13 months; juggle, juggle and stomach flu'

Harris is 13 months! He's cruising everywhere and walking with a walker, holding on with 1 hand and has stood on his own a few times but I think we still have at least a few more weeks until he becomes a toddler! You don't forget how busy they are at this age, but he is really reminding me - warp speed crawling and into everything. I sometimes wonder why I bother clearing away toys! The 2 jobs that HAVE to be done in my house sweeping the kitchen floor post meal and hoovering the living room carpet as Harris is almost as bad as putting things in his mouth as Murray was. Thankfully though he doesn't seem quite as keen on sand as Murray. I sometimes think I'd be more successful putting Harris' dinner on the floor as he loves finding scraps! Actually he's a pretty good eater, but if he doesn't like something - boy do you know about it! LOL! He's such a fab wee thing, but I know he's going to be strong willed! No bad thing in life quite frankly, but just like with Murray, I've got my work cut out!

Life is a mega juggle at mo. My course is fantastic - I'm really enjoying it, but it is full on and I'm really having to work hard at getting time to study. It's best if I'm out of house already and get to stay out for extra hour or something - eg: go to the gym first thing and do an hour of study before going home or it just doesn't happen. I do have a major attack of the guilts though as I'm back at work too and helping out with preschool as it is really needed as we are a tiny group and need to self fund. Murray has struggled a little with being out 3 mornings, so I'm really trying to make time for 1-1 activities when H sleeps, but as Harris is dropping down to once a day that is going to start getting trickier. I think I'm going to try and pen into the diary specific 1-1 time at weekend or if my mum comes up as she can play with Harris. Problem is, Murray being 3 wants it all, so wants to be with mum too! LOL! He's really pushing for extra this and extra that at mo. His behaviour in general is pretty good (usually know when he is coming down with a bug, because it gets proper grotty) especially when we remember to simply use '1,2,3,magic' but we are getting a lot, just one more play, just another dvd and mummy play with me even when you've been playing for quite a while and are about to drown in dirty dishes. Ah well - he's 3 and mostly I'm happy to do things with him, but sometimes he has to play on his own - I insist!

Al and I got a night and day away on Sat night - settled boys first and stayed in a local hotel. We were so looking fwd to it, but I was pretty poorly on the Sat getting everything ready. Managed to enjoy a nice meal, but Al woke grotty on Sunday. As we had a late check out to 1 we got some rest in peace and felt well enough for lunch and a walk. Bad mistake one or other or both tipped us into stomach flu' and we were both vomiting Sunday night - not what we had hoped for at all!!!!! I'd forgotten how hideous it is when we are both sick - somehow I managed to get Murray to preschool and 'play' with Harris until my mum arrived to help me out. I thought H wasn't going to nap and I nearly cried, but some rocking and shhhsshing put him over - I really didn't care if he didn't self soothe yesterday - just as long as he slept so I could rest before mum brought home M from Preschool. I think the worst thing about yesterday was fixing the kids food - boke! It took a good week to get over that bug I barely ate for 4 days! Lucozade orange, thank you! Being sick with young kids is completely crap!

Anyhoo, I feel the need for a pic update:

In my new pop up tent on my birthday!

Opening presents 'with' mummy and Murray.

My yummy Birthday cake made by mummy.

At Auchingarrich on my birthday - I wasn't feeling tip top, but I tried to have fun!

My Birthday Champagne, cake and nibbles.

Mummy bringing me cake - I was feeling pretty awful by now, but it looked pretty, mummy!

At the Hydro enjoying the slide.

This pic is hilarious - Al took this from the upstairs landing - you'll note Murray having a tantrum about having to come inside! Too funny - family life!

I climb over and uo anybody or anything - just as crazy as my big bro apparently!

I love to cause hovoc wherever I go - the tupperware always has to be pulled out!

Loking cute at Nanna and Grandcha's

On a walk with Murray and Daddy while Mummy massages Nanna.

Out for lunch for Daddy's Birthday

Having fun on the ride on toys (no movement as mummy never has any pennies) while Daddy buys new jeans for his birthday.

Playing with big bro - he sure does hate it when I pull up track!

Awwwwwwww!

Mummy and daddy's hotel room (bonus free upgrade) - so wished we hadn't felt awful!

Fly- Harris at new park in Perth

Such a beautiful pic of Murray

The pen is back - Mummy is not impressed thsat she can't get to the loo, or thatI pull all toys out of their boxes just after she's put them back when we're trying to get out!

Cutie pie!

Harris' 1st Birthday!

My baby boy, Harris turned 1 today! I just don't know where the past year has gone - it seems like the blink of an eye.

Such a bitter sweet day - no more mummy milk for him - I made exclusive bf until 10.5 months when I swapped his pm feed to formula while feeding am and night. Then when I went back to work at 11.5 months I swapped the night feed for formula so Al could feed him at bed time while I was at work and today at 1 year I stopped the mummy milk bar. I say I stopped, but It has been fairly obvious that the past few days were not cutting it as he was a v v hungry boy not long after! I'm v proud of myself. I find bf hard work and I never felt entirely comfortable with public feeding even though I just got on with it. I love the cuddles in my home especially when Murray was being entertained and I love that it has cost me next to nothing and that he's had great nutrition for his 1st year. It has helped me feel better about having to swap Murray at 3 months as feeding Harris is how feeding should be - hard work/time consuming but loving and pain free and has helped me to understand that feeding Murray was the polar opposite - excruciatingly painful and even more exhausting due to sheer amount that would be thrown back up. I gave myself such a hard time about it with Murray and it has been nice to have the comparison. I'm v much pro bf if it is for you, but am a strong believer that if it is not, then that is absolutely OK and that no guilt/ pressure should be put on you. Most mothers do that quite well enough for themselves thank you v much! My cuddles with Murray at bottle time were so beautiful in comparison to the flesh tearing struggles my poor in pain boy and I had.

Harris has a nice bed time routine now - lullaby music while he has his milk and a cuddle and then lie down, music off and off he drops. I've been using the music to help relaxation at nap times too and (touch wood) it seems to be helping. He even went back down at 4am the other day courtesy of the music - hoorah! Fingers crossed it helps in the night if needed again!

It's been such a lovely day - Harris slept to 6am and Murray to 7.15am! Late, late, late in our household! When Murray woke up he immediately sang 'Happy Birthday' to Harris! Too cute. We opened a few presents including Murray's to Harris and Harris' toy to Murray for being such a lovely big bro'!
After breaky we went swimming in Perth with my folks and my sister and my nephew. It was great fun. All the boys loved it as did my folks. Dad then treated us all to lunch before we all headed off as the kids were shattered from their swim!
When we got home we went straight over to the Bird House Bakery in the village for coffee and cake (kids were too tired to stay any longer at lunch) which was really lovely.
When we got home we opened the rest of our presents to Harris and from friends which was great fun for Murray LOL!
We will do the rest of family on Saturday which is quite nice as it can be a bit much to do in 1 go.
Tomorrow Al's folks arrive and then on Saturday we (Al's folks; my folks; my sis, bro in law and baby Benjamin and our crew) are all going to Auchingarrich animal park for a play, lunch and a bit more play before heading home for coffee, cake and presents. I've done a buffet lunch for Murray's 1st/2nd birthdays and boys' Baptisms and I must say I'm looking fwd to a meal being put in front of me rather than the other way around!

Here are some lovely little pics to make you smile:

Mummy and Harris snuggled on the postnatal ward

Family Nicholl

Harris hours old

Harris 1 Year Old Playing his Piano and Feeling V Pleased with Himself!

Murray's First Running Race and Back to work and 11.5months!

Murray did his first running race today. He was a wee star. It was 800m (0.5 mile) and he ran pretty much the whole way. He was flagging a little bit towards the end, but I reminded him of the wee bag of sweeties he'd get and his pace fair pick up again. I was sooo proud of him because he wasn't sure about doing it and was saying no at first, but Al explained he would get to go through the finish gantry and that seemed to tip the balance to giving it a go. Harris joined in too, albeit in the buggy! It was 2 laps too and I think he did amazingly well to go round again even though he was tired.

Here he is with his certificate:

Murray is so fun and funny at the mo'. He loves to sing ALL the time and he makes me laugh as he changes the lyrics and makes them fit into the song. Here is a prime example:

Bob the Builder,
Can he fix it,
Bob the Builder,
No he can't, coz he's lost his tools!

Too funny!

Back to Work I Go!

I started back to work on Monday. I am working for Fiona at Kip McGrath, Stirling which is a tutoring centre like I owned, but closer to home and it is nice to be teaching without the responsibility of staff and payroll etc.
Wow, I forgot what a juggle it is to get ready and get out the door to work all while leaving snacks, nap times and meals for parents/hubby to do and all with a toddler chewing your ear off and a baby crawling everywhere, plling out things from your work bag etc! I also forgot how hard it is at work after a rough night, but was v quickly re- introduced to this as Harris was up between 3 and 5.30 teething on Monday!
At the mo' I'm covering a tutor who is on hol and then covering Fiona herself while she is away, but come Mid Nov, I will have a regular Thursday and build up a regular Tuesday. This means Murray can go to Preschool Mon, Wed, Fri and I can spend time with him on Tues/Thursday am before heading to work in the afternoon.
It is nice to use my brain in a different way and maintain my professional skills. I am shattered now though. Somewhere I need to squeeze in some study for my massage -prb shouldn't be blogging - although I did get an hour done this am while H napped and M was at Preschool!

11.5 Months

Harris is 11.5 months and pulling up to standing and can now get back down again, although that took a few days to master, complete with yelps of frustration! He's so sweet crawling about and standing at his wee piano and dancing to the beat!

A lovely family pic:

We have a crawler!

Harris crawled for the first time on Tuesday of this week (3rd September) at 10.5 months - not long after Murray who was just before 10 months. The big difference though is that Harris really got crawling trying to chase the hoover! Murray would crawled in the opposite direction! LOL!

Well done my clever little Harris! He's still quite slow at mo, but I reckon by next week I'll be back on the run!

Next post, I must write down some of the gems of chats Murray and I have - he is hilarious. Also, he is now able to dress himself bar buttons/poppers and I tend to place his t-shirt on his head so he can pull it down. He needs to be reminded to remember pants first,then trousers! LOL, but he can do socks and everything. He has to make his bed and put his jammies under his pillow in the am and after meals he has to load his dishes in the dish washer or at the sink if the dishwasher needs emptied! I love the getting dressed thing as I can put Harris in the travel cot and go get a shower while Murray gets on with getting dressed! Perfect! Stops me from taking over and keeps him on task! V proud of my wee boy though, he's doing great!

Murray's First Morning at Preschool - 19th August 2013

Murray started Preschool in the village today. It was lovely to be able to walk him there rather than put everyone in the car.

Here's a pic of him before we left:

And arriving:

He had a fantastic time and didn't want to come home! Clever, confident boy - well done! Mummy is very proud!

Summer Holiday at Cloughey and Harris'first tooth.

For the first time in 3 years we took our longest holiday. We've only taken long weekends or maybe 5 days, but this summer, courtesy of Al's cousin Emma, we were able to take a longer holiday as we were able to use her caravan. His Aunty Jane has a caravan at the same site and was taking her holiday there at the same time. As she is a childminder, it was great fun as she just loves kids and was happy to help out with the kids loads.Her caravan was literally just off the beach, so we could walk down from ours and still have a shower after and somewhere to snack/coffee. Our caravan was fab too as it had a fully enclosed fenced in garden so Murray could head out to play safely at any time while we were in the caravan.

The enclosed garden.

The path where Murray could cycle

We were also in a line of about 6 caravans with a wee path in front of then that was safe to let Murray bike up and down on his own providing he didn't go any further. It was so lovely to give him that freedom and trust and he didn't let us down. He also got really good on his balance bike.

As the site is in N. Ireland and about 1.5 hours drive from Al's folks' house, they were able to visit at the campsite or meet us on a day out and see lots of the kids. Murray loved going on the ferry to get to N. Ireland, the campsite, the rock pools the water, the jelly fish (although he knew not to touch), the crabs. As Cloughey is on a peninsula with the Sea on one side and a Sea Loch (or Lough as it's spelled in N. Ireland) on the other side, it felt like we were on a mini island, especially as we got the little ferry a couple of times to go on day trips.

Walking down to look at the little ferry that we would catch the next day with Fireman Murray!

Ont the ferry, sitting in our car.

So fun. Harris seemed to enjoy it all too and really developed as well - no longer sitting in one place - constantly face planting and now he is trying to tuck his legs up to crawl, but can't quite connect the dots. He can take his time as far as I'm concerned!

We were so lucky. Before we went on holiday, we were really lucky to enjoy a solid 2 week spell of fantastic weather and while we were in Cloughey the weather broke here, but was beautiful where we were, so I feel like I've had 3 solid weeks of heat and sun and it is v v gratefully received. Shorts and vests are so lovely to wear everyday. After the past few years of dreadful summers, it has been so lovely to feel like we've been abroad!

We basically spent the week at the beach, but had 2 day trips out to family parks. The first had a bunch of toy tractors and the second had a great park and a miniature railway (a big hit with everyone!).

Lunch time!

Tractor fun!

Our second day trip - this time with grandma and grandad.

Love this pic of my handsome baby boy!

On the miniature railway.

Al got out running and I got out on my road bike which was fab - I really enjoyed it as it has been nearly 2 years! I used my cleats for the first time and sort of got the hang of them. I was on v quiet rds and I'm not sure I'd enjoy being on busy rds/ town, but they def do help with efficiency. The freedom of being able to get out for longer than hour was really liberating.

The holiday also really helped Murray move on with the potty training. I ended up having to get pretty firm and timing out accidents if I had asked him if he needed to toilet. Sounds so mean, but he totally knew when he needed (wees) and just couldn't be bothered - having to re dress himself helped to move things along too. He has moved on with poops too - generally going in the potty now with the occasional accident when it comes by surprise. That I can handle, just doing it on someone else's garden, I cannot! LOL! Also he's been dry pretty much every morning for nearly 2.5 weeks, so he's agreed that when we run out of nappies, he'll swap to pants! It's great timing as my baby '#1 starts Preschool a week on Monday!!!!! I can't believe he will be starting, but it is good timing as Harris is so nearly moving and atleast I will only have 1 to chase on a Mon, Tues and Fri ams. Wed ams we go to Toddlers so at least we are in an enclosed space and Monday afternoon Murray will have swimming lessons, so that'll be him busy then too!

Final update is today Harris cut his first tooth - bottom right. 11th August at 9 months 3 weeks - only 1 year earlier than Murray! Lets see how long wee last feeding him! He's been up every night for the past week which has been rough, but at least we have something to show for it apart from bags under our eyes!

I'll leave you with this fab pic of the brothers!