an update on us.

Well, Annie turns 1 month old this Saturday. I can't even believe that. It still feels as though she only just arrived. Having said that, I feel so much different as a mother. More confident, lucky, energetic, in love. Every day gets easier, better, more challenging. I feel like this roller coaster will never end. That we will always be moulding our day to our little Annie. And perhaps that is how it will be. For the rest of our lives in fact. And that's alright with me :)

In her short time on this earth Annie has proven to be the best thing that Ben and I have ever done together. She is just the sweetest baby I think I have ever met. Stubborn as all hell and cute when she wants to be, but the most adorable baby none-the-less. I fall more and more in love with her everyday. I wonder does she know that?

As far as eating and sleeping goes, I think we're doing pretty good. I mean, I've never had a baby so I don't have anything to judge her against, but I do know that I don't feel 'really' tired and she doesn't cry that much and she likes eating. We are breast feeding, which is working out well and last night she dropped off about 10pm, woke for a quick feed at 1:30am and again at 6am sleeping through til 10am. Whenever she wakes during the night, she doesn't cry too much and generally has food and drops back off. I figure that's got to be good right??

here are some more pics...because I just can't help sharing her :)





She also absolutely loves her bath time with Ben. It's very cute. The two of them toddle off to the bathroom together and I can hear Ben saying things like 'are you ready to dive in?' and 'your just a little froggy with those legs!'. Sometimes I can't resist and have to head on in there two, just to watch. At the moment, Annie is going through a stage of wanting to dip her own head in the water. She throws her hair back and soaks it good and proper. Of course, we think no baby has ever done anything so clever. We are immensely proud.

As for little old me, I feel 100% better than I did just after the birth. Everyone was right, it does get easier. Today we took a long walk down to the shops and I picked up some milk and bread, got some photos developed and even had time for coffee and french toast. And all with Maggie in tow! I was proud :) For my good times, I now have a little girl who is having trouble dropping off to sleep today. Must be the warm weather. Better go...the sweetness of her tired cry beckons me.

Our Story.

I waddled into my 41 week appointment feeling like my pregnancy was going to last forever. Besides the few odd niggles here and there, I had no hard evidence that I was ever going to go into labour. After a brief check up, my doctor agreed. This baby was not coming on it's own. She gave me two inducement dates. Australia Day and that afternoon at 3pm.

As you can imagine, my world began to spin. I hadn't counted on being induced and further to that, to being induced that very day. However, the doctor pointed out that if we waited until Aus day, I would need to be constantly monitored over the weekend anyway. A quick call to Ben and I was driving back to our house to pack my bags for the hospital that afternoon. I note here that I was so teary at this stage. Full of nerves and scared. I knew very little about inducement. I had prepared to labour naturally (and possibly with drugs) but this was new to me and it took some time getting my head around it.

Ben and I were admitted at 3pm on the Thursday evening. They inserted gel to try and get the lazy old cervix to open and monitored my uterus and the baby's heartbeat the entire way. All Thursday night I was woken every two hours for assessing. I was tired. I thought I felt some pain. I was full of anticipation!

The next morning the doctor told me that I hadn't really moved much at all. We were talking less than a centimetre. So more gel was administered and Ben and I spent all day Friday waiting to feel the full force of labour. Later that night, some pains and contractions started to take over so I hooked myself up to the Tens machine I had hired and waited with bated breath.

Again, they monitored me all Friday night, every two hours. My sleep was so broken. I felt scared. I wished Ben could stay with me. Saturday morning another female doctor came to examine me. She was trying to determine whether she would be able to break my waters. She took one look and muttered 'still only 1 centimetre'. She noted that if she couldn't get in there and break my waters we were going for a C-Section. After she tried once, I grabbed the gas and sucked it down. She only just managed to get in and effectively break my waters. And man, did that hurt! Once my waters were broken, we got onto to the drip that brings on contractions. Oxytocin (sp?)

What felt like contractions started to come at regular intervals and with the help of the tens machine and Ben counting and chanting with me, we managed to labour naturally for over 6 hours. After that I was examined again only to be told I was only 2 centimetres dilated. The doctor gave me the following speech.

'usually, at this stage, I would be giving the mother a pep talk. telling her you're doing really well, you're over 8 centimetres, not long to go! But I don't have a pep talk for you Emily. If you don't move another few centimetres in the next three hours we are taking you downstairs for a c-section'.

My world crumbled slightly here. All that hard work and effective pain management for nothing. I felt so defeated and so tired. And suddenly the pain engulfed me. I told Ben and if I was going to labour another three hours without any assurance it would do anything, I was going to need pethidine. The midwife got on it quick smart, but the moment I had it, I regretted it. The drug was making me sleepy and so unable to focus on Ben and the pain management techniques we had practised. I felt the contractions override me and I asked for an epidural.

Once they had given me what I craved, I feel so subdued and relaxed. Part of me felt guilt and a bit of a failure, but I also felt that this labour was totally out of my hands. That all we had planned went haywire due to being induced. I slept soundly for two hours and woke up 9 centimetres dilated with a team of midwifes encouraging me that there was only 1 hour to go before I could push our baby into the world. At that moment I HAILED THE EPIDURAL!!!! No c-section for me!!!!!!

An hour later, surrounded by four extraordinary midwives, a fantastic doctor and my beloved husband, I began to push my daughter into the world. It took all of one hour and a half, a cut and a little old friend called the vacuum and Annie Jane Brocklesby was born. They placed her on my stomach straight away and after a little examination from dad, we confirmed we had ourselves a little girl. She nuzzled into my chest, not making a sound, and proceeded to take everything in. Dad helped with the weighing (3.5 kilos) and the placenta and before long we were snapping the first few photos as treasured memories.



Dearest Annie. Holding you for the first time was both the most unusual and most terrific moment of my life. I could not believe you were here. That you were ours. That you were a beautiful little girl. That you were helpless. That you were quiet. That you possessed the most amazing dark head of hair.



At the same time, I felt so relieved you were safe. So content you were here. So happy you had made your dad smile at me that way. So overwhelmed at your beauty. So confounded by your touch and ultimately, so insanely in love with you that I thought I should die if something would happen to you. My love for you feels instant, unbounded and so very very real. Welcome my sweet one. Welcome to the world. Welcome to the rest of your miraculous life.

love always...Mumma xx

It's a girl!

In the very quick quiet moments, I thought I would log on and announce to the blog world, that Ben and I are the proud parents of Little Miss Annie Jane Brocklesby.

She took her damn time coming out. A good near three days (a birth story will appear here very soon) but when she did finally arrive, it was with such a wonderous glow. Here she was. Little Cotton Socks. Only one small cry and then into the arms of her doting parents for nuzzles.

Since then, life has been a major whirlwind. I cant remember what it was like not to have a small human hanging from my breast all day long. Sometimes she cries. Howls actually. Sometimes she lets me massage her little fingers. But always, she makes me feel very blessed.

a little something for me.

With all the gifts and extra special blankets cotton socks has been getting lately, I thought I would make myself something pretty. I found an awesome bag pattern from Melly & Me and have taken waaayy too long getting round to actually making it. So....yesterday being the freakin' hot day that it was, Maggie and I set up camp in the sewing room/nursery and away I went.

I'm pretty happy with the results all in all. Although, in this picture I have forgotten to unpick my pleat line. I was in such a rush to share. My favourite blog at the moment (for obvious reasons!) is a wonderful midwife called Laura Jane. She asked what was next after the blanket, so here it is:




I also wanted to share some photos of Maggie (my other baby). We were given a dog house for her to sleep in, but she NEVER liked it. Preferring instead to lie on our Persian rug. However, the other day, look what I spotted...



And finally...sometimes you get yourself into such a comfortable position, you couldn't give a damn how unattractive it makes you look!

things completed.

Before you get excited, this pregnancy is not one of them. I'm sitting in my kitchen with the odd ache here and there and figuring it could be possible that I NEVER have this baby. Think about it. Recently a man gave birth to a little girl. Another, in England, was born without the hereditary cancer gene the entire family had been subjected to. It may happen. I could be the first pregnant woman who stays pregnant her entire life. Imagine all the pastries I'll get away with eating....The constant free seats on public transport...the 'getting-out-of-housework' bonus. It could work out quiet well indeed.

Hmmm...but when you think about it. There are a few downsides. Never being able to 'number two' without thinking your going to induce a hemorrhoid. Random people touching her stomach and thinking it's OK to stare at your tits because 'they're for the baby!' and of course, never being able to roll over in bed ever again without needing a small, lightweight crane. I'll push this bubs out if it's the last thing I do!

The main reason I am here today is to show you the blanket that I finally finished making for cotton socks. After many, many months, I got my shit together in the last few weeks before birth and completed this much loved project. I can't say it was the most inexpensive thing I have done (all fabrics were quality picks from Patchwork on Central) but it certainly is the prettiest. I must say....I feel a little proud.



It took me some time to pick the edging fabrics. It was so colourful in the center already and I so wanted to keep it unisex and of course vintage looking.



Patchwork on Central really came through with the goods. I was delighted!



And for the backing - we went with balloons! I just thought...'why not?'

I have to admit to being a MAJOR NOVICE when it comes to patchwork. I'm learning, and to be honest, just taking advice from other sewers, Spotlight employees and occasional internet searches. This is the biggest and the first blanket I have made to a pattern and following ALL instructions. (I tend to get a little excited and think I know it all). So....needless to say, I am loving this creation, purely because it's for cotton socks and because it was, very muchly, a labour of love.

the house that ben built.

She returns. It's been a long stint away, I know. And I am sure that most of you must be thinking that it's because I pushed a baby out of my vagina and now can't balance a laptop on my knees because I'm constantly breastfeeding. But alas, no. Little cotton socks has not ventured our way yet. In fact, I think that little mite is very cosy in there, eating pancakes and potatoes. It KNOWS that when it gets out it's going to be ill feed and ill treated. Only served milk, morning noon and night. Swaddled in blankets so that it cant even make an expression with it's hands. Oh the inhumanity!

Just so you know that I'm not making it up, I thought I would post a photo of my belly at 40 weeks.



See, told ya. Doesn't it look like Ben has created a massive house with vast verandah. I'm all out the front I tells ya. Random Asian women constantly tell me I'm having a boy. Whilst most other people think it's a girl. I'm lost at this stage. Very unsure about what I'm having. It would just be nice to have it! *Sigh* I did get a few aches and pains last night which delighted me. They didn't keep this old sleepy head awake though. I fell right back asleep after each one of them, thinking, surely if the heads coming out I'll notice :)

Now that I have access to the internet, my musings will no longer be so few and far between. I will be a regular here. Whinging about stinky nappies and barf and 'witching hour'. And I'll delight in it. Better go eat a muffin. It wont be long before I don't have a damn fine excuse....

things bought and things made.

I've been busy. Busy working. Busy growing. Busy shopping. Busy sewing. Busy sleeping. Busy baking. Busy reading. Busy faking*.

That might explain why the posts are so few and far between. I have plenty of share though. Gently, gently goes the blogger. The first things I would like to share are the fantastic, greatest, shiniest, newest edition to our baby's room - the nappy bag!

Can I just say...there is plenty o horrid crap out there for new mums-to-be. Like, I mean, no-need-to-stick-fingers-down-throat vomit inducing. Tacky, loud, skin crawling designs. I was finding it hard to get a nappy bag I actually wouldn't be embarrassed carrying (or Ben wouldn't mind carrying for that matter)

Last week I hit the sale at Parenthood in Richmond. LUVERLY shop that one. Although damn expensive. There was 25% off nappy bags and I surprised myself by finding something I liked. It has a nice plan design on the outer fabric that does not scream 'guy' and does not scream 'girl'. The inside has more of a girly pattern, but I figure that's for me to enjoy as I rifle for ass-cream anyway.






This bag came with a change mat, bottle keep warmer, wipes box, etc.

I also found a little time to make cotton socks one more felt toy. This one was inspired by a design I saw. I don't think I have done it justice. The poor little thing has the longest legs and no arms. Go figure!



* work related. always related work.