Gina Ford's contented little baby book

This is the second baby that V has tried to use the Gina Ford 'bible' to sort out a routine for the new addition .

The baby may become contented BUT how come it turns the mother into some demented obsessive who goes mad if the baby is not feeding at exactly 10.30 pm or awake when the book says he should be asleep?

The carvery conundrum

So, we went out to lunch yesterday at a lovely pub in the New Forest.

You know the sort: all low beams and roaring log fires. Victoria and I had the carvery and that left the question what to do with Ollie's food. We wanted him to have a roast but they charge six quid for a kid's portion. Now , I am not being tight but I don't want to pay six quid for a two year old's meal. We did the obvious thing then and created him a little meal off our plates.
It worked out fine but the pub obviously don't like this happening as getting a side plate off them to serve Ol's meal was like pulling teeth...

Kids's bedtime tricks- they will do ANYTHING to stay up

Ollie is starting to pull every trick out of the book nowadays. Tonight he wanted the same little book read over and over: I had to draw a line at the fourth time. I talk a lot but even I get fed up of listening to my own voice.

What is the best thing to do.....

Am I the only one who is or has been in this situation (i am sure I am not) but I find myself in an awful quandary every night.

I have been back at work ever since Josh arrived basically and so the early mornings are still there as I travel around the UK.

Tor is obviously up in the night feeding Josh and as she is breast feeding, it isn't really something I can help with. I can't help feeling guilty that I am sleeping while she is awake with the baby but there isn't much I can do and ultimately, Victoria can sleep on past 5am when I get up.

Should I be doing more or is this just the way it is?...

Wow, I cannot believe how different it is having two kids

I knew it would be different but is is bonkers

The whole situation may have been complicated due to me going back to work for a few days this week but I am knackered.

If I am not winding Josh or changing his nappy, I am keeping Ollie entertained, walking the dog, cleaning, washing, cooking or generally running around.

Tor meanwhile has pretty much been feeding incessantly- little Josh is an eating machine. He might be little now but he obviously doesn't intend to stay that way as he is loving the gold top!

Good fun tonight though- me and Ollie had Josh in the bath with us for the first time. O
Lie was really good and didn't splash (for once)while Josh must have liked being in there as he cried before and then cried when he got out.

Tomorrow we go to register the birth and are chancing taking both the boys out for lunch.

At last, he's here. Joshua James Levi arrived last night

8lb 1oz and he and mum are doing well now.

A few complications for mum meant a few scary moments but the hospital staff were amazing. I didn't think watching could be so traumatic though

Big day today (hopefully)

So, here we are. Ollie and Baz safely at grandparents and a small fortune in the hospital car park later, we are on a maternity ward waiting for the induction process to get started.

We have just had the process explained:

Step one. Orders lunch (not for me- I will be crossing the road to the garage)
Step two. Monitors heartbeat for half an hour
Step three. Pessary inserted (sounds lovely)
Step four. Free time (go and wander off for a while...eh?)
step five. Six hours later something might happen or repeat process again

Feels like it is going to be a VERY long day

One massive contraction in the middle of the night- here we go?....Nope

Frustrating?......Yes

Ollie decided the fireworks were a bit bright and took appropriate action

Ollie's attire for Bonfire Night

Make Xmas that bit more affordable: fantastic Asda toy event!

http://direct.asda.com/Mix-Match-any-2-for-%C2%A320/50100,default,sc.html

Eight days late and still no sign of baby. Yesterday brought an interesting experience

Victoria had another stretch and sweep yesterday and I got "lucky" enough to watch.

It reminded me of the tv programme 'All Creatures Great and Small' that mum used to watch. Those of you who can remember it will be able to picture the (fairly regular) scenes that saw the vet James Herriott put on his rubber glove, slide his hand up a cow's backside and wangle it around describing what he felt as he went.

The midwife yesterday performed a very similar turn. It must have been pretty uncomfortable to say the least for Victoria. I didn't enjoy the exeperience much either as, aside from watching this being performed on the one I love, I was getting vivid flashbacks to my recent prostrate examination ( Gents, if you haven't had one yet, this is not one of the good things about getting older).

Anyway, she is 2cm dilated, the baby's head is in the right position and there are mild twinges in the right area this morning so fingers crossed for today....

I took Ollie to his Musical Steps class today; might have been fun but for the fact that he was in an almighty strop

I am not sure that singing and dancing is for me (I know it is not) but never really got to find out as I spent the whole class trying to coax him into doing something that wasn't crying, shouting or doing the opposite of what the class leader was asking the kids to do

I am sure all those mums were mightily impressed by my parenting expertise...not

http://www.musicalsteps.co.uk/

Nesting overload- Victoria's frustration at late baby turned into manic redesign of lounge last night; help me; this cannot go on...

Everything got moved- sofa's chairs, cabinets

Put it here, no there, no, still not happy; over there

I am sure that was more tiring for me than labour will be for her- maybe that is what it was all about? Who knows, just let that baby be here soon!

Still no arrival.Victoria is now having acupuncture while drinking pineapple juice sitting on a birth ball

Thanks to David and Alex for the birthing ball and stairs suggestion. The ball has only been used to relive uncomfortableness up to now!

Yesterday Victoria went to the midwife and ended up walking like a cowboy after a membrane sweep- very uncomfortable I am told...

Today it has been a visit to Dr China and some acupuncture

Tomorrow, who knows but trust me, we will get through this list pretty sharpish:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/planningyourbabysbirth/naturalbringonlabour/

Wife is joining a club called Breast Buddies. I bet it's not the same ones I saw on the internet.....

So, we've tried sex and Victoria won't eat hot curry- what else speeds up an overdue baby please?