First day of the New Year. Family Time. This is a nice time of year and this year especially different for me because I have my own little family now and our family is bigger because of it. It is also Zachary's 1 month birthday so I decided to take a few photographs so that we can remember how he changed through the first year of his life. My brother suggested taking photographs with a bear so that you have a perspective on just how much he grows. The bear in the picture was bought by my best friend Helen. Its one of those teddy factory bears with its own birth certificate and name. Its called Zachary Bear and shares its birthday with baby Zachary. Sweet eh !

Bath time on New Years Day. He isn't very happy being messed about with at the moment. Who can blame him he should be all curled up enjoying the warmth and security of mummy's tummy never mind being dunked in luke warm water. Its no substitute really is it !

Very first visitors at home

Zachary's very first visitors at home were on New Years Day. My brother James, my sister-in-law Liz and their little girl Hope (Zachary's cousin) came over to see us. It was lovely to see them as always and specially nice for Zachary and Hope to meet. Since they are only 5 months apart in age and we all live so close to one another they will go to the same village school and will grow up really close. I am so glad that I am near my family right now. Going through this experience especially having spent the last month in hospital with Zachary in an incubator my family have really helped me. They have always been my safety net even when they have not been physically close. Knowing I am safe in their love has always allowed me to feel safe and be the person I am knowing that wherever I may be I am always loved. That safety net has always been a comfort to me and in the last month in hospital I am sure there were days when their love as much as my love for the new addition in my life was what kept me sane. I am very gratfeul for that safety net and I hope that they realise how much that means and has always meant to me.

1 Month Old Photographs - luckily his eyes are open

One month old movie clip (4Mb)

Sorry its almost 4Mb but if you have the bandwidth and want to watch it then go ahead. He is the cutest wee thing. I will try to keep my movie clips to a nice small size so I can add them to the site now and then but obviously I dont expect people with slow old fashioned modem's will want to run them anyway.

6th January 2006 - Settling In

Modeling a beautiful hug me fleece which was sent to us at the hospital as a gift. It was too big then and is still a bit big now but he looked so cute. We are settling in nicely at home and although I am not getting that much sleep its much nicer than being in hospital. Zachary tends to be quite sick and unsettled after his feeds so I have been doing some research into Colic to see if that's what the problem is. Its tough work anyway with a small baby but when they cry a lot and don't settle well its really tiring for everyone. Its sad to see him so unsettled too especially since he really needs to try & sleep as much as possible.

10th January 2006 - Picture for the paper

Mum wrote a letter to the Malvern Gazette about our stay at hospital. Really it was a public thank you to all the staff etc who looked after us. Often hospitals only get exposure when someone is complaining so Mum wanted people to see that sometimes there are nice stories too. I think Mum & Dad were so pleased that we both survived the experience and came out fit and well. We were both very well cared for and I am really grateful for that. Grateful that I got to take Zachary home and that he is alive and fit and well. I am sure he will grow up into a big tall strong man and no one will ever believe he was born so early and things could so easily have been disastrous. Happy endings are much nicer !

16th January 2006

Despite being quite unsettled and sick a lot Zachary is growing like a weed. Mummy isn't getting much sleep but then I don't really mind as long as he is growing and gaining weight. I am so lucky that I am at home with Mum & Dad. I feel really sorry for Mum's that cope with severely Colicky or unsettled babies on their own because it really is hard work. Most nights I am lucky if I get 6 hrs sleep and that is broken up into two hour chunks spread over 8 to 10 hours. During the day its tough to get dressed and eat never mind straighten my hair, send emails or do any work. I am going to have to think hard about future career or study plans.

I might not knit very often but here I am knitting the squares for a patchwork blanket I am making for him. Oopps there goes any credible party animal reputation I once had. Now I am a knitting momma ! He loves being asleep on someone like a limpet so here he is happily curled up on mummy's chest while she knits over his head. He is sooo tiny!

19th January 2006 - Asleep on lotty the ladbug playmat

I am learning quickly that if something works for a while then make the most of it. If baby will sleep then let him sleep and quick run for the shower ! I know the baby books all go on about what you should and should not do but sometimes you just have to go with whatever seems to be working. Perhaps the first thing the baby book should say is excellent paper for starting a fire. Because if all else fails that's what I intend to do with the book. At the moment Zachary seems to have trouble settling comfortably. His tummy seems to trouble him a lot and if I try to lie him down he gets terrible wind and tummy gripes and is sick. He prefers it if you hold him which is simply lovely but my back is likking, I would love a good lie down and sleep and am dying for a long hot bath. I am sure I smell terrible. I realise that this pre due date stage he is basically pretending to be in the womb and trying to sleep I just wish he seemed more comfortable and able to get a good few hours of sleep for his own sake as much as mine. Coping with food on a stomach that shouldn't be used for milk must be tough though. No wonder he is sick and gripes quite a bit. We are trying him on Infacol to see if it helps him.

29th January 2006 - First Outing

First time out of the door and all bundled up warm and snug as a bug in a rug. Liz bought this set for Zachary from Mothercare it has a furry lined jacket with a fleecy body. He looks so cute and warm. He also has a hat on knitted by my Mum of course. We went for a quick walk down to the nature park and back. We were only out about 20 mins as I don't want him getting cold and until he is bigger I have been advised to keep him all snuggled up and warm against the cold. He is just over 5lb now which is huge compared to the 4lb he was in hospital. He was due to be born around now so we expect him to start to change and develop from now on like a full term baby. I have to keep reminding even myself that these last 2 months simply don't count. He isn't like a 2 month old. He is just like a newborn baby.