William's First Year

Alas, with the grey spectre of redundancy looming large in my life, I’ve had to give up one of my more extravagant comforts – the amazing Liz. It’s time I took the iron into my own hands and clean the house myself, quelle horrror. Dreading it already.

Today was (miraculously) sunny. Will and I played outside, which he loves, just being out in the fresh air playing makes him laugh. Mother’s bought us a fantastic sun tent from the ubiquitous Jojo Maman Bebe, the only problem is that it’s impossible to fold away. I spent 15 foul-mouthed, sweaty, sunburned, agonising minutes trying to deflate the bloody thing without success, before giving up and heading out to the chemist (for yet more ezcema unguents) which was a far preferable option. Krypton Factor eat your heart out.

…..and yet more rain. We are waterlogged 😦

The downpour is relentless, and we are going stir crazy stuck inside all day. Eventually we braved the elements and headed off for a walk, a beautiful sight in our anoraks and wellies, while Will’s pram cover gradually steamed up in the wet. It’s actually very beautiful here, lush and verdant, just a shame we can’t enjoy it in the sunshine. Let’s just pray it cheers up when we go to Wales….

In the meantime, Will is also trying to get to grips with his new bouncer. He kind of gets it and thinks about smiling and enjoying bouncing about in the door frame, but then decides actually it’s not his cup of tea, his thumb goes in, head goes down and he complains bitterly until released.

It’s my last evening without Eddie – he’s coming home tomorrow morning! Celebrating my survival of a week alone with Will with typical spinster food; pasta and pesto (I balked at the microwave mushroom risotto) and a glass of wine. Time to kick back and watch drivel (Corrie, Big Brother) and genius (Green Wing).

By the time Will wakes up tomorrow morning, Eddie will be in England and should be back in time for breakfast. We are both utterly exhausted. This week has felt like a lifetime, I cannot wait for him to come home.

Another very unsettled day. It’s either throwing it down with rain or sunny and blowing a gale. Decided to grab the sunshine while I could and dragged Will out for a walk early this morning, to which he protested by bellyaching the entire way round – thank heavens for ipods is all I can say.

My boss Karen came round for lunch today which was lovely, so nice to have some company and a chat. By this time Will had reverted back into angel mode and slept for 2 hours while we ate and woke up just in time to be smiley and have a cuddle.

Have just started letting him come into our big bath with me, which he loves. He splashes away happily, floats on his back and everytime I do a ‘Will, Ready, Go’ he shuts his eyes and squinches up his face ready for the sponge to be drained over his face. I only wish he was as chilled out when we’re in the pool…am sure he’s just grumpy because the water’s cold.

He’s fast asleep now so once again the evening is mine. Am trying hard to pretend I’m not going to watch Big Brother….must be strong, must be strong…..

It has been absolutely miserable weather-wise for ages. Will and I are going stir crazy stuck indoors while it rains cats and dogs outside (my God, did I just say that…cabin fever’s clearly
getting to me).

Feeling very drained without Eddie here to help me. God knows how people cope with more than one child! I clearly have NO stamina whatsoever. However on a more positive note, I actually do feel like me for the first time in over a year. I think it’s to do with not breastfeeding anymore, my body is gradually reclaiming itself. Earlier in the week I put all my maternity clothes and underwear away into a huge black bin liner. What bliss to be able to go back to my old undies – and I’m now up to notch no 3 on my belt, just 2 more to go!

(See January/The NCT Line-up for the original. Check out Jude and William, I think Will’s playing hard to get).

For those of you who aren’t sure, Will is third in from the left, top row. I am VERY proud to have a son who isn’t automatically plonked in the front as his poor, vertically-challenged mother used to be….

A headline from yesterday’s Times ‘Style’ all about letting children get on with their own entertainment rather than feeling obliged to stimulate them all the time. I worry that I don’t play with Will enough one on one, but then again trying to do that over a long period of time is a) exhausting and b) impossible.

Talking to the girls this afternoon they all leave their children to do their own thing and that way they get time to do whatever they need to, and the kids learn to keep themselves amused. Must let Will play for longer on his own I think, at the moment I have very little time to myself in the day and if I’m honest he’s usually fine left to his own devices. Having said that, I’m sure he talks more than most because I do spend so much time singing and and chatting to him so it does make a difference.

God I was glad to get out of the house for tea today. It’s been hideous here – rainy, miserable and cold. It’s enough to make you go stir crazy, especially as you know it should be sunny!

William is definitely trying to roll! It’s hilarious to watch him trying to figure out how the hell to do it; arms and legs flailing in the direction he’s trying to go. We thought he’d naturally roll to the left, which is his favourite, but actually it’s the right. I guess it’s because of the shape of his head – once he reaches critical mass to the right and the head turns, the rest of his body follows!

It’s early days and so far he can only get half way round, but he’s on his way. Now he just needs to figure out what to do when he gets there (at the moment it’s a case of ramming both fists in his mouth and bellowing until I turn him back over….).

It is our neverending NIGHTMARE. Last night because Will was poorly I let him off wearing a scratch mitt on his left hand so he could suck his thumb. Big mistake. This morning we found him scratched raw on that cheek, blood all over the sheets and half his face under his fingernails. It was devastating. Just when we think we’ve got things under control something like this happens. Have spent the day slathering him in Sudocreme which seems to have done some good, but it’s scratch mitts at night no matter what from now on.