hi ladies,

I had the best birthday. Got pretty spoilt and just had an all round great day. Don't feel any older except when I realise that I'm a mum.....that's when I realise, hey I'm not 16 anymore!! ;-)

Madelon - I want Amy's hair back!! It's definitely growing back though. I'm just so impatient. I'm so used to seeing her without hair and she just looks so different without it!! Good to hear that Sander's hips are fine. Bummer about his sleeping. Hang in there. It will improve. Amy goes through phases. Just when I think we're in a good routine it all changes!!

Kate - Don't you feel so much better when you start exercising again!? Good on you. You'll lose that weight in no time. I've been walking every day and go to the gym twice a week (only times that I can get Amy minded when there's a decent class on) but it is slowly working. I can fit into a couple of my old pairs of shorts now.....but that's no good considering it's winter now!!!!!!

Vic - I cried when Amy had her needles too. It's so awful!!

Maz - Amy is at that point with her hair now too. She's got tiny little short blonde hairs coming back though so it looks like I could have a blondie girl soon!

April - That's a real bummer about Bodie's sleeping. Hopefully it's just a phase and he'll settle down again soon. Amy had a horror couple of weeks that only stopped a couple of days ago now. I was at the stage where I was just exhausted and was wondering what was wrong with her when she went back to normal all of a sudden!! Go 25!!! :-)

Jen - glad your blocked duct is ok now!

Karen - I'm now feeding Amy on full time formula. I got post natal depression after we had no luck breast feeding. I felt like I was failing my little girl but in the end she was putting on such little weight that it was in her best interests for her to go onto formula. It took me a very long time to come to terms with it. No matter how good breast milk is for your baby, if they're not getting enough volume, it can be to their detriment in the long run. There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding (I've accepted that now) and I totally understand how you feel but the way I see it is that sometimes our bodies just don't work well enough and we are just lucky that we have formula as an option. Amy is going so well now. I've decided to give breast feeding a go with our next one but if it doesn't work second time around, not put so much pressure on myself. I hope everything works out. It's amazing how past experiences with our bubs scar us for so long. I'm terrified of the newborn stage now and am scared to have another baby because of how depressed and low I got. You will never fail your baby as long as you nurture him. Hugs to you xxx

Just a question ladies. For those of you who are going to have another baby, when are you thinking of starting TTC? We're going to start trying in a few months. Do you think I'm crazy? It's just I'm young, I'm not at work at the moment and if we have another one sooner rather than later, then I can stay at home for longer and start back at my career without having to worry about stopping again. I know that's a really logical way of looking at it but that's just me. We only want (and can afford!) two children so I think, we're going to do it eventually, may as well do it now! I'm so scared of the newborn phase but I know now that it definitely gets better so I think I'll be right second time around.....I'll just cross my fingers that we don't have another premmie.
Hope you are all doing well xxx Luv Nik and Amy