sick baby girl!

Gaby is sick :(

Started on Thursday, we went to Westfields & noticed she was quite sleepy, even though she'd just had a sleep.... then noticed she had a fever! We took her straight to the doctors & her temp was 39.9. They managed to get it down with Panadol & Nurofen, and told us to go back in a few hours for another check. Went back later & they found she had an ear infection (that wasn't there at our first visit), so she got put on antibiotics.

Friday she was a bit better, but totally off her food & bottle. By about 4pm she hadn't drunken anything, so I took her back to the doctor & he wanted me to take her up to the hospital to be checked out. After about 5 hours at the hospital, she was confirmed as having an ear infection & virus, and cleared to go home! I was a bit happier after that, hearing the paediatrician say she was okay was reassuring.

Saturday she was better again - but had diarrhoea & some vomitting, but that seems to have settled down mostly now. She has been VERY sleepy & cuddly - which is cute, but also a bit sad, because she's not her usual boistrous self!!!! She is also teething, so I am guessing that that is just complicating the virus/ear infection somewhat as well.

It's been a bit scary for me really - all I could imagine when she first got sick were the worst case scenario's... just as I was leaving for the hospital, I actually thought to myself "is this the last time Gaby is going to be at home?"... very horrible to think that. And so glad it really was just a silly thought!!!!!

.... I have had a flu also, but am now better, so I'm feeling a little more up to coping with things. But I think it's time for life to settle down & give me a break for awhile!

Gaby is 1!

Well! Gaby is now 1!!!!!! Her birthday was on Friday, and she got absolutely spoilt! I think the most awesome present was the rocking-motorbike that my Dad made for her - it's sooooo neat! Though she thinks that normal riding is toooooo simple for her, she prefers to attempt to stand up on the bike! She got lots of clothes, and lots of other toys - she seems to reallllllly like the ball pit that I bought her - which I'm pleased about!

Gaby's rocking-motorbike

Her birthday party was on Saturday, and I think it was a success! There were absolutely no tears at all during the entire party, no fighting (by Jas & Alice), not even any mean words! Gabs had a sleep at 1pm, so she was up around 2pm - when the party 'officially' started.

Gaby & Josh

As with her birthday day, she got lots of new clothes (fantastic!), and a couple of toys. I don't think I'm going to need to buy her any clothes for awhile (doh!). She didn't like her cake one bit, but I didn't expect that she would - yet I just HAD to make her one, because well.. it was her birthday - she needed a cake!

Gaby's cake!

Her guests were:

• Sue, Jasmine & Alice
• Serena & Josh
• Terri & Evan
• Kai
• Sharlene
• Me
• Nan

I can't believe that my baby is 1!!! It feels like only y/day I brought her home from the hospital, and then here she is now - 1 year old!!!!!!!!! I never really imagined that her 1st b/day would arrive, but it's now been and gone. It's amazing...

last blog with an under-1-year-old!

Well tomorrow my baby girl turns 1!!!!! I can't believe the time has come already, that this time tomorrow my daughter will be 1. That this time a year ago, I was getting pretty close to having her in my arms!!!!!!

It's been a crazy, whirlwind year - more amazing than I imagined it would be... more confusing than I imagined it would be. But Gaby makes every single minute of it more than worth while. I love that little chicken so so much, my heart would shatter into a million little pieces if she was not here!!!!!

Tonight I'm going to spend some time wrapping presents, and no doubt remembering the past 12 months... And specifically the 25th & 26th October 2006!!!!

Here is a photo from last year & this year to compare!

Mama's little helper!

Today Gaby helped me to empty the dishwasher. She has been trying to 'help' for a few weeks now, and it really gets me irritated, because i'm so scared she's going to cut herself or hurt herself somehow. Today I finally realised she wouldn't NOT try to help, so I let her get the bottles out, and made sure the knives/forks/cups/plates were all out before I let her at it. It was pretty cute though, she seemed to have a ball!

mummy's little helper

9 days and Gaby will be ONE! I cannot wait for her birthday, I'm going to spoil her rotten. Infact, I'm sure that EVERYONE is going to spoil her rotten... but she deserves it! Her birthday party is going to be on the Saturday, and so far it's just a few family members & Serena/Josh coming, but that'll be more than enough. I think Stu & his family are having her on Saturday morning, so who knows, maybe she'll have two parties!

This time last year, I guess I was feeling pretty anxious & 'over' the whole thing. I was beginning to have a lot of anxiety issues, and was barely sleeping, because I was so terrified of losing her.. of her for some reason dying.. inside me... I don't think I could have handled that. I often wonder what'd have happened if I hadn't gone in to be induced. When I would have actually gone into 'proper' labour etc. I guess I'll never know, but at the same time, I have no reason to really care because she made it safe & sound!

long time no update!

I've not updated in a long time, due to switching all my blog entries from my old account, to this new one! But now that that is all (finally) finished, I can get back to updating a bit more regularly.

Gaby took her first step on Friday night! October 12th - which was my original EDD with her! She hasn't taken a step since, and sadly I missed it, BUT at least Mum/Dad/Terri got to see it! She is getting very clever standing up by herself, and her balance seems to be increasing with each day that passes. It is all very scary & exciting at the same time! My infant is going to be a toddler in a matter of days I think!!!

In 12 days Gaby will be 1!!! That is so exciting, and I can't wait to be able to wake up on the morning of the 26th & say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her! I feel a bit stink because I've only gotten her two b/day presents yet, but I guess at her age it's not important to get a lot of presents? I'm sure that this week I'll splash out and buy her something else! I'm having a little party for her, I think it will just be Me, Gab, Terri, Mum, Dad, Serena, Josh, Sue, Jasmine & Alice - but that's probably more than enough for a 1st birthday!

It is highly possible that mid-May next year, Gaby will be a big sister! I got a couple of positive tests back around my b/day, but then my period arrived. However around 10 days later I got ANOTHER positive test, and ended up with 6 positives over the space of 3 days. My hcg levels are increasing, but we haven't been able to see anything via u/s yet. It is very frustrating, but going by the fact my hcg is increasing, I am hoping that things are just a bit earlier on than I thought. I have two more beta hcg tests this week & then probably another scan later in the week - and HOPEFULLY then we'll know for sure what's happening!!!!

Gaby is just adorable... and I am excited that she's going to be a big sister... But even if it turns out I am not pregnant, or that it's ectopic or a blighted ovum, then I am still more than happy with & am totally in love with Gaby..

Can't believe she's almost one...

sleep & other disasters

For pretty much the first time since Gaby was around 6 weeks old, we are having issues with sleep. SOME nights she is just fine, perfect really. Other nights, she will be awake on and off between 7-10.30, she'll be awake 2-5 times during the night. It is such a shock to the system after all of this time of GOOD sleeping!

Yesterday I decided to cut out one of her sleeps, and she slept fairly well last night, there was no waking before 4am. So maybe that is the key to it all. Maybe she's been sleeping TOO much during the day. I'm also going to make sure she is up by 4pm, and I won't put her down AFTER 3.30pm... So I guess we'll try to have a sleep around 9.30am & then a sleep around 1.30-2.00pm. See how that goes!

Gaby is 11 months old tomorrow! Time has gone somewhere, i'm not sure where!!!!! She seems to just be growing like a weed - I am really interested to see what she weighs now - and how long she is, because I think she's had a bit of a growth spurt lately.her say "Mum Mum"......

6 weeks until Gaby is 1!

I have been feeling a little funny lately - Gaby is going to be one in less than 6 weeks now. 6 weeks? Wow. I absolutely love & adore & cherish the toddler that Gaby is turning into, but I'm finding that I'm also beginning to miss my tiny little baby that I had not so long ago. I am picking this is a somewhat normal reaction to a baby reaching his/her first birthday. But I can't say that I expected it!

I was going through some photos of Gaby this morning, and she has grown so much, in such a small space of time. It really did bring tears to my eyes, seeing this small, 'fresh' newborn - and then comparing it to this funny, crawling, laughing, cheeky 11 month old that she (almost) is now.

I feel at times as though I'm too protective of Gaby, being so paranoid about SIDS, about her choking, about her getting into something dangerous, however I know that it is better to be a little paranoid, rather than not giving a damn what she does or what she gets into. I think it's going to be hard to let go more and more as she gets older, and DOES start to become independent. Once again, maybe this is a natural reaction/response?

All I know is that I love this little girl with all my heart - and more. I love her so much it does truly physically hurt. There is nothing lovelier than her smile, than her giggle, than a cuddle, than hearing

she seems to grow overnight!

The past few days whenever I have gotten Gaby up in the morning, she appears to be more grown up than she was the day beforehand. She is making new noises, pulling new faces, getting into more and more. It is like she really is growing right before my eyes - and I guess technically she is! It's quite amazing. A little sad, but mostly amazing!!!!

Still no more teeth, I don't THINK I should be worried about it at this stage, but if they aren't up by the time she turns 1, I will talk to the Plunket Nurse about it.

1st birthday... I don't know how much of a 'party' I should give her. I would LIKE to invite Ter & Gav, Sue & the girls, Serena & Josh, maybe Mel & Raph (depending on them having to travel) - I should probably invite Stu & his sisters too, so maybe that is getting too messy & too many people? I want to make her a birthday cake, but I don't know that it is NECESSARY for her 1st birthday. Well, OF COURSE she needs a cake! Who am I kidding? I should probably try & find recipes for kid-friendly-cakes. I was thinking of just doing a banana cake.... maybe i'll stick to that plan!

10 months!

Gaby was 10 months old last Sunday. She is now a 'double digits girl', and that thought is freaky! I think back to this time last year, being around 33 weeks pregnant & waiting (not so) patiently for her arrival, and now she's almost 1!!!!

She is becoming more and more mobile each day, she can pull herself up against furniture easily now, and can crawl at a rather fast pace. The past couple of weeks I have noticed she is starting to want to feed herself - which is a messy activity, but one that she has to do all the same! It's so cool to see her getting food into her fingers, getting it in her mouth & then eating it. She isn't AS dependent on me anymore, and it's quite cool. Scary, but cool!

Gaby has said three words now. Mum, Nan & Poppa. WOW!!!!!!! I think Mum & Dad are both quite chuffed that she has said their names - Dad told everyone at work that she said 'Poppa' before anything else... obviously forgetting that she has been saying "Mum" for a couple of weeks now!!!!! Oh well, whatever makes him feel like 'the man'.

Last Sunday Gaby also had chocolate ice cream for the first time! She certainly enjoyed it, and got good and messy!

love her so much

Once again - I can't believe how much I love that little girl. She has been so cheeky lately - getting into stuff she shouldn't be getting into - but at the same time KNOWING she shouldn't be, and giving me a sneaky little grin as she pulls on a cord, or takes a DVD from the rack, or puts her hand in the middle of the TV screen.

She has started saying Mum! Talk about a wonderful moment in my life. I know it is more than a 'noise' - it is a real word. The past few days she has been standing up a LOT, I am scared (in a pleasant way) that she's going to start walking in the very near future.

I watched Maternity Ward yesterday, and I have to say, I am so so so glad that everything was okay with me & Gaby before & after her delivery. There is so much that can go wrong, I am so lucky that everything was straight forward for the two of us. I am so lucky to have a happy, healthy, thriving baby girl.

so grown up

Since Gaby started crawling - she has seemed so grown up, all of a sudden! She is getting into EVERYTHING, and doing things she'd not have done a week ago. I love it, but it's also a bit scary!

She is beginning (slowly) to learn what "no" means, and I think she's beginning to know certain things she's not allowed to touch or play with.... I REALLY need to do some more baby proofing though, and try to figure out some ways to make the house a bit more baby-safety-friendly.. There is nothing really obviously harmful - BUT I'm sure there are hazards out there that I've not thought of.

I've been reminiscing about Gaby's birth some more lately... and about my pregnancy. I can't wait to be pregnant again & to experience my child growing inside me. Although when I say I "can't wait" I don't mean I want to be pregnant now, or even in the next couple of years........ I want to devote my time to Gaby right now...

crawling!

On the 2nd of August, at approx 2.37pm - GABY STARTED CRAWLING!!!!!!!!!!!

My baby is officially mobile now, and it's all a little scary. It means she's a step closer to being independent. She no longer needs me to carry her everywhere. Soon she'll be walking. Then running. Not to mention talking. Going to primary school. Going to intermediate. Going to high school. Dating. Going to university (if she wishes to)..... Getting married... having children..... Okay, so maybe there are still quite a few years before she reaches that peak, BUT it's all getting more and more real!

Tomorrow we are getting some more Pixi Foto's taken tomorrow - and I think Terri & Gav, Sue & the girls are going to get a photo done with her as well. It's all quite exciting really - I'm going to love having these photo's to look back on in the future!

I think we are teething at the moment, she's been waking up at 4.30-5.30am, and not going back to sleep, she's grizzly, dribbling a whole lot, chewing on anything that will fit in her mouth. I really hope these dang teeth arrive soon, so that I can have a good 7-8 hour sleep. I'm starting to feel a little rundown at the moment, BUT it's all part of the package isn't it. And if I had to choose between good sleep, or having Gaby - Gaby would win every single time!

growth spurt & 12 months approaching

the past few days Gaby has been quite grizzly - and quite hungry, just acting quite out of character. Last night she had THREE bowls of dinner! LOL. I am picking she is having a growth spurt, I remember the plunket nurse saying that she'd probably have her next between 9-10 months.

Josh turned 1 the other day, so that means Gaby isn't far off! Scary stuff. I'm trying to decide if I should buy her anything else for her b/day - she is only going to be 1 - she isn't going to understand what the heck is going on, and will probably be more interested in the boxes! BUT it would be nice to spoil her! I might get her some more books, and a couple of cute little outfits maybe...

Not sure if I will have a 'party' for her... I will invite Sue & the girls, Ter, Gav & Tyler... and probably Josh & Serena... and then there will be Stu & his sisters.... hmmmm could be a busy day!

happy 9 month b/day

Gaby is 9 months old today!!!! 9 months ago today, my life changed irreversibly - not that I'd want to reverse it!

It's really funny (well not funny haha) how much your life changes once you have a baby. You realise how much you've taken certain things for granted (sleeping in!), you realise that your parents weren't really that bad, you realise how important family is, you realise how un-important going out & getting drunk every weekend is... Your choice in friends changes, you drift away from those friends without children, and get closer to those with children. And suddenly YOU are not the most important thing in your life - your baby/child is 10x more important than you, and you automatically put their needs ahead of your own.

Some people probably think "that sounds pretty lame" - but I love it. I feel like my life is on the track it's meant to be on, since I've had Gaby. I don't think I'm meant to be a 'career woman', I don't think I'm meant to be someone who travels until they are 40........ I think I'm meant to be a Mum. I KNOW I'm meant to be a Mum.

Although sometimes, with the way things are with society now, I feel like it's not good enough for me JUST to be a Mum. I should be working 40 hours a week, while studying at the same time. Until recently that has caused me a lot of confusion. But I have finally realised that I CAN 'just be a Mum'. I don't HAVE to be at university. I don't HAVE to be working 40 hours a week. For me personally, the most important thing is that Gaby is put first - and that she's the most important thing in my life - that she gets as much time with me as possible during the early days, to build that all important foundation of love & respect........

I love her so much..... she's a little monkey at times, but I love her all the more for it!

plunket update

Hmm well the Plunket update y/day wasn't that exciting, because she weighs what she weighed when the doctor weighed her on their scales (with nappy & clothes on), and she is SHORTER than the last measurement we were given? LOL obviously there is a bit of a discrepency between the two measurey thingys! Anyways she's 21lb1.5oz & 71cm long.... We go back at 12 months for another check up. I'm a little worried about the whole length being the same at 7 & 9 months? but hopefully it IS just a weird discrepancy though

Gaby is doing really well, she seems to be getting around on her hands & knees now, just not by crawling. One minute she's by the TV, the next she's by the couch. It's pretty cute!

Me & Serena have decided to take Gaby & Josh to the Queenspark Playgroup, to see if we can meet some new Mummy's & babies! It is $1 a session, so it's not exactly going to break the bank is it. Speaking of the bank, I'm going to get a bank account set up for Gaby, so that I can put all her money bank money in there - and so people can just put money in her bank account if they don't want to get her b/day or xmas presents... I'm picking most people would sooner give presents hehe, I know I would! I would like her to get to 18 & have a nice little amount of money tucked away - so she can maybe go travelling.

Me & Gaby are quite possibly going to be in the Treasures magazine!! The lady who is the editor of the single parenting article/section of the magazine, rang and left a message yesterday to ask if I would be interested in being in an article! Of course I am, who wouldn't be! She is going to ring me around 11.00 today, so I'm waiting by the phone!

plunket tomorrow

Gaby has Plunket tomorrow - it will be very interesting to see how much she's grown since her last check! I think she'll probably be close to 23lb, and maybe... 75cm long?

She still isn't crawling, but she is getting closer to it. Hopefully she'll start this week, but then again athere is really no rush, so long as the Plunket nurse says she's doing okay, and i'm pretty sure she will!!!!

No more teeth yet, though her attitude lately tends to make me think there will be one or two popping through in the near future! I'm sure she'll get a hell of a shock when she first eats with 4 teeth - and actually bits something off!

She's getting cuter and cuter each day, I just love her so much - I would be heartbroken if anything happened to her, I really really would be.

my little spittle bug

LOL Ms Gabrielle has started spitting! It's so cute.. though I'm sure that soon enough it won't be cute! She seems to know the perfect time to do it, to make me laugh. I am 100% sure that she understands a LOT more than I give her credit for, there is a very intellegent brain inside that huge head of hers!

Today while she was having some tummy time, I noticed that Gaby was up on her toes & hands! It looked so cute, but I think I gave her a bit of a fright with my excited shriek I let out, because she collapsed. Hopefully I can get her to do it again soon. I really hope that she begins crawling soon... Just so I know that she's doing things she's meant to be. I know that she isn't behind, but well, I feel like people judge me by the stage of development Gaby is at.... it shouldn't bother me, but it does. We saw Sally & Jane over the weekend & they gave me 'that look' when I said Gaby wasn't crawling......

changing overnight

Gaby has been changing overnight - quite literally too! The past three or four days, each morning she wakes up looking different, and making different noises. It is so overwhelming how quickly she's growing up - for instance this afternoon, she pulled herself up to a standing position! She has never done that before, hell she's never even seemed CLOSE to doing that before, but there she was!

Yet again, I have become overwhelmed when thinking about how much I love Gaby. I was in her room talking to her this morning & I began crying, because all of this love was just pouring out. It terrifies me to think that something could happen to her, or that something could happen to me.... I hope to god (not that I believe!) that nothing happens, that in 50 years time we have a normal mother/daughter relationship, but I guess no one can predict what is going to happen in the future.

Gaby still isn't crawling, but today she seemed to get closer and closer with each little attempt, so I'm sure it can't be too far away. Watch out world! when she does start crawling - nothing is going to be safe! Tomorrow we are going to Timaru to see Nana who is in hospital, and we are then going to see Deb, Mark & the boys - and they are coming up here for the night, because Mark and Corey are going to the All Blacks match (lucky bastards). I am sure that Deb hasn't seen Gab since Christmas - in which case, that is over 6 months ago! I'm looking forward to getting away from Christchurch...

teething again

Pretty sure Gab is teething again, but she doesn't seem as bad as the last time! Thank god! It's scary to think she may have new teeth soon!

She still isn't crawling, but I'm sure it'll happen soon - it's going to be so funny seeing my little girl crawling all around the house. It must be weird for babies, they are stuck in one place for the first 8 or so months of their lives, and then WHAMMO - they have a whole house to explore

poor Gaby

Poor Gaby has thrush on her bum & it isn't clearing up. We've been to the doctor three times for it, and have had three different creams - and now some antibiotics, but if anything it seems to be getting worse. Poor little poppet. We saw Tim y/day and he said that one of the 'raw patches' has actually ulcerated. I hope it clears up soon, because it can't be comfortable.

She was a bit cranky during the night, and I'm wondering if there is another tooth or two beginning to make their way down, esepcially seeing as she was also very grumpy this morning. I hope there are teeth coming, because I hate to think there is something else wrong that I haven't picked up on...