Mothers Day "Photoshoot"

Swimming

Last week we started a baby swim course following the Little Starfish UK programme. I thought Bella may like the pool as she loves a bath but you never know until you get there. Anyway, last weeks lesson went really well and she loved moving through the water with her little frogs legs going. We did basic front hold and back hold and moved her through the water on both front and back. We also did lots of bouncing in the water and swishing from side to side so she could get the feel of the water moving around her.

Yesterday we went to the second lesson and she did her first underwater swim. She made no fuss whatsoever and when she came up just carried on like nothing had happened! She was completely unphased by it. I'm very proud of her. We also did a safe entry into the pool where you give the baby a cue to enter the water for her to learn that she can only enter a pool on a certain command. This is to encourage them when they are toddlers and around water not to get into it until they've been given "permission".

Next week she'll be doing two underwater swims and building it up to three the following week. I'm hoping she continues to enjoy it as it will be great in the summer time to take her out to our pool.

Giggling!

The last few days Bella has started experimenting with laughing. It's so funny and she sounds a bit like a crazy person at the moment! I think she scares herself as she does it sometimes. Her range of "conversation" is really improving with different sounds and squeaks and it's like she's getting some kind of emotion into it now. When she's tired or frustrated we have more grunts and when she's happy and relaxed more babbling and high pitched squeaks. She gets very cross with her animals on her activity arch sometimes and starts shouting at them, particularly when she can't get their feet in her mouth!

First Mothers and Fathers Days

Although we're in Spain I decided I wanted to celebrate the English Mothers Day which happens to be today. Chris chose to celebrate the Spanish Fathers Day which was last Thursday. So far today I have been looked after with Chris making me an omelet for breakfast and we're having a bbq later on with lots of steak and champagne. We're also going to do a photo shoot as a good memory for me. Chris is going to get my favourite picture blown up and printed as a gift. I just have the hard task of choosing my favourite as there are so many! I'd decided to get one done for him for Fathers Day too so we should have some lovely reminders of our first year as parents. I'll let you know later how my day went....!

It's now evening time and I've had a wonderful first Mothers Day. Bella and Chris had made me a lovely card and written a beautiful poem. The photoshoot went really well and the pictures are amazing. I've chosen my favourite and will upload a few of them when Chris has finished processing them. The steak was amazing, as was the champagne. I couldn't have asked for a nicer day.

Second lot of jabs

Yesterday Bella went for her second lot of jabs. It wasn't so bad this time around as it was just the one needle and an oral dose. She screamed for a short while, maybe 2-3 minutes and then calmed right down again. After the bad reaction she had to the first lot I'd decided to give her the Calpol straight away this time and I think it did the trick. She was great all day and evening and even went to bed earlier. This did mean she was awake at 5am for feeding though. I haven't had to do one of those early hours feeds for a long time and had forgotten what it felt like! We have a reprieve for a month now until the next horrible lot which will be the 3 needles again.

A few more photos...

...in the Bumbo seat. I just love these ones, she looks so happy and beautiful!

3 Months old today...and a tooth!

Bella has been constantly sticking her hand in her mouth today and chewing way more than normal so I decided to have a little investigation. I was aware that her lower bottom gum was a little white and thought it wouldn't be long before we saw the first tooth there. But, I discovered that one of the prongs on her upper right back teeth is through! There is a proper piece of tooth poking through the gum. I thought these were the last ones to make an appearance usually and I totally didn't expect to see the start of a tooth so soon. I can't believe the changes in her in such a short space of time, but also can't believe she's three months already!

A pattern is emerging

Over the course of the last week Bella seems to have settled into a daily pattern and finally it includes sleeping through the night! She takes a last feed at 11pm and sleeps through until 8am, very civilized of her, wakes for a feed and goes back off to sleep until 11am when I get her up to start the day. She's then feeding every 3 hours up until 11pm feed. Finally we all get some decent sleep and are feeling great. She's also able to stay awake plenty during the day. It's also good to be able to plan a day in advance knowing when she needs to feed, bathe etc. I don't know if this is a result of the daily massage we do after the bath or if she's just that much older now that she can go 9 hours between feeds - either way I'm not complaining!

The Bumbo Seat

I'd heard a lot about Bumbos and how they can encourage babies to strengthen their back and necks to sit up straight. Apparently they help baby adopt the right posture for sitting and they use their own weight through gravity to sit on their own. We saw them in a baby store today so decided to get one to try Bella in. She loves it! I think she was loving the fact that she was sitting independently. As soon as we put her in it she was grinning away. We only left her in for about 7 minutes and then she looked a little wobbly so took her out for a rest. We also bought the activity tray which attaches to it so you can put a toy on it or use it for feeding if doing the baby led weaning route.

Here are a couple of pictures of her in her new chair.

Baby Massage

Despite feeling the worse for wear with flu, I managed to complete a course in baby massage last week. Bella and I had a great time and it really was the most invaluable course. I have learned how to give her a full body and head massage which reaps endless health benefits. Alongside the obvious relaxation, bonding and feelgood factor, it stimulates and aids digestion, helps relieve colic and eliminate waste, improves blood circulation and skin condition, balances respiration, boosts the immune system, stimulates the senses, helps to develop body awareness, can provide relief for teething pains and finally promotes better sleep.

She absolutely loves the massage and was so chilled out in the class. I've found that since we completed the course she has fed and slept a lot better. I massage her every evening after her bath for as long as she is content and interested, and also massage parts of her such as her hands and feet during the course of the day. The course was run by Amanda Parker of IOH (Inside Out Health) Magazine who is a qualified instructor of baby massage and reflexology. If anybody reading this has a baby and lives on the Costa Del Sol then I would encourage you to contact her for the next available course. The skills you learn are amazing and ones that you and your child can use for life.

I don't think it's any coincidence that since doing the course Bella has been sleeping through the night. She has gone anything from 6 hours to her record of 8 hours last night. We have a very content baby and a very happy mommy!

A quick catch up

Sorry I haven't updated for a while but I had horrible flu last week. It was enough of an effort for me to get through each day without posting on here. Anyway, I'm back to normal this week so posting will resume....