It's a girl!!

I know many of you will know by now, but I haven't had the chance to proudly tell the world that Naomi Ruth was born on Tuesday, 22nd of May at 00:15 a.m. weighing 8 lb 1 oz. After all the poking and prodding she finally came on her due date...

I am thrilled to tell you that both she and I are fine. The labour was quick as we only ended up in labour ward for 3 hours 15 mins (compared to Daniel 3 hrs 21 mns...) There were a number of what I call false starts but I decided to stand up and 45 minutes later Naomi was born!! Apart from the induction everything else was natural so no C-section and no stitches.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and best wishes which have helped to carry us through these days.

Although less than a week old, Naomi is showing diva type characteristics and like her parents seems to know her own mind. She is strawberry blonde and has long legs (ok not from my gene pool!)

We have been home from hospital for a day and so far it has been ok. Kevin goes back to work on Tuesday so I intend to try and get in some semblance of order before seeing many people.

Just a couple of piccies... Naomi and I scrubbed up after the exertions of labour and a picture of her today relaxing at home.

Bags of personality...

Well, it's been 10 days since I last blogged and I had really hoped that by now I could proudly announce details of Beanie's birth. Beanie on the other hand has other ideas... Despite going into St John's last week to be induced nothing happened!! Well, not quite nothing, I was prodded and poked and one day went from the Ante-natal unit to Labour Ward to the Post Labour Ward all without giving birth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can see the funny side but it is an experience that I wouldn't choose to repeat again as you don't get any sleep and very little food in hospital. The bad news is that I am going to have to do it all over again next week. I shall be readmitted on Monday, 21st May to go through the entire process again. Whilst this hardly fills me with joy I know that God's timing is perfect and that has helped me deal with these hellish few days. My last night at the hospital I was surrounded by women who had all given birth. One of these only just made it to the labour ward in time, I thought I was going to have a ringside seat.

The most positive news is that both Beanie and I are fine. Beanie is approximately 8 lb 3 ozs this week so at least I know that I am not going to have the biggest baby in the world...

I am too big to drive so I shall be resting at home or walking/waddling around Great Baddow when the sun comes out. I do feel happier that I have a brief reprieve but really would hope that Beanie would be enticed to come out to play of his/her own accord. I am going to be eating curries, walking for Britain, eating copious amounts of fruit and any other good old wives' tales which encourage labour. Yes, I am really getting that desperate...

No matter what the sex of this baby is, s/he will be called Mary (Mary quite contrary).

Please pray that I have this baby soon because if induction fails I will then have to have a C-Section with all the health and practical implications that this entails.

Not long now.

The countdown begins...

Well, today there are only 5 days to go until I go into hospital to have Beanie. Scary!! It hardly seems possible that it is nearly that time already.

It's been a bit of a strange week as on Thursday, 3rd May, Kevin and I spent time remembering Daniel as it was the second anniversary of his death. One of those days where you know it is going to be pretty awful but are glad to get out the way, nonetheless. In some ways two years isn't a long time in others it feels like it has dragged. How do you move on from such a life changing event? Somehow you do. Kevin and I do look back with fond memories and joy in the delight of our little boy but the obvious sadness never leaves you. It has been of comfort to us that people remember him and it has given us the opportunity to share happier moments of our lives with him.

That was the week just gone, the week ahead is going to be all about Beanie. This is quite an emotional adjustment. We are blessed to be having another child, something that we don't take lightly at all (those of you that see me know that there is nothing light about me just at the moment...) Whilst we are not overflowing with excitement at this stage, we can look forward to the future with hope. By this time next week, the waiting will be over and our baby born. Who knows when I will get the chance to blog after that.

Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers as we become parents again. This can be the most gentle of touches particularly when we are bruised.