Monday - and I'll have some cake please.

Day four and things are still going really well. Andy and I aren't doing too badly on the sleep front and Daisy is doing brilliantly. She went for eight hours straight last night although was so furiously hungry by the time she woke up that we might not be letting her go that long again! So far she really is quite peaceful - a little surprising for someone who made her entrance to the world to the dulcet tones of Metallica and Rage Against the Machine.

We took her out in her pram for the first time yesterday. Only to the shops to get the Sunday papers but like every small step at the moment it felt like quite an acheivement. She screamed at first but was fast asleep by the time we got to the end of our road - hurrah!

Time for me to peruse the kitchen and think about how to get those 500 extra calories a day I need at the moment.

Bx

Back home

We arrived home yesterday afternoon with Daisy safe and sound. I've never seen Andy drive so slowly as he did the journey back from the hospital! I can't say labour was much fun but things much improved 12 hours in when I was finally allowed an epidural. Bliss. It gave both Andy and I some time to get some rest (and, I admit, for me to stop sobbing hysterically and pull myself together) and the actual birth itself wasn't too bad. A bit like sprinting as hard as I could on the treadmill for an hour and a half. With a cheering squad of Andy, two midwives and a doctor. Unfortunately Daisy has her daddy's big forehead so she got a bit stuck but we got there in the end. She is gorgeous with lots of dark hair and big blue eyes. She looks a lot like Andy and nothing like me!

Because I had an epidural we had to stay overnight on the ward which wasn't great particulary as Andy had to leave but Daisy was still pretty drugged up so slept most of the night which was good.

Things are pretty peaceful here now. Andy is sleeping after taking the early morning shift which let me get some much needed sleep. He has been a star, much more of a natural at this baby stuff than me I think. Daisy has been asleep for the past hour and half so I'm expecting her to wake up anytime. The calm before the storm!

Thank you to everyone for all your phone calls, texts, emails, cards and messages. I'm sorry if it takes a few days for me to get back to you but I will do as soon as I can.

Bx

Hello Daisy!

Daisy Clementine Ellis - Born in London on Friday 27 January 2006 at 2.58am.

Moving along

I had my first contraction at 5.35am and it unequivocally answered my question of 'How will I know I'm in labour?' Ferocious is the only word I can think of. Another word beginning with F also springs to mind. I've now been having contractions every 4 minutes for about the past 3/4 of an hour so are heading in to the delivery suite. I hope they have an epidural waiting. This all seems to be moving really quickly so no doubt I'll get there, the contractions will stop and I will be sent home. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking.

Bx

Home again

Back home from the hospital. We were there about 2 1/2 hours during which time Bump got monitored with a tummy strap thing for 1/2 an hour and I got checked over. The midwife confirmed that my waters had indeed broken and they booked me in for an induction on Sunday morning should nothing have happened by then. Evidently 60% of people go in to labour within 24 hours of waters breaking which rises to 80% within 48 hours so hopefully we won't have to wait until then. In any case, Bump will be with us or on her way by then end of the weekend. Scary! Right now I'm going to try and get some sleep although between the cramps and the excitement it might prove difficult.

I hope to keep blogging as things develop so watch this space...

Holy sh*t!

My waters have just broken. Was feeling crampy all yesterday and my waters broke about 20 minutes ago at 1.45am. We are off to St Georges now to check all is well. Will hopefully then come home and wait for the next stage. Eeeek!

Bx

Baby shower

Hello

I've just returned from my (or should that be Bump's?) baby shower at Carlene's and have had a fabulous afternoon. There were baby balloons, banner, napkins and even confetti. I've been very spolit with lovely presents - at times like this being pregnant isn't so bad! Andy has spent the afternoon moving furniture around. Don't feel too sorry for him though, he has managed to get drunk the past two nights.

Bx

Ooo - a new look website!

Hello

As you can see, Andy has been doing lots of work to make our website easier for us to post comments and photos. One would think that as I'm home all day that I'd be doing it but pregnancy has shortened my attention span to miniscule levels and made me rather stupid (temporarily I hope) so poor Andy has been stuck doing it. Hurrah for him! It means that in future we should (note the should) keep it more up to date and be able to put more photos on.

We are just playing the waiting game here. I've been eating lots of curry, walking up and down the stairs loads and having reflexology but Bump has yet to get the hint. I'm not actually due for another two weeks but have had enough. I'm sure Andy has too, particulary as he's been staying sober in case he has to drive.

Time for me to cook dinner. Being at home hasn't exactly turned me in to a model housewife but I am getting pretty good at ironing. Well, maybe not good but better than I was.

Bx

New post archive

Hello

I'm trying to make it easier to post updates on to the website, by incorporating blogger software. This is the first post on the new system. Hopefully I can transfer across the old posts onto this archive if the new system works well, but at the moment you can access old posts using the menu on the left.

Andy