Family

Happy 2nd Birthday

Tuesday 26th October 2010Friday 11th May 2012Baggie

A little belatedly but ‘Happy Birthday’ to my first born. Yes, Éowyn celebrated her second birthday last Sunday, although in true style she celebrated it all weekend and hence no updates!

As my family are still primarily based in the West Midlands and since Nanny Fran is still unable to drive, we headed to West Bromwich so that Éowyn could see her Nanny and Auntie Liz. We also took this opportunity to introduce Amélie to her Great-Grandma and to the husband of her namesake, her Great-Great Uncle Albert. Both enjoyed extended cuddles with Amélie but Éowyn was a little subdued, although she did have excuses. At Great-Grandma’s nursing home I think it is a little overwhelming to enter the common room and I think it freaked her out a little and hung onto Daddy’s leg for protection. While on the way to Great-Great Uncle Albert’s she fell asleep and so we had to wake her and I don’t think that anyone is at their best when they have just been woken up.

We were only at Nanny Fran’s for a little over 24 hours but I think that Éowyn completely wore out her Nanny Fran. Éowyn was so excited all along the motorway and couldn’t wait to get out of the car when we arrived at West Bromwich. She bounded into the house said ‘hello’ then headed for the toy corner and made herself at home. Nanny Fran was a star and looked after Amélie overnight so that we could have a (fairly) uninterrupted night’s sleep to try and put some hours back into the sleep bank.

We headed back home Saturday afternoon and while my 3 girls snoozed I managed to listen to another fine performance of West Bromwich Albion battling back from a two goal deficit at half time to draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford! The first time in Premier League history that Manchester United have let a 2-0 score slip at home in the Premier League (although they did let a 3-1 score slip to Chelsea in 2000). Amélie only knows West Bromwich Albion as a top 6 Premier League team. Boing Boing! (It can’t last can it?)

Sunday, (Éowyn’s birthday) we headed the couple of hundred metres up the road to Lucinda’s parents for Sunday roast with Lucinda’s immediate family and the girls’ cousins. Éowyn loves to play with her cousins including poor Finley who will soon feel left out as the only boy in the group. In fact he is the only great-grandchild of Granddad Badger (Lucinda’s granddad), outnumbered 10 to 1. However, if we take into account the second cousins then the ratio becomes a little more respectable 11 to 2, still the Cathrall family name is reliant on only two males to carry the name forward. I know the feeling. My Grandfather Bagnall had five sons, who between them have had 5 girls and me. It is probably the reason that I am interested in my family history but I think my girls are going to have to keep their surname for this branch of the Bagnall line to carry into the future.

I will leave the update there as this post is a little belated and as I am now back at work you will have to tune in next week to fine out how that is going.

Peace and love

Baggie

Nanny Fran and her Grand-daughters

Sisters!

Bagnall Hug!

High-Five!

Make a wish

Bagnall girls on da Sofa

Great-Grandma

Great-Great Uncle Albert

Auntie Carol

Birthday present

God gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to you

Rubber Ducky you’re so fine

Having fun at my party!

Can I open them?

My cousins are helping me get into my presents!

Make a wish, 2!

Close up

Snoozing!

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.

Thursday 7th October 2010Saturday 9th October 2010Baggie

Before you think I’ve gone all ‘King and I‘ or going to burst into a medley of Rodgers and (stop) Hammerstein, I was merely trying to think of a catchy title to celebrate that we have, for over a week, been a family of four and are all having to make adjustments to accommodate the new arrival.

Éowyn has adjusted to sharing her parents remarkably well. It helps that I am on paternity leave and so there is always one of us that can lavish attention on her. In fact she is quite taken with her little sister and will often park herself on the sofa with a cushion on her lap with her arm out ready to hold Amélie. Which she will do for a short amount of time until she gets bored or Amélie starts crying.

However, there has been a slight change at night. It started yesterday. Lucinda went up to bed at about 2130 and Éowyn was crying. Lucinda went into her and she was upset and kept saying that she wanted to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed. I heard the commotion and went upstairs and took over while Lucinda attended to Amélie. I gave Éowyn a cuddle and tried to explain that Amélie was a baby and that when she was bigger that she would be sharing Éowyn’s room. I read her a story and tucked her back into bed and all was good. She woke up this morning and all was right again.

Then tonight. Lucinda bathed her and I read her three stories before tucking her into bed. Her usual routine. (We have tried to keep things as routine as they can be to try and disturb her the least). However, when I cam to tuck her into bed, she began to cry. Again she wanted to sleep in mommy and daddy’s room with Amélie. So, another daddy cuddle and I explained that she was a big girl and that she would see mommy, daddy and Amélie in the morning when she woke up. She surrounded herself with her cuddly toys and went to sleep.

She must now be realising that Amélie is here to stay and can’t understand why she is allowed in mommy and daddy’s room. There is no point getting angry or shouting at her; just reassure and try to explain the situation to her, as best as we can, in a calm voice. We are both very aware, that however much we pity her and don’t like to see her upset there is no way we can ever give in, not even for one night.

During the week, our visitor numbers are low mainly because most of our friends and family are at work and the evening is not a good time to visit when you have young ones to bath and put to bed. Yesterday, however we were visited by a family of swans (actually they were scoping number 73 – see photos below) and more importantly our friends Lee and Caroline and their daughter Georgia. Georgia was born the day after Éowyn so it was interesting to see them react to each other (not play, they interacted but it wasn’t really playing together). There was a lot of possessiveness from both, not malicious but a toy is always more interesting when it is being played with by someone else. Both were very cute though and it was nice to see them give each other a kiss goodbye.

Today, I got the first taste of what it will be like for Lucinda every day when my paternity leave ends. Lucinda had a check up at the doctor’s at 0900, so I was left to get Éowyn, Amélie and myself washed, dressed and fed. I have had trouble with just the last one in the past! Actually I think I coped remarkably well, but it is definitely going to be a strain for Lucinda every day. You can’t rest for a moment. I think I will have the easier part of the relationship heading into work.

We also took advantage of the unseasonably clement weather (temperatures of 21°C) and went for a walk around the Salville Gardens side of Virginia Water. There is a little play area for kids, with swings and climbing frames and a sandpit. So plenty of fun and a good chance for us all to get some vitamin D. Then back home in time for tea and cakes.

I will bid you adieu (to yieu, and yieu and yieu – OK I’ll stop it!)

Peace and love

Baggie

Éowyn’s help

Kiss goodbye

Sleep tight

Destroyer of sandcastles

Mommy and her daughters

What can’t I do with it?

Cheese!

Right lads, no one’s at home!

I sometimes cry

Hiding from the paparazzi

Wish they would go

They’ve gone!

Meet the family

Monday 4th October 2010Friday 11th May 2012Baggie

I’m back. Did you miss me?

The last two days have been all about the family, hence no write ups and no photos posted. Friday was devoted purely to Myself, Lucinda, Éowyn and Amélie. We spent the whole day together getting to know each other as a family quartet with only one visitor, my friend Andy.

This we thought was especially important for Éowyn as she is the one that is probably going to be affected the most without the necessary intellect to understand why this tiny crying thing is taking up so much of mommy and daddy’s time. Fortunately, I think she is also too tiny to be jealous or spiteful. In fact, she has been a wonderful big sister. If Amélie is in her moses basket and begins to cry, Éowyn will go over to her and try to calm her. That is by one of two methods, either saying “Shhh!” or gently stroking her tummy. Although she hasn’t quite got her tongue around her little sister’s name yet, and calls her ‘Amémie‘.

Éowyn also likes to hold Amélie. She will sit on the sofa and put a cushion on her lap. We have told her to put her arm out to support Amélie’s head and neck and it seems to have sunk in. Éowyn will usually only hold Amélie for a couple of minutes, and gently stroke her tummy and give her tender kisses. It is very sweet. However, when Amélie is crying uncontrollably Éowyn will put her fingers in her ears and look pleadingly at us saying, “Noisy, noises.” We have to agree!

Amélie still hasn’t settled into any kind of routine and seems to suffer from wind (colic) more at night than in the day, so myself and Lucinda are surviving on very little sleep at the moment. The infacol has begun to work but she still seems colicky at night. One of my friends has also recommended colief, which is quite pricey but a small price for a good night’s sleep and more importantly a daughter that is not in pain. Thanks Clare! We’ll let you know how we get on with it.

Saturday was definitely a day for family. Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz came down from West Bromwich, Auntie Mary came over from Woking and Uncle Steve, Auntie Zoe and Megan and Finley also came to visit the newest member of the family. The sales of biscuits and tea bags in the Staines area has increased considerably this past week. Thank goodness we have a dishwasher, 30 minutes on eco-cycle and we have a constant stream of clean cups. I think that Éowyn is enjoying the visitors as much (if not more) than we are, for she is getting just as many presents as Amélie and everyone wants to talk to her. We never cease to find it amazing how generous everyone is. Thank you all.

Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz stayed down south (it is OK they have had their injections) the night (stopping at Lucinda’s parents), so there were more munches and a chance for Éowyn to play with them before they headed back up the M40. Éowyn was so excited to see her Nanny Fran and especially her Auntie Liz. When she saw them coming down the path she literally begun a little dance of joy. Obviously she does not see as much of my mom compared to Lucinda’s parents but we try to Skype at least once a week and whenever Éowyn pretends to be on the phone invariably it tends to be Nanny Fran.

There was still room in the schedule for more visitors before Sunday evening. Uncle Michael popped round with Cristina, Lauren and Maddie and Lucinda’s Auntie Diane and Auntie Sally with cousin Lucy popped round to welcome the new edition. Amélie has now meet all her Uncles and Aunties and a number of Great-Uncle and Great Aunties. So for less than a week old she is doing pretty well!

Last night we thought that the colic had gone. Amélie when down after her bedtime feed and didn’t stir until after 0300 which was just over 4.5 hours. ‘Great!’ we thought. We could have a good night. Nope, she did not settle at all after her feed. Lucinda took her downstairs as took Amélie downstairs at the same time yesterday and I was getting up at 0700 to take Éowyn to Jo (our childminder) for 0800. At least Lucinda has had a little rest this morning (not enough obviously, but some). I have done the house husbandly duties and the fridge is stocked and meals have been prepared and while Lucinda waits for the midwife, I will be heading back to Jo’s to pick our firstborn up.

Hopefully I will be able to add more photos tomorrow but for those of you who are new visitors to the website, do not forget that there are plenty of photos on the Flickr site that you can access but clicking on the photo in the right hand column or alternatively clicking here.

Just a footnote that since Éowyn has learnt to say “Boing. Boing, Baggies Baggies!” (I am a cruel father) West Bromwich Albion haven’t lost and are currently sitting pretty in 6th place. It is too early in season to glean anything from that but quite a nice thing for Amélie to have been born when your team are playing attractive football and high up in the table. This has probably put the collybosh on the team, especially since we are playing Manchester United at Old Trafford next and for that I apologise to the whole Baggies fraternity.

Peace and love

Baggie