Month two

This was Herbie aged four weeks, just before we left Hackney.

Three weeks old

Gosh, having a third child at the beginning of the school holidays is probably not the best of planning. It has been wonderful having the girls around, ready and willing to fetch and carry, but also to poke and tickle, at all times. But it is quite exhausting!! Thankfully, I have had lots and lots of help. The girls have had lots of sleep overs with friends and recently I went for five days with them to the Lake District, which was very restful indeed. They are currently at my sisters house for four nights so that Tim and I can organise our move next week. Another slightly dubious bit of planning but there you go....

Herbie is lovely, if somewhat of a cryer! He's started smiling, especially when people say that he is cute. He's pretty good at night time, which is a relief, and I don't feel that much more tired that I did while pregnant. The only problem is when my thoughts keep me awake between feeds, but hopefully that won't be too often...

He weighed in at a whopping 12 lbs yesterday, at 3 weeks and 3 days and I can already fit in my jeans again. I think these two facts may well be related! As for taking photographs, it has been nearly impossible. When he's awake he's often crying and when he's asleep, he's strapped to me in the sling. Doesn't leave many options. Hopefully things will improve on that front!

And now for a more honest photo....

Herbie's first two days

So, it turns out, that big, 9.5lb boys just like to eat ALL the time. Or perhaps it's just that after five years I had completely forgotten that having a new born baby means breastfeeding all the time, day and night! At least that's what it feels like at the moment. So, these photos are deceptive, but the only time I get to pick up my camera is the rare and very short time when he's asleep and I'm not. Nevertheless, we are all delighted, especially the girls who are constantly wanting to hold and kiss their baby brother. I will manage to get a picture of this at some stage I'm sure.

Another thing I had forgotten was that childbirth is pretty intense, but I'm feeling good and remarkably, still in one piece! Although he was 15 days late, everything went to plan, the pool was full when it needed to be (thank you Tim!) and the midwives made it in time, even though Elke had left only an hour and a half earlier telling me that it wasn't going to happen that day, no matter how hard I willed it too! Her brilliant advice to have a big glass of wine (I downed a very quick glass and a half of prosecco) and to try and sleep did the trick faster than she expected. I was so relieved as I felt like I'd been in labour for about two weeks with constant practise runs.

More soon, when I've had a bit more sleep hopefully...