Category Archives: Adam

So Today, I Was Waiting For the Lift

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in Marks & Spencer’s.  I had been picking up some lovely mushrooms for my mushroom and mustard pasta.  M&S is pricier than Tesco, but their mushrooms are much better.

In any event, as I was waiting there, with the pram, Adam contently asleep wrapped in his favourite blue blanket and I could see my reflection in the sign they have hanging there.  The sign tells  you what items are on what floor.  Our M&S has 4 floors, by the way.  Basement is where I was, where the food is.

Anyway, the sign is reflective and I could see myself.  As the lift was taking ages to get to the basement, I had a bit of time to look.  So first I looked at my clothes.  Little black ballet flats from Next, blue jeans from New Look, cheap Henley type long sleeved cream coloured pull over from Primark.   Hair barely brushed.  No make up.

Okay, so maybe I wasn’t the height of fashion.  Okay, maybe I should have brushed my hair a bit better before heading out.

But how do I think I looked?

The most contented and stress free that I have looked in years.

I wasn’t even impatient for the lift to arrive.  I didn’t even care that my hair was sticking straight up in parts, or that I really need another cut.

I was just enjoying being in M&S.  With  my lovely mushrooms.  And my lovelier son.  Heading home for lunch.  And a nap (for Adam, not me).

I never know, these days, what my day will bring.  Will I make it out of the house by 10, as planned?  Or will it be like today, when Adam was hungry, then not hungry, then wanted a sleep while I showered.  Then a bit hungry again.  That led to me not leaving until about 10:45.

And I didn’t care. Me, who hates missing a deadline.  Who hates running late.  Who hates not knowing what is going to happen next.

Is living a more or less schedule free life.

And loving it.

No, I Have No Idea

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who Jenny is who commented on my last post. Nor do I care.

I didn’t have to let her comment through moderation.  But I did.  Even though, she, like everyone else I was talking about in that post, totally missed my point.

But enough about that.  Let’s move on to other, more interesting things.

Like the fact that 5 years ago tonight at about this time I was sitting in the pub of a local hotel with some of my family.  Drinking.  Celebrating.  Why?  Because I was getting married in the morning.

That’s right.  5 years tomorrow.  Hard to believe its been 5 years.

5 years since we were married.  6 years since I moved to Northern Ireland.  8 years we’ve been together.

And now 12 weeks since Adam was born.  Next Friday he’s 3 months old.  Talk about time flying.

Before we know it? He’ll be starting school.  And going on dates.  And off to University.

Yes, I am feeling maudlin tonight.  Thanks for asking.

Yesterday The Best Thing Ever Happened.

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Adam gave his first full on belly laugh.  I was laughing at him because he paused in his feeding to let out a huge fart and my laughing led to him laughing.

It was one of those ‘damn, why isn’t the video camera aimed at him 24/7’ moments.  And it was the most joyous sound I have ever heard.

My good, big son.  The smiley laughing boy.

Letter to My Son – Adam – 2 Months Old

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Dear Adam

Today you are 2 months old.  Would you believe not one trip the hospital for anything other than a check up for the whole month?

Of course, this doesn’t mean you haven’t been hurt.  Daddy was clipping your fingernails and missed and cut a big chunk out of one of your fingers.  That’s the hardest you’ve cried.  And the blood!  And the Daddy guilt.  Which I told him to stop, as its nothing compared to Mummy dropping you on your head!

You were at the hospital for your after head dropping check up and it turns out that you did crack a rib as well.  Nothing they can do except let it heal, especially since it is obviously not hurting you.  You do still have a big lump on your side and the Doctor said that was why.  You have been discharged though!  So no more hospitals for you, please, my son. Just your regular baby clinic visits and jabs!

We’ve also had some bad days of crankiness and not sleeping.  Mummy thinks its a bit of colic.  Or maybe just being 2 months old.  She tells herself, and you and Daddy, this too will pass.  Some day you’ll be 18 and we’ll be fretting about something else.  Like you wanting to take a year to travel the world with your unsuitable girlfriend. 🙂

You’ve started to smile at Mummy and Daddy.  Its the best thing in the whole world.  Along with your babbling to yourself as you sit in your chair.  Or maybe you’re babbling to your animals that hang on it?

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Things we’ve learned about you this month: –

  • If you are totally hysterical, but won’t take a bottle or a dummy or even a hug, putting you under your mobile in your cot is instant calm.  Winnie the Pooh for the win!
  • If you are obviously sleepy but just won’t settle, a good swaddle in  your blue blanket and a few minutes cuddle (usually) knocks you out for at least a little while!

    • SDC10396

  • You are beginning to be able to sooth yourself back to sleep, so long as you aren’t hungry or dirty.
  • You make a sound that sounds like a giggle.  But might not be.

At your last weigh in your were 12lbs and 22inches.  My great big boy!

Keep growing!

Love

Mummy

Baby Brain, I Think Its Catching…

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So, every Monday night Simon and I have groceries delivered for the week.  This means that on Sunday we figure out what we want to eat Tuesday through Friday and order ingredients accordingly.

This morning I began pulling the items out to make tonight’s Chicken Cacciatore, so I could prep veggies while Adam was being happy in his bouncy seat.  Then I would just have to bung them and some chicken into the slow cooker at lunch time and 6 hours later, dinner would be on the table.

So I am rummaging through my veg drawer and I realize Tesco had sent me 4 onions.  ‘Why four onions?’ I said out loud.

Simon said ‘What are we having this week?’

‘Chicken Cacciatore, Chicken Casserole, Goulash, Veggie Lasagne and…wait, what’s the fourth thing?’ I replied.  ‘Chicken Cacciatore, Chicken Casserole, Goulash, Veggie Lasagne and…’ I repeated.

‘Check the ingredients we have.’ Simon suggested, ‘and that will tell you the fourth thing.’

Can you see what we both did there?  Both of us?

That’s right, for the non-baby brained out there…I was naming four things. And Simon was agreeing right along with me that I was missing one.

Once it occurred to me, just a few minutes later, how stupid we were, I then still couldn’t figure out why I had four onions.

It just occurred to me 10 minutes ago.  Because all four things have an onion in them.

Simon says his excuse was that he was on night duty last night and what was mine?

Baby Brain.

And I think its catching…

Yesterday’s Story Actually Had Two Morals

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One is the already listed: take a shower when the opportunity arises.

The other is to always, always, have the diaper bag packed and ready to go!  And I always do.

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I got my hair cut and coloured.  Simon, Adam and I did some shopping.  I had a nice nap in the afternoon.

Today? Not such a good day.

Started with a Night from Hell (TM).  Adam went down about 2230.  And woke up at 0030.  And up again at 0230.  At 0500. At 0700.  At that point I woke Simon up and handed him over and headed back to bed.

Then the rest of today he just would.not.sleep.  Not for more than 20 minutes at a time, at least.  Not in his pram when Simon took him out to the shops so I could have a break and soak in the tub.  Not in my arms while swaddled in his favourite blanket (can an almost 8 week old baby have  favourite blanket? Not sure, but the one Grandma and Pops with the Pool sent is definitely the best for swaddling).  Not even in the Bjorn which got him to sleep for about 3.5 hours on Thursday during our Great Adventure.  He finally fell asleep about an hour ago at 2030.  And I hear sounds of stirring.  Which could be good, as my dream night goes like this, starting at about 2200: –

Nappy Change

Into Grobag/PJs

Bottle

Sound asleep for 5+ hours.

Hey, a Mummy can dream. 🙂

Adam And Mummy’s Big Adventure

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So, Thursday I had plans.  Plans to bathe the baby.  Plans to clean a bathroom.  Plans to watch some TV while cuddling.

At 1030, that all went pear shaped with a pounding on my door.  I was in the middle of changing a hugely pooey diaper, so I wrapped Adam in a diaper that wasn’t latched and went to answer it.  As I opened the door the smell of gas was overwhelming.  It was our maintenance guy.  We had a leak.

I finished diapering little man’s bottom, double checked the diaper bag, throwing a few more things in it, put on some clothes (I was still in my PJs, unwashed!!) and stuffed him into his Baby Bjorn.  No way was I going to risk the lift, even if it was working, so no pram for us!

Got down to the front of the building and waited for the gas company.  They arrived about 1100 and headed into the building.  Meanwhile people were casually coming out of the building, obviously having no idea anything was going on.  I don’t think they ever did evacuate the whole building.  Yes, I am writing a letter to the management company about this.

Anyway, maintenance guy comes out and says it will be hours.  The leak has been traced to the flat across the hall from mine (!) but they can’t get the owner on the phone.  I mention that I think he travels a lot.  And head into town.

At this point it is 1130.  Little man is, thank god, asleep against my chest in his Bjorn, but not at all adequately dressed for what turned out to be a very chilly day.  Luckily I had grabbed a blanket so I had that wrapped around him in the Bjorn.  Also luckily I keep a warmer set of clothes in the diaper bag.  As I was walking to City Centre I thought about where I could take him to put him in warmer clothes..AH HA Marks & Spencer has a family bathroom.  M&S it is.

Got to M&S and got him more properly dressed.  And then bought some knickers. 🙂

Then realized I was starving and needed a real lunch to make up for the fact that my day had gone to hell.  So I headed to Victoria Square.  Upon perusal of the options, I decided Pizza Express sounded good.  And it was.

Meanwhile I had not been able to reach Simon.  His mobile was going straight to voice mail. I knew he wasn’t teaching and didn’t think he had any meetings, so could not figure out what was going on.  I finally said DUH and called his office number.

Got him on the phone and told him a.) that his mobile must be off and b.) that we had been evacuated!  He was all WHAT? and said he’d call the landlord to see what was going on.  He asked me if I wanted him to come home, but I didn’t really see the point, so told him to stay at work, that I was going to eat this HUGE piece of chocolate fudge cake in front of me and then go shopping.  I mean, I was already at the mall. 🙂

As I was finishing up said chocolate cake, Simon rang again to say the landlord had no clue and he was coming back to see what was going on.  I told him to ring me when he got to Belfast and headed off to shop.

I have been looking for a new diaper bag, as ours was just too small.  I have been using it as a handbag as well and with all of my things plus the baby’s things, sometimes it just wouldn’t zip.  So my first stop was the Mecca of Handbags, aka the ground floor of House of Fraser.  I looked. I prodded.  I removed stuffing.  Nothing that would suit my needs.

My next stop was the Mecca of Sporty/Rugged Bags, aka Fossil.  And EUREKA! There, in the window, I saw it. Messenger style, so I could sling it from hip to shoulder. What looked like a tons of pockets…how much how much?!?!?  £108! Perfect! Started poking through it.  Pockets galore.  Large inner section..SOLD! A special thank you to Aunt Agnes and Aunt Sonny, whose generous monetary gifts went to paying for this bag to end all bags!!

I then headed out to the rest of the mall.  Wandered through Pumpkin Patch’s sale.  Nothing.  And then headed to Argos.  The other things Simon and I had been looking for were small lamps for indirect lighting in the baby’s room and a clock for his room.  EUREKA again.  These lamps were perfect.  One for Adam’s room and one for the front room.  Perfect for night feeds and changes!  And a clock? How could I resist this clock especially since people kept sending him sheep!

As I was waiting for my things to be brought to the counter in Argos, Simon rang to say he was at the flat, no sign of gas company, no sign of anything going on.  I told him to grab the pram and meet me at the bandstand at Corn Market, we’d run a few more errands and head home.

As I was leaving Argos, who do I run into? My hairdresser, who takes one look at my unwashed, standing on end hair and says ‘good thing you’re coming to see me on Saturday.’  I thwacked him with a package, showed off my son and headed off to meet Simon.

And then it started to rain.  Where’s my umbrella? In the pram.  Am I wearing a coat? I am not…

Eventually it stopped raining, Simon met me, we picked up a few things and headed home.  No sign of any gas incident in or around the building.  I fell into bed around 1500 and slept until 1800.

The moral of today’s story?

When your husband says to you ‘I have 10 minutes until I leave, do you want to hop in the shower’ say yes!

So, He Did Crack A Rib

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along with his head.  And he’s over 12 lbs.  And 22 inches.  My big boy!

He’s also having some colic, which is less than fun.

But he’s still adorable. 🙂

In other random news…just asked my mother how weird it is that the ages of her grandchildren run from so young they still get up in the night to eat to so old that they can fly across the country with their brother and girlfriend to pick up a car to drive back across.  She said its very weird!  In case your wondering, the age range is 6.5 weeks to nearly 21!!