There are a number of reasons to judge me based on what is written here today so I am giving you permission to go ahead and do just that.

Firstly, I didn't know how to safely cut Reuben's nails until last week when a pal (with baby a few weeks younger than Reubs) came round to go for a walk and cover all the baby topics we could think of. We, naturally, came onto cutting nails and baby nail clippers, and thus I was educated on how to go about the aforementioned task.

Reuben has a right hand with a penchant for scratching. Put skin near that hand (his own or mine) and he will scratch it. As a result he has to sleep with his hands covered, which means he stays in his PJs until after his morning nap (or later if we aren't going out. Poor kid) and has to

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Just a quickie to mark the fact that Reuben turned 3 months old this week and has graduated to a baby. Thank god! We seem to be out of that newborn phase. We survived the forth trimester! Although sadistically, I'm already missing it. He was so small and cute and dependent (and lighter).

Reuben 1 week old

Not that he isn't now but he's grown so much and is already much more independent. Last week he just seemed to grow up, he put himself to sleep twice in a row at bedtime (hasn't done it since mind), he's stopped needing the nipple shield during the day, he learnt to grab, he's much more alert, etc. But although I miss the little newborn that kept me awake all night and wanted nothing more than to be on me all day, who couldn't help but look forward to more of this baby...

3 months old

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In my desperate attempts to get some freedom back, aside from singing George Michael's Freedom to Reuben, I've been trying lots of new things. Basically Ruby likes the booby. It's his preferred method for going to sleep so aside from making it impossible for me to do anything other than feed all day, it doesn't always work. He'll eat until he falls asleep but if he is overtired he'll keep eating until he's sick.

I can see how all bad habits start here, in these early weeks when you're gagging for a bit more sleep or time to sterilise your nipple shields or a moment to reheat that cup of tea and spread something on that toast you made 2 hours ago...that's the limit of my ambitions at the moment. So, you resort to letting your baby fall asleep on your boob, or when that doesn't work rocking and jiggling or,

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It's three weeks since my due date and that gorgeous last date with Mike. I literally can't believe how upside down our world has been turned by this little fella and not just practical things, like making sure I eat or being able to go to the toilet in piece and quiet, but emotional things too. I spent at least the first week feeling completely overwhelmed by how gorgeous he was. I'd look at him and start crying just because I thought he was beautiful, or I'd be singing him a song and cry during the nice bits!

Other than being totally knackered and crying at the slightest thing, I'm generally amazed at how little time I have. When he's asleep the first thing I do is sleep too. If I'm not bothered about sleeping (which is hardly ever), I'm cleaning the breast pump, bottles and nipple shields (I'll fill you in

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Today was our Ultrasound - finally! I was really nervous and convinced the midwife would find nothing in there. Firstly, she said that thing they always say on telly, 'this is going to be really cold' before putting on the lube (or whatever it is they use). It wasn't especially cold. Secondly, almost as soon as she put the thing on my stomach the little baby showed up. It was clear as day and instantly performed by starting to move around (not sing). I don't want to sound cheesey but it was the most amazing thing I've ever done.

The pictures are never as good as when you're there, but in the top picture you can see its head and face top left and an arm sticking out, and in the bottom one you can its face on the right looking down and its spine and stuff.

As for the crying, I

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January 2012

My name is Hannah Parker, I'm 28 and I live in Blyth, Northumberland (originally from the midlands, if you'd told me 10 years ago - or 3 come to think of it - that I'd be living in a small, fairly rundown seaside town in the North of England, I wouldn't believe you) with my husband, Mike, and step daughter, Gabriella, who is 5.

I have recently found out I'm pregnant and I have (about a week ago) decided with my friend and business partner, Alex, to close down our business. It is for exciting reasons but nevertheless I am also unemployed.

In true New Year fashion, my mission for the next few months is to sort my life out so that...

a) I am healthy and happy in time for Bday (mid-August);

b) I have made some money/got a job so we are not completely skint; and

c) I have streamlined my life

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