Out on the Town

Today Mum and Dad decided a trip was in order. It seemed like a big deal to them. It almost didn't happen though ... they were both pretty buggered after I kept them up last night! hehe.

First snag came when they tried to put the pushchair into the car. They just couldn't get it folded up! They finally worked out that the handle had to go down first, and then the rest would fold up! Complicated piece of machinery. And they both call themselves Engineers! huh! 

When it looked like they were ready to go, I decided to start crying a bit, and so we had to delay leaving so I could have a feed first. Well, that kept me well satisfied, and I was on my best behaviour as we went shopping and out for lunch. I got lots of stares from the old ladies and other shoppers. A few people even commented to Mum and Dad how small I was. Well, I am sure I will grow quickly! Some lovely young girls (about 14) even commented that Mum was looking well!

I got a bit grumpy towards the end of the trip. Walking around in the pushchair kept me nice and calm though. We got home just in time for another feed.

Last night Dad discovered the sling. It is so nice and comfy lying in it. Dad is a big fan of it, because it stops me crying.

Today I also met Grandma and Grandpa Mahar on Skype. They were very excited to see me!

My First Outing

Today we went for a walk! Mum and Dad rugged me up first, and then we went to the Penketh shops. They took it in turns pushing me, and were quite impressed with the manourverability of my pushchair. The only thing is that it looked like I was being swallowed up by the foot muff! I am sure I will grow into it!

Coming Home

Dad drives like an old lady ... well, I guess he does have precious cargo on board now!

   

Before leaving the hospital, a lady came and did a test of my hearing. I failed the first test - ahhh, but then she did a more sophisticated test which I then passed with flying colours! It was something to do with background noise (the other crying babies, the cheek of them) and fluid still in my ears. Phew, Mum was relieved, she thought she had passed on her crap hearing!

Mum and Dad were happy to be leaving the hospital, although all the midwives had made it a very positive experience for them. Now it is up to them to find their feet with me. Mum said it felt like a big responsibility bringing me home!

My First Day

   

What a day it was today - lots of cuddles from both Mum and Dad! And they couldn't stop staring and smiling at me either.

We are staying in hospital an extra night so that I can get the hang of this feeding thing.

My Birth Day

   
LEXI VICTORIA MAHAR

Wednesday, 18th February 2009

12:40 pm - 6 lb 13 oz

Warrington Hospital

Well, I finally decided it was time to make my appearance!

Yesterday the midwife visited Mum at home, and gave me a bit of a nudge along. Well, things started later on that evening. Dad got a bit paniky early on, but after a call to the hospital, Mum and Dad were told to go to bed and see what happens. Mum was a bit more relaxed though, something about not wanting to cry wolf!

Well, by the early hours of Wednesday morning, I was beginning to make a few more 'noises' that I wanted out, and at about 6:30 am we were at the hospital. From the initial calls to the midwives, they didn't seem to think that things were starting to happen just yet, but they still said we could come in. Well, I think they were quite surprised to see how far things had progressed, and Mum was still just using a TENs machine for pain relief.

A little bit of convincing was required to ensure that we could have a water birth. Apparently it was written in the notes that I was a high risk case, although I wasn't. To Mum's relief we got to go into the room with the birthing pool. The only snag was now that it had to be filled - not a quick job given its size. Eventually we were in, and what a relief it was. Dad was great the whole way through, giving Mum lots of encouragement.

Some 5-6 hours later I made my grand entrance, and Mum and Dad that I was their little girl - so Lexi Victoria it is for me! Dad cut the cord while I was having my first cuddle with Mum. Dad was so proud, you can tell by the way he is beaming in the photos. I think poor Mum was just a little bit buggered, but still very chuffed! 

An aside from Mum:

What an amazing feeling. Such tiny feet and fingers, but all just perfect. We have created this new life!

Week 40+

Well the d-day has been and gone, and no appearance from me yet! Ha ha, I am just enjoying keeping everyone on their toes! It seems there may be a couple of impatient sets of grandparents out there though, but I will come when I am ready. Gotta let everyone know who is boss from the beginning! So it wasn't to be that I would be a Friday the 13th baby, or a Valentines baby. Just as well really, cos Mum and Dad had some horrible names picked out if I were ... Frankenstein, Valentine, Valentino ... which should mean I will be settling for a fairly 'normal' name instead ... ?

The midwives don't seem too concerned though. At this weeks check-up everything was looking fine. Mum was a bit concerned when they had run out of appointments for next week. But they are now going to send out one of the community midwives to do a weekly check-up later this week - which suits Mum fine as it means she won't have to walk in the cold to the doctors surgery! And if I still haven't arrived, then an induction appointment will be made for sometime in the following week. So lots of contingencies in place!

Dad's colleagues are having fun teasing him. His boss has even started making phone calls pretending to be Mum and saying the baby is on the way. I think after the first time that happened though Dad became a little wiser and wasn't falling for the joke anymore!

During the week Dad made a bit of a discovery on one of his lunchtime runs. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), writer of Alice in Wonderland, was born just outside of Warrington in Daresbury. So yesterday he took Mum for lunch in Daresbury Village (lovely pub meal), and they had a look at the memorial windows in the church. What a cool bit of history to live so close to! Interestingly, Lewis Carroll was actually mathematics lecturer at Oxford University by day, storyteller by night!

Mum is starting to look a little weary now ... I have taken to doing my daily exercise routine from around 10pm - 2am in the evening/morning. Needless to say she is not too impressed! If only she had Dad's ability to nap during the day, it would be ok!

The cleaner is back again tomorrow - hoorah!

D-day ... been and gone?

Well, here it is, Friday the 13th, and it is due day. Not much of the day left, I think I will just keep myself nice and cosy where I am.....

Sparkle and Shine!

Oh hoorah, how nice it was for Mum to come home from the library and find the house clean - and knowing that she didn't have to lift a finger to do it (well, except for giving the money to the cleaning lady)!!

She didn't want to do anything for the rest of the day in case she messed it all up! Good excuse really for napping on the couch with Costa!

Week 39

Hoorah - the lawns were mown today - first time in about 6 months!! Dad is certainly in the good books now :) Just in time too before it started snowing again too! Finally found a window between rain and snow where the grass was dry enough. 

Speaking of the snow, it has just started again! I think another good dump is forecasted for the evening. There has been a number of days of snow this week, although it always seems to melt quite quickly. Ah well, it is pretty while it lasts!

Well, here it is, the final week left ... or is it really??? Mum is now convinced that she will be waiting around a little longer for me to arrive - even the midwife reackons it is unusual to go early. Oh well, being a lady of leisure seems to suit Mum, I wonder if Dad would ever be able to convince her to go back to work again .... 

Last night they popped down to the gym. Dad went on the bikes again before hopping in the pool, and Mum just went for a swim. Mum was chatting with Chris the lifeguard, and he wasn't too pleased to hear that she had only a week to go, and she was swimming while on his shift!! Just as well he knew Dad was around, because he would have had him down in a flash if anything happened. Oh well, it was no problem in the end anyway. Hee hee

It has been a nice relaxing weekend for them both. Everything is in tip top order, so I guess they deserve it. They enjoyed a good lie-in today - no early morning antenatal class (for the first time in 5 weeks) was nice!

Tomorrow is an exciting day for them both - the cleaner starts!! Hoorah! Just for the next couple of months, but the way they are so excited, me thinks she could become a regular feature on a Monday morning! I think Dad is just glad he won't have to listen to the vacuum cleaner for a while.

Costa has been misbehaving ... his is getting into, or rather should I say onto, some of my stuff ... Dad has locked him out of my room now!

Snow from Siberia - Winter Wonderland!

The first flurries on Sunday afternoon ...

Waking up to this today (backyard) ...
Costa looking for a way in (look closely for the paw prints in the driveway) ...Brett preparing the car to get to work ...

Week 38

Here we are yet again and another week down! Phew! It has been a busy week, and certainly a very busy weekend!

The NHS antenatal classes finished last Monday, yet another session on breastfeeding. They very much promote the breastfeeding, so hopefully it all works out ok. Luckily there are lots of support groups in Warrington where you can get help.

Tuesday was again the aquanatal class. Being in the water is great, so relaxing. Mum is starting to get to know a few of the people now. It was very busy this week! Hot chocolate was in order afterwards - Mum has such a tough life. It was then quite a dash to the doctors for a midwife check up. All good reports, apparently I am in the right position now and making my way down. As it all should be for this stage. Mum has now opted for weekly check-ups, although the midwife doesn't seem to fussed how often she goes. Guess that is a good sign!

Thursday was a busy day as more of the renovations were finished off. The joiner came and hung new doors upstairs and did the finishing touches to the kitchen - Mum and Dad seem delighted to be able to close the bathroom door finally, and not have it popping open while on the loo - I guess it is the little things that count! 

While the joiner was busy doing his thing, Mum was trying to keep up her end of the deal she made with Dad ... filled all the cracks, sanded back rough spots, scraped paint off the bedroom windows, prepared surfaces for painting etc ... well, basically anything she could do which didn't involve heavy lifting or standing on the step ladder. So this weekend Dad kept up his end of the deal and finished off most of painting, replaced electrical sockets, vacuum and generally being an all round top bloke! What a Dad! It does seem like a never ending list of jobs to do, but it will get there one day. The main work is done now, just the pottering around jobs to do! Ah well, gotta keep Mum busy somehow this year!

Yesterday Dad went and watched the football with Paul again, and Ellie came over for dinner with Mum. They were going to head out to the movies afterwards, but since they all started too late decided to watch a dvd instead. What torture they put me (and themselves) through watching Mama Mia - Pierce Brosnan should never, EVER, be given a singing role again. Even the lady at St Joseph sings the hymns better (well, almost), and that IS saying something!

And today was the final NCT antenatal class - it was a great group of people, but nice to finish so that we can reclaim our Sunday morning sleep-ins, even if only for a week or two! We all went out for lunch at the pub afterwards which was a nice way to finish things off. A reunion is already planned for May!

Oh, it started snowing this afternoon - a cold front from Russia apparently. The forecast is for snow for the rest of the week - so I guess that means Mum will be spending a lot of time indoors rugged up near the heater! Not such a bad thing!