11 months - fun and frolics

It’s hard to believe that this time one year ago, I was just about to commence maternity leave while awaiting the arrival of our precious little girl.

For yesterday, she turned 11 months old.

   

And these weekly photos are getting harder and harder each week with a wriggly bub that won’t lie still!

Charlotte

Another month passed us by, and what a month it was. Filled with adventures, milestones and fun.

Our cheeky monkey continues to be just that. Cheeky! Full of mischief, of smiles and of personality.

She loves to take herself off on little adventures around the house, usually with something in either hand.

Over things, through things, under things, ON things….you name it.

Nothing is too much of an obstacle!

She is constantly on the move – crawling and standing – and starting to walk around the furniture.

But perhaps C’s most favourite thing to do is to “unpack”. Be it a basket, a box, a bag……she will turn it from full to empty in a matter of minutes – reaching in, picking up items and then generally throwing them over her shoulder!

Now if only I could teach her to pack things up – then I would have quite the little helper on my hands!

A snapshot:

Loves: crawling, the kitties, adventures, banana, kisses, adventures, waving.

Loathes: having her face cleaned, being told “no”, not being allowed to stand up in the bath?!

Feeding

A lot has changed in the feeding department over the past month. I successfully dropped Charlotte’s overnight feed, as well as her lunchtime nursing session, so we are now just on 2 a day (morning and night).

Food wise, she is happy to try anything! Breakfast is usually cereal, yoghurt and fruit, and lunch is a puree, vegetables or a sandwich. Dinner is generally whatever we are having, plus a puree, yoghurt and fruit (and snacks in between if needed).

Her favourite foods of late have been watermelon and banana, and she even ate a whole peach the other day after she had already eaten all her dinner!

She still has some days where she doesn't seem to be all that hungry, but I just noticed what I think is a molar starting to poke through so I suspect that is the culprit.

Sleep

My oh my – how things in the sleep department have also changed over the last month. I wrote more about it here – but basically since the last monthly update, she has gone from waking 5 to 6 times overnight to……none.

That’s right. She now, mostly, sleeps through from 7pm to 6.30am or so. She also no longer requires any rocking or sshhhh-ing to sleep. I just put her down awake, and after 5 minutes of protest, she will roll over and go to sleep, as a general rule.

It was a long road to get to this point, but I am so grateful that we are here. Charlotte seems more rested, and has more interest in food. I too am starting to feel more ‘human’ after 10 months of limited sleep.

 

Way to go little one!

Achievements and Milestones

Crawling, smiling, standing, eating – our little girl continues to amaze me every single day.

This month saw us take a girls’ trip to Melbourne, which was our first flight together (just the two of us). We went out for high tea, and Charlotte met her Great Grandfather again. There was lots of playing in the park, we went to a birthday party and even a food festival.

Me – the physical and emotional

Another 'milestone' this month was that Charlotte started in daycare, one day a week (another reason we decided to drop the lunch milk feed). I feel completely silly saying this, but that first day I dropped her off, I was a mess. I went into work, and tried to keep busy. But all I could think about was my little girl and how she was faring. It struck me that it was the longest we had ever been apart in the last 11 months!

Well, I made it until 2.30pm before I couldn't help myself, and went to collect her early. And you know what.....she was perfectly fine. She had had 2 naps, eaten all her meals and was happily eating her afternoon tea  when I arrived.  I think next week will be a little easier on me, although 'separation anxiety' is no joke! And I'm not talking about Charlotte's!!

Now that Charlotte is in day-care one day a week, I am upping my work hours a little more in the next few weeks. I am still hoping to work part time (4 days per week), combining some days in the office and some at home. Truthfully, the older Charlotte gets the harder it is to find time to fit everything in, but we are managing. If I know I have a busy day, I will try and get up a few hours before she does (and then fit in other work while she sleeps). I am also lucky enough to have Mr BBB's family living nearby who are only more than happy to help out with babysitting as required - which allows me to get into the office (sometimes on short notice) another half day per week. The added bonus being that Charlotte gets to spend more time with her extended family which I know she just loves.

So where am I 11 months into this magical journey that is parenthood? My fitness is slowly but surely returning, and I am trying to fit in 3 runs per week plus lots of walks. I have been pretty lucky that my body has returned to something akin to its pre-pregnancy form (albeit a different shape), which I think has a lot to do with being able to breastfeed for 11 months. I have, however, noticed that since reducing the nursing sessions my body is starting to 'cling' onto a little weight so I suspect it will go up a bit as Charlotte starts to wean. I'd be lying if I said that didn't bother me, but at the end of the day, a happy healthy mama is what my baby girl needs.

And with only 1 month until my little girl is ONE (holy hell how did that happen?!?!?!), we have a lot more fun things planned. Another trip to Melbourne (this time a road trip), 3 birthday parties to attend, a whole garden to plant AND a certain someone’s birthday party to plan….can’t wait!