Felicity Sleeps; Christmas Morning

Felicity Sleeps; Christmas Morning, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

We let Felicity have a lie in, seeing as though she's a bit young to understand the whole Christmas concept.

7am Christmas Wake-Up

7am Christmas Wake-Up, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Seeing as Felicity had just settled back off to sleep, Mummy and Daddy decided to go and wake Cara up so that we could open our stockings together.

She's Starting to Get It..., originally uploaded by Munzerr.

It didn't take her long to get into the swing of things.  We spent most of the day opening and playing with presents.  I plan to blog more about the day later.

Felicity Doesn't Like Baths... Yet!

Felicity Doesn't Like Baths... Yet!, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Well.. to be fair some of the time she looked liked she could have been enjoying it. It was rather hectic trying to keep two little girls under control in the bath.  I'm sure bathtime will continue to be lots of fun.

Two Babies in Our Bath

Two Babies in Our Bath, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Cara enjoying a bath with her little sister. There was no big splashes or getting upset, so well done Cara.

Baby Thoughts

Baby Thoughts, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Felicity does look a lot like her sister Cara, but this is a very Felicity face - at least, I think so.

Cara - the big sister

Cara Holds Her New Sister, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Cara meets her little sister, and wants to hold her all the time. Pointing out her tiny fingers, tiny nose, tiny eyes... tiny everything really. She loves her new baby sister. It was so cute to see this first real interaction as sisters.

Felicity Marie Munzer

Felicity's First Nap, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

One of the first of many photos of Felicity. This was taken in the delivery room not long after birth.  Born at 11:46 on Monday, 15th December 2008 (also my Uncle Alan's birthday), and just minutes before my Estimated Due Date, weighing 6lb 6oz, and 48cm long.  

Welcome to the world our little girl, we all love you so much!

Felicity Marie Munzer

Felicity's First Nap
Originally uploaded by Munzerr

She's here! And only fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Born at 11.46pm on Monday, 15th December, weighing 6lb 6oz, and measuring 48cm.

The birth happened rather quickly, in the end. We put Cara down to bed, and Mummy got in the bath, but it didn't take long for her to realise that things were moving swiftly. We called Grandma and Grandad, who came over to babysit Cara as she slept, while Helen and I drove to the hospital.

It's amazing what the human body can do (particularly; Helen's!) - things were already quite along way down the process of getting ready for birth. She was so brave through the whole thing, and didn't end up using any pain relief apart from the standard 'gas and air'. This was something that Helen was really hoping for, so we're all really glad that was able to go to plan.

Before long, we could see Felicity, and she popped out, with her hand right next to her head - like Superman, the midwife pointed out. There were some complications with the placenta, but with some more bravery and strength (from heaven knows where!) Helen was able to naturally deliver the afterbirth, too. She needed a few stitches before everything was done, and the midwives left Mummy and baby to have a little time cuddling together.

I drove home a bit after four in the morning, not quite sure whether everything had really registered - Felicity is with us now - and I am so excited to start to get to know her properly. Some observations so far:

1) She likes to make noise and kick about. (We knew about the kicking before today!)
2) She likes to suck on her hand. She must have been doing that before she came out, too.
3) She has beautiful big eyes, and dark hair, in a bit of a mullet - short on top and long at the back. The mullet is only temporary, however.

I'm so glad everything went so well. We love you, Felicity, and can't wait to see you again in the morning! Cara's going to be so excited to meet you...

Happy Birthday Alan

Cara sings Happy Birthday, for Alan. However, she has had a few birthdays very recently for Daddy's side of the family, and so the name part is always a little confusing.. I think she wants it to be her birthday. Not too long to wait now, Cara.

Winter in Yorkshire

'Nobody seems to mind me abducting this small child'
Originally uploaded by Munzerr

It's good up North! One of the great things about living so far from the equator is that when it gets a bit cold, it actually gets cold and wet enough that snow falls in some volume, and stays on the ground enough to play in it!

Over the last few weeks we've had a lot of snow, and at the first opportunity we drove up the nearest hills, and took Cara to have a walk and a play in the white stuff. She seemed to really enjoy herself - even when she got a bit of snow on her during the snowball fight! Ben came with us, and we made a little snowman together. Let's hope we get even more good snow this winter, so we can show New Baby - although perhaps we'll show her through the windows, from where it's warm!

Looking forward to New Baby

Hello 'new baby': we've been calling you 'new baby' so far, but sometimes 'Felicity', as we think you'll be lovely little girl. We don't mind, though, if you're a little boy, either. In that case you'll be George, and either way you'll be a great little friend for your big sister, Cara. I think she's aware that you're almost ready to be with us. She puts things in your Moses basket and then takes them out again, telling us that these are 'baby's dummies'.

It's almost Christmas, and we can't really believe that you're going to be here with us even before we get that far. It's going to be just wonderful to be the four of us: our little family for our first Christmas all together!

Keep growing, and come to us safely - we're going to have lots of fun together very soon!

      love, Daddy.

Hello Baby!

Hello Baby!, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

You are in there.. and hopefully coming out really soon. We love you so much already, our little one.

When will you come?

OK.. so it's Wednesday 10th December today, you are due Tuesday 16th, so less than a week away, but when will you actually come? Before, after, exactly on your due date? Who knows?

Well.. I think we are finally completely ready for you. Mummy has packed a bag of things to take to the hospital, some cute little tiny clothes for you to wear and keep you warm and cosy. I can't believe how small you will be. Your big sister Cara is just so big now compared to a little baby. Mummy's been trying to explain to Cara about you coming to be part of our family, so we're all getting extra excited - and we hope you'll be here to celebrate Christmas with us.

Last week at Mummy's appointment to check that you are doing well, the midwife said that you had turned round into a breech position, this would not be good for Mummy, and might mean that you would have to be born by C-section. Mummy really would like for you to be born naturally, so when we went this week, Mummy was really happy that you had turned back round to be head down - well done! Now you just need to stay there, OK.

Cara was born by C-section, and if that turns out to be the way you are born, then it'll be for the best, as long as we have you out in the world with us all will be great. Your big sister is so special, I think you are going to be the best of friends.

See you soon, little one.

Mummy x

First Snow

'Nobody seems to mind me abducting this small child', originally uploaded by Munzerr.

We woke up this morning to snow. Cara's first look at real snow. She loves Snowmen, and always wants to sing the Snowman song. When she woke up we brought her straight in to our bed, so she could look out the window with us at the white outdoors.

We got ready as quickly as we could, wearing LOTS of layers and then went to get Uncle Ben to join in the fun. We were going to the White Horse, as Daddy said there would be lots of snow there to make a Snowman. Our little car couldn't quite manage the steep snowy hill though, so we settled for a little pathway at the bottom of the hills.

Cara seemed to love walking in the fresh snow in her wellies, and kept wandering off. She ran off down this hill leading to a farm, so Daddy had to chase after her and bring her back. There was lots of giggles.

We did make a mini snowman, and then Cara was definitely ready to go home, cold and tired. Lucky we did go though, as we still were a little late for afternoon church. What a fun day!

Hopefully, we'll have more snow - maybe some for Christmas.

Drawing

Cara loves to draw at the moment, and paint.  At the children's centre we go to they have a white board easel with pens, and Cara has loved it the past couple of weeks.  Today she was drawing away - mostly doing lots of circles, and the the put two dots in this circle while saying eyes.  It was amzing!  She really was drawing a face.  She then proceeded to clean the board, so I didn't get to take a photo of her first real drawing, but I was very impressed.  I've been trying to get her to draw another face ever since, but whenever I ask her to draw a face, she asks for Mummy to help.

Oh well.. next time, I'll be quicker!

Cara Nutures Nature

We went on a family trip out today, to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales.  It was lovely.  A little windy and there was a little rain - but it was beautiful, and we all enjoyed our walk in the countryside.

Cara found a big rock, as soon as she picked it up she called it special...

It was not long after, that she decided the rock should go in the pram, and she said night, night.. how cute we thought, but then something even cuter.  She found her special rock a dummy (this is Cara's favorite thing about bedtime).

New Baby

Hello New Baby!

That's what we're calling you at the moment.  We think you are going to be a girl, but we can't be certain.  If you are, we think we might call you Felicity, don't don't be upset if we don't, whatever name we give you will be lovely, at least your Mummy and Daddy will think so.

You've been in Mummy's tummy for quite a while now.  Just around 10 weeks left until you are due to come outside and see us all.  I think your big sister Cara will be really excited to see you and have you be with us.  She does sometimes say 'hello' to you and give Mummy's bump a cuddle.  We love you already, but Mummy does sometimes think you're a little too wriggley.  You move around in her tummy a lot more than Cara did, and poke your hands and feet out lots so that Daddy gets to feel you too.  We love you little baby.

See you soon.

Marmite

Cara's newest word - Marmite.. with no gesturing from me whatsoever.  The Marmite was on the side, but this morning Cara said Toast and then Marmite, very politely - so that's what she had for breakfast, before moving on to Cheerios, and then a banana.

Cara's first trip to the cinema

I heard about a free cinema screening of In the Night Garden, and so applied for tickets. The showing was this morning. We got tickets for me, Andrew and Cara. It was great to see so many children at the cinema, and everyone enjoyed the show. We watched 2 new episodes of In the Night Garden from the new Tombliboos DVD that is coming out on Monday. All the kids got a free goody bag after the show, and one lucky one got a box full of In the Night Garden toys.

I wasn't sure what would be in these goody bags, and I was very surprised. Cara got an Igglepiggle toy, a DVD of In the Night Garden, and CBeebies goodies, such as a mouse mat and sticky notes. I was impressed. All this for free.

It was fun to be in the cinema together. Cara liked the lights in the ceiling and would point to the screen saying 'Tee', which is what she calls the TV. A lot of the kids were clapping at one point too, which Cara joined in with.. and she laughed a lot when the Tombliboos were going really fast in the Ninky Nonk and their trousers fell off. It's a weird show!

In her wellies

We actually bought these wellies at a car boot sale, the reason being we had rushed off in the morning and forgot to put Cara's shoes on.  So she was confined to the pram unless we found her some shoes.  Luckily someone was selling wellies of the right size, and for 50p, how could you go wrong.

We decided to go out for a walk together in the woods, and play in some muddy puddles.  We had lots of fun.  However I think Cara likes water only puddles a lot better than muddy ones.  She doesn't like things to get dirty.

The Cooks come to visit

Cara Gives Martha a Cuddle, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

It was lovely to have Linda, Emily, Naomi, Leisl and Martha come and visit with us in our new home. We have come to love York ,and walking around it. We decided that in the afternoon we would take them to the National Railway Museum. We thought it wasn't too far, however by the end of the journey home everyone was very tired. Well done everyone for making it home!

At the Railway Museum they had an activity where we got to paint our names in Chinese Characters, Emily, Naomi and Leisl did a good job of this. Martha and Cara just enjoyed running around.. or as you can see here, having a cuddle. Cara loves to say Martha now.

First Real Bed

Cara's First Bed, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

We were lucky enough to have been given a cot bed, so decided that now was as good a time as any to get Cara out of the cot, ready for our new baby. We don't want her to be jealous. (We just need to be brave and do the same with her dummy!)

From day one she seemed to love her bed. There were a couple of times when she fell out, but it's not far, so no harm done, and now she can sleep in a bed - yay!

Our Local Park

Does She Know She Can Walk Around It?, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

We are really enjoying living in York. Really close to our place is a nature reserve, and within it, is this park.

Cara loves to play at the park, although you might not get that from this particular photo.

In Bournemouth

Helen at the Cottrell's
Originally uploaded by Munzerr

At the moment we're staying at the Cottrell (Sr.) house in sunny Bournemouth; enjoying a (very) long weekend, after the wedding of Helen's brother Matt to his new bride, Hannah. It's been great fun, hanging out with Helen's extended family, and yesterday we visited the beach with Linda, Richard and the kids, had a BBQ with Alan and Katie, and then visited Wendy and Royce in the evening. Despite the continued discomfort of hayfever, I've really enjoyed the chance to be in the sunshine, and kick back a little.

Cara has been having lots of fun, too. She seemed a little cautious about going in the sea, and was wary of the big kids splashing at the paddling pool, but she loved playing in Alan and Katie's back yard, and got so tired that she started falling over and bumping into things. She loves playing with her 7 cousins, especially Martha, who she enjoys swapping dummies with.

We'll be in Bournemouth for another day, and then will spend Wednesday at 'Bird Land' near Cheltenham with the Cooks, before heading home. What a great way to welcome in Summer!

Enjoying the Swings

Enjoying the Swings, Mummy and Cara, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

Cara has really started to love the swings! This face says it all.

Fun in April 2008

Just a few clips of the fun we've had this past month.

Hey Little Girl

Hey Little Girl, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

What a great photo! Isn't she gorgeous. We went shopping today to get Cara's feet properly measured, and bought her some lovely new shoes. She is a size 3, width G, but that could all change soon, let's hope she gets to wear her pretty pink shoes for a while.

She's been walking by herself a little more today, it's so lovely having her walk with us. She's always got lots of smiles from strangers, but today she was so cute walking holding onto Mummy and Daddy's hands that this old man just smiled so much, it was lovely.

Cara Walks Outside! At the Zoo!

Cara Walks Outside!
Originally uploaded by Munzerr

We had a lovely day out on Saturday - down at the Bristol Zoo! We put Cara's little shoes on her for the first time, and she was walking about all over the place - with a little help from Mum and Dad, of course. Cara looks so big, when she's walking about. It's amazing what a difference it makes, to see her up on her legs.

We'd recommend Bristol Zoo to anyone, especially while there's the 'buy one, get one free' offer on with Corn Flakes! There aren't a lot of big animals, compared to larger zoos, but there are some amazing fish, smaller animals, and birds. We are all amazed!

Cara Walks Outside!

Cara Walks Outside!, originally uploaded by Munzerr.

We had a great day at the zoo all together, and Cara did so much walking! She still wanted to be crawling, but if you hold her hand she'll walk and walk and walk.

She can walk on her own, but only really does that if she's really excited to get somewhere or has something in her hands already.

She is such a clever girl, it was so much fun to be with her. She absolutely loved standing right by the glass and seeing the fish or seal, or penguins swim by.

It was such a lovely sunny day too - I hope we get more of those.

1st Birthday

1st Birthday, originally uploaded by Hedgen.

One today, I can't believe it. We celebrated Cara's birthday yesterday with lots of family. Cara had lots of fun, especially with the balloons, but also with her new toys.

It has been a really special year for us all as a family. What a wonderful daughter you are, Cara. You are so happy, and fun to be around. I love you so much.