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Oliver! On Thursday 10th December, at 6.20am, weighing in at 6lbs 10oz, our life changed oh so much for the better - our little son Oliver arrived. Labour was officially pretty short, at 6 hours - though my waters broke on Wednesday morning so it was more like 28 hours for me. By the time established labour was confirmed I was away with the fairies on gas & air, and a little Diamorphine. I’ll admit, it stung a bit, but it is true what they say, the second he was born the pain disappeared and his gorgeous big eyes were staring up at us. My husband Ian was a complete tower of strength throughout. He’s an amazing guy. And our midwife Rachel was brilliant - so patient with me as I’m a bit of a softy to be honest, I struggled to even cope with using the gas & air - it’s just breathing in out and for goodness sake! Big thumbs up to the delivery staff at the QE Hospital. And Oliver, well, what a little star he is. He’s so content, loves cuddles, loves sleeping (though not so much between 1am and 4am!). Our family and friends have been incredibly kind and generous, he is one super loved little dude. We ventured out of the house for only the second time at the weekend, to our friends’ wedding (congratulations Neil & Corina!!!). Our timing however was so off we missed the ceremony, made it to the reception, but had to go after an hour as a blizzard started - the most stressful car journey ever. Oliver had his second appointment with the midwife’s weighing scales today, an occasion which guarantees a wee-showered carpet. (I have now of course become mildly preoccupied with wee and poo, and happily chat about colour and quantity with anyone who’ll pretend to listen). Well, hadn’t he gone and put on half a pound! Cue pretty proud parents (especially as I’m feeding him myself - there’s nothing like your baby latching on to wake you up in the small hours of the morning!). It’s the most incredible thing we have ever done, I truly can’t put the whole experience into words. We now have this gorgeous little lad in our lives, who makes us both so very happy.

Oliver!

On Thursday 10th December, at 6.20am, weighing in at 6lbs 10oz, our life changed oh so much for the better - our little son Oliver arrived.

Labour was officially pretty short, at 6 hours - though my waters broke on Wednesday morning so it was more like 28 hours for me. By the time established labour was confirmed I was away with the fairies on gas & air, and a little Diamorphine. I’ll admit, it stung a bit, but it is true what they say, the second he was born the pain disappeared and his gorgeous big eyes were staring up at us. My husband Ian was a complete tower of strength throughout. He’s an amazing guy. And our midwife Rachel was brilliant - so patient with me as I’m a bit of a softy to be honest, I struggled to even cope with using the gas & air - it’s just breathing in out and for goodness sake! Big thumbs up to the delivery staff at the QE Hospital.

And Oliver, well, what a little star he is. He’s so content, loves cuddles, loves sleeping (though not so much between 1am and 4am!). Our family and friends have been incredibly kind and generous, he is one super loved little dude. We ventured out of the house for only the second time at the weekend, to our friends’ wedding (congratulations Neil & Corina!!!). Our timing however was so off we missed the ceremony, made it to the reception, but had to go after an hour as a blizzard started - the most stressful car journey ever.

Oliver had his second appointment with the midwife’s weighing scales today, an occasion which guarantees a wee-showered carpet. (I have now of course become mildly preoccupied with wee and poo, and happily chat about colour and quantity with anyone who’ll pretend to listen). Well, hadn’t he gone and put on half a pound! Cue pretty proud parents (especially as I’m feeding him myself - there’s nothing like your baby latching on to wake you up in the small hours of the morning!).

It’s the most incredible thing we have ever done, I truly can’t put the whole experience into words. We now have this gorgeous little lad in our lives, who makes us both so very happy.

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One Week to Go

I haven’t exactly been a prolific blogger this year, but thought I’d do a quick catch up.

This year has FLOWN. And it’s entirely due to falling pregnant back in March. We had our 12 weeks scan, then we were counting down to our 20 week scan, now we’re counting down to that magic 40 week date when bambino should arrive.

What they don’t tell you is that only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date, and 75% arrive after, so we could be in for a wait yet. So the hope is that next Saturday night, we’ll watch X Factor, I’ll have a great night’s sleep, a nice bacon sarnie on Sunday morning, then it’ll all kick off. We wondered if something was starting a couple nights ago - I felt sick and just not myself, and junior had been making a crazy popping sound!

We’ve no idea if we’ve made a boy or a girl, and no preference either, just healthy with 10 fingers, 10 toes and hopefully not my nose! All I know is it’s super strong and wriggly. I really love feeling it move around, sometimes it’s pretty weird I’ll admit (trying not to have thoughts of Alien), but I’m going to miss not having my little mate rummaging around! And my bump makes a great mug holder too.

I’ve had it pretty easy so far I have to say (touch wood) - no morning sickness, nothing to complain about really. I’m constantly tossing and turning through the night but I usually wake up feeling pretty darn good. So if this is pregnancy for me, I’ll be back every year!

Name choosing has been surprisingly tricky - looking through name books just ends up with us laughing at the most ridiculous pickings.

We took some bump photos a few weeks ago - not bad, but I’m far too chicken to let the internet have them.

So, I finished work a week ago, been going out for (decaf) coffee and cake, Christmas bits all done, just the tree to go up, maybe a trip to the Baltic next week for Damien Hurst & Martin Parr. And Fenwicks window. I’ll have to keep fairly busy, otherwise Jeremy Kyle WILL destroy my few remaining brain cells!

We just cannot wait to meet our little bundle! I cannot imagine what a version of Ian and I will look like, it’s too exciting. My sister-in-law Tracy threw a fantastic baby shower for me a couple weeks ago (included games like “guess the nappy contents”) in which almost everyone guessed we’d have a girl, only my cousin Alison guessed a boy, so someone will be right! The majority also guessed around the 7Ilb mark, which would be fine by me!

My guess is either on 10th or 20th, 7Ilb 4oz and cute as a button.

So wish me luck!

We’re going to have the best Christmas present ever!

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I’d been wanting to go back to Paris for donkeys, when this year my trusty lady friends suggested we do just that. And it rocked. We were there just 3 nights but managed to fit in all the usual tourist haunts, but I think what made it that much better was staying in the Montmartre district. We were perched at the foot of the Sacre Coeur, staying at the Hotel Bellevue. OK, not the Ritz, but clean, very friendly and served delicious pain au chocolat every morning! There are some great little bistros and bars to be visited just one block back from (and quite a contrast to) Boulevard de Clichy - home of the Moulin Rouge. Took my little Olympus Trip 35 with me and some Kodak Professional black & white film, so check out my flickr set.

I’d been wanting to go back to Paris for donkeys, when this year my trusty lady friends suggested we do just that.

And it rocked.

We were there just 3 nights but managed to fit in all the usual tourist haunts, but I think what made it that much better was staying in the Montmartre district. We were perched at the foot of the Sacre Coeur, staying at the Hotel Bellevue. OK, not the Ritz, but clean, very friendly and served delicious pain au chocolat every morning!

There are some great little bistros and bars to be visited just one block back from (and quite a contrast to) Boulevard de Clichy - home of the Moulin Rouge.

Took my little Olympus Trip 35 with me and some Kodak Professional black & white film, so check out my flickr set.

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If I have a girl, she WILL be wearing this! (If I have a boy he might just have to wear it too, he’ll never know, right?!) from cloth-ears, seen on Domestic Sluttery

If I have a girl, she WILL be wearing this! (If I have a boy he might just have to wear it too, he’ll never know, right?!)

from cloth-ears, seen on Domestic Sluttery

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Introducing our little bundle of happiness! We were very proud, excited and completely blown away to see our little baby jumping around, sticking its tongue out and waving at us. Trawling the interwebs for some baby knowledge, but just keep ending up looking at cool nursery stuff, like here and here. Oh well, I’ve got 6 months to learn about sterilisers n that. Super happy!!!

Introducing our little bundle of happiness!

We were very proud, excited and completely blown away to see our little baby jumping around, sticking its tongue out and waving at us.

Trawling the interwebs for some baby knowledge, but just keep ending up looking at cool nursery stuff, like here and here. Oh well, I’ve got 6 months to learn about sterilisers n that.

Super happy!!!

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Amazing Olympic posters.(Creative Review)

Amazing Olympic posters.
(Creative Review)

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I’ve been absent from here for a while. Nothing particular to say, so thought I’d post these lovely lampshades I spent many hours sitting under recently, eating carrot cake and drinking milkshakes.You can see more pics of my holiday in Frigiliana here.

I’ve been absent from here for a while. Nothing particular to say, so thought I’d post these lovely lampshades I spent many hours sitting under recently, eating carrot cake and drinking milkshakes.
You can see more pics of my holiday in Frigiliana here.

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gimme!

gimme!

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Sushi conveyor.

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Following the recent death of Tony Hart, Morph is to become Esquire’s March cover star, as I’ve just read over at CR. I’ll definitely be getting myself a copy as soon as he hits the shelves. He’ll be the most plastic looking model since Paris Hilton, fnarr fnarr. You might remember from my earlier post how much I wanted a picture in the Gallery on Hart Beat when I was a young’un. Well my very good friend Sharon informed me at the weekend that she did indeed achieve just that, with a beautiful butterfly creation made from Quality Street wrappers. I can’t describe the jealousy.

Following the recent death of Tony Hart, Morph is to become Esquire’s March cover star, as I’ve just read over at CR.

I’ll definitely be getting myself a copy as soon as he hits the shelves. He’ll be the most plastic looking model since Paris Hilton, fnarr fnarr.

You might remember from my earlier post how much I wanted a picture in the Gallery on Hart Beat when I was a young’un. Well my very good friend Sharon informed me at the weekend that she did indeed achieve just that, with a beautiful butterfly creation made from Quality Street wrappers.

I can’t describe the jealousy.

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