Getting to know Rosie

Well, here we are. Me and two children all alone. Mom and Dad left on Saturday and J officially went back to work today. He's going to take a couple of days off over the next few weeks just to help me transition and so that I can go to some doctor's appointments without two children in tow, but we're back to 'normal' for the most part.

Not too bad so far. Had a couple of hairy moments when changing Rosie's nappy and Tobes announced that he needed to wee. He can't quite manage holding the toilet seat up and weeing at the same time. Also when I tried to read Tobes a story and Rosie spit up all over both of us then started screaming and I suddenly felt like running out of the flat and down the street while pulling all my hair out. Didn't do it though and we've all survived.

The hardest part so far is watching out for Toby. I remember all too well what it was like being the firstborn and then having everything tipped upside down by the arrival of another baby. I'm desperately trying to be sensitive to Toby's needs and to give him lots of extra cuddles. It is hard though. I seem to be going back and forth between the two of them and it's almost impossible to squeeze out time to rest and take care of myself (she says while sitting at the computer). I'm managing it all fairly well so far but I can see that taking time away from the children is going to be even more important now that there are two of them (hope all my girlfriends reading this are taking note - spa day anyone??).

Rosie is settling into a routine which does make things easier and Toby will start back to school tomorrow after a week off with illness. Rosie eats about every 3-4 hours, which isn't too bad. She is a little spitfire though and, if her milk is delayed, she can rise to shocking levels of volume. It's amazing to see this tiny little thing screaming the house down. She scowls a lot too but she does smile in her sleep so I'm hopeful that she'll be a happier baby than she seems so far. She has the most expressive little face and has mastered a withering look of disdain already (her mother's daughter for sure), especially when we're trying to make her smile. We end up laughing at her scowl which makes her scowl all the more.

When she's dozing she'll often open one eye to see what's going on. If we're doing something that interests her she might open both eyes but, more often than not, we're not worthy of her attention and she'll just doze back to sleep. Such a haughty, grumpy little thing! But obviously absolutely precious with it. I think the rather grand name of Rosamund is going to suit her quite well.