Forgot to mention.....

.......in my last post, that Joseph has stopped his constant moaning all day long....well, he had, it's back again now but that's because he is poorly. We had got so used to it that it took us a few days to notice that he wasn't grisling all the time, then we started to enjoy it and lo and behold, he's one lovely happy little boy. Now he's got a chest and an ear infection and the poor mite is miserable and suffering, but hopefully the anti-biotics will kick in quickly and we can have happy Joseph back again.
Oh, and today he said 'Joseph' plain and clear :-)

Will be back to tell you about Christmas soon x

ohhhh Big Changes!

Joseph is suddenly coming along in leaps and bounds, it's hard to believe that just a few months ago he preferred to lie on his back unmoving, now I can't keep him still.
He's not walking yet but can stand holding on to things and has cruised the furniture a little. He's also walked a little with his baby walker, very much penquin like waddling, but he's getting there. I said he'd be walking by Christmas but that may be a little optimistic, it won't be long now though.
He's also become more vocal, he says 'hello' quite clearly and almost says 'Leila' (lella) he also says 'night night' (nigh nigh) He's probably about 50 words behind Lucy at this stage, but at least I know there is nothing wrong, he's just slower.
He's much more inquisitive than Lucy or Leila ever were. We have to watch him every second, he doesn't leave anything alone, the tv, the computer, the washing machine, the cooker etc. I'm actually dreading when he can reach higher.....the poor poor Christmas tree!

Just one more area to improve..,.....his sleeping pattern, he's still waking at least 3 times a night.

I'm still worried about Leila's hearing and am determined to get her tested soon. I'll take her to GP when they are off school. She's not just 'not listening' or being naughty, she really does hear things differently. She speaks differently too. It's so hard to tell because she's so young but I'm going to get her checked out anyway. I had hearing problems up until I was 8 years old when I had an op. I still have weird hearing now, I can't distinguish seperate sounds in a room full of different noises. It's known as Cocktail Party syndrome.

Lucy is still Lucy, we are starting to get more aggression and frustration from her now. She's beginning to notice that she doesn't fit in at school. It's heartbreaking but I've been here before and I will help her all I can. She will be getting an assessment at school soon and then hopefully be assigned a permenent helper who will know exactly what she needs.

Craige is getting more and more worked up, probably because Christmas is approaching and it's how he behaves when big events are due.

Cassie lost her infected toe nail that she's suffered with for two years now!

And there you go, an update on all 5 :-)

Christmas is coming!

Today at church we, as a family, were chosen to light the first candle of Advent and say a few words.

The little ones in Sunday school are practising their nativity play. Lucy is an angel, Leila a donkey and Joseph has been chosen as a sheep because of his blonde curly hair :-)

One Step Closer

For the last week or so Joseph has been pulling himself up to his feet. He can now pull up on practically anything...this morning it was the washing machine, and stand there for a minute or so. He's still not attempting to move but it's looking good. Would it be too optimistic to wish him to be walking by Christmas?

As for sleeping through the night, I've given up wishing...who needs sleep anyway?

Things I am Thankful For

Like most people there are always plenty of things I could moan about. In fact my entire life is not an easy one, but that's not what I am focusing on today.
Today I'm going to tell you the things I am thankful for, straight from the heart.

I am thankful for my children. I always wanted a big family and now I have 5 children. They are all perfect to me and give me so much joy. I only have to think about my friends who have wanted children but it never happened for them to realise just how blessed I really am.

I'm thankful for my health. I've never had any real health issues and rarely spent any time in hospital.

I'm thankful for my partner, he's not perfect but then neither am I and I think he has a lot to put up with.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head and food on my table. Simple things that I've been close to losing in the past so I know they should always be appreciated.

I'm thankful for my big brother who has always been there for me. He's the only family I have left now.

I'm thankful for the love of God which has helped me through so much and been a strong focus in all my decision making.

Guy Fawkes

This is what Leila told me about Guy Fawkes today, her own words;

Guy Fawkes tried to deaded the king by blewing him up, but he blew himself up instead, now we have to wear a Poppet to remember him

mmmmmm, a fair bit of explaining from mummy after that!

still sick!

It's now Joseph's 12th day of being sick. He's eating a little now and able to drink during the day, but night times are a different story. I'm taking him back to the dr this afternoon. I'll probably get more of the same 'there is nothing we can do' but surely 12 days of being sick is not right for a 14 month old little man?

Edit: Drs was waste of time again. I don't care I'll keep taking him if he doesn't get better. I've lost a lot of faith in my surgery ever since Leila was prescribed with cough linctus when she had pneumonia.

on the lighter side; Leila was pestering me in the bathroom this morning so I told her to 'skedaddle' she went straight to the bottom of the stairs and started calling her dad. When I asked her why she said I'd told her to 'get dad up'
I do worry about her hearing sometimes!

Sick, yuk!

It all started last Thursday. I woke around 2am to see Leila standing by my bed. "Can I come in with you mummy?" she said, I was so tired I just let her, it's not like she does it very often. Ten minutes later Graham came to bed and complained about the smell. Looking at Leila's bed we realised she'd be very very sick! But it got worse, because she'd also had a bit of an accident (to put it mildly) out of the other end.......eeeek! All over our bed. I don't know how much worse it would have been had she not been wearing pyjama pants! So a clean up operation took place and soon (like half the night later) we were all back into clean beds and sleeping soundly.
Friday, Leila had a few nasty poo's but no accidents, and no more sick.

Saturday, Joseph starting being sick, and continued throughout the night, throughout Sunday, throughout Monday, but which time it was coming out both ends (So to speak) He has not kept anything at all inside him, even though his diet was reduced to water only, he still continued to throw up. I took him to the dr but she said he's not dehydrated so there was nothing to do but keep giving him water.
Today, four days later, he's only been sick a couple of times and filled one nappy, so fingers crossed it's slowing down. It would be nice to get through the night without cleaning up sick.
Then tomorrow it's time to get the carpet cleaner out!!!

A day in the life...

...of Joseph Sweet.

AT 5am I start making noises in my sleep so that mummy knows I'm about to wake up. I think it's only fair to give her a little warning because if she's not quick enough in picking me up then I'm going to scream the house down.
5.30am, bum changed, bottle of milk in mouth and snuggled up with mummy on the settee, I just might go back to sleep for a little while....yawn!
7am and I wake up to my big sisters watching tv, yeah! time to play. Mummy tries to ply me with food but I don't want to eat, I want to play..now where is the tv remote, I love it when Lucy squeels because I've turned over...he he he
8am, ok bored now, mummy is only interested in Lucy and Leila and making them get dressed in the same clothes, uniform she calls it. I know she's already washed and dressed me and give me lots of fuss, but I don't want her to do the same for them, they are big, they can look after themselves, my mummy, my mummy. Ok I'm going to whine now.
8.30am and I'm in my puschair in the garden. Mummy got a bit fed up of my moaning and told me to wait out here until she's ready. Ok, but only for 5 minutes. Hey, look at that cat, what's she up to now.
MUMMY, MUMMY, MUMMY,  I'm bored out here.
8.40am and we're on our way to school. I love going out, wish  could run like Lucy and Leila, but it's fun watching. I love watching all the other children at the school. This is so much fun, I could do this all day.
9.15am, back home. I'm tired but mummy wants to do some cleaning up first so I follow the vaccuum cleaner around and help out when I can. I like to clean up the cat food, but mummy isn't happy when I throw it all over the kitchen floor. How am I supposed to clean it up if it's not in a mess? Mummy give me a brush thing and a plastic tray and tells me to clean up. I'm good at this, I know the brush thing pushes the cat food all around and it's great fun. Not quite sure what the tray is for, but this keeps me happy for ages and ages and ages.
MUMMY, MUMMY, MUMMY, I'm tired.
9.30am, bum changed and time for milk. Maybe, I'll take a little nap now.
11.30am, ooooh that feels good, now where is my mummy?
Lot's of cuddles off mummy and some stories and play time, this is the life. If only she would give me this attention all day long.
12.30pm, lunch time. If it's not my favourite eggy bread I'm not eating it. Ok, maybe I'll eat a sausage, but don't you dare try and get me to eat a sandwich or toast. Nice cup of juice too, yum.
After lunch we go out, mostly shopping, sometimes the library, we might even go on a bus. I quite like the bus, but only when it's moving, I will sing and dance then. I don't like the bus when it stops, that's time for moaning, come on bus get a move on.
Back in the house and I'm bored. No mummy, I don't want that toy, I don't want a story, I'm not hungry, I'm not tired, I don't want cuddles, I don't want songs, I don't want tv. Mummy says "what do you want?" but I just want to moan and cry. I don't know why, I just do. It makes mummy sad, but I can't help that. Mummy says we can't stay out all day we have to be home sometimes, but I just want my pushchair.
I know, I'll practice some screaming, I'm getting really good at that. I'm not so sure that it's good that mummy is pulling out her hair. It's not my fault mummy, I just can't help myself.
3pm back in the pushchair in the garden. Come on mummy, want to go now. Mummy's swigging quickly from a big cup, like she hasn't had a drink all day. Want to go now MUMMY! Mummy says wait, we are too early to go yet.
3.15pm and we are off to school again to pick up Lucy and Leila. All the mummys say how lovely I am, and what a good boy I am. My mummy just smiles and looks tired and sad.
3.40pm and we are home again. It's good to have my sisters back but they don't play with me for long. I want to play with Daddy but he's playing with Lucy. I decide to help mummy with the washing. Look mummy I emptied it all over the floor.
Oh my, Lucy left the bathroom door open, time for some fun.
Ooops, mummy isn't happy, she's scrubbing my hands and telling me it's dirty to play in the toilet. So, what is the toilet for if not for playing in?
4.30pm Mummy is in the kitchen with the door shut. Daddy is looking after me. Ok Daddy, play with me then. DADDY DADDY DADDY.  Daddy doesn't know how to shut me up, Daddy doesn't know what to do with me, Daddy asks mummy why I'm crying all the time. Mummy says "go away I'm cooking"
Daddy decided to take me to see nanny. I like going to see nanny, it's different and I get lots of fuss.
5.30pm When we get home I'm straight into my high chair for more food. I'm so hungry, I'm going to eat it all up, every last bit, well apart from the bits which fall all over the floor. Food has gone, juice has gone. MUMMY MUMMY MUMMY.

Oh no my tummy hurts, oh mummy help me. I lift my legs up and screw up my face, OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH. Mummy is holding me, "it's ok sweetie, it'll be ok"
OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH.
Mummy has me on the floor now, nappy off and she's stroking my tummy and talking softly. I can't hear, I'm screaming.
OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH. ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!
Phew, glad that's out. I don't like that at all.
Mummy is holding her nose and calling me stinky. She looks funny.

7pm and I'm in the bath. I love the bath, I love bubble up my nose. I can splash and splash and splash. Mummy says don't drink the water and it tastes nasty, but I still drink it. Mummy washes me which isn't so much fun even though she tries to make me laugh by ticking or singing silly songs. Then it's up into mummys soft, fluffy warm arms for a big snuggle and a gentle rub.
7.30pm I'm in my sleepsuit, drinking my milk. Lucy and Leila are in the bath. I sing along with mummy to Eastenders, then I cuddle up and go to sleep.
10pm I wake up. Mummy give me a cuddle and I go back to sleep.
11.30pm I wake up and I'm thirsty. Mummy gives me a drink and I go back to sleep.
1.30am I wake up thirsty and lonely. Mummy gives me a cuddle. NO MUMMY, I'M THIRSTY TOO. Mummy tells me to be quiet and gets me a drink.
3.30am I wake up thirsty and lonely. Mummy looks tired. Maybe i'll just have a cuddle this time. But I can't get back to sleep. Maybe mummy would like to play? No, mummy doesn't want to play. Ok, I'll go to sleep. If only she would give me a drink. PLEASE MUMMY. Yawn!

AT 5am I start making noises in my sleep.......

We are moving properly now!

Sorry I've not updated for a while but there is some news to report, last week Joseph started crawling! I guess he decided the bum shuffling was just to slow and just got up on his hands and knees and was off. Now he's into everything, he especially likes peeling off my wallpaper /sigh.
He's not standing or cruising yet though, although I believe he's thinking about it, he's starting reaching up things like tables and the settee, so maybe he'll pull himself up soon? He still doesn't stand or walk if you hold him up though, he just buckles mostly.
He's still the world's biggest moaner. whinge whinge whinge from morning to night, night to morning. He's still waking at least 3 times every single night. And we are up around 5-6 am.
Sometimes though he does the cutest things though, and he's a real charmer around other people. Today at church he was playing peek-a-boo with an old lady. Then he picked up a hymn book and started dancing and 'singing'
And you can't help but love him to bits when he smiles.
Tomorrow I'm going to steal one of his golden locks to keep forever, I'm worried he'll turn dark like the rest of my brood although he has stayed blonde for the longest so far.

Accident

I took the little ones to a friend's little girl's 6th party on Saturday. The had a lovely time although I did get a little worried when Lucy's imaginary friend (dog) turned up. He doesn't usually turn up at events like parties.

We went by taxi but had to get the bus home, it's a really long ride and 45 minutes in (With just 5 mins to go) the bus had to stop suddenly to avoid a car that had pulled out. I was sat with Joseph in the pushchair and the girls were sat together in the seat next to me. When the bus stopped Leila fell off her seat, hit her head on a bar and ended up in a heap on the floor. I got to her immediately as did the lady in the next seat. The bus driver came out of his cab to see if she was ok and it seemed the whole bus was worried. Leila cried a little but kept saying she'd lost her balloon which was still in her hand. I sat with her on my lap and was really worried about her. Then I noticed Lucy. As soon as Leila had fallen Lucy had moved herself as far away as possible at the back of the bus. She showed no concern over her little sister at all. I'm not so sure that it's a lack of empathy or more of a sense of not knowing how to be empathetic, if that makes any sense. I can't imagine my lovely little girl to be so uncaring, I know she does really.

Anyway, Leila gave me a real scare saying she felt sick and dizzy as her head swelled up, and she just wanted to go to sleep. I kept her awake until we got home where she perked up loads and was ok for the rest of the day.

Christening

WE had Joseph and Leila christened on Sunday September 9th. Now I have all my children christened, 4 of them at the same church. I made the cake and we had a little celebration at home. I'll tell the rest in pictures.

Stressed Out

The little man is driving me nuts with his constant moaning. Surely he should be improving now? He is clingy and frustrated and just wants my attention all the time. But even then he can still continue moaning.
The lack of sleep is getting to me too. It's just like having a newborn. I look for reasons but I'm not sure. He doesn't seem poorly, isn't teething, he is eating plenty during the day so not hungry, and definitely not thirsty. It's not even his clingyness because I'm happy to have him in bed with me, but he's still not happy to sleep, not anywhere.

After five kids you'd think I'd get this baby thing by now but he's really got me beat! I need a break!

Breakthrough!

Joseph can now straighten his legs and put his feet on the floor when you hold him up. He's almost standing!!!

He's also getting more expert at his bottom shuffling, he can make it into the kitchen now...of course just like his sisters before him he makes a bee line for the cat food!

Other than that things are much the same, moany moany macaroni all day long. Such a shame because when he does smile he lights up the world.

His current night time routine has reverted back to exactly as it was when he was a few weeks old :-( I'm hoping it's either a growth spurt or teething. I can't not comfort him during the night as we are overcrowded and I can't risk him waking up everyone else. So it's only me who suffers, but it won't last forever. (fingers tightly crossed)

Happy Birthday

The Little Man has had his first birthday :-)

The Cake

At the park

Joseph, now 1 yr old

One Year Review

Joseph was a little charmer for the health visitor, all smiles and flirting like he is when anyone else is around. He is slightly overweight at 26lb, and not as tall as the girls. The health visitor was concerned about his lack of mobility, his constipation and his lack of sleep. She arranged a further review in a couple of months for his mobility, told me to visit the GP about his constipation and gave me some advice to help him sleep...(yeah, you try sleeping in a room with four other people)
I took him to the GP who said he wasn't drinking enough. Oh great, thanks for that, what a waste of time. Graham reckons we should change surgeries, I'm beginning to think maybe he's right.
The last couple of days have really got me down. No sleep and crying almost all day. He's the most difficult baby I've ever had, and that's saying something considering how awful Craige was, and Lucy wasn't good either.

Anyway, worried about his mobility, and his floppiness, and the way he prefers to be lying down or upside down I decided to do some googling (I know, googling is a sin, but we all do it don't we?)  I came across Hypotonia, a floppy baby syndrome. Joseph has 9 out of the 10 symptoms. Still, it's best to talk to someone with experience so I've just posted on Babycentre to ask other mum's of their experience and giving them a complete profile of Joseph's symptoms since birth, maybe someone will be able to advise me. Then I'll take back to the chocolate teapot GP next week and demand further investigation.

There is not much that can be done for hypotonia other than physio, but you do need to get baby checked for underlying symptoms which could have caused it. Joseph is a clever little boy so I don't think there is anything else to worry about though. Or is that just me being optimistic?

By the way, the symptom he doesn't have is the inablility to feed himself. He's quite good at finger feeding, although he doesn slip down his high chair and we have to keep propping him up. I thought at first he was too young for it, but surely at 1 a child is not too small for a high chair?

Oh and as I've just been complaining about his immobility, I suppose I should add that in the last few days he's started to move!! He's bum shuffling, just a little but he's definately moving. Yeah, go little man!

Almost One

Two weeks today and Joseph will be one year old, I know it's a cliche but it has gone so quick. I'm not ready for him to grow up just yet, but then neither is Joseph who is still very much a baby. He's still not moving around, he still spends most of his time crying or sleeping, yes I admit I don't want him to grow up, but I am started to get a little worried that he's not meeting his milestones. He is having his 1 year review on Friday so I'll see what the health visitor says.

Last week Lucy had a working diagnosis of high functioning autism. Not a total surprise as I'd suspected it from very early on. I already have a child with autism so I know what to look for and what to expect.

Tomorrow is Leila's 4th birthday. We had a party for her on Sunday which went really well. She has been so naughty today though, such nasty behaviour that she has definitely not picked up at home so must have learnt at nursery. I just hope that tomorrow is a better day.

11 Months

Well, just one more month to go until Joseph's first birthday, I can't believe how fast it's gone. I'm kind of glad my little man is still a baby though, he's still not mobile so he's not a toddler just yet. He's a little happier than he was, well, he's quite a lot happier really, he can occupy himself for a while and he's ok without me so long as he can't hear or see me (if he does then he wants me to pick him up)
Time for some photo's

The little man

The little man with his sisters

Planning the christening.

I called our local church last week as I want to get Joseph and Leila christened. Lucy was christened when she was one at the same church.
The minister called me back on Saturday and asked if we would like to go in and meet him for Sunday service, and he also mentioned that there would be a garden party after the service that we would be welcome to attend.

So we all went. The girls went off into Sunday School which they loved. Joseph was fine at first but he'd missed his nap and got restless so Graham took him outside where he promptly fell asleep.

The garden party was with a big BBQ in the rectory garden. It was a gorgeous day and we had a great time. The girls mixed in straight away, and Graham was given a guitar to play so he was happy. Joseph sat with me on a mat on the grass and played with some of the many toys around. It turned out to be a truly lovely afternoon and we didn't get home until four hours later!

I Think He's Getting Better.....

........Here is the proof, a smile

cheeks are a bit rosey though.

What the Dr Said

Took both Joseph and Leila to the drs today. It seems Joseph has a nasty ear infection and she's prescribed some penicillin, also we have some lactose to soften his stools. So along with his rotation of paracetamol and ibuprofen fingers crossed my little man will be a happy chap again soon. I feel bad about not taking him sooner but there were no obvious signs of illness, no temperature, rashes etc.

Leila was diagnosed with Asthma a couple of weeks ago and had to go back to see how she was getting on with her inhaler. I was told at the last appointment only to give it to her if she was breathless or coughing a lot. Well because she's been having it more than three times a day they have given her another inhaler. The first was a reliever and the new one a preventer. She also has another reliever to take to school with her.

Leila has also visited the dentist today for five fillings. (Lucy's teeth were fine at last weeks check up) Because they are her milk teeth no anaesthetic was required and only a minimal amount of drilling. She was very brave.
I've been trying to figure out why her teeth are so bad and Lucy's are fine even though their diets are similar. I thought maybe it was because I breast fed Leila for longer, or maybe she has too much fruit, she doesn't have many sweets or fizzy or sugared pop. But I do believe that some people are just lucky in the teeth department and some are not.

Getting Me Down

I just can't take it any more, I love my little man but his constant moaning and crying is driving me to distraction. I have tried everything, really I have, but nothing stops him.
Tomorrow I'm taking him to the drs. I need to be sure there is nothing medically wrong with him. There are no obvious signs apart from he really doesn't like filling his nappy, but it just doesn't seem right for a 10 month old baby to cry so much. :-(

10 months

Well the little man is 10 months and looking less like a baby every day. Time goes by so quickly.
Progress wise, well there hasn't been any. He still cries a lot, he doesn't sleep much, he prefers lying down to sitting up, won't crawl, no interest in taking his own weight on his feet and he cries a lot (or did I already say that?)
He feeds well, I usually give him the same as us know just mashed up a bit, and he loves bread and toast, vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken. I've not found anything he doesn't really like. He's not greedy though, definitely baby portions, and not too frequent. He's cut right down on his milk too, so maybe he'll start thinning out a bit, or perhaps he will if he ever decides to move anywhere.
He goes to sleep well in his cot, but always wakes around 2am and then wants to get up at 5am. I'd have to go to bed at 8pm if I wanted a decent night's sleep.
If I take him out in his pushchair he's always laughing and smiling, everyone comments on what a lovely happy baby he is. If only they knew. He's even started to cry as we approach the house now because he knows he's almost home.
He'll grow out of it one day!

Might have had a breakthrough -

Now Joseph has been able to sit up since four months old and sit alone quite safely from six months, but I've just discovered he doesn't like sitting up much, he's happier lying down on his back!

I noticed that he seemed happy to stay lying after his nappy change so today I just left him there and he's been quiet for ages. He's got all his toys around him and keeps picking different things up. I've not known him go so long without moaning for ages.

It's funny but when he's sitting on my lap he's always trying to lie back too, I often sit with him sprawled out accross my knees, and he's even happier if he can hang his head down backwards.

He's still got no interest in crawling or taking his own weight on his feet, lift him up and he goes floppy. Maybe I've given birth to a rag doll? The paranoid mummy in me keeps thinking there is something wrong with him, but the sensible mum of five head tells me to just keep watching and give him time. I already have a long list for the health visitor at his first year check up.

Oh My!

I love my little man, I really really do, he's gorgeous and funny and smells devine. Nothing makes me happier than cuddling him in my arms.....
but....
he does cry so much, I mean all day long, and mostly for no reason I can see. I've tried everything but I just can't figure him out. He feeds well and loves his food, but I can't feed him all day long just to keep him happy. He likes going out in his pushchair, but I can't push him around all day long just to keep him happy.
He doesn't sleep much either. In fact he won't sleep at all unless I'm in smelling distance. I don't have to be touching him but if I move away he'll wake and he'll cry. I've taken to having him downstairs with me all evening until I go to bed, and then he sleeps in bed with me. It's the only way to get any sleep at all. It's not like I can leave him to cry it out if I wanted to, not when he has to share with his sisters.
He reminds me so much of Craige in so many ways. Craige was my first so I thought it was normal for a baby to be so damn miserable all the time, until I had his sister seventeen months later and she was a little angel. All my girls have been great, apart from Lucy, who had bad colic and was a bad sleeper but she's ok now.
It's getting me down so much. I have so many other things going on at the moment that I can't handle the stress of a crying baby. It's not that I don't give him enough attention, we do loads together, but I'm not allowed to do anything else at all, ever, if I'm not giving Joseph attention then Joseph his crying his little head off.
please, please, please let it be a phase he'll grow out of very soon.

Time for some photo's

I thought I'd do a picture update today.

8 Months!

Joseph is now 8 months old and he has 5 teeth. He can sit, say mama and baba, has a great pincher hold and feeds really well. He still shows no sign of crawling yet, or sleeping through the night.
Currently he has a virus. I took him to the dr today because he has had a fever since yesterday morning which I haven't been able to lower. He's a little moody but still feeding a little and filling his nappies so nothing to major going on. Fingers crossed he's better tomorrow. I get scared he's going to have a febrile convulsion. Leila had one when she was smaller and it scared me half to death, even knowing what it was and that they are generally harmless, they are still really scary and not an experience I'd wish on any parent.

Lucy and Leila are off school for 2 1/2 weeks now. I'm hoping the weather holds out for some of it so we can make use of the garden. Daddy was in the garden with Joseph the other day, he was playing his guitar and singing. Lucy was in the house and Leila came in and asked her if she wanted to go out to play.
Lucy said "no"
Leila said "why, is it because daddy is singing?"
Lucy replied "yes, he's really playing me up!"

Bonnets and things

We had a letter from the school asking the children to make a bonnet for the Easter parade next week. Lucy (5) asks "mummy, can I have a proper bonnet this time instead of one made of cereal boxes?" I replied " But Lucy you won first prize with that bonnet"
Lucy " yes mummy, but I would like someone else to win first prize this time"

As for the little man, he's pulling himself up into sitting position now, and quickly growing too big for his crib so I'll have to get a cot soon.
He will not put his feet down and stand, he's still really floppy, and there is no attempts at crawling yet.

The First Word

Joseph said his first word yesterday (and now he won't stop saying it)
and what was his first word?
Drum roll please............... mama

He's the first of all my kids to say mama first, it's always been dada before.
I'm one really happy mama now :-)
Trying to ignore the fact that he calls just about everyone 'mama' not just me :-)

The Whole Five

when I tell people how many kids I have I always get raised eyebrows and comments. It didn't happen when I had two, or three or four so it only starts when you get to five. It probably continues after that but I'm not willing to test that theory.

Most of the comments are along the lines 'oh, you've got your hands full then' or 'I don't know how you cope' but they don't really apply to me. I like to think I cooked my kids in two batches. The first two came along in my 20's with my first husband. A boy and a girl, the perfect mix. Sometimes I was asked if I was going to have more but mostly people where satisfied that two was just right, especially as they were one of each kind. In my heart I always longed for more, but it wasn't to be, well not then anyway.

When my two babies where teenagers and their daddy was long gone I met a new man who didn't have kids. We decided to try for a baby and ended up with three! The first one was a long time coming and I thought that maybe because I was getting on a bit then maybe it was a little too late. I was wrong though and baby number three was born just before my 40th birthday. I'd always said that I wouldn't have a baby after 40 but the urge to have another was too much so baby number four came along when I was 41. There wasn't going to be a baby number five. We didn't plan another one but I did say one night that if the girls had bunk beds there would be room for another cot. Six weeks later I was pregnant!

So, we get past the raised eyebrows of the five kids, we get past the comments of my being a supermum coping with five little ones, but there is still the element of shock when people realise how old I am. It starts with the shock that my eldest is in his 20's, but of course I could have had him at 16, but I didn't, and now I've just had three children in my 40's. Hey, I always wanted to be a rebel!

Seven Months

Can you believe it, Joseph is now 7 months old (and 2 days)
He can now sit unaided for long periods of time, he's started to pull himself up into a sitting position and he actually investigates his toys rather than just sucking at them.
He likes food more than milk now, he eats most things I give him savoury or sweet, he just loves to chew with his three little teeth.
He's still not sleeping through the night, but when he wakes he doesn't stay awake for long, he spends a lot more time in his own cot now rather than in my bed.
He loves going out, the girls used to moan a lot while in their pushchairs but Joseph just loves it. He moans in the car if we stop though.

Getting Clingy

Joseph is now going through a stage where he wants attention all the time. He hates it if I leave the room. He also has really moody times around 5-6 pm usually while I'm cooking and daddy is looking after him. Perhaps he misses me?
We've had a couple of weeks where his sleep pattern has been dreadful, probably due to a cough and cold he's had. He's starting to get better now though. Maybe it won't be long before he sleeps through the night, I can live in hope.

6 Months - What, Already?

Joseph is now 6 months old and I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by.
We've started going to a Rhythm Time class on Wednesday mornings and Joseph loves it. It's all babies and only lasts 1/2 hour and we just make music together. Joseph gets all excited and loves the noise and the singing and dancing (yes, I have to dance with him in my arms!) The classes last for 6 weeks, but I'm learning loads to keep doing with Joseph at home. It really tires him out too, last Wednesday he slept for 2 hours afterwards.

He has a cough at the moment which is making him grumpy, he really doesn't like coughing and cries every time. Also, it's waking him up so he's not getting much sleep and becoming even grumpier. Fingers crossed he'll be well again very soon.

Today I showed Joseph his bottle and he signed 'milk' with me. I don't know if it was a fluke because Lucy didn't do her first sign until she was nearly 9 months old. But I think I started earlier with Joseph. I won't be teaching him much, but it's fun and interesting to sign with your baby. Plus it's a good way of finding out if they are tired or hungry before they can speak, definitely a bonus.

What Joseph Did Next

My little man can now hold up his arms to me when I go to pick him up. He's also much better at picking things up and holding them now. Also, he's sitting a lot better.
He's starting to take to solids a little better, he likes pear and apple puree and baby rusks. He likes to nibble on whole rusks but often spits it out if he bites a chunk off.
His favourite toy at the moment is a dragonfly teether, probably because he can hold it well and get it in his mouth. He also likes his blue activity elephant and his rabbit comforter.
He has an amusing way of putting things in his mouth, he puts them to his nose first and then slips them down. Yes, he even does this with his rusks! And his thumb :-)

We started weaning!

I thought maybe it was time to get started on the weaning. I bought a high chair but Joseph looks so small in it. He can sit up straight but he's not really reaching the tray yet so I'm thinking the feeding himself will not be happening too soon. I've given him a baby biscuit to suck on but he needs loads more practise in getting it in his mouth. And then when a bit breaks off he just spits it out.
I tried him with baby rice but I swear he was spitting it out faster than I could put it in. I tried him with baby cereal and he held his lips tightly shut. I tried him with fromage frais and he spat it back at me. I tried him with rusk in milk and although he wouldn't let the spoon in at first, I opened my mouth wide and he copied me. I popped some in, just a tiny little bit and he took it, but he did have a look on his face which said "what am I supposed to do now?" So I did a chewing motion with my mouth and he copied. I offered him another spoon and he opened up quickly, and when that was gone he opened his mouth ready for the next before I was ready. So success with the rusk.
Tomorrow I'm going to try him with a little pear puree. I really didn't want to go down the puree route but I figured he needs to get used to having things in his mouth and to get used to tastes. He's really not ready to feed himself yet and I don't want to leave it too late. I wouldn't have weaned him sooner unless I though he really needed it, but leaving it too late can cause problems too.

Five Months

Can't believe my baby is five months old tomorrow. Everyone says how big he is but I'm still seeing him as a tiny baby. I feel reluctant to encourage his growing up, I haven't bothered with teaching him to roll over, Lucy and Leila never did anyway, they just didn't want to. He sits lovely on my lap and I've tried him once or twice on the floor but he's not that bothered, he loves lying down and kicking his legs up in the air. On reading Lucy's baby book she could lift her arms up to be picked up by now and swap things from hand to hand. Joseph doesn't seem that bothered about holding things, he drops them straight away. Although he does get excited when I hold my arms out to pick him up so he might start doing that back soon. There is no rush.

I know I can't keep him a baby forever, but we will move at our own pace, he will reach his goals I just won't be pushing him to do it sooner. Wish I could hold back the teething too, bless him, he's having so much trouble.

Think I may have to buy him a highchair soon too, and perhaps a cot?