Our Family Holiday

So I didn't update straight away like I said I would, but you've got to admit, this is GOOD for me. Cut me some slack ^-^

We just got back from our first family holiday in well over a year and it was so awesome to get away, we all had a fantastic time. We were going to Perth to attend a good friends commitment ceremony, but decided to make it a bit of a trip and were really glad we did.
The flights there and back were surprisingly not too bad with two young children, we even scored compliments on the fact they were so quiet and well behaved on the plane. Not bad for kiddies who had never been on one before! Leopold actually loved it :)
Our first day in Perth was basically just settling in, we stayed in a little suburb called Karrinyup, that was close to the beach and nice and quiet (all of Perth is nice and quiet it seems!). Then on our second day we went to a place called 'The Maze' and all had a great morning playing mini golf, running through mazes and patting koalas (it was also a small wildlife sanctuary). Leo in particular loved it, although he thought the koalas had "yuck" faces haha. Then we went to my friend Ally's ceremony and that was such a wonderful experience. We ended up staying quite late because the boys were behaving so well and we were all digging the band! The Friday was a pretty packed day; wildlife park in the morning, which was just gorgeous (we even got to pat kangaroos, a super fun experience because Leo was beside himself as they are his second favourite animal). Archer was especially fantastic on this trip, either his normal cheery self or enjoying a snooze in the pram or ergo.
We got to see a farm show at the wildlife park, and Leo and Gaz got to feed baby sheep which was adorable, wish I had gotten a picture of that! Leo ended up falling asleep in the ergo on this day too and it became a common place for him to have naps during this trip.
After a brief relax at our cabin we all went to the beach at sunset and had the most perfect time playing in the waves and sand and running around. It is probably one of my favourite moments together as a family.
On Saturday morning we went to the Perth zoo, which was fabulous! Biggest crocodile and reticulated python I have ever seen and Leo LOVED the elephants (his favourite animal) and monkeys. We had lunch there and once again both boys were awesome and had naps in the ergo :)
Then we headed off to Ally's to spend the night. It was so amazing to get to spend so much time with her and her beautiful family. Leopold and Joshua became good friends, as did Archer and Xavier, and Leo is still asking when he can see "Doshy" again :') Thanks again Ally! It was lovely.
On Sunday I got to meet a fair few of the lovely ladies and their kiddies from our Facebook mums group, which was wonderful, then we headed off to another friends house and spent some time with all of them and their gorgeous children. It was such a social visit! We headed off to the airport, thinking we'd be flying home that night, but NOPE. Flight was cancelled due to wild weather and so we spent another night at Ally's and ended up flying home at 5pm on Monday afternoon, which turned out to be a total blessing because our return flight was so easy and relaxed.
I've posted a whole heap of photos below so you can all see the fun we had. I'll have to do another post with the better photos that are on Gaz's phone, these are just the ones I have, in no particular order. Please comment and tell me about your favourite family holiday; we're always on the lookout for new places to travel to :)

Madeleine xoxo

I know, I know...

I could write an entire post apologising for my failure to update regularly, but y'all know how sorry I am so we'll skip my pleas for forgiveness and get straight to it;

I have a whole heap of photos and updates on the boys that I will be posting tonight hopefully so look out for that :) Just got to load them onto the computer, but two attached children are preventing me currently. Only 'Winnie The Pooh' is allowing me to get time to type this out.

We've had an exciting and exhausting couple of months featuring:
-Getting more settled into our new home (I'll do a house tour as soon as it's all unpacked, which it still isn't!)
-Lots of appointments for our little Archie Bear. His haemangioma requires lots of treatment, but fingers crossed it's all working.
-A lovely holiday to Perth (photos soon).
-And just general all-round family fun times.

The boys are perfection. They drive me absolutely batty at points (any parent who says they never dislike their kids is lying!), but they are so lovely.
Leopold cracks me up every day, definitely has his daddy's sense of humour that's for sure!

I know this is only a short post, but I have several dirty nappies to change (oh the joy) and lots of housework to do. Will post again tonight, cross my heart!

M xoxo

Reality

I know, I know! Really I have no excuse for not blogging more. Except that having two kids is pretty darn hard. Archer is 12 weeks now (seriously?) and it isn't getting 'easier', but I think I am finally get the hang of parenting both boys.
We've also just moved house, into a house we OWN! It feels so scary and grownup, but is infinitely awesome and we are so excited. I am hating unpacking though and avoid it like the plague.
I only have a few small windows during the day where the boys are asleep or happy to play by themselves and most of the time I take a moment to flop back on the couch and relax, but I want to be more productive. Even if that productivity just extends to regular blog updates as opposed to cleaning. But no promises! :)

So, the boys are going great! Leopold will be 26 months this month, yep it's already August :O
Since moving into the new house he isn't sleeping as well as he used to, quite often getting out of bed in the night and getting up with the sun (or so it feels, 7-8.30am is undoubtedly an awesome time to start the day, but I'm used to him getting up at 9-10.30am so cut me some slack!), but otherwise he has settled in well.
He is still breastfeeding pretty often, is a picky eater (or maybe he just knows what he likes haha), but is always happy to eat fruit and our homemade fruit and vegie juices and currently loves drawing, ride on toys and bath time. So proud of him for getting past his water aversion! :)
He is also Toy Story OBSESSED! We just bought him a Buzz Lightyear toy yesterday and my gosh, talk about a positive reception, so cute. He's very talkative and has started learning numbers, letters, shapes and colours and can count 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 hehe.
Leo also loves his little brother. His bond with Archer is just gorgeous and I really hope they will be close as they get older.

As I said before, Archer is now 12 weeks and is without a doubt the most chilled baby I have ever met. He falls asleep anywhere, anytime. Self settles, loves nappy changes, loves being naked, is a total water baby, feeds well, sleeps even better. He definitely makes parenting a relaxed affair! We get lots of smiles, giggles and 'coos' now and I am really starting to enjoy him and watching him grow.
He is a big boy, short, but so chubby and heavy. Not sure of his exact weight, as due to reflux (that now seems to be settling *touch wood*) he lost a little bit, but I'd guess 6+ kg now.
Arch doesn't seem to like being held by Gaz if I am around and will often be grizzly if his dad cuddles him for too long, which is a bit sad. He is also in my sleeping pattern (staying up really late and then sleeping in) at the moment, which is not good, but he does sleep through so I can't complain!
We are going through a bit of medical stuff with Archie Bear at the moment, he has a large vascular growth on his forehead/over his left eye which is getting bigger and effecting his vision. First appointment with a pediatric surgeon next week so we are all a bit nervous about that. He's tough though and I know no matter what we'll get through it :)

I'll try my hardest to get another blog post up soon, I have a few I want to do (like a tour of our new house, a 'day in my life', one specifically on AP and what being a peaceful parent means to me). If there is anything you'd like to see on this blog please let me know, I'd really love for friends and family to use it as a way of hearing about us and watching the boys grow :)

xoxo

Leopold Turns 2!

That's right, yesterday my beautiful boy celebrated 2 years Earthside. I cannot believe how fast it has gone. It seems like just yesterday I was holding him in my arms for the first time and now he fills every day with gorgeous, and often aggravating, toddler behaviour :)

He is such a little gem. The most gentle soul who shows more empathy and understanding than most adults I know. Leo constantly struggles with overcoming his sensory 'issues' (that are becoming more and more prevalent the older he gets), but he never fails to make me smile. He has taught me patience, how to let the little things go, how to enjoy being a kid again and endless love.
I feel so blessed to even know such a special boy, let alone be able to call him my son.

We had a lovely couple of days as a family, going to the zoo on Thursday and then spending Friday (his actual birthday) enjoying a lazy day at home...with lots of presents and chocolate!
Happy Birthday Leopold. You are truly amazing.

Archer's Birth Story

Disclaimer: This birth story includes some graphic detail, adult language and birth pictures

If you have been reading my blog then you are very familiar with my pregnancy and how over it I was. I firmly believe babies are born when they are ready, but what with being on pelvic rest and experiencing constant pain I was VERY ready for this baby to be born.
Before I really begin this story I cannot stress enough how different my two birth experiences were. They were chalk and cheese, in the best possible way. If you haven't already read Leopold's Birth Story you can find it here http://the-littlest-teacup.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/leopolds-birth-story-part-1.html and here http://the-littlest-teacup.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/leopolds-birth-story-part-2.html.

I'd been in pre-labour for weeks and was totally fed up. My contractions, which came and went sporadically, had often been painful and they were definitely doing something (I was slowly dilating), but it was still incredibly frustrating. I remembered all the pre-labour I had experienced in the 10 or so days leading up to Leo's birth and the similarity made me fearful that I was looking at another long, 'stop and start' labour. I was not coping emotionally and had to keep reminding myself that I WAS going to have a better birth and be able to move past the trauma I had previously gone through.
On Friday the 10th of May at around noon my doctor performed an s&s at my request (my second in the last week), I was 3cm dilated and we booked my induction date. My doctor (R) reassured me that I would more than likely have this baby well before my EDD (May 12th). I went in for a CTG at 3pm due to slightly high BP (high for me anyway) and the monitor was picking up tightenings, but as I'd been contracting for so long I didn't read much into it. The midwife remarked that she also didn't think I'd make my EDD.
At 4pm a family friend popped around, I was contracting regularly, but ignoring them. By 5pm I thought "Maybe this is it?", but didn't allow myself to get my hopes up. She left at 5.30pm and my surges got intense straight away. As soon as she was out the door I was on my hands and knees groaning. Gaz had had no idea the contractions were this strong and we were both laughing at how ridiculous it was that I hadn't made a peep while we had had company!

I got in the shower and asked Gaz to call MIL (Sue) and her partner and let them know things might be happening. Not 10 minutes later I yelled for him to get them here now because by 6pm I knew I was definitely in labour. They came over, we put on my TENS and I laboured at home for awhile, making casual conversation and cuddling Leopold between the surges. I was very aware that these may be the last hours he had as an only child and that saddened and excited me. I remember lying over the gym ball and Leo came up behind me to rub my back and give me a big hug. It was a gorgeous moment.
I started leaking and thought my waters had broken so at 7pm we decided to head up to the hospital, not knowing if bubs was engaged or not. I kissed Leo goodbye (he was happily watching 'The Little Mermaid with Sue's partner, his poppy) and burst into tears at the thought of leaving him.

The ride to the hospital was awful. I had two contractions on the 5 minute drive so knew things were moving along. We arrived at hospital and the midwife (E) did an internal. I was 3-4cm, fully effaced, bubs was slowly engaging and membranes intact. I wanted to go home at this point despite the pain, but they asked me to stay for a 15 minute CTG. I HATED being attached to the monitors, especially as it brought back horrible memories of Leo's birth, and within minutes was screaming for a shower. They hurried the CTG along, I think I was only on the monitors for maybe 10 minutes, I took off the TENS, and hopped under the shower (this was at around 7.30pm). At first it was bliss and seemed to ease the pain, but it wasn't long before the shower wasn't cutting it and I was demanding a bath.
R arrived at this point and I was suprised to see him given the fact that I was only in 'early' labour. We exchanged pleasantries (I was barely even aware of my nudity!) and he left me to do my thing.

Finally the bath was ready at about 8pm and I could feel the baby moving down through my pelvis, my hips felt like they were on fire and each contraction was beyond agonising. I kept asking why it hurt so much, thinking that I was only in early labour with hours to go. I remember saying I couldn't do it if it was going to be a 31 hour labour like my first time and E urged me to put all negativity from my mind and focus, commenting that she doubted I had much more than an hour left. I did my best to breathe properly and found myself getting dizzy and frustrated. This was obviously transition and while part of my brain was aware of that and I was so happy to feel my body doing all the right things, another part was being completely irrational and ridiculous. I was definitely NOT quiet or demure during labour, especially transition, I was very, very loud and obnoxious! E told me the contractions were coming every 3 minutes to which I declared "3 minutes my arse!" and asked for an epidural. Everyone in the vicinity (R, E, Sue, Gaz and another midwife, C) just laughed. The hospital doesn't even perform epidurals and even though I was under the impression I had forever to go I was clearly close. I think I just wanted a way to express how painful it was because I never even thought about asking for pethidine or gas and air. Excluding the brief CTG monitoring when we first arrived at the hospital, the only monitoring I received was via a doppler every 15 minutes or so and E timed my contractions by observing my stomach's tightening. While in the bath Gaz and Sue were such a huge physical support for me, allowing me to squeeze their hands to pulp and placing cool cloths on my forehead.

Then I started feeling an urge to push. I freaked out, unsure what was happening. This was at about 10 to 9pm. I had a bright show and got out of the tub. I was starting to bear down involuntarily with each surge, but still was in denial I was about to have a baby. I managed to hobble back into the birthing room with the assistance of Gaz and C and saw R standing there grinning at me, already in his apron and gloves. This puzzled me. Surely I wasn't fully dilated? There was no way in Hell things had happened this fast! I said something to the effect and once again there was laughter and E said that they could write a textbook on my labour and my noises and actions let them know this baby was coming now.
I knew I wouldn't be getting on the bed to deliver so stood at the end of the bed, naked, wet and clinging to Gaz saying "I need to poo!" (isn't labour glamorous?). R was behind me and for the first time since my shower spoke directly to me and said "You do whatever your body tells you. It knows what to do. That's your baby you're feeling". I reached down between my legs and thought I got feel something. I did my first real push and felt him move even lower. Just after declaring that my waters hadn't broken with the second push they did (poor Gaz's feet got soaked). Third push I felt him crown and I looked up at my midwives to say "I can feel his hair!. I was in a state of shock. He was right there. He was about to be born. Everyone in the room was laughing and smiling. No one was touching me except Gaz, I was practically hanging off his neck (Sue was jumping around taking pictures). With one last big push from my body (and what I can only describe as roaring from me), Archer was born through my hands and into R's. As I was standing to deliver I had to turn around and scooch up onto the bed to properly hold Archer. He was tiny, covered in vernix and asleep! He soon woke up though and was already so peaceful and alert. I had very heavy bleeding straight after birth and started passing big clots so sadly didn't get the physiological third stage I wanted. I also had a second degree tear that required stitching, probably one of the most uncomfortable parts of the whole experience as my local anesthetics didn't work properly, but it was completely bearable as I was holding my little boy in my arms and focusing on his first feed. Other than that my labour was perfect and we were home within 19 hours of delivery.

Archer was born at 9.01pm on Friday the 10th of May, 2 hours after arriving at the hospital and less than 5 minutes of pushing. He weighed 6lb 8oz/2.96kg, was 49cm with a 35cm head circumference. It felt awesome to have such an empowering, natural birth with an amazing support team. No IVs, no drugs, no one telling me to push (in fact I never really had to push, my body just did that for me).
I cannot really describe the feelings I experienced. Knowing my body and my baby worked so well together and being able to achieve the healing birth I wanted was so incredible. Gaz also has remarked how much he loved Arch's birth and he felt respected as my partner and like he was actually able to contribute to the delivery and provide the support I needed.
It was truly the best experience of my life :)

Archer

At 9.01pm on May 10th (two days before his EDD) we welcomed our second beautiful little man, Archer Corey Tobias, into the world. I cannot wait to fully write out his birth story and share it with you all, but in the meantime here are some pictures of our Squishy Bub.

Archer was born weighing 2.96kg/6lbs 8oz, 49cm long with a 35cm head circumference. So far he is a dream baby, sleeping and feeding very well. I have never known a more peaceful bub :)
Leopold truly adores his little brother and I am looking forward to seeing their bond grow as they do.

I will post my birth story and many more pictures as soon as possible. Until then I am just enjoying getting to know this new little human and loving being a mummy of two!

38 & 39 Week Update

These last few weeks have been tough ones. I find pre-labour very difficult to deal with emotionally as it reminds me of what happened with Leo's birth and how slow progressing it was. Also for anyone who has experienced it you will know how frustrating it is to have contractions for no "real" reason! I have kept faith that my body and baby know what they are doing and every pain is leading me closer to a speedy and smooth labour.

38 weeks

38 weeks

39 weeks 1 day

How far along?: 38-39 weeks
Total weight gain: +7-8kg from pre-pregnancy weight
Maternity clothes?: Getting a lot of use out of my maternity singlets
Stretch marks?: Can't believe I have managed to escape ending up covered in stretch marks! Even my old ones are still pretty light
Sleep: Up and down all night
Best moment this week: Reassuring dr's appointments :)
Miss Anything?: Being able to play properly with Leo and be active
Movement: His movements are smaller, but still feeling just as many, love my little ninja baby even though he hurts me!
Food cravings: None at the moment actually, although the last couple of days I have been constantly hungry
Anything making you queasy or sick: Comes and goes, definitely something I am not going to miss about this pregnancy
Gender: Boy
Labour Signs: Lots and lots, but trying not to read too much into it. I know from experience how long this stage can go for
Symptoms: No new or interesting symptoms really, who would have thought that one of the main challenging things about pregnancy is how boring it can be?!
Belly Button in or out?: Half and half haha
Engagement ring on or off?: On, I don't seem to swell during pregnancy thankfully
Happy or Moody most of the time: So, so moody
Looking forward to: Being done with pregnancy! Sorry I'm such a downer this week, the end is definitely the hardest part