10 things I've discovered about babies

1. Babies KNOW when you have something important to do (or you need the loo) and will insist on being in your arms and nowhere else at that exact moment in time

2. As soon as you've changed their pooey nappy they'll do another one

3. Smiles cannot be caught on camera

4. Obtaining handprints is near on impossible, although footprints are achievable 9 times out of 10

5. The picture of stones in our living room is fascinating

6. Babies will be sick everywhere but on a bib or muslin

7. However much you intend for baby to fit in with your lifestyle before they arrive, they will always rule the roost

8. Laundry increases 10 fold when you have a baby

9. Trips out are a military operation requiring precise planning, but you will still always forget something

10. Their cheeky smile melts your heart and makes it all worthwhile

First Footprints

Today, Eden and I made her first footprints. I wanted to remember just how tiny her feet are at the moment. Wasn't sure how she'd react to paint on her feet, but she loved the slimy feeling and just gurgled away! She didn't even cry when I put her in the bath afterwards - another first.

The big freeze

This week has seen the coldest weather here since 1963. Thousands of schools across the country have been closed all week, and the freezing temperatures mixed with snow have turned the roads to ice rinks, and severely disrupted rail and air transport.

This is a satellite picture of Great Britain:



Here at home, we've had a couple of inches of snow. As we live on a hill, the road outside our house has been pretty hazardous at times with ice. Eden and I have had a much quieter week at home as a result, and haven't been out that much. Luke had to work from home yesterday as the snow and ice was too risky. At the moment, it doesn't look like the cold snap is going to end anytime soon....

Jo and Jay get hitched!

The waiting is over! Jo and Jay were finally able to tie the knot on Sunday 3rd January, 3 months after they had originally planned (thanks to the visa process being so sloooooooow).

The week leading up to the Big Day saw 'Nine Acres' slowly filling up, starting with Jay arriving on Monday, we arrived on Friday, as did Ian, and Matt arrived early on Saturday morning. Added to this, Jay's family arrived Tuesday, and his best man Jake, on Thursday. Big as Nine Acres is, this was stretching it, and they stayed in a hotel nearby!

For us, it was our first overnight stay with Eden away from home, and we discovered just how much 'stuff' is needed to look after such a little person! With such a busy house, we found out that Eden loved watching and listening to all that was going on most of the time; there was just one evening where she was abit overstimulated, ending in a crying fit.

Unfortunately we were too busy to make a trip up Clent, but managed to fit a game of Settlers of Catan in (Ste loved his Secret Santa present)!

The wedding was lovely! Jo looked amazing, and everything just went really smoothly. Eden was really good through the service. As I was on bridesmaid duty, Luke looked after her, and her Great Grandma got a hold whilst we were saying prayers.

I wasnt able to feed Eden myself whilst in my bridesmaid dress (not easily anyway) so we gave her a bottle of formula - she was so full she slept all through the reception, which happily gave Luke and I a chance to chat to all the guests.

We waved the new Mr and Mrs Nigh off, in the bitterly cold weather - so that they could go and catch their train to the airport, and onto their new life together in sunny Florida!

Christmas Festivities

Happy christmas!!
Christmas has been very different for us this year! I love our usual 'big' family christmasses (as Luke and I are both from big families, christmas tends to be the annual 'get-together'). However, this year, with little Eden only 3 and a half weeks old, we thought it would be best if we didn't travel, especially on christmas day, so it was just the 3 of us christmas morning.

On christmas day, after unintentionally waking up late, we managed to be dressed and ready to go to church within an hour or so, and I'm really glad we made the effort. There were only about 8 of us there, but we all picked carols to sing, and Gerri had prepared some thoughts on the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus. Eden was very good throughout, she loves the singing at church and always quietens down and listens intently.

After a quick feed at home, we walked down the road to Paul and Katty's for christmas dinner. As well as the 'traditional' turkey and trimmings, Katty had prepared a Peruvian traditional christmas rice, made with olives and the special ingredient of a little coca cola, eaten with peaches. We had so much to eat for the first course that it was a couple of hours before we could face christmas pudding, and we didn't even get around to cheese and biscuits!

By Christmas day evening the combination of Eden's unsettled night, and a big meal caught up with me, and I was asleep soon after 9pm (missing most of the Royle family christmas special).

On boxing day we decided to go for a walk round the Common. Last year we'd been visiting my family and had a trip to Droitwich and a family pub lunch on boxing day.

Yesterday we drove up to Reading to see Luke's side of the family, as we'd missed them on christmas day. Luke's aunt was hosting a lunch, and there was lots of extended family there. Eden got to meet her cousins Oscar, Erik, Poppy and Willow. Jasmin, Pip and Imogen couldn't make it unfortunately.

This evening we've had the cheese and biscuits that we couldn't manage on christmas day with Paul and Katty and Simon, coupled with mulled wine.

So christmas has been really different for us, alot quieter than usual, but it's been a lovely experience sharing the festivities with our new baby girl, and not only seeing family, but also having friends play more of a part in our celebrations this year.

Christmas Eve

Today we watched christmas films - Eden and I watched Santa Claus 3 in the morning, then we watched the Nativity this afternoon. We wanted to go to a carol service this evening, but we couldn't find a local one, so watched Carols from Kings on TV instead.

3 weeks old!

Our little girl is 3 weeks old today! Everyday she changes and develops a little. This week she's looking like her Daddy, and is more alert - she studies our faces, turns her head to sound and even seems aware that Flo's nearby. So far Eden's been sleeping pretty well for a newborn - she nods off properly at about midnight, and will wake for a feed at 3:30ish, although has slept through until 6 a couple of times. She's definately had a growth spurt this week too - and is already too long for some of her sleepsuits!

The 3 of us had fun yesterday doing festive things. There was no church in the morning, so we took the rare opportunity to have a 'lie-in' until after 9am (that's late for us) and then took a nice drive around dropping off christmas cards. We walked upto the shops in the sunshine and treated ourselves to a cooked breakfast for lunch and a read of the Sunday papers in the sainsburys cafe. Yesterday evening was the christingle service at church - Eden was awake for half of it and then slept the other half.

We're looking forward to spending our first family christmas together as a 3, later this week...

Playtime!

Yesterday was the first proper 'playtime' that I had with Eden. Months ago, the first baby item we bought when we found out I was preggers was an Ikea playmat, and yesterday I took it out of it's packaging for the first time. Eden and I had a happy half hour after a feed playing on there - she was more interested in my face over anything else, so I lay by her side and pulled funny faces. She stared intently, and tried to copy sticking her tongue out a couple of times when I did. I've also been introducing her to the sense of touch, by rubbing different materials along her arm.

Eden goes to church

Today was Eden's second visit to church. Last week she was wide awake but peaceful, I think she was enjoying the music, and I had to take her out half way through for a feed. Today she slept through the whole service! She looked very cute in her new pink dress, which Grandma and Grandad had given her. Everyone at church thinks she's beautiful, we do too, but we're biased!

Our beautiful daughter

Eden's one week old today! Part of me still can't believe she's here, and yet I can't imagine life without her. She's gradually starting to become more alert, opening her eyes more, and today has lay happily in her pram with her eyes open, I think she like's the bold pattern on the hood!

We took her out shopping in town today. We went to Asda, Mamas and Papas, Tesco Home, Borders (which is sadly closing down) and finished with a free cup of tea in the Ikea restaurant, uaing our family card. Eden slept soundly through the whole trip!

Eden meets the family

Yesterday Granny and Grandpa Strickland came to visit Eden. She was very peaceful and slept through the whole visit, I think the huge feed just before helped! Eden is number 8 of the grandchildren on the Strickland side!

Today, Grandma and Grandad Weaver visited, with Aunty Jo and Aunty Jess. Eden was very good again and slept through the morning. We popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate. After lunch I gave her a quick feed, and I think she was abit over excited after that as she didn't really sleep in the afternoon.

Everyone was really excited to meet Eden!

Eden's first trip out

Today we took Eden out in her pram for the first time. Just a short walk up to the shops - Luke had to take a library book back. We had a cup of tea in Sainsburys before coming home. Unfortunately, it started to rain and we hadnt thought to pack the rain cover! It's all just part of the learning curve though and Eden didn't get wet.

A development today is that Eden has started sleeping in her moses basket and pram, rather than only in our arms. We're hoping we'll be able to settle her in the moses basket tonight, which will mean a better night's sleep for all of us.