A new Arrival.

I suppose I better start thinking of a new title for my blog as I'm very happy to say that Al and I are expecting our second little baby. We had our first scan yesterday and baby was absolutely perfect. I was a very good girl and drank my pint of water before I went so, although I felt like I was about to burst, we got really clear pics on the screen. She showed us the brain and spine, heart, tummy and bladder. My favourite though were the little hands opening and closing. The sonographer took an age taking my history and I was lieing there with my HR getting faster and faster, thinking, please put me out of my misery and let me know that it is OK in there! The relief is enormous. I definitely feel less worried about being a mum to 2 young 'uns and much more excited. I'll have a proper little family! I'm 13 weeks, so my due date is 24th October!

I'm totally in love already!

I wish I could say I've breezed through first T, but just like Murray, this baby was determined to make me feel like absolute crud! It even started 2 weeks earlier than Murray! So from 5 weeks to 10 weeks I was really awful (all day nausea and through the night this time! All I wanted to do was lie down in a dark room and groan). Then from 10 weeks I'd have the odd day or half day when I felt a bit better. I'm pleased to say though that the past week has seen a huge improvement. I literally dragged myself to the Easter break. If you think MS is tough, the first time round, it is NOTHING compared with having to go through it with a toddler in tow who wants entertainment NOW!!!!! Ooooooh, now that's one hard job!

Just like with Murray exercise has had to take a bit of a hit, but I have managed to get out walking usually 2 or 3 times a week. Nothing record breaking, but at least the fresh air helped! Over the Easter break I've managed, a swim, 2 gym sessions and various walks at a better pace, so I'm hopeful I'll get back into it. The tricky thing is going to be fitting it in. I'm hoping now I feel a bit better I may sleep better (been awake for 3-5 hours a night dry heaving and turning green) that I might get back to my early starts, but we'll see. At least this morning I know I'm getting a swim at my mum's pool as she's offered to pay me in and to look after Murray.

That will bring this week to:
Mon: 3 mile undulating hike
Tue: 45 min gym session
Fri: 45 min swim

If I'm feeling OK, perhaps another gym/swim/hike and or start my pilates again.

Happy Birthday!

It was my birthday on Friday and despite repeatedly forgetting earlier in the week, I ended up having a lovely day. It started with presents in bed which Murray helped me open. He loved all the paper and presents so much he actually sat for far longer than normal (not hard)  and it was actually quite relaxing. He got me a lovely mummy mug, while my hubby got me a really beautiful painting.

My mum cam round at about 11.30am to look after Murray and Al and I headed off for a much needed couple afternoon. We drove up to Pitlochry for lunch. It was so nice not to have to keep feeding someone else or keep finding toys/books to ensure M sat in his seat while we finished our meal!

After lunch we headed to Kinloch Rannoch. We were last up here for our 1 year anniversary, almost 5 years  ago, which seems like a whole different lifetime ago, which I guess is true! We had a lovely hike above the Loch. There was snow on distant peaks and it was really beautiful. It was great to get some time to chat with Al especially as we had banned all Murray chat! I love my son to pieces, but it was nice to have some time for us.

When we got home,mum had given Murray dinner, had read his stories and popped him into bed! Cheers mum, you're one in a million!

One year older, bring on the next one!

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny has visited with a vengeance and so Murray got to enjoy some 'cocolate' on various occasions. I think he's getting a bit of a mega taste for it though. Have had to hide the left overs as I think he needs a few days chocolate free judging from the nights we've had for the past 3. He's been having a total party in the middle of the night. Not crying, just oooohing, Ahhing, weeee eeyore and hello mummy (yelled out when I try to quietly creep to the loo, but stand on every creaky floor board on our landing). Saturday night it went on from 2.30 to 5.30am!!!! At 4.30am last night I abandoned ship and decamped to our spare room downstairs to get away from the jabbering. It is half 8 and he is currently jabbering away and bagning about in his cot! He was absolutely shattered when I woke him from his nap and took forever to come round and now he's hyper!!!!! He is a complete mystery!

On Easter Sunday, my folks came to mass with us and then came to ours for a roast and then an Easter egg hunt for Murray in the garden. He was soo cute searching out the little shiny wrappers and pointing and saying 'egg, egg' when he found one.

Murray chomping on his "Cocolate".

Oh and we have a 3rd tooth: upper left 2 or 3 teeth back. I think more are on the way as he's really chomping down on his hand most days. Maybe that's the reason for the odd sleep, who knows.

Easter Break Starts with A Roar at Blair Drummond Safari!

Al's folk's celebrated their Ruby (40th) Wedding Anniversary on the 30th March, so had booked themselves into a hotel in Edinburgh for a few nights and as they were within easy reach we all met up at Blair Drummond Safari Park to start of the holiday with a roar! Murray loved seeing all the big animals like camels, tigers and elephants from the car, but nearly wet his pants at being able to get close up to the smaller animals in the enclosures. We especially loved the Sea Lions and Meercats. There was also a really good little petting farm.

After lunch, Al and his dad took Murray to play in the pirate ship play park. Al said Murray was so excited about all the different things he would barely get to one before he had to set off to another thing! LOL! Bless - we'll just have to go back another time. It was a really a great way to start the hols, especially as Murray reall recognised Al's folks this time even though he doesn't get to see them that often. We're going over to Belfast in May so hopefully Murray will still remember how to say: 'hello Grandma' and 'hello Grandad' which he said repeatedly on Saturday much to their delight! It was really lovely to hear / see!

Hello Grandad!

Loving The Seal Lions

Seemples: Mercats!

Meercat Digging a Hole!

The Wildest Animal in the Park! Such a Cutie!

Petting Eeyore's Cousin!

After a Refreshing nap in the car, I had a lovely play with Grandma and Granddad at my house before they had to go back to Edinburgh. I'm looking forward to going in the big boat to Northern Ireland in May.

Lurgies and random pics.

It has been a tough 3 weeks since Aviemore. In addition to Murray deciding to become v naughty, Al and I have had a plethora of lurgies. I really can't be bothered with being sick. I find it such a big waste of time, but sick, the 2 of us have been. Mother's Day was rubbish as Al was, in bed shivering with a temperature, sick and Murray was being a nightmare! We've abandoned the naughty step for the mo' as he was getting far too much attention when running off it for 20 mins plus (yes 20 minutes +). He thought it was a great game to hide behind the table etc etc. Nightmare! We've gone back to time out in his travel cot as he can be left quite calmly for 2 minutes without my blood pressure hitting the ceiling!

Any way, by keeping Murray uber occupied, I have made it through a better week and now only have 1 more week of work until the Easter break and I have to say, it simply cannot come soon enough. Al is taking the second week off so with the Easter bank hols will have 10 days off which will be really nice.

Murray and I went to Deep Sea World yesterday for my friend's eldest's 5th birthday. It was great. Murray loved it and literally ran from tank to tank to see the different fish. The only snag was the low down tanks in which they have 'touch the fish' sessions as he thought they were a swimming pool for him to jump into and every time I lifted him up to see better, he'd shout: ready, steady, go and try to jump out of my arms into the tank (we do ready steady jump into the pool when we go swimming). Boy that boy is strong - I had to grip him tightly so I didn't end up with one soggy toddler! The other tough moment was with those stupid ride along machines - why do they always have them? Trying to get him off was a ruddy nightmare. Fortunately it was close to leaving, so it was relatively short lived. It was so lovely to go celebrate H's birthday and to see his brother (my God son) as I haven't seen them since October-ish. We were both shattered when we left and I must admit I was v jealous of Murray sleeping in the car on the way home as it was a busy morning. I made a good decision to go home via my folks, which meant I could at least get a cup of tea. Well worth it though. I will definitely take him again.

We got Murray measured for new shoes today. He is now a 41/2F (same width fitting, but longer) and managed to get another bargain. £10 for this pair compared to £32 for the new season ones!

Here are some random pics taken over the past week or so:

'Bouncing up and down on the Big Red Tractor'

Painting cards for the Grandma and Nanna for Mother's Day. I actually caught him mid 'Ta Da!'

Drawing on the chalk board.

First Ski, Second Tooth, Family Hol and The Naughty Step

First Ski


We were up in Aviemore for a long weekend last weekend and while we were there, Murray experienced his first time on skis. The point of the holiday was for us all to Ski, but as it has been such a dreadful season, it was clear that we wouldn't get a ski, but if we could find a we patch of snow, we'd get Murray on his skis, and so we did. It may have been blowing an absolute gale, but he got a couple of wee shots any way. He was totally confused as to what we were strapping onto his feet and looked completely non-plussed on his first go, but I think he did quite enjoy it.

Second Tooth

Murray's second tooth popped through 2 days after his first, so at least he's symmetrical. There's been no more since then, but judging from the grimaces he's constantly pulling, it may not be long until some more pop through.

Aviemore

We had a really nice family hol with my folks and my sis and bro in law despite not being able to ski. On the Sat, my sis, bro in law, Al and myself headed out for a nice afternoon hike while mum and dad looked after Murray. It was really good to be on the hills despite the chilly wind. On Sunday after church in the morning, Al and I headed out for a wee hike while Murray napped and then they all brought Murray to meet up with us at the bottom of the funicular. Murray loved the train and it was priceless to see his wee excited face. After his wee ski (which if I honest meant an awful lot to me as I too was first on my skis about 18 months old, so feel like the tradition is being passed on) and a snack we went back down on the train. I don't know whether we passed through a parallel dimension as we travelled down, but ever since it seems like Murray has been on the naughty step an awful lot. He's taken to: throwing his toys when he's cross; refusing point blank to eat his meals (but snacks are perfectly edible) - edit - a few days on he is now a bottomless pit, so perhaps he had a wee bug; shouting car or garden to get out in both (we go out every day, so I have no idea why he's doing this especially as it starts first thing before he's even dressed) and completely ignoring Al or me when we ask him to give us something. As you can imagine he's becoming quite familiar with the naughty step! I'm hoping it's just a wee mini phase and that he'll be back to his old self soon. Fingers crossed it's just associated with getting tooth number 3.

Snack Time in the Cabin before heading out for a Family Walk.

Yeah! I'm out of the Backpack - it's my Time to Walk!

Over The Bridge

On the Shores of Loch An Eilleen

Over the Roots because walking on the Path is far too easy!

BREAKFAST!!!! Noma noma!

Stories With Nanna

Riding in my Big Truck 

  

Soft Play Fun

Riding on the Choo Choo with Big Bird.

One Random Pic from our Walk on Sat

Playing in the Park outside the Cabin

Our Hike on Sunday. It was really Lovely.

On the Funicular - choo choo!

Snack Time at the Top of the Mt after my 'taxing' Ski!

Driving the Pretend Funicular - Beep Beep!

We Have a Tooth!!!!

I can't quite believe it, but, finally at 19.5 months Murray finally has a tooth poking through his gums!!!! Yeah! I wonder if the next ones will ping down in quick succession, especially as the whole of his top gum is v lumpy and bumpy.

On more good news, although the first week in Feb was still pretty rough with lack of sleep, we have now had a week of proper nights. All I can say is: 'Thank Goodness', as it was getting a bit much.

Murray has really grown recently and is now 83cm and his speech is exploding. Yesterday at dinner Al told me he took a big piece of cheese on toast and said: 'too big' and bit off a smaller bit. being a proud mum, I thought this v clever, and then again today he was trying to post things into his house and if it was too big, he said: 'too big'. Clever boy!

Here are some pics and videos of things we've been up to.


At The Park





Choo, Choo!

Sleepy Monster in Mummy's arms as my teeth hurt too much to sleep in my cot. He slept like that for 1.5 hours. I was v glad I had just been for a wee!

Although still struggling with motivation on account of not really having a purpose to my training (except for the vague hope of getting back to running at some point in the future), I've managed to average 4 times a week. Usually 1x5 mile walk; 1x 50 - 60 min gym session and 2x 60 min swim sessions. The only problem i'm having is I'm really struggling top throw the bugs I'm picking up from Murray. I thought I'd got rid of my last sore throat on Tues/Wed and then did a hard swim on Thurs (prob a bit too hard and would have been better to take it steady again) and by that night at work, my throat was sore to swallow again. Soooo annoying. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to feel well!

I'm hoping I'll be feeling on top form for next weekend as we are heading up to Aviemore for a long weeknd with my folks and my sis and bro in law for some skiing. I don't think we'll have much skiing as we've had a cruddy winter, but if the skiing is crud, we'll simply take advantage of the on tap babysitting and go hiking instead. Can't believe we've had 2 great winters and I've either been preggers or in still in severe pain with a pretty young wee one. Ah well, that's Scottish weather for you. It'll be fun just to get away and spend time with my family.