This and That.

This morning Noah has decided to practise his rolling. He has been going from his back to his tummy and to his back again all morning. It's really funny to watch and the first time he's managed to go from his tummy to his back as well. He is wiggling his legs like crazy too. I think one of his older friends from play group must have told his that if he lies on his tummy and wiggles his legs he won't need mum any more to get from place to place. He's doing his best but I think he'll need more practise. He's worn out now, see the picture!
I am now also on half term so there will be no kids or teachers in work this coming week to make life difficult! I plan on blitzing my in tray Tuesday and Wednesday so that I can work in the Library the rest of the week. I spoke to my line manager this week about whether or not I'll be in the library next year and explained that I'm interested in doing a Masters in Library. He said he couldn't promise anything yet but I'll possibly be in the library again. I'll just have to wait and see. If I'm not, my job will be pointless from my point of view as there will be no way of developing my skills and abilities and will be dead boring! Ho hum. It pays the bills!

Busy, busy, busy.

I never seem to get time to write in here now! I think that's why there were so many long gaps between my initial postings. Work just gets in the way of blogging. I've been back at school for four weeks now and it has flown by. I can't believe it really. One more week and it's half term, not that I'm off but at least we are that much closer to the summer. Work has been ok. Some days are better than others as with anything and I do miss Noah loads. Having said that, he is doing just fine with James and James is doing a great job. So far at work I have been predominantly covering classes with a little invigilation on the side. The school's budget was so low this year that they can't afford supplies which means I get used more when teachers are away. Life at Pentrehafod chugs away as it always has.
Noah is growing loads! He is now in 9-12 month clothing, having just had his 6 month birthday! He is getting the hang of sitting by himself and will shortly begin eating solids. He is gorgeous and I love him to bits! Well I need to go to bed now and restart the conveyor belt that is my working week.

The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town

Noah .....gardening?

Sleep!

After two and a half weeks of Noah waking every two hours or so at night, he finally managed to go from 11pm until 6.30 this morning. He has always slept really well so this last couple of weeks have nearly killed me! Here's hoping he's back to being a good sleeper. He still has his tummy upset but we're thinking it's teething rather than anything sinister. I have included a picture of me. Well, it's more like an impression. It captures how I've been feeling the last week.

Depressed.

Not so great a title, huh? I was looking at the Swansea County Council Website earlier and discovered that the Primary School directly opposite me is advertising for 6 new teachers. 6! If I had managed to do my PGCE this year I could've applied! Not only that but I probably would have done at least one of my placements there and so would have been a shoe in. This will pass. I wouldn't trade Noah for a teaching qualification any day but it would have been nice if it could have worked out. Talk about wanting to have cake and eat it.

Spring has sprung...

Our house with the daffodils and tulips mum planted the day Noah was born.

Jumping off the end of the dock without a life jacket.

From the 20th of April James will no longer have a job. His boss did an about face about him working part time and so he had no choice but to hand in his notice. So he will be a full time house husband and I will be working full time to support us! We're both actually feeling pretty good about it as it will allow him to be involved in church work which is the whole reason we're in Swansea! Plus, he'll be happier not being at Boots, I'll actually get to see him during the week and family life will just be of better quality. We may not be going to Starbucks or the cinema ever again but it's worth it. It is still a bit nerve wracking; I said to James that it felt like jumping off the end of the dock without a life jacket but he didn't get it. Too Canadian an experience, I think.

Momma and Baby!

Noah hasn't been too well this week, so we're off to the doc's today! Poor little guy. He has been a trooper!

Noah

Scuppered

Well, I was all set to go to see the Head on Thursday when James phoned soon after getting to work to tell me they have changed his delivery time. As this is the main part of his job, he has to work around it and consequently his boss has said no to him working a 2-8 shift. He will be allowed to work 5-8 for now, but as the delivery will be sorted first thing in the morning they will probably want him to work then. Of course, this leaves us scuppered in terms of looking after Noah so will probably mean James will have to quit his job.
I called the school and cancelled my Thursday appointment and went today instead to withdraw my application to work part time. Wouldn't have made much difference any how as the Head turned down my application any way. When we first heard about James's work I was really upset at the thought of going back full time but now I kind of feel better as it appears working part time was never going to be an option anyway.

Summoned to the Head's office.

Well, I received a call from school today asking if I could come in tomorrow to see the Head. I'm hoping it's about my application to work part time and that he's going to say "sure that's just fine!" Something tells me it won't go that smoothly.

A few explanations!

Thanks for your comments everyone, it has encouraged me! Lori asked for a few explanations in her comments about my previous entry so I thought I would post them here in case there are other people who are wondering the same things! First of all PGCE stands for Post Graduate Certificate in Education and is the British teaching qualification. It takes a year and is a combination of lectures and placement work along with essays and other assignments. I was really looking forward to starting in last September, especially since Swansea University is a great place to do it and there is a lot of competition for the places. However, not long after I had my interview for the course, I found out about Noah and so had to defer for a year. I'm currently supposed to be starting this September but I don't see how it's going to work out as I would be gone during the day and James would have to work full time to (barely) support us. That would leave Noah by himself all day, which doesn't seem quite right?! Any how, I'm looking at other possibilities.
Onto home birth! Yes, I had Noah at home! The idea was planted when James and I started going to ante natal classes and the first topic was "Active Birth". This is pretty much the opposite of drug controlled birth and encourages women to move around as much as possible, using breathing and different position to make labour easier. The midwife also said that the key to a shorter more comfortable labour was to be relaxed and as a result many women find being in their own home more relaxing than being in a hospital. This struck a chord with me and so I talked to my health care team about having a home water birth as warm water is not only relaxing but an effective pain reliever. Also, it's less traumatic for the baby as they emerge from a small, warm, wet environment to a large, warm, wet one before they are gently picked up by mum and put on her chest. They were pretty supportive so that's what we did. Having the pool in the front room was certainly a talking point and it gave James something to do whilst I was in the early stages. It was amazing! The midwives who attended me were fantastic and it went really well, although I didn't manage to have Noah in the water but on the dining room floor instead. In all I was in labour from about 9 a.m. Friday morning until 6 a.m. Saturday. I went for a walk with James during that time and watched tv. In fact I felt pretty good until the early hours of Saturday morning! Throughout Friday I kept thinking, "is this really labour? surely now they're coming less than 5 minutes apart I should be in a lot more pain!" Anyway, Noah was 11 pounds 1 oz and I think if they had known he was going to be that big they would have taken be into hospital!
Finally, Pentrehafod. It's the Comprehensive School I work at. I am the Librarian and a Cover Supervisor. That means I get the pleasure of covering classes when the regular teachers are absent. It's hard work. Pentrehafod is in one of the roughest parts of town and our kids are quite difficult. I have enjoyed being there, especially in the library but I am ready to move on!
Well, I think that about covers it! Hope that helps!

Long time no see and a revamp to go along with it..

Well, it has been a year and a half since my last entry and so much has happened, I don't know how to write it all down!  Luckily for me the few people who will read this know all my news anyhow so I don't have to worry about reviewing the last 18 months.  The major events I suppose have been third anniversary; miscarriage; acceptance onto PGCE; pregnancy; Noah's arrival (in the front room with the aid of a large inflatable pool of water)!  I'm still at Pentrehafod, although on Maternity Leave, James is still at Boots and still looking for a new job.  Life doesn't change that much does it?  The tree in our garden referred to is gone and we have spent many hours digging out it's remains.  This summer is about getting the garden sorted I hope!  

We have started some work on the house interior also - Noah's bedroom has been recarpeted and repapered and repainted.  The downstairs bathroom is also in the process of being ripped out to make room for a new kitchen.  So I guess we have progressed.  

Noah is a fantastic baby; very content and easy going.  He is sitting up now with a little help from me to steady him and prefers that to being on his back.  He is also happiest when completely starkers and shows his approval by vigorously kicking his legs about!  He has started singing too!  It sounds a little like a dog really going awoooo arrooo but is very cute.  He is the apple of my eye!  Well, I'm going to try and write on here regularly but I made need encouragement so comments would be welcome.  Until next time this is Naomi signing out.