17-1-2010 - Emily-Rose is 22 weeks & 2 days!

My mood while writing this blog: Grrrrrrrreat!!!

I hope you are all doing great!

I am really good. Starting to balance work and looking after Emily-Rose better now. The week just gone will be the busiest I will be until mid March and I managed to handle it ok (I work in Finance, we have deadlines when it is manic and quiet times during the quarter). I have some important calls next week, but Steve has worked his schedule so he will be at home to take Emily so I can concentrate on my presentations.

It was very funny last week, I was on a call to some colleagues in Holland. Emily was in her swing, she suddenly started making loads of funny (and loud) noises. The other end of the line started giggling so I had to confirm it was Emily making the strange sounds. hehe. They said she is more than welcome to join the call :)

I was SUCH a proud mummy last week. My little Munchie has been sitting up unaided for over a month now, but the other day she was laying on the sofa next to me with some toys whilst I was working and all of the sudden she sat upright on her own and gave me a big smile! I made such a fuss I think I scared her! haha bless her heart. She has such a beautiful straight back and a lovely posture, I hope she keeps this. It will probably go into a slump when she hits her teens! lol.

I was sooooooooo happy to finally get out of the house on Friday. The snow has cleared enough for me not to be too scared to drive. I popped out for an hour and met up with the breastfeeding group. It was so good to have some adult females to talk to!! I had Munchie weighed as she was so ill a few weeks go I wanted to check on her. She was 19lbs 8oz, so she is still tracking in the 98% which is excellent. I think she may have got a bit taller cos she looks a bit thinner (although she is still very chubby) and her feet can touch the floor in the jumperoo and her baby walker.

I have upped Emilys weaning now, she was creamy porridge for brekkie, baby rice for lunch with breastmilk and something savoury for tea (dinner). She really likes carrots and sweet potato. I am still breastfeeding but it has cut down a bit. I reckon I am still giving three or four full feeds a day as well as short feeds with the 'solid' food, I think this is just for a drink as she will only be getting foremilk in the time she is on the breast. Dont forget Emily will NOT take a bottle so she doesnt get a drink any other way. I have started giving her a cup with water in when she has her food. She seems to know what to do with it but she doesnt really seem to like water (Ive also tried formula & juice) much so I was thinking of expressing for her to drink it from the cup - any advice girls?

As normal in January I have started to get ready to decorate the house and book a holiday!! I cannot stand this time of year so I make sure I have stuff to look forward to. I have the paint etc so I just need to find some time to get it done. We have ordered a new sofa (couch) and I am picking some new artwork for the living room walls. Looking forward to that. I think for the holiday we are going to hire a private villa in Italy at the beginning of June. It will be soooooo nice to have our own space and our own pool ;)

So pleased to catch up and read of your journeys, so many exciting times for my friends. I wish you all luck and much love of course to my friends who are struggling right now x x

Take care, Rach & Emily-Rose (aka Munchie) x x x