Leopold Update

It's been way too long since I have shared this little man's gorgeous face. Hard to believe he is 22 months in a couple of days! I am honestly so excited to see him in the role of big brother, he is such a gentle and beautiful soul (even if he does drive me crazy some days!)

He is sleeping well 95% of the time, which is obviously making a big difference in all our lives. I am expecting a regression once bubs arrives, but at the moment he is asleep by 8.30pm, up at around 7.30am and has about a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day. I LOVE the fact he is still napping hehe.
Leo isn't really toilet training yet, but is showing lots of signs that he is getting ready (telling us when he needs a nappy change, wanting to sit on his potty etc). I'm thinking it's something we'll approach towards the end of the year, I don't mind having two in nappies.
He is still as verbal as ever. In fact it seems every day he is coming up with words, sentences and concepts that we had no idea he knew or understood. At the moment we are learning shapes, colours and numbers. This kid loves being read to and "reading" to himself and flash cards are no exception. I wouldn't be pushing him to learn these particular things, but he is very curious and requires lots of stimulation. Plus it's super adorable to hear him count :)

Leo seems to have some sensory issues or OCD traits (not a huge suprise as I was exactly the same as a child). He cannot stand having dirty hands, touching certain textures, being messy or loud noises. This has made him into some what the picky eater. Most toddlers seem to go through "picky" phases with their food preferences, but Leo's issue is that he doesn't like being fed, but doesn't like feeding himself for fear of mess. So all foods need to be fairly 'clean' and easy for him to finger feed himself (he hates using utensils). At the moment his favourites are spinach and ricotta agnolotti, peanut butter toast, bananas, sultanas, milk arrowroot biscuits, sausages, pizza and Easter has led him to develop a healthy appetite for chocolate *sigh* which he asks for every day.

He is almost exactly 10kg and by my estimate nearly 90cm tall (he certainly doesn't get his lanky genes from me!), while he is very small for his age, Leo is incredibly healthy. We can't recall the last time he was sick. I imagine breastfeeding and the large doses of colostrum he gets daily have contributed to his immune system. He is also completely eczema free, no longer needs to be moisturised and has even been in contact with things like bubble bath with no flare ups! So happy ^-^

We suspect his 2 year old molars (the last baby teeth he has left to get) will start popping through soon and he is definitely entering "the terrible twos", but all in all he is such an awesome and relaxed little man. He loves being touched and giving others cuddles and kisses. Leo is absolutely baby obsessed and very gentle with my friend's younger children and newborns so I'm taking that all as a good sign of things to come.

And here of course is the man himself, as you can see he loves the swings (visiting the park is a fave activity). The pictures towards the end featuring animals were taken at a local Easter fair and it was definitely one of our family highlights, seeing how overjoyed he was :) Nothing like being a parent!

17 Weeks

Wow time is really flying by. I'm 17 weeks and 3 days (in a couple of hours). Pregnancy is going well. I still have morning sickness, but it more controllable now thankfully. I did end up in hospital on fluids once, so glad that hasn't happened again!!
Very excited for my morphology scan in just over 2 weeks, definitely going to find out the gender!
About to start counselling for PTSD from Leo's birth and that whole experience, hopefully that will help me come to terms with what ever happens during this birth, although we are planning a totally natural, no-low intervention birth at our local hospital. I really trust our doctor and am just hoping I come away from everything knowing I was respected and did my best

Bubba at 12 weeks 3 days

17 week belly!

Leopold is going great, learning so much and growing so fast. He is obsessed with fruit, sushi, The Lion King, all animals and baths at the moment. He will be 18 months on the 21st of this month and I can hardly believe how fast this year has gone. Leo is still breastfeeding like a champ, with no sign of weaning despite the pregnancy and thanks to baby massage is finally starting to sleep a bit better. So proud

Writing a reminder to myself right now to update this blog more regularly, before I know it this baby will be here and I doubt I'll have the time with 2 under 2 hehe.

Madeleine xoxo

I am really disorganised

So I think we can establish that this blog won't be updated daily. That's okay though, I'll just do it when I have the time. Between mummy-stuff, wedding planning, appointments, errands and catch ups with friends I barely seem to have time for anything right now. The house is a mess, my business is hardly flourishing because I never make time to promote myself, but at least Leo is fed and happy.

He is sleeping so much better now. I'm hoping that he'll drop his dreamfeed soon, but given that he has some issues gaining weight (mostly genetic) I'm happy he is still getting that extra feed once a day. It is just such a change to not have to tend to a screaming toddler 6 times a night! Makes a huge difference to my overall mood. I wish he still enjoyed bedsharing, that would definitely make my life easier!
I like that he has put himself into his own routine. I never had to stress or force him, he just did it naturally by himself (I think most babies do given the chance). At the moment he wakes at around 7.30am, has some cuddles and nurses for awhile, then breakfast, nappy change and I get him dressed. Our mornings are usually pretty relaxed. He follows me around the house while we do housework, we snuggle up with a movie...Then he has a morning snack, cuddles and goes down for his nap at around 11.30am.
His sleep is usually around 1 and a half hours, so he gets up, has lunch and another nappy change. Usually the afternoon is when we go into town and run errands or catch up with friends. If the weather isn't nice or we have no plans I still like to take him outside for at least 20 minutes to play with the dogs and get some sunlight. I try to limit television in the after too so we read stories, listen to music and dance, play with blocks, do puzzles or drawing or just play with his different toys (and quite often saucepans and spoons too). Then it's afternoon snack, maybe a bottle or another boob feed as well. As the afternoon wears down I find some tv or quiet reading stops Leo from becoming too over stimulated. When G gets home things are easier because they can play while I make dinner.
Dinner is usually at around 7pm, some nights Leo has a bath, but he is always in bed before 8pm with a bottle and a story. Once he goes to sleep I finish any housework I have to do, go on Facebook, watch a movie with G and eventually get myself ready for bed.

My life feels so busy already I can imagine that Leo's fairly set routine will come in handy when we throw another baby or any study I want to do into the mix!

Madeleine xoxo