Ashley Cooksley's blog

Thanks mom

I just wanted to do an extra special post to thank my mom who has been with us for the past 2 weeks. My sanity would seriously be in question if she hadn't been here. Thank GOD she'll be here for another 2 weeks!

She has taken Lily off of me when I'm desperate for a wee, or when I just need a break. It's been amazing to have her here, especially when she scratches my back and when she makes me breakfast/lunch/dinner. She even takes Lily and changes her nappy even when Lily has decided to poo all the way up her back and all over her clothes. She helps me at midnight when I'm at my wit's end because Lily has decided that she doesn't want to sleep. It's just been so helpful and amazing.

My mom rocks. Thanks mom!

Two weeks and two days...

At times it seems like a lifetime ago that Lily came to us, but other times it seems like only seconds ago that she was hoisted onto my chest for the first time. The learning curve is, well, it's beyond huge. I always thought that this parenting lark must be easier than being pregnant, but I was so very wrong. It's extremely difficult, but is also just as rewarding. I do look forward to some decent sleep, but I guess I shouldn't expect much in these first few months.

Lily is really thriving and has gained a ton of weight since birth. In fact, she never lost any and actually gained an ounce at her first weigh-in. Since birth, she has probably gained 2 pounds putting her just under 11 pounds now. One thing that has come easily for us is breastfeeding, thankfully. However, it also means that I'm on call 24 hours a day and when you have to feed 5 or 6 times a night, it gets very tiring. We have considered a bottle of formula in the evenings, but I can't quite bring myself to do it...yet. Also, I guess it's not a golden ticket to more sleep or sanity and it may mean that she goes off her breastmilk. If only someone could tell you the right thing to do, but I've quickly learned that every baby is so very different and there is no right answer to anything. Lily and I have to figure out what's best and that may mean doing something unique to the two of us. Not what the books, midwives or anyone else suggests. However, I am constantly grateful for the advice I'm getting, especially from my fellow mommy friends (thanks Wendy, Lori, Lena, Rachel, Mandy, Manu and Patricia!).

We've uploaded her earliest pictures to Kodak, but I'm not sure this link will work. If it doesn't, feel free to email me and I will email a Kodak link to you directly. Until then, here are a few as well.

Kodak photo album: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=zuo7ak9.2y1qidsx&x=1&y=-a9v59c

lily and mom

daddy and lily

rolling stones lily

old man lily

lily mohawk

cooksley clan

mimi and lily

teeny clothes

Thank you, Auntie Wendy

Now that I have a wee bit more time to do normal things, ie time when I'm not breastfeeding, getting over emotional or holding Lily while she sleeps, I may be able to start doing more regular Lily updates. However, last night Lily decided to get up at 3am for a 3-hour chat with mommy. She wasn't fussy, just wide awake. I love my chats with Lily (she doesn't disagree with me and seems sincerely interested in what I have to say), but at 3am they're a bit trying. So I'm off for a nap now while daddy holds baby Lily and I'm in between feeds.

In the meantime, check out a new picture of the lovely, lovely post that Auntie Wendy made on her blog about her visit to see the new Cooksley clan.

http://wenders.vox.com/library/post/lovely-little-lily.html -- Aunt Wendy's vox post

we'll upload the rest of our pics, but here's a quick Photo Booth pic from a little while ago...

MyPicture

SHE'S HERE!!!!

Hi this is Robin updating the blog, I don't have a lot of time as we are very busy with little Lily.  Anyway due to popular demand I have uploaded some photos of Lily.  SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!

2 secs old

Weighing in

Lily at Hospital

Rob & Lily

Ash and Lily

Lily

Last photo b4 labour

Lily Valentine Cooksley has arrived

This is a very quick entry before I go back to bed to let everyone know that Lily Valentine Cooksley arrived at 11.20pm on Monday, 21 May after 11 hours of labour. She's perfect in every way! She is 8 lbs 12 oz, has a full head of blond hair and the biggest feet and fingers I've ever seen! She's feeding well, but not sleeping much so have only managed to sleep 3 hours since labour started and am going to go sleep now if I can.

Lena and Jessica, every time I wanted to call you, she was feeding on me so haven't been able to call. Very sorry, but wanted to at least let you all know she's healthy and lovely and that i'll call you AS SOON as I can!!

Ashley and Robin xx

The kindness of others

One thing I should have put on my list of good things about pregnancy is the random kindness of others. Throughout the pregnancy, but definitely in this last trimester, I've been amazed at some of the nice things that others (often strangers) have done for me.

When I was wobbling around John Lewis a few weeks ago looking for a cake stand, the sales woman and I were chatting about pregnancy and how her daughter had just given birth. She then offered to fill up my water bottle from the staff room in the back and said for me to come back at any time for more water. Another time I was putting plants into the back of the car when someone ran over and offered to help. Countless times I've had impromptu conversations with women at the checkout, people stacking the shelves, women in the car park, on the bus, in a queue.

Last night our neighbour's daughter, Dara, came over and gave me a unicorn and a lovely card. I'm quite close with her mother, Zora, who had probably told Dara just how impatient and desperate I am now. So Dara decided to bring me a unicorn for good luck. Inside the card reads "I've always thought unicorns were good luck so I'm just sending you some". She's such a lovely girl (I say 'girl', but she's 21). We haven't spoken much in the past, but to just come around with such a lovely gift and card was so unbelievably sweet.

Our other neighbours, Mandy and Simon, are always checking in on us as well and have been bringing over videos for me to watch. It's nice to know that I live around such lovely people!

40 weeks + 5 days...

...and counting!

Just a general message for friends and family that there hasn't been any movement at all. I haven't felt any new twinges or anything that I might consider to be a "sign" in days now. Been eating a ton of pineapple, sitting on my bouncy ball, eating curry, and drinking buckets of red raspberry leaf tea, but this girl don't wanna move! I know people who have taken castor oil, but after reading up on the side effects and potential dangers of using it, I've decided that I really should just stick with the totally safe induction practices.

No news to report, I'm afraid!

A week, or only a few hours?

It's a strange feeling not knowing if you have only a few hours until labour kicks off, or an entire week. How do you plan your time? How do you keep your mind off of it? There was something wonderful about this weekend even though we didn't know if anything would happen and we didn't hardly leave the house. What we did do was spend the entire weekend together -- just the two of us. One thing's for sure, it was the last weekend that we'll be able to do that. We watched movies, finished putting together our wedding album and watched bad telly.

So as you guessed, no movement at all. In fact, the contractions I had on Friday have totally stopped. It looks like it'll be Sunday! 

Due Date Update

Loufredchill

Seems so odd that it's finally here -- the date you keep in the back, no, scratch that, in the FRONT of your mind for 40 weeks. My due date has arrived, but our little girl has not. It's not surprising since most first babies are late and I'm actually feeling okay about everything.

We had a doctor's appointment this morning where I received another stretch and sweep -- not so fun this time. Much more painful, but hopefully more effective. On Tuesday, I wasn't dilated at all and my cervix was closed tightly. Today I was dilated a bit (1 cm, but, hey, at least that's something!) and my cervix is what they consider "ripe". The doctor thinks it won't be long now, but we were given an induction date just in case she drags her little baby feet.

So, parents, mark your calendars for Sunday, 20 May because if she doesn't arrive naturally by then, i'll be

Fredashchill

induced. Hoorah! That's only 9 days so I can totally handle that mentally. I just wanted a date to work toward so am feeling so much better now.

I'll let you know if there's an update. I keep feeling contractions, but nothing major. Until then, Fred, Lou and I will continue to chill out on the bed while watching tennis on Eurosport. Fun!

QotD: Search Me

How well does your name Google? Who are you up against? (Celebrities, etc.)
Submitted by Matt Blank.

I've never done one of these QotDs or Vox Hunts before, but, hell, I'm bored and also I was just curious. Of course, there's nothing more pretentious than someone bragging about how Googled they are. Anywho, so how Googled am I? I'm surprised actually. Because of this blog, I seem to have quite a few entries in the top 10 along with some work-related entries. What's funny is what appears as the fourth return:

"37 Weeks -- Full term! - Ashley’s blog It's so strange that Baby Cooksley could be born at any time. I'm sorry your bits are hurting ... Ashley, you have dragged this out for long enough now. ..."

Great! In the top results of Google, Dale talks about my bits! haha! Love it. At least it's more exciting than my LinkedIn profile at number 8.

Oh, and no baby yet.