Our Sole Responsibility

Superbaby is four weeks old tomorrow. He makes the transition from being newborn to infant in the world. Though everything is still new to him and he will have first time experiences for the foreseeable future.

There is no question about mine and Robert's unconditional love for this little human. What I didn't expect was the bond from his grandparents. So far we have had 3 grandparents stay and help us out while we are learning this parenting thing. Nana, Nan and Granddad (who I have a nickname for, but I'm not allowed to use) have stayed for a grand total of 3 weeks and I am eternally grateful for their dedication to their children and grandchild. Robert and I count ourselves very lucky that we have two great families supporting us. The extra pairs of hands have really helped with baby holding, feeding and cleaning as well as house keeping.

We went to Thanksgiving at our favourite Aunt's, Mum and Dad saw people from last Christmas. Robbie got passed around all the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins that were there. I didn't see him for a while, but I didn't need to. He's a great baby and I'm very happy to pass him around.

That being said, he's our baby. We are the sole carers for this child and he is fully reliant on us to provide food, a place to live and sleep and he stays relatively clean because of us. We applied for his passport the other day. With a minor (under 15) and first passport you apply in person. Off we went to perform our duties as mom and dad. Without us, he doesn't have a passport, he can't fill in or sign the forms. They were confusing enough for me! 

As scary as that sounds, I've also found some spiritual connection in it. God was and is molding this little human. I'm certain that God knows what he is doing, even when we don't and especially when we are making it up. I pray with my child and for him. Yes, he's our sole responsibility, but I'm so glad we have a God who has looked after my parents, my husband and now my child. We wouldn't be where we are without His guidance.

"Looks like we made it"

Well, here we all are. How about that?! We made it all the way to the middle of November and there is a new boy on the block!

Here is my not-so-little boy! He was only a day or so old when this picture was taken, already with a decent sized plug in his mouth.

Robert Kenneth Litton III arrived at 4.04am on 8th November 2013, weighing a staggering 8lb 7oz and measuring 20.5inches long.

Now since we are not royalty, there was no town crier to announce this birth, since he is not the Son of God there wasn't a heavenly host telling shepherds on a hill (not that I know of) and so we used the power of the internet and FaceTime to see family and announce to friends the long awaited arrival of baby boy Litton.

The whole labour (my American friends; can I be excused from spelling please, it's tedious to me) experience was not one of great distress, nor was it such a delight that I'd do it all again tomorrow. I laboured for 22 hours, half with no epidural and half with. I would say the time in between my waters being broken and having the epidural were the toughest physically, and the pushing part the toughest mentally.

To spare you the details, we have a stubborn baby. There is no doubt in my mind that we will fight with this child over wrong and right, over bedtimes and allowances, because of how stubborn he was about being born. He did not want to be in the world.

Robert was my rock the entire time I laboured. We laughed, slept, he ate, I envied his food! I beat him up while I was contracting and he took it like a man (until I slapped him in the unmentionables because I am a mean and super strong while pregnant/labouring). He got me through the last 4 hours without so much as a complaint and without putting me in any worry.

We had some great nurses caring for us at the hospital. They all found my accent intriguing and even joined in with video calls. They were amazing. Our first few days in hospital are a blur at best, we had visitors, and phone calls. We managed to survive all the nurses and professional personnel that visit to register the existence of a new human  in the world. From early Friday to Sunday morning we recovered. We were all home and settled in time to see Arsenal play Man U. Though it seems even the arrival of our son can't guarantee all of our teams winning.

So, we are home. We have been for nearly a week. There is no routine, there is no possible way I could do this without Robert or my mother in law being here. I admire single mums and stay at home mums all the more. You ladies are champions in my eyes. How do you ever shower? Or clean anything??

Here's another picture just because! My super man!

So close!

It's been a whole month since I last blogged, now I'm considered full term and could go into labour at any moment! As fun as that sounds, I'm feeling very apprehensive!

We have had a long month, things are going so slowly and so quickly all at once. It barely feels like its been 8 months, but then it may as well be years that I've been pregnant. Don't get me wrong, I've had no problems to speak of and definitely had a straightforward experience, but it seems so long and we could have another month to go!

The joy is that I finish work this Friday. I'm enjoying the light at the end of the tunnel feeling about this. Many of the ladies at work (parents and teachers) have comments about my size and state! Some are welcome, some are not. But I'll keep my mouth quiet on that one because I'm telling those people directly.

For now it's deep breaths and self imposed time outs for my sanity. Looking forward to the time off I might have before the baby arrives. Cleaning, cooking, sleeping and keeping up with events at home. I shall probably post some more things before I have a babe in arms and hope to post once he is here too. If you don't hear from me, I'm sure Dad or Liz may post before me.

Baby Shower (Litton/Coomlers)

I am blessed enough to have a fantastic set of in-laws. My Mother in Law is one of the kindest ladies I know. The first time I met her we really connected and ever since its been such an easy relationship.

I am also totally blessed that her family seem to have taken me on board so much so that they put a bunch of effort into throwing me a baby shower a few weeks ago.

We had chosen The Lion King as a theme for baby Litton before we knew he was a he. So that was an easy theme for the party. I love the yellows, greens and browns.

My lovely mother in law went about getting a list together of everyone who would be able to come and we sent invites out. Her brother hosted the party, and all he had to do was look after Grandpa while we were out.

I had a great low stress day and saw lots of family and friends who I hadn't seen for a while. The Coomler ladies sure do know how to put on a party!

Julie (Robert's Cousin) helped with decorating.

Diaper/Nappy cake from Josh, Amanda and Abby

Julies fantastic flowers made from socks

Nan Leaver and Nan Litton both came with me on the trip. And so did Liz.

Numbers week again

This week is a week of numbers again.

Today Robbie is 33 weeks and growing. Robert thinks we only have about 5 more weeks to go with his guess at 30th October. Which will make Robbie the second October baby in the family. I'm close to waddling around at work and still able to do. So while I can I will. I have a doctors appointment next Wednesday, and then it'll be a week 35 (ish) check up for Strep and other things. I'm lying if say I'm completely calm about that, since I dreamt last night that I was already in labour! Ha. When Robbie is asleep he's on his side, back turned toward the outside world and is still just small enough to curl up horizontally across my body. He also favours my right side at the end of the day, its strange to feel hard feet, butt and spine. He still hasn't performed for the ladies at work too much.

On Tuesday Mum and Dad will have been married for 30 years! This is a huge achievement! It's crazy to think about, Robert and I are a tenth of the way there almost. Only 27 more years to go. This is by far my favourite picture of Mum this year! Dad promises she hadn't had anything to drink yet, but I don't think I got the full story on that one (I still laugh every time I see this picture and the close up is even funnier to me). Dad of course is the one taking all the pictures, so there aren't many of him.

On Wednesday the smallest of the Fishers turns 1. Can't believe its been a whole year since this little boy arrived already. Andy and Jess are fantastic parents. It'll be a few months before we meet him, I cannot wait to get home and see him for the first time.

Since I last wrote the collective Litton/Fisher/Harmsworth/Harmsworth-Blyth family has a new addition. Aston Spencer Harmsworth-Blyth arrived on 1st September. He was a little early, but perfectly formed. Very proud of Tasha! (For those who have just joined Tasha is married to Graham, my cousin on my Dad's side)

In the next month we celebrate 3 years of marriage, there will be a new Fisher (by marriage), Isla-Rose turns 1 and maybe there will be a new Litton. I know why I'm writing all this now, because in years to come I'll still have to remember all these dates and this is the best way to do it!

The Big 3-0!!

Nope, not me, nor Robert. Baby Robbie hits 30 weeks today. No picture this week, but the baby has been growing and growing. Now I can feel him moving all the time and happily so, until last night when I think I got kicked in joint/bony area and that hurt!

He'll move about while I'm at work, while I'm lying down and especially if Daddy comes to talk to him. Robert has been telling him to move since week 12, when he waved at us during our first ultrasound! Ever since then I can't get him to calm down if Daddy is nearby. Of course it's great he is moving and I'm happy that I can feel it. Just don't enjoy him using my bladder as a trampoline nor punching/kicking my spine/hips/bony places!

I'm only experiencing slight discomfort in my upper stomach muscles. A sharp pain every time I lift myself up or do the 'stomach crunch' movement, eg sitting picking up something from the floor. I have lower back pain at the end of the day.

I have had two tests for gestational diabetes now, one at 24 weeks and one at 28 weeks. I failed the first test due to eating too close to the test. Passed the second one easily because of the fasting I had to do. I knew that I really didn't have any problems.

The new school year started, which means new babies at work. We have 4 in the room right now that we are learning and its hard, however I'm enjoying talking to the first time Mum's about their experiences.

10 weeks to go! Argh. But at least I'm cleaning and getting ready. That might take 10 weeks!

29 Years/1 Year/6(ish) Months

We've now been in the States for a whole year! It's been a long and interesting year. I'm glad we're settled and have made it this far.

In a whole year we have done so many things. The list of States I've visited is still only 4 (AL, GA, FL and MS) but we've travelled so far. Still think about those first few weeks in Jacksonville, AL and time spent in Florida before settling in Auburn.

I've watched more football and baseball than ever, but have enjoyed some great sporting events from afar (Olympics and Wimbledon). Sometimes I think it's better that way. I've experienced a lot of new foods and learnt how to drive (again).

It's still very much interesting to other people that I'm here and I've got an accent. I probably get told once a week that 'I love your accent'. Though I'm glad that my colleagues and friends here are not fazed by it at all. I sound American to my family though, but I think that was to be expected. I never held much of my own accent, it's like my handwriting, it changes depending on who I am with and what I am doing. There's the occasional y'all and extended 'i' sounds (fiiiive, piiie) and I have changed my vocabulary depending on who I talk to. Children are the easiest to do this with, as I don't expect for them to understand me if I'm talking in an English accent. I know I still get the quizzical look, but eventually we can communicate.

This week I began the last year of my 20's! Ha ha ha, oh well. I'm excited for this year ahead. What it will bring and all the possibilities. And so to 29!

Here we are at 24 weeks into pregnancy, just shy of 6 months.

Nothing to report apart from the regular kicking and now hiccups the baby gets. He's growing and growing and I'm waiting impatiently to meet him.