Obviously the best was hearing exchange has finally happened, and completion planned for 29th April. Somewhat later than I desired, as wanted to settle a bit in new area before return to work, but at least before start date!

So the rest, well we all got up early today – something to do with sun streaming through the windows. BB required a night feed again – think its cos as 21 weeks and still exclusively breastfed, getting the munchies a bit more often. I think as we are still not getting very far with al sorts of different expressed milk delivery systems, that we will introduce solids the weekend before I start work [23 weeks], so at least something can go in. Letting milk slosh in and round everywhere is the most successful technique, but due to the move, I have none frozen, and so every drop precious! i would hope not to have to supplement with formula while i am at work, but I am going to have to be a bit pragmatic about it. I am already expressing once in the evening, and although only obtaining 4-5 oz, could do more, and will aim for about 8 on return to work, plus a lunch express at work of about 6 should give us 5 3oz bottles per day while I am out, and I’ll do massive feeds when at home. if I get a 4 day week, am secretly hoping for Wed off [well thats what i suggested] as that breaks up the days I’m away nicely, and I think will make it less likely that formula supplement needed. I love the milky/toffee smell of exclusively bf babies though – BB burping over me!

BB not so sqwawky today. In our morning, after SB gone to nursery [she cycled there uphill with Daddy – PE] she had a nice bath and massage and then a long waggling sessions. She’s thinking of how to roll over – though not actually done it, and has much better co-ordinated arm and length movts. Sitting is a great skill now, as is stuffing anything in her mouth! cooing and ra-ing at me i think she is going to be a talker like her sister!

Picked SB up from nursery and took to gingerbread cottage – my last ever [ and hers] new mums. [socialisation, PE] next tues nursery has a party, so she will be doing that instead. We first met when SB 11 weeks old, and have been meeting every Tues since then – though I am a bit more erratic! its pretty much 4 years exactly. Its very sad to say goodbye to such a good support group, though my need for it has gone. I found SB a bit stressful, and they were my sanity link, as I realised all the children were stressful in one way or another, and we were all just trying! We come from all walks of life – as the saying goes, with v differing views on every issue pretty much, but in spite of that, struck up good friendships and been regular features in each others lives. The children have played well together [on the whole, after all none of them are perfect!]. I would just like to take this opportunity to register a vote of thanks to the lot of them for all the friendship and tacit support – even when they must have thought I was mad [cloth nappies - though other users with second children - LOL; planned extended breastfeeding - though others did by default; a certain amount of continuum concept parenting, and finally home-ed - you get the drift]. Not that they read my blog – though have given the address in case they fancy seeing what we are doing. Most have no internet access. thankyou to their children – SB’s playmates through the years as well. life goes on, some threads are renewed, some replaced, but we are glad for the time we have shared.

On return, SB in odd mood – prob partly due to mine, partly as she was aware last time she would see some of these friends, and partly due to lack of sleep over weekend still. We calmed down by seeing what Daddy doing in the garage, some education city – as we haven’t signed up, they have extended the trial – persistant lot aren’t they! We have done foundation year and first for science, though SB happy to do some again, potteres through most of foundation maths, and a lot of foundation english. cbeebies on the internet and the bananas in pyjamas website as well. SB certainly has the letters off pat in upper and lower case, with prompting can do a bit of ordering, usually recognises first and last letters and can sound out. just awaiting that spark! [aside – a momentary rather overwhelming pang that in all likelihood it will be chris that sees this eureka moment] I think we will be passing on education city as the summer is coming, and we are far more outdoorsy then, BB more mobile, so not so sofa tied – after all chris not breastfeeding. [this going back to work crap]. will keep the link and rethink perhaps in future years.

Whistling has progressed, and SB v keen on this new skill. Oh she took her bridesmaid photos to nursery as she was so proud of it – bless. Actually her musicality as a whole has improved. while singing she is much more likely to stay close to pitch, and her violin playing getting more structured – last played on friday, as didn’t blog, and she usually puts bow in the right place, and with the right pressure to get notes. Also we practiced putting fingers on the strings in different places to change notes. We are gradually getting a bit of formality in, bit by bit so that imperceptibly we are moving towards actually learning rather than messing [music]. She is also happy to have classic fm on rather than her own song cd’s in the car – blessed relief!

After bath was slightly stressful as she was unsettled, whingy and just not right. however, cuddles and stories and CD and she has fallen asleep by 8.30. BB just fallen asleep, so I guess I should do some sorting for move