One whole week of you. How can that be already? This time last week I found myself wondering if you were ever going to arrive after all of your false starts. Little did I know that by tea time I’d be holding you in my arms! Your birth was simply amazing and I think I’m still a little bit in awe of your arrival.

I forgot just how quickly these first days go and it’s as though your first week in the world has passed by in a flash. When you were first born you were the image of your sister, but you are changing so much every single day that I really don’t know who you look like. You just look like you. And even though I’m obviously biased, I think you’re pretty cute! We’ve spent the last seven days getting to know you, working out your little quirks and soaking up all of the newborn cuddles.

We spent your first night at the maternity unit in our own little suite. Your grandparents came to see visit on the night you were born and then it was just you and me. It was so nice to be able to spend the time together in such a peaceful place and soak up a little quiet time before we came home. Your Aunty Libby managed to get a quick visit in on Saturday morning too.

It has taken Mama a bit longer to recover after your arrival than it did with your sister so other than your 5 day check, we’ve stayed home each day. We are going to venture out at the weekend when Daddy is home. It has meant that it’s given you and Florence the chance to get some good sibling bonding time in though. She is a bit of a force to be reckoned with but it seems she has fallen just as in love with you as the rest of us. She loves to lay next to you and stroke your head gently and showers you with kisses at every chance she gets. I cannot wait to watch your little relationship grow — something tells me you are going to be the best of friends.

You’ve met all of your aunties and uncles now too and have been absolutely spoiled with gifts and cuddles.

You are definitely a baby who likes to be held. Our first few nights I wondered how we were ever going to cope as you just were not happy anywhere other than on me or your Daddy, and your sister was struggling with having to share us but as the week has gone on nights have become easier and you’re happier in your SnuzPod as long as you’re in a Gro Snug – I guess they make you feel all safe like when you were in Mama’s tummy.

We had a few worries about feeding – to start with you’d take hardly any milk at all and then you were feeding on demand taking 2oz every 2 hours. I think we may have turned a corner now though and you’re starting to settle into a routine of 3-4 hourly feeds and the midwife was happy that you have only lost a teeny amount of weight since birth. In fact, aside from a little jaundice she said you are pretty perfect!

You’ve stolen our hearts little man and I can’t imagine life without you now.

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With just one week until baby’s due date the notorious nesting instinct has well and truly kicked in and as well as setting up the bedside crib, washing and organising his clothes and baby proofing, I’ve been compelled to get clear and clean in ways I’ve probably only ever done a handful of times. To help keep on top of the daily chores, I’ve teamed up with VonHaus to take on their 14 day challenge to a tidy home. I’ve been taking on one cleaning task a day to make sure everything here is ship shape ahead of baby’s arrival. They sent me some nifty little cleaning gadgets as well as this simple schedule to stick to over a two week period and asked me to report back on how I got on.

Day 1: Bins and recycling: sort through all the bins in your house and get your recycling separated.
Day 2: Wipe down your kitchen units and steam the cooker tops.
Day 3: Empty and clean out the fridge freezer – don’t forget the kitchen cupboards!
Day 4: Vacuum Day: Focus on the floors, give all the rooms in your house a good vacuum.
Day 5: Vacuum Day: Move the furniture and hoover those hard to reach areas of your home.
Day 6: Clean the windows – inside and out!
Day 7: Wash the curtains and wipe down the blinds.
Day 8: Take everything off the sideboards, shelves and get dusting!
Day 9: Get your bedding, blankets and cushions washed – after all everyone loves fresh bedding!
Day 10: Wardrobes: Clear out any old clothing, reorganise and wipe down your wardrobes.
Day 11: Remove wrinkles from clothing, curtains and upholstery.
Day 12: Wash out your shower, shower screen and/or bath.
Day 13: Let’s mop: antibacterial your floors and wipe down the tiles.
Day 14: Finally take a trip to the tip: Declutter your home from unwanted clothes, items or food and take it to the tip, food bank or local charity shop.

I love how this list of 14 tasks can be used on repeat as any easy peasy housework schedule. The simple tasks are fab for new, busy parents to be able to complete without feeling too overwhelming. They’ve also been things I’ve been able to involve Florence in – she loves to ‘help’ and has swept and dusted behind me.

There are probably things I’d do more than once or twice in the two weeks – vacuuming for example, as with two dogs, a toddler and a baby as well as four adults living here there’s a LOT of traffic through the house. Using the VonHaus Stick Vacuum Cleaner this will likely be a breeze! I’m going to be reviewing this along with their steam cleaner in a separate post.

Things like a tip run and wardrobe clear out can probably be done monthly in future. I really value them being included though as the whole decluttering process was a really cathartic one. I’m going to try and make sure they’re regular features in my housework schedule from now on as if done regularly they won’t seem like too daunting of a job!

Will you be taking on the VonHauss 14 day challenge to a tidy home this month? Let me know how you get on along with your top tips for keeping on top of those household chores!

JUST SO YOU KNOW

I was invited to take part in the VonHaus challenge and have been gifted two products to help me complete the challenge.

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