Baby Grace Elizabeth

[Bella2]

Well Grace has been much better last few days so I'm wondering whether it was a teething thing after all. Had a great day today, took Grace to "Tiny Tunes" baby group with my friend Helen and her baby boy, sang songs and bounced the babies was so lovely. Then this afternoon my friend Emily popped round with her baby who is 2 weeks older than Grace so Grace has had a busy day socialising lol! Her Lilla Kuddis pillow arrived in the post yesterday so we used it for the first time last night and she slept sound Actually put it underneath her fitted sheet to avoid risk of her pulling it over her face. Have also been using it when she lies on her play mat. That said she is doing much better with tummy time, the other day she had her milk then was a bit unsettled so I layed her on her front across my lap and she fell asleep for an hour and a half!! Has also been lying for slightly longer periods on her front when she's awake which is good, just have to hold something underneath her like a book to keep her amused.

Have decided to take the plunge tonight and put her in her big cot, she really is too big for the moses basket now and can't stretch her arms out in it comfortably. Have just been and set up the monitor so it's all ready for when 8/9pm rolls around eek! Had been having problems with our angelcare video monitor in that the picture kept freezing but after calling up the help line they sent us a new one which arrived today in the post. Was no way I was prepared to put her in her own room until I'd got a monitor that worked properly. I only hope she doesn't wriggle off the movement pad now she has the extra room, as I've heard stories of that happening. Will have to wait and see.

Now going to get her things packed ready for our other baby group tomorrow, I always seem in such a rush and it always takes us forever to get out the door in the mornings!

 

[Bella2]

Baby Grace did so well on her first night in her big cot in her own room Put her down at about 8:30pm, she was still awake so put her rainforest mobile on to give her something to look at and so that she could listen to the soothing music. Brought the video monitor downstairs so we could keep an eye on her and within 15mins she was asleep She then went through till 3am when she woke and had 6oz, then went straight down again after her feed and slept until 8:15am this morning. I didn't sleep quite as well as was on edge worrying that I wouldn't hear her if she woke up! (Despite having the monitor up full volume and both bedroom doors open lol) Was so nice to be able to feed her in her nursery and then put her straight down in her cot rather than having to bring her back into our bedroom again.

Had another good morning at the children's centre, this week in babygroup we learnt some baby massage techniques, Grace loved it! Have learnt various strokes to massage her legs and tummy, was so relaxing for both of us. They gave us a bottle of oil so can't wait to have a go at home, may start to incorporate it into her bedtime routine. She did get a bit upset towards the end of the session but think it was because she hadn't had her usual nap so was very tired. She's going through a stage at the moment where she doesn't really like cuddles, she prefers to be facing out and looking at what's going on or kicking her legs about on her playmat. Feel a bit sad as there's nothing better than baby cuddles but as long as she is happy then that's the main thing. Think we just have a very nosy little madam on our hands!

Tomorrow night OH and I are having a date night! Got some vouchers for xmas from OH's nanna for a lovely restaurant so OH's brother and girlfriend have offered to babysit so we can use them. Will only be our 2nd night out just the 2 of us since Grace was born so looking forward to spending some quality time together. Am sure I will miss my baby terribly though!

 

[Bella2]

Well OH and me had a lovely time on our date night and Miss Grace had lots of fun at her uncle Ryan's. A couple of hours into the evening I text OH's brother's girlfriend to check all was okay and she text me a lovely picture back of Grace asleep on Uncle Ryan's chest Was lovely to have quality time just us two, that said we were home by 10.30pm! Fed Grace when we got in and she went straight off to sleep.

Sunday we took her swimming for the first time, our local pool is closed for refurb at the moment so had to go to the next town to use that pool. Was only one other family in there which was nice although the water was a little on the cool side. Grace seemed mesmerised, didn't kick much but she loved looking around and I think she liked the experience of being in the water. She got a little bit tearful when we got out, think it was because she was cold so next time going to take her little dressing gown to wrap her in rather than just a towel. Have since heard there is another pool at a nursery nearby which the public can use and it's supposed to be a bit warmer so going to try that next time. She slept ages when we came out, think it was quite exhausting for her!

Last night Grace had a bath in the big bath at home which was exciting! I ended up getting in with her so I could sit her up properly. Really want to get her used to the water as much as we can so she doesn't fear it later in life. Have been using the baby massage techniques, tonight she fell asleep within 5 minutes of me finishing the massage so definately works! Still doing well in her big cot, OH is going to take the moses basket back to his dad's this week so will be the end of another chapter in my baby's development!

Here's a picture of Grace in her little swimming cozzie at the pool...

 

[MissJuly10]

Hey hun, just popped in to have a nose, loving the new journal! Grace is beautiful!

Time has really flown, can't believe she'll be 4 months old soon! x x

 

[Bella2]

Hey hun, just popped in to have a nose, loving the new journal! Grace is beautiful!

Time has really flown, can't believe she'll be 4 months old soon! x x

Ahh thank you Miss July, I never know if people actually come on here to read the journal or not, either way it's lovely to look back on especially as I have such a bad memory for things. How are you keeping? x x

 

[MissJuly10]

I like flicking back to see how the ladies I was TTC with are doing as mummies, it's so lovely to see.

I'm ok thanks, had my HSG done this morning and got the all clear so that's another test done, got to do DH's sperm sample for the analysis then have our follow up appointment to see what comes next. So relieved to finally be moving ahead with things.

x x

 

[Bella2]

Ahh I know what you mean it is so nice to see how everyone is doing. Great news about your tests, must feel so good to be moving on with things and getting help. I look forward to seeing how you get on, I have a good feeling you'll be making babies very soon x x

 

[MissJuly10]

Thanks Bella, I hope so! x x

 

[Bella2]

Feel a bit down today, Grace just hasn't been herself for the past few days. It all started really on Wednesday, we had tiny tunes baby group in the morning which she loved and was really awake for, then MIL came down in the afternoon and Grace didn't get much of a nap so she was quite grizzly. Then that evening we were invited to OH's brothers for dinner and Grace just got more and more tired, it got to 8pm and I had to insist that we take her home so she could go to bed. I sometimes feel not everyone gets the importance of having a routine, Grace is used to going to bed now at around 7:30pm and also needs her naps during the day. OH made a point that we would never be able to take her anywhere if we always put her to bed at 7:30pm but I said that if we know we're going to be out a bit later one day we need to compensate earlier in the day by giving her a longer nap. Either that or we get a babysitter simple as! Her needs are what is most important at the end of the day.

Felt quite sorry for MIL as Grace seemed to get upset everytime she held her but then as soon as I took her back she would stop crying, I can't understand why as she's never been a clingy baby before and I've always made sure she's used to being picked up by other people. Hopefully it's just a phase, it happened again today, I went to a baby shower this afternoon and she cried whenever anyone else held her. She's normally such a happy contented baby. That said disaster struck this morning, I noticed she had scratched her little face so went to cut her nails with the baby nail clippers and she moved at the last minute so I caught the tip of her finger! She screamed and I panicked as it just wouldn't stop bleeding at first, sounds pathetic but I called MIL who came round and helped me soothe her by which time the bleeding had stopped so we were able to get a plaster on it. Felt so awful and such a bad mum I cried. MIL was so lovely and just said that these things happen but I still felt so bad. Grace was still upset for a while so we gave her some calpol and eventually she fell asleep.

She went to bed at 7pm tonight as she was so tired, I gave her a lovely massage then daddy fed her and put her down and she was asleep within 5 minutes. One really positive thing is she went 12 hours straight between feeds last night!! She had her last bottle at 7:15, went to bed around 7:45pm then went through until 7am this morning! Couldn't believe it, she normally wakes around 4am for a bottle but she must have been so tired she went straight through. I think the tiredness is probably because we do more activity now, we have 2 baby groups a week and she is more alert in herself so taking in lots of new things everyday.

Going to aim for a quiet weekend, it's supposed to snow anyway so a perfect excuse to have some cuddly indoor time with my baby girl

 

[Bella2]

Last night we had our worst night yet with Grace, again we had problems getting her to nap properly during the day so by the evening she was really upset and unsettled. MIL asked if we could take Grace to her best friend's in the morning, Grace was quite happy when we were there but started to get tired as we were leaving then wouldn't sleep much in the afternoon when we got home. This combined with what I am now sure are teething symptoms led to lots of crying and me & OH trying our hardest to console her in the nursery in the evening. In the end OH put the hairdryer on and the white noise seemed to calm her enough so I could give her her bottle. This was at 6pm so a whole hour before her normal bedtime, just shows how tired she was. She took 4 ounces then we gave her calpol before lying her down and she was asleep fairly quickly. She then went through till 5:15am had 6 ounces then slept till 7:30am so did pretty well.

When she woke this morning she was like a different baby, all smiles! As luck would have it it had snowed heavily overnight so was a good excuse to have a day at home and I think MIL understood we needed some quiet time with Grace alone so she didn't come over. Grace stayed awake until 10am until she fell asleep in her bouncy chair and didn't wake again until 1pm! The nap did her the world of good and we had a lovely afternoon having a bath together in the big bath then a little dance in the living room to her favourite slow songs

This evening she seemed a bit unsettled again with her teeth, she's been dribbling loads, has a snotty nose and wants to chew down on everything. She's also been really off her food the past week or so, she's gone from having 5-6 ounces a time to 3-4 ounces. I changed her onto size 2 teats a few weeks back so I know that's not what's causing it. Tonight I rubbed a little teething gel on her gums, then put her dummy in and cuddled her which really seemed to work. She had her last bottle at 7pm in the nursery then I put her straight down, she took a little while to go off but was quite happy lying there watching her mobile so worlds apart from last night's crying.

I think in some ways we've been spoilt in that Grace has been such a good and contented little baby up until now, people joke and say "does she ever cry?!" so now if she is ever unsettled it seems such a big deal as we're not used to it! Tommorow MIL is popping in for 5 minutes to say goodbye before she drives back up north, then I have to take Grace for her 3rd lot of injections, it's not till 11am so I'm hoping by then the snow will have melted a little as we have at least 4-5 inches at the moment Then all being well back home for a quiet afternoon.

 

[Bella2]

Things have been a little better the past few days although that might be because I'm getting more used to Grace being a bit unsettled! Monday took her for her jabs, 2 in one thigh and one in the other thigh, poor little girl really cried, worst she's ever been when having injections. Came home but she was quite unsettled and upset for the rest of the day

Has been better past few days, been trying my hardest to get her to nap in the day and she seems happier for it. Still suffering with her teething so got some teething powders which a friend recommended and they do seem to work. Think the teething is making her more tired too, this morning we had baby group and when we got home she slept for 3hours straight! Then she woke up, played with mummy and daddy, had some slow dances with daddy then dropped back off to sleep again! Last night she went to sleep at 6:30pm then slept right through until 5am So at least the teething isn't affecting her sleep at night yet.

Yesterday OH and me went to get her weighed, been lovely this week as he's been working nights so we've had some nice family time. I was concerned she may not be gaining anough weight due to not finishing her feeds but she was 13lb 6oz so still following a nice curve just above the 25th centile. She's now properly in her 3-6 clothes, have packed away almost all the 0-3 stuff. Can't believe she'll be 4 months old on Monday!

It's funny as this afternoon I was in the loft and came across my TTC diary, seemed so weird reading it back, in 2 days time will actually be a year to the date that I got my ! I remember keeping it secret for 4 days until valentines day when I gave OH the positive pregnancy test! How fast that year has gone...

 

[Bella2]

Happy 4 month birthday to my gorgeous girl! Have had a lovely weekend, Saturday we took Grace out for a walk in the sunshine in the baby sling, walked down through the fields past the stream and it was so pretty, there was still snow about and she loved having a good look around. She was nicely wrapped up in her snowsuit like a fluffy pink marshmellow!

Grace has been much happer these past 4 or 5 days, the teething symptoms seemed to have died down. That said she has been a little unsettled today but I gave her some teething powder and within 10 minutes she was smiling again She's also been feeding better, today she was back up to 5-6 ounces every 4 hours which was great, was a battle when she would only take 3 or 4 ounces at a time as she was wanting feeding more often and at random times. She's had a really runny nose for the past week, at first I thought it was a teething symptom but now I'm starting to think it's actually a cold. Even her little eyes were runny yesterday morning!

A couple of weeks ago I made Grace some sensory toys, got the idea from babygroup and they said as many new colours, sounds and textures you can introduce baby to the better. So I decided to get creative! Wrapped some shiny irridescent paper around a cheeslets tube, then when she has tummy time I roll it across the floor in front of her and she loves to see the different colours as the paper catches the light. Put some rice in a bottle for a shaker and some pretty sequins in another bottle, also got some tissue paper which she loves to scrunch up in her hands and rustle. Typically she seems to prefer her homemade toys to her bought ones!!

Ordered Grace some really cute mini hair clips off a website which makes them especially for babies. They look so sweet! Here's some of the ones which I ordered...

They're so lovely so I've ordered a few in different colours and styles to go with her different outfits. She's going to be such a girly girl! Also today we booked to have some professional photos taken, we had vouchers bought for us for christmas so taking her next wednesday at 5pm. Will just have to make sure she gets plenty of sleep beforehand so she's not tired or grumpy!

 

[Nurse 26]

hey hun! those hair clips are super cute, been peaking at your pics of grace on facebook too, shes gorgeous and growing up so quick. Glad her teething has settled xx

 

[Bella2]

ahh thank you Nurse, yes the time certainly goes quick so enjoy every minute once your LO arrives! That said I'm always looking forward to her starting to do new things it's so exciting How are you doing/feeling? Gosh not long at all now until your due date! x x

 

[Nurse 26]

I'm good thank you hun! starting to get big and everything takes so much effort now, not long to go though, cant wait have to say i'm looking forward to not being pregnant anymore. got most things organised so hopefully next few weeks will fly by. xx

 

[Bella2]

Yes the simple things do start to get difficult those last few weeks, I must admit I don't miss not being able to do my shoelaces up lol! Make the most of these last few weeks though and put your feet up and have some nice lie ins x x

 

[Bella2]

Grace has been a little unsettled before bedtime for about the past week, it gets to around 5/6pm and she starts getting really upset, not sure if it's because she's getting over tired from the day or that her teeth are annoying her. A feed or the teething powder will usually settle her in the end but sometimes she's too upset to feed so we have to resort to some white noise to calm her down.

She's doing so well though with her development, loves sitting upright now (with support), if she's in her bouncy seat she often tries to pull herself more upright. Happily sat in her bumbo today whilst I blowdried my hair and is finally enjoying tummytime! Properly props herself up on her elbows now whilst on her tummy and has even started trying to pull her knees up to get to a crawling position. Today she actually rolled over from her front to her back for the very first time Feel so proud of my baby girl!

Was my birthday at the weekend so Saturday OH took me to Lakeside to treat me to some new clothes now I've lost most of the baby weight. Took Grace with us and she was so good, she's sitting in her pushchair properly now (not in the car seat or baby carrier) and she's facing out so she was able to have a good look around. They had really good baby facilities there too which was great. Then Sunday (my actual birthday) we went to my mum & dad's for dinner, Grace loved spending time with her nanna and grandad, they adore her so much.

Today we went to Susan's a girl I met at babygroup, there was 4 of us all together with our babies and we had a lovely day. So nice for the babies to all be together and us girlies to have a good old chat about mum things! She did us a lovely lunch and put lots of toys out for the babies to play with, we're going to take it in turns to go round each others which will be nice.

 

[Bella2]

We've actually managed to put Grace to bed without any tears for the past 2 nights which has been lovely I only hope it lasts as mum is babysitting on Friday. We had our professional photos booked in for today at 5pm so I made sure we had a quiet day at home so Grace would have the energy for it. She had a 40 minute nap this morning then an hour and a half nap this afternoon so was as a good as gold having her picture taken. Had some taken the 3 of us then some just with Grace on her own. They also took some pictures of her naked lying across OH's forearm she looked so adorable! Got home just after 6pm and she was already asleep in her carseat so put her straight to bed.

She seems to have back tracked a bit on sleeping through the night, the past couple of nights she's fed at around midnight then again at 5pm so perhaps she's having a growth spurt. They do say their sleeping patterns can change when they teethe and again when they move onto solids. Have had some really runny nappies today, usually she's a one a day girl but today she went 4 times!! Hopefully it's teething as she doesn't appear to be ill.

Tommorow we're going to try "baby bounce" at our local library, it's only 30 minutes long so going to stay for a bit after and read to her as well

 

[Bella2]

Been a couple of weeks since I last wrote and Grace is doing nicely. She was as good as gold that friday night for mum, we put her to bed before we went out and she didn't wake once She's become very active these past couple of weeks and when she's lying on her back keeps trying to roll onto her front. Only problem is she gets stuck on her side with her head twisted round so often she will cry out in the middle of the night because she's stuck bless her! I then have to run in and rescue her Her flat head has improved a lot, the Lilla Kuddis pillow definately seems to have helped and also she spends a lot more time on her tummy or more upright now during the day. She sleeps more on the other side too so hopefully in a few more months it will look even better. We started her in her door bouncer last week which she absolutely loves, she looks so cute in it and it really wears her out!

Her feeding is still a little erratic, some days she prefers to feed little and often so I just go with whatever she prefers, she will rarely finish a 6oz bottle now but she's still gaining weight which is the important thing. Had her weighed when she was 19 wks + 5 and she was 14lbs 5oz so she's now over a stone! Have had to bring her bedtime forward to 6-6:30pm, I think because she is more active during the day and her brain is processing a lot more she gets tired more quickly. Seems to have worked as she's a lot less grizzly at bedtimes now.

Saturday OH and I went to London for the day to see wizard of Oz, it was our xmas present from his dad and his dad had said he would look after Grace for the day. Was the longest I've ever spent away from her so I was quite apprehensive, even wrote a little "how Grace works" guide explaining her feeds and what to do if she cries! Luckily though she was really good and didn't cry once which was amazing, have to say I've been worried lately because I haven't had much time apart from her and I was concerned about seperation anxiety but thankfully she was fine so it's given me the confidence now to do a bit more.

Have been thinking more about work and the fact that it's only 5 weeks until I go back, am now really wishing I had booked the full 9 months off Can't really change it now though as they are so short staffed at work. Thankfully only going back 2 and a half days though so am lucky in that way but I know I will miss her heaps. Not great timing either as she will then be starting to wean onto solids. Why didn't I think about that when I was pregnant lol?! Have been giving some thought to the weaning, initially I was going to go down the baby-led route but have now decided to go the traditional route, went to a friend's the other day whos little boy is baby led and he won't eat off a spoon at all so can't eat yoghurts or deserts! Got a lovely booklet from cow & gate with some simple recipies in so going to follow that, just need to get some bowls and spoons and we'll be good to go when the time comes! Did think about starting her just before the 6 months but as she's not a particulary hungry baby think I will wait and see.

Last bit of news...we have booked a couple of holidays! In May going to stay in a cottage in Devon with OH's dad & family for a week and in September going to South-west France with a group of friends. We're thinking the May holiday will be a little trial run before going abroad in September, am a little apprehensive about taking Grace on a plane but she will be almost a year old by then. The place we're going to is Euro-camp, it's really geared up for children and families and we were able to pre-book a cot-bed, changing mat and high chair all for free which was good. So now all we have to do is keep saving

 

[Bella2]

Well it’s been another 2 weeks since I last wrote and lots to update again! OH and I were talking today and saying how it seems ever since Grace hit about 4 and a half months she is doing something new every few days. These past couple of weeks she has leant how to blow raspberries (which is hilarious!) has discovered her feet and can now roll over fully from front to back. Have been putting her in her door bouncer which she loves and have started baby massage on a Wednesday morning and baby yoga on a Saturday afternoon.

Tuesday OH & me took Grace swimming at Birch farm which was lovely, was so nice and warm and the lifeguard lent us an inflatable baby seat to put her in which was great. Stayed in for about half an hour which was about right then after went to a pub for lunch while Grace was zonked out in her pushchair! Swimming always takes it out of her and she sleeps so well after which is good. Had a bad evening with her Wednesday though, she hadn’t had sufficient naps during the day so by bedtime she was so upset and cried solidly for well over an hour. I got upset too as nothing seemed to comfort her, in the end OH managed to settle her with some white noise (aka the hairdryer!) The problem is she is so aware of things that are going on now she gets distracted easily and won’t sleep as well so for the past few days have been putting her in her cots for naps where possible which seems to be working.

Well today is Mother’s Day and found a lovely card and present waiting for me in Grace’s cot this morning. Had some chocolates which say I love mum and a cushion with a little owl on it which says “I love my mummy”.
Poor OH has been ill over the weekend though with a dreadful sickness and diarrhea bug so we just had a quiet morning at home then I went out with mum and Grace this afternoon. Had a lovely day though, this morning we tried Grace on her first taste of solid food! Mixed up a little baby rice, was convinced she would spit it back out but she instantly seemed to know what to do and had 6 or 7 little spoonfuls! Feel so proud. I had been giving her a spoon to play with this past week so she was used to having it in her mouth and have also been sitting in front of her when I eat my cereal in the mornings so it all seemed to help. Have bought Annabel Karmel’s book on weaning which is great and also some bowls, spoons and weaning pots. Just need to collect highchair from mothercare tomorrow and we’ll be good to go! So excited about getting started. Going to stick with babyrice for a few more days then hopefully progress to a simple veg puree