Six Months - Oscar

Antique buoys from The Spring Shop, calligraphy by Didi, Brisbane pennant by Yardage Design, 'War is Over' postcard from Sydney Gallery, owl vase by Sharon Muir.

I know I'm biased because he's mine, but seriously, this little chubby baby is just divine. Oh the cuteness. His smile lights up my days and his laugh is adorable and infectious. Those blue eyes take in everything, and those little hands reach out to grasp everything too. I often find strands of his sister's blonde hair between his fingers, after she has leant in close. He is so cuddly and smells like milk and baby. Those sweet babbled 'words' began one morning recently with 'da da da' coming from his cot. 'Ma ma ma' and 'bub bub bub' followed a few days later. Cohen's first sound was 'da da', while Emerson's was 'ma ma.' 

Oscar continues to roll and turn himself to travel surprising distances on the floor, and has learnt this month to push himself back wards. It won't be long until we are fitting the child gates for the final time. Despite the absolute lack of teeth, he has taken happily to solids and is a fan of mushy food, so we are doing a little baby lead weaning, a little mushy food. He breastfeeds to sleep and is feeding up to three times a night, which is fine as long as I can squeeze in a nap at least once a week! As soon as I lay him down in his bed he pops his thumb in his mouth and his whole little body relaxes. 

There is no end to the dribble and the reflux, but neither seem to affect his general happiness. He's had a few unsettled days, which I tend to attribute to teething. But generally, he is a happy, relaxed little man, who loves being worn in a sling, and only really spends time away from me while I attend a weekly yoga class - one very important hour of 'me time' with three children.

I see quite a few similarities between Oscar and Emerson at 6 months.

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Four months, five months.

10 Tips For New Parents From A Stay At Home Mother Of Three

It feels like everyone is having babies at the moment. There are so many delightful bumps in my social circle. As a result there has been an increase in conversations about parenting advice. As a Mama of three who has learnt as she has gone along, these are the tips I would love to give new parents, or go back in time and tell myself.

Less is more.

You don't need all the fancy baby goods at the baby store. All you really need is a car seat, somewhere for baby to sleep (bassinette, cot, your bed, up to you), a rocker or similar for them to safely rest, bedding, clothes, wraps, nappies (cloth or disposable), wipes, gentle bath wash (many babies have sensitive skin - I found GIA and  Dermaveen were best), washers, towels, a few toys and books, a sling, a high chair, and a stroller that reclines. Baby will grow out of most of those gadgety things in their first year. As the old saying goes - a baby is only as expensive as you make them.

Listen to your baby.

There comes a point where you need to throw away the books and trust your instincts. If baby is hungry, feed them. Feeding on demand makes more sense to me than trying to schedule feeds. I'm not always hungry at the same time each for the exact same amount of food, so why should a growing baby be? It's ok to let them feed to sleep. One health nurse in particular had me paranoid about letting my first born feed to sleep. I feared being 'used' and him 'developing bad habits.' Thank goodness another health nurse asked me, 'What could be more natural.' Indeed! And as controversial as this topic is, I have to say, don't leave them to cry. Babies cry to communicate - hunger, discomfort, tiredness. Hold them, kiss them, rock them to sleep. You can not spoil them. If your friend was crying, you wouldn't just leave them to cry it out, you would comfort them.

It's your choice.

Everyone has an opinion on breast or bottle feeding, and sleeping arrangements. I like Dr Sears comment that no one should tell a parent how to feed their baby or where it should sleep. Research your options and do what works for you. You are allowed to change your mind. And what works now might change later. 

You are not alone. 

Mothers groups and Playgroups provide a support network of parents and carers with similarly aged children. It's often reassuring to know other babies and toddlers are doing exactly the same things yours are, and feels good to be able to share, laugh and commiserate over the joys and frustrations of parenthood.

It never hurts to ask. 

For up to date information in Australia you can turn to your local health nurse, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, 13HEALTH or your GP. If you're not sure about a cough/ rash/ cut etc it's better to go to the Doctors and risk nothing being wrong, that not go and risk something being wrong.

Baby wear. 

I am biased, but I love baby wearing. A sling or carrier can be your best friend and leave your hands free. It's a beautiful way to bond with and respond to baby. It's particularly convenient when you have other children. I wear Oscar in a sling daily and he loves it and is lulled to sleep while I'm walking, or experiences the world from the safety of his Mama.

Baby lead weaning. 

I only tried this with my second child and I would never go back to 'traditional' solids. Be gone mushy food. Be gone baby cereal. A simpler, more natural and faster way to introduce solids to babies. Lots of great info here. 

This too shall pass.

Before becoming a parent, you felt sorry for the child having a tantrum at the shops, after having children you feel sorry for the parent. So often our children are going through normal developmental stages, which doesn't make them any less challenging. Stay informed and keep your expectations realistic for their age. Talk to other parents about how they are managing the same behaviors. And remember, this too shall pass!

Just laugh.

It pays to have a sense of humor as a parent. From exploding nappies, to projectile vomit, there's a whole new range of experiences before you. That little baby will eventually draw on the walls, or poo in the bath, break your favorite cup, open the door while you are in the public toilet, and no matter how high or how well you hide the nappy cream, sooner or later they will find it and smear it on themselves/ room/ toys. Not to mention nearly all the promises you made yourself pre-children will be broken - I'll never raise my voice/ go out without make up/ let my child eat that... And especially pre-children thoughts like 'My child will never act like that/ get away with that/ throw a tantrum in public' will be proven wrong. It's easier to cope in these situations if you can keep your sense of humor.

Just love them.

This is my mantra. Sometimes patience runs out. Sometimes frustration, sleep deprivation and stress are your constant companions. Sometimes you need to hand the baby to your partner and have a long bath and a glass of wine without any interruptions. And when that's not an option, and you feel like you aren't being the kind of parent you want to be, reminding yourself to 'just love them' can help diffuse the situation and change the gears in your mind so you can begin problem solving.

Please leave any other tips or advice you have in the comments!

Four months old - Oscar

With each child I have let go of a few more little things. Even with just one child I found it difficult to keep the 'memory book' up to date and fill in exactly how much Cohen weighed each month, what date he got which tooth, or who gave him what each birthday. I thought I would remember each precious moment, but when I came with pen to paper, the memories had no dates attached. I filled in each prompt as best I could, with pangs of guilt that I wouldn't be giving Cohen a perfect baby book record of his first years. By the third child I didn't even purchase a memory book, which at least alleviated that particular Mama guilt.

With Emerson, my sweet little second child, I took photos each month of her first year, accompanied by notes for prosperity. I had intentions of doing the same for Oscar, my dearly loved third child. But the first few months flew by in a blur of new routines, broken sleep, school days and market preparation. And, well, here we are with a few more pangs of mothers guilt motivating me to start documenting now, at four months. I know I will be so pleased that I did. I look back now at the months of photos and words I wrote for Emerson and my heart aches a little at how quickly that time passed and the knowledge that Oscars baby days will pass just as quickly. It all feels that much more bitter sweet for me third time around, knowing that my longed for third baby is our last.

My little moon faced Oscar is such a joy. He was made to be a third child. He is so very at ease and rarely protests or cries. He goes along for the ride, usually in a sling, close to Mama's heart. Nothing equals his love of breastmilk. Though he is the first of my children to love getting dressed. His eyes light up and he smiles with delight at each singlet popped over his head and each onesie his arms are struggled in to. He is patient and observant of his siblings. Fascinated by them and pleased if he manages to grip their fingers and get them in to his mouth. If not their fingers, then it is his own he searches for, not satisfied with a dummy like his siblings were. He naps throughout the day - a morning snooze, a long sleep after lunch, an afternoon snooze. He wakes once, sometimes twice, for a feed in the night. He needs no rocking or calming to go back to sleep, while his brother liked to be patted and his sister would only fall asleep on my chest.

At three months he grew out of his bassinet and I sadly moved it out of our room for the last time. He slept in his cot in the room beside ours from that day on, with no interruption to his sleep. He loves his baths. Cohen and Emerson love him hopping in the bath with them and kicking off against them with his little frog legs in the water. Oscar surprised himself, and me, when he managed to roll from his tummy to his side a few weeks ago. His little double chin is terribly ticklish, and his tummy was made for raspberries. He smiles so wide and purrs in response to such attentions.

I see so much of his brother and sister in him. Here is Emerson at four months old. And yet he is so much his own little person, and such a very loved one at that.

11 - 37 Weeks

11 Weeks

13 Weeks

15 Weeks

20 Weeks

22 Weeks

25 Weeks

26 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

'Cohen's Mum'

I was flicking back through the Instagram photos of my pregnancy today and wanted to pop them all in together in a post, along with the photos we have from two of the ultrasounds. I love seeing the progressive growth of my bump. I couldn't resist adding the portrait Cohen made of me at school too. So very cute.

Today I'm 37 weeks pregnant. Tomorrow I celebrate my 11th Wedding Anniversary. And the next day is Mother's Day. 

So very many reasons to be grateful and to celebrate.

Where is your...

nose?

hair?

ear?

foot?

The sweetness! 

It gets me every time.

40/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen: I never appreciated the humble dandelion until I became a Mama. Now they seem such bright and happy flowers, hardly a weed at all. I have a dish full of dried dandelions that Cohen has picked for me. With each flower gift he tells me he loves me. It's like a little dish of love.

Emerson: Precious blessing, who falls asleep each day in my arms. How rich I am. How rich every parent is.

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo of late. I feel like I have lost my voice. Perhaps I just need a little quiet time? Does that ever happen to you? 

I hope to return again soon. xx