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Life has changed forever!!!!

Well as of today Callum has been here for exactly 8 weeks!

It already feels like a lifetime (in a good way) and huge amounts of learning have taken place. I have to admit it doesn’t matter how prepared you think you are it is totally different when wheeled onto a ward in the middle of the night, with your new baby who is then put into a crib beside you and you are left completely alone to “get on with it” I was so scared!! I was exhausted from 2 or so days without much sleep, I couldn’t feel my body from the chest down was given a glass of water (no champagne for me!) and then I had my defensless little man stirring in his crib and I didn’t have a clue what to do. With some shushing and gentle rocking he seemed to settle and I could get a few hours sleep.

After we got home I had got into a kind of routine with Callum. I had found out that he liked to have his nappy changed before a feed and was generally in about a 3 hourly routine. Then came a growth spurt!!! Feeds every two hours, even at night. Crying seemed almost continuous. Daryl was frustrated as he couldn’t really help much as I was breastfeeding. I was exhausted and in the middle of the night just felt like crying out HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!

That all soon passed after a couple of days. Callum was changing so rapidly now.  he looked nothing like he had at the hospital. He was now our little boy and not just the general baby look. He had started to smile although I knew it was wind, but you could see that he was going to have the most cheeky smile. His routine was much better and was sleeping a good 5 or 6 hours at night HEAVEN!!!!! Callum had now got his Mummy and Daddy trained and they could even tell when his crying was just for attention or whether he really needed something.

Callum has even got Guinness and Scrumpy trained!!! Guinness seems to have taken on the role of overall protector. He is always nearby and pops by Callum now and again to make sure everthing is ok and gives him a quick lick on his hand. Scrumpy on the other hand has taken it upon himself to be a babysitter! Every small noise Callum made he would run over to us and nudge us. If we happened to be out of the room he would run up and jump or nudge us and then run back to Callum and continue this pattern (in his search training it is called a refind and can take a while to master). When it comes to changing Callum is picked up and Scrumpy sits there looking at Callum and looking at the changing mat as if to say “well that’s where he goes get on with it” If Callum is taken out without Scrumpy, when we get back Scrumpy runs about making sure that we are all home safe and well and then Callum gets a quick lick on his hand or side of his head as if to say “its ok you are home now and I can look after you again” Somehow I think those two are going to be as thick as thieves and get into all kinds of mischief together.

So, now we are nearly 2 months old. Callum has grown out of all his newborn bits and is threatening not to be in the 0-3 month clothes for very long. Not surprising as he has an apetite like his Dad, can’t really complain as it is better that worrying as he doesn’t eat at all. We are all alot more settled and life is all the more exciting. Callum has started smiling a lot and very nearly giggled properly last night. Daryl and I were in stitches. He has a great personality but can wrap us round his little finger. Occasionally I get moments sat there watching him asleep thinking “I love you so much I just hope that I am being a good enough Mum for you” but I guess I will always feel like that, especially when he gets sick or hurts himself.

Now we are starting to look forward to his first Christmas. He won’t really understand this year but it gets the adults in training for next year. Although Callum already has shown an interest in all the twinkling lights. His Grandad has booked him for his first visit to see Father Christmas in 3 weeks so we will see what he makes of that (if he is awake)