22 months/ 12 weeks

22 months

It hasn't felt right to do my monthly post about you until now poo monkey, because quite frankly the last two weeks have probably been the most challenging I have faced since becoming a parent.

First there was your freak accident where you ran head first into the back corner of the couch, the resultant immediate egg on your forehead necessitating a dash to emergency at the nearest hospital, a twenty five minute drive away on a Saturday evening. That was the day you cut your right hand bottom eye tooth.

I hate hate hate this particular hospital my sweetness, as it is the very place that failed several times over the course of twenty four hours to diagnose my ectopic pregnancy four years ago. But there was no other choice.

After seeing the triage nurse within ten minutes- who gave us all the advice we needed really- we had to wait until after ten pm (over three hours) to see the doctor, who, although very capable, efficient and kind, was very difficult to understand. By this stage you were beyond it, having refused to sleep at all- and so were your mummy and daddy. Can't say I was particularly thrilled to share a waiting room with a loud boorish handcuffed man. Or two. Enough said.

For the next few days you were tired and sore, as the bruising came out, including around your eye. Our GP gave you a check over on the Monday to see how you were progressing (no concussion thank goodness)...and then the gastro bug took its grip on your poor system.

Yeah, the added little bonus from your hospital visit.

So after a few days of the most disgusting poo anyone, especially a pregnant woman has ever seen or smelt, and a delightful exorcist style vomiting episode you were again back at the GP. Poor little mite.

The next few days saw you listless, irritable and tired, going to sleep only in mum's arms (not good when you are 16 kg), and throwing tantrums at absolutely everything, to the point where your mum began to seriously doubt her ability to parent one, let alone two children. Chuck in a job interview for Mum for a more senior position at work during this time and yeah...you get the picture.

This reached a peak yesterday, and we were both in a state. And that is when I realised you had cut a further three teeth within 24 hours- both your top jaw eye teeth and your top right hand second incisor (at last!).

Today we have had relative calm thus far, both having had our first full night's sleep in ages, and enjoying a morning together at a playcentre. You were more interested in hoovering down an early lunch first- indicating another growth spurt is on its way (I hope heightwise not width wise)- before you got stuck into some serious play. You so want to be able to jump- and you will get there soon.

Fingers crossed you are on the road to full health again. In the meantime, Mummy wants to record a few other precious twenty two month old moments:

• The way you cover your eyes with your hands and demand a cuddle when you are scared or you just need a recharge. And you are scared of a few typical toddler things: bugs/flies, shadows, sometimes the bath....

• The running commentary you provide of your day, both hilarious and scarily insightful:

Abi want to see Daddy. Daddy on the 'puter again. Daddy email.

Mummy got hairy knees. Yuck.

Abi see Santa. Hello mate!

• The fact that you are finally, finally over your rock a bye your bear fixation. Well sort of. Now you just want to watch the Wiggles morning, noon and night. And listen to one of the Dorothy songs on repeat in the car instead...

Munchkin, you are gorgeous, you are so smart and funny. You are trying, you are sensitive, fragile and prone to sensory overload .

You are my beloved daughter, and I wouldn't change a thing.

12 weeks

Yes Usurper, we've made it. And no I'm not as fat as imagined in my last post. That 'bump' must have been all gas as I am still in all of my normal clothes bar my jeans, which are just a bit uncomfortable around my lower abdomen and not my fat belly from eating too much of the naughty stuff.

Thank goodness that the worst of the first trimester nausea and fatigue has ebbed away...or I wouldn't have been able to not cope as poorly as I did with your big sister these past two weeks. What a considerate little critter you are.

Lucky for you and I, my thyroid is behaving nicely so we'll be cruising along on the lowest dose of PTU before a repeat blood test in six weeks' time.

I'll write some more about you after tomorrow's NT scan. Am alternately excited and shitscared little one, to put it bluntly. I need to see you again, and know that you are OK.