Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Much Love,

Laura & Leo

xx

Remembering The Lost Baby Years

Today I have invited the lovely Emily from Babyrambles to share with us all the reminders that babies do not stay babies for long.

 The little baby you brought home from hospital is soon just a image in your head and in the little babies place...Is a fully grown child. You can be left scratching your head wondering where the time has gone, shocked at how quickly the years have passed...

Within the space of four years and one month I had Three children. Looking back at it now – it’s a blur. My youngest is now two and I’m starting to feel the madness is calming down as my children leave babyhood and start to grow up.

Running around after three little children can leave you exhausted. It can leave you very sleep-deprived too. And sadly I struggle to remember them clearly as babies. I think the chaos and the tiredness does something to your memory.

It’s amazing how much I’ve forgotten. I always thought I’d remember the milestones but even now I struggle to remember exactly what age each child was when they crawled and walked and said their first word. It all seems like a muddled haze.

I suppose I remember the most about my first son’s babyhood because we had more time for him. But when the next babies arrived I naturally had less time for them and it’s something I feel guilty about. I also feel guilty that I hardly remember them as babies.

Taking photos is so important. It’s easy to be too busy to remember. We bought our first digital camera in readiness for our first baby.That was almost seven years ago now and I’m glad we did. It meant we could take as many photos as possible. These days we can use our phones to capture every moment too.

I often look back through our photos – there are hundreds. Possibly a few thousand. But each one is so important. By looking at the pictures I remember little outfits they wore, the faces they pulled and the toys they liked to play with. It shows the memories are in my head still, I just need photos to help me recall them.

And I’m glad I have my blog. I started it while I was pregnant with my third baby and reading the old posts reminds me of what we were doing and what the challenges of daily life were. It’s amazing how quickly times change. It can seem like they’re lasting forever at the time. But it’snot like that really. Children grow up so quickly.

Everyone with older children tells me the time goes quickly.When you’re at home with your first newborn baby you can’t ever imagine them becoming a child. I change very little within the space of six months or a year, and yet my children change dramatically in that time. I want to remember every moment but it’s hard.

So I must remember to take photos. And print some of themout. And back them up on the computer! Because they will help me with my memories to treasure forever.

Your Baby's Cry...

When Leo starts to cry, I can not help but jump straight into action and be right there by his side. The reason for his crying may only be trivial, but at that moment in time he needs me...

Sometimes when he is fighting off his impending sleep, he will scream, shout and cry, making his intent known. Leo has made the deciding decision...and he is not going to sleep without a fight! I try and fight the urge to run back in and snuggle him up into a warm embrace, but I know the result will end in a hysterical situation if I do not do this.

Yes it does get frustrating at times, but no-one ever said that being a Mummy was a easy job, it is my job to cuddle him and love him, even more so when he cries. It is my job to put a big smile back on that beautiful face of his...

I have tried to leave him to settle himself  when he is crying, but it always ends in hysterical dramatised crying. Once the cry gets that angry...Sleep is never going to happen, So I run in and comfort him, wishing I had come back in to him sooner. Only a few moments...mere minutes have passed but I still feel immense guilt for letting him get into such a state.

It is then back to square One, repeating the whole process of settling him back down again...

You could say, I should be harder on him and he needs to learn to go through the night or down for a nap without making such a fuss. You could say that I need to grow a back bone and let him cry it out, so he knows he cannot kick and scream to get his own way.

That is something that I cannot do. The strength to do this is just not in the make up of my DNA. It is not how I operate as a Mummy, and it is not how I was brought up. The thought of leaving him to cry it out, makes my heart sink until it almost hits the floor.

It makes me wonder how people perfect the 'controlled crying' scenarios, and how their beating hearts don't burst at the sound of their baby crying hysterically? How can they just let them cry?...

Of course I am not judging anyone who practises the controlled crying route, I think that it is each to their own and what is good practise for one parent is not the same for another.

For those of us who have heard about the controlled crying method, but don't know the exact procedure, we should have a little look into what is actually involved.

 Basically you gradually reduce your involvement and reassurance...

You start by putting your baby down in their cot and tuck them in for the night as you would usually. If your baby does not settle, you leave them to cry for five minutes in the hope the baby will self soothe. The parent will go back in and re-settle the baby after this time period, before putting the baby back to bed and leaving again.

The parent will then wait 10 minutes before going back in. The duration will gradually increase after each intervention, before the parent goes back in to re-settle the baby. The 10 minutes will then lengthen to 20 minutes, then 30 minutes and so on. By gradually reducing your involvement you are hopefully paving the way for the golden baby who will self soothe.

In the mean time though, in between each interval the baby will be crying. Wanting his Mummy and Daddy...

Once controlled crying is in place, I am sure it is very rewarding for both parent and baby. For me though, I could never consider this as an option. Leaving my baby to cry for a few minutes is one thing...But leaving him for 10 minutes? 30 minutes??? That just seems insane to me. I would be a blubbering mess on the floor, and within 2 minutes I would be back in there, cradling my boy and drying those tear stained cheeks.

When Leo cries out, I have to be with him. For me, getting up and giving my 9 month old a bottle at 3am for a few minutes, is no skin off my nose. I sleep much more soundly knowing that he is fed and contented, rather than miserable and screaming the house down for hours on end.

That is just my personal opinion as a Mummy. We all have our own ways of dealing with a baby's bedtime and we all have our own routines in place. Like I said 'it is each to their own, and what is good practise for one parent is not the same for another'.

What are your views on controlled crying? Do you practise it and have personal experience with it?

I would love to hear your views on this controversial subject that, often causes heated opinions from each side of the playing field.

Laura

xx

A Blogging Life For Me...

I started blogging to capture everything that is Leo. To remember everything that I felt and to make sure each unique experience was there to look back on.

I never want to forget a single moment, I want to remember the good, the bad and everything in between.

My memories and treasures have each been locked safely away in my little treasure chest, hidden in my little corner of cyber space. They will stay safely there until I wish to go right back to the beginning and re-read every single one.

My blogging journey has lead to a whole new world. A online community that I never knew existed, where other blogger's from all walks of life have welcomed me and helped me along on my blogging journey. So while I am still blogging for the exact same reasons as I was when I first started my blog, I have also made so many new friends.

I find this absolutely amazing...

These new friends have become such a force in my everyday life, and I find myself going to them over anyone else. They have listened to me rant and rave, and always taken a interest in Leo. When he has been poorly they have wished him well and sent good thoughts, and they have offered their experiences to help me out, and stopped me from pulling all my hair out.

When I started my blog, it was just me, myself and I. Somewhere along the way though, something amazing happened. New friends started reading my blog and signed up for future posts. My Twitter started to bloom, and we started welcoming more and more friends into our lives.

Twitter has become a constant source in my life and has introduced me to some amazing people that I would never have known. I look to Twitter for so much these days, if I need some advice or help with something technical, there is always a friend there offering their golden advice. I cannot express how much I value this.

I have fallen in love with blogging and developed a real passion for it, this blog is essentially my bible for Leo. I will continue this for him and hope that it is something he can be proud of when he is big and grown.

We love welcoming new friends, and we hope to see more of you all. Come and say 'Hi' as we love to get to know you.

'Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.'

Laura

xx

The Magic Inside

A 3D scan is like a window into your unborn babies home, where you can see them growing into your perfect little bundle. Through this window you can see the magic un-folding right in front of your eyes. Their little hands, fingers, feet and toes. You can even see certain facial features. You can see them wriggling around and witness where all their limbs are strategically placed.


This time last year, I was just turning 26 weeks pregnant. I always promised myself a 3D Scan should I ever have a baby. I find the whole technology mind blowing. I always in visioned what my baby boy would look like and I was over the moon to have a sneak peak at him.

It was never an option for me not to have one, and I did not care how much it cost me and whether Luke agreed or not. This was the one thing mad thing I wanted out of my pregnancy, so I was going to do it regardless!


So in December 2010 at 12 weeks pregnant, I booked my appointment for April 2nd 2011 at One Stop Clinics. I opted for the Golden Package.

The package cost £175.00 for a baby scan consultation up to 30 minutes long, I also received everything else I had longed for in a 3D Scan package. What I really wanted was to be able to take all the photos they had taken and have the scan on a DVD, so I could re-watch it at my leisure.


One day Leo and I will sit down and I will show him the photos of him tucked up safely in my tummy, I will sit and watch the footage of him sleeping and being a little monster even in those early days.


There is just something magical about being able to see your unborn child before they are here in the flesh. I know it does not appeal to everyone, but for me this was everything.

My 3D Scan was the highlight of my pregnancy, although true to form Leo made the whole thing difficult by hiding behind his hands the entire time. We did get some lovely shots of him sleeping, and I saw his sweet angelic face.

I was amazed how much he resembled the scan image when he came along. He still has the lovely full lips and cute little face. He has grown substantially now, compared to the little baby he was then.


Here is a little snippet of the magic I encountered during my 3D scan.

Choosing The Godparent's

With Leo's Christening on the not so distant horizan, I have been thinking long and hard about Godparent's and what their role actually is? Who would I pick to have such a important role in my baby boy's life?

So on my search into the obysis for details on Godparent's, I came across Wikipedia and a rather insightful description.

'Traditionally, godparents were informally responsible for ensuring the child's religious education was carried out, and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Today, the word godparent might not have explicitly religious overtones. The modern view of a godparent tends to be an individual chosen by the parents to take an interest in the child's upbringing and personal development'

For me it is completely up to Leo if he wishes to go to Church or not, Luke and I are not avid attendees and maybe attend a few times a year if that. One service I do like to attend is on Christmas Eve, It makes everything feel very festive and puts you in great spirits for the magic on Christmas Morning.

 I hear you ask, why get him Christened then?

I want Leo to be Christened because I think it is a lovely service and something that goes hand in hand with a new baby. It is a happy occasion that welcomes Leo into a new family and a new acceptance. I may not be a regular in the church, but I do believe that it is the right thing to do. I have been christened where as Luke has not, but we both agree this is something that would benefit Leo.

The role of a Godparent to me is very important. Who would I entrust with Leo should something happen to me and Luke? The answer to that question, is my parents... but who else would I trust enough?

I want someone Leo will look up to and learn from, a good influence and someone who knows him and really does take an interest in who he is and how he is brought up. Above all else, someone who loves him.

I know Leo is loved by so many people, but do they know him as-well as I would like them to? Would they bring him up the way I plan to?

After much deliberation and discussion, Luke and I have agreed on 3 suiters.

These 3 people we think will be great Godparents.

Firstly Leo's Godfather's...

Jason - Luke's childhood best friend who loves to come and visit Leo. He takes in every detail and makes every effort. He is the perfect man for the job.

Shaun - Luke's childhood school friend, who jumped at the chance and could not have been happier about the prospect of having Leo as his Godson.

Finally...**Drum Roll** Please...

Leo's Godmother...

Heather - Leo's Auntie who is currently carrying a little cousin and play mate. Heather has been around from the very start and was one of the first people to find out I was expecting. She has been a solid support for myself and always loved Leo. I could not think of anyone else who I would want to be his Godmummy. Heather was over the moon to be asked and I know that she will always be a consistant person in Leo's life, and that is all I can ask.

How did you pick your Godparent's and did you find it hard to agree on the final selection with your other half?

Laura

xx

A Beautiful Occasion

We have set a date,

A date for Leo's Christening.

On Sunday, July 8th 2012 we will be baptising our beautiful boy.

He will be 13 months old, and will most likely have the ability to walk.

He will be running around, causing mayhem in the church.

All that I hope is that we can keep him still enough to complete the service,

and not disturb the sacred peace.

The plan was to hold this beautiful occasion next month. May.

Unfortunately this cannot be, as the service is full.

This means I need to return Leo's little suit,

 that I purchased a few weeks ago in the 9-12 months size.

I cannot risk the chance of Leo being too big...So back it must go.

It is the most stunning little suit, that suits him down to the ground.

He is going to look so handsome.

Beautiful.

It was just this evening that we went to the Church and set our special date.

The Vicar had forgotten his hearing aids,
and could barely make out a word I said.
This made the conversation a tricky one to say the least,
but he pulled it off with the greatest of ease.
He was asking the questions he needed answers to,
and I answered them as clearly as I could.
Somewhere along the way though, Luke's occupation changed from
Cabinet Maker to Camera Maker and Leo's name changed to Nemo.
When he confirmed Leo's name as Nemo...He pulled a face, demonstrating what a odd name he thought it was.

It is safe to say the experience was a memorable one.

We have waited until now, so we can benefit from the Summer sun.

We are willing the sun to shine all day long,

so we can share are baby boy's special day out in the garden.

Out in the Summer rays, we will have a bouncy castle,

for all of our family and closest friends.

Leo will be his cheeky self and causing all kinds of trouble.

He will most certainly enjoy his day,

at the centre of attention.

Now the planning must start,

I am on the look out for some special invitations,

to go out to all our important guests.

I need to find a bouncy castle, worthy of such an important event.

If anyone can help with ideas for these invitations,

as they have to look the bees knees, I would love your inspiration.

I am thinking of using some of Leo's lovely new shots,

and making them truly personal invites.

If you do have any ideas, or recommendations on where to go...

I would love to hear from you.

Laura

xx