Long night

Last night didn't get much easier. J was home just after 9.00 and he helped out in the night but we're both ill too so it was hard work. Tobes was up and down all night coughing. Basically, every 3-4 hours he would wake up which is when the effects of his medicine would wear off. Then we'd dose him up again, refill the vaporiser and try to get us all back to sleep. We survived though.

This morning was even quite nice. J stayed home later because he'd been away so he and Tobes had breakfast together and I got to sleep a bit more. We all left the house at the same time because I had a doctor's appointment which was nice. Usually J is off to work at the crack of dawn so it was a treat to see him this morning. He'll have to work late tonight but he's taken the day off tomorrow and we're going to prepare for the move.

It's such an exciting time. I can barely take it all in. We've talked about living in Blackheath for well over a year AND we're going to have a new baby too. Two dreams coming true at once. It's amazing.

I feel a bit easier about coping with two children. I went onto mumsnet last night and asked how other moms coped and the consensus seems to be to lower your standards and just muddle through. I can do that! Most of the mums said to not have the same expectations regarding a clean house and to bend the rules on things like how much TV you allow your oldest child to watch. They also recommended planning ahead such as packing the diaper bag the night before and keeping a change of clothes for both children in the car at all times. Another good tip was to get the baby to fall in with the older child's routine rather than the other way around. The older child could resent changes to his or her routine but the baby won't know any differently. All very sage advice.