So, Jasper James had hit and surpassed the one week old milestone!
To celebrate, we dressed him in a super cute onesie and took some photos…
Happy One Week Old Jasper!!!
Tag: Being a Mum
Let’s talk about night terrors…
Let’s talk about Night Terrors!
This little guy looks pretty content this morning… happily guzzling his bottle as he watches some early morning ABC Kids. In fact, he has been his happy normal self this morning.I wish we could say the same about our little Jesse during the night.
Unfortunately, it would appear that throughout the past two nights, Jesse had been suffering from night terrors! And it is absolutely horrible!!!
On a couple of occasions through both nights, Jesse has ‘woken up’ and started screaming, and kicking and thrashing about in a trance-like state that we just couldn’t seem to snap him out of. And the reason I put ‘woken up’ like that, is because according to the literature we’ve read, he actually isn’t awake.
Night terrors are most easily explained as being caught in between wakefulness and sleep. Essentially, the brain disconnects from the body when we sleep, but when someone is having a night terror, it essentially means that there is an incomplete disconnect. This is why Jesse looks awake and his eyes are wide open, but really, they are mostly asleep and completely oblivious to their surroundings.
And unfortunately for parents of kids who suffer from night terrors, there isn’t a hell of a lot we can do!
The best course of action is to let them ride it out themselves. Night terrors can last anywhere between 5 – 20 minutes. Which does mean if your child is showing symptoms for as long as 20 minutes, it can be quite upsetting for the parents. But, unfortunately for parents, trying to sooth your child, or touch them, or wake them, or talk to them can often make the terrors worse.
While we didn’t realise Jesse was suffering from night terrors two nights ago, after some research and taking to a doctor, we were better prepared last night in case we had a repeat. But, despite being prepared for another episode (which did eventually come at about 11pm), we still felt helpless and upset that Jesse was thrashing around and on the verge of hyperventilating, yet we couldn’t do anything to help.
I guess the best thing (if there is any upside to night terrors) is that children who get them don’t remember what has happened the next day. Which is why Jesse has woken up in his happy, chipper self.
I sometimes wish that we parents had the ability to not remember what happened either.
We officially think night terrors SUCK!!! And with some of the literature we’ve read saying most kids outgrow night terrors by the age of 12, we can only hope that Jesse doesn’t have them for that long.
If you would like some more information on night terrors, we found this article very helpful: Month 21 Worry: Why does my toddler wake up screaming?
Welcome to the Family
Due Date Delivery
My due date started like most days did in my last couple of weeks of pregnancy. Fairly steady contractions throughout the wee hours of the morning as I lay in bed wondering if today was the day. However unlike most days, they didn’t stop. Even once I was out of bed and going about my morning the contractions continued. Mild, but enough to know they weren’t braxton hicks and steadily increasing in intensity.
I knew the odds of babies coming on their due date was slim, but I could only hope. It was my last 24 hours to have the baby with my sister still in the country.
Well, he must have heard my prayers because just hours later, I was holding my baby boy. Once he decided it was time there was no stopping him. My contractions were getting stronger so at about 10.45am I started timing them. At 12.15pm we headed to the hospital and at 1.32pm Jasper James entered the world.
Our First Night
I was in a state of disbelief. From feeling like I was going to be pregnant forever to giving birth all within a few hours, I was definitely shell-shocked. Blissfully happy though.
That afternoon, Jasper met his big brother and we had some family and friends visit. And when it was time for sleep, Jasper did just that. But I was still riding the wave of adrenaline. Between that, the hospital noise and the noisiest sleeping baby in the world, mama didn’t get much sleep that night.
By lunch time the following day we were bundled up in the car and headed home. Did they really just let us lose with a baby…again??
One week on
When there is a newborn in the house the hours and days just seem to disappear. We have spent the week hauled up at home in a beautiful little love bubble. The days lost in a blur of feeding, changing, baby gazing, visitors and of course continuing to ‘maintain’ a toddler.
Jesse has adapted exceptionally well so far. He is very gentle with his baby brother and loves to give him kisses and touch his ears. We know it’s a big adjustment for him so we are mindful to be patient and carve out special time that is all about him.
Jasper is sleeping and feeding like a champ. In fact I couldn’t believe how quickly he took to breastfeeding and how good he was at it from birth. With over a kilo on his brothers birth weight, I suppose that is a benefit of a bigger baby.
Mum and Dad are both doing well and settling into our new way of life. One week post partum and I’m feeling better each day. My labour experience was another beautiful one, albeit faster and more intense. A bit of gas and my support team got me through and there were no complications or issues (polite way of saying everything remained intact!). They weren’t wrong though when they said after-birth pains are worse with subsequent births. Ouch!!
Almost immediately after birth, the banter of a third child started and is now an ongoing joke in our household. Time will tell who wins that one…
For now we are absolutely smitten with our two gorgeous boys are feel incredibly blessed.
Photo Friday: First days at home…
Wow, what a whirlwind the past week as been.
And now, we have a brand new human at home that we are fully responsible for (why did the hospital let us go home?!).
The first days at home have been surreal, but also amazing, as Jasper, Jesse, Renee and I all bond and bind as a foursome instead of a threesome.
Also, I think we have the cutest baby on earth at home with us (slightly biaised opinion of course).
Hello, due date…
I know your expected due date is not the be all and end all. It’s just a guide. And in fact only a very small percentage of babies are born on their due date.
That is why I’m so surprised to still be pregnant. 40 weeks pregnant today.
I was so sure I would have a baby in my arms by now. Partly because my first baby was born in my 38th week of pregnancy and partly because by my “period maths” my due date was actually 10 days ago.
But alas, I have no baby to hold yet. Just a huge belly, the unmistakable saunter of a heavily pregnant woman and a very sore vagina!
Going overdue doesn’t bother me per say, I have no doubt that baby will come when it’s good and ready. Despite joking that I might just be pregnant forever! But what’s starting to wear me down is the pre labour I’ve been experiencing for two weeks now.
Yup, I’ve been having contractions on and off for two weeks. More often than not in the wee hours of the morning so losing more and more sleep with each night. As if trying to sleep at full term wasn’t uncomfortable enough!
But the growing anticipation will surely only make that first meeting even more sweet. And maybe make the labour easier to bear as I will just be so bloody glad when it actually starts for real.
In the back of my mind though is the persistent thought that today is the last chance to have this baby before my sister leaves for her amazing overseas holiday for 5 weeks. She was present at my first birth and has such an incredible relationship with Jesse. I will be terribly sad if she not only misses out on those first newborn weeks but misses meeting baby before she leaves. No doubt she will make up for it on her return.
Ultimately though, it is out of my hands and I know that things will unfold with divine and perfect timing.
Whenever you are ready my darling…
Photo Friday: (Still) Waiting for Baby Barton 2
So… Renee is now 39+2 and there is still no sign of Baby Barton 2 gracing us with its presence.
So while we continue to wait, we are relishing in some family time together. Here are a couple of photos we’ve taken over the past week of each other with our gorgeous boy, Jesse.
The wait continues…
Footage Friday: Third Trimester Pregnancy Update
The bassinet is ready, the teeny newborn clothes are laundered and the hospital bags are packed.
Now in my 38th week of pregnancy, anticipation of baby’s arrival has hit fever pitch as we await the first signs of labour.
Here’s an update on the third trimester and our predictions for baby’s gender, birth date and weight.
The countdown begins…
The countdown has begun.
The countdown to my last day of work before I start my leave to welcome Baby Barton #2 into this world has begun.
And damn I’m getting excited!
Thursday, 6 April 2017 will be my last day at work for the next 6 weeks. That’s right… the start of 6 weeks of holidays leave is almost here. But while I may not be at work, I will still have plenty of work to do!
I wish I could say that it’s going to be a holiday… but those of you who have had the pleasure of having a newborn at home know that a lot of the time, it’s the farthest thing from a holiday! Throw into the mix the fact that we already have a toddler and that we will for a few weeks have the distinct pleasure of having two under two… it’s sure to be a recipe for disaster! Or that’s at least what I’m preparing myself for.
Nah… in all honesty, I’m really looking forward to it. At the end of the day, it will be some much needed family time together, without the stresses and distractions of work. We will just have to deal with a different type of stress… the stress of a newborn.
With all that said, it still doesn’t quite feel all that real as yet. I mean, all the signs are there… we’ve completed the new nursery for Baby Barton #2. We’ve washed the tiny baby clothes we had away in storage. Renee’s belly is growing by the minute… but it still doesn’t feel like we are going to have another tiny little baby in our arms any week now. It still feels as though it hasn’t fully sunk in as yet.
Another baby? Really? Is it actually going to happen?
Of course it’s going to happen… maybe it just hasn’t sunken in yet because I’m still so focused on other things. But it’s going to happen!
The big question from here is… when is it going to happen?
Well, the official due date is 19 April 2017. But, Renee is currently full term and with our last pregnancy, Jesse decided he wanted to meet the world early. So what about this time around… well, I am going on the record with the following predictions…
Baby Barton #2 will be a girl, born on 12 April 2017, weighing in at 6lb 5oz and will be 51cm in length.
It won’t be too long before we find out if my predictions are right!
Waiting for Baby Barton Number Two
A little under two years ago we published our first blog Waiting for Baby Barton . After a fairly lengthy TTC process, I was 37 weeks pregnant with our first baby and we were eagerly anticipating baby’s arrival.
Now that sweet baby boy is a cheeky toddler, two months shy of his second birthday and soon to be a big brother. And I am again 37 weeks pregnant.
It all seems so surreal. Some days I still can’t quite believe that within the next few weeks we will be a family of four and will have a tiny newborn again.
But then my giant belly, constant braxton hicks, aching back and constipation reminds me that it is in fact real! Oh the joys of the final month of pregnancy. When simple tasks of rolling over in bed, putting shoes on or bathing the toddler are like doing a workout. I love it though, and try to never take the blessing of pregnancy for granted.
It’s funny, it feels like so much has changed since last time and yet it’s so familiar too. Again wondering what will our baby look like? Will it be a boy or a girl? How and when will I go into labour? Will I be a good mum?
I guess it’s always the same questions no matter how many children you have.
But, the bassinet is ready and the baby clothes are washed and folded. The hospital bags are in various stages of packed and the car seat ready to be installed. Dad is counting down the days to his parental leave and keeping fingers crossed baby stays in until then. While Mum is savouring these last weeks of pregnancy and preparing mind and body for birth. All the while big brother is blissfully unaware of what’s to come.
To you my big boy, mummy loves you so much. You will be the most wonderful big brother. It is a big responsibility being the eldest but I know you will take it all in your stride and continue to be the funny, loving, cheeky boy that you are.
And to my second little love curled up safely in my tummy, it will soon be time to come and meet us my precious one. Scary I know, but I promise it will all be okay and we will all be together soon.
Until then….we wait…
Hi! My name is…
So as you would all be well aware, Baby Barton #2 is literally only weeks away from gracing us with its presence. And along with all the planning and preparation couples need to do when they are expecting a new bundle of joy, comes one of if not the most important thing that needs to be considered and agreed on before the arrival of any baby.
Names!
That right… what you decide to call your new addition to the family is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life… right there behind deciding to have kids in the first place!
I mean, just think about it. You are responsible for naming a human! NAMING THEM!!! This boy or girl will be stuck with this name for the rest of their life… that is assuming it’s not something ridiculous like North West that the child will probably change by law when they’re an adult! What a responsibility.
And I can tell you right now, that choosing names for the arrival of your impending child is bloody hard!
There are so many things you need to think about when choosing a name for you baby. Things like… spelling of the name. Do you go for something common, or uncommon? Classic or modern? Do you give them a middle name? Will the name stand the test of time? Will it sound odd calling a grown adult by the name you choose for your child? What do the initials spell out (especially if you give your child a middle name)?
There’s so much to think about that it sometimes gets a little overwhelming and you just kind of sweep it under the rug with the intention of dealing with it later. Except, there comes a point in time when you can’t sweep it under the rug any longer. There comes a point where you need to finalise your list and decide on the names you like. Because otherwise, you’ll have a nameless baby!
And this is currently the problem we are having in our household. Choosing names we both like for both sexes… because for some reason… someone didn’t want to find out the sex of the baby!
When we first started looking at names for Baby Barton #2 we thought it would be easy. We agreed on a list of 3 options for both girls and boys for when Jesse was born. We just had it working like a well-oiled machine.
But this time around… oh dear. We just can’t decide on anything. We have a number of girls names we like, but are still tossing up what to do for the middle name.
But… we don’t have any boys names we are absolutely in love with. Not a single one. And then on top of that, we have no middle names for the boys either. Even the ones we had on the list when Jesse was born we now don’t like. So if we ended up with another boy currently, we’d be screwed!
The other big problem we have, is the whole, well this name would be cute for a little girl, but is anyone really going to take a grown woman seriously with that same name?
YOU SEE!!! THIS SH*T IS HARD!!!
I do know one thing though… we need to get this sorted out sooner rather than later! Because if we don’t come up a list of names that we both agree on and love soon, we will be in big trouble! I mean, we can’t call it Baby Barton #2 forever… … … or can we?
not so secret life of us 