Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Growing boy
Wearing a beautiful cardigan made by my daughter Nicky's in-laws, Sheila and Colin :
Roy continues to thrive, and like all babies to become more aware of his environment and himself...
He is pretty calm most of the time, and even lets us sleep most of the night:
He really enjoys his bath!
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Visits and Congratulations
We had a busy first couple of weeks with Roy, including but not limited to:
- a visit from his elder brother Andy, giving the "boys" picture with Aymane and me too;
- registering his birth and confirming his names of Roy Alan Shaw;
- getting his passport: have you ever tried to take a government approved portrait of a one week old baby? I thought I'd share some of the "offtakes" as well as a "successful" one;
- receiving beautiful flowers, thank you to our friends and my colleagues at my client Talisman and to my NLP training colleagues and friends at PPD;
- a visit from his elder brother Andy, giving the "boys" picture with Aymane and me too;
- registering his birth and confirming his names of Roy Alan Shaw;
- getting his passport: have you ever tried to take a government approved portrait of a one week old baby? I thought I'd share some of the "offtakes" as well as a "successful" one;
- and a visit to my about to be 88 year-old Dad, Grandfather for the sixth time!
Saturday, 6 October 2007
He's home!
On Thursday afternoon Khadija and our son came back to our home in Horley, arriving in time for tea!
We had spent a family day together at the hospital, since my stepson Aymane had two INSET (In Service Training day for teachers) days Thursday and Friday. Aymane had first seen his new brother during Wednesday evening visiting, for him it is a first to experience such a tiny, helpless little human, so quite an eye-opener for him to be able to see at first hand the love and care which a mother gives her child...
Aymane bonded straight away, and is keen to hold his brother, keep an eye on him while he sleeps, and even says he wants to help change nappies! As for me, I just want to spend all the time I can with him, definitely a case of love at first sight from the moment when I saw the back of his head emerging as I held and helped Khadija in the pushing stage. And I'm proud to say the first two nappy changes were my effort, including the first little fountain during the first change! Before he was born, I'd realised in talking with some friends that like me, his Chinese horoscope is Fire Pig: http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2007.htm. Since it's a sixty year cycle, twelve years for the signs times five for the elements, that's unusual for a parent/child combination, more common for grandparents. I had wondered whether my feelings would be more like a grandparent than a parent, but now I know: when I hold him I don't want to give him back to anyone.
We had spent a family day together at the hospital, since my stepson Aymane had two INSET (In Service Training day for teachers) days Thursday and Friday. Aymane had first seen his new brother during Wednesday evening visiting, for him it is a first to experience such a tiny, helpless little human, so quite an eye-opener for him to be able to see at first hand the love and care which a mother gives her child...
Aymane bonded straight away, and is keen to hold his brother, keep an eye on him while he sleeps, and even says he wants to help change nappies! As for me, I just want to spend all the time I can with him, definitely a case of love at first sight from the moment when I saw the back of his head emerging as I held and helped Khadija in the pushing stage. And I'm proud to say the first two nappy changes were my effort, including the first little fountain during the first change! Before he was born, I'd realised in talking with some friends that like me, his Chinese horoscope is Fire Pig: http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2007.htm. Since it's a sixty year cycle, twelve years for the signs times five for the elements, that's unusual for a parent/child combination, more common for grandparents. I had wondered whether my feelings would be more like a grandparent than a parent, but now I know: when I hold him I don't want to give him back to anyone.
It is really lovely to have Khadija and Roy Alan at home. We're a bit closer on making the definitive decision for the name, but reserve the right to change! He continues to be calm, Aymane had asked if he could have ear-plugs for the first night at home but in the event didn't need them since his brother only woke a couple of times for feeding, and didn't really cry, just made little noises. We're hoping that will continue!
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
He's arrived!
Our son was born at 12:11 on Wednesday afternoon, 3rd October 2007.
He arrived a day before his due date, and his amazing mother Khadija delivered him with no pain relief whatsoever, not even any Entenox, after a labour of 3 hours and a final delivery stage of 20 minutes. She first felt contractions at 4am , and we managed to snatch a quick breakfast and wave goodbye to my 12-year-old stepson Aymane as he set off for school, before leaving at 8:35 for the hospital where Khadija was admitted at 9:03...
We were lucky to have two lovely midwives, Rosaleen Jackson, a charming Sligo lady, and Alison Crombleholme who is in training, and was born on the same day of the year as Khadija (1st January) albeit some five years before. Alison and Rosaleen helped Khadija deliver our 3.54 kg son (that's 7 lb 14 oz in old money), who is 50 cm long and has a head circumference of 36 cm. I informed the midwives just before the delivery stage that my babies tend to have big heads (can't imagine how that happens... ;-P ), which was the first Khadija had heard of it too: never mind, she instantly forgave me when she saw our lovely son. Khadija wanted me to cut his umbilical cord, so with the kind assistance of the midwives, I gave him his freedom...
As you can see from the photos, he is dark haired like his Mum (I was born blond, which maybe explains some of my moments..) and quite pink skinned, although like most babies he was somewhat puce and a bit congested straight after the birth. He is, at least for now, calm, which makes our likely name of Roy Alan Shaw quite appropriate, since my Uncle (by marriage) Roy was a calm and wonderful man. My Uncle Alan was quite a character too, so our son has a lot to live up to!
He arrived a day before his due date, and his amazing mother Khadija delivered him with no pain relief whatsoever, not even any Entenox, after a labour of 3 hours and a final delivery stage of 20 minutes. She first felt contractions at 4am , and we managed to snatch a quick breakfast and wave goodbye to my 12-year-old stepson Aymane as he set off for school, before leaving at 8:35 for the hospital where Khadija was admitted at 9:03...
We were lucky to have two lovely midwives, Rosaleen Jackson, a charming Sligo lady, and Alison Crombleholme who is in training, and was born on the same day of the year as Khadija (1st January) albeit some five years before. Alison and Rosaleen helped Khadija deliver our 3.54 kg son (that's 7 lb 14 oz in old money), who is 50 cm long and has a head circumference of 36 cm. I informed the midwives just before the delivery stage that my babies tend to have big heads (can't imagine how that happens... ;-P ), which was the first Khadija had heard of it too: never mind, she instantly forgave me when she saw our lovely son. Khadija wanted me to cut his umbilical cord, so with the kind assistance of the midwives, I gave him his freedom...
As you can see from the photos, he is dark haired like his Mum (I was born blond, which maybe explains some of my moments..) and quite pink skinned, although like most babies he was somewhat puce and a bit congested straight after the birth. He is, at least for now, calm, which makes our likely name of Roy Alan Shaw quite appropriate, since my Uncle (by marriage) Roy was a calm and wonderful man. My Uncle Alan was quite a character too, so our son has a lot to live up to!
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