Settling in as a family of four!

Or family of three as it feels like as Simon doesn't start his time off until next weekend so I've kind of been thrown in at the deep end! He was off on Friday and Saturday when Freya was born but I didn't come home from hospital until the Saturday afternoon so didn't really get to see much of him!

It's not been so bad though. Been a great way to get yourself into some sort of vague 'routine' that goes something like: I get the next days clothes for myself and the kids all laid out the night before etc. and as soon as I hear Noah is awake in the morning will go and put some toast in and then go and get him up and dressed and started on his toast so he's busy while I feed/dress Freya etc. He then has his cereal while I get myself ready! When they're both fed and clean and happy then I squeeze my breakfast in!

Doesn't always work like that though! On Wednesday Noah woke up at the same time Freya wanted feeding. I went into him and his face, hands, pyjamas and bedding were covered in blood! I think he'd just had a good pick of his nose - he wasn't crying - but it totally messed up my system!!! I had to bath him and strip his bed-clothes and get them in the machine while poor Freya was screaming for boob! Talk about throwing a spanner in the works!

It's been a fairly laid-back week though. Freya is a very good baby. She feeds 2-3hourly during the day and at night she'll usually go 6 hours and then 4 (feeding at roughly 10pm, 4am, 8am etc.). It's completely bearable and I'm getting a good amount of sleep which helps no end. She's a very good breast-feeder although has her moments when she messes about and won't suck properly, popping on and off the breast. If my boobs are really full and the milk flows on it's own she'll just lay under the nipple poking her tongue out to lap it up! Might have to start expressing the first bit off! Last night was a nightmare. I was really tired and she wouldn't suck properly but was crying cos she was hungry and I ended up crying and telling her she could starve!! Simon was telling me off and telling me to give her the other boob and I'm sat sobbing on the toilet! She definitely prefers one boob to the other but I'm not going to let her have her way! She was much better this morning though and is back to feeding nicely.

She has been fairly jaundiced for the last week and it's only now starting to fade but she's bright and alert, doing lots of wees and poos (we had a projectile poo across the bed and all over me during the night last night when I was changing her!). Her eyes are a bit gunky but cooled boiled water seems to be keeping it from getting horrible.

Have only seen a Midwife 4 times since coming home. Obviously a bit more laid back second time round. Seeing one for the last time tomorrow. I'm all healed and comfortable and the bleeding has practically stopped. I'm a bit weepy, especially in the evenings when I'm tired and starting to think about Simon leaving me again in the morning but not worryingly so.

Noah has been an absolute star! He's been such a good boy. Maybe gets stressed out a little easier when he gets a bit wound up or tired and a bit more cuddly but he's definitely happy. He helps me bath and change Freya and runs to her when she cries. He's forever stroking, kissing and talking to her in a high-pitched baby voice! He'll put his muslin and teddies in her moses basket and is desperate to share his food with her - she's already tasted toast and cheese! His sleep pattern and behaviour don't seem to have been affected at all so far. I'm really proud of my little man (who suddenly seems enormous!).

I'm loving being a Mummy to two although I am tired and can't wait for Simon to have some time off with us. I feel sorry for him as he's missing out on these amazing early days but at least by the time he's off I'll know what works and what doesn't and we'll be able to enjoy our time together without getting too stressed hopefully!