I PUT SOME NEW SHOES ON (and suddenly everything is right)

Reading back over my last post, I can't believe Baby Number Two has become something of a footnote - and the fact that Charlotte took her first steps got just a glancing mention. This post is going to be much more celebratory and positive of my 15-month old's achievements this past week!

We've been on holiday in Sussex for the last week - house-sitting at my parents' - and within a day Charlotte's walking literally just took off. She's tottering everywhere now, albeit with the odd tumble that doesn't phase her at all, so we bought her first pair of shoes.

During our week away, we took in a brilliant kids' farm and the Sea Life Centre in Brighton - both of which she genuinely seemed to enjoy for at least the first hour or so.

There was also the obligatory parks and swimming. I'm not sure who enjoyed the week more - Charlotte or her Daddy! And in our quest to get her to eat more than easy-to-eat baby/toddler meals, she even ate a few chips:

Charlotte's speech is continuing to come along at great pace still, too. She's now putting a couple of words together. As we left the house to try a new playgroup this morning she said: "Bye bye Daddy, see soon"! And everything is "hello" or "bye bye" - "hello bear, hello door, hello car", "bye bye book, bye bye cow, bye bye park!"

FIRST HOLIDAY, FIRST TANTRUMS

I can't believe I haven't blogged for almost a month - we've been really busy, and have just come back from Charlotte's first holiday.

We went to Cyprus so she could meet most of my side of the family. She was an angel for the flight there and back - only grizzling when she was ready for a nap. Thankfully, a four and half hour flight worked perfectly to feed her on take-off and landing. The flight home was full so there was very little room to rock her to sleep, but I managed.

She was of course on my lap for the flight, but tried out her own seat for size.

Over there she revelled in all the attention from the family. And most days I really felt like I was getting a proper break as we were staying with my parents who were always willing to help out.

It got rather trickier towards the end of the week though as Charlotte appears to be developing separation anxiety, and we had several massive screaming tantrums with full on tears - particularly at bedtime when she wouldn't let anyone but me feed her. She would almost immediately calm down if I held her, or even came close - much to the understandable upset at first of my OH. I think her Grandma was a bit put out too, as she's usually very good at calming down babies. Hoping this is just a short phase as it's already getting really rather wearing on me, and I find it very difficult to let her cry and cry.

We were also sleeping in the same room as her which meant we never got a decent night's sleep. On top of her usual noises, she was up twice each night and difficult to get back to sleep - possibly because she realised we were in the room with her. The four nights of her properly sleeping through last month seem an awful long time ago and must have been a blip!

However, on the plus side, the holiday also saw a number of big developments. Charlotte's definitely found her feet and can spend ages playing with them - even managing to get one in her mouth! She's sitting with the bare minimum of support, and most excitingly I guess, rolled from her back to her front (and back again), which she's managed a couple of times since we've been back too.

Having her first paddle in the Med

Another significant milestone is that I have finally given up breastfeeding entirely. I feel very sad and emotional about the decision, and there will be a separate blog on this to follow.

But on the whole the holiday was a success, and Charlotte certainly stole the hearts of all the family over there who can't wait to see her again.

PREGNANCY - MONTH SIX (WEEKS 22-24)

And the pregnancy rhinitis continues. It's now been more than six weeks of a hacking cough and a combination of both a congested and constantly running nose. I think it's easing off very slightly though - either that or I've just got totally used to it.
Had a very relaxing week away in Scotland for our 10th anniversary this week. 

It really was heavenly with no one and nothing else to worry about. Had one slightly freaked out day when I didn't feel the little monster move at all, but he/she's made up for it in the last few days. I really hate the days when I don't fell anything. DP is very reassuring about it though. In fact when I came home from work the other day and was concerned about lack of movement, he ran me a candle-lit bath, and sure enough, once I was relaxed the little monster started squirming.

Baths always seem to get him/her going, and I love watching my belly bounce when he/she moves. He/she also moved loads the other day on our tour of a whisky distillery - now I'm pretty certain they haven't got any sense of smell in the womb, but the little monkey got very excited around the very strong smells of whisky - definitely his/her father's son/daughter!

Even though we're now more than halfway - we've still not made any effort to sort the flat out or buy anything. We're both still a bit scared of tempting fate. I think that's something we'll seriously start looking at in the next month, but knowing us we're likely to put most of it off until much later when the pressure's properly on. Let's just hope the little monkey doesn't come too early - or there's every chance we won't be prepared.

The other noticeable change this last couple of weeks is how horny I've been . The midwife has previously advised us against fully 'dtd' because of previous m/cs  - but, in her words "there are other ways to love DP", and we've certainly been making the most of that. I'm sure this phase will pass once I'm even bigger,  but while I'm still fairly small and comfortable, we're making the most of it!!