Monday, January 14, 2013

6 weeks already!



I spend nap times de-swaddling myself.
Let's ignore the fact he doesn't like his cot and focus on the beautiful good morning smiles I get.








Time flies when you have a newborn, which is such a pity really because I love this stage so much - the eye-gazing, finger-holding, cooing and first smiles. As much as I've tried to soak it all up, the reality is that Flynn is now 6 weeks old and already I feel like he's leaving his newborn-ness behind in what has been a blur of feeding, settling, sleeping, Christmas, Bushfires, School Holidays and house guests. Maybe it's nature's way of making you forget how tiring these early weeks are.

And tiring it is. We've been taking things one day at a time, spending time at home, feeding the ducks and playing cricket. No grand summer holiday plans. I've been making the most of the relatives staying with us and have managed to frog my first attempt at knitting on circular needles by getting an entire skein tangled to start a new knitting project.

A little update on the past 6 weeks. Flynn is feeding well, stacking on the Kilos and now smiles and chuckles. He was just starting to get into a good routine but this last week has been challenging as he hasn't been very settled. It has been taking lots of cuddles and rocking to calm him down and settle him down for his naps. Personally, I think all the overstimulation from the kids and having visitors staying with us has caught up with him. You don't realise how noisy your household is until a newborn is on the scene.

Although I'm pretty relaxed about all things related to parenting, sleep is my one exception and a good sleep routine is the one thing I work really hard on from the beginning and have never had any sleeping issues with the children over the last 8 years as a result. Seriously, not a single problem. Until now. I hope it's just a bad week.

Now I realise all Children are different but when you have a sleep routine that worked like a charm for all 4 previous children then you kinda think you're onto a winner. Not so! (Feel free to insert evil Karma chuckle). Remember the cradle I lovingly restored for him? He doesn't want a bar of it! I've tried pulling it right up against our bed so we are a mere 5cm apart. Nope! He senses the thin piece of air between us. Cheeky boy.  I'm not overly worried, just tired from the hours of settling it has taken this week. School will go back in 3 weeks which will make things easier and it should be easier to get him back on track since the visitors left yesterday.

All of our family live interstate so we have had them staying with us for 4 out of the 6 weeks since Flynn's birth. The other 2 weeks were during the Christmas period and The Pianoman was home so I have not been on my own with all 5 Children until today. It has been wonderful to have the support of our families who have been a huge help with cooking, cleaning, playing with the other Children and ticking things off the never-ending list we have on the fridge. It has been help of the very best kind and I am truly grateful. My Mother-In-Law fell off the balcony last night and while we were pondering whether she had broken her foot or not she joked that at least she was considerate enough to do it on her last night here and then proceeded to hang the washing out. They all know I will be a very busy Mum without any help from today onwards. No dropping off the Kids to Grandma for an hour or two here or there when things go pear-shaped.

However,  as I hung the washing on the line today I was feeling ready to get on with things on my own, get the house back in order and especially get Flynn's sleep back on track. Wish me luck!


28 comments :

  1. Wonderful photos Mel. Love the pic of your boys by the duck pond. Can't believe with all the busy days you have had that you have managed to find time to craft. Have a wonderful week. xo

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  2. Best tip I ever heard for a newborn that wouldn't sleep in their own bed was to take the entire side off the cot and make the mattress level with your bed. Then push the cot against the side of your bed so it is sort of an extension of your bed but has three sides. Then you can just reach out and cuddle but still have space. I must admit I never tried it as my kids were ok sleepers but may be worth it. Guess you would have to really make sure there is no way he could slide between the two mattresses though. May be hard with your gorgeous cradle but also potentially worth it if the situation persists!!!

    Our kids still get in and out of our bed some nights. I gave in and just bought a kingsized bed in the end.

    He is the list adorable baby - such a little smiley face.

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  3. He is so cute. I love the way he looks at his sister and dad too precious. Glad you are making time for yourself it is important. My kids all 4 were not good sleepers unless they were in my bed too.

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  4. I sincerely wish you luck. My first born NEVER slept. Well it only seemed liked a couple of hours at night and definitely not at all during the day. The second was better but I decided not to push my luck and stopped at two.
    Flynn does look beautiful and the second photo is really precious. I hope he learns the rules soon ! x

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  5. Oh Mel, such beautiful pics of your littlest man, what a sweetheart. I'm so pleased that you have had all that wonderful support for the past 6 weeks. I can't imagine how full on it must be having 5 children in the house, Wow, you're amazing. What a cheeky monkey not wanting to sleep in that lovely cradle Mama set up for him. He does sound a lot like my Felix. His first 10 weeks he spent sleeping on me! It was so exhausting, but nothing was going to convince him to sleep in the little moses basket we had for him. But pleased to say, from 10 weeks onwards something changed and he slept like a dream. Keep the faith hun, he will find a rhythm in time xoxo

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  6. Wishing you luck, though I don't think you will need it. All will be well. He is so cute ... sigh/cluck cluck ... what's a few sleepless nights. Well worth it to wake to those smiles. Such lovely photos - I love the one of your family trooping off along the hill.
    Hope you settle into a new routine soon once things settle down, otherwise let me know and I'll come down and put the kettle on for you! cheers Wendy

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  7. Good luck with the sleeping Mel, all mine were different (and still are) when it comes to bedtime - my daughter slept with me until 8 weeks to avoid the noise of the boys and has slept very well ever since. Flynn is such a cutie - but Oh No! they've been playing cricket, you've almost got a team my boys would be envious. x

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  8. Early days still, Mel. The sleep thing makes a huge difference to how you cope with the other four doesn't it. Still school will make it easier especially if they can bus it. Nothing worse than doing a pick up run just after they drop off.

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  9. PS. Just keep doing what feels right for you. That usually works best for everyone! X

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  10. Sleep... We used to do that in this house and then the kids were born. And I only have two.

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  11. Only 6 weeks old and he's already got such irresistible smiles!!
    Have a great week and make sure to get some rest if you can :)

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  12. Just gorgeous Mel. Hope you're able to work some sleeping patterns out that work for you both, it is early days though. Just love seeing your little fellow in his superman suit, I've very few photos of my Wallace at a similar age without his spiderman costume on. Brings back happy memories.

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  13. It does go fast doesn't it! Imogen is 3 months already. I don't know where the time has gone. She was a shocking sleeper in those first few weeks as well. Luckily she settled into a routine after that. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that Flynn does too soon. I love the colour of that yarn! It is so gorgeous and summery.

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  14. Glad to hear you have had plenty of help. Hope the sleep pattern develops soon and you can claim back you bed.

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  15. Good luck! He's beautiful :-) Thought I might introduce myself, I'm a newish blog reader, I really like reading things from local people - I live about 10 minutes up the road in Mornington (suburbia) but dream of a farmlet. I have two boys, 3.5 and 12 months. I'd love to hear what your failsafe (til now) sleep tips are! I'd love a third but the sleep thing is what makes the hubster harder to convince. I'm not a blogger but you're following me now on instagram 'jillianbeans' so here's a virtual wave! x

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    1. Hi Jill. Oh wow, Just down the road! If you are serious about the sleep stuff (clearly I'm no expert!) send me an e-mail coalvalleyview@gmail.com :-)

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  16. Mel, he is just scrumptious!!
    Which is fortunate - because they are such sleep thieves.
    I hope the gorgeous little man settles into a friendlier pattern soon.
    What a whirlwind 6 weeks for you.
    As always, I'm in awe!!
    XxX

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  17. Gosh Mel, isn't he absolutely gorgeous?! His little smiles are just heart melting! I love the pic of him in his little pebble vest. That 6 weeks has flown by in a flash.
    Best of luck with getting the sleep situation sorted, I'm sure you'll get it sorted once the routine of normal life kicks in.
    Jo x

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  18. It's wonderful that you have the suuport of your family around you. Little Flynn is so adorable! Hope you can get him into a routine soon, xx

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  19. oh hello precious baby boy! oh mel, his smiles! i know sleep... or lack of. this too shall pass dear, just until the teen years, hee hee. sorry. i hope your little guy finds his sleep rhythm and that it fits perfect with yours. enjoy your alone time with all your doodles! beautiful photos!

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  20. Lovely photos. Flynn is so CUTE! Hope the sleep situation improves soon. Sleep deprivation is no fun.

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  21. I quite like the moment when house guests leave and I can go around straightening up the house, doing laundry, vacuuming and getting things back to normal. Your boy is so gorgeous, those sleepy, lop-sided smiles are precious. Good luck with the sleep issues. Like you, that was one area I was pretty firm about. I need my sleep!

    Gillian x

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  22. It must be love! I didn't have any sleepers by six weeks. Whatever it takes to get a night's sleep I reckon. I am impressed with how relaxed you are. Five would tip me over the edge x

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    1. Well it's technically only my first week with all 5 without another adult in the house with me full-time so things could be very different by the end of the week!

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  23. PS Love the echidna. May absolute favourite Aussie animal.

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  24. Oh Mel, those pictures of Flynn are absolutely delightful, what a heartbreaker, and so smiley! Gorgeous little man. I do hope things are settling for you guys now you can get into a better routine x

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  25. Mel, he's divine!! Such a sweet poppet. I hope his sleep improves for you soon. As for the escaping from his wrap, have you seen the Love To Swaddle bags? I used them for Sophie as they're snugglier than sleep bags and for those early months, allow their hands to be up near their faces without them startling themselves xx

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  26. What a gorgeous little boy! I remember week 6 being really unsettled with all my kids. It's like the light switches on and something changed. I hope he settles soon, he's a darling.

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