Having A Baby From A Cats Point Of View

1. OMG WHAT IS THAT? Can I smell it?

2. Oh Jesus. What is that noise? Make it stop, it's interrupted my peace

3. You seem to have acquired some wonderful places for me to sleep. Thank you. Oh OK, Why are you shouting at me? I thought this was fair game?

4. Excuse me but why does it have its hands in my water? 

5. Really? Blue is not my colour!

6. Why does he constantly want to touch me?

7. Stop following me!

8. SERIOUSLY STOP CHASING ME!! Leave me alone! 

9. Oh thank goodness he's went to bed. Please may I return to my rightful place on your lap now?

What If He Doesn't Like Me?

When I first became pregnant I imagined having a little girl would be easier. I had this scenario in my head that we would be best friends, and I'd teach her girly things like how to paint her nails (not that I'm overly impressive at it) and I'd buy her pretty dresses and it would be all butterflies and pretty flowers and life would be dandy. Deep down though I knew we were having a boy. Before it was even confirmed I just knew it (I'm intuitive like that) So then a different scenario began forming in my head. One where Gavin would teach him to play football and teach him how to play the guitar and the drums and all the other things that Gavin is amazingly good at. He would take him swimming and to the park and they would become this little unit. Daddy and his little mini me (because, again, I just knew he was going to be Gavin's double but in this scenario where did I fit in? What could I contribute to this little pack?

What if he didn't like me? What if I was just there to clean up after him but Daddy was there to play with him, make him laugh and take him on adventures. What if I was just there to keep him clothed and keep the house nice and tidy because that's what I'm good at. I'm not good at playing Cowboys and Indians, I'm not good at throwing him so high in the air that he gets that look of terror when he wonders 'what if you don't catch me' then he squeals with laughter when Daddy does catch him and he's desperate to do it again. I don't know how to be good at boy things. I don't like rough and tumble.

Once my little boy was born that feeling kind of went away for a while. We had a newborn and I fed him and he required me to survive. He needed me. After the first few weeks Daddy went back to work and he needed me every day. He needed me to keep him clean, he needed me to feed him but he also needed me to keep him amused, to stimulate his beautiful little brain. He would follow the sound of my voice, he would look for me when I left the room. I was important, I was needed.

Then he left the newborn stage and the doubt began again. Daddy would come home from work and Logan's little face would light up. It was Daddy that caused the first giggle. When Mummy couldn't get him to nap for love nor money it was Daddy's magic touch and big shoulders that Logan would drift off on. What use was I when I couldn't get my baby to laugh or nap (a legitimate question I asked Gavin when I was having an existential crisis one night)

Then just before Christmas Logan got the cold, and I don't just mean a little sniffle. I mean WORST COLD EVER. He was lethargic, he wouldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, he was coughing and spluttering, his nose was blocked, he was dehydrated. He was a poorly little soul for a good 2 weeks. And guess who was the person he wanted through it all? His mum. I was the one who lay on the couch with him cuddled into me while I watched what ever mind numbing nonsense he wanted to watch on the tele. It was me that he wanted to spend 80% of his day sleeping on. It was me that needed to attempt to unblock his nose with the nasal aspirator. It was me he wanted and needed to take care of him.

Then I slowly began to realise: that's why we come as a team, Gavin and I. He might be good at the games and play. But it's me he looks for when he's feeling poorly or there's something wrong. I've come to accept that as a mum that's my role. To fix things, to organise things, to take care of everything. Daddy might get the easy bit but I get the most important bit.

Last Week I...

This post is coming to you a day late due to getting 3 hours sleep on Saturday and after work on Sunday I was in no fit state to do anything other than sleep.

This week saw even more snow so Gavin and I decided to build Logan a snowman, He loved sitting in the snow and feeling it between his hands.
Logan had his first haircut! I love it, though I think it makes him look even more grown up. It wasn't styled or anything, just neatened up.
Logan is cutting more teeth so that'as been followed by a rotten cold again. Not as bad as the Christmas Time cold but its given me a pretty grumpy baby!
I was sent a Buddy Box this week. Keep your eyes peeled for a review coming this week. On first impressions, I really like it.
My book of the week was Hero by Samantha Young. A great book with two fantastic main characters. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something new to read.

My First Week Back

Before my return to work I was a mix of emotions. On one hand I was looking forward to getting back to work. I missed my work friends, I missed the adult conversation and secretly I longed for the independence. I thought I'd enjoy getting out of the house for a while on my own.

While I've enjoyed getting out of the house, as expected I've missed Logan something crazy. The hardest bit for me so far is I've missed 5 bed times. I miss the routine, the cuddle before I put him down, the look of excitement when I pass him his favourite bear. However it's a small price I've got to pay.

The thing I've loved the most so far is feeling like I matter. A lot of mums will speak of the feeling of being taken for granted. While I don't quite feel like I'm taken for granted in our house, I do sometimes feel like I'm under appreciated. It's really nice to be back in an evironment where I'm appreciated.

On return from maternity leave I've taken 2 steps down from my previous position. So I'm now an assistant that know's how to do everything. Which has made me a bit of a commodity. It's nice to be needed.

I'm sure this feeling won't last forever and in time I won't be the shiny new toy anymore and i'll fade into the background and become part of the bump and grind and I won't get too upset when I miss bedtime, but for now, it's nice to be back.

Going Back To Work

Going back to work after maternity leave is not something to be taken lightly. Luckily for us it was something we had planned out before I even began my maternity leave but for some it isn't that easy. There are a lot of things to consider when going back to work:

1. Do you want to go back?

If I didn't have to I know I wouldn't be going back. I'd much rather be a stay at home mum, there to look after my baby every minute of the day, but unfortunately that's not financially possible for us. Well it would be if we dropped all hobbies and didn't want to leave the house ever again. We could manage on Gavin's wage alone but it's not the way we want to live. Therefor I need to go back to work, I need to earn a wage. Luckily not as much of a wage as I used to earn so I've been able to take a smaller contract at work. Before I fell pregnant I was working full time in a senior management position in a large retail store, when it came to doing the sums we realised we would need to spend money on childcare if I went back full time and it would eliminate the point in me earning extra. Going back part time meant that I would still earn a decent wage and between Gavin and I and our mothers we would be able to have childcare sorted without spending a penny. If you did decide once your maternity leave was over you didn't want to go back you don't have to pay your maternity pay back. If your employer has only paid you the statutory maternity pay while you have been off then that is your money to keep. However if they have paid you over and above the

SMP then you may be asked to pay that back if you do not return to work.

2. What do you want to go back as?
Just because you finished up in one position doesn't mean you have to go back in that same position. Now this might not be applicable to all jobs and roles but in my place of work it was straight forward enough for me to give up my original position and take a lesser contract. Is there another job you could do within the same company that would mean less hours or a smaller commute?

3. What about another job?

Before I fell pregnant my job pretty much was my life. It's a bit sad to admit that but it's true. Being in a well respected, secure job where I had great prospects was important to me. But now a job is a way to make ends meet. I don't have to love the job, it just has to pay me a wage. Therefor I don't place the same emphasis on the importance of a 'great' job. I'm sure if it paid well and fitted around my baby, I'd pretty much do anything. Luckily my current employers are being very flexible with my availability and being very considerate with the hours I'm being asked to work so I don't need to worry about looking for another job but maybe it would suit your new lifestyle more if you did.

4. Are you over-joyed about going back?
While most mums might be looking for any way to get out of going back to work you might be feeling guilty because you can't wait to go back to work. Don't worry, it doesn't make you a bad mother because you yearn for that routine, the adult company and to get dressed in something that doesn't have baby food encrusted into the sleeve, that's totally fine.

At the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your baby. Explore all the options and chose the best one for you.

Did you have anything different to consider when you went back to work?

Last Week I...

This week has been a busy one but doesn't come with a lot of photo's to show you. So here come a lot of pictures of Logan:

I started back work this week for realsies! So emotionally it was a bit of a roller coaster for me. Keep your eyes peeled this week for a more in-depth chat about my return to work appearing on the blog sometime this week. Obviously this meant I wasn't at home as much as usual.

The beginning of the week saw the snow start to disappear, we managed to get Logan out for a little play (not that he could do much) he had a little roll around till I decided it was too cold and we headed back inside.
This week he's been thinking he's the bee's knees and pulling himself up on everything. Especially the TV table. He even managed to cruise along from one side of the TV to the other but I didn't manage to get any photographic or video evidence of it.
unfortunately this week has also seen the return of the cold. Logan is all choked up again , with a horrible cough and a runny nose. Thankfully this time Calpol seems to be his new best friend and he's taking it really easily (last time it was honestly a screaming match and most of it ended up all down his clothes and smeared all over his face) So far its not quite as bad as the cold he had before Christmas and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't get much worse.
With me being back at work Gran has been down quite a bit to look after him when Gavin and I are both at work. Luckily Logan seems to think anything his Gran does is HILARIOUS so she seems to be his favourite person at the moment. Its made going back to work a lot more relaxing for me knowing that Logan's enjoying his time with his Gran. Papa even made an appearance on Saturday so Gran could do all my housework (I haven't had a chance being back at work, OK don't judge :p)
Today has been my first full day off since starting back so Logan and I have had a nice relaxing morning. Keep your eye out for a review of this Haberman Birdy Cup which we got sent this week. Now that Logan is napping I better get cracking with all these blog posts I've told you to keep your eye out for.

Don't forget to leave me any links to similar posts of what you've been up to this week. If you want to see what my best friend and book blogger Erin has been up to this week head over to Erins-Choice.blogspot.co.uk to find out.

Baby Proofing Your Home

Now that Logan is on the move it has been essential for us to baby proof our flat. The number of potential hazards within our living room alone is not worth thinking about. So I thought I would share with you a few things we thought of and how we fixed them.

1. Plug Sockets

To a baby a plug socket looks like the most fun, dark holes, switches and it's right at their eye level. Although they look fun, of course they pose a great risk of electrocution. Thankfully it's very easy to take away the risk. Most safety kits like this Lindam Home Safety Kit you can buy at Argos for £9.99 come with plastic socket plugs. Put these in all your empty sockets and the problem is removed.

2. Doors

Apart from when you occasionally catch your arm, hip or belt loop on the door handle, doors don't seem that problematic to us. However to a little one it is their barrier into another world. It is easy to keep them closed and stop your baby wandering into other areas unsupervised but it is also very easy for small fingers to get trapped. Some safety kits come with door stops** but an even less expensive way would be to hang towel over the top of the door to stop it closing.

3. Coffee Tables and Occasional Tables

Great for displaying ornaments or sitting coffee cups on but it was the first thing Logan learned to pull himself up on and we quickly learned nothing was safe. Suddenly cases and candles and picture frames had to be re-homed somewhere safer. The corners of these tables also pose a big risk. Especially when they first find their feet, little ones aren't that well balanced and it doesn't take a second for them to go from upright to careering to the floor. Add a sharp corner into the mix and you could have a very nasty scratch or a bad bump on the head or worse. Again safety kits come with plastic or Rubber corner guards but is also just as easy to sellotape cotton wool to the corners or tape rolled up towels round the corners. It may not look the greatest but it's cheap and really after baby proofing what part of your house really looks that great anymore?

4. Kitchen Cupboards and Drawers.
I found it easiest to get down onto the floor and look at the potential hazards in the kitchen. As we have a cat there were two huge hazards in our kitchen, her food and her litter tray. So we found it easiest to put a safety gate between the living room and the kitchen. But even then there are a few cupboards I want to make sure Logan can never get into. The cupboard under the sink for example is where all the cleaning products are kept, from dishwasher tablets to bleach there isn't anything in the cupboard I'd want him touching so we got these IKEA Drawer /Cabinet Catches for £2.50 that stop any tiny fingers from reaching into places they shouldn't.

5. Bookcases
Stupidly when we first moved into our flat we didn't secure our bookcase to the wall. Obviously at the time we weren't planning that far in advanced but I wish we had used to bits provided and secured it because now that I need to secure the bookcase to the wall I cant find anything to do the job. Now that Logan is pulling himself up on furniture the bookcase poses a huge problem. Its on an even floor and is well built therefor shouldn't fall easily but I sure as hell don't want to take the risk. If you have seen or no of anywhere that we could buy some sort of device? to attach a bookcase to the wall then so let me know.