I couldn't help but record how small she is in relation to Bubba's hands..
Thursday, 28 November 2013
In Bubba's arms...
When Sienna cries, Bubba has the patience of a saint.. he walks around, sings his little songs to her (now called 'Bubba jazz'), and sometimes she rewards us all with some peace in return...
I couldn't help but record how small she is in relation to Bubba's hands..
I couldn't help but record how small she is in relation to Bubba's hands..
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
First smile... but not on camera...
After a few days of 'nearly' smiles, we got several proper smiles today! Despite what you might think, my camera is not permanently attached to me, so I didn't manage to capture a smile to share... I did get a sleeping shot though!
First smiles... 5 weeks 2 days...
First smiles... 5 weeks 2 days...
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Sienna at five weeks...
How have five weeks passed already since we first met you?
Here are some special things about you at five weeks old:
- you are desperately trying to smile and have given us a few 'nearly' smiles (captured below)
- you are focusing on our faces and following us when we move
- you can grip our fingers with your tiny hands
- your favourite toys are Zeddy the African horse (aka Zebra), Lewis the Dog, Flopsy the rabbit and your sock monkey! (ok, so maybe those are actually mummy's favourites..)
- your lungs are getting louder and you love to exercise them in the evenings!
- you sleep beside our bed in your little moses basket, but are gradually filling it up more and more each day...
- at your last weigh in you were 3.4kg, but that was at 3 and a half weeks so you must be a lot heavier now!
- just today you have learnt to sleep in the Hug-a-Bub
- you just love bathtime with Daddy when he gets home from work!
Happy five weeks sweet little one...
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Monday, 18 November 2013
Granny Pam's Blanket
Today Sienna had nearly an hour of peaceful 'playtime' on her gorgeous blanket, knitted by Granny Pam... thank you!
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Friday, 15 November 2013
Granny and Bubba arrive!
The Lister grandparents arrived this morning... here are the first cuddles!!
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Getting ready for visitors... 25 days old.
We are getting ready for Granny and Bubba's arrival tomorrow, and as I made up the spare bed, Sienna tested it out for comfort ... ;-)
[25 days old]
[25 days old]
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Monday, 11 November 2013
The most appropriate gift...
If you know Tom and I well, then you'll be aware that we are both rather partial to a good spreadsheet. A love that has been fostered throughout our careers and has crossed over into our personal lives, including featuring rather heavily in our wedding day. Heck, I even dressed up as 'Excel-sior', the Microsoft Excel super hero for a super hero costume party at work.
I think that's enough context to explain the joy that Tom and I felt at receiving this gift for Sienna from his work colleagues... thank you!
I think that's enough context to explain the joy that Tom and I felt at receiving this gift for Sienna from his work colleagues... thank you!
Friday, 8 November 2013
Sienna's first photography session...
I've photographed many newborns, but taking official newborn images of our own daughter was a very special experience... Sienna's debut on my photography website can now be viewed here.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Sienna at home..
Here are a few photos from our first few days at home with Sienna...
(L-R) Just before we left for the hospital, Just after we returned home from the hospital!
Sienna loves her milk time with Mummy!
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Windy smile, in the pram, family selfie, watching American Football with Daddy, First trip in the pram, beautiful gifts from friends
Sienna's arrival...
I'll start this post by caveating that I'm writing it for largely self indulgent reasons.. this blog acts somewhat as my personal record of life experiences, and Sienna's arrival is one that I most certainly want to record. I will reserve the intimate details and my innermost thoughts from this public forum, but there is still plenty to share about the first week of our daughter's life which I want to record for both me and her to look back on in the future. If you'd like to read it too, then feel free.. but I warn you - it's going to be a long one!
Our baby's arrival had one false start. You might say that's not uncommon, but the turn of events in our case was a little unusual. At my 39 week check up the obstetrician decided that the fluid levels around the baby were a little low, and it would be best to induce labour and speed up her arrival. I had hoped to avoid an induction, but for the baby's health I wasn't about to argue. The labour ward was busy however, and couldn't fit me in for two days.. that gave me 48 hours to get my head around the arrival of our little one, prepare myself emotionally and pack, repack and repack again our luggage (one advantage of an induction!). We got used to the idea of 17th October being her birth date - and with it being my maternal grandfather's birthday too, that date had a lovely poignancy about it. We had a nervous night's sleep preceding THE BIG DAY and awoke at 5am for our ridiculously early call time.
Chatter in the car was a little on the light side but we soon got to the hospital for our 6.30am 'booking'. Then we waited. And waited. More waiting. Then we were told that the birth suite was busy with no available rooms for me to be induced. We were shown to a post-natal room to wait for availability, but it soon became apparent that was not going to happen any time soon. Then we were sent home. I was crushed - having prepared myself emotionally for something as major as labour, I was so disappointed that I wasn't going to get to meet my baby that day. We had a scan to check on the baby, and luckily it was considered safe to wait another week. I was rebooked for the next available induction slot.... 8 days away. Cue more frustration. In what scenario does a provider cancel on a customer and the customer then gets put to the back of the list?
Well, they say that everything happens for a reason and this story is certainly an example of that.
We commenced a routine of daily CTG scans to check on the baby's progress, and after 24 hours of attempts to bring on labour (curry, walking, curry, walking.. you know the drill), I gave up and decided what will be will be. Well, that was a damn good thing because sure enough, three days later on Sunday 20th October, I woke at 5.30am with a contraction that felt just a little bit different to the braxton hicks I'd been experiencing to date.
Unwilling to get too excited, I paced around the flat for a while, but by 6.30am I'd woken up Tom and asked him to put the TENS machine on me! We spent five hours at home as I moved through early labour, but it felt like 5 minutes. I'd been practising hypnobirthing for months, which helped me welcome each contraction as taking me one step closer to meeting our baby, and also made the time fly past. I took two paracetamol, used the TENS machine for distraction, and also had a shower to help with the surges.
(L-R) - Me at home in early labour, One of the many CTGs that I had in the run up to our baby's arrival
By 10.30am we felt we needed to go to the hospital, even though the midwives were keen to discourage me as a first time mother from arriving too soon. As fate would have it, a major sporting event was taking place that very morning, threatening traffic on our route to the hospital. So, with me hanging out in the back seat, Tom diligently navigated us on an untried route through the city to the hospital, avoiding pot holes and speed bumps as best he could. I swear we hit every red light. He swears it doesn't matter, and he's right :-)
A few memories from my arrival at the hospital give rise to some life lessons which you may wish to take note of..
- if you are ever waiting for a lift with a labouring woman, do NOT get in the lift with her! A guy and his coffee got in the very small lift with us and it was not a comfortable ride for any of us!
- if you ever find yourself as the receptionist on a labour ward, don't ask a labouring woman to confirm her address and telephone number during a contraction.. just get me checked in!!
These minor annoyances were soon forgotten when I was greeted by our allocated midwife. Our hospital allocates a midwife on the day - so it's luck of the draw who you get - and by amazing luck I was allocated the wonderful Sarah who had taken our ante-natal classes. I was euphoric, and that was before I'd started on the gas!
Once settled into delivery suite 9 at about 11am, I started on the gas and air to help with the contractions. I quickly became quite high and Tom tells many a funny tale of my expressions of love for both him and our midwife, as well as me exclaiming 'I know why you are laughing at me!' as they were entertained by my enthusiastic yet 'under-the-influence' chatter! The next two hours are a blur and I won't go into the details. There were some wonderful medical professionals, some tense moments, some laughter (as a repeatedly requested an epidural with really only one push to go!), and at the end of it all the arrival of our darling daughter. After such a speedy labour she needed a bit of help to get out without distress, but I was lucky to avoid a c-section thanks to our obstetrician and a pair of forceps!
And so, Sienna May Lister was born at 1.01pm Melbourne time (3.01am UK time), on Sunday 20th October. Daddy wiped away a tear, mummy was stunned by the enormity of the whole experience, and baby let out two little immediate cries to let us know that she was just fine. It was incredible.
She weighed in at 3005g (6lb 10oz), was 47cm long and had a head circumference of 34cm.
We spent a number of hours in the birth suite recovering whilst our post-natal room was prepared, and during this time we made some emotional calls home to let the grandparents know the news. Granny Pam and Auntie Anna were in on the fact that I was in labour, so had hardly slept throughout the UK night time and welcomed the news of her arrival. The grandparents on Tom's side were equally pleased, and we promised to FaceTime as soon as we could.
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Daddy's first cuddle, cuddling with Mummy (first cuddle with Mummy not fit for public display!), weighing in, 3005g, early photo showing forceps mark on face, early photo wearing outfit from Auntie Anna, first check up with paediatrician Dr Downing, more cuddles with Daddy, 1.01pm.
What followed was four nights in the hospital, where we were afforded a fantastic level of care to ease us into the world of parenting a newborn. We had a hotel-style room with double bed and en suite, but with a team of experienced midwives on hand to guide us through nappy changes, bathing and most importantly, breastfeeding. They were on hand night and day when we need them - including the panic that most new parents probably feel the first time their newborn coughs and spits up! I was terrified she would choke!
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Our hospital 'hotel' room, my care board, Sienna's poop chart!, Sienna asleep in the hospital bassinet, Sienna exercising her lungs
Sienna's first bathtime
I attended a physio class on getting my body back (one session was not enough!) and Tom and I learnt about settling a restless baby. We had welcome daily visits from the obstetrician and paediatrician, and also some less welcome visits from the plethora of hospital 'hangers on' - trying to sell magazines, massages, make overs and yes, baby photography portraits.. erm.. not for us thanks ;-)
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Hearing test, check out the baby headphones, day three weigh in, another visit from the paediatrician, 2.84kg on day three, having her belly button clamp removed.
We had two visitors in the hospital - firstly our close friends the Lobley family, and secondly the partner from my work who was instrumental in bringing us to Australia and has guided my career here - Lisa. We also had a lot of Facetime calls with family back home - thank goodness for hospital wi-fi!
(Top Row) Lou, Ben and Anna meet Baby Sienna, (Bottom Row) Flowers from my work
A few more memories from our stay that I want to record are...
- me crying more than Sienna when she was given her Hep B vaccination on day 3
- Tom's excellent job doing her first bath and first bottle of expressed milk (she wouldn't latch)
- our shock at entering the hospital nursery at 2am to get Sienna weighed before discharge, to find upwards of 25 babies sleeping in there under the care of 2 'mothercraft' ladies!
(Top Row) Chilling Out, (Bottom Row) Meeting Auntie Anna and cousins Jamie, Millie and Rosie on FaceTime
It soon came time to leave the safety of our hospital room bubble, and return home with one extra family member than we left with. I rode in the back seat watching Sienna for the whole journey, and Tom drove extra carefully as a result of us carrying our most precious cargo yet (plus two lilies on the passenger seat threatening to drop pollen everywhere).
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Sienna's going home outfit including 'Prince George' blanket from Granny Pam & Grandad, Tom portering our belongings to the car, official 'going home' family photo, Sienna dwarfed by her carseat, Tom leaving the hospital with Sienna, Sienna in the back of the car.
It was wonderful to be home, even if the first 24 hours were a challenge - she was awake for a large portion of the night time, and our apartment wasn't configured in a very baby friendly way. We'd done our best to set things up in advance, but the thing I've learnt about newborns is that you just don't know what to expect until you've been through it yourself. Tom was quick to make the changes we needed though, and each day has got easier as we've got accustomed to our new roles as mummy and daddy.
Welcoming our first child has been a truly unique experience that is the most challenging but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I'm not afraid to say that it's harder than I ever thought it would be, but Sienna you are a longed for addition to our family who we love with all our hearts. Every day is a pleasure and every cuddle is cherished. Cheesy? Yes. I blame the post-partum hormones. And the fact that she's just damn awesome.
Thanks for reading ;-)
Sienna and Daddy
Sienna and Mummy, Hospital labels
Our baby's arrival had one false start. You might say that's not uncommon, but the turn of events in our case was a little unusual. At my 39 week check up the obstetrician decided that the fluid levels around the baby were a little low, and it would be best to induce labour and speed up her arrival. I had hoped to avoid an induction, but for the baby's health I wasn't about to argue. The labour ward was busy however, and couldn't fit me in for two days.. that gave me 48 hours to get my head around the arrival of our little one, prepare myself emotionally and pack, repack and repack again our luggage (one advantage of an induction!). We got used to the idea of 17th October being her birth date - and with it being my maternal grandfather's birthday too, that date had a lovely poignancy about it. We had a nervous night's sleep preceding THE BIG DAY and awoke at 5am for our ridiculously early call time.
Chatter in the car was a little on the light side but we soon got to the hospital for our 6.30am 'booking'. Then we waited. And waited. More waiting. Then we were told that the birth suite was busy with no available rooms for me to be induced. We were shown to a post-natal room to wait for availability, but it soon became apparent that was not going to happen any time soon. Then we were sent home. I was crushed - having prepared myself emotionally for something as major as labour, I was so disappointed that I wasn't going to get to meet my baby that day. We had a scan to check on the baby, and luckily it was considered safe to wait another week. I was rebooked for the next available induction slot.... 8 days away. Cue more frustration. In what scenario does a provider cancel on a customer and the customer then gets put to the back of the list?
Well, they say that everything happens for a reason and this story is certainly an example of that.
We commenced a routine of daily CTG scans to check on the baby's progress, and after 24 hours of attempts to bring on labour (curry, walking, curry, walking.. you know the drill), I gave up and decided what will be will be. Well, that was a damn good thing because sure enough, three days later on Sunday 20th October, I woke at 5.30am with a contraction that felt just a little bit different to the braxton hicks I'd been experiencing to date.
Unwilling to get too excited, I paced around the flat for a while, but by 6.30am I'd woken up Tom and asked him to put the TENS machine on me! We spent five hours at home as I moved through early labour, but it felt like 5 minutes. I'd been practising hypnobirthing for months, which helped me welcome each contraction as taking me one step closer to meeting our baby, and also made the time fly past. I took two paracetamol, used the TENS machine for distraction, and also had a shower to help with the surges.
(L-R) - Me at home in early labour, One of the many CTGs that I had in the run up to our baby's arrival
By 10.30am we felt we needed to go to the hospital, even though the midwives were keen to discourage me as a first time mother from arriving too soon. As fate would have it, a major sporting event was taking place that very morning, threatening traffic on our route to the hospital. So, with me hanging out in the back seat, Tom diligently navigated us on an untried route through the city to the hospital, avoiding pot holes and speed bumps as best he could. I swear we hit every red light. He swears it doesn't matter, and he's right :-)
A few memories from my arrival at the hospital give rise to some life lessons which you may wish to take note of..
- if you are ever waiting for a lift with a labouring woman, do NOT get in the lift with her! A guy and his coffee got in the very small lift with us and it was not a comfortable ride for any of us!
- if you ever find yourself as the receptionist on a labour ward, don't ask a labouring woman to confirm her address and telephone number during a contraction.. just get me checked in!!
These minor annoyances were soon forgotten when I was greeted by our allocated midwife. Our hospital allocates a midwife on the day - so it's luck of the draw who you get - and by amazing luck I was allocated the wonderful Sarah who had taken our ante-natal classes. I was euphoric, and that was before I'd started on the gas!
Once settled into delivery suite 9 at about 11am, I started on the gas and air to help with the contractions. I quickly became quite high and Tom tells many a funny tale of my expressions of love for both him and our midwife, as well as me exclaiming 'I know why you are laughing at me!' as they were entertained by my enthusiastic yet 'under-the-influence' chatter! The next two hours are a blur and I won't go into the details. There were some wonderful medical professionals, some tense moments, some laughter (as a repeatedly requested an epidural with really only one push to go!), and at the end of it all the arrival of our darling daughter. After such a speedy labour she needed a bit of help to get out without distress, but I was lucky to avoid a c-section thanks to our obstetrician and a pair of forceps!
And so, Sienna May Lister was born at 1.01pm Melbourne time (3.01am UK time), on Sunday 20th October. Daddy wiped away a tear, mummy was stunned by the enormity of the whole experience, and baby let out two little immediate cries to let us know that she was just fine. It was incredible.
She weighed in at 3005g (6lb 10oz), was 47cm long and had a head circumference of 34cm.
We spent a number of hours in the birth suite recovering whilst our post-natal room was prepared, and during this time we made some emotional calls home to let the grandparents know the news. Granny Pam and Auntie Anna were in on the fact that I was in labour, so had hardly slept throughout the UK night time and welcomed the news of her arrival. The grandparents on Tom's side were equally pleased, and we promised to FaceTime as soon as we could.
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Daddy's first cuddle, cuddling with Mummy (first cuddle with Mummy not fit for public display!), weighing in, 3005g, early photo showing forceps mark on face, early photo wearing outfit from Auntie Anna, first check up with paediatrician Dr Downing, more cuddles with Daddy, 1.01pm.
What followed was four nights in the hospital, where we were afforded a fantastic level of care to ease us into the world of parenting a newborn. We had a hotel-style room with double bed and en suite, but with a team of experienced midwives on hand to guide us through nappy changes, bathing and most importantly, breastfeeding. They were on hand night and day when we need them - including the panic that most new parents probably feel the first time their newborn coughs and spits up! I was terrified she would choke!
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Our hospital 'hotel' room, my care board, Sienna's poop chart!, Sienna asleep in the hospital bassinet, Sienna exercising her lungs
Sienna's first bathtime
I attended a physio class on getting my body back (one session was not enough!) and Tom and I learnt about settling a restless baby. We had welcome daily visits from the obstetrician and paediatrician, and also some less welcome visits from the plethora of hospital 'hangers on' - trying to sell magazines, massages, make overs and yes, baby photography portraits.. erm.. not for us thanks ;-)
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Hearing test, check out the baby headphones, day three weigh in, another visit from the paediatrician, 2.84kg on day three, having her belly button clamp removed.
We had two visitors in the hospital - firstly our close friends the Lobley family, and secondly the partner from my work who was instrumental in bringing us to Australia and has guided my career here - Lisa. We also had a lot of Facetime calls with family back home - thank goodness for hospital wi-fi!
(Top Row) Lou, Ben and Anna meet Baby Sienna, (Bottom Row) Flowers from my work
A few more memories from our stay that I want to record are...
- me crying more than Sienna when she was given her Hep B vaccination on day 3
- Tom's excellent job doing her first bath and first bottle of expressed milk (she wouldn't latch)
- our shock at entering the hospital nursery at 2am to get Sienna weighed before discharge, to find upwards of 25 babies sleeping in there under the care of 2 'mothercraft' ladies!
(Top Row) Chilling Out, (Bottom Row) Meeting Auntie Anna and cousins Jamie, Millie and Rosie on FaceTime
It soon came time to leave the safety of our hospital room bubble, and return home with one extra family member than we left with. I rode in the back seat watching Sienna for the whole journey, and Tom drove extra carefully as a result of us carrying our most precious cargo yet (plus two lilies on the passenger seat threatening to drop pollen everywhere).
(L-R, Top-Bottom) Sienna's going home outfit including 'Prince George' blanket from Granny Pam & Grandad, Tom portering our belongings to the car, official 'going home' family photo, Sienna dwarfed by her carseat, Tom leaving the hospital with Sienna, Sienna in the back of the car.
It was wonderful to be home, even if the first 24 hours were a challenge - she was awake for a large portion of the night time, and our apartment wasn't configured in a very baby friendly way. We'd done our best to set things up in advance, but the thing I've learnt about newborns is that you just don't know what to expect until you've been through it yourself. Tom was quick to make the changes we needed though, and each day has got easier as we've got accustomed to our new roles as mummy and daddy.
Welcoming our first child has been a truly unique experience that is the most challenging but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I'm not afraid to say that it's harder than I ever thought it would be, but Sienna you are a longed for addition to our family who we love with all our hearts. Every day is a pleasure and every cuddle is cherished. Cheesy? Yes. I blame the post-partum hormones. And the fact that she's just damn awesome.
Thanks for reading ;-)
Sienna and Daddy
Sienna and Mummy, Hospital labels
Monday, 4 November 2013
Two weeks old...
Making use of our Baby Milestone Cards (thanks for the inspiration Fiona!), here is Sienna at two weeks old...
Friday, 1 November 2013
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