Liam - Week 21

Date/Week: May 18th; week 21 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 16 lbs 8 oz

Milestones: First airplane ride. First family vacation. First family bathroom experience. First train and first underground rides. 

Developmental Progress: He has gotten more vocal since Monday. He reacts when classical music is played with focused concentration on he person playing the music or by calming down when it is on the radio. His laugh is getting longer. He wants to stand up most of the time when you have him in his arms. He is ready for food as he tries to participate during our dinner. 

Energy level: I'm getting back to my old self slowly. 

Exercise: Lots of walking while on vacation and boy have I felt it. Still a long way to go.

Thoughts and Feelings? I am overjoyed that our vacation has gone well. It was different but still has had elements of our usual trips together. So much to look forward to in future vacations. And I love our Stokke... it kicks butt in Canterbury!

What I am looking forward to: I want to spend some time in my garden. And I can't wait to take Liam to the beach in coming weeks.

Liam - Week 20

Date/Week: May 11th; week 20 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: First Mother's Day!; Had to use teething gel for the first time; sat unassisted for a while the past weekend and again today at his grandparents; can soothe himself to sleep in his crib 75% of the time; he loves the exersaucer!!!

Developmental Progress: He follows the ribbon connected to his pacifier and then puts the pacifier in his mouth; he's responding 80% of the time to his name; he is playing more and more with his toys; he loves to interact with us during story time; Liam's 'hello' is getting quite clear and he uses it more and more.

Energy level: Better than the last week or so - perhaps I am so looking forward to our family vacation???

Exercise: Taught 1 dance class on Saturday and it was good! I'm supposed to do my first performance in a year tonight!

Thoughts and Feelings? I loved my first Mother's Day! Aidan made a lovely card with Liam and I will treasure it forever. I am so grateful for both Aidan and Liam. I can't wait to have our first family vacation!

What I am looking forward to: I would say climbing on British Airways on Friday night but I am actually really nervous about the 7 hour flight. So I am looking forward to getting to our Farmhouse Cottage outside of Canterbury!

Liam - Week 19

Date/Week: May 4th (Star Wars Day!!!); week 19 

My Total weight gain/loss: -31.6 lbs

His Stats: 

Milestones: More consistent in responding to his name; has started taking steps with support under arms; will pursue toys that arenot near him on his playmat; teething rash... hope to see a tooth soon

Developmental Progress: During storytime, if he gets his hands on the pages of the boardbook he will turn them back and forth; he's still teething and soaking bibs and the front of his clothes. He does enjoy gum massages and is really using the teething giraffe (and the pacifier, and burp cloths, and any part of your hand he gets into his mouth); He's been chuckling for a while but now he's actually laughing. My parents love the sound; He has better hand mouth coordination and everything ends up in his mouth; if you pull him up into sitting with your hands, he can sit up on his own for a few seconds. He sits pretty well with support and loves to look around in that position.

Energy level: I've had an up and down week. My nights aren't consistent so my exercise is spotty. Contemplating how to work-out at lunchtime... don't want to pay for a gym membership though (my budget is unhappy as it is!)

Exercise: Taught 3 dance classes on Saturday and I was fried afterwards. I have no endurance!

Thoughts and Feelings? Like my energy, each week is up and down. I am grateful to have made it through the first 3 months because they were tough as compared to the last 2 weeks. I still don't feel that I have a handle on work/home balance and school is still non existant. Still, I feel organised more than I feel disorganised now so I am moving in the right direction.

What I am looking forward to: I need to go on holiday!

Liam - Week 18

Date/Week: April 27; week 18 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: 1st Easter; 1st time trying rice cereal; worn in a different position in the sling; first time putting his feet in the sand when visiting the beach

Developmental Progress: He's becomming more efficient when rolling. He is really good at getting his arm out of the way to get into the position he desired; He has started to turn towards us when we call his name. It's not all the time but it's getting to be more consistent; If I give Liam his giraffe, he will grab it in his hand or hands and put it into his mouth on his own. He can also take the pacifier our and put it back into his mouth; He loves it when Aidan or I sing to him.

Energy level: It's been a hellish week because I can't seem to sleep when I have the chance. I am grateful for a husband and family who have been helping out.

Exercise: I haven't managed to do anything but walk this week.

Thoughts and Feelings? I am pretty exhausted, am counting down to our vacation and can't wait to relax a bit. I found out yesterday that we may spend a day in France when we're over there so I'm pretty excited.

I plan to put together a school schedule on Sunday. I'd like to walk across that stage in July 2012!!!

What I am looking forward to: Mother's Day - we're going to brunch!; Strawberry picking in Kent; LUSH products; Cornish Pasties; New Office upon my return from vacation.

April 2011 ICLW

Welcome to my little corner of the web! I will have to say that I have missed ICLW for the last few months. It has been a busy few months butI am actively attempting to get back into activities that I enjoyed doing (and some I do not...).

First, a little bit about me. I guess I am on phase 3 of our journey. Phase 1 was living blissfully unaware that it would be difficult to have a family. Phase 2 was almost a 3 year rollercoaster during which both my DH and I were diagnosed with factors that were causing our infertility. Phase 3 is where we are now - we survived our IF struggle and are trying to figure out what it means to graduate.

I guess right now this graduation concept has me a little peeved. We got pregnant and had a baby but that doesn't mean that we forget everything we've gone through. Life after IF sometimes feels like a semi-limbo. When you're around people who got pg normally, sometimes the things they say really smarts (particularly about having the next one). On the other hand, people who were of great support in phase 2 sometimes avoid you because what you have makes them upset. Some days I wish there was a support group for after IF.

Anyhow, outside of recording a life that now includes parenting after IF, this blog sometimes includes bits and pieces of the frustration of pulling my life back together. I really did let things fall apart during phase 2. While my relationship was thankfully really strong as we had to work together, my work and school life was operating at minimal levels to get by. Career maybe a bit more since I needed money to pay for treatments - school almost flatlined. My confidence took a major hit and lord knows how much damage I did to my business reputation. I am slowly seeing how far reaching the damage was in my singlemindedness to achieve motherhood.

All this said, I am positive about the future - as I was at so many stages of phase 1 and 2. Sure, phase 3 is going to take a lot of work. I could dwell on how difficult everything is in my life but I won't because there is also much good that comes from overcoming challenges. I also hope that in sharing that parenting after IF is not the fairy tale 'Happily Ever After' but instead a work in progress.... fascinating, often frustrating and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

So hope to meet friends new and old this month! Have a great ICLW Week!

Liam - Week 17

Date/Week: April 20; week 17 

My Total weight gain/loss: -32.5

His Stats: 14lbs 10.5oz / 24 3/4" long

Milestones: 4 month doctor's visit and 2nd round of vaccinations; 1st bus ride on Saturday; wearing size 2 diapers and medium gdiapers; had blue feet from his Easter basket photos... (shame on mummy); wearing 3-6 month clothing

Developmental Progress: Rolling consistently (need to keep an eye on him during changes!). He plants the foot and pushes himself either way. He's a strong little guy!;  He's grabbing everything - his hands, feet, clothing you take off, his burp cloth, the dogs (don't come too close); babbling a lot. He will have a conversation with you which makes us think that he's going to be so talkative; He'll hold his pacifier on the side of his mouth and chew it!!!; he fusses if you don't pay attention to him.
Sleep: He's going to bed pretty consistently between 7.30 and 8.30pm but will fuss for a good 30 minutes before he goes to sleep. He's then down for anywhere from an hour to 4 hours before his feeding before I go to bed. So some nights I get a lot accomplished and others, not so much... in any case, the schedule is working and he is now in his crib because the bassinets are too small!

Energy level: I've been goo this week but that may be due to the holiday at the end of the week!

Exercise: Just walking this week but I hope to go to dance class tomorrow!

Thoughts and Feelings? Feeling a bit more organized this week... and I'll be on vacation in a month's time (watching David Tennant and Catherine Tate on the 19th!!!). 


I'm liking the personality of Liam as a 3-4 month old thus far. He is fascinating!

What I am looking forward to: Our first Good Friday and Easter Sunday! And Mother's Day is coming up

Liam - Week 16

Date/Week: April 13; week 16 

My Total weight gain/loss: 

His Stats: 

Milestones: He's playing his own version of peek-a-boo with us (he turns his head away, waits and turns back towards you). He has also discovered his feet - he doesn't like them as much as his hands but they are interesting.

Developmental Progress: He disagrees with us. I swear he is already saying 'no'. How did he learn 'no'? This is probably due to the antiobiotics - we're still giving them to him (until Friday morning). 

Sleep: He's sleeping well since he's been taking the antiobiotics. We're down to 1 or 2 feedings at night this week. We're feeling a little more rested but would love some good sleep!

Energy level: I'm run down this week thanks to my cold and the Highland Exams.

Exercise: I survived a 1.5 hour dance workshop on Monday and do not hurt as much as I thought I would.

Thoughts and Feelings? I feel as if I have so much stuff to do and it isn't getting done in the timeframe that I would like. I perhaps need to reshuffle my involvements and activities to be able to accomplish what I really want to complete.

I've been researching travelling with an infant. I so hope our BA experience will be positive next month.

What I am looking forward to: We fly to the UK in a month!