Siblings | My Mills Baby

So I might have failed on the birthday-planning score, but it seems I’ve come up trumps on a few other things this weekend. I can’t believe my little guy is now two years old, and part of me can’t get my head around the fact that Craig and I are responsible for getting him this far. He’s walking, he’s slurring like a tramp after too many ciders (I’m told this is a good thing) and he’s got a little personality all of his own.

It’s been a tough few weeks for Dexter. Transitioning into his role as a big brother has been tough. He’s very intrigued by Heidi and wants to touch her all the time (annoyingly, this is mostly just minutes after mummy and daddy are celebrating the fact she’s finally gone to sleep). When he’s not stroking her face, prodding her cheeks or tugging at her legs he’s bringing over age-inappropriate toys to ‘show’ her and occasionally bop her over the head with.

Dex and Heidi2 CBeebies, a Replica Dyson and Riding in a Police Car all on Dexters 2nd Birthday

So we wanted to make Dexter’s 2nd birthday extra special so he knows how important he is. It turns out I know my little guy very well.

Dexter is a CBeebies addict. I’m to blame for this. I don’t advocate using the television as a babysitting service, but it does really help when you’re busy breastfeeding a newborn. His favourite shows are definitely anything with Justin Fletcher in, Ballamory, and In The Night Garden. When any of these are on it’s pointless trying to have a conversation with him, feed him, or change his bum - he’s utterly transfixed by them.

002 CBeebies, a Replica Dyson and Riding in a Police Car all on Dexters 2nd Birthday

So we decided to send a birthday card into CBeebies. Making it was a nightmare - the expression ‘too many cooks…’ springs to mind and Craig and I are definitely not likely to audition as Mr Maker’s apprentice anytime soon. We argued over everything, from the colours we used, to the picture of Dexter, to the composition of the card but eventually we ended up with something vaguely tv-worthy. It seems CBeebies agreed with us and Dexter got his five minutes of fame!

I wasn’t expecting this to go down so well with Dexter. I thought maybe he wouldn’t understand or recognise himself, but he definitely did. Having seen our masterpiece before it was bundled into jiffy bag earmarked for CBeebies’s PO Box, he recognised this, and seemed to understand that this for him.

I’m also giving myself pat on the back for the presents we selected for Dexter this year. I toyed with the idea of a climbing frame and slide for the garden, but Craig didn’t seem so keen. Dexter’s at that inbetweeny stage where he loves the park but needs help to play on all the apparatus. He’d quickly outgrown any plastic toddler slides we bought for him, but isn’t old enough for a big-boy one.

153 CBeebies, a Replica Dyson and Riding in a Police Car all on Dexters 2nd Birthday

Instead we opted for a Little Tikes Country Cottage, and Police Car Cozy Coupe. I can’t sing their praises enough. Dexter LOVES them. Okay we might have messed up by wrapping these up in their boxes and not anticipating we’d have to spend hours ushering him away whilst we built them, but never-the-less he’s really enjoying spending time playing out in the sunshine in his own imaginary little world. They’ve even distracted him from terrorising Heidi.

index CBeebies, a Replica Dyson and Riding in a Police Car all on Dexters 2nd Birthday

As well as countless other toys and clothes, he also got a replica Dyson vacuum (in the same colours as mummy and daddy’s one). For ages Dexter has been obsessed with our hoover. We call it ‘The Floor Monster’ and it lives in the cavernous cupboard under the stairs. He’s forever trying to open the cupboard and stroke it, but the second daddy turns it on he’ll run away crying. As cruel as it is, this has Craig and I in fits of laughter. It’s also a useful tool for curbing any bad behaviour as we tell him that The Floor Monster will get him (whoops, terrible parenting right there!).

146 CBeebies, a Replica Dyson and Riding in a Police Car all on Dexters 2nd Birthday

This bad boy even collects dust from the carpet, makes a noise like ours, and has colourful little balls in the cylinder to look like it’s sucking up dirt. Okay the sound is a little annoying when you’re trying to watch The Daily Politics, but I figure this is what I do to Dexter when Raa Raa The Noisy Lion is on so I’ll forgive him.

Seems I’m not such a tragic parent after all.

I’ve been a little quiet for the past month… no prizes for guessing why. I’ve built up month’s worth of pent up frustration and have soooo much to say about the longest pregnancy / labour in history, but I’ll save this for a less emotionally charged (and less tiring) day.

Right now, I’d like to introduce the new love of my life - Heidi (middle name to be decided) Mills.

Okay, I’m a little late. She came into the world via emergency c section on April 24th - nearly a whole week ago. The fact she came out of me with a little help from a spinal epidural and one seriously hot doctor doesn’t mean I didn’t experience labour. In fact, I laboured HARD; 14 hours in “established” labour stuck on all fours, screaming and swearing, and countless hours before that writhing around on my sofa. It’s been the hardest and most physically traumatic thing I’ve ever done.

1925233 10152022663237190 5445050460515686859 n Welcome to the World Heidi!

Heidi is tiny. 6lb 9 at birth she has plenty of baggy skin around her legs and arms to grow into. She’s got her daddy’s long legs, but I can’t really see either of us in her facially yet. In truth, she doesn’t look much like a ‘Heidi’. She doesn’t have the Germanic look that Dexter did when he was a few days old; her hair is darker and her skin isn’t as milky. But this was the only name Craig and I were able to agree upon. I liked Maeve, Orla and Elsa, and Craig was keen on Beatrice, Harriet and Bethany.

10300963 10152027103012190 2551028950419065721 n Welcome to the World Heidi!

Other than a minor case of Positional Talipes (her little feet are currently facing facing inwardly) which we’ve been referred to specialist for, she’s perfect. She was treated for Strep B at birth and cultures were grown using her blood that thankfully tested negative. She’s a sleepy little thing and is capable of 6 hour long stretches of sleep so has slotted into a routine of sorts already.

My milk still hasn’t fully come through yet so we’re currently on a mixed feeding schedule which involves as much skin to skin contact and ‘breast time’ as possible and 2-3 60ml formula feeds per day. It’s a demanding challenge to take on and Heidi can sit on me for hours at a time before unlatching herself. It’s been very difficult for Dexter as his mummy is having to give so much of her time over to his new baby sister.

Don’t get me wrong, Dexter is intrigued by Heidi and forever touching and kissing her, but he is resenting the time I’m rendered immobile. He calls for me constantly and his cries have taken on a heartbreaking quality that has had me in tears several times. I am so proud of him though - he’s very soft-handed with her and is helping with basic chores such as fetching nappies and blankets. I’m sure I’ll end up writing about this more extensively as I have a sinking feeling these tears might be more than a little nod to some impending baby blues.

Dexter and Heidi Welcome to the World Heidi!

Physically, I’m doing well. Sheer bloody mindedness saw me out of bed just 5 hours after surgery and walking around the hospital corridors. I was discharged as soon as Heidi was given the all-clear and my suture has now been removed. Although this is only my second c section, I like to think of myself as a bit of a pro now and have an upcoming post in mind on tips for post-surgery recovery.

So that’s it - normal service will resume asap and I’ll be working through some reviews of products I’ve found invaluable, and posts all about Dexter and Heidi as they forge a bond despite their hysterical mummy and shattered daddy (poor Craig had just half a day’s paternity leave). Right now, I’m off for a cold shower, little cry, then plenty of cuddles with both of my beautiful children.

xxx