Flynn is now a big one month old!
The past four weeks have gone in a flash! But to recap on what's been happening: (Skip the next paragraph if you prefer not to read about cracked nipples etc - and prepare yourself for a few months of baby-focussed blogging)
Weeks One and Two:
We brought Flynn home after two nights at the hospital. He was slightly jaundiced but that soon cleared up. I was feeling pretty good and it was pretty exciting bringing him home and starting our new lives as parents.
By Friday (day 4) I had developed cracked nipples due to Flynn's ferocious suck-power. They were excruciatingly painful and feeding every two hours was not conducive to healing. (Note to prospective mothers: get some nipple shields and see a lactation consultant before the first week is out).
Then on day 6 I got mastitis - a milk duct infection that gives you flu-like symptoms (fever, aches and pains) and a sore, hard, red boob - Insult to injury really. That was not a pleasant few days. However, the tips i picked up from the lactation consultants were very handy, the antibiotics for the mastitis kicked in, and a week later things were coming right - a great relief since I could not have gone on breastfeeding with things as they were.
When Flynn was 11 days old Blake had to go away for work (Switzerland and Indonesia) - for 10 days! Flynn and I were pretty disgusted but fortunately we had Julia to help (Blake's mum) or things would have been tough.
Weeks Three and Four:
Flynn has really changed over the past two weeks, becoming much more alert and interested in his surroundings. He is putting on weight (a whole kg) and has become stronger and more robust. He still feeds every two hours round the clock so I am getting used to sleep deprivation but it's not that bad most days. There is the odd day when I feel really tired though. Blake helps out on weekend nights but during the week it's me on night shift. The feeding is now easy and painless though, thank god for that!
He has started smiling and interacting more and loves trying to climb up your body if you lay him face down on your stomach. He's very cute but he's high-maintenance (takes after his father). He doesn't like sleeping on his own, insisting instead on being in someone's arms (rather than the pram, bouncer, cot etc) - this makes getting stuff done pretty hard when you're on your own. Thankfully having Julia here means I can get a shower, eat and get some time to check emails, go to the gym, etc.
Online gambling again
Sharp nails call for a manicure
Flynn loves dancing and singing with grandma
One, two, three - sleep...
Mall Rat
This week Blake went to Tokyo for two days but now he is around for a whole three weeks, which will be nice over Christmas. We're hanging out at home on Christmas Day, having a big Xmas dinner and drinking champers (oh joy, it's great to be drinking again!). We may have a couple of people drop in for a drink and we may visit some others, depends how young Flynn is feeling really. We're going to a kiwi bbq on Boxing Day, should be fun.
They package their trees up nicely here (it's a real one, in a sock!)
(the 'before' shot)
The 'after' shot
Took Flynn to my (old) work's Xmas party
(he's wearing his little Santa's Helper suit)
Note: Flynn's favourite thing in the world is being cuddled while sucking on your finger.
