Sun finally out

So the sun finally came out. We did lots of things, and I'm not sure of the order. Still criminally tired but things are improving.

Me and the lads:

Walk to Grantchester meadows with the tiny boy:

 

Lots of trips to Niro's and Costa for macchiato:

The other children are getting very used to it...

There was a visit from Gramdma BTS to help out.

Some good sunny days for playing in the garden:

A bank holiday trip to the midsummer common fair. No girls, and Jim's first candy floss and dodgems ride:

A cold trip into Cambridge to buy shoes:

There were lots of people getting their "spatula of arts" ((c) M. Crawford) at the Senate House.

All in all enough to tire anyone out...

 

 

Report from the front line

Just very briefly, we are 5 weeks in and it's a bit of a mixed bag. The boy sleeps well at night, but is still waking us twice, as is only to be expected at this stage. However, he is steadfastly refusing to have lunchtime naps for Caroline, which is making her very tired. He tends to be colicky as well, which may contribute. On the plus side, he is v cute and fat (over 13lb already!) and the other kids love him. The health visitor came round to see him and asked C whether she had talked to the other children about how they feel about having a baby brother. She confessed she hadn't really, but didn't need to, especially in Amy's case. When she was telling me this in the evening I asked Jim how he felt about it. He just shrugged and gave me a broad grin. They are all becoming quite interactive with Sam, wanting to help bath and dress him etc.

Trips with all of them to the Grafton Centre for coffee at Nero were quite a feature of the Easter holidays. C and I managed a pub trip or two as well, of which we were inordinately proud.

 

There has been an awful lot of this...

 

But lots of cuteness too...

Trip to Barrington to see Sam's tree, as donated by Aunite Prue...

 

 

Now there are four

An update from our first weekend with four children...

It has been a busy couple of days with the kids here. Had just Jim for Saturday and we went over to 51a to do a little gardening before the tenants move in. He did a competent job of pruning some things before getting bored and amusing himself with the washing line. The girls arrived the next morning and everyone seems fine - I took them to see "The Croods" (latest kids' animation) after roast beef for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. They were very grateful for the eggs and have eaten their weight in choc. Unfortunately we then had an awful night with an extremely uncooperative Sam, who seemed to regress to his awake state between 2 and 6. We're not sure why, but as I write C is at the doctor with mastitis and Sam is with her because of an angry nappy rash the like of which neither of us have seen before. We think it might be fungal. Either of those things might be an explanation for his wakefulness. The modern obsession with breast feeding has such a lot to answer for - things would be so much simpler if he was on formula, if only because we'd know exactly how much he was getting. Anyway, C was so ragged today that I left her at home while I took all 4 kids to Anglesey Abbey for the egg hunt with Hannah and James. It was a success, and we even managed to procure a table in the absolutely packed cafe. I fed Sam formula and he didn't immediately disappear in a puff of smoke.

First bath:

Anglesey Abbey adventure:

Mama' helper: