It's been a while since I've written a personal post. Life on maternity leave has continued much as normal, with lots of walks round the park and playing. Giles turned seven months on Thursday, and it's in this last month that I've really seen some changes.
The first change is how mobile he is. Giles has always been mobile (even as a newborn he could roll over), and he started to crawl at five months, but now he is so fast and can get pretty much anywhere. He is also pulling himself up to standing against everything, cruising sideways along the sofas, and today I found out that he can actually climb the stairs. We're spending a lot of time baby-proofing our house at the moment, but it's worth it as being mobile has made him so happy. Giles was never a contented baby, no matter what we did, but now that he can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants, he is much happier. I think this is what he has wanted ever since he was born!
His personality is really starting to show now, too. Looks-wise, he is all Tom, but several people are commenting that his personality is more like mine. Like me, he is very determined, and doesn't give up when there's something he really wants to do (like climb the stairs). Some may even go so far as to call it stubborn, but there's nothing wrong with a bit of persistence in life! He's also getting more into playing with his toys now, and has learned to wave and clap, which is very cute. He's into his food, especially now he has six teeth to chew it with.
The main issue is what it has always been - sleep. Naps have always been a disaster, and not much is improving. When I put him down for a nap in the day, he will sleep for a maximum of 20 minutes and then wake up still tired and crying, wanting me to hold him while he goes back to sleep. The nights are getting better (apart from the teething nights), but you would never describe him as a good sleeper. I dream of getting a full night's sleep, just once! But now that we have had seven months of poor sleeping, Tom and I are taking a more philosophical approach - he has to sleep through eventually, and until then we are just taking it one night at a time.
There's big changes coming up for both of us though - in two weeks time I return to work and I've got such mixed feelings about it. I do genuinely enjoy my job (teaching) and I'm looking forward to the mental challenge and to do something that I find very rewarding. But at the same time I know I'll miss Giles like crazy, and it's going to be hard to accept that someone else will be doing all of the little things I am used to doing with him during the day. At the moment, I'm just planning to make the most of these last two weeks.
How has your week been?
Sounds like little Giles will be walking before you know it! My daughter wasn't much of a napper when she was a baby, but that all changed when she started going to daycare, so maybe it will for Giles too. I can't imagine what it must be like to have a baby who doesn't sleep well at night though. I have lots of friends with this issue, but thankfully my daughter always slept well at night. I hope things turn around on that front for you soon.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your last few weeks at home. It's tough going back to work after an extended period off (I had a year of mat leave), but once you get into a good routine you won't find it so difficult anymore.
I think he will be an early walker, and can only imagine the trouble he is going to get up to then! He is sleeping better at night than he did a month or so ago, so I'm keeping hopeful that things will keep improving :)
DeleteI'm glad you were able to get a routine that worked when you get back to work, I know it's going to take a while but hopefully I'll end up in the same place.
This is the age I like kids at most. They are so innocent in all their enthusiasm, they want to do everything they possibly can, and cannot. It's just wonderful. I hope the next two weeks go by slower. I can imagine how hard it is to have to go back.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, there's lots of enthusiasm!
DeleteGoing back is going to be hard, but I think in the long run it will be fine. It'll be good for Giles to see that women can work, and I'll have to go for quality of time rather than quantity.
That time has just flown by! He looks just gorgeous, Sam. My second one was not a great sleeper either, and I can't honestly remember how long it was before I got a solid night's sleep after he was born - lost in the blur of those months and months! But, it passes, and as you say, he will eventually sleep through - and then when he's a teenager, you won't be able to get him out of bed! Good luck heading back to work - you'll all adjust, but I do understand bout missing them...
ReplyDeleteOh I know - the time I was pregnant went so slowly, but not the time since he was born!
DeleteI'm glad your son slept in the end, it must have been a relief. I think I'll enjoy dragging Giles out of bed as a teenager, and reminding him of how he used to wake us up all the time! :P
Oh my goodness, the sleep deprivation -- I really don't know how I survived. But I did, and you will! Nap when you can, and enjoy your adorable boy.
ReplyDeleteI think you just become accustomed to it in the end. I'm napping most days, and that's one of things I'm sure I will miss when I return to work!
DeleteHe is just the cutest baby ever! I can't believe he is 7 months already. Yes, they do eventually sleep....
ReplyDeleteI know, the time has just flown by...
DeleteGood luck with heading back to work! I imagine there are a lot of mixed emotions about that. And Giles is adorable, as always :)
ReplyDeleteYes, aside from leaving Giles, I'm nervous about returning when I've had nine months off and have surely forgotten everything!
DeleteHe's such a cute boy! And I'm sending good thoughts for your return to work. I know it'll be an adjustment for you both.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny. Hopefully the adjustment period won't be too long :)
DeleteIt's amazing how differently Hawthorne and Giles are developing! Hawthorne (5.5 months) has only managed to roll over a couple of times, and both were on very soft surfaces, which take away his problem of what to do with his arm. But, boy, can he scooch on his back in any direction he desires! I'm eager for him to sit up unassisted, as I long to plop him down anywhere with a toy. But I do not long for crawling.
ReplyDeleteMike and I have been having the same conversations about sleeping through the night. Suddenly I realized he is the age where that is a possibility, but he is still up twice most nights. Admittedly, he goes to bed at 5:30 and usually isn't up for the day until 7:30, and 14 hours is a lot of ask of someone. He's not a great napper, but his naps are usually 45 minutes, and he does wake up happy. And after two nights in the crib, we have reverted back to the Rock N Play sleeper because he sleeps so much better in it. But eventually, soon even, he will have to learn to sleep on a hard, flat surface in his crib. Ugh. Hope sleep works itself out for you soon!
They find a way to move one way or another, don't they? Scooching on his back sounds interesting! My nephew was a bum shuffler, he didn't crawl until he was almost a year as he could get around fine on his bum.
DeleteI think their sleep cycles are 45 mins, so he's probably getting a full sleep cycle, and therefore he is happy :)
Giles has been in his cot since he was 4 months as he was too big for anything else. It took a few weeks to get him used to it, but now it's no problem, so I'm sure it will be the same for Hawthorne.
Awww, congrats to little Giles!! He is so cute! And you are right, there's nothing wrong with a little persistence in life :)
ReplyDeleteI hope he eventually goes to sleep and lets you rest. I didn't when I was a baby, but good news is that I started sleeping 10 hours a day - and can actually go to 14 - ever since. So, he'll sleep a lot sooner or later, you'll see. My brother, on the other hand, was a big sleeper when he was a baby and now that he's 21 he can't sleep for more than 6 hours...
I am stubborn too, so I'm sure we are going to end up clashing in the future!
DeleteAnd I hope that he turns into a good sleeper eventually. I was a terrible sleeper as a baby, but my Mum says that once I turned 2, I slept 12 hours a night, every night. So there is hope!
Giles looks like such a cheeky chappy! When their personality really starts shining on through it is wonderful, isn't it?! Alexander's main personality trait currently is that he is a busy bee, his always up to something and rarely sits down for two minutes; that's more like his dad than me!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you aren't having the best time with Giles sleeping... I wish I could impart some wisdom, but I can't. I'm sure things will improve once he gets a little older though.
Returning to work is probably going to be tough for you as a family in the beginning but you're doing what feels right for you and your family; that's the important thing.
:-)
Bits & Bobs
Going back to work and leaving your baby is the hardest thing, but you have to just think, it's harder for YOU but the baby will be okay :) You will just get used to it. Also, it would make coming home ten thousand times better!
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