Back to the garden...

The garden is coming on great guns now. They're here putting in the decking on a Saturday because they didn't get much done on Thursday because a delivery van broke down. Joe loves watching them work and stands at the window shouting BOTTOM! every time one of them bends over. Simon has taken the children to the Dad's playgroup and I'm going to meet them for coffee after. This afternoon Joe's nursery is having an open day to let parents taste all the dishes on the menu and other fun stuff. So we're going to go along and see if it's not too hectic. Joe's friend of the moment at nursery is called Conor so we've been getting very confused when he started shouting CONOR! at the top of his voice when he was being dropped off! Poor Conor doesn't even speak yet as he's a bit younger, so he's Joe's ideal friend as he never stops. I have been taking Sylvie to baby massage classes and she seems to really like it. No screaming as yet! Bjork tickets and Simon Amstell tickets have arrived so we're looking forward to some fun in April.

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

Excitement reached fever pitch here yesterday when we found out about Camp Bestival. It's a family festival run by the people from Bestival (Josie's pregnant again) in Dorset in July. We are at this moment contemplating whether to buy a family sized tent or hire one of the yurts they have. They'll have all the usual good stuff, WI tent, great food, fancy dress as well as sports day, campfires, farm animals, massage etc. Can't wait! Let us know if you fancy joining us.

Joe had his MMR booster on Saturday and it seems to have gone as well as last time, no reaction.

The gardeners have been making good progress, the railings and gate went up on Friday, the framework for the garden is in place and we've chosen the style of planting, so hopefully it will stay dry and they'll be finished soon. I'll put some pictures on when they do.

Joe had his first proper haircut last week - I don't count the butchering the barber gave him as a haircut! He was very good, stood quietly while Nathalie sorted his mop out, she even showed him the back in a mirror and he let her brush his face - a first! His favourite bit was the water spray though. The Polish bowl cut is no more and he now looks very grown up.
We went to Wiltshire on Saturday to stay the night at Phyllis and Gordon's. They very kindly babysat and Simon and I went to the local pub for some dinner. Joe had lots of fun seeing all the animals around there, dogs, chickens, horses, donkeys, the list was endless.
We have booked ourselves a weekend at CenterParcs at the end of this month. We thought we may as well bite the bullet and see what it's like. If the brochure is anything to go by we certainly won't be bored and they have lots to offer the children so no muddy swings for us! We've booked babysitters and sessions at the creche so keep your fingers crossed we might actually get a chance to relax.

I can see cleary now ...

Sylvie's appointment with the opthalmology consultant when very well on Tuesday. Her vision was examined thoroughly, pupils, cornea as well as the inside of the eyeball. Everything's as it should be for a baby her age. It was quite a gruelling appointment for all three of us but the staff dealt with us very well. The consultant said that some babies who go through Special Care are affected by delayed maturation and this was probably what had happened. So we heaved an enormous sigh of relief, one more worry checked off the list.

It's a good job that Sylvie's sight is up to scratch, today we had four hyper toddlers rampaging around the place after Singing Hands so there was plenty to see!

Dates for your diary

Guilfest have announced their date - 4 - 6th July - we'll be going regardless. Fancy it?

Photo time

Joe's letting Sylvie try on his favourite hat here!

This was the first time that Sylvie had been out in the sling and actually noticed anything else going on around her.

Alex (who took the fabulous photos when Joe was born) is coming in March to update our photo collection so I'll let you see her photos, they'll be far superior to these snaps!

The times they are a changin

Welcome Dylan to the world who took everyone by surprise by arriving 6 weeks early. Math is a proud father again, congratulations.

Congratulations!

Belated congratulations to Clare and Gareth who got married in Las Vegas on Christmas Day.

I just can't get you out of my head...

After more than four months, the scab from Sylvie's ventilator pressure sore finally came off this morning. Now she just has a red sore patch which hopefully will heal quickly now. You never know, the hair might even grow back. She has her ICU party this Sunday and then sees the Consultant Opthalmologist on Sunday so fingers crossed.
We have been getting excited about our trip to Germany this summer. Paul has been sorting out an itinerary for us and finding nice little campsites, thanks Paul!
Gardeners start next week which is a relief as Joe spent this afternoon trying to get into the abandoned washing machine that's out there!