Update 4 - 6 weeks old - 22/02/2006

I can't believe we are nearly at the end of February - where is this year going.....before I know it I will be organising a 1st birthday.

We have now reached the 6 weeks mark - and had our 6 week check up. She is doing really well, ear are great, eyes are great and heart/lungs great. In two days she has grown 1.5 cm and gained 20 grms. She now weighs 4.85kg and is 57cm long. She has now grown out of the four 0 clothes and has moved into triple 0 clothes. We also reached a milestone, she has out grown the new born nappies and is into the next size (crawlers). My baby is growing up so quickly.

In two weeks (8th March) she has the first of her immunisations - I know she does not expect them and will probably forget, but I am not looking forward to them at all. I was thinking of sending James to the doctor with her so that I am not seen as the bady, but Nicole had a good idea which I think I will take up.....she said, babys do not remember the injections but 2 - 5 year olds do - so I should do the baby injections then send James for the later ones so that he is the bady and not Mummy - excellent idea Nicole, just don't tell James that this is the plan....shhhhhhhhh it is our little secret.

Speaking of James he is in Brisbane for the next 3 days so the 'girls are doing it for themselves'. This will be a real test for me - can I survive not having the evening support - hmmmmmm? At the moment (day 1) we are doing fine, considering she has been asleep since 11.30 ( now 3pm). I have managed to get a few things done which is wonderful. James has already rung us 3 or 4 times, I think he is missing us already.

Have to go now....Charlotte is just waking up and before long will be the crys of "feed me, feed me" - enjoy the new photos.

Sam

Update 3 - First Week On Our Own - 14/02/2006

Oh my!!!!! - the first week on our own. Mum has now gone home (much to her relief) and Charlotte and I now need to learn to work together with no intervention.

Daddy's Birthday Breakfast 11/02/06

Day 1 was OK - not too many dramas (maybe we can do this!). Mind you she did sleep for most of the day which probably helped. So far Day 2 is shaping up to be OK - we have made it too 10am without too many dramas so feeling quite positive. I have now managed to juggle showering while watching a baby and have found the baby sling very helpful when putting out the washing and vacuuming.

All I can say is thank god for the pacifier - didn't think I would need it but now very grateful to have it. It works a treat. It is like an instant off switch for the crying (not that she does too much of it - thank god again - I am saying that a lot - have I just become suddenly religous?)

Cutest Baby Face

We have just completed a passport application form for Charlotte - she is taking her first international flight in May to Fiji - James will be there for a work conference and we are tagging along. Will be interesting to see how she goes on a 4 hour flight at 4 months old

.....speaking of old she is now 1 month old - can't believe how quick that time has gone. She is growing so quickly - we have now moved to the next size nappies and have gone from the 0000 size into the 000 size. She is now 4.25 kgs and 53 cm long - she is turning into a little rolly girl - I love it.

I booked Charlotte into her first school this week - I know it sounds crazy but you have to or you will not get a place - she is booked into pre-school (3 years old) for 2009......sounds like a life time away but I am sure it will come around really quickly. I am already dreading having to leave her there. I am sure it will be harder on me then her.

Well I better sign off for today - crying baby and all that - going to try and sneak in a walk while it is not raining - and hopefully it will also put her to sleep.

Me & my blanky

Update 2 - 05/02/2006 - Charlotte is 3 Weeks Old

Well Charlotte is now 3 weeks old (25 days) - we can't believe how quickly the days are going. We have already started to notice changes in her behaviour and alertness. She really studies faces now and we get heaps of smiles (other say it is wind but I know it is a genuine smile). She is awake a lot more now (which is not good for me as I don't get as much sleep) and you can tell she is absorbing her surroundings.

We had our first family road trip last weekend. James had to go to Port Macquarie for work so we decided to tag along. It is a long trip (6 hour drive) but she handled it very well. We only had one stop on the way up - nappy change and feed and the same on the way back and the rest of the trip she slept. We did have a bit of an unsettled period around meal times - I didn't get much breakfast on the first day and James and I played pass the baby during dinner but all the good times make up for the little bit of unsettled periods.

I had my first Mothers Group meeting on Thursday (2nd Feb) which I really enjoyed. It was great to meet other mothers in the same position as me. We are all first timers with no real idea of what to expect and what is normal so it is great to compare notes and ideas - I am sure I will pick up some good hints and tips. We will get together formally every Thursday for 5 weeks at the community health centre, then after that it is up to us if we continue to met - I do hope we continue.

Mum is now ready to go home (she misses her bowls) which is really sad - it has been great having her here. I am a little nervous about finally being on my own especially when James will be at work all day - I hope I can cope......it will be a really big test for me. I am still feeling a little tender from the caesar which means there is still a long way to go until a full recovery - once I have to start doing the house work, driving and washing for myself I think I will notice it even more. I have a little bit of an infection in my scar which I am going to the doctors for tomorrow, but hopefully it can be treated with some antibiotics and I will be OK again. I am sure it is nothing to worry about.

Anyway will sign off for now and will post more updates soon.....Sam (ps. enjoy the new photos)

I can sleep anywhere