THEO | 10 MONTHS

Happy 10 months (and Happy Halloween! Which is why we've got a little dressed up for this months baby spam!) I cannot believe in 2 months time I will have a 1 year old...holy mother of god. I'm going to keep the intro short and sweet and crack on with the main event.

THEO | 9 MONTHS

*Ok so I've had this post written up for almost a month and it seemed a shame to not post it even though he's almost 10 months so here it is.

It's been a busy month since I last posted anything at all. Theo and I are now settled into our new home and our new life as a duo. A lot has changed since his 7 month update - yes I skipped month 8, lets just brush over that one - with Theo as well as in our lives and every day is amazing watching him learn and grow! Apart from the lack of sleep, that bit isn't so amazing! Oh and the tantrums.

THEO | 7 MONTHS (A VERY LATE UPDATE)

How is the time going so quickly! I'm pretty sure if I'm not careful I'll blink and he will be passing his driving test or something! Thankfully we've still got 5 more months left until reality kicks in - which I plan on making the most of once we've moved! Which I would like to say is the reason this post is so late! Packing URGH! This month we've been a grumpy bugger because we're most likely approaching some kind of leap or we are busy pushing teeth through and we've tested our strength by falling off the bed and the sofa - it happens to the best of us doesn't it...?

ADJUSTING TO LIFE AS TWO SEPARATE PARENTS

Most people don't plan to be "single parents" but let's just get down to it. Our Mummy/Daddy unit has separated. Theo's Dad has moved back to his parents and I am currently in the process of moving back to my home town. Our relationship is broken and currently will not be fixed. However that isn't the main thing. No longer am I in a position where I can wallow about lost time with ice cream or go out and get shit faced to drown my sorrows. We have Theo. And his happiness comes first.

CO-SLEEPING JUST ISN'T FOR US

Last month, I had the fright of my life. I woke up to a blood curdling scream coming from Theo's room. I ran into his bedroom expecting there to be an axe murderer standing over him but no....just him, fast asleep and screaming. After this I completely panicked and cuddled him to sleep in our bed. Once he was asleep I came to the realisation that I had snuggled us so close that it was going to be impossible to remove him without upsetting him so I decided for the first time ever, to let him sleep in our bed overnight. So there we were, three of us (plus the dog on occasion) in our double bed. This then continued for the next few weeks on and off. Never again!

THEO | 6 MONTHS

I refuse to believe that my little squidgy came into the world 6 months ago! I won't get too mushy (I'll save that for his 1st birthday) but it still feels like a bit of a milestone. 6 months is sort of when they are viewed as actually babies as opposed to cuddly newborns - as shown by the pictures because he will no longer sit nicely for photos! Now they are rolling and sitting and babbling! They are officially starting to become their own little person! Where's my tiny baby at! No wonder people get broody again!

THE EDEN PROJECT - A PUSHCHAIR FRIENDLY DAY OUT

Can you even go to Cornwall and not go to The Eden Project!? I don't think so! It's a proper family day out! Now I'm not particularly environmentally friendly or anything but I just think it's lovely to look around. But isn't it more for school age children than babies? Nope! It isn't! We took Theo with us on our visit and here's how we got on.

THEO | 5 MONTHS

We're a tad late as I had a hell of a lot of washing to do when we came back from our holiday - who knew babies needed so many clothes aye! Theo is now 5 months old and is definitely no longer my squidgy little newborn!

OUR TRIP TO CORNWALL AND THEO'S FIRST HOLIDAY

We're back!! Well we were back on Friday but it's taken me all weekend to wash all the holiday clothes and everything. It's hard to believe that such a tiny little person takes up so much room in a suitcase! I loved having some time away at the seaside and Theo's Dad got to spend some quality time with Theo for probably the first time since Paternity Leave. So here you go, a peak into our first little family holiday.

THEO | 4 MONTHS

My god it's been a long month...but in a good way. Looking back on my last post from Theo's 3 month update to now is crazy! My little premie baby is turning into an actual little person...and a cheeky one at that! Stop growing munchkin! So here we have a quick update on how we're getting on at 4 months old! The photo's are a little bit crap because like an idiot I took then the day after his 3rd set of jabs and wouldn't even look at the camera - SPOILER ALERT: They are a life ruiner!!

OUR HOMEMADE MILK BATH PHOTOSHOOT

This horrible windy morning we decided to do something a little bit creative. I saw this idea on Kirsty's blog a few months ago - check out her post here! - where she accidentally stained her little boy yellow but did get some beautiful canvas worthy photo's. Basically the popular Pinterest practice consists of plonking your baby in a bath full of milk (formula powder, not the milk for your tea) with some flowers. Even after reading her traumatic experience I still wanted to give it a go so armed with her words of wisdom, we we're ready to do this and this, is how we got on!

JESS TALKS: PARKING SPACE NOBS

When we first had Theo, the first big place we went to was Mothercare. He was a teeny tiny baby who had virtually no clothes that fit so off we popped. We were that used to parking in normal spaces that we drove around that car park for 5 minutes looking for a space until I realised...we have a baby now, we can park in the parent and baby spaces. Our lives were changed forever. However with this luxury of actually being able to get your car seat out of your car without scuffing the neighbours bodywork, comes great anger when someone who has been a parent for the last decade or more pulls into the only space available. I know it's petty and I shouldn't care but it just bugs me, ok!

THE START OF TEETHING: SPOTTING THE SIGNS & HOW TO COPE

Over the last few weeks we've been umm'ing and arr'ing over whether Theo is actually teething - after all he is only 3 months old. The dribbling, the irritability and the sudden awkwardness when it comes to sleeping and eating were dismissed by health visitors and random strangers alike. Until they saw him in person. My usual happy chappy can turn into the devil child in a matter of seconds and nothing settles him. It's bloody heartbreaking - and bloody hard work!

THIS WEEK I'M A BAD MUM: VOL 1

HAPPY FRIDAY! I fancied creating a regular segment that wasn't all sweetness and light because you know what, parenting isn't easy! Especially when your a first timer and your completely winging it - but isn't that part of the fun! So I've came up with this - posts listing all the reasons this week why I'm a terrible mother. It sounds harsh but in reality it's mostly tongue in cheek because personally I think I'm an epic mother....but still very, very true. This week was a particularly bad week, I've had a fair few down days and I've really struggled and here ladies and gents is why this week, I'm a bad Mum.

JESS TALKS: MAKING MUMMY FRIENDS

I've never been the greatest at making new friends, aside from being drunk in the ladies loo's ofcourse. I'm awkward and I'm just a bit antisocial. I enjoy leaving the house but I also enjoy lying in bed doing absolutely sod all. It's no surprise to me when I attend baby groups that although I natter along with various different Mums from all walks of life I don't come away with any ever lasting friendships. And that's part of the problem I think - I'm looking for commitment.

THEO | 12 WEEKS/3 MONTHS

So we're a tad late with the update. Theo was 13 weeks on Saturday but we didn't get him weighed until today and I thought I'd make it more a 3 months update rather that 12 weeks (the milestone cards don't have a 3 months so we will have to stick with 12 weeks for now...) but anyway I'm babbling. We've currently started baby massage AND baby sensory classes and to be honest I've been choosing sleep over nearly everything over the last few weeks - eating, blogging, even showering! - so we've been a little distant. Thankfully milestone can now be switched to monthly (3 months just seems a nice round timescales don't you think). I want to just apologise for the crappy lighting and Theo's lack of enthusiasm in the photo's but I suppose he can't be perfect all the time!

5 WAYS TO COPE AFTER YOUR C-SECTION

Birth is said to be a magical thing but sometimes non vaginal births get a bad reputation - yes, I used the word 'vaginal' in the first sentence...its that kind of post! - but cesareans are pretty brutal! "Natural" births are a hell of lot longer than a quick slice and dice but are they any less painful? I think not! From all that bending to being left with a chubby little pooch, it isn't a walk in the park. Now I don't want to focus on the good and the bad more so on how to get through to the light at the end of that tunnel.

THEO | 10 WEEKS OLD

A lot changes in 2 weeks! Last week our little monster had his first jabs and took them like a trooper and seems to of had a bit of a growth spurt - mentally and physically! Moving on to Theo's 10 week update. I've tried to give it a little bit more structure as he's now doing a hell of a lot more than just sleeping and eating!

ACCEPTING MY POST NATAL PODGE

I've never been one to swan around in tiny bikinis or crop tops and I certainly haven't been anywhere near anything less than a size 14 in the last 12 years but still I knew my post baby body would be an issue. I can hack only functioning on 2 hours sleep and the screaming colic but what I always knew would let me down was my own self esteem. Every time I look in the mirror or try and get dressed that familiar pang of disgust hits me and it's hard to keep my head above water. Last week it got so overwhelming I ordered a new sports bra and ran to the gym to sign up because I needed to shift this excess weight. Although I have only been once so there might be a flaw in the system there.

6 THINGS I'VE LEARNT ON MY FIRST NIGHT OUT AS A MUMMY

If any of you knew me pre-settling down, I loved a good knee's up. Not much has changed over the last year apart from the fact I have been gagging for a celebratory outing with my best girl. Being pregnant and missing your birthday, Christmas and your engagement is just all a little bit underwhelming when you can't get a little bit merry now and again. So this weekend I dusted off the cobwebs from my heels and prepared to dance until dawn and this is what I learnt.

ALL ABOUT THE HYPE | EWAN THE DREAM SHEEP

 

After the last installment of "All about the hype" - you can read my review on the covetted Perfect Prep Machine here - we move on to the next product in this series: Ewan the Dream Sheep. This little ball of fluff has been praised for helping aid babies sleep - as well as their parents - and who wouldn't want that! There are many different varieties of "bedtime womb noise" toys out their but Ewan seems to be the most commercially known. With his fluffy body and strap tail he makes a great addition to any babies bedroom - or pushchair! Retailing at £29.99 he doesn't really break the bank and isn't the most expensive of sleep aids and yes he's undoubtedly cute, but does he actually work miracles?

THEO | 8 WEEKS OLD

I cannot believe this little munchkin has been in the world for 8 weeks, that's almost 2 months! Crazy! This is our first update post as I didn't get the milestone cards until he was around a month old and then the colic kicked in and it was all a little bit chaotic.

CATCH UP | WHY I'M FEELING A LITTLE CHEATED...

My last post was over a month ago which is a little bit sad as I've tried to finish various posts and have missed out on a month of Theo's development and sharing it with the world. The reason I've been gone for so long is partially down to lack of sleep and a little colic monster but also because I've been stuck in a bit of a rut. I don't want to go anywhere or really do anything, I just want to sleep and stay in my little bubble - preferably on the sofa watching films. If I'm being completely honest with myself I think I've got a little bit of post natal depression and the reason I think this is isn't due to the lack of sleep or slightly and occasionally useless Daddy - it's because I still feel a little bit cheated.

ALL ABOUT THE HYPE | TOMMEE TIPPEE PERFECT PREP MACHINE

There are an array of products to chose from when it comes to kitting out your life ready for the arrival of your new addition. There are also a selection of coveted goodies which are considered essentials to making your baby raising experience a hell of a lot easier. As a first time Mum I can safely say I am a sucker for any products that make life better and more convenient but when it comes down to it, are these pricey pieces actually worth the hype? Over the next few weeks I'll be filling in the gaps as to what I think to the top selling baby products and if they are really as good as they say.

THEO'S FIRST WEEKS | QUICK CATCH UP

This weekend was Theo's 2 week birthday and also marked what would of been our 38th week of pregnancy. The last couple of weeks have been delightfully chaotic with last week being our first week at home fending for our selves after a full week in hospital. Due to this I've not really had a lot of time to even entertain the idea of writing a post so this will generally just be a bit of a catch up of the last few weeks with our new family unit of four. Plus I've jam packed it full of some of the many pictures I've taken! Who doesn't love a bit of baby spam!

THEO'S BIRTH STORY

As you may of seen, our little baby boy sprung into the world a week ago today on New Year's Eve and it's been a bit of hectic one since. He is finally here and a today we were finally allowed to come home - But how did this little bundle of goodness enter the world I hear you ask. Well as all good birth story's start, grab a cup of tea and you'll find out!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD | THEODORE RYAN INSLEY-NEWSTEAD

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! If you follow my personal Instagram account you may of noticed a slight change in content...instead of hospital food and takeaways there is now in fact copious amounts of baby pictures! But who is this little munchkin you may ask. Well we would like to properly introduce Mr Theodore Ryan Newstead to the world.