postnatal check and buggy buying minefield

Ruby is 8 weeks old now and growing by the day. She had her postnatal check on tuesday and is tipping the scales (quite literally) at 12lb 5oz and is 57cm long. So in 8 weeks she has gained 4lb 2oz and grown 7 cm, what are they putting in the formula i ask myself. With her little chubby cheeks she is pretty damn cute though and all the receptionists at the doctors were all fussing over her although she wasnt all that impressed by them. But she was even less impressed by her first lot of vaccinations, i'm sure the whole of stoke on trent must have heard her scream. And we have got to go through it all again in 4 weeks times, something to look forward to.

We went buggy shopping last night. Ruby has been using the buggy we bought for her sister as it has the whole travel system thing going on but i decided the buggy is just too big and clumsy and a nightmare to get on and off buses and when we fold it in the back of the car it takes up half the boot space which is quite an achievement as we have an estate. We went to mothercare 'just to have a look' who would have thought it was so difficult to choose a buggy. There is so much to consider whether you want 'compact telescopic fold' or a 'lightweight flat fold chassis' and whether you need 'four way suspension' or just 'air-filled back tyres for greater suspension' not to mention '360 degree monofork front swivel wheel and disc brake' (what the hell is that!!!) you can even get one with a built in docking station for an ipod so you can play nursery rhymes to your baby while out and about. Then of course there is which colour to choose sulphur or pistachio, indian spice or strawberry. I just wanted a buggy that looks half decent and that ruby can sit in! we ended up leaving with a loola which has all round suspension, handle mounted lock to switch between fixed or swivel wheels and lightweight aluminium frame, they were sold out of pearly grey so we went for sport red. Most importantly we didnt need to take out a second mortgage to afford it . And after all that was Ruby impressed by our choice? I dont think she even noticed that she wasnt in her usual buggy that's gratitude for you.
x

aww isnt she cute, but then i would say that!

well Ruby will be 6 weeks tomorrow and she is definately feeling like part of the family now. Its funny how you quickly adjust to a new baby and slip into a routine. She smiles loads and has started gooing and gaaing which is very sweet. It is taking some time but she is gradually becoming more of a contented baby. She hasnt enjoyed this hot weather we have been having it must be my Scottish genes she has inherited, more used to the cold weather. I think she is generally just all hot and bothered, lets hope the rest of the summer doesnt get too hot.

My partner seems to be adjusting to having a new baby now, he does most of ruby's baths and feeds before she goes down to bed at night and since she has started smiling at him i think he is feeling a bit more loved. I've told him not to take it so personally when she cries and wont stop he seemed to think it was because of him, but babies cry its what they do and something Ruby is very good at!

Jessica started playgroup last week, its only a couple of hours on a thursday morning but she loved it, i think she is really ready for it. Educationally i dont think its that important at the moment as she is doing well for her age regards to counting, colours, shapes etc but socially i'm hoping it will bring her on a bit. Every morning since she went she has asked if she can go and play with the boys and girls so i'm taking this as a good sign. I'm going to try and leave her this week and see how it goes. I imagine its going to be harder for me than it will be for her.

I've given up hope of losing weight by just eating chocolate sadly it doesnt seem to work, so i've gone on the GI diet, to be honest a lot of it is common sense and just eating healthy while cutting down on portion size. Been to the gym a couple of times but really need to start making it more of a regular thing. Its just trying to fit it in. I pretty much feel knackered all the time and feel slighlty guilty of leaving the girls with their dad when he been at work all day. But i do feel the benefits of getting out on my own for an hour and doing a bit of exercise. I think i'd feel happier in myself too if i lost weight. I put on 2 1/2 stone when i was pregnant i have lost sum of it but still got another 11 pound to go and hopefully a bit more will follow.

take care x