I wanted to rotate this pic but didn't know how! This is one of my many favorite pics of Alex, there's nothing that melts your heart more than a sleeping baby - haha especially after a few sleepless nights. Someone told me that just when you think you have things on schedule with babies, they change!... sure enough for the last week Alex has been waking up several times a night and crying not from hunger but because she wants her pacifier in her mouth. Short of using duct tape, I have to get out of bed, shove it back in and she drops peacefully back to sleep. Invariably I then lay awake thinking of stupid mundane things like laundry or I get a stupid song in my head that won't leave (last night it was the new Fergie song which is surprisingly very good!) By the time I drift back to sleep it's "binky" time again and I have to wake back up! I'll take any advice by the way. Michael and I did wait last night to see if she "self-soothed" as the books say but she cried sufficiently to break my heart. Anyway even in the middle of the night she is an angel and I love every inch of her! I did notice again today how great Jess is with her little sister, she adores her and is the first family member to actually make Alex laugh - blowing raspberries into a baby's belly button does it every time. I just checked out the updated pics and videos that Mike uploaded, pretty cool, although it's hard to see the videos sometimes unless you have high speed internet, which I think most people have now. Watch this space for more news....H. x

I feel almost human again

Well you think at the time that it will never happen but we are now getting a regular night's sleep and Alex is peacefully sleeping (on her side strangely enough) through the night for up to 6 or 7 hrs, it's heaven. I've started weaning her off breast feeding this week in preparation for me going back to work in Sept (more about breast feeding later!) - the thought of leaving her breaks my heart, I hate being away from her even for a few hours, but I think once I'm at work I'll enjoy traveling to Europe again - I do miss shopping for my wine and food in Rome and Paris, yeah I know I sound like a snobby little brat, but hey, I have to pick up the trash and dirty tissues of hundreds of people on the plane in order to get there! So about the breast feeding - to all my wonderful friends who have done it before - thanks for nothing! Nobody told me, first of all how much it hurts the first few weeks, then how many hours out of the day I have to pump milk, and feed the baby....and how painful it is to try and reduce the amount of milk you produce after three months of frantically trying to increase the amount!! I know it's great for the baby but if she gets a scholarship to Harvard, I WILL say it was because I breast fed her for three months because that's the only way I can justify it. I'm trying to train for a half marathon in Sept and my boobs are so full of milk that I would need a crane to stop them from moving when I run! Yep might have to postpone my running career. Despite those little setbacks, Alex is growing beautifully, and traveled to England like a pro - she is one laid back kid so far. She has like most newborns I suppose, captured our hearts in a way I never could even describe. Getting a baby free day today, and going to see the band Les Nubiens in New York with Peggy - for anyone that likes Jazz with a French/African flavor, they are worth buying-excellent. ta ta for now...Heather. x

6 wks already??

The time is just flying by and Alex is more of a joy every day. She has now been to New York City three times, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania and San Francisco for a week. She (we) had a sleepless night the first night we arrived and the rest of the trip she was an angel, I just throw her (she's easy to throw right now because she doesn't weigh much!) in the car seat and she just seems to go with the flow without much fussing at all. We returned from SF two days ago and she (we) have not had much sleep at night since then, hopefully she'll adjust tonight and we can catch up. She is starting to smile and tonight at dinner I used the "emergency outfit" for the first time from the diaper bag, as she pooped ALL over her pretty dress and the infant seat - it's official, I talk about poop at least six times a day! Next week sh'e going on her first trip to England to meet my side of the family, it will be my first trip traveling alone with her, but so far she has been a really easy baby so I'm excited to see everybody. Just realised Alex is now asleep (god it's a miracle!) so I'm going to try and take a nap - that's all we get at night but it's better than nothing!.....h.x

Week 4

Wow I can't believe that Alex will be 4 weeks old in a few days - it feels like she's been part of our family for longer. In some ways being a new mum has been easier than I thought and in some ways harder. The constant feeding has been challenging even though breast feeding is less painful and the electric breast pump is my new best friend! Alex so far is SO easy - she really only fusses for the basic needs, too hot, cold, hungry or wet! Apart from that she just hangs out and makes noises. I've already taken her to the Statue of Liberty and South Street Seaport in New York. She's been to several diners, Starbucks, Target, all the important shops! I feel bad that she spends so much time in the car seat, but she is just so laid back - much easier than I expected. She's waking at night about every three hours, but the last two nights she slept four hours, after which I sat bolt upright in bed to see if she was still breathing! She has just been a total joy and like all new mothers, I sit like a dork and just watch her for hours, and take pictures whenever she farts or poops! I've had no baby blues and have 12lbs to lose so no complaining here, I've been really lucky. My Mum was here for a month, and I was heartbroken when she left, I think I actually had to pry the baby from her arms at the airport - she was so helpful and loves Alex so much. Now Dad is here with my stepmum, Val. They are busy burping and feeding her too so she's getting her share of family. No surprises for anyone that knows Michael, my husband, but he's awesome with the baby, I love watching him with her. Also Jess is bathing and feeding her like a pro, Alex is one lucky little sister. Ok got to go and pump a few more ounces so I'll update soon..Heather. xx

Mmmm Im dreaming of milk and....milk....ok at my age that's all I dream about!

WHO STOLE MY BINKY???????

Well, welcome to my new life! - it's almost midnight and baby Alex is fast asleep. Now "they" tell you to try and sleep when the baby sleeps but what "they" don't tell you is that when she's awake you get nothing else done....so Mike and I are busy trying to burn pics of the little sleeping angel so we can show her off to the world. Speaking of the angel, otherwise known as "peanut" she is blemish, blotch and wrinkle free - I may be biased in saying this but she was one cute newborn! As you can see on Mike's blog, she is pretty irresistable and I am completely in love. I have replayed the whole labor experience over in my mind a lot over the last sleepless ten days, and as unpleasant as it was (what happened to the promise of drugs, god it was excruciatingly painful!) there is nothing in life that compares to the sight of your newborn entering the world. She is already turning her little head (yep even her head is small and cute) to the sound of my voice and breast feeding like a miniature piranha. I think Mike posted a picture of my first breastfeeding experience so I won't go into any more detail, except to say...OUCH.! I could start typing about the mind blowing thought that Michael and I created this perfect baby but it's late and I still can't grasp that whole concept myself yet let alone try and describe it. The feeding station will be opening soon for Alex so I must sign off because strange things happen to my body whne she cries!......h.x