Rex is finally 7 weeks old. That magical milestone you’re shooting for… “Everything gets better after 6 weeks” they say. We shall see. I didn’t expect an instant change, but I hoped!

Audrey had an audiology appointment last week, terrible timing as she is about as snotty as you could possibly be. So it wasn’t very productive. 

She’s been on good form lately though and is singing lots of songs really well just on her own.

We made it to a music class (something which had scared me), but Rex slept the whole time and I even managed to pick up Audrey for the Hokey Cokey with him strapped to my front. And we went to the group for people with pre-school age kids with Down’s Syndrome, which was great.

Rex is stretching some gaps between feeds out a little, but he’s still unsettled and suffering with wind. I feel he will be an expensive child as we keep buying things to fix the issues… The latest is a vibrating chair. He is not bothered by it, it doesn’t seem to make him any happier than lying still on a mat does. We’ve also got Infacol, a Sleepyhead (he’s not soothed by this either) and cranial osteopath appointments. Of course I want him “fixed” so I can sleep, but it would also be a nicer existence for him if he was happier.
I’m currently sat in my dressing gown with Rex asleep on me and Audrey shuffling about, entertaining herself. I’ve been trapped for 2 hours. I didn’t expect this, but after about 40 mins he woke up in pain and I spent some time massaging his tummy and lifting his legs before shushing and cuddling unti he fell asleep again. I’m regretting telling Ted I didn’t need anything when he left for work. I’ve finished my water and I’m crazy thirsty. I know what you’re thinking – just get up and get water! But he is asleep!!

Fast forward to a few days on and I’m now pacing the house with Rex in the sling. Audrey is again, entertaining herself, shouting various things (Alice! Oh look! Jump! Book!) which makes the sleepy man twitch from time to time. Being out and about is in some ways easier, because he sleeps better when I’ve got a genuine march on and you can sort two naps if you go somewhere , feed and then come home. Of course it’s insane to pace the house with him in a sling, but it’s spitting with rain and Audrey isn’t dressed yet. There’s only so much I can get done sometimes.

There’s just so much about this time that is a shame. Ignoring my daughter (or at least not giving her the level of attention I would like), doing lots of things to the soundtrack of Rex crying (because he has such a short window for happily being awake), only really enjoying Rex’s company for tiny periods of the day because he’s just so unsettled… God I sound like a broken record.

I just find all that newborn banter that people on the bus/in coffee shops give me hilarious… “They grow up too fast!”, “Enjoy this time while you can”, “Newborns always make me broody!” – I’d just like to say, he can never grow up fast enough at this stage, I cannot wait to get passed this and I will not be made broody by a newborn ever again.

Slap me if I ever change my mind on these points!

Yours, sleep deprived and grumpy.