Homeward Bound

I am writing this from bed.  It's 8.30am on Friday morning and I have my girls next to me.  One is drinking a cup of tea and reading a book....the other is gurgling and farting.  Can you guess which is which?  Well, actually, it may not be such a silly question as Alice seems such a bright observant little girl that I am half expecting her to wake us up in the night, not for a feed or a nappy change, but to ask our opinions on whether, morally, Britain has a mandate to send Apache helicopters to Libya seeking regime change under the guise of humanitarianism.  Maybe I'm just a proud dad but she does seem a clever girl.  Ceri is certainly a proud mum and turned to me not ten minutes ago showing me a picture of a baby in a book and saying:

"Don't you think Alice could be a baby model, Matt?  She's as cute if not cuter than the ones in the book!" And so it starts!  Yup - safe to say we are proud as punch of our little girl!  Here's why:

Alice sunbathing yesterday afternoon (look no sunbeds!)

So, dear reader, what's been happening since we last spoke?  Lots in the outside world, I am sure, but all that you are going to get for the next few minutes is baby chat.....so if that isn't your thing, or if you prefer your blogs with slightly less schmultz and more guns or sport, then look away now.

Still there?  Good.  We like you.  Here's what's been going on.  Last time we spoke Ceri and Alice were still in hospital.  King's is a lovely place but there is only so long you can sit in a ward listening to the mother opposite describing her birth on the phone to every person she has ever met ("yeah, like my cervix fing was, y'know, dilated and that bah the time I got me to da hospitaaall.  You get me? and then before I knew it, I was pushin', pushin' pushin and a little baby popped out of my........" well, you get the idea!!  I think the only thing that was keeping Ceri sane was the steady stream of welcome visitors who popped in to say "Hi"....roll the credits for Helen and Rob.....

Rob and Helen stake their claims for godparent status....

By this stage, I think it's fair to say that Ceri, Alice and I were keen to get home.  Results from the blood tests showed that Alice didn't have an infection after all, and she was feeding well...so it was surely only a matter of time before we got out.  While we are on the subject of feeding, I have to say that I am amazed by just how much our little daughter is eating.  Actually, given that Ceri and I both have enormous appetites and that one person in the family (who's anonimity has been protected by court injunction) used to eat their breakfast cereal out of a full washing-up bowl, it is hardly a surprise that Alice likes her tucker.  I spoke a little earlier in this blog about Alice staying in the womb for a little while longer than planned because the menu there was better than on the outside.  Well, turns out she really likes milk.  I have, hoewever, through the miracles of modern technology, managed to capture an image of what Alice sees just before she goes to the breast.  No wonder she looks forward to dinner:

Lame "babycam" breast gag - cue Sid James laugh and Benny Hill music.....

Well, the good news is that on the afternoon of Wednesday 25th May at around 4pm, Alice was told that she was allowed to go home.  At last.  I whizzed home on the bus to pick up the baby car seat and Ceri got Alice dressed in the "Going Home" outfit that we picked out a few months earlier.  Picking a going home outfit is rather like choosing the clothes for your child for the first day of school.  You want them to look smart, but equally you want something that they can grow in to.  Did we get the balance right - you, dear readers, can be the judge of that:

Alice wearing clothes stolen from a ten-year old girl (Sorry, meant to say "Alice's beautiful Going Home outfit")

Of all of the experiences we have had with Alice so far, taking her home was definitely one of the most special.  Having strangers stare into her little carry cot as we carried her through the ward and comment on how lovely she is makes you puff up with pride.  Here's a little photo-record of Alice's journey home as a reward for reading this far....

Home ready and waiting for our little girl

Home ready and waiting for mummy - complete with "keep off" sign on camembert as a reminder to me!

Alice in her car seat (I don't know how to rotate pics on here but she was the right way up I promise!)

Homeward Bound

Chillin' during taxi journey home

Thank God it wasn't bin night!



The official Shepherd homecoming photo (as taken by photographer Phil from over the road)

It's a Girl!!

Ray of sunshine (uh, schmultzy or what!) Alice's first nap at her new home!

I'm pleased to say that, after a fairly sleepless first night, we are all settling in really well together at home.  It really is the most lovely feeling to be have my girls here with me and astonishing to think that we actually have Alice for keeps.  She is such a lovely, happy little girl.  Yesterday felt like our first "proper" day as a family, with Ceri and I singing, reading, feeding and playing with Alice.  It's just lovely.  So tempted to bore you until your eyes dry up and whither to small wrinkled pea-shooter-like peas with a list of "Alice's firsts"...but think it worth noting her first book and first toy.  So, for the record, her first book was the Peter Rabbit finger pupper book that Nanny bought her, and the first toy she played with was the giraffe that Aunty Lara bought (although was freaked out by the squeaking - Alice is smart enough to know that giraffes don't squeak, they, urr.......hum....neigh??).  In case you doubt me, here's the proof...

Alice's first book

  But, giraffes don't squeak, do they??

Ok, this is going on waaaaaay too long now.  Ceri has been reading the Gina Ford Contented Little Baby Book recently and it is very big on routines.  Somewhat addictive routines....I feel a little guilty if I haven't eaten by 8am and gone for a poo within half an hour now.  So dear readers, in an attempt to establish some sort of routine with you, I am going to finish off with my five plus one favourite photos and, if you are very good boys and girls and eat up all of your greens, I may, just may mind you, permit an encoure photo.  Agreed?

Happy to hear it's home time!



Pretty in Pink

You talkin' to me??

Chill-axing!

My beautiful girls

Dozing with daddy

Well, that's it for another day all.  Will try and post in another few days with an update.  Before I go, I am also pleased to let you know that Ceri has ankles again.  The tree-trunk-leg look is out for summer 2011 and the biggest cheer of the day from Ceri yesterday was when her feet fitted into some gold sandles she bought from H&M.  I had better ditch those Crocs I bought her for our first anniversary then!! Thanks for reading...her is your encoure picture.....

wake me up when Daddy has shut up on his blog!

Speak to you all soon.  Matt xx