From Under The Maple

It won't be long...

2009-09-16T16:17:00.004+01:00

....before she's crawling. I put her down on the floor (the safest place) today whilst doing a job in her room...before I knew it she was on her tummy, and was moving about like a fish out of water, and swiveling around on her tummy. Oh my...I'm not ready for this.

Rebekah - age 5 months

I am still here....just!

2009-09-08T12:10:00.003+01:00

I'm really not getting any time to blog at the moment. The summer has been really hectic, and the first thing to go is any Jane time. There have been a few times that I have thought about deleting the blog, but I won't do that just yet. Maybe things will get easier int he Autumn, and I'll get back to a few of my hobbies.

I also want to say a huge thanks to all your thoughts and prayers during August. It was a very scarey time for me and my family, and your prayers really helped in a situation that I was struggling to find any peace in. I'm certain they contributed to the good outcome.

I will come visit...and fingers crossed I'll be back with my knitting, gardening and family soon. xx

Photo - Clematis "Rebecca"

Look-a-likes?

2009-07-16T07:29:00.000+01:00

My little girl is now 3 months old, and sitting in the chair that Oliver used to frequent. I thought I'd try and recreate the photo of him sitting in that same chair when he too was 3 months old.

Any similarities? Well it seems not. It's interesting, as whenever I see Bekah I feel that Oliver is looking back at me. It's nice to see how different they are side by side.

A Day out at the Flower Show

2009-07-15T09:49:00.013+01:00

It's already a week since we went to the Hampton Court Flower Show. I just don't know where the time goes. So here I am seizing a moment to blog, whilst Bekah is sleeping, and I'm ignoring the huge pile of ironing that now nearly reaches the ceiling.

For years I've wanted to go to the Chelsea flower show, but for one thing or another, I've never managed to get there. This year it was held not long after Bekah was born, so I thought I'd have a trip to Hampton Court instead.

We went on RHS members day, hoping it would be a bit quieter, but since it was such a wet day...you'll see that the flower marquees were absolutely packed.

Inside I enjoyed the contrast of these black Scabiosa against the yellows and oranges of the Achillea, Kniphofia and Echinacea.

I've never seen anything like this before!!

Daylillies (Hemerocallis) were popular in both the flower marquee and in the show gardens.

Mmmm smell the lavender

The light inside the flower marquee was very bad so we'll go outside instead,

... or maybe not....

Once the storm had passed we headed out. And here are a few of the show gardens. I only took a few as the light was so bad. Firstly a beach theme in one of the small show gardens...if only the sun was shining...

A lovely porch to sit and enjoy the planting.

Some stunning herbaceous borders in one the large gardens...what a colour clash.

A front garden in the sustainable gardens category

Here are the BBC filming one of the gardens inspired by Henry VIII wives. It was the 500th anniversary of his reign, so they had gardens, plus a Tudor rose pavilion to commemorate. The light was so bad I scrapped all my photos.

And here, a rare self portrait of Hubby and I relaxing over a glass of Rioja....a few minutes before the heavens opened...again!

I'll definitely go again...and maybe I'll get to Chelsea next year too.

My beautiful little girl

2009-06-27T10:44:00.000+01:00

Ten weeks old

"Mummy went the wrong way!"

2009-06-26T09:43:00.000+01:00

This is what my son Oliver, kept saying last Friday whilst out and about with Mum, Dad and Bekah.

What was to have been a day of baby sitting for Mum and Dad whilst I was spending time at the dentist (they cancelled on me at the last minute), turned into a lovely outing instead for all of us.

Mum and I had talked about going to a local rose garden, which I must say I had driven past countless times in the past decade. So we set out, all squeezed into my car, without map or sat nav! "I know where is it", I said.

As we approached the village where I thought the rose garden was, I was unsettled to find that all road signs were absent. "I'm sure it's down here", I said.

We had seen another sign with a little flower on it, so thought maybe I was mistaken and that we should follow this sign instead. It took us to a new garden called Future Gardens, but where was the rose garden?

Mum was sure that it was still there somewhere, as she'd checked it out on the internet just the day before. Finally after 45 minutes and a stop at the local post office to ask for directions, we found the Gardens of the Rose....BEHIND future gardens....exactly where I had thought it should be. Why had they removed all the signs?

Anyway we finally arrived and had a lovely afternoon strolling through the fragrant air. If during the summer months you ever have an hour or two to spare and are passing J21A of the M25...it's well worth a visit. If you can't find it...just ask at the post office!

I'll be on the look out for this one below Rosa "Hot Chocolate", a lovely burnished Orange.

I loved the way this Rosa "Hannah Gordon" faded from intense pink to the palest of pink.

My precious little boy running around the maze (with Grandma - out of shot)

Beautiful blue skies

Below is Rosa "Irish Eyes". They change colour as they fade.

I was particularly taken with these very old fashioned roses. Not something I've really noticed before. They were just amass of colour.

The wonderfully fragrant arches

I think we all had a lovely time.

The tiniest splash of colour

2009-05-21T11:03:00.023+01:00

Yesterday evening I took a slow stroll down the garden with the camera, as Oliver ran around the place like any toddler will do. This is what I found.

A pink hardy geranium

A delicate yet tall deep purple geranium

Two more but very different pink geraniums against the acid green of the cotinus "golden spirit".

A Spirea getting ready to flower, complete with little companion.

A striking Aquilegia from my nursery pots

And some pale pink ones hiding amongst the bamboo

The bright pink of Cistus "sunset", a find from the Duchy of Cornwall nursery last year.

The pretty blue star of the Knapweed.

Choysia enjoying a second flowering...this old shrub will unfortunately be taken out for the refurbishment of the new flowerbed.

And last but by no means least, the amazing seed pods on the maple tree.

5 weeks old

2009-05-21T11:00:00.000+01:00

I thought it was about time I took some new photos.

She's still not impressed with the camera, but she enjoys looking at the TV... and especially loves the sound of Daddy and Oliver's voices.

She's been very much on the verge of her first smile in the past few days (more than just wind)...and I was sure it would be Daddy that got this first pleasure.

BUT IT WAS ME....so very precious.

Out and about?

2009-05-20T11:03:00.000+01:00

Last Tuesday, a week ago already, Rebekah and I ventured out for our first walk together. Not quite the first time we've been out (as we've been accompanied by the boys on a couple of other occasions when I've needed to be ferried about in the car), but it was our first excursion as just the girls.

We only walked ten minutes down the road to the local health clinic. My health visitor had given me instruction to find the centre and get Rebekah weighed when she was four weeks old. And it was some well needed freedom from the four walls of my house. Yes, I'm getting a bit stir crazy!

So how is Rebekah? Very well indeed. She'd already reached 9lb 12.5oz (4.44kg) at her weigh in, which means she's put on a whole pound in about 2 weeks. Feeding well and sleeping well at night too. The only fly in the ointment is that she's now found her voice, or rather it's increased in volume by a fair few decibels. Neighbours who hadn't realised before...certainly know there is now a new baby in the neighbourhood.

I was feeling quite wonderful after my walk, and was then planning daily constitutionals until I'm allowed back behind the wheel (next week....yippee!)....then I go and do something really silly. I get a trapped nerve in my hip/pelvis! I cannot believe it. No idea how I have done it, but have been pretty immobile and in a lot of pain this past week.

Also my poor little boy gets the chicken pox. He's been absolutely covered, and I have been close to tears at times when applying cream to his itchy spotty body. I put his eczema creams to good use, which have been much better than using calamine. He's fine now and we just have to wait for the spots to disappear.

Alas no new photos of Rebekah, but here is my little helper watering my little herb garden.

And here the garden, complete with a newly shaped new flowerbed which suddenly appeared over Easter. It's a very large semicircular flowerbed, which will get a mixture of shade, through partial shade to full sun. It needs to be completely cleared of some very old shrubs, to give me a blank canvass and I will have lots of fun planning and planting this space during the summer. Watch this space.

I've just heard the postman, who has delivered my new copy of The Garden...time for a cup of tea before Rebekah's next feed. If I'm quick enough ;-)

Three weeks old

2009-05-07T10:33:00.005+01:00

Doesn't time fly. Rebekah was three weeks old yesterday, so I took a few photos this morning.

Mummy the flash is too bright!

I will look away this time!

Someone is enjoying the sunshine...

2009-04-26T15:22:00.005+01:00

Emmy is making the most of the sunny weather.

Hope the weather is nice where you are today.

Hat

2009-04-22T17:59:00.008+01:00

Here is the hat that I mentioned I was knitting in my last post. I have found knitting the perfect activity, as I'm not allowed to do anything until I've recovered. I am finding it especially frustrating at how limited I have to be. No lifting, except for the baby, and that is only if the baby is at a certain height. I cannot bend down to pick her up. No cooking. No washing. No ironing. No going out, and especially no gardening....despite the glorious gardening weather we have this week. So it's down to the husband this week to look after us all, and I should make the most of some quite time to care for baby and rest, whilst she rest, whether this is sleeping myself or indeed knitting.

The pattern is from Roses and Posies by Patons and the hat is Bee. It suggests to enbroider some flowers on it, but this will be a job for another day. I will try and get a picture of Rebekah wearing her new hat, when she's next awake.

Now I must finish Oliver's red jumper.

New arrival

2009-04-20T15:51:00.008+01:00

It's hard to think that just a week ago I was nervously anticipating the birth of my baby daughter. Rebekah came into this world at 12.53pm on Wednesday 15th April. Amazing that the 3rd stage of labour was all of 2 minutes. It was 13 hours for Oliver, and when you count the 1st and 2nd stages, it accounted for a few days.

Anyway back to Rebekah. Here she is....looking so very perfect. And very much smaller than we expected, at only 8lb 6oz (3.8kg). So she is now making use of newborn clothes that only reached Oliver's tummy button, which shows how much bigger he must have been.

We've been home since Saturday, Rebekah is such an easy, sweet baby, and I'm recovering very well from the surgery. An elective c-section has certainly been a very positive birth experience for me. And I am glad I took some music for theatre, to take my mind off the spinal (the thing I was most worried about). Thank you Take That.

And this afternoon between feeds, I'm making use of some wool Mum passed my way, to make a hat for Rebekah, as it's still a little on the cool side here.

Thanks for all your lovely comments directly or via my Mum. I'll be back again soon.

Only one day to go...

2009-04-14T10:10:00.000+01:00

I started with this post just before Easter, when I was still taking in the fact of knowing up front the day my little one will arrive. I still find this very strange to comprehend. But why should I be as even though when you're waiting for labour to happen naturally you still seem to expect babies to arrive on their due dates...which they very rarely do. Very strange indeed. I know it shouldn't be as elective c-sections these days are very very common. At least now I'm getting used to the fact I'm in for an Op in the morning, as up until now I've been pretty scared.

I have to say that the last couple of weeks have been quite emotional. I had forgotten what it was like. But then every pregnancy is different. When I was carrying Oliver, I was out and about so much more. I even went into London to watch tennis at Wimbledon only a week before my due date...whereas this time round I can't even manage a walk to my local shops. Last time I cried a lot once I went past my due date...this time the crying started at 38 weeks.

But then I guess every pregnancy has to be different, because every child is different. And now I only have a few more hours to wait. And whilst I'm preparing for what lies ahead...I am so looking forward to no more indigestion, and being able to sleep on my back again. Not to mention a little baby sister for Oliver, the thought of which brings a little tear to my eye.

I will hopefully be on line again soon, and hopefully with a picture too.

Week 37

2009-03-27T21:20:00.004Z

I took this photo last weekend, as we spent much of it in the garden as it was so beautiful. Unfortunately this week, the clear blue skies have vanished and replaced by grey clouds again.

At least I don't feel like I'm wasting too much time, going back and forth between two local hospitals, as there's less inclination to want to go out when it's cold and wet, than when it's warm and sunny. So whilst my never ending trips to the hospital have been a real pain, there's not been too much else I can do in the meantime. Especially as I'm starting to get very tired now.

Am I ready for baby number two?....no not quite yet.

Today was another long session at the hospital. A growth scan, Doppler and fluid volume measurement, followed by seeing the midwives and finally my consultant obstetrician.

So what's news? Well, just as I suspected...I have no gestational diabetes. Baby seems fine, and fluid volumes are OK for this stage of pregnancy and baby is still big. We're talking 3.7kg already! So we've agreed on a c-section, as we can't risk another stuck baby, especially as this one is likely be be much bigger than Oliver (4.2kg at 42 weeks).

So unless I go into labour before ....I'll be having a c-section just after Easter on the 15th April. At least this gives me enough time to prepare myself for an Op (never had anything more than a few stitches before), and get some rest before we three become four.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend...and thank you for your prayers.
x

Mothers Day

2009-03-22T12:45:00.006Z

Despite initially being woken at 6am, I was allowed a lie-in on Mother's Day.

I was then treated to breakfast in bed.

What a treat!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Good things come to those that wait....

2009-03-17T09:19:00.007Z

...actually I could probably have a small one of these. Full of iron!

Happy St Patricks Day!

35 weeks

2009-03-14T13:53:00.001Z

...which means Easter is only 4 weeks away, and it's 5 weeks until our 10th Wedding Anniversary plus the due date of baby number two.

However, I went for an ultrasound scan yesterday. It had been booked in for two reasons, (1) a low lying placenta visible at my 20 week scan, and (2) to check how big the baby is.

I was kinda hoping that any kind of decision making about the delivery would be taken out of my hands, but it didn't really go like that. Great that the placenta had moved out of the way, but then I hear that all of baby's measurements are off the scale! She's 7lb already and gaining 0.5lb a week for the next 5 weeks or so...therefore we're looking at another big baby. Probably even bigger than Oliver, who was 9lb 4oz (4.2kg) at 42 weeks. I had said up front that if the baby was going to be over 9lb, that I would seriously have to consider an elective c-section. Oliver got stuck you see.

The other concerns on the scan were that there's not enough fluid in my womb and also the possibility that I'm developing/have developed gestational diabetes. Not convinced on the latter one myself, as I've had no visible symptoms of diabetes.

But anyway, I now have to have twice weekly fetal monitoring to check that the baby can handle the reduced fluid volume, weekly ultrasounds to check size, and a glucose tolerance test to rule out (I hope) diabetes.

So looks like I'll be having a c-section this time, which considering the traumatic birth that Oliver suffered, is probably the right answer, despite my fear of surgery and staying in hospital (picked up a super bug last time!).

I'll keep you "posted"!

P.S. Had to show you these beautiful orchids that I have scattered around the house. I've been a bit orchid free over the past year or so, as I was experimenting with strains other than Phalaenopsis, which are really easy to keep flowering for a few years. My love of orchids grew on a holiday in Thailand in 2001. Anyway my local supermarket, whose marketing slogan is "try something new today", was selling these at 2 for £10, which was a real bargain. I bought two. Told Mum of the offer and when I went back to get her two, I bought another 2 for myself.

Nesting

2009-03-11T09:44:00.005Z

This week I am starting to disappear behind the biggest pile of ironing I've ever seen. I thought it was about time I started to get things in order for our new arrival, as before I know it he/she'll be here.

Every time Oliver out grew something, it just went straight up into the loft/attic. I hadn't realised how much "stuff" there was until we started to bring it all down again. Everything has been sorted into keep or discard, then into all the different age ranges...up to 18 months. Funny that Oliver is in a mishmash of clothes ranging from 18 months to 3 years at the moment. Will clothing stores ever sort their sizing out?

But this nesting urge feels very strange. I don't really remember it when I was pregnant with Oliver. I know that I had lots of things to buy and a room to decorate, but this time I can feel it in the tips of my fingers....this needs cleaning, that needs cleaning. I must de-clutter! I wonder if it's because it is Spring? When I finished work with Oliver, it was the beginning of a July heatwave....remember 2006? Literally the day the heat arrived so did the biggest ankles I have ever seen. I swear they were as thick as my knees...what a sight. So most of my final days were sitting in front of Wimbledon on TV (funny that day one of Wimbledon was wet....and I was actually there on center court watching Federer...for all of 30 minutes)....with a fan on....the patio doors open, and a very large bucket of cold water and a chair in the shade of the patio, so that I could waddle out from time to time and soothe my monster legs. Oh the joys of late pregnancy.

But this time I'm enjoying the coolness of approaching Spring....and I'm still able to wear my wedding and eternity ring. And I still have ankles!! Hooray!

Spring is here...

2009-03-06T11:07:00.008Z

...and I think I'm slowly emerging from my state of hibernation.

October to March has gone so quickly, and now I don't have to think about work, until next year! Next year? That's 2010...Yippee!

I never imagined I'd be so pleased to finish work. With Oliver I worked until 38 weeks, and wondered how I'd fill my time with 6 months off work. This time I'm trying to work out how long I can stay off work, and have finished at 34 weeks. I realise now how tired I've been, actually let me rephrase that, how utterly exhausted I've been. Not so much because of the pregnancy, as that has been pretty smooth (excluding the 18 weeks of constant nausea), but things that have happened. I'll say up front that I'm OK now, so too is baby, but I managed to have a nasty fall at work before Christmas. Thankfully no broken bones, but bruising can hurt just as much, if not more...especially when it's your left arm and hip/leg, which is exactly the side you're told to sleep on when you start getting bigger in pregnancy. So no sleep since before Christmas. No wonder some days I can hardly string a sentence together...so now I'm on catch up. Though I have so much to do before Easter in preparation for our new arrival. For now "nesting" will have to wait. I'm off for a nap...though hopefully my emergency plumber will arrive soon...we lost our hot water and heating last night, and it's freezing! I look quite a sight, sat here at my computer with hat, scarf, extra fleeces on.

Happy Spring...Back again soon!

Hibernating

2008-10-25T13:25:00.011+01:00

I've barely blogged in months, and I've been seriously thinking of throwing in the towel. But I know that I don't want to do this, but I just don't have the energy or time to knit, or garden or play around with all the photos I take, or even try and write anything vaguely interesting.

It's time to explain. About 18 months ago, when Oliver was only 7 months old, I went back into full time work. Ideally I wouldn't work 5 days a week, but finances make it necessary. Anyway not long after my return we decided to try for number two! Then after a year (I had already made this plan) it toddled off the the GP to see if I/we could be referred. The referral happened immediately....owing to my age apparently. But I do have a fabulous GP.

My first blood appointments happened in July...just before Oliver's 2nd birthday in fact....I was amazed at how much they took, and was nervous what path I was taking us down.

Apparently here in the UK, only a few conceive in the 1st month; for most it takes 3-6 months; and even fewer take longer than a year....and for others....well I don't like to say. We were certainly in the category of taking more than a "year" with Oliver.....BUT for baby number two...I BECAME A STATISTIC THAT I LOVE....between those first blood tests and getting my first fertility clinic appointment. I found out I was in fact pregnant!! Praise God! I was soooo pleased to have to phone and cancel the appointment.

SO YES! I'M PREGNANT!

Hence I've been so tired.....with "all day" morning sickness this time, and with constant colds too! I'm about 4 months now, and will be presenting my husband with the best 10th Wedding Anniversary present next April....EVER!

So forgive me for being so absent, but if I free myself from blogging for a while, I may have time to visit all the lovely people I've made contact with over the past couple of years. So I want to wish everybody a lovely winter, with those holiday times to come, and see you in the New Year!

I've certainly got some "Work in Progress".

Photos - Aldeburgh, Suffolk, September 2008

OK computer?

2008-08-02T18:48:00.004+01:00

Or not as the case may be.

I was really gutted not to have posted more when on our holiday at the end of June, as we got home to find the computer had died. It was thought to be the processor, but after weeks it seems it might be the motherboard! Mean anything to you? No me neither. All I know, is that it's broken, and it's very slow to blog at the moment. So sorry for not being around. I am still here.

We've been really busy though. Took loads of photos of Cornwall. I can't wait to show you the "Lost Gardens". I've been knitting, gardening and reading quite a lot. Oh and enjoying the heatwave, and there have been a few parties too. I turned 38 at the beginning of the month and Oliver turned 2 last week. I promise to show you everything once I'm back up and running properly.

Must dash now, I need to kiss my beautiful little boy goodnight.

Day 1 - Fowey, Cornwall

2008-06-26T18:03:00.008+01:00

Having thought I’d not be able to post until our return next week, I have the technology… courtesy of my IT man, Chris.

So, following an early start this morning, we headed off west avoiding the Greater London rush hour, and found ourselves in deepest darkest Cornwall in just five hours. A bonus of travelling before the summer season starts. In fact it doesn’t bear imagining what the roads of the south west of England would be like in August!

Our base for the week is the delightful coastal village of Fowey, pronounced Foy, probably most famous for the author who lived here – Daphne Du Maurier. I didn’t bring any books, but there are a few of her books on the bookshelf, so it would be rude not to try one out. Jamaica Inn maybe? The weather’s not great, but we do hope to get to the beach, the china clay museum, the hanging gardens of Heligan, amongst other things…Oh and get some exercise walking up and down the steep streets and lanes.

Here are a couple of shots of our apartment, and views from the window.

Back again soon with some pictures of the surrounding area.

R and R

2008-06-25T18:41:00.012+01:00

...with some exploring, sunbathing, reading, knitting, sightseeing, train rides, ambling around gardens, shopping and zoo visits.

But I'll be back soon, to show you where we've been.

Guard cat?

Who's on my run?

Oh it's Emmy sunbathing

Has Oliver gone to bed - Is it safe to come out now?
Thank goodness, Grandma and Grandad are coming to look after us this week.

Square 21

2008-06-22T09:40:00.004+01:00

At last some time to knit. The lovely weather now replaced with drizzle, gave me some time to get another square done. I can tell I've not done any knitting in a while, as this diamond is not as good as some of my earlier ones.

But I'm on holiday countdown...4 days to go....and I'll definitely be packing the camera and my knitting bag.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend wherever you are.