Big Boy Beanie

My little Bean is growing up :) :(

For about 6-8 weeks now we've been down to one breastfeed a day, the pre-bedtime feed. It's a token feed, most days just half a minute each side. And we're both okay with that. A couple of months ago I encouraged him to to drop the very early morning feed. It was just one of those weird pregnancy things, I couldn't stand the feeling of him breastfeeding and that morning feed was more than I could take. We had some extra cuddle time and after a week or so he forgot to even ask for boobies. Who knows what will happen after Baby Bear is born, either way it's okay.

And tonight is Beanie's second night sharing a room with his brothers. They're all coping fine with the move. Beanie's been sleeping through the night consistently for about 6 months now and able to settle himself to sleep for about 4 months, only needing to sleep in our bed when sick or early in the morning when The OH and I were trying to have a sleep in. I think I'm finding it harder to adjust than he is (Beanie is absolutely thrilled to be in with his brothers and keeps telling me that he's a big boy now). Me, on the other hand, I'm so used to having a baby next to me, whether snuggled up next to me in bed or in a cot pushed up against our bed. And there's actually less bed-space with Beanie gone. With the cot right up against our bed, I had a doona and pillows packed into the space in between with a sheet firmly tucked over everything so there were no gaps. It added a good extra 20-odd cm to our queen sized bed and without the cot there I now find myself nearly rolling off the edge of the mattress in the middle of the night!

But now I have space in our bedroom to get the bassinette set up; to get the newborn clothes and nappies washed and put away; to put together my box of homebirth supplies. And I'm really excited. Crazy as it may be, I'm looking forward to experiencing labour again, looking forward to welcoming and embracing the contractions that will bring our little boy earthside. I am sad/happy/grateful because pregnancy #11 will be our last one. And I can't wait to be able to cuddle my little Baby Bear and to breathe in deep his sweet newborn baby smell. :x