Oscar's 1!

The morning of Oscar's birthday started with the usual playing with the balloons.

We messed about at breakfast time, the boys eating cake, and then Oscar opened some presents and had a play.

Lets get on with talking about Baba. Remember that was what he was called for about 2 weeks! How crazy that we couldn't name him. Poor thing.

What a year it has been!  I knew having 3 young boys would be a challenge, but wow!  It's pretty chaotic, noisy and constant work but I do love it.  Not all of it obviously.  I would love more hours in the day and more energy in my body and mind to get more things done but it is what it is.

I haven't really looked back over this year.  After Leo was born I often looked at pictures and videos from his birth but this time I suppose it wasn't what I wanted and not really the best experience in the world and I've just been too busy as you can tell from the lack of blogs!

Anyway, around Christmas 2009, Rob suggested (just after the picture below was taken) that having another with a similar age gap, would be a nice idea and so once Leo turned one, it took us 2 months of "trying" to get pregnant again.

Very shortened video of pregnancy test

I went from this...

0 weeks

to this...

12 weeks

then this...

20 weeks

...and finally this.

39 weeks

After it was discovered that the little bugger was breech, I went in to have a ECV (External cephalic version.) to turn him around. They wouldn't even attempt it as his cord was around his neck so I was booked in for a c-section on the 10th March.

D Day!

Still the wrong way around!

Final bump pic!

After some trouble getting me numbed up, and what seemed liked forever, he was born!  I can't find what time he was born! I need to get that.

After a short time in recovery we made it to the ward where we were in the bed opposite the bed I was in with Leo.

Rob came in with the boys but we didn't manage to get a full family picture as it was quite hectic and they didn't stay long, sadly.

Again I had to stay in hospital for a number of days to treat an unknown infection in Baba.  It's almost a blessing in disguise though as I got to rest and recover which was the best thing for me because as soon as I got home it was mental!

Just arrived home and Leo is licking everyone!

Family of 5!

I again tried to take monthly pictures of my baby which I pretty much managed but diary entries are few and far between unfortunately.  Here they are.

This is Leo at 1.

And Ellis at 1.

The boys

I love my boys so much I could burst.  They are my life, and always will be.  Love you babas. xxx

I did a one year video diary too.

After some more playing, I decided that it would be good to get some fresh air, so we decided to go out for a walk and a quick stop in the park.

We started off by walking along the cycle path for a while and went out on to a bridge over a main road.

Then we had a bit of a play in the park.

Back at home we sang Happy Birthday and the boys helped to blow out the candle.

Oscar received some lovely gifts and cards.  Thank you everyone.  I have done thank you letters but haven't sent them quite yet.

The day ended up being quite successful and it was finished off with a lovely play time in the bath.

The next day Rob was working so the boys and I just chilled out at home, making a mess and having fun.

 

The Highway Rat

World book day arrived and I was eager to start the process of changing Ellis into the Highway Rat.  I didn't know how long it was all going to take and I did manage to get it done quite quickly so he had to wait a while before he could show everyone, and I was just jumping on him every 2 seconds to stop him from licking his lips, rubbing his nose etc.

Okay, so to start with I put on his purple leggings, which now had a tail attached thanks to Charlotte, made from pink tights stuffed with foam.  Then he had his black boots on that had felt extensions, again thanks to Charlotte.  Chloe's t-shirt was next followed by the now amended white top, which my Mum and taken in, shortened, adjusted the neckline and sleeves, and added elastic to make the cuffs.  Thanks again Mum, you did a wicked job.

I then did his face painting and I think it turned out quite good.  He was really good and sat nicely for me.

The final touches were a belt, with attached sword and sheath, a cape, loaned from Auntie Karen, thank you, and my hat I had painted 4 times with different black paints, carefully painted on gold glitter glue around the edges and went late afternoon shopping with 2 children to get a feather for.  I was very pleased with the result and thankful for my friends and family helping me out.  Don't worry it won't be happening again any time soon!

Dropping him off at school was fun.  Everyone was dressed up and they were all buzzing with excitement.  They all thought he was Puss in Boots though!  Haha.  I don't mind.  The Highway Rat is a relatively new book out, written by the same author that wrote The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson.

Feeling left out Leo wanted to do some face painting.  I let him have a go at me and then he let me do him too which is amazing as he was freaking out to start with.  Unfortunately it would seem, surprisingly, that I don't have a picture of him.  Anyway, this is me, and I went to collect Ellis from school with it still on, cause I'm silly like that.

Later that afternoon, Ellis went back to school in his pyjamas and slippers, with his cuddly rabbit for hot chocolate and story time.  He loved it but really didn't understand it all.

I scrub up alright though I think, even if my hair colour went a bit wrong that day.

I had a really nice night out on the town.  Drank enough to be falling about but not ill which is perfect!  Sophie cooked a lush fry up the following morning.

My boys and I chilling at home and having a pyjama day, which doesn't actually happen that much anymore.

Oscar's turn to be ill.  Ellis was playing on the Wii and he came into the kitchen to tell me that there was a smell of sick in the living room.  I went in and it was everywhere!  Oscar had vomited under and around the television, then crawled in it and left a trail around the rug and across the living room!  Yuck!  His nappies were not good either.

He wasn't very well for a few days and I just knew I had to cancel his tea party and then his birthday party.  I was really sad and even shed a few tears about it.  I know that he doesn't care either way but it isn't the point.

I think maybe to cheer me up my hubby came home with some lovely flowers and a chocolate bar. A very nice surprise.

I stayed up really late to make sure that I did the same thing for Oscar as I had done for the other boys.