Lara Percival

Blog

  • Standard Day

    Hey Lara Bug,

    Wanted to give you an insight of what a standard day is like after your Daddy leaves for work. Your general state of being mostly breaks down to these percentages:

    40% Crying / 40% Feeding / 20% Sleeping

    Where as I spent my time doing one of the following:

    • Feeding you
    • Changing your nappy and clothes
    • Soothing you between feeds
    • Making you a bottle
    • Cleaning bottles ready for next feed
    • Expressing milk for your next feed
    • Emptying and reloading the dishwasher
    • Emptying and reloading the washing machine
    • Dusting
    • Feeding / Stroking / Grooming the cat
    • Crying on the back step because I can’t get you to stop crying
    • Squeezing in breakfast or lunch for myself
    • Squeezing in getting dressed myself
    • Taking delivery of the food shopping whilst rushing the food back into the cupboards before you start crying again
    • Planning a wedding

    I love you loads, but you make the day a challenge. You have no real feeding pattern as we just feed you when you ask for it, which is most of the time when you are awake. They call it responsive feeding.

    I look forward to your Daddy getting home, as I miss his hugs, kisses and company, but he also takes over whilst I can get a bath or shower. I don’t like leaving you alone where I can’t get to you quickly and soothe you when your crying.

    Although is sounds cruel, when I know is you’ve been fed, nappy changed, cuddled and burped, I leave you to cry a little bit as sometimes you cry because you’re tired, and you then cry yourself to sleep. I hate doing it, but it’s best for you. Mummy still loves you.

    Lots of love,

    Mummy x

  • Four Weeks Old

    Four Weeks Old

    Hey Lara Bug,

    How times flies! Four weeks has gone by so fast, and you are starting to get big. I tried to put you in a baby grow this morning and it was a little too small for you. Crazy! You are still too small for your 3 – 6 month clothes, but you are drinking loads of milk.

    IMG_1035

    Your Mummy and Daddy are getting married two weeks today. Your Daddy asked me to marry him Christmas Day 2016, which seems like such a long time ago. You were just a twinkle in your Daddy’s eye.

    We are looking forward to you being there with us when we say our vows to each other.

    Lots of love,
    Mummy x

  • Lara Loves Snuggles

    Lara Loves Snuggles

    Hey Lara Bug,

    You’re almost a month old and we feel like we know you so well now. Your Daddy and I are in a routine with you with your feeding. You wake us up, I change your nappy while your Daddy gets your milk and my breast pump sorted. Daddy feeds you while I express milk for you. Daddy puts the bottles and the pump back in the sanitiser and I cuddle you and get the last of your burps out of you, and sooth so you go back to sleep again.

    We love you so much, and can’t imagine our lives without you in it.

    I have been enjoying my maternity leave looking after you. There are days where I have felt I am not doing it right or felt useless. But after a chat with your Daddy, I always feel much better.

    Quite often you’ll cry just because you want a cuddle, and I am more than happy to oblige.

    You and I will sit in front of Homes Under The Hammer quite happily snuggling. But then Mummy will need a drink or the loo and have to put you back in your Moses basket. You keep me warm and you love to snuggle up under my chin.

    Keep on being cute my little bug.

    Lots of love,

    Mummy x

  • Officially A Percival

    Officially A Percival

    Hey Lara,

    Even more good news, you are officially a Percival!

    When you were first born, you were given my surname. I won’t be married to your Dad until 7th August, when we will all have the same surname and be a happy little family.

    We are still deciding what we want you to wear on the big day. I bought a couple of dresses from Modified Nationals on some 50s style dresses for you, but your Dad thinks they might be too big for you, as you will only be 6 weeks old, but we will try them on you and see how they look.

    We are so excited to have you with us to tie the knot and have you in our photos. You Dad and I love you so much!

    Lots of love,
    Mum x

  • Heel Prick Test Results

    Hey Lara,

    Good news! We got your test results back this week and everything is normal. Yay!

    What is the heel prick test?

    Newborn blood spot screening involves taking a blood sample to find out if your baby has one of nine rare but serious health conditions.

    Most babies screened won’t have any of these conditions but, for the few who do, the benefits of screening are enormous. Early treatment can improve their health, and prevent severe disability or even death.

    From the NHS website

    We also got your registered at out family doctor. All very exciting stuff.

    Lots of love,
    Mum x

  • 2 Weeks Old

    2 Weeks Old

    Hey Lara,

    Wow! The time I’m spending with you is just flying by. Last weekend, your Dad and I used the milestone cards we bought to celebrate your being two weeks old.

    I’m really enjoying my maternity leave off work with you. You are so beautiful, but you have a hell of a set of lungs on you, but it’s hard to be mad when you are so ruddy cute. Even when you are screaming for your feed you pull the cutest little face!

    IMG_20170710_141827

    We are meeting your potential childminder on Saturday. We are hoping she is lovely and we can trust her with you, and she will look after you when I go back to work.

    Love of love,
    Mum x

  • Go To Sleep Lara Bug

    This is one sleepy baby, but she won’t give up and go to sleep. Admittedly it’s pretty hot, and has been the last couple of days. You woke up so sweaty for your feed earlier this morning. I’ve only had two hours sleep and eager to get you settled so I can get some rest. 

    You’ve have been so unsettled last couple of days. We are so worried about you coping. I really have a challenge on my hands when your Dad goes back to work next week and it’s just the two of us. 

  • A&E Drama 

    Hello little one, 

    In your first week of being in the big scary world you have had quite a run of drama, on Sunday we noticed your left eye was stuck shut and so we bathed it and made you open your eye, but after you had slept it had come back so mummy made an appointment with out of hours doctor so we could get you some drops to clear up the infection, we only thought we would be out of the house for 30 mins didn’t pack a lot of supply’s but after an hour wait and way past your feed time we were seen by the doc who said your blood oxygen levels were low and we were rush round to a&e where me and your mummy were in for a 8.5 hour wait to find out you were completely fit and healthy. And that the original doctor used the wrong bit of equipment on you.  We eventually managed to get you home at 1:30am 

    We’re we’re all up early later that Monday morning as we had to take you back to the hospital so you could have your tongue tie sorted, bit of blood and crying as you were hungry but no real dramas, we tried to Breast feed you on your next feed but you still didn’t latch on. So mummy’s continuing to express so you still get everything you need to grow big and strong. 

    It’s now Tuesday morning and your currently sleeping after your last feed and mummy is going to ring to get someone to come and help you both with breast feeding, we’re both hopping it will all go well 
    Lots of love 

    Papa bear 

  • 1 week old 

    Good morning Lara, still feels a bit weird calling you that as for 9 months you were wriggley bear, well I guess your still living up to your name as your still as wriggley as you were in mummy’s tummy. 
    Well as previously stated your a week old today and growing strong you already hold your head up and your already bearing weight on your legs 
    We are currently feeding you about every 3 hours it’s making me and mama bear very tired but seeing your baby blue eyes looking up at me makes it all worth while. 

    You have had a very busy week with being kept in hospital, coming home meeting nanny flo and grandad Ernie, aunt Debbie and of course your furry sister Nismo. You have had midwife visits and been out for in daddy’s car to have you bloods taken. 

    Love you so much 

    Papa bear 

  • Happy Birthday Lara!

    Happy Birthday Lara!

    You’ve arrived! We can’t believe you’re finally here!

    Labour started at midnight on Thursday night / Friday morning, and you arrived at 7:58am on Saturday 24th June 2017 weighing 6lbs 11oz. I needed 10 stitches. Each one totally worth it. 

    It’s the day after and we are having some issues feeding you, but apart from that you are gorgeous and happy.