What's The Story - post 1

It was Harry's first birthday, just 2 months ago. I had this lovely garden party planned for a Saturday afternoon. Lots of room for him and his little friends to run around.
I spent the whole morning in the kitchen. Instead of spending the Friday night baking his very first birthday cake as I planned, I decided to head off to Greenwich Park with him, daddy and aunt A. who was visiting. We met up with his aunt R. and uncle S,. for some lovely Pie n Mash then headed over to the park for some running around. After a whole day out I was exhausted and knew no baking would be done that evening.
We had it all thought out and my sister was over to help, only the weather forecast was inconclusive and I waited until the last minute to know if we could be outdoors. Half an hour before the guests were due to arrive the rain came down, that meant setting up the party indoors and prepare to have a small flat packed with about 7 toddlers and over 20 adults.
In the end everything worked out, unfortunately with the rush happy birthday was sang over our computer desk with a hideous looking calendar on the background so that isn't an image I will treasure. I do, however, like this shot because it gives you a big time after party feeling, also with the rush of moving our plans from been an outdoors party with plenty of room to an indoors one where everyone became rather close, the cake was the only bit of decoration I actually managed to do as planned.

This post is linked up to What's The Story Linky hosted by the lovely Charly from PODcast

1 year of milestones

if you look carefully you will see Harry's first tooth.

So since Harry's birthday I have been super busy taking my brother and sister sightseeing around London and ended up not having much time to stop by and write a little first year update.

Harry turned one weighting a whole 10 kilos - that is 22 pounds. He is 75cm tall - 2 feet 5¹⁷⁄₃₂ inches.

12 months MILESTONES

 
Have one to eight teeth - hurrah! His first TWO teeth cut trough 5 days before his 1st birthday.

Stands by his or herself - yes - and put on a very proud smile every time.
Sit down without help - if intentionally falling on his bum counts as sit down then yes, he does that well.

Bang two blocks together - and laugh and laugh

Turn through the pages of a book by flipping many pages at a time - he loves doing that and is a great way to keep him happy on long journeys

Picks up a small object using the tip of the thumb and index finger - and since he learnt that I'm no longer allowed to feed him his food unless we are talking yogurt or porridge.

Sleep 8 - 10 hours a night and take one to two naps - I wish. He does go down from 12 hours but will feed 2 to 3 times during that period. Although at the moment he is feeding all night as teething won;t let him sleep. He still takes 2 naps a day and whenever he skip the afternoon nap bedtime can become a battlefield.

Follows a fast moving object - and people, animals and aliens.

Can say momma, papa, and at least one or two other words - oooohhh yes!!! he has been saying Dada for a while but on the day of his birthday party he started saying monn monn monn and that melts my heart.

Understands simple commands - in both English and Portuguese

Understands that objects continue to exist, even when they are not seen (object constancy) - that is so well sorted in his head that he makes it a challenge to hide away something that he get hold of and shouldn't be playing with

Points to objects with index finger - aaaaaaaaalllllll the time.

Experiences separation anxiety and may cling to parents - I get a feeling that my over cuddly behaviour had something to do with him overcoming that stage very early. These days there are, of course, times when he will not want to be away from D. and I; mainly if he is hungry, tired or needs changing. On his birthday party he hardly saw his dad and I during the day, he was happy playing with his uncle and aunt and friends of the family but you could see his little eye light up whenever he realised D. and I were still around.

14.06.2012 - a whole year ago

After days in labour I finally asked for a c-section and was rushed in to delivery theatre. I lay there talking to Dave - I'm sure he was chatting to keep me calm - and waiting to finally see my baby.

Finally it happened, I heard the little cry I have been waiting for over 80 hours. I of course, broke down and cried as well. Dave was still his normal self only due to the tiredness he forgot all about asking if we could bring a camera in to the room so we never got a picture of him right after his arrival.

The doctor brought him to us, as I can remember he stopped crying as soon as he heard our voices. I asked to breastfeed him and was told it was ok but there was needles and tubes everywhere and I just couldn't get him into position,  no help was ever offered so I missed that moment I dreamt with for so long.

Dave went out of the room with Harry and the doctors finished off my stitches. I'm sure Dave was really proud of being the first person to hold him. He always tells of how brave Harry was and did not make a sound when he had his vitamin shot done.

After hours of pain and a very anti-climax delivery I was finally in the recovery room been reunited with my boys. I will never be able to explain how it felt like to hold Harry for the first time, there is nothing in life I can compare that to. I finally has the chance to breastfeed him and cuddle up and hug and kiss and finally, rest.

I still want to write our breastfeed story but I can say that at first I had no idea what I was doing but looking back I'm proud of trying and keep on going.

The rest of that day is a bit of a haze, I remember being offered a mayo filled sandwich as my first meal after days in labour. Lucky my mum brought me a chicken broth later. also remember been put in a tiny and very hot cubicle in the delivery ward as there was no bed where i was meant to go. Not nice to be between the ladies having contractions after contraction when you have a little baby to look after and need to rest.

Once  again I was left without much care or assistance and when I complaint about not been moved i was even told the other room wouldn't be much better. Finally the anxiety attack came and they transferred me. The day went as a flash with Harry and I drifting in and out of sleep. By the time I was put in a quieter place it was almost midnight so Dave  had to go home.

Our first night was a quiet one, we slept well - unless woken up by doctors and nurses - and woke up on the other day for cuddles and milk and ready to start our life as a little family of three.

I whole year has passed and our little boy is healthy and happy, almost walking, babbles all day and is still breastfeeding. Today we had a lovely day out to celebrate his life and tomorrow we will have a party with family and friends to sing happy birthday and have his naming ceremony. Watch this space!

1 year on, 3 days to go

Last night, when Harry woke up for his first night feed my mind started to wander. I went back to that same night a whole year ago. After a lovely lazy day I had an early night and was looking forward to getting all final arrangements done on my 39th week.

D. had just got in bed, it was 2:30am. I turned around to kissing him goodnight and startled for a second. When he asked if I was ok my answer was; either I have peed myself of my waters just broke. D called  the hospital and since i didn't have a "show" they said i could go in i if wanted but there was no rush.

Being first time parents course we rushed to the hospital, overnight bag, car seat and all.

I was also silly enough to agree to having a student doing the test to check the dilation, it hurt like hell AND had to be repeated by the nurse. i seriously think they make questions like that because they know you are way too zoned out to understand what will actually happen.

Of course i was disappointed to be told to go home as there was no dilation enough for me to be admit to hospital.

I was told that if nothing happened until Tuesday morning they would induce me.

Off we went  back home having not a clue that Harry wouldn't really make an appearance until Thursday morning.

That Monday was a painful one and full of anxiety knowing that my little guy was on his way but not sure of his ETA. It also was a day to stop and realise I was about to become a mum.

Flashback Friday - one year ago today

According to our dating scan, Harry's due date was the 18th of June, 2012. Even though both D. and I had the feeling he would arrive a bit earlier, we still booked the week before his due date to be the week we would get all the last minute things done.

We moved into our flat in the beginning of May 2012. We left all baby furniture to be purchased after we were in the new place; cot, changing unit, chest of drawers the lot. I was heavily pregnant and in no condition to  help much with the move. Because of the mess we didn't have much time to put things together but since D. took some time off work from the 11th June we thought that would give us plenty of time to get things done.

An year ago today I was 38 weeks pregnant, shopping online for moises bedding, completely oblivious that the pain I was getting  when walking was in fact my first contractions.

This post if linked to the Flashback Friday bloghop, click on the image and read more.

11 months, 3 weeks to a party

so Harry is now 11 and a half months, well, I say that but we do have a whole 3 weeks until his birthday. 3 week until my gorgeous little guy is no longer considered a baby. Really?

Yes really.

If you have you been reading this blog for a while you probable remember I am from a rather large family. Put that together with my passion for baking and of course I had to plan a nice birthday party for my little guy.

I just can't explain how much I love the whole party planning thing. It can be hard to get everything done - proper and in time - still I like sitting down and planning it all, with loads of help from google and amazon of course!

Choosing the them was easy, Harry loves In the Night Garden - specially Makka Pakka - so that was helpful to guide me towards the right table cloth, baloons and so on. To keep it cheap - I have just gone back to work and can't really spend much - we will not go full on with the themed decorations but that does helps when you have to decide on what invites and cake to make.

Also to keep it in budget, I'll be cooking most of the food. That's only possible because my sister is coming over from  Brasil (sorry can't write that with Z, that hurst) and that means an extra pair of hands, as a bonus those two hands are as used to organising parties as my own. One great idea I came up with - I know I know blowing my own trumpet here - was to serve pimm's cocktails to the grown ups. Since the party will happen on a picnic vibe I thought juice and water for the little ones and iced tea and pimm's for the big ones would be a good option in terms of taste and price.

I found a really nice sugar free recipe for the babies' cakes and will be topping it with this deliciously healthy sweet potato frosting, I know it all sounds a bit tree hugging but I promise you they are amazing and not too sweet either!
I will make the little ones their own individual cupcakes so they can play and smash and eat however they like. For the grown ups I'll make my favourite chocolate cake and I found these really cute hand made In the Night Garden baloon weights and am trying to find a way to use them as cake toppers. Wait and see.

That's it, I just can't control myself as I am super excited about through Harry's first birthday party and I can't wait to have our family and friends together, the only thing I'm sorry about is that my big Brazilian family won't be there with us but at least my sister will be here to represent them.

That's it, on the next few weeks I'll be putting it all together and keeping my fingers crossed for us to have good weather on that lovely day. What do you think of birthday party for little ones?