Baby Poppy comes home!

Waking up to a *lot* of snow, it was almost impossible to keep Thomas from flinging himself out the front door (after wolfing down his breakfast in record time) before we had managed to get him even remotely wrapped up warm -

- and even when we got him back home he clamored at the back door until he was allowed out into the garden to continue his frolics (this time alternating between whacking the snow with golf clubs and moving it into great big heaps with his Scoop the backhoe loader)...

- when we finally managed to wrestle him back into the house (explaining to us in a muffled way, through his mouthful of snow, that he was busy "Turning all the snow into water, Daddy!") we headed off to see how bad the roads were (not that bad as it turned out) and see how long Flyingpops and baby Poppy were going to have to wait before being discharged...

As it turns out, when I got there, Flyingpops had finished her breakfast and was intent on having a little nap, so, baby Poppy thrust upon me (protesting at the change of temperature), Flyingpops got some shut eye and we waited for the discharge papers (noticing on her green notes the formal confirmation of the *incredibly* short time we spent in actual labor - the 5 hours includes all the time walking, eating, reading and watching "Carry On" films)...

After Flyingpops' little sleep we had the midwife visit (delivering some paracetamol and complaining about the amount of form filling involved in her job to everyone who would listen) and then the release papers (finally) arrived (hurrah!)-

- and before we knew it (after a short, slippery drive through the snow - thanks Dad!) we were home!

Thomas was over the moon (greeting the baby by name, which was a relief as before I had set off to the hospital he had been insisting the baby was called "Postman Pat") spending the first ten minutes constantly asking Flyingpops to clarify that baby Poppy was the same baby as had been inside her tummy all this time -

- he gave her a little kiss and then went and got his favorite blanket (from his bedroom) to share with her -

- and then, for being such a good boy, Thomas got to play with some of his little presents (making everyone huge slices of Play-Doh pizza)-

- and so began our new life at home as a happy family of *four*... ;)

That night (and I hope this continues) baby Poppy, apart from one wake up for food at about 3am, slept soundly all the way through (and *long* may that continue)!

Clever Poppy... ;)

Baby Poppy has some visitors...

...so the next day was a *very* busy day for Poppy and Flyingpops, starting, after we had cleaned up all the popcorn at home (starting to think there is a bit too much popping going on here!) -

- with Thomas going to meet his baby sister, as the first *formal* visitor (and open his (first) little present from her, which turned out to be a nice die-cast Tow Mater which he thought was extremely thoughful and clever of her to choose, the next 20 minutes being punctuated by multiple "*Thaaaank* you, baby Poppy"ies) -

- and Daddy had a chance for a bit of a cuddle (which enabled Flyingpops to get a bit of sleep) -

- and then (after a spot of hospital "lunch") visiting time began -

-(starting with Phil Mitchell Tom and Janet)-



- and then, while Poppy had a little rest from all the cuddles -

- Flyingpops enjoyed some hospital "supper" and visiting time resumed -

- and then a great big snow storm arrived and sort of put an end to things (and made everyone start to worry a little bit about exactly how we were going to get Flyingpops and baby Poppy back home safe and warm the very next day)! ;)

Many, many more pictures of the visiting time here, or a slideshow over here (if you prefer it that way)...if your picture is missing then it was probably taken on Flyingpops' camera (which we haven't looked at yet)!

Say Hello to Baby Poppy!

So, just to fill in some blanks, we'd been to see the consultant on Thursday 2nd Feb, been told that there were no free slots to be booked in for any sort of induction process for at least 2 weeks, made a (slightly exaggerated) impassioned plea for special treatment due to a slight case of reduced fetal movement, went to the Antenatal Day Unit for the resultant 40 minute scan (which was absolutely fine) -

- and been told to come back on Friday. So we sulkily headed home where within about 20 minutes of shutting the front door - the waters abruptly broke (conveniently close to the bathroom)!

So, wayback machines set to 3rd of February - the Friday - (last few days have been just a *bit* busy) as Flyingpops, Janet and I walk calmly back into the "Waiting Room" in the Antenatal Day Unit for some *further* monitoring...

...we were allocated a bed and Flyingpops was plugged back in - which showed a very happy baby, but a completely flat line for contractions...so, and yes, you guessed it, we had to walk and wait...So -

- we walked the hallways and stairways -

- we walked up to Royal Earlswood Estate (a fairly big hill) -

- we walked to the little shop and got tea and cakes and things, and then finally we got to see our consultant again, who said she wasn't sure if the waters had *really* broken (something about hind-water leakage) and then she announced that it was time for this baby to pop out and transferred us to the labor ward where we got allocated this nice little holiday apartment (room 5) -

- complete with a nice little bathroom -

- a slightly nastily-labelled up bin (which I, none-the-less, hoped had been obeyed by the previous resident) -

- and an antique stereo -

- we settled down (unpacking sweets and drinks), booted up the Shinco and watched Carry on Matron (the one where Kenneth Cope has to infiltrate a maternity unit dressed up as a female nurse - it just seemed appropriate somehow... ;)

Anyway, after about an hour, Flyingpops got annoyed at the further sitting around and went to the front reception desk, where it turned out we had (in fact) managed to walk in (through the locked security doors, past the infra-red security cameras) presented our maternity notes at the front desk and been allocated a room all without anyone actually managing to notice! So, all of a sudden there was a flurry of (familiar) activity...Yes - Flyingpops was put back on the monitor-

- where we witnessed another completely flat line scrolling slowly along, and so, we went for *another* walk -

- to the staff restaurant and back (with chips and things) - wondering if surgeons really did turn up in blood soaked surgical scrubs requesting cottage pie and chips from horrified canteen staff on occasion-

- then Flyingpops had a canula inserted (on the second try - the first try made her swear quite loudly and the midwife responsible leave the room blushing) and the waters were finally broken (by midwife number two), we went for yet another little walk (this time for tea and biscuits) as the sun set below the horizon -


- then back to the room for a bit of ball bouncing -

- luckily they had a few in the store room to borrow, before it was decided to try just a little bit of the hormone drip that is supposed to help hurry things along.

From there on in, things were a bit of a blur...contractions started pretty much immediately, we tried using the TENS machine (but it made Flyingpops jump out of her skin, so that got unplugged pretty much straight away), she had a go at the gas and air, but that made her so dizzy she decided she didn't want that either, and by the time she admitted "Okay, I think I need some pain relief now" the midwife turned around (biting her lower lip) and said "Sorry, I think it's too late, the baby is coming now"...!

From start to finish, Poppy took exactly 2 hours 30 minutes to go from Mummy's tummy to Daddy holding a pair of scissors snipping the cord (I hid behind a towel with the midwife this time after getting sprayed by Thomas's cord-blood last time)...and the most amazing thing about it - Flyingpops did the entire thing without *any* pain relief...

...and you know what? All those things they said in the NCT classes about the baby hunting around for food (literally almost crawling around the body snuffling) are true when there aren't any drugs involved - baby Poppy came out of Mummy's tummy and cuddled and snuffled and fed *right* away...

Anyway, once the adrenaline had started to subside, a colossal fatigue overcame Janet and myself - Flyingpops was full of beans (somehow!), but, after seeing her to the postnatal ward and a comfy bed, we retired to ours (exhausted)!

Lots and lots more pictures from the day are over here on Flickr...or as a slideshow here...

Walking and waiting...

Hrm...How right they were when they wrote that sign. It really hit home, sloping in (again) yesterday morning to the Antenatal day unit's very small waiting room, with it's very small TV and very small radio...Flyingpops was asked to make a very quick visit to the little girls room to provide a very small sample (for mysterious testing purposes) and then, in very short order we were having another of the very short treatments designed to hurry up the little baby who is clearly enjoying it's not-so-short gestation (far too much)...

...and so we walk...


...while Thomas climbs up things...

...pretends to be Maria von Trapp...

...or Ray Mears...

...and we walk some more...

...while Thomas pretends to be Tenzing Norgay...

...or Peppa Pig...

...and we wait and we wait (and sometimes even manage to get some sleep)...and one day, hopefully in the not-too-distant future (insert slightly inappropriate "Very Hungry Caterpillar" reference about beautiful butterflies and nibbling holes here)...

Come on baby...I'm not sure the house can stand much more nest making before it just gives up and collapses around our ears and I'm pretty sure my shoes have already worn out...! ;)

The potty is the place!

Okay, so we've sat quietly for about 6 weeks and not said anything at all on this subject, as we didn't want to jinx anything, and with the new baby due any day now, it perhaps isn't the best timing...but Thomas seems to have has decided that the 'Potty is the place' (to quote one of our little toddler books)!

Cast your mind back to before Christmas when quite spontaneously, Thomas got up from breakfast sat down on the potty and had a wee...I was so genuinely pleased (prior to this he point point blank refused to even sit on the potty) that my smile, clap and cheers dancing around the room were enough for him to realise how clever he was. This went on for the next hour or so as he continued to get a round of applause for every tiny wee, no matter how small was the amount he squeezed out. Poor Fink was on his way into London and got a text message every time and must have had about 10 when he finally finished his commute (as I was slightly impressed to say the least)!

Anyway, we didn't *really* want to be potty -training- so just sat back and followed Thomas' lead putting him in pants whenever we were home and nappies to go out. Initially, we introduced a small bribe (a single raisin or sultana) for a wee along with a 'big clap' and (no joke) he just seemed to get it (only taking a couple of days)...we've had a (very) few accidents, but you can count the number on a single hand...so I then stalled - our next step was to decide when to put him in pants going out (eek!)...This bit, I've been dreading...I'm heavily pregnant, its hard enough going out and about chasing a toddler around without having to worry about carrying potties/pants/shoes/changes of trousers etc.

When in the home, Thomas now automatically takes himself off to find the potty each time he needs a wee so I finally decided that I needed to be brave...and to my astonishment, he has taken to it like a duck to water! The novelty of going on another potty is so great, that we seemed to spend more time in various toilets than enjoying toddler groups or visiting friends houses!

Mummy and Daddy are very impressed with the progress so far, we do (admittedly) still have to tackle number twos (he desperately spins around demanding a nappy to be put on immediately) and getting through the night is still a long way off...but for now I'm just so very proud of my little boy...

If anyone is reading this and thinking, when should I potty train? I would honestly say it's right to follow your child's lead and start to watch carefully for their signals...Thomas really did show us he was ready and if he regresses a bit when the new baby comes along, then so be it! All children get there eventually and by exerting no pressure what-so-ever we have a very happy little boy, wearing some pretty cool Lightening McQueen pants and weeing on some very impressive VW Beetle potties (even if we find ourselves caught short in the middle of the countryside)! :O)

Hanging on in there!

I can't believe I am now 39 weeks pregnant.. it just goes to show that no two pregnancies are the same and you just have to go with the flow! (Something against my planning/controlled/organised nature) Everyone is excited, you can feel it in the air.. a bit like waiting for Christmas to come.. although I know that those 'on call' are just waiting now to spring into action! I've had a few niggly Braxton hicks, a little bit of monitoring at the hospital for lack of movement, but so far everything is fine and Baby is just happy to wait before making their grand entrance!

Now, little one...Mummy, Daddy and Thomas have cuddles waiting for you.. whenever you are ready. xxx

Happy Birthday Flyingpops!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! This morning has already seen lots and lots of lovely presents waiting on the breakfast table (which Thomas helped to unwrap, when he could keep his eyes off the) -

...lovely (hopefully) cake (thanks to Mum and Jamie Oliver for their help cooking it and thanks to Thomas for help filling it and decorating it - and not eating *too* much of it before it was finished)...

...and Thomas even sang Happy Birthday to Mummy...! Oh and everyone is looking forward to our lovely meal out later on...! Many happy returns of the day! ;)

Ready for the new baby?

Well, here we are at 37 weeks (or "full term" as it is generally known), for comparisons sake, Thomas was already born 2 weeks ago(!) when it was his turn - we have the names chosen (no idea if the little one is a boy or a girl so we need both to hand), we have the bags all packed (ipod - full of relaxation music, portable CD player, Shinco portable DVD player, battery powered speakers (with spare batteries), high energy food and drinks, wash bag, lots of Mummy clothes, lots of teeny tiny baby clothes, lots of teeny tiny nappies, 99% water baby wipes, a big bath towel, a V-shaped cushion and even a little present for Thomas (from the baby))...the big new camera has a nice clean memory card in it and two fully charged batteries standing by...Mummy is huffing and puffing and walking around slowly holding her tummy (or bouncing around on her birthing ball)...Daddy and Thomas are creeping around quietly trying to avoid being told off, the changing station is down in the living room and the nursery has been patiently waiting for weeks (now it is free of Christmas goods)...just one teeny tiny thing we need to arrive now! ;)

Thomas sings ABC

Aw, not much more to add to that really! Clever boy... ;)