False Alarm????

At 10 p.m. on Tuesday night - Helen says she feels like "something is going on" and that "the baby will come tomorrow in the day". Is this the big one? Is it all going to happen? We are getting organised, I'm making cheese sandwiches, Pat is out buying bread, Ellissa is talking to Helen, Rosie is asleep and Michael is out at a Barbeque; the third one he's had in 3 weeks and everytime it's rained! Hope all this isn't a false alarm!

The struggling artist?

It's really nice to get pictures from your children. I have just retrieved two great pieces of art from the cellar that Ben and Michael did when they were at school - I'm going to get them framed for the office wall. Now it looks like Rosie has joined in and I have two thouights about this piece of artristy that I found on my pinboard - first that it is a really brilliant piece of work from a 17 month old, and second that if I was thirty-four years old (like Helen) I'd be worried if this is the best I could do .... you decide!

Three cheeky monkeys

Can you imagine this lot out on the razzle in 16 years. It doesn't bear thinking about. Having only had boys before I've been pretty laid back about them going out - and staying out all night. What am I going to be like with Rosie, when she wants to go into town on her own, or off on the back of a motorbike? Well that will be a new experience! Maybe i'll be laid back about it? I can't see it really.

Melon - the baby diet

Having shown you Michael next to a stack of empty Pizza boxes yesterday I though I had better re-dress the balance today. Here is Rosie trying to look interested in a plate of melon - when we all know that what she really wants is Pizza. In all the books it says babies get fed up with all this healthy food but so far Rosie hasn't. Except that give her a plate of dinner and she can managhe to pick out all the peas and dispose of them - although I am happy to say that she hasn't twigged yet to the grated cougettes in her pasta sauces. A cheating parent? Still it's all for her own good - especially when she goes for lardy pizzas later in life!

Pizza - the student diet

Here we are just feeling very nervous about bringing a new baby into the world and one of my other babies shows me a picture of his university diet! When Ben was growing up he had a wardrobe at home that he covered with Cadburys Flake wrappers and it seems this has rubbed off on his brother Michael. For the last term he was at Sheffield he and his fellow student and DJ Simeon decided they would keep all their pizza boxes - and here they are standing by the evidence. I guess I am supposed to say a fatherly word about fat and diet - but it's a great picture!

Grandparents come to stay

Well what a show-off Rosie has become! Her magic finger is working overtime trying to get granny and grandpa to run around like mad things for her. She has been really hyperactive now they are here and gets really upset when they go out - even to the shops. We are getting ready now for the big day when Rosie has a brother or sister and have stored up loads of little presents so that when anyone gives the baby a present they can also give one to Rosie. I really don't know how she is going to take to the new arrival - scary isn't it; in a good way of course.

New House in Eymet - France

We've just got back from the RHS Show at Tatton in Cheshire and caught sight of this fantastic African Garden - one of the big gardens at the show this year. I am only showing you this house on stilts because Rosie's grandparents in France have just finished building her a house on stilts in their back garden. They have gone on about how fantastic it is so when we get over to France next month we'll be hoping it looks a little like this. That is if you can make something like this from DIY bits at Mr. Bricolage! Oh we are hoping for a slide as well!!!

Pointy baby

Rosie has found her finger. It's a magic one. All she does is point it at something and we are supposed to respond by knowing a)what it is she is pointing at and b) knowing what she wants us to do about it! This picture is taken at the RHS Show at Tatton Park in Cheshire which was a fantastic day out. Rosie was brilliant even though it was very hot and humid - she managed not to get hot and cross and enjoyed her ice cream and cheese sandwiches on the way home. The temperatures reached 32 degrees which we were told by everyone there was cooler than the day before so 5 hours in an air-conditioned car was a good thing.

Rosie "Mini-Mac" McCarthy

Rosie played next door with a little girl called May yesterday afternoon - and guess what - May has got a Mac and logs in each morning to cbeebies on the web. May is 3 years old! Not to be left out I cut the cable off an old keyboard and let Rosie play with it at my desk, only to find that just as with telephones she will only want the real thing. All is revealed in this photo with Rosie reaching across for the "real" keyboard.

"Cage" becomes playpen!

Well you could knock me down with a plastic ball! The cage has been in the living room for a couple of weeks now and Rosie has shown very little interest in it. I was getting worried that when it comes to be used properly that she won't go in it without a fight. We got it so that Helen can breast feed the new baby and Rosie will be in a safe place and not able to get into any mischief. After Helen suggested pouring the balls in yesterday afternoon the cage has morphed into a real playpen and Rosie is even having mini tantrums if you try to take her out - what a turnaround. Women eh!

A load of old balls!

Another scorcher in Leicester - and it's going to stay that way all week. So Helen has been keeping Rosie out of the sun as much as possible. This morning it was off to gym babies and this afternoon it was over to the swings in the shady area of the park. Tonight before dinner Rosie had the pleasure of playing in her cage / playpen with a bag of plastic balls that we had in the cellar. Here she is playing with Michael - who's also been in the shade all day watching the cricket and Father Ted.

Burger Queen

Ok Guv, I'll come quietly! But just what is a daddy to do when we have all just got out of the open air swimming pool in Ashby and we are all very hungry? I know Rosie had a curled up cheese sandwich on brown bread but when Helen came back with the burgers - yes she had one as well - Rosie just had to have some.

Rosie gets a ride

Today Rosie met Noddy and had a ride in his car while we were getting stuff ready for the new baby. But for us the thing about getting ready for a new baby is making sure we have everything in place for the existing one! When the baby arrives it will inherit Rosie's room, complete with cot, changing table, baby monitor, mobiles, blackout curtains and plenty of baby toys. This means we are getting a new room ready for Rosie - cot-bed, storage, nice rug, light shades - anything in fact as long as it's pink. We are almost there, but have just one dreaded trip to Ikea left.

Last days of freedom

We managed to squeeze in lunch today - both squeeze in the time and in Helens case literally squeeze in the food - while Rosie was at nursery. In three or so weeks time when the baby is here we won't be so easily tempted by pub grup on a Friday lunchtime. Well - we will be temted but it probably just won't be possible for a few weeks at least. Helens parents are planning to come down over the next weekend and doing some travelling in Wales from Monday. They never keep their mobile phone on - or don't know how to use it - so they may well arrive to find they have a new grand daughter or son. The baby seems to have "dropped" a little so I am getting very nervous now!

Baby flies the nest

Now isn't nature really smart? Just a few days ago I put up a picture of some helpless little chicks in a nest just a few feet from my office door. I looked in the nest yesterday and they had all gone - I hoped a cat hadn't go them. So how lovely to be sitting quietly in the garden with a drink and hearing some "rootling" in the bushes by my feet. Luckily I had my mobile with me so I was able to grab this quick picture before "mum" came with some food and ushered her baby away. Pity Rosie was in bed and couldn't see this.

Baby scan update

Relief all round! The baby is "head down" and in the right position for a normal birth. Looking at the measurements from the scan when "it" is born "it" will weigh in at around 6lb 6oz - while that may be eye watering for a bloke to consider it's apparently ok for women, according to the midwife. We still don't know if it's a boy or a girl - so something to look forward to. As for the other children, nothing changes and they all need something. Rosie needed looking after when she had been sick today, Michael needs to know if he has had a "hepatitis B" vaccination ... oh and Ben needs at £150,000 mortgage. So all in a days work.

Baby scan tomorrow

Big day tomorrow as Helen has a scan and sees the consultant. This is the last scan she'll have and we'll find out if the baby is in a breach position - like Rosie - or is head down for a normal birth. This is quite an important event really as we'll also find out what the possibilities are of delivering the baby without another ceasarian section. I'm quite worried that Helen isn't going to be able to carry out her "hypnobirthing" routine and will be forced down the section route. The scar from her original section is starting to look as if some of the tissue is raised - we need to find out if this is normal. So big day all round and I'll keep you posted.

Organic sultana robber!

Ha Ha - caught in the act! Rosie "robber" McCarthy has been in the cupboard herself and managed to get a box of organic sultanas. Here she is trying to escape with the evidence. We were busy eating our Sunday bacon and eggs and Rosie wandered off to the other end of the kitchen to "her" cupboard. We put her bottles, cups and bowls in it - and a bag of sultanas. Just like the mice in experiments who learn where the food is Rosie is getting to remember where they are. It's wonderful to see them learn and see how pleased they are with themselves. We are going to take her off to church in a minute to see how she copes with yet another new experience - we haven't been to this one before so it will be interesting.

Old photos from my phone

Michael has just "blue-toothed" all of my photo archive from my mobile phone to the computer. It's been wonderful to look again at some of the photos I took over the winter - and I'll be sharing a few of them with you over the weeks. First up is a picture of Rosie taken on November 4th 2005 when she was just over six months old. I can't believe how small and fragile she looks. This precious time with her is going so fast - before we know where we are she'll be at school. Michael is going off to oklahoma University in a few weeks time for a year and when he comes home she ios going to be a so grown up, and it only seems five minutes since he was just like Rosie in this picture.

More babies at home

What a surprise! I was working in my office at the back of the house yesterday and heard the birds chirping as normal, but it all sounded a little nearer and louder than I expected. Stepping out of the office door and into the garden I discovered a birds nest no more than 8 feet from my door - and 6 feet from the kitchen window. Michael is taking some photos to watch the chicks develop and I'll post the interesting shots up on the blog. It's like my own personal "Springwatch" webcam! Just think heres me worrying about a baby to come and the blackbirds are getting on with looking after three of them.

A trip to the Farm Park

Rosie is a city girl at heart I think - just like me. Helen took her to the Farm Park in Mountsorrel and take a look at the face. It's like she's saying "what rabbits?" and can I go back to the city now, I'm bored! To be honest the Farm Park is a fabulous place and all the other children loved it. I think that maybe Rosie was still a little under the weather but I hope a trip to the swimming pool will brighten her day - we are off there in a minute, as she has just woken up. Looking forward to seeing if she floats when we put the water wings on.

I spoke too soon!

Why the glum look - Rosie has just discovered that she hasn't been given a squad number by Leicester City! In the last post did I say we were back to normal? I thought we were, then at tea-time Rosie had some ice-cream and chocolate muffin. Not a good idea. Having not eaten much for a couple of days the e-numbers went straight to her head ... and she was awake until 11 pm. I feel terrible as I was the one that had given her the pudding thinking it would cheer her up - it certainly did that and I think that this morning she has only just come down from her sugar high. A lesson learned and passed on for what it is worth.

Phew - back to normal!

After all the worry yesterday, Rosie is almost back to normal. Last night she managed to sleep through the night, although she got up earlier than normal at 6.45 am. She was gradually getting back to normal through the day, having almost 3 hours of sleep, and so we took her swimming at the gym this afternoon - which she loved. As I write she is banging one of her toys on her brothers leg so I think we are there. It is a worry though - and the only thing I know is that after 22 years I never stop worrying about her older brother. It's not just me - every parent feels the same. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child, though I know people who have, and worry is part of the joy of parenthood. Sorry I didn't mean to be profound!

Heatwave at the wedding

It all went well at Peter & emmas wedding - just look at Rosie, Helen and grandma sitting down awaiting their turn in the photo call. We stayed till nearly 8 pm and got Rosie to bed at 10.30 pm ... dog tired. She woke up at 3 am and was very hot and bothered, but went back to sleep until 8.30 this morning. All day she has been lethargic, hot and dozy. At one stage we even checked the menigitis symptoms - but there were loads that she hasn't got. So we are putting her to bed now at 6 pm and hoping that she is able to get the sleep she needs.

Rosie goes to a penalty shoot out

What a day. Flags flying everywhere for England - and everyone watching the match - except us. We were at a wedding ... although the festivities did end just in time for everyone to watch our boys battle against the odds and lose valiantly in the penalty shoot out. This getting a habit for England. Rosie was fine sitting quietly watch the screen until the shouting started as the penalty kicks were scored or missed. Then she collapsed in a heap, tearful and distraught - just like the England players at the end. Being out of the World Cup got me thinking that by the time of the next World Cup I may be retired and my children will be 26, 24, 5 and 3. Just imagine, Ben a homeowner, Michael with a job, Rosie at school and her brother or sister being spoiled to death by all of us. Can't wait!