Week one

All going well. Johanna and Jose asleep. Alf and Bert just been to the pool.

Here she is

Josephine Loretta arrived in a hurry at home on Monday 19th October at 10.30am. Fortunately the midwife arrived just in time as her head was popping out and daddy did not know what to do. She weighed 8lb 2oz and is in rude health. mum is tired after not much sleep last night but both now resting. Alfie likes to cuddle and is very impressed that josie brought a farm with her for him to play with.

will try and get some better pictures soon.

Alf (mostly) running on beach

Cruel but funny.

It has been a while, but it probably right that Alfie has 1 last showcase before the arrival of his sister. We think we are already to go, but no doubt she will shake things up a little.

Johanna has finished work and we are hoping for a home birth this time which would be good after Alfie’s antics on the last occasion. We even have a pool so fingers crossed. I am hoping that the baby arrives at the end of this week as that would fit in well with work.

We have had some friends over today and played inside as it is a bit wet. Alf is not the easiest indoors full of energy event though he had a flu jab this morning.

Various photos - at the beach, with cousin Henry and friend Hope.

Of Late

Well the main news to report is that Josie is head down. The local midwife has seen me over the past month a couple of times because in her words, she 'couldn't tell if the baby was head down and simply has a very pert bottom or was breech'. I had a scan today and she's fine. The midwife projected Josie to come out at 6ilbs 8 oz. so we'll wait and see how accurate that is.
Alfie is doing fine. The arrival of his baby sister will no doubt be a complete shock to his world, especially as he has taken to riding his bike out the back and shouting into the house 'hey, everyone, come out and see me!'. He has had a lot of well-deserved 1:1 and 2:1 attention over the past 3 years. Luckily, he has a kind nature.
He got new shoes over the weekend. Unfortunately, he had a few toileting accidents yesterday at nursery and his shoes were still damp this morning. I gave him a choice of wellies or crocs and he complained that both were too quiet. He wanted to wear his new shoes because they make quite a bit more noise....crafty chappy!
Bert's work is going well but has not been overwhelming, meaning that he is able to help out with Alf as I get bigger and slower.
We'll post some photos soon and then make sure we let you all know once Josephine is here safe and sound.

The Balloon Fiesta and potty training

We went to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta Saturday morning with our friends, Eloise and Neels and their South African posse. The balloons start taking off at 6am so it means an early start but luckily(?) for us we hadn't really slept for one reason or another the previous night anyway. Alf was entranced by it all and enjoyed his jam sandwich and pain au chocolat while the rest of us ate bacon butties...everyone was BBQing.
Alfie started potty training on Monday and has done really well. We included a picture of our proud boy next to his potty to commemorate this event.How wonderful to use one diaper a day! I love it!!
There is an artistic close-up of Bert and Alf which Alf took and Alf at our dining table which we decided we didn't like and returned. We're waiting to find the right thing and using a plastic table for the time being but it does the job.
It's the 2nd consecutive beautiful day after weeks of rainy ones so we're planning a trip to the car boot after Mass.
Bump Josie is doing fine, kicking and punching with incredible force.

Hot English days

It's been exceedingly warm for england the past two weeks. We've all done our best to stay cool and not melt. Alf likes to enjoy a frosty ice lolly when he comes back from nursery and often wants to lounge in his diaper and on one occassion, his Bob the Builder wellies...don't ask!
He also has taken an interest in Daddy going to work, mind you he seems unaware of the fact that his mommy goes too along with doing everything else, but I digress. :)
We bought him a shirt and tie for church and so he wears it sometimes around the house to play 'going to work'.
He had his first merry-go-round ride at the zoo and sat in a boat next to a crocodile as Alf would say,'don't worry it pretend'.
Bert took a picture of baby Josie bump last night at 25 weeks just because we haven't done any of that this time round.
We start moving on friday and are really excited.