5 days old

These last five days have gone by so quickly. We were just saying we can't believe that on Thursday Alice will be one week old and by Christmas she'll be over a month. Time is going to fly!

Claire and Craig are doing so well as new parents - they're sharing all the duties and Claire tells me Craig did the 4am feed this morning. Alice is now being bottle fed after a rather rocky start with breastfeeding - the midwife says she has no problem with that if it's what Claire is happiest with. She's certainly much more relaxed and Alice is more content so it can't be a bad thing :)

Alice is starting to spend a bit more time with her eyes open and fairly alert, when she wakes. She has been quite a hungry baby today and has wanted to feed a bit more often but then tends to sleep well between feeds too.

I love this photo, it's very much what Alice is like when she's awake!  :) :)

Craig put together this little bouncy chair that Grandad Paul had given to her and we put Alice in to see what she thinks of it.

She seemed to be watching the lights that flash on and off on the bar that goes across in front of her. Too cute!  I think tomorrow we may bring out the baby nest for her to lie on - it has some little toys that dangle above which will give her something to "focus" on. We know that she's hearing us as her eyes tend to move towards the person who's talking to her. It's such fun going through these early stages again - there's so much you forget but it doesn't take long before you remember again :)

xx

A few more photos

Well, my whole "I'll post again tomorrow" didn't happen, did it! First of all, thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post - we are thrilled that Alice is here safe and sound and are enjoying every minute.

I can't believe how busy we've been over the last couple of days. Claire came home from hospital on Friday afternoon and we've had visitors every day since :).  We're now slowing down as Claire gets into a routine with Alice.  

This little girl has been as good as gold. She is such a content baby and is happy to lie in her Moses basket or little crib and sleep. We're making a point of not holding her all the time so that she gets used to sleeping on her own. As you can see, she likes her dummy/pacifier.  I don't have a problem with that, she is a baby who loves to suck and if it isn't her dummy, it's her hands/sleeve/whatever she can get in her mouth ;o)  All three of my children had dummies when they were little and you know they'll get rid of them as they get older - a thumb isn't quite so easy!

This afternoon Alice was lying on her changing mat having a little look around so I took the chance to take some photos of her with her eyes open :o)

This is one on the very few where I am in the photo too (though you don't have to see much of me!). It was taken in the hospital the night she was born.

I have so many photos of Alice (with a lot of her visitors) but don't know that you really want to see all of them. Anyone that does want to see more, and has a Facebook account, feel free to add me (I've put my Facebook account on my sidebar now) and you'll be able to see the photos in Alice's photo album.

I'll be back again as soon as I get the chance :o) and likewise, look forward to catching up on everyone else's blogs - when I get a chance!

She's here :-)

I am an extremely proud Grandma today! Claire was absolutely amazing and did a fantastic job, I am so proud of her. She was in labour for 18 hours and got by with just gas and air. She, Craig and I are quite shattered tonight but over the moon. 

Alice Rose   Born at 16:14 on Thursday 18/11/2010

Weighed in at 7 pounds 2 ounces

Congratulations Claire and Craig - she is absolutely beautiful! 

More photos tomorrow but for now I'm off to have a bite to eat and then bed!!!

xx

Snippets from our day

We haven't been doing an awful lot around here today but I did take some random photos of our day.

We had been warned to expect severe fog this morning but woke to clear skies and by mid morning it was sunny and "warm". Tom went outside to make the most of it.

Bellatrix was also outside catching the rays (though more hidden than Tom!)

I hadn't even realised she was there to begin with.

It's not often I get to take photos of Hugh so I have to make the most of it when I can. Cloud is Hugh's dog and enjoys it when he makes a fuss of her.

He told me he wasn't going to look at me or smile so I'll take this more serious pose ;o) 

I had ordered a few bits for Christmas from Tesco as well as a couple of things I'd forgotten/not been able to get on Monday. 

This included some Raspberry Leaf Tea for Claire - it's supposed to help so she's on her 3rd cup as I type ;o)

She also spent a fair bit of time on the exercise ball, we went for a dog walk and a fair amount of pacing around the house took place as well

And finally, Brownies. You never know when these might be needed for guests coming to meet Baby (if there are any left!) ;o)

Keep watching for more updates.

xx