Thursday, October 30, 2008

Stir crazy...

It is FREEZING cold over here!!! The weather is decidedly wintry in Barton today, and it has been raining for most of the day as well. The temperature is more like what it is in January than in October. So Dylan and I have stayed in the house pretty much all day, and he has been very needy. I think he's just bored, but so am I. Thank goodness Martin will be home soon.

Still struggling with the asthma, and I'm so frustrated that all I can use is my inhaler. 3:00 am is the witching hour for me--I have been waking up then coughing and have been unable to get back to sleep. I'm sick and tired and Dylan is demanding loads of attention. Sucks to be me right now. I still think that taking care of a baby whilst sick is the most difficult thing I have ever done!

Yesterday was the magical 20 week marker in my pregnancy. I am half way done, and that's really great to me. I'm actually getting very excited to have a newborn baby again. I was looking at old pictures of Dylan and got all broody. Only 20 weeks to go!!!

Anyway, must finish dinner as Martin's grandparents are coming over and will be here any minute.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Frustration...

Well, Martin and I got a lot done in the nursery yesterday. Not as much as we would have liked, but you can only do so much with a one year old crawling around in the dust. The frustration comes with the fact that even though we worked for hours, it looks like we didn't get anything done. Martin cut a channel out of the ceiling to conceal the wiring for the bathroom light and shower. He also chiselled a channel in the plaster and brick to conceal the wiring for an electrical outlet.

Christine came over, and she and I stripped wallpaper. Two of the walls are nearly ready to paint. I have two more walls to strip the paper off, and then we'll be ready to get some paint up. The plaster is in good condition, which is nice. We'll have to do a little patching, but nothing major.

We're having a good time trying to decide how to decorate the nursery. Last time we just needed the room to be usable. We didn't actually do much decorating because our front room was a hollow mess of a shell and I was heavily pregnant with no energy to spare. This time I want the room to be cute and comfy, and we don't have any major projects going other than this one.

We've also decided that we are going to move the piano into what is now the dining nook and convert the middle room into a formal dining room. We couldn't do that before, because we didn't have a living room. It's full of kitchen cabinets at the minute, but I'm excited to make the change. The piano will fit perfectly into the tiny dining nook, and we'll actually have plenty of room for Dylan's high chair in the middle room.

Our house is really starting to get cozy and comfortable. Well, it's really cold at the minute, but it's still getting comfortable as long as you are wearing socks and a wooly jumper.

So that's the update. It's not worth posting pictures of the nursery yet, because it hasn't changed much since the last pictures I posted of it. But I'll get plenty of photos as we make more progress.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Picture Tag...

Picture tag--for all blog readers. You go to your 6th picture file and post the 6th picture in there. See what you come up with!



This was Dylan's first birthday, while he was opening up all his presents. He's wearing his life jacket--the pressie from mommy and daddy!

Dylan at the park...




Demolishing the nursery...







Quite a change, huh? Dylan is currently having a great time helping us strip the wallpaper. He loves helping around the house, though he mostly gets in the way at the minute. I'm going to encourage him to "help" a lot though, in the hope that it will continue as he gets older and more helpful!

Jump for joy...

Petrol has fallen below £1 per liter for the first time in over a year! When we filled up last night it cost us about £3 less than it has been, and that will add up in a hurry. I hope fuel prices continue to drop. When we moved over here 3 years ago it cost around 88p per liter and the highest it got was around £1.16 (I think. It reaches a point where you stop looking at the price and just fill up).

Remember, all you Americans, that there are approximately 4 liters in a gallon and the current exchange rate is about $1.80 to £1. So we have been paying around $9 a gallon for our petrol for over a year.

Mom made the argument that we don't have the long distances to drive over here that you Yanks do, but we drove to Grimsby twice a week for the last three years, three times a week while I was at college, and it's a 54 mile round trip journey. Plus, when I was working it was a 34 mile round trip journey every day. It soon adds up. The price drop is such a relief!

Hooray!!!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

DIY Weekend...

So we had this work day all set up for last weekend, then we had to postpone because of the Place and Nadine. The stud wall in Dylan's nursery had to come down as we needed a bigger room for when Newbie comes along. We thought we had some help organized, but it ended up being just the two of us. Luckily, Martin's dad stopped by in the morning and helped us get the old kitchen units out as I am useless when it comes to carrying stuff. Not a good idea to do any heavy lifting in my delicate condition.

Dylan went to his Nanna's house for the afternoon and evening, and Martin and I dove right in. He did the heavy stuff with the crow bar, and I was on clean-up duty. He had to mess with the electrics as we had a few power sockets and light switches in the stud wall, but he's pretty good at stuff like that now, after wiring up the front room and installing a consumer unit with his dad. It went really well. I probably over did it a little bit, but everything's ok with me and the fetus. And the nursery looks good. It's kind of rough looking, but Dylan is sleeping in there again. We are going to have to strip wallpaper, repair plaster, and do some painting before it's finished. But the nasty job of gutting everything is done and everything else is just cosmetic and actually really fun.

Dylan is getting so he loves spending the night at nanna's house. She lets him watch the telly while he's having his bottle, and he gets to play with Smudge (the insane springer spaniel). They have really bonded lately, and it's lovely! We are hoping that Christine bonds with the new baby faster than she did with Dylan though. It has only been the last two months or so that they've really started to get to know each other well.

Now, on our peaceful Sunday evening, Dylan is sleeping and Martin is putting up secondary glazing film on our windows. Since we are in a conservation area and a listed building we are not allowed to have double glazed windows. Grandma Lofley always had the glazing film on her windows. I hope it works well, because our house gets really cold and it is huge and expensive to heat.

So we've still got a lot to do, but getting that wall down upstairs gets us started on the last big job that needs to be done before we can sell the house. And that's exciting stuff!!!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Where has my angel baby gone???

Don't get me wrong, Dylan is still a little cutie. But, I swear I'm not exaggerating, he's hitting his "terrible twos" terribly early. He still gives plenty of cuddles, loves to play with me and Martin, and is adorable. But he has started to assert himself--big time! He has started refusing to eat--especially if WE try to feed him. There are still a few things he will eat, but he is awfully fussy. And he has started to push boundaries. He is trying to figure out if I really mean it when I tell him no. When he does something he knows he's not supposed to, I tell him no. Then he gives me a big, angelic looking smile, and does it again!

Is this normal behaviour for a 14 month old???

I want my sweet little baby back!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Dylan's first words...

Our little guy is turning into a chatterbox! He loves to babble--especially first thing in the morning--but he is starting to say a few things properly.

His first "real" word was DUCKS! He says it more like "dutts," but we know what he is saying.

He is also saying hello--sort of. The Brits say Hiya a lot, and even though Martin and I don't say it, Dylan's started. He says it a lot--especially when he picks up the phone.

Another favorite is "book." Once again, it doesn't sound much like book. It's more like "guk," but it's still cute.

He has also learned cat, dog, and conker (horse chestnuts). His language skills develop a little bit more every day, and it's so exciting to watch. He has also started laughing a lot more, which is wonderful. I don't think there is any sweeter sound than my son laughing out loud!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Dylan chases the cat...

Recent pictures...


Solomon, the beautiful new kitten, just after having a bath.


Daddy and Dylan enjoy feeding the ducks.


Dylan was overwhelmed when I cleaned out the toy chest!


Playing hide and seek with Solomon.


Feeding himself!

Raised in captivity...

I've been thinking about my ridiculous parenting worries, and I've finally discovered the perfect way to describe them.

I'm like an animal who was raised in captivity who has a baby and doesn't know how to raise it.

They say you learn to be a parent from your own parents, right? Well, my mom is kind of far away (if we were any farther apart, we'd be getting closer) so I can't always go to her for advice or see her in action. When I was younger I just wasn't interested in kids or parenting. Well, now I have my own little guy and I have no clue what I should be doing. I kind of just have to make things up as I go along and hope for the best.

I'm starting to see just how major it was to move to England to have a baby. If there's one time you need your mother, it's when you have your first child. How was I brave enough to do this? Fortunately, I didn't even think about it. If I had, I don't think we ever would have left Utah!

I think a lot of my worries also stem from the fact that I am sometimes overly critical of other peoples' parenting. I see kids that are completely out of control, and I wonder if their parents ever bother with discipline. I see kids who are anti-social and I wonder if their parents ever talk to them or play with them. When they're really young if they are terrors it is totally their parents' fault! I judge other parents, so expect them to do the same to me!

Speaking of bad parenting, I really ought to turn the telly off now and get my son breakfast!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Worries...

I have an amazing son! He is beautiful as well as good natured and well behaved (well, as much as any 1 year old can be). But as our trip to the states comes ever closer, I really worry that he'll be a nightmare when we get there. If he is, it wouldn't be his fault. It would be jet lag and an unfamiliar environment. But nobody will believe how sweet he is.

I also worry that my family will think I am a terrible mother. I mean, it will be weird enough for them to actually see me with a baby, since most of them didn't see me pregnant and most of them have never met Dylan. But what if they think I am doing a bad job of raising my baby? They probably wouldn't say so to my face, but what happens after we go home?

Totally paranoid pregnant woman concerns. I'm sure Dylan will be fine and I'm reasonably sure I'm a decent parent. I guess we'll see!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Dylan's favorite song!

Just thought I'd post a link to Dylan's favorite song. It's on CBeebies, and it calms him down when nothing else will...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/presenters/music/hugomonkeysconga.shtml

Monday, October 06, 2008

Oh the joys...

I know I already posted today, but it's been such a great evening that I just had to share.

We drove in to Scunny to do our grocery shopping because we needed a new vacuum cleaner. We went to a nearby pub to grab a quick bite to eat. We sat down and got ready to order, and then Dylan threw up all over me. And I do mean ALL over me. I had vomit down my back, on my sleeves, on my trousers, all down the front of me. We were, of course, 20 miles from home and still needing to do our shopping and have our dinner.

I headed for the toilets to get myself cleaned up, and Dylan and Martin ordered our food and went to Tesco. They had to buy me a new outfit, because mine was completely covered in vomit. And this isn't baby vomit, either. This is proper throw up with chunks of food and curdling milk. DISGUSTING!

Anyway, Martin and Dylan did a good job of picking out some new clothes for me. They came back and I got changed in the bathroom. We had our dinner, and then did our grocery shopping. Dylan even had more dinner. I really hope he manages to keep it down. I thought we were done with the throwing up thing.

I think he waits to puke until I'm holding him. The best part was, there wasn't a drop of sick on Dylan. It was all on me.

Maybe he just likes to share with me?

Update...

Well, Dylan is officially weaned! Everyone keeps asking how we're doing, and I tell them that Dylan is fine and I am ECSTATIC! It's so nice to only be sharing my body with one baby instead of two. And it's a good thing that I weaned him when I did. I was sick this weekend and don't think I would have been able to take care of myself, newbie, and Dylan if I was still feeding him.

Although I was sick, it was still a good weekend. Martin worked Friday night and Saturday during the day, so we didn't see much of him. But we stayed really busy! We had our Stake Enrichment Day on Saturday and then we watched the broadcast of the General Relief Society meeting. Since Martin was at work, Dylan had to come along. He was in heaven--loads of women making a fuss over him! He was flirting like crazy, and the 40 minute drive home meant he took a nap in the car. I even got to listen to the talks, because I brought his tennis ball and he threw it and chased it for around a half an hour.

Saturday night I went to Mablethorpe with Christine. Martin's cousin's wife Clare was in a community theatre production, and we went and watched her. We were late because Christine had to pull over a few times so I could be sick, and I nearly lost it a few times during the play, but it was fun all the same. It's nice just to get out and do something new once in a while!

Yesterday we spent the day together. We went to Hemswell market, but when we got there it was deserted (it rained on Saturday, so nobody came out on Sunday). Since we were that close to Lincoln anyway, we popped down there instead. We just had a wander. Dylan loved watching the ducks and swans, and he even fed a few pigeons! Then we went to the in-laws' house for dinner. I felt pretty sick all day, but the fresh air helped. When Martin has so little time off I hate to force him to stay home all day when he wants to do something together. After all, you can throw up anywhere!

Dylan's been having trouble sleeping. On top of the gastroentiritis he jsut had, I think he's getting his back teeth. Plus, his appetite is catching up now that he's feeling better. He went to bed at 7:30 last night, and woke up at around 10pm screaming his head off. We tried everything to calm him down, and nothing worked. Finally we gave him another full bottle. He had all of it and then went right back to sleep. Weird!

Martin and I are watching conference on-line this week instead of watching telly in the evenings. We watched the Saturday morning session yesterday, and we'll be watching the Saturday afternoon session tonight. We were both amazed that a temple was announced for Rome. Surprised and very pleased. I love it when the church expands in Europe!

Anyway, we have a busy day ahead of us so I'm going to get started now. I've been lazy and on the computer instead of starting on housework. I shouldn't do that on Mondays, since they are the busiest day of the week. Oh well--I'll catch up when Martin gets home tonight!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Ugh...

Today was a rough day!

Dylan was sick last night--big time! He woke up at around 10:30 pm and Martin went to check on him. He discovered Dylan's dinner lying in bed with him--ewwww! We got him cleaned up and his bed linens changed. Then I have him a 6 oz bottle. We got him nearly back to sleep and I was about to lay him down in his crib when he threw up the milk--all over both of us. So Dylan and I had an 11 pm shower, and we put him to bed with a totally empty tummy. Poor kid!

So we both had a late night last night, and today was hard because of it. Dylan was happy this morning, but really tired and drained. I couldn't get him to eat hardly anything, and he drank even less. He had the runs, which was also fun. He didn't eat much dinner, but he DID manage to keep his milk down and went to sleep like a little angel. Good thing, because I'm exhausted and Martin is working late.

I had a strange but nice moment when I was getting Dylan settled in tonight. Ever since he was born I've felt like I was just a big kid pretending to be a mommy. But tonight I actually felt like a mother for the first time. I guess all it took was 13 months and copious amounts of vomit. And you know what? It was totally worth it!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Breast feeding, the Place, and a random rant...

Today is the day. Dylan has started trying to pull my bra and top down when he wants more milk, so I've decided that he is done. We've been down to one or two feeds a day for about 3 months now, and he hasn't had any breast milk today. We're done. He had a morning bottle and slept in the car for his afternoon nap. He's just fine. I'm a teeny bit sore, but not too bad. I won't be missing the feeding, that's for sure! I'm a bit tender because of the pregnancy, and it's been like the first few weeks of breastfeeding for the last month or so. OUCH!

Nadine stopped by the Place today and Karen convinced her to stay open until Christmas. I think that's a good thing, but I'm not sure! It means nothing will change for a few months, but Martin is still looking for something else. He may have an interview at Forest Pines, a really nice resort in Scunthorpe, to manage the restaurant there. It'd be a great opportunity, though it would mean long and unsociable hours. They have a nice golf course there and he would probably get a discount if he was an employee.

I have a strict no-drama policy in my life. I instituted it at around the age of 19, and it has seen me through some tough times. But seriously, how can we have this much up and down in our financial matters and keep the no-drama policy in place? This is so stressful!!!

Thinking soothing thoughts. At least Martin won't be changing jobs in 10 days' time, which was the closing date of the Place before today.

Happy place...