Gemma: "Happy Mothers Day mum. I got you something I think you'll really like; two nights in a row of around seven hours between feeds! And I'll tell you what, just 'cause I'm feeling generous I'll throw in a sleep in the pram whilst you go out for lunch."

Lyn:"Thanks Gemma, just what I always wanted."

Yep it was that time of year, Mothers Day combined with Auntie Anna and Maria's birthdays (11th and 12th) and also cousin Samuel's birthday (12th). Yes it is a presssie giving, cake eating frenzy of a weekend. So we went up to Wang for another night at Nonna's house, where the aforementioned miracle of the long sleep took place. Then after a somewhat interupted ride home - there was a cow on the road between Wang and Benalla - she went straight to sleep for another long sleep after her feed. Hmmm, I know it can't last, but the fact that it actually happened at all gives me hope for the future.

OK, back to reality today when she shot poo at me in the middle of a change and did her first big sick-up on my shoulder - I kinda feel like a real mother now. Anyway, we have made it to the milestone six week mark (which everyone says is the worst) and have come out the other end with our sanity intact. There were some scary times, but more good ones as we are getting to know this little girl of ours.

By the way did I mention that she is smiling quite a bit now - pretty magical when this little creature turns to you and flashes those toothless gums.

Nothing can prepare you...

They say that nothing can prepare you for that first night at home with your new baby, so you're prepared to be unprepared - but really you're still massively unprepared. Firstly babies make a lot of noises that aren't necessarily crying, I didn't know that. She did make noises in the hospital, but at home you're flying without a safety net so each little gurgle seemed louder and more ominous. So in the first 24 hours we did a lot of hovering. However, once we realised it was silly of us both to be awake all the time, we started to tag-team better. I would do the feed and then try to settle her. Eric would then take over if she was still unsettled and look after her until the next feed if necessary whilst I got some sleep.

The first month has flown by. Rico is now back at work. After initial problems she is feeding better and putting on weight (over 4kgs as of last Friday and growing out of some of her 0000 clothes). She is also sleeping better at night after an initial period of thinking that was what daylight hours were for. Of course I am expecting this to change at any time - I have been warned.

It has been the start of the 'firsts' year. A lot of things she will be experiencing for the first time. First stroll (carry) around the garden, first walk, first trip to Benalla and Wangaratta (where we had 'one of the first' baths - too cute not to include), first smiles. I think I mentioned in a previous post about how she is a bit of a show-off, well at our last maternal health checkup/weigh-in she smiled at the nurse! She doesn't even smile at me much, but she was just batting her little baby-blues and cooing at the nurse, hmmm.

Well, I can't believe she is over a month old already, time flies. I will try and keep this updated at least once a week to let you know what's been happening.

Gemma's first, my second, hospital stay

Yep the last time I stayed overnight in a hospital I was Gemma's age. So whilst I was relishing the thought of being able to, and indeed encouraged, to lie around in my pyjamas all day, I was a bit unsure about what goes on in those big white buildings. I found out lots of nice people work inside them.

Is it a ploy to make you want to leave quicker or just economics? Unfortunately the parents room was unavailable (Rico would have been able to stay with me in our own room), so we got the normal room. At least I only had to share with one other person, but still with the snoring, crying and visits, not to mention Gemma's little noises, it combined to give me maybe 6hrs total sleep over the whole stay in hospital.

Good things: visitors - we received visits from some very proud grandparents and a proud uncle. Not to mention visits from other family and friends (thanks for the grapes and choccies P&A!). The nurses were also great and very supportive, (taking Gemma for a couple of hours so I could get a bit of sleep was fantastic). Gemma also started her 'showing off'. "Oh she was perfect - didn't cry a bit", said the nurses. "She doesn't cry at all ", said dad (who wasn't there for the night-time sobbing!). "What a good girl", said all the doctors and nurses who had to prod, measure and inject her over the two days. Hmmm, I was beginning to see a pattern...

Bad things: breast-feeding - I was warned that this is a learned skill and not necessarily something that comes naturally, but, um, ouch!! Let's just say not a a natural. Confidence not helped by more than one nurse commenting, "Ooh, you've got fair skin - it's going to hurt". Huh, I've got to put up with bloody sunburn and now this.

Big plug for the Mercy Womens Hospital though, everyone was fantastic, there was a lot of support and they follow up with two home visits within about five days of leaving the hospital. These really helped a lot as there are a lot of questions, once you get the little ones home.