Update 10 - 18 weeks old

Hi All, well it has been a couple of weeks since my last update - not totally though my own laziness but because we have been away on holidays in Fiji.

BULA, BULA, BULA (hello, hello hello)..... that is right we have been to Fiji and loved every single second of it, take me back there now!

Oh the heaven, no cooking, cleaning, washing - what more can you want. We would get up in the morning and go to breakfast - anything you wanted (needless to say I have put on weight) then claim our spot around the pool and spend the day swimming and reading. We would swim to the bar for a cocktail and order food to be delivered. Then in the evenings back to the room for a shower, then decide where to go for dinner - hard life. Charlotte loved it......she took to the water like a fish, kicking her legs and having a great old time. She was very popular in the resort with the local Fijian women and was constantly taken from us and would disappear into the kitchens or back offices. She looked so white against their dark skin, it was so funny. She was great on the flight both ways. On the way out I was on my own with her so had my hands full but we coped really well no hassles at all. On the way back James was with us which was even better. She sleep both ways so I managed to read a book and watch a movie. In fact I finished a whole book on the holidays because she was so good......around the pool she just lazed around with us on her own deck chair under the umbrella - hilarious.

It was hard to come back to Sydney...cold, rainy weather - freezing after 30 degree humid days. James got up the first morning back and said "which way to the buffet breakfast" and I said "bread is on the counter, help yourself" - he he he

James has been on holidays for the last couple of weeks so we have been doing things like going to home shows etc, and he has been busy rebuilding the back deck - looks great - so we have been quick busy.

Mum went into hospital today for her big operation - two new heart valves.....scary. I saw her this morning around 6.30am before she went into surgery and she is not due out for approx 7 hours. I will go back up to the hospital later to see her (she will probably be out of it, but i want to be there). I hope everything is going OK, no news is good news I suppose.

OK baby update - wait for it - she is now 6.54kg - and doesn't my back know it......ooooouch. It is killing.....poor old me - and she is now about 68cm long. The Fijian's keep asking up what we feed her as they thought she was a big baby - I was beginning to worry that she was abnormal, but the midwife assured me she is very normal for her age. She had her 4 month check up and passed with flying colours. They said she was perfect, but I already knew that. Lots of milestones reached. Now rolling onto each side, but not quite going all the way. Holding own weight on legs really well now, only need to hold her hands. We brought her a Jolly Jumper and she absolutely loves it - jumps like a mad man. She is now picking up toys on her own - reach etc and transferring them from hand to hand and shaking rattles. She is also making lots of new noises and sounds. One of which sent me to the doctors with her, but turns out she is fine just experimenting with sounds - bugger. I thought she was having problems breathing. Everything goes in the mouth now, and I mean everything - sleeves, shirts, my shirt, my fingers, my hair toys, pens, lids, the list could go on but apparently that is completely normal. Actually at her check up they gave her a toy and watched for how long it took her to put in her mouth, apparently they should do it straight away, which she did. She follows people round rooms now with her eyes. It is a bit distracting when you are trying to feed her but she is very interested in what is happening in the big wide world. She loves to stand and prefers it to lying on the floor - I think she might bypass crawling and go straight to walking.

I am now waiting on the first teeth to come through - a couple of the babies from Mothers Group already have theirs so should not be long. She has already had a few days of grizzleness and temperatures which is apparently a sign. I check every day but nothing yet.

OK - best get back to something constructive.....another update to follow shortly.

Sam xxx

Update 9 - 15 weeks old

Firstly let me apologise for the delay in updates......as Charlotte is getting older she is also getting more demanding, sleeping less and as such I have less time to do these updates. I am still enjoying it though...she is just a joy (most of the time).

The last couple of weeks have just flown by with Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. James has taken some time off which was nice and we did absolutely nothing which is a complete contrast to our normal weekends. It has been quite cold here so we hardly even left the house, just sat around watching videos and playing with bub in the warmth of the lounge. We had long sleep ins (all four of us.....) and just recharged the batteries.

Only a few days until we fly to Fiji! - James leaves this week and I leave early next week - I think Charlotte will be very popular with the Fijian woman so it will be interesting. I can't wait for the break - I know I am not working but you still do lots around the house with cleaning, washing, shopping etc that you don't really talks a break. This time away will mean all I have to do is feed and look after a baby - nice.

I have actually been sick last weekend. Must have been a 24 hour type bug because I am better again now - had the vomiting and high temperature/fever which meant I was in no condition to look after Charlotte. It was a real eye opener to James on how much I actually do in one day. He couldn't believe how many times I change a nappy and how hard it is to settle an upset, crying baby. He now has a real respect for mothers.

We went to a parent/baby expo recently - that was fun. It was amazing how may gadgets you can buy for a baby. We did buy a jolly jumper - you attach it to your door way and the baby can jump up and down in it - she loves it. she is a really jumpy baby - even likes to jump on your lap. Both James and I had them when we were kids, so now our baby has one also. At them moment she can only do around 10 mins per day but as her neck gets stronger she will be able to stay in it as long as she is happy to do so. We gots lots of samples at the expo, nappies, creams, bibs etc so we are now working through them. She has worn all sorts of nappies - eco friendly, bambo, German made you name it.

Well she is a really big girl now......6 kg and 60 cm long! which explains the extra strain on my already sore back. She is really starting to become aware of her surroundings. She looks around the room more, can spot someone from a distant (and smile - the most heart melting smile) and she even follows Bonnie around the room. She is starting to hold things better now and putting them in her mouth. Everything goes in the mouth now - books, toys, sleeves, shirts, fingers and fists. There is a lot of drool which I understand is the beginning signs of impending teeth. One of the babies at mothers group already has his first tooth. He is a few weeks older then Charlotte but I know it is not far away.

She has her four month needles this week - OH NO!!!!! - which I am not looking forward to - the two month old ones were bad enough. I know they need to be done but it doesn't make them any easier. I will let you know how it goes...

She has just woken up so must run - take care and speak to you soon.

Sam