Early Days

I am writing from bed, tucked up feeding Alice and drinking cold tea. The wind is blowing hard outside, catching the curtains and from time to time making the sound of the wond catching the sail of a boat. It feels cooler, thankfully, and hopefully there will be rain.

Having cluster fed until midnight then waking every hour and a half to two hours until six, Alice finally settled and has just woken up. I could hear the little squeaks and smacking of her lips coming from her crib. Although I feel dead on my feet after two wakeful nights, I just can’t wait to see her in the mornings.

She is such a warm, soft little baby, with dark hair which is thickest at the back of her head. She smells so good, and when I sit her up to wind her after a feed her little cheeks rest on my fingers and are all squishy and round. When she is sitting like that, she reminds me of the Psammead (poor Carl was horrified at this!).

Because our old house is half packed up and the new house has nothing in it yet, we are staying with Carl’s parents. They live ten minutes from our new house and not too far from our old one, and a couple of villages away from Mum. I am very lucky as it means all I need to do is feed and look after Alice and rest.

Jessica loves helping with her sister, and is fascinatef and disgusted by her nappies all at the same time. She asks for ‘a hold of my sister please Mummy’ and makes herself a little nest of cushions in readiness.

(She is wearing shorts but they are hidden by Alice!)

Jessica’s cousins came to visit yesterday, and she had a wonderful time playing with them. She came in from the garden with a pet ladybird called Florence.

I am worried poor Florence will not be suited to life as a pet. I am hoping to persuade her to let her go today.

We have to take Alice to the hospital where I was born today for her midwife check. I’m hoping she hasnt lost too much weight.

Last night I found myself alone for an hour…Carl’s Mum was putting Jessica to bed, and Carl and his Dad were eating a late dinner after working on the new house together…so I introduced Alice to Pride and Prejudice…