Former international sprinter and Olympic medalist Katharine Merry is a regular commentator on BBC TV and Radio, Sky TV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and has mentored some of the UK's most talented athletes. But, with the recent arrival of baby Lucas, she faces an even stiffer challenge. In her open and honest blog Katharine shares the hopes, fears and daily surprises of life as a new mum
The juggling act
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So another week has flown by. I still haven’t recovered from the mass load of travelling a couple of weeks back. I never have time to recover anymore. I have woken up twice this past week with a headache! I drink a lot of water, so it is not dehydration, just tiredness.
This week has been fun though; every week has been fun for me since the arrival of my son.
Work has been on and off this week and after spending less than 24 hours in Monaco, I had the rest of the weekend at homing, trying to recover but not. Washing to do, ironing to do, food to cook and a house to clean...and a son to look after. It’s funny because sometimes I will only be away for 24 hours and return to an untidy house! How can one 35 year old and one five month make every thing so messy in 24 hours!
Don’t get me wrong, my partner pulls his weight, sometimes just not as quickly as I would like! I remind him that since Lucas has arrived things need to be continually done to stay on top of them; he will probably catch on when Lucas is leaving home aged 18!
So it was another weigh-in week for Lucas and like a heavy weight boxer arrived at the venue fit and raring to go! Weighing in at 15lb 13 oz in the red corner was Lucas! This is good. He has risen up that dreaded centile line and now sits around 35 per cent. Not bad considering he was born under at under 10 per cent.
I mentioned in last week’s blog the desire/need to start him on proper big people’s food. I have yet to do this as I am a little nervous if truth be told. I am fine with the milk, I know how much he takes and when, it’s easy. Proper food - now that is a different kettle of fish. Once again you read and hear so many different approaches, so I will be kicking it off shortly. I mentioned it to the health visitor at his monthly weigh-in and she reminded me that it was best to start them at six months and Lucas is only five. I know this but he is nearly ready and I want to do a nice blend over and introduction. Nothing wrong with that is there?
All the other babies at my NCT class are weaning. Not that I follow anyone else but little Thomas in our group is setting a very high standard of eating. He polishes of 9 ozs of milk, a banana and half a peach for breakfast! His Dad is about 7ft tall though so can see why he needs the food!
So this week work wise I have stuff to do for BBC, CNN and then I am working this weekend at the Aviva UK Trails and Championships in Birmingham. It is the GB Team selection weekend for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea next month. That is the Championships where I will be away for 13 days. Boo! Many are asking if I am taking Lucas with me as this weekend's work is on our doorstep. No.
Mainly because my days are long and I won’t see him, secondly because he is only five months old and finally because my partner is going to a friends' wedding, so Lucas is with Grandma.
I will introduce him to an athletic track at some point, just not quite yet!
One of Lucus' new favoured activities is bath time! If he is in a foul mood, put him in the bath and he is giggling away in no time! I have heard such horror stories about babies and children being scalded by hot water (apparently being burnt in baths by hot bath water is responsible for the highest number of fatal and severe scalding injuries among young children), I have always been really conscious that what maybe an ok temperature for me, is too hot for him!
So when I was scanning the shelves at Asda last week I noticed the Munchkin range of bath toys .The collection includes innovative bath safety essentials that tell you when the water is too hot for your baby, simply place the duck in the water and the word 'hot' will appear on the usually blue base if the water is too warm.
The range starts from just £1.99, www.munchkin.co.uk.
- For great parenting products check out Katy Hill's Mummy product guide
- Expecting a baby
in 2011? Discuss your pregnancy on the iVillage message boards and check out the Home Births chat and Cloth Nappy natter - Read our exclusive interview with Kate Thornton on motherhood
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