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!
Happy birthday Harris. Hope you had a lovely day :-)
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