John & Helen Visit

We had a wonderful day yesterday, especially considering Friday night's disturbed sleep. We had a slow start, Helen enjoying a long bath and Emma being sleepy and good. Helen fed Emma at 11am, then went off in the car to go shopping on her own for the first time in weeks! She was a different person when she came back, laden with treats from The Cellar and Indulgence, where she had a nice chat with Amy the owner who got married last month.

John, Helen and Timmy arrived at 3pm in John's new Citroen Picasso. They had a nice cuddle with Emma who slept for the first hour or so, then woke up and was treated to a bath in her tummy tub. She was all ready to get in the tub in her garish yellow towel when she let rip with an explosion of poo, which was fortunately the same colour as the towel! Once cleaned up and dunked, she really enjoyed herself, and only cried when she had to come out. After bravely sampling some home made blackcurrant wine, they left around 5.30, giving us both time for a short rest.

I was also able to take a photo of Emma looking stunning in the new Minnie Mouse outfit they had got for her!

Gramps, Gramma and Becky came around 7.30pm and we'd all got some food ready - I think we'll be dining off the left overs for some time! We were able to sit out in the garden with the lovely weather still continuing and we had kebabs, roast chicken, lots of salad and bread. Becky had found some gorgeous peppers stuffed with cheese. We also further wetted Emma's head with some champagne that Liz (Becky's fiance's mum) had given us last week. Thanks Liz! Although we had some games on standby they weren't needed as we chatted, then moved inside when it got colder.

Emma had a go in her new Winnie the Pooh bouncy chair from ToysRus although she's a bit small to bounce it herself as yet.

Helen thought she might get a feed in before bed, but it was not to be. Emma wasn't interested until midnight when she woke us up for a feed. I woke up again at 3am, gave her a cuddle and changed a nappy as she was being noisy. By the time I was finished she was ready for another feed. Then she woke up at 6am again sounding hungry. Helen said she'd been up nearly all night being feeding her so I took her downstairs and tried to comfort and calm, Helen being desperate for sleep at this point and sore from all the feeding. I eventually resorted to some water from a bottle.














It worked - for a little while! She had about 30ml then looked a bit more contented. She needed another change, which I did, then held her without a nappy for a while to let her stretch and dry. Luckily she had a towel under her bum because then she wet herself - and me! Which explains the change of clothes for Emma and my topless state in the photo on the right. By 7am she was crying so I gave her to a protesting Helen who fed her, and since then (4 hours!) they've both been asleep, Emma in the office with me.

So thats us up to date. An awful night for Helen, I managed to sleep through most of it. I think a longer nap in the day would have helped, Helen only managed under an hour. And perhaps waking Emma in the day to feed would be good too. She sleeps in 4 hour stretches in the day time, especially in the garden in a shady spot. It seems to mean she's hungry in the night.

No big plans today. Perhaps a stroll along the sea front to where Emma's Great Grandma lives would be a good way to stretch our legs. And some sleep! Dave x