Seven weeks old

At seven weeks Eve is:

- Much more vocal, she makes 'ahh goo' noises when she is happy.
- More aware of what's around her, she loves looking up at the sky and watching her Daddy and big brother play.
- Moving more, she kicks with her feet and grabs out with her hands, she is beginning to love spending time (5 mins tops!) on her play mat.
- Sleeping well, usually waking up for a feed twice a night around 12pm and 4am.
- Wearing 0-3 month clothing and it fits well now instead of being too big - pink dungarees, denim pinnafore, leggings (a LOT of leggings), white 'Love' and pink and purple polka dot long sleeved T-shirts, pink and blue cat socks.
- At weigh in last Wednesday she was 10lbs, 2oz, a full 1lb put on in weight since the fortnight before.
- Her eyes have lightened and are blue like her Daddy's and brother's. Her hair is light brown, much lighter at the front than the back.
- Went for her first day trip to the seaside on Sunday.
- Has had play dates with baby friends Chloe, Poppy, Olivia and Lenny.

Family day out

Yesterday we went for our first family day out since Eve was born. We wanted to give Charlie a final summer day out before the weather turns colder and we were lucky, it started off misty but became sunny with blue skies when we reached the seaside.

We went to Hastings and Eve was so good (sleeping, feeding, no crying!) that on the way home we stopped off at Bodiam castle which Charlie really enjoyed.

Apart from meals, petrol and parking our day out was free! We played Crazy Pirate golf at Hastings with the 3 tickets we won the last time we visited and used our National Trust passes for Bodiam.

Bodiam had special events on, we listened to a talk about armoury and Charlie got to try on a 13th century style iron helmet.

Eve behaved beautifully, I fed her in the car a couple of times (front seat is much comfier than a bench for feeding) and she seemed to enjoy being on the beach in the carrier.

Six weeks old

Time is flying by so quickly, we are doing lots, I just don't seem to ever have the chance to record it!

At six weeks Eve is:

- Smiling a lot and making eye contact, she coos and gurgles and is generally a happy baby.
- Except on some of the evenings this week she's had trapped wind which has made her inconsolable until she burps or fills her nappy!
- She loves her Mummy, Daddy and big brother, all of us have been rewarded with smiles when we talk and play with her.
- Continuing to grow out of her first clothes, this week a long sleeved top and a whole set of short sleeved vests she never got to wear.
- Looked smart for cousin Isabel's first birthday party in a denim pinafore with bunny design.
- Was perfectly behaved on her first shopping trip. Her Nana and I took her to Bluewater yesterday, we used the useful design of the pramette to clip the car seat to it and she slept for most of the trip, fed, smiled and slept again.
- Feeds every two hours or more in the day time
- Sleeps well at night, generally waking at midnight and 4am for feeds.
- Holds her head up much better, not fully there yet, but getting sturdy.
- Meeting 2 week old Olivia for tea and cake later today.

Five weeks old

At five weeks Eve:

- Is becoming her own little person, with a generally laid back personality and a gorgeous smile.
- Continues to feed loads and for the past couple of days has needed Infacol to get rid of some very painful wind.
- Yesterday we met with three other baby friends, Chloe, Poppy and Olivia.
- So long she's already grown out of the newborn clothes, the Boots newborn nappies and a gro bag.
- Awake for longer periods of time, a few hours awake (and mainly feeding) before having a big long nap, rather then the regular sleep/feed pattern of a newborn.
- Has more control of her head, she still can't lift it up during tummy time, but she looks around a lot and is less floppy.
- Is a pretty good sleeper, after a big feed and burp she'll happily sleep in the moses basket rather then on me - unlike her brother!

First day of school

Charlie's started school, he's no longer a preschooler he's a schoolboy! His first day was Thursday 4th September 2014 from 9am - 11.15am.

He's in squirrel class and already loves his teacher Miss M and support assistant Miss K. He was excited and scared on his first day, complaining of a stomach ache and when I said it was probably butterflies in his stomach he said "the butterflies are biting my tummy Mummy!". As soon as we got to school and he saw all the different toys his tummy was fine. Eve and I stayed with him for 10 minutes, we found his peg and hung up his bag and book bag and went round the activity tables as he chose to play with a toy farm and a little people train track, he gave the Lego a glance but settled at the farm.

On collection he was still excited but noticeably tired. I brought some apples and grapes for him to eat on the way home and he told me about his day. That he'd answered his name at register but couldn't remember his teacher's name, that they'd played a game - throwing a ball and saying their names - and he was 4th to get the ball and that they'd been out in the playground.

The next day he got a special sticker because he counted to 100 in front of the class with his teacher - he (and we) were so proud!

Our week - 1st September 2014

This week has been mixed, learning to look after two children at once is very hard. Charlie has been really good, but it will take a while for him and me to get used to our days with a little sister to look after!

[Point of note, I've been writing this post over the last two week and have only now completed it as I just haven't had the time to sit down and do it all at once!]

The lowlights

My Aunt died last week and we'll be going to her funeral on Monday. This was her 3rd time fighting cancer and she had just reached her 70th birthday before passing away. I am so sad, she was spirited, quick witted and interesting and will be greatly missed.

Sickness has been rife in our household, Charlie caught tonsillitis at nursery, so missed his last day. He was pretty miserable for a few days with a high temperature, big swollen glands in his neck and gunky eyes, then the antibiotics kicked in and he was fine again by Tuesday.

Tom also caught it, but refused to go to the doctors, so he's been ill for over a week. I caught it a week after the boys, my throat swelled up but luckily on the day I caught it I also started a course of antibiotics and they seem to have started to clear it up. The only one not sick is little Eve; she's getting antibodies through my milk. Needless to say everyone has been grumpy and tired all week.

Monday, my first solo day with both children was a bit of a write off. Charlie was sick and Eve had kept me awake from 2am - 5am, I'd finally got back to sleep and Charlie got up at 5.30am! We pretty much stayed in the living room all day watching TV and playing snakes and ladders. Eve wanted to feed constantly and Charlie just wanted to be hugged.

The highlights

Thursday was Charlie's first day at school and he loved it. After a couple of months of him worrying and not wanting to start school he had a brilliant time. Plus he was completely over the tonsillitis so able to attend and enjoy his day.

Eve has just about started to smile, mostly it's wind but a few times it's definitely been because Tom and I have been talking and smiling at her :) She's also looking around much more and loves staring at her black and white books as I change her.

Tuesday, my 2nd solo day with both was much much better, Charlie was feeling more like himself and Eve had had a better night.

Poorly boy playing with a sticker book

Four weeks old

At four weeks Eve:

- Continues to grow, at the health visitor weigh on 10th September she weighs 9lbs 2 and a half oz.

- Loves looking at black and white baby books.

- Feeds a LOT.

- Her hair is turning lighter and her dark blue eyes are also lightening up.

- Finally getting to wear some of the summer dresses we've been given - with long sleeved vests and tights!

- Getting used to our new routine, taking and collecting her big brother from school.

Three weeks old

At three weeks Eve:

- Has put on the weight she lost, at the 29th August health visitor weigh in she was 8lbs exactly.
- Is now signed off from the midwife team as they're happy with her weight gain.
- Is slightly less floppy, she's losing that newborn helplessness and moving around much more.
- Is less sleepy, she's having longer and longer bright eyed periods.
- Loves looking at Mummy, Daddy and Charlie.
- Is increasing her range of noises, lots of squeaks and growls and cries.