Alexandra Elizabeth: Month Two

Dearest Alexandra,

Another month flies by! This was truly a time characterised by extreme highs and lows.

Christmas was a relaxed affair with the family. You were doted on by the regular cast & crew, and in particular, by your great-grandmother Dorothy, who loved her cuddle times with you and marvelled over your soft skin and tiny fingers and toes. Cousin Kate, who has just turned 5, was rather non-plussed that you were either sleeping, crying or feeding; she just wanted to play with you! I have warned her that in a few months’ time, you’ll be chasing after her and acting like her shadow!

Half way through Christmas lunch, you decided you were hungry too. So you fed… and fed.. and fed. And then, projectile vomited all over my LBD. It was such a great shot that you literally covered me from head to toe. I had to have a shower. And I missed the pudding! Thanks so much for that

After Christmas we had some visitors, who arrived with festive cheer and left us with a parting gift of a nasty gastro bug. Oh joy! I was particularly sick and very weak from dehydration. I’m not sure if it was that you sensed something was wrong or it was just great timing, but you were a little angel and allowed me to sleep a lot and really only disturb me for feeds. Miraculously, you seemed relatively unscathed by the bug. Unfortunately because of the disruption to my milk flow I ended up with mastitis. This combined with recovering from the bug, meant cancelled NYE plans and a very expensive visit to the GP on 1 January for some anti-biotics. To say we were a miserable (and lethargic lot) at Chateau Sassiest is a bit of an understatement. Let’s not repeat that kind of start to the new year in 2013!

You also endured your first lot of vaccinations since the hospital. I think we were probably more traumatised than you. The needles came out and jabbed at your chubby little thighs. You screamed blue murder but after we whisked you away for a feed, you quickly calmed down. I am so relieved that your Daddy was there with me. I’m insisting that he attend all future appointments too. I need the moral support!

But the good bits. Oh the good bits! You are so much more awake now our little poppet. I’m greeted from your sleeps with the loveliest of smiles which just melt my heart. If I pull faces and tease you by circling around your nose and then making funny noises when I land my finger on it, I get a few “almost” laughs – a bit of a “heh heh” noise emerges, but we haven’t got to full-blown giggles yet. Can’t wait for that! When you are over a particular game, you just turn your head. Rejection can be tough, but at least there are no mixed messages!

Your favourite toys seem to be a set of good-old plastic activity rings and anything that squeaks. This includes the lovely owl that Matt and Jaime gave you and a pink bunny rattle. You also love checking yourself out in the mirror that hangs above you on the activity mat. You sit and smile at the “face” with a look as if to say “who IS that gorgeous looking person?”. It’s so utterly sweet and innocent – it will be so amusing when you finally work out that the face is in fact YOURS!

To round out the month, you’ve found your voice and become quite the conversationalist (is it really a surprise, given your genetics?!) You love having chats with your Daddy. In fact, the first time that this happened, we were both so overcome with delight, that I may or may not have had a cry, and your father may or may not have admitted to a tear welling in the eyes. It was just TDC (“too darn cute” – a favourite saying of your Dad’s) for words!

Onwards and upwards to Month Three our darling-heart!

Izzy made you a stocking and bought you some decorations

Your fave toys

Daddy's idea of looking after you - glass of pinot in hand!

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