Christmas Trees

We put our 2 Christmas trees up on Sunday. The second is a bit of an extravagance but I'm a real sucker for Christmas trees. The one in our lounge is the main tree and we've had these lovely cherubs to hang on it, from my nephews George and Oliver.

Our dear friend Lorena came to meet Ruby for the first time and, as ever, she brought us bundles of goodies from Space NK, where she works. Lorena has been calling Ruby 'Daisy' during the pregnancy and she doesn't see any reason why that should change now. So for Lorena, Ruby is always going to be Daisy.

Granny came to stay on Wednesday and gave Ibolya some well needed rest-bite. Mum does this amazing snuggling thing with babies, over her shoulder, which they love. It was wonderful having Mum with us and she even made us her legendary stew and dumplings, which I'd been telling Ibolya about for years.

Ruby's 11th Day and my last before returning to work

I have a very heavy heart today as tomorrow, after two of the most wonderful and eventful weeks of my life, my paternity leave ends and I return to work. I want to look at Ruby as much as possible today and savour, as much as I can, all the remarkable little faces and expressions she pulls.
I've tried to capture a few with my camera but the images always feel as inadequate as my words in conveying anything of the wonder and magic of these past two weeks and how incredible precious and special my little girl is.
Tutsi got in on the action while I was trying to photograph Ruby.

Ruby's 10th Day: Ruby stars in her first film

We made a little film of Ruby, sitting with Ibolya, on the chair in our bedroom and posted it on Youtube .

Ibolya made a beautiful Peacan Pie

and I returned the compliment with my own, chicken and leak pie

Our neighbour Jay, from over the road, has also had a baby girl in the last couple of weeks and he popped over to give us these lovely Indian sweets.

Ruby also received another beautiful bouquet of flowers, these were from my work.

Ruby's 9th Day: Ruby goes to Graceland

Ruby's received some really wonderful gifts, this arrived on Friday morning from my friend Derek, a 'Baby Soul' t-shirt.


We also received this beautiful, antique, Christmas card from Beatrice and Denis.

Ibolya and I took Ruby out for lunch at Graceland.

Ruby's 8th Day: Ruby gets a monkey

Sarah and Kelsey came to meet Ruby and Sarah gave Ruby a wonderful, Jellycat, Monkey. We were very touched by this, Sarah has a monkey that she's had since she was a very little girl and still has him today.

Ruby's 7th Day

A quiet morning and joined by Claire for another outing to Roundwood, in the afternoon.

Ruby's 6th Day: Ruby has a bath with Daddy

It's only taken Ruby six says to start exercising her assertiveness and individuality. With only one, single, means of communication, she now has Ibolya and I wrapped round her little finger. Cry and she has food on demand, cry again and a clean nappy and new outfit, another cry and she get cuddled and entertained. Everything she wants, she gets.

Before another hectic day of visits, chores and housework - it's joyous to lye-in with Ruby and enjoy some morning quietness.

Our first visitor today was Jerry and a plumber who repaired our hot water.

Early evening, Kwarmi, Jean-Charles and Agnel called to meet Ruby.

And then, Ruby's first bath at home, with her Daddy. This was my first skin-to-skin moment with Ruby and was incredibly precious.

This was followed by cascading evacuation, happily caught by the bath.

Ruby's 5th Day, Ruby's first outing and meets Granny and Grandpa Read

Our day started with the arrival of beautiful flowers from Ibolya's work. They're from Scarlet and Violet, who provided the flowers for our wedding.

I'd been looking forward and really excited about going out with Ruby for the first time. Our first trip, aged just 5 days old, was to Roundwood Park.

On our return, it was time for Ruby to meet her Grandpa and Granny Read.

More flowers arrived, these were from Uncle Jim and Auntie Pauline.

After a hectic day, it was time for Ruby and Ibolya to rest and relax with the Tutsi and Josie

Ruby's 4th Day, Ruby meets her aunties, uncles and 6 cousins

Sunday morning and we had an early morning visit from Robyn, on her way back from Thailand.
She brought Ruby a lovely wooden bird, which I'll suspend from the ceiling in the nursery.

At lunchtime, the Bennetts and Hargreaves families arrived and we had a marvelous, big, family, pic-nick lunch together.
It's always an utter joy to see all my nieces and nephews and marvel at how wonderfully they are all maturing and growing. How the older ones, such likable, confident personalities are forming and how quickly the little ones are growing up.

We couldn't be more fortunate to have sisters with six children between them. Their advice, support, guidance and handmidowns have given Ibolya and I so much reassurance and saved us a fortune.

Seven happy cousins and grandchildren. From 4 days to 8 years old.