What have I signed myself up for!?

I saw that the Altzheimer's society are running a fund raising scheme on the 16th June, you hold a cupcake day somewhere and people come and donate money to eat cake!

With it being a cause close the Burgin's heart, I thought it would be a great idea to hold one. I didn't think through the fact that I would have to bake them and decorate them of course. Artistic and baking talent isn't something that comes naturally to me, add that to me being a perfectionist, it makes for a lot of unusable batches. Plus side being, we get to eat them all.

The main issue is the oven. Yes, I am blaming my tools, but in this instance, I have done some testing and it is the oven. It's supposed to be a fan oven, renowned for their even cooking regardless of tray placement. I call bullshit on this oven for that, it categorically does not cook evenly. The ones at the back are cooked about 3 mins before those at the front. The conclusion I have drawn is that I can only cook two rows at a time instead of 3. As if it isn't going to take me long enough as it is! And having to fit it in around housework, baby naps and baby entertaining is proving fun.. Not sure how on earth I will manage it when it comes to icing!

Oh well, it's all for a good cause and I should have it nailed by the 16th!

A bit of classic jaunting!

We've been visiting Tom's family this weekend and we decided to make the most of staying at a house in the centre of town by having a little drink to ourselves. In classic Burgin style, that carried on throughout the day and into the evening.

We drove down on the Friday night to coincide with Leo's sleeping, our plan didn't quite work as expected though as the little man decided he wanted to see what was going on once he'd had a couple of hours sleep, and proceeded to play about with us in the lounge until midnight! He then thought 6.30 was the best time to wake up. He then decide last night that he didn't want to miss out on anything either, but Sue made us go out anyway and he happily played about until we got back in. Another late night at 11 and then he thought 5am was a suitable time to wake up this morning. He came into bed with us and chilled on the pillows with us for about an hour, which was incredibly sweet.

I'm paying the price of painful boobs this morning, it never crossed my mind that drinking in the day meant that I couldn't give Leo his evening feed and I didn't have my pump! Hopefully there won't be any blocked duct payback, but it wouldn't surprise me.

It's been really good to see Leo come out of his shell whilst we've been here. He's at that stage now where he's aware he doesn't know people so was fairly shy when Sue first spoke to him, he's not anymore! We really need to start video calling regularly now so that he keeps the familiarity, the issue is that our Internet connection at home is from the dark ages, so we'd have to go into Knutsford and do it over 4g..oh the joys of the countryside.

What was also really good was to have a bit of Tom and me time, whilst we have been out together since Leo came along, we haven't been out and had a good drink together. Whilst that might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's what Tom and I used to do constantly so it was great to have a little mooch back into that for a few hours.

It's baaack!

The cough at night has returned, back to the raised mattress, disturbed nights and humidifier! I have noticed this morning that I can see the start of tooth number 2, so perhaps they are related. I used to cough when teething, I'm not sure of they came through quite as quickly though!

On the plus side, Leo's first half day in his new nursery went amazingly well. He was perfectly happy the entire time and wasn't that fussed to see me. He had a quick whimper, I guess he had been keeping it together through the morning and seeing me threw his resolve a little, but after a quick cuddle he ran off and left me in favour of the staff and other children! Well, I am aiming to raise an independent and confident baby!

It IS his teeth!

After months of speculation, I can see one coming through! Hoorah!! His bottom right hand side is definitely showing a white pin prick coming through and some redness and swelling. This time next week, I reckon we will have a tooth!

Super sleeper

I think the fact that he has done it for 3 nights in a row, that makes it official. Leo is sleeping through the night. His bedtime is still somewhat a random affair since he has been well, currently reason unknown and I'd imagine it will remain an unknown forever; but that's OK. We've learnt that that is pretty much a given for most things with babies and acceptance is the key to not getting het up about stuff.

When I woke up yesterday, he was merrily playing in his cot, no idea how long he had been doing that for but it was very cute.

When I think of the times I got told he should be sleeping through because he's big enough, you shouldn't be feeding him in the night just give him water, you shouldn't be holding him when he's poorly because he will get used to the cuddles.. I'm so glad I gave those comments the virtual finger, because we trusted in the little man and he's done what he needs to and got where he wants to be when he's ready. None of the preconceived adult notions, forcing him to do something we think he should.. Just a happy little pickle and two happy parents who trusted their instincts and their amazing little human

#goodfamilying

These things aren't forever

Sunny day play

I'm getting used to Leo's disrupted sleep now, as bad as that sounds, I've just accepted that we have got to roll with it. I'm taking him to the doctor again today to get this cough properly investigated, but from an 'I'm stressed that this is disrupting his sleep forever' perspective; I've accepted that it is doing and all we can do is help him through and support each other.

I think what makes being a parent tougher than it needs to be, is all of these so called experts telling you how to fix things. This immediately implies that your child is a problem unless totally text book. When I am doing something and catch myself worrying that we are making a problem for ourselves further down the line i.e. bouncing him to sleep after a coughing fit, I just tell myself that if the Internet and books didn't exist, then this is what I would naturally be doing and how I would naturally meet my child's needs and this immediately takes out the stress.

His latest little trick is not going to sleep at 7. Reasons unknown, but he's such a happy little cutie that we are just riding it out and doing things to help him wind down the at night. Sitting and reading to him whilst rocking and cuddling seems to be how he's liking it done right now, so that's what we are doing. It's really lovely family time too.

The last few days of sunshine have been amazing, it's so nice to be able to have Leo out playing and not wearing tonnes of clothes!

Fishpie fun!

Cuddles with grandma she-she

The boys and their pa

Back we go

Although Leo is much happier in himself, the cough is still persisting and sounds wetter and yesterday there was still quite a bit of snot, so I booked another docs appointment to get his ears checked. Yesterday morning I noticed he was grabbing at his ears so it was a good job I had it booked.

His ear drums are still very pink so the doctor has prescribed yet more antibiotics, he doesn't think it is ever fully healing for some reason. It's a worry pumping him full of all of these antibiotics, but it's also a worry that he has this ongoing ear issue. If it hasn't cleared after this lot, I am going to ask for a referral to an ENT.