My lil Man- Cameron Elliot

[Emily0505]

Well, little man is 10 weeks old today. I just don't know where the time goes!

Although I do miss that tiny little newborn, he is so much fun at the moment and it's amazing to watch him grow and develop. He smiles and chats away non stop and has a wonderful little chuckle! He is just gorgeous and I will never know how I managed to create something quite so perfect!

We have survived our first set of jabs, been to mum and baby group and are just coming out of our first cold, managed five days of no hot water and have coped with it all so far. Couldn't go to baby group last week as we both have colds and I'm undecided about whether to go tomorrow as Cam is still pretty snuffly at times and although he's fine in himself I don't want to pass on this cold to any of the other babies. I guess I'll just wait and see how he is.

My cousin's first baby is due in just a few weeks and two friends have told me that they are expecting their second babies too I am so happy for them all, but can't help but feel slightly jealous that they get to go through pregnancy, labour and birth! That whole part of my life was so amazing and I truly hope to be able to do it again some day. OH says no more children, but I simply cannot imagine never being pregnant again. I want at least one more. Of course we would have to move house but that would probably have to happen in the future anyway. There is a sixteen year age gap between me and oh and I think that's part of the reason why he says no more. I say never say never but I guess we'll see. Definetly wont be for a good couple of years anyway, so I am getting the implant later on today. According to the leaflet the docs gave me its the size of a hair grip bit apprehensive about that but I'm sure it will be fine.

The paranoia about him overheating is starting to really do my head in! And on top of that I now feel guilty that in my efforts to make sure he doesn't overheat, I am slowly freezing him to death!! I'm going to bite the bullet and put him in a sleeping bag tonight. I have been worrying myself silly about it thinking that if he get too hot, he cant kick it off but then I think he's been kicking his blankets off in his sleep and ending up getting cold. He then wakes up and starts whinging but promptly falls back fast asleep for a good few hours more when I bring him into our bed where it snuggly and warm. I'm taking him to the health visitor tomorrow to be weighed, so I think I'll have a chat with her about it and what I should be sleeping him in. He does generally sleep very well, bath, bottle and bed for eight. I feed him at ten when we go to bed and the last couple of mornings he's woken up at eight ish which is lovely, so I must be doing something right! Hubby doesn't get my paranoia, just stays there's no point worrying. Well if it was that simple, I wouldn't bloody worry would I??!!

Wooo, that was a bit of an essay!!

To finish, here's another pic of my little man all ready for bed in his dressing gown and slippers. I think he looks like a cross between ET and a little boxer!! Lol!!

 

[Hope81]

Awww he is so cute!!! Time flies by dosent it???

I am so glad you survived the jabs and the cold.
Amelie is 6 weeks old and already had twice kind of a cold.

About overheating, I think babies are more resilient than you think you just need to build confidence.
I either have Amelie with like 3-4 blankets on at around 20 degrees or if around 18-19 in a 2.5 sleeping bag.
If it over 22 I usually have her in one thick-ish blanket or a couple of thinner ones.
Oh and I put her in her sleeping bag in only a vest (a long sleeved one though as the sleeping bag has no sleeves) and if it is under 18 I put a blanket over the sleeping bag and her shoulders too.

 

[Emily0505]

I'm sure I'm not going to accidentally cook him but it really is something I struggle with. I worried about not knowing how many layers etc he should have when I was pregnant but since he's been born its something I just cant shake. For weeks I've seen people out with their babies in snowsuits and Cam has just been wearing a cardigan!! He hasn't been screaming or behaving like he's uncomfortable though and I'm sure if he was cold he would let me know! This last week when we go ou he's worn a hooded coat and mittens and has a blanket over his legs and normally falls asleep so again he must be comfortable.

I know this whole thing is just me being overly paranoid and i really do just need to get over it and relax, which I'm sure i will do...in time.

XX

 

[Emily0505]

I didn't cook him!! Yaaaay!! Lol!!

I am determined to get over this overheating stuff. Its bloody cold out today so I'm going to put his snowsuit on when we go for our dog walk in a minute.

Took him to be weighed today and he is now 11lb14oz and tracking his centile perfectly

I saw two of the mums from our NCT classes too and it was lovely to have a chat and a catch up with them. They both had boys too!

Have decided to go to baby group today, hoping its still on even though its half term. Cam is still a little bit snuffly but nothing like he was last week. Then its off to dog training tonight and I am going to stay and do the advanced class, as this is the one we should be in, so hubby will have to sort Cameron. I normally come home to feed him at 10 but said to oh he will have to do it so i can do my class!

All in all, life is good

XX

 

[Hope81]

Aww he is doing so good
Yeeey for not overcooking him! !!
I demand a pic of him in the snowsuit

I was about to go with coco for a walk she saw the torrential rain and went back inside lol!!!

 

[Emily0505]

Here we go Hope, took this specially for you!

 

[Emily0505]

So I suppose one thing I should write about but haven't is my decision to stop breast feeding.

I have had so much trouble with my supply and despite my best efforts, i was just not making enough milk to sustain him and he was loosing weight. We tried expressing every two hours, feeding baby on demand, domperidone and fenugreek but all to no avail. So we went down the route of combi feeding- I would put him to my breast first and top up with formula afterwards.

I decided to stop breast feeeding a few weeks ago as Cam was getting frustrated and cross when I put him to the breast and would then fuss and cry and also feeding was taking forever as I was in effect feeding him twice. I do not feel bad for stopping, although in a way I miss it as I did really enjoy it, but I am really proud of myself for doing it for as long as I did, especially considering all the issues I had with it.

On another note, I am soooo excited about Christmas this year! It is going to be A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! We will be going over to my mum and dads, my brother and his fiance will be there as will my grandma and grandad and oh's mum is coming down this year. My oh's other little boy might be with us for xmas day so it will be a proper family affair. All in all (including Cam) there could be 11 people and 6 dogs at my mum and dads on xmas day! Brilliant!

I have had to stop myself from going mad buying Cam xmas pressies. He is so young that he won't understand or appreciate it anyway plus I think the family will spoil him rotten!! So far I have got him 2 teethers, a big soft newt toy thingy with all different textures and bits on and a set of four little rattle toys. I'll get him a few little outfits closer to the time and maybe a door bouncer thingy but that will be it for this year.

Here's a pic of me and my lil man... he's just the cutest thing I ever laid eyes on!!

 

[Hope81]

Omg he is handsome

You know my woes on bf so I will not comment on that as I am sad enough...

Christmas now we decided that we will do Christmas alone, our first Christmas as a family!!! We will go maybe for dinner at some friends but that's all.

I was thinking of starting a Christmas tradition that we will do any year but I am quite undecided yet about what that will be????

Amelie is getting a jamperoo for Christmas, though she is obviously too young for that yet she will be old enough to show joy and her face while bouncing there for first time is a memory that I want to have for our first Christmas.
So we are getting it now and she will probably use it much later

I am quite excited about Christmas too!!!
There are a lot of Christmas markets around this time of year and I just love the smells and colors.

Oh I also got Amelie a Christmas suit!!!
You should visit h&m they have for boys too and the Christmas hats are absolutely adorable!!!
Can't wait to see her wearing it!!!

 

[Hope81]

Oh and I wanted to ask any Christmas traditions that you have with your family??

 

[Emily0505]

Tbh no, we don't really have any christmas traditions as such.

Always go round to mum and dads and the last 2 years i have made the puddings and making them again this year but that is about it.

XX

 

[Hope81]

We don't have Christmas traditions too but i was thinking of buying Christmas socks that we fill and open at Christmas Eve, new pyjamas for example for everyone or new sweaters or sth like that? Maybe drinking hot cocoa and opening gifts? Sth that Amelie will remember and she will want to pass to her family when the time comes!

 

[Emily0505]

I think thats a lovely idea.

You can all sit in your new jammies and drink hot cocoa on xmas eve!

XX

 

[Emily0505]

So this morning she arrived After nearly a year witch free I can safely say its not something I've missed!

I've had a few friends tell me that I qualify for Child Tax Credits and in my parents guide to money booklet I got in my bounty pack, it says I do based on earnings but when I went online and filled in the calculator it says I am not entitled! Confused much! Its very frustrating!!

Nothing much else to report really. My lil man is just as scrummy (and pukey) as ever!!

XX

 

[Hope81]

I am not looking forward for my AF to arrive
I hope you will not have a hard time as I heard those first times after labour can be horrific

As about cam!!!! He look so so content and cute

 

[Emily0505]

A few cramps but nothing too bad at the moment.

Mind you, this just goes to show how 'out of practice' I am when it comes to AF...
went to the loo to freshen up before my dog walk. Had a lovely walk but got home and thought to myself I feel like I'm leaking! Can't possibly be that heavy that I'm leaking after an hour! Went to the loo, and had started to soak through to my jeans! Blimey i thought, I'm going to need like a gazillion tampons...oh...no...wait a minute...just helps if you actually put one in!! Been so long since I've had a period i completely forgot to put a fresh one in
I've never done that before! Made myself chuckle!!

XX

 

[Hope81]

Ha ha love it !!!!! It sounds like a thing that I would do lol...

How do you walk the puppy with cam? Do you pop him in a carrier or with the stroller?
That bloody puppy of mine still dosent heal so I am a little afraid to walk with the stroller and the puppy. I was thinking to try the carrier.
I lost any hope that I will ever teach coco to properly heal lol...she seems to learn all kind of commands every week all but this one

Btw is Cameron playing with his toys already?

 

[Emily0505]

It depends where we go. If its flat i use the pram and walk one dog on each side. I do use the carrier if we go in the woods or across fields etc but it makes my back ache if i wear it for too long. If oh comes i normally get him to wear it!

Leadwork can be annoying to train. One thing to remember though, especially if you walk with the pram is to not wrap the lead around you hand or tie it to the pram. You need to be able to drop it in an emergency, so the dog cant tip the pram over.

Cam looks at his toys and laughs and has started to reach out to the ones on his playgym but cant hold onto them yet. His favourite toy is a mirror- he chatters away to his reflection for hours!! Lol!!!

XX

 

[Hope81]

Amelie chatters to her mirror too lol... That and the courtains haha! Every week they seem to do and learn so many new things. Do you have the wonder weeks book or application? I found it really spot on and helpful.

Thanks for the leash tip I didn't think of that. She is pulling but not that much to flip the pram but you can never know...

 

[Emily0505]

The lead thing is something I try and teach in my class. Its important to be able to let go of the lead instantly if you need to, for example if your dog was pulling you towards a road etc. Obviously not such an issue if your dog is not very big or strong but still something to think about.

No i don't have the wonder weeks but have heard it talked about on here before, so i think it may have a look for it.

We went out for lunch with the family the other week and Cam was fascinated by a speaker on the wall. I guess it must have been the contrast of the black speaker on the white wall. He was staring at it for ages and when OH took him over to it he started smiling and chattering away! It was so funny!

Here are my dogs Cassie and Cairo

 

[Hope81]

Emily they are just gorgeous!!!!
No coco is a golden doodle of currently 24 kg so she can't pull me but she never really pulls that much I suppose if she tries she can actually pull the stroller