On the 15^th of November we finally moved house after endless months of messing about with solicitors. As we were swapping house with the lady who was buying our house we had thought that it would be easier than a normal move. It didn’t quite happen as smoothly as we’d hoped though, especially on moving day, which was particularly chaotic as we were moving things into – and out of – both houses at the same time! Luckily Trent and Roisin spent the day with their great aunt so I had two less things to worry about.

Now that everything has been moved in, and the kids are back home, we’re trying to get a bit of order in the house. We have already decorated both Trent and Roisin’s bedrooms – it was my priority to make sure that the kids were comfortable. We didn’t want to ruin Trent’s routine as he is now at an age where he understands what is going on around him. He is over the moon with his new Bob the Builder bedroom; complete with duvet, curtains, lampshade, bin, chair and cushions. For the time being Roisin is making use of the Zeddy and Parsnip accessories that Trent has grown out of, they are all neutral colours so work equally well for her. As soon as she becomes more interested in a theme we will decorate her room again.

I’m taking the rest of the house one step at a time. We don’t want to miss out on our children’s precious years, whilst concentrating on decorating, so we are planning to do bits and pieces as and when we can. For now it’s time to start planning a special Christmas – our first as a family of four!

This week was my first week back at university since I had Roisin. I was looking forward to it, as it was the first time I’d had to use my brain in ages, but at the same time I knew I’d miss the gang. I opted to travel to and from Lancaster everyday so I could at least see everyone for an hour or two – even if it was just putting them to bed or getting them up in the morning. I had the week planned – who was going where on which days, when Trent was going to nursery and all the meals and bottles were organised.

The week flew in, probably because by the time I got home, tidied up, got the following day’s things organised and put Trent and Roisin to bed, it was time for me to go to bed! I felt bad that dad got neglected and had to do a lot of running around and coping with both children at the same time. But at least now he knows what life’s like in a normal week for me when he’s at work! My mam and auntie are brilliant and give me loads of support, and dad normally takes Trent every morning so that gives me a chance to get organised.

I was surprised that although I missed Roisin lots, it was Trent who I really looked forward to seeing at the end of the week. I think it’s because Roisin is still so young, and as long as she’s fed, warm and dry, then she’s happy and doesn’t know any difference. But Trent is at such an inquisitive age and he’s learning so quickly. Every day he’s doing or saying something different and even in the one week I was away I noticed he’d grown up so fast. When I came home one night my mam had taught Trent to say ‘school’, so he knows where I go all week – he can also say ‘work’ because that’s where dad goes. I really enjoy learning and my job, and I need to carry on working because it keeps my brain going and it’s something I do for me. But I also love being a mam.

I was really panicking about bringing a new baby home to Trent, and with good reason because the first few weeks have been a bit up and down.
I realised straight away that Trent was all over his dad, and that he could sense something was different with me, so I made sure that when I could make a fuss of him I did. It wasn’t easy though as I was still in a bit of pain from the birth and I was breastfeeding Roisin. I kept catching Trent watching me out of the corner of his eye so I knew that he was interested, and I gradually introduced him to his baby sister. His initial reaction shocked me. He seemed to be scared of her, which I’d never imagined. When she moved he cried, there was no way I could get him to go anywhere near her.
After a few days he got a bit braver and ventured a bit closer to her, he was soon coming right up to her, laughing and tickling her. It would’ve been quite sweet but the tickling turned into him wanting to grab her feet and not letting go!
Now Roisin is four weeks old and Trent is becoming quite fond of his new sister, so fond in fact that I regularly catch him with her dummy in his mouth!

An exhausted-looking mummy and her gang:

Roisin’s first trip to the beach:

Trent playing at big brother and showing off:

I’ve been away at university this week so I asked my partner to have a go at writing the blog for me. See what you think of how he got on…

Well where do I begin? Becky has asked me to write the blog this week as she has been away at university and I have had total control over Trent – her words not mine… I wouldn’t call it control!

This actually quite a nice opportunity to set the record straight; all you tend to read about lately is how useless men are, and how they should be more multi-skilled like the superior race of females! This may have some truth to it but I do dispute the fact that ALL men are useless. I for one work (just like mammy), I do the majority of the housework (mammy does a bit of it!) I share the cooking (same as mammy – apart from the fact that I don’t do ready meals, not that I’m saying it’s a’la carte either!) and I do all of this while doing my share of looking after Trent! I think I have put the case forward for all the men out there who are pulling their weight, and there are more and more of them because many more women are going back to work these days.

Of all the weeks for mammy to be away it had to be this week! What was different this week you ask? Only Trent’s two top front peggies deciding to pop out – and boy did I know about it! I always sympathise with babies and toddlers teething as I have endured a lot of problems myself in that department, so I try to make extra time for Trent when he is going through it. The obvious signs were there again: buckets of slather, red swollen chops, pulling his ears off and eating his toys all day. Trent regularly seems to show these symptoms but nothing pops out, not this time though, we got a 2-for-1 deal with his top two teeth coming out. At the start of the week I could just make out the tiny red cuts on the bottom of his gums, by the end of the week the pearly whites were clearly present. Trent quickly discovered he could grind them onto his bottom ones, making lots of funny facial expressions at the same time.

All I can say is that I am glad it’s the end of the week and mammy is back to support me –sharing the parenting is one thing, doing it all by yourself is quite another thing! I’m off now, the sofa’s inviting me to lie down for a few hours!! Apparently men need more beauty sleep than women, who are all naturally good looking to start with…

Dad and Trent enjoying some Father and son time

Poor old Trent suffers from teething pain

The end of an exhausting week

Well, it’s my second full day back at work. Trent has barely noticed I’ve been leaving him for the past two days, and I don’t think he would be that bothered if he did realise as he’s having so much fun. I, on the other hand, am missing him like mad – the days are dragging and all I seem to talk about is Trent.

Last night I felt so guilty when I got home; I was really tired, felt sick from travelling and I just didn’t have the energy to play with Trent. By the time everything was ready for today it was nearly his bedtime. His dad spent time playing with him but I know he felt equally as guilty as he was on a night shift so hadn’t seen Trent all day either. The only good thing is that I don’t have any sickness with this pregnancy and I’m hoping that won’t change – going to work full time, coming home to Trent and being pregnant at the same time is quite enough of a handful. We’re also trying to sell our house at the minute so it’s a constant battle having it clean for viewings!! I have to say though that before the five fab mums weekend I thought I had a hard life, but after seeing certain mums (they know who they are) juggling two toddlers and a newborn, managing to breastfeed and look good, I’ve realised I’ve got it easy with all the support I have and I really admire them.