A year ago today

A year ago today, my waters had already gone, I was wearing a tens machine pretty much all the time, alternating between sleeping, bouncing on the birthing ball and walking up and down stairs. The birthing pool was ready but not filled in the kitchen and I was having very small irregular contractions.
Later in the evening they got stronger and more regular but it wasn't until about 2am that I got into the birthing pool. It all tailed off and it took the drip in hospital the following day to get them going enough to really kick off Labour. 5 hours later at about 5.50pm on the 1st Leon was born.
I was so looking forward to meeting him, seeing his face, looking into his eyes. A year later he's quite a character and developing fast. He's just started to take an interest in the shape sorters, he can't get things in the right holes but he's started trying. It's nice because now I can play with him. He almost clapped today in his enthusiasm for some music on the radio. On Sunday he got loads of lovely toys, the Caterpillar shape sorter is going down well, so are the bath books both in the bath and at the table (he does love to read while eating) loads of books all being investigated, the tractor is providing lots of stimulation both watching the wheels go round and actually pushing it along. Others will come into their own as he develops. I've now got the treasure chest on the floor in his room and he can get stuff out in the morning to play with before breakfast once I've got him out of his cot and got myself comfy on the floor in his room (duvet usually).

Leon's 1st Birthday Party

For the fully initiated and those who keep record of these things, you may realise that Leon isn't one until the 1st of November. We decided to have his party yesterday as next weekend we have yet another party to go to.

It was a lovely party and a day to remember. Dad and Michelle came on Saturday, we spent Saturday evening eating curry and watching Underworld then Sunday morning we left Leon and Toby at home and went round to Ellen and Dan's to blow up balloons, wrap pressies for the treasure chest (little things for the sprogs to take home) and make thousands of sarnies. Dad was already there as he had stayed the night at Ellen and Dan's and was already surrounded by balloons he'd blown up when we arrived.

Once the place was set up, we all came back to ours for lunch to let M&D have 5 minutes peace and quiet before the party and to get dressed up a bit. The party started pretty much as soon as we got there at about 1.30pm, and people didn't stop arriving or so it seemed for ages. It was really lovely to get everyone there. I'm so glad I asked Ellen and Dan if we could borrow their house as our place would have exploded under the weight of toys, children and friends from all over our lives. I didn't really get much chance to talk to many people but I got the impression that a good time was had by all. Everyone was really impressed with my birthday cake I made for Leon, surprised too, it was quite funny, I don't think anyone expected me to come up with a chocolate dragon cake. I was very proud of it and it and every crumb got eaten.

We missed a few people we'd invited, which is inevitable, but for the most part lots of lovely people who we love came so we came away really really happy. Ellen and Dan were the stars too, Dan's fruit punch and sausage rolls were a big success and most the food Ellen prepared went. A massive thank you to both of them for all their help and support.

Leon got lots of lovely presents and will be alright for toys until he's at least two now. I'm not sure what we will get him for Christmas, a toy box perhaps :) Thank you to everyone who came.

More pics from last friday at Sarah and Leah's

Sarah has sent me some of the pics she took with her camera. Sooo cute.

The Baby Show

Hannah and I took advantage of our BabyGROE Ambassador free tickets for The Baby Show at Earls Court yesterday. We left about 10am and made good progress in Hannah's little car with Leon and Sebastian in the back until we got to the North Circular. It was so funny, both of them had been asleep most of the way but Leon woke up as we hit the slow traffic and started pointing at cars and lorries and saying 'Car' etc then Seb woke up and started crying which set Leon off. Leon started crying like the world had just ended; snot, tears snivels you name it, just because Seb was crying. So we started singing nursery rhymes which worked, we'd have quiet for a bit and then they'd start up again. It was a bit noisy but I couldn't help finding it funny even though Leon was in bits!

The Baby Show was, as to be expected a consumer's dream for parents, most of which we weren't bothered about. We weeded out some possible suppliers for Hannah's baby boutique which is doing very nicely in Bury. She's had a long first week working very long days but it's coming together nicely. Hannah's planning on paying someone to work there once it's properly set up and then she'll get back some time with Seb who's quite clingy at the mo as he doesn't see his mum as much as he'd like.

The place was soooo hot, by about mid afternoon I felt like I'd been wearing the same clothes for about a week. I managed to find some Shosho booties for Leon for £8 when in Ely they cost £20. They are leather slippers for pre-walkers but they also make great indoor slippers now the weather is colder. I saw some new reusable nappies just on the market which I can tell people about in my nappy talks, which was partly why I wanted to go.

Leon had a full on day and was totally wired by the end of the afternoon. He enjoyed the Fairy non-bio ball pit while we had a welcome break. We left about 6pm and within about 5 minutes of getting in the car they were spark out all the way home.

Hannah and I had a reasonably good journey back and it was a really nice opportunity to chat and get to know each other better. We talked about our families and our aspirations etc. I was curious whether she would still want to do a shop in Ely as she has the one in Bury now and they are moving back to Bury to lessen the commute. She definitely does want to do multiple other shops, before having the chance to talk with her yesterday, I was under the impression she would be working at the one in Bury full time but she's planning on employing someone to do that which is smart and also means she can go back to seeing more of Sebastien again. I would have to spend the early part of next year working intensively on the shop in Ely with her but then I would then go part time with someone else who would work there and I'd manage it which would be doable for me. This was really nice to know and get sorted in our heads.

Baby's can be a good laugh

Leon is certainly a character. I'm glad we can have such a laugh together. He is starting to understand what I say and knows what 'upstairs' means - he will stand at the bottom of the stairs, and the same with 'downstairs' (providing he's not going through our sock drawer, in which case it takes a little more persuasion). He knows what 'no' is but is choosing more and more frequently to look at me and smile and go back to whatever it was I told him not to do. When I read the dragons book if I say 'point to the dragon' he will. Even if I point to a number of other dragons first, he will point to any dragon rather than one I've pointed to. We laugh a lot, especially last thing before bed, funnily enough. Even though he's tired, after his bottle, part of the hug part has become a laughing time where he sits on my lap and we both move from side to side in opposite directions Egyptian stylie. He finds this hilarious. He tries to grab my glasses and I move my head out of his reach, also hilarious. He sticks his whole hand in my mouth and if I pretend to bite it, hilarious and so on. After a while I give him a big cuddle and put him in the cot with his 'people' he turns over and finds someone to cuddle. I go off and do the nappy bucket routine, come back one last time before taking the washing down for a last kiss by which time he's well on the way to being asleep. Most nights now he doesn't even cry once and then that's it through until 6-7am. There might be the odd teething night where he might need a cuddle or a bottle but he's pretty much straight through now every night. I wonder how bad this means no.2 child has to be :)
Today on the way back from Sarah and Leah's I was holding his hand as I pushed the pram and tickling his palm, you've guessed it, hilarious. At one point the pavement was wide and straight enough for me to walk along side the pushchair and pull it along by holding his hand. The smiles were just the best.
Sarah has a ball pit set up for Leah and Leon was really into it so I'm going to turn his play pen into a ball pit.

Happy Birthday Maaike

Maaike is six today, amazing and flabbergasting. I rang Janet to ask to say happy birthday and of course, she was at school Duh! Eventually I spoke to her this evening just as I was putting Leon to bed. Jan got her a BMX bike, which she is still mastering but very excited with. Jan always wanted one and the girly bikes are too gimmicky not to mention what does a 6 year old need with full suspension anyway. She also got some roller skates, which I'm presuming her Dad got her.

My present won't arrive until tomorrow or Wednesday as numpty here didn't get round to posting it until today despite having the present sitting there nearly a month and going to the post office last Wednesday. Not very proud of that. Well on the bright side it stretches out Maaike's presents so she gets to open more later in the week.

Pictures are of you know who being booky at the weekend, playing with Dad, waking up from his morning snooze this morning, seeing the Geese down by the Ouse this afternoon and messing about with sunglasses I found in among his toys while we were playing just before bed.

I took his strips off yesterday and he had his first bath for a week (phew!) now that his cuts properly healed. I think he'll be fine for swimming tomorrow :)