This is how I Blog Now

I love this photo.  This is my life now..... And I love it.

Babe on my lap, laptop beside me.  Ah Bliss.

Jen
www.shimi.com.au

Baby Blues/Post Natal Depression

We are at day number 12 with our gorgeous little boy and I am sorry to say I am suffering from the Baby Blues a little.  Not to much, normally by the time I have the older kids of to school and have had a second coffee for the day I am feeling much more normal, but today I am quite teary.

I am not sure why, I guess it is all hormonal.  Maybe it is because as much as I am in total absolute love with my baby, I am feeling a bit sad that he will most likely be my last as three children is (or was) our magic number.  But I am a big believer in living in the moment, so I need to chant that to myself every morning and love what I have instead of feeling sad about what I might not have.

However, I am one of the lucky ones.  Even though with each of my children I have had a little of the baby blues, I have been fortunate enough to never suffer Post Natal Depression.  I do have many friends that have suffered from it, and suffered seriously to the point of hospitalisation.  I cannot imagine the how awful it is to have a new baby and feel absolute depression and not be able to enjoy their little miracles.  The most important step though is to get help.  If you are a sufferer or feel that you may be heading down that path, get some help straight away.  Talk to your partner, friends, and most importantly your doctor and don't be afraid to disclose how you are feeling.  The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can get better and enjoy your new baby.

Have you or are you suffering from PND?  We would love to hear your story and share it with others.  Sometimes just knowing you are not going through PND alone can be helpful.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

New Baby Boy

I bought my new little baby boy home last Sunday.  He is the most perfect specimen in every way and I feel teary every time I think how very lucky I am to have three healthy beautiful children.  

I have lucked out also on the third child, as he sleeps and eats and rarely cried.  When he is hungry he will let out a little squeak and open his mouth wide to give us the signal that a breast is required in his vicinity and quickly.  He was a few days early and a little on the scrawny side, so I am trying to feed him up a bit. Therefore even though he would love to sleep 4-5 hours, I am waking him up to feed him every three hours.  He lost 10% of his body weight in hospital, so a little extra fat wouldn't go astray.  

Thankfully my 4 and 6 year old absolutely adore him as well.  My 6 year old just mothers him and spends her day asking to cuddle him, and my 4 year old is the same.  He has had a few minor episodes of being a little jealous, but that has lasted all of 2 or 3 minutes, so it is no biggy.  Actually if the baby is not in my arms, the children get quite worried about his well being.

So needless to say my view on life at the moment is shiny and bright.  What an amazing experience motherhood is, and even though after this pregnancy I said three is enough, already I am thinking about a forth.  Just have to convince the husband that it is a good idea now.  Seriously though, I have never been a money vs baby person, but when you get beyond 3 children I guess I have to face reality and realise that we may not be able to give our children the life we want to if we have more then 3 (not that we live an extravagant life mind you).

Hmmm, who knows what life will bring though.  We will have the number of children we are meant to have I guess, but I thought I would feel like I was "done" after giving birth to my little boy, but that feeling hasn't kicked in yet.

Do you know how many children you want?  When did you know when you were "done"?

Jen

www.shimi.com.au

Jen has had her baby!

Its with great excitment, that I announce on behalf of Jen (the other half of Shimi), that she had a gorgeous little baby BOY this morning! His name is Wilkie Noel.... 6pd 9 ounces. Both Jen and baby doing very well! I will leave Jen to provide pics etc when available..
But, for now.. a huge Congratulations to my longest and dearest friend on her new baby.. I was only saying to Jen a few days ago that its so lovely to watch our children grow and bring to the family their own special dynamic and love... Enjoy this special time Jen. xxxxx

New Baby for Miranda

So Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom are the proud new parents of a baby boy.  Woohoo, and congratulations to them.

Now, whilst I will no doubt by the latest rag with photos of the bub in it if Miranda and Orlando choose to go down the route, what I don't want to see is snaps of Miranda walking out of hospital in her skinny jeans!  Or having coffee next week looking well rested, well groomed and back to her normal size 6.  Lets be realistic though, she has amazing genes, and probably a team of professionals to get her looking her best, but it still does nothing for my self-esteem when 6 months down the track I am still struggling to brush my hair in the morning.  However I am sure a lot of hard work goes into keeping oneself looking so gorgeous and if I had the means and new that I would be snapped by the paps every time I left my house, I would employ any means necessary as well.

At 8 weeks to go until my baby is due, I know without a doubt I will not be in my skinny jeans for at least another 12 months.  Partly because I don't own any skinny jeans (no one needs to see my bum tightly encased in denim) and partly because it normally takes me 12 months to get back into shape.  Although I get very frustrated by this during this period I know that if I lose the baby weight slowly and healthily that it is more likely to stay off.

So congratulations to Miranda and Orlando and I hope they have a wonderful experience as new parents.  Lets hope the the gorgeous Miranda (whom we are all fans of in my house - my husband for different reason then I obviously) doesn't do a Giselle and start making silly statements now that she has joined the world of motherhood.  Remember the "It should be law that all women breast feed their child for at least 6 months".  Obviously she had no trouble breastfeeding and hasn't had to deal with the guilt, frustration and anxiety that occurs when breastfeeding doesn't come easily, or doesn't happen for them at all.  But that is a whole other discussion.

Jen