Once upon a february morning.......

Members of my Family got up, rolled out of bed and got to Manchester airport with makeshift home made signs by the nieces and nephews.......Christine was coming home from her mission in Madagascar, and we'd all been demanded to be there "with signs and cameras", in fact her words were "i want paparazzi!"

Well she got it.......and much much more.

This photo was taken before we went down to wait at the arrivals lounge and here no one had any idea what was about to happen.......except me and Anthony.

What they were unaware of was that right at that exact moment some very dear people to us where also making there way through baggage claim to surprise our family.

The Barr's had planned to surprise the family for when Christine arrived home from her mission. I helped plan the whole thing, keeping it a secret and now was feeling very nervous and excited.

One by one they came out walked right passed the Family who of course where completely oblivious....and then came the surprise and a wonderful reunion.

My dad still has this speechless expression of unbelief on his face every time we talk about it, both him and mum still can't believe it happened. They are still stunned by it.

Below is the moment my dad finds out I knew all along

We'd all made signs for Christine...arr look at mikes......

Ha no, just kidding, my niece Becky made this one, Mikes just being a good sport.

Loved seeing Christine come through that door, my little sis back from her mish.

Love these photos below, Christine reunited with her family, but in the back ground you can spy Tom and Adele Barr watching on, Christine has no idea whats about to come.

And then came her surprise................ we caught that on film but here's some photos.

(Anthony did well running round after William)

Dad says that this was one of the greatest moments of his life.

The year so far...

Well since I last blogged its been Christmas. We spent Christmas day at home and then decided to take advantage of the clear roads and traveled up north Christmas night for the Kenny Christmas.

Which meant we made our first full on Christmas dinner. It was good with a bit of help from M&S and the local butchers.

Christmas morn, watching "cars".

Williams 2nd birthday. 23rd Jan. We spent all day at Bramleys Soft Play and Ball pit with friends, then headed to Wesfield for a Byron Burger. He didn't stop all day and was totally wiped out!

2 years old. He is everything boy. Tractors, helicopters, trains, planes, cars, motorbikes, Buzz Light year, running, climbing, swimming, bouncing, somersaulting on the couch. Stars, biscuits, cake, cake, cake, the moon, bike, scooters, balloons, boats, dummies, his bed, boots, tools.........

As he's growing I'm enjoying his company more and more. Love watching him discover and interact with the world. Even if some of his 'discoveries and interactions' make a lot of mess. I walked in the other day to find him swimming in flour making 'snow angles' on the kitchen floor! He's a cheeky, mischievous, get away with murder, butter wouldn't melt, kinda kid, he can be so naughty but with an endearing little smile. He acts so sorry when he's being told off but he knows he's just playing his mum for a fool. And I am fool for him.

And Anna's 3 month mark.

This girl has been sent to bring calm to my life. She remains so placid and hassle free. She just sits back and watches the tornado of her brother whirl by unfazed. Love her spirit so much. And it amazes me that despite her only being so little in size, so undemanding and quite, her presence is very much felt, loved and appreciated. And her Smile, well that lifts you right up into the clouds.

Move Over Anthony there is a new man in town!

......And his name is Steve the chiropractor, Aka "the baby whisperer".

A friend of mine recommended Steve to me when talking about Anna having colic. She'd taken her child to him and he'd worked wonders, he's known as the Baby Whisperer amongst Chiswick mums.....And i now know why!

Who ever coined the term 'like putty in his hands' has clearly observed him at work. Anna was exactly that.

He has definitely stumbled across a formula for success. Basically tired desperate mums come to him, he takes there baby from them, chills with them for an hour and tells the mum that she's a 'good mum', which is exactly what we need to hear. Simples really....or at least he makes it look simple.

I wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, walking around with her, little massages etc.. but he described to me how a baby can get a set pattern (in position and movement) from the womb (movements etc) causing tensions and certain 'mechanical patterns'. He's basically helps 'unravel' these mechanics which helps with colic and relaxing the baby etc. Well it seems to have worked. Anna would be chilled all day then get really fussy in the evening, never settling well at night no matter what i did and what i tried.

Steve asked me loads of questions to determine causes and get to the route of it, as well as examining her. We have only been to see him twice but I noticed a difference instantly and Anna certainly seems to enjoy being in his hands! And now my chilled out baby is also super chilled at night and goes down to sleep super easy and the same time each every night. AMAZING really. I have my evenings back. Cant believe the difference it has made. He actually has magic hands.

He could tell me exactly what position she took in the womb, where her head was squashed against one shoulder, her hands and how her legs where folded up against her tummy, and pointed out all the tell tale signs.....i found it really fascinating, he knows what part of the digestive system is having problems based on what time of day the baby is having 'colic' or fusses in discomfort. I realise now the term 'colic' is broad term, which can cover a whole load of things. I learned so much from him.

Anyway, id have never thought chiropractors could help with such issues. But now he's my Guru!

And i know it costs money but lets face it, when sleep and sanity are concerned who isn't gunna find the money in their budget for it!

Its also extra convenient that his practice is just across the road from my house.

So i highly recommend it to other new mothers!

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, and its arrived in the Dixon home just in time!...now to just work on her sleeping for longer increments.

Back to reality

OK so iv done the 'everything is wonderful post' and it is but here's a shout out post for those people that helped me get through what, lets face it, is a tough time!

Here's what and who got me through those first weeks:

Shloer - if i drank alcohol i would actually be a wino! (I'm almost on a bottle a day now they are on offer for Christmas)Hot chocolate and Barley cup with plenty of chocolate biscuits to dunk.

2 weeks worth of cooked meals from friends at church (Amazing!)

Ninny (mum), Papa Joey (dad), grandma (ants mum) and Mel (ants sis). William loved having so much attention from you all and talks about you all the time!

Episodes of Downton Abbey and Greys Anatomy during late night feeds

Live at the Apollo comedy (just to keep me sane).

Prayers.

New cosy PJ's..its a psychological thing.

Lansolin nipple cream

Alpa, my amazing midwife and rescuer (she saved me from an evil bout of mastitis catching it
just in time and making sure i got seen to before it set in to bad).

William for being so amazing, for not being jealous or clingy, for making me laugh and loving Anna.

My sister Jo Ann...for making me laugh about it all. Because as she said, 'if you don't laugh, you cry'.

Anna, for being so delightful, for smiling and cooing so early. for looking at me with those big deep knowing wise eyes of yours and making it all feel worth while.

My breaking point came in week two, you know when you haven't slept at all, you hurt all over, you smile through the pain for your toddler and endure through it for your newborn, your hormones are crazy and you are waiting for it to just get a bit better, a bit easier and a bit less painful...then week two came for me and i had the onset of mastitis, I'm not just talking sore boobies (yes i did just use that word), I'm talking flu symptoms, dizziness, aching body, hot and cold sweats....and not being able to cave in because you have to be a mum to a new born....that's when i cracked and had my tearful meltdown...it happened last time, it happened this time...but theres something brilliant about it. Its the point of resolve. Its the point where you cry your river, build ya Brooklyn bridge and get over it. because you have to. you have no choice. so you find the strength you don't have and some how before you know it you are at week 7 and life is really really good. I don't hurt any more, I'm getting sleep (still in three hour chunks but i am not complaining) and I'm learning to juggle!! I can be a mum of two! phew!

Which brings me to my Super Hero. Thank you Anthony. I couldn't have done it without you. Need you more than ever and never loved you more than these last two months.

A for ANNA

Anna Elizabeth Dixon. Born 24th October 2o11 at 11.27pm. Weighing 8.5lbs. A home water birth. And William slept through it all.

We finally chose the name Anna as we decided the 'An' in Anna can stand for the 'An' in Anthony. She was born a few days before his birthday and he called her an early birthday present. I think she may already be a daddy's girl. Here she is minutes old. (we are not very good at taking photos 'in the moment' but luckily we had 4, yes 4, midwives to take them!
We some how ended up with four midwives as they each had a trainee midwife and because it was a home birth they both wanted to be apart of it as they don't usually get to do home births, so they asked if they could come to and well i said yes, lets have a party! The midwives were all amazing and i didn't feel crowded at all despite my initial reservations...talking of which after some has seen you give birth its amazing how reservations go out the window and the next thing you know you have some one you just met helping you go the toilet! I was really glad to have my midwife there who'd seen me through the entire pregnancy, Alpa was an absalute angel in my eyes! couldnt have done it without her. She even stayed and cleaned up and didnt leave until it was all done.

Heres some quick shots of the after math...................

The help, midwives and Anthony. My heroes!

I loved having a home birth and don't think il ever do a hospital birth again if i can help it. During crunch time i did think 'what am i doing, why don't i have pain relief?????', but that was crunch time. But it was worth it when i got to get a shower in my own home, sit down and eat the roast dinner id cooked earlier and cuddle up on the sofa with my newborn to watch Downton Abbey which id recorded. That's the real perks of a home birth. And there is nowhere better than your own bed.......

Me and Anna, two hours after birth. Such a peaceful night (in direct contrast to the nights hospital stay with William).

The next morning we introduced William to Anna. We'd told him the night before his sister would be here in the morning since I was in labour when we were putting him to bed. He was so excited and curious and now calls her 'nanna'.

The whole 24 hours was just perfect, it was my ideal birth scenario. I felt very blessed. Id told friends id wanted to have a sign of labour/birth earlier on in day so i could be ready and have Anthony near by, then go into hard core labour after William goes to bed, then have the baby before 12 so everyone can clear out and go home and i can go to bed. It happened exactly like that!

William and consequently Anthony slept in and i remember the peace and tranquility of the morning as i cradled my sleeping new born baby girl. Everything was still and quite and I soaked it up while i could! I cant wait to get to know her.
We love her so much, she is an absalute delight.







When theres no one to take them for you, you just have to take em ya self...almost all the shots of me with my kids are taken from this angle!

Autumn Days...

William loves to 'bun bun bun' (run) and he is really really fast, he also loves football (of course), buzz light year, number jacks especially number 4, his little Henry hoover (he takes it to bed with him!), running round naked after the bath, hiding, dancing, he loves to copy buzz' salsa style dance that he does with Jesse in the end credits of toy storey 3 (vid to follow soon)...he;s really very good at it, doing the steps and turns and i especially love it when he goes on one knee, throwing his hand in the air just like buzz....its priceless. During a hectic tea time William was pestering me to dance, so in my desperation i put the music channel on.....lady gaga came on and you should have seen the shapes William was throwing out trying to copy....i decided we wouldn't copy gaga again although i did laugh a lot watching him ha.
He also loves helping his dad with his 'tools', putting things in his pocket, swimming, church, wearing ties and boots (some times only his boots and nothing else!), building blocks, drawing and he loves playing with 'friends' (which is basically everyone). And we love him! i love this age, its so fun and interactive, love his company and his excitement, i even love his dramatic fake crying...he just makes me laugh.





Above William is hiding at the first mention of 'brushing your teeth'! life is a game for William and he gives me no choice but to play along! He also made a new friend this autumn....and he Loves her so much (he is now over the 'whacking her on the head to see what she does' phase, phew!)