi loves it and likes to hear the story  and have a drink that happens each week (although I suspect that has more to do with it being one of only 2 times in the week I allow her to drink squash rather than water).

On a Tuesday we have a similar group run by another church, this one is called Play Time.  At this group we also get to have a play in a soft play room, Naomi loves this, particularly the slide in the room.  Every week my blood pressure is significantly raised as Naomi, who has no fear, toddles around and tries to go on lots of things I am sure she is too small for!

On a Wednesday and Thursday we don't have any particular groups to go to, but we take frequent trips to the park, Naomi is particularly fond of the swing and the slide but just being outside makes her happy!

We also go and see other friends, Naomi is not very good at sharing (not that you would expect her to be at her age) so we like to get lots of practice in the hope that it won't *always* end in tears!

Every other Friday we have my Mum's cell group, I get together with some Mums from church and we support each other in the very difficult task of being Mums and in being Christians.  I love this group and Naomi quite likes it too as there are bigger boys and girls to play with, she seems to like being bossed around!

The weekends are lovely here, Saturday is a day that Sandy, Naomi and I can all spend together, we sometimes go for a walk or another trip to the park but it is just nice to be a family.  Sunday is mainly taken up with church, Sandy and I both serve on different teams so we share serving and childcare but Naomi is very easy at church, she loves everything that goes on there and the friends she gets to see.

That said, our routine is all to pot at the moment as Naomi tries to work out if she is still a two naps a day kind of girl or if she is only going to nap once!  The days she only naps once she tends to be exhausted but it can be very hard to convince her to sleep more!  She is also tired because last week she learned to walk!!  We will try and get a video of that together soon and you will be able to see for yourself.

Thanks for reading!  Here is a photo to reward you

Advent

It is advent (in case you hadn't noticed) and we are in the run up to Naomi's first Christmas. Some time ago (while I was still pregnant last year) my Mum came across this and was kind enough to buy it for "the baby".

This year she has also been kind enough to fill each of the little drawers, at my request there is no chocolate in it as I think Naomi is still a wee bit too little for chocolate, so we have experienced many raisins. (Don't think that Naomi is being hard done by, though, she LOVES raisins!

Here she is eating her raisins for the day.

We have developed a post-morning nap ritual of going to the train and seeing what is in it that day and Naomi loves the ritual of it and has now started getting very excited whenever we go near the train, she knows she is going to love the contents :-)

Tired

Not just the parents! Although we are too... I noticed today that I've taken a few pictures of Naomi having a wee rest recently, and here they are.

I arrive home to this scene a few nights ago. After a quick feed things just seemed to peaceful she fell asleep. Jay thought that putting her down would wake her up, but apparently not.

Naomi seems to like holding on to things like the bars on her cot when asleep. This is her while we walked to church on Sunday.

She's not actually asleep here, just very tired! I was in the process of making dinner when my highly perceptive senses indicated to me that she might prefer an early bedtime. One uneaten meal later, this proved to be true.

Just Jay!

Once you have a baby life is always changing and just recently I have implemented a change of my own.  I've been trying for weeks now to think of a way I might be able to make a little money to help ease the financial strain of our favourite expense, Naomi!  I really didn't want to do anything that would mean extended periods of childcare for Naomi, partly because I didn't want to pay but also because Sandy and I want me to be a stay at home Mum, that was the plan and that is how we'd like to keep it.

I toyed with various ideas for "cottage industries" from baking gluten free food to sewing of various things, but for various reasons none of those ideas were quite right.  I was getting quite frustrated as Naomi was napping much more predictably and reliably and I wanted to be able to make better use of that time.

Well, a few night's ago I decided that I was going to make two birthday cards for some friends here in Loughborough, I got down all my card making stuff and started to put together some designs.  I was very happy as it is something I enjoy doing and I loved the end result.  As I did this, it came to me.  I make lovely cards, there is no reason I couldn't sell them.

So that is where the idea began and now it is a little business for me.  Albeit so far only from friends I know, but I have already had orders for 21 cards and will happily take more.  I am more than happy to personalise them for you!  So if you want to see what I am up to, or even if you want to buy, then have a look at Just Jay's blog or even the facebook page.

One of my favourite creastions

I'm really excited about this little venture, I really hope it works out :-)

Other holiday news

So, we have been back from Scotland for almost a week now and have been busy trying to get back into the swing of things, hence the lack of posting this last week or so.  One of the things we did was to go to  soft play place, this photo has nothing to do with the post as a whole but I like it so much I just have to share!

Anyway, what did we do in Scotland? Lots of things, though, for me, I was trying to use the time to rest as much as possible so making use of the babysitting services that come with being around the grandparents!

One day I was in desperate need of a nap so Sandy, Ian and Grandad Brownlee all took Naomi to Aden Park for a walk while I lay down (I didn't manage to sleep, but I got a rest at the very least!), here are some pictures from their exploits

Daddy makes sure Naomi is warm enough

then manages to work out the buggy!

Let the walking commence!

Beautiful girl

Doting Grandad

Naomi, going places

Sitting in the sun

 

 

 

She loves being outside

There was one day in particular I was pleased to have family around, from Naomi waking in the morning to taking her first nap was 7 hours!!! And that nap only lasted 30 minutes!  Thankfully she wasn't too grumpy though and we even got what might be my favourite picture of Naomi so far.

she loves swinging!

Naomi was really good over our time away with being in lots of different houses and places, she is so laid back and is very good at just getting on with things.  We stopped off in Edinburgh on the way back to break up the journey, unfortunately the Donalds, whose house we were staying in couldn't be there (for the very happy reason that their son was getting married that day) but Naomi still got stuck into making the house her own!

me looking tired as Naomi rolls her way around the place

look, I have FEET!!

Well, I think it is time for us to go now, so Naomi will show us how it is done!

Got to be safe

Groups

Naomi and I go to lots of groups through the week, we thought you might like to learn about what we do in a week.  In fact, we (could) go to something every day, so here are the things we go to.

Monday: Little people.  This is a group run by Emmanuel Church (a local CofE church) there is space for the babies but also with lots of toddlers too.  There is a Christian story and some songs at the end, but largely it is just a space to play and for Mums (or Dads) to talk.  It reminds me lots of Kids & Co (for my friends from Oldmachar).

Tuesday: Bumps and Babies - this a group for Mums with small babies to come and chat about the joys (and challenges) of being a Mum.  Soon though I think we might swap this group for another called Chatterbabies, which is designed to help babies develop their communication skills, through songs and stories.

Wednesday: Under 1s.  This is my favourite group of the week, as the name suggests, it is for babies under 1.  There are lots of age appropriate toys and activities to do, this is the group in which Naomi did her first ever picture.

Thursday: this is often a quieter day for us, as Naomi is often napping during "Wriggly Readers" but if she is awake we go down to the library for story time and songs, if she is not we go to the library at a different time and take out some books for she and I to read over the coming week (at the moment we are reading "Fantastic Mr Fox")

Friday:  Open Heaven has a cell group for Mums and we go to this every second Friday morning, on the weeks it is not on (and sometimes even on the weeks it is) we go to a group called Little Stars which is for babies and toddlers up to 18 months, it is a fun group with lots of toys to play with and some messy play things (though we haven't really got into those yet, we probably will once Naomi can sit up) - it is a nice group, though I sometimes get a little stressed out trying to stop the toddlers accidentally standing on Naomi.

Saturday: we don't have any groups on a Saturday but we do have Daddy at home so that makes it all okay!!

Sunday: no groups as such but we do have church which can be classed as an activity for our wee girl, she loves the songs and getting to see all her friends at church

And, on that subject here is a picture of Naomi holding hands with her friend Bethan (who is only 3 weeks younger that Naomi) though sorry their faces are so obscured!

Naomi is the one that is "upside down" - in case you aren't sure!

Sleeeeeeeep

Many of you will know that Naomi hasn't been sleeping as well of late, proving a little harder to settle at night then waking up every couple of hours or so. This is in sharp contrast to the sleeping-right-through we had a few weeks ago. Consequently, both parents have been somewhat tired. We've been working through a number of things which might be causing this:

Keeping the window closed to avoid noise coming in from outside (now aborted as her room gets much too warm)

Reducing clothing to get temperature right

Application of teething gel just in case (this is now happening anyway as there's an obvious tooth coming)

Early daylighting - her room now has a Shore Porter's box attached (skilfully by Jay) with gaffa tape to the window; this may have improved the going to sleep part of things

Cancelling the dream-feed

The most recent plan was to take the dangerous step of changing her during the night, and using a disposable nappy as they're a bit less fuss and better at doing the absorbing. So, increased comfort, but given how much she loves changing (not much) it leads to a very awake child.

Anyway, last night sleep was achieved within minutes (good for Jay as I had to be out), and then only one awakening (albeit a lengthy one) prior to about 7am! Both parents were suitably pleased with this outcome as the tiredness is causing some odd things to happen. Of course this may have been a one-off - but we hope it'll continue. So no changes to the winning formula for tonight. The sleep issue has of course made napping happen a bit better as she gets tired through the day...

Feeding is coming on well - here's one of her first taste of non-milk water....

We've yet to find a food she really doesn't like. Normally the first try of a new food is met with some hesitation (and mess) but the second try usually goes down a treat. Here's the first experience of butternut squash - as Eddie Izzard would say - COVERED IN FOOD!

Update - presumably this food business is helping her to grow - today she was weighed in at 13lb 2 oz! This is fast approaching double her birth weight. (I wonder what age it becomes inappropriate to post her weight on the Internet?)

"Napping"

Today Naomi thought she could persuade me she was napping by being quiet but hidden

here she is

she was not napping at all!