And so, to Morrisons

Bravely, we strapped ourselves in for our first visit to the supermarket with Meabh. Alas, crushing disappointment descended as we realised that all the baby and toddler spaces were full. For years I've wanted to feel smug, pulling into one of those nice wide spaces right next to the door of the shop, as everyone else struggles with the 'normal' spaces 2km away - but it wasn't to be.

So it was that we headed off into one of the spaces for mere mortals, and then discovered why those big wide spaces were invented. After assembling a rope and pulley system with several winches to get Meabh and the pram out of the car, we stared perplexed at the range of 'special' trolleys for babies. They generally look like terrifying torture devices, but after seeing some other babies using them, we might be even braver and try one of those next time...

Down the pub again

People will be gossiping about that Meabh Hull, down the pub again yesterday. This time, with Granny and Grandad Hull for a swift half before dinner. They've been visiting this week and getting to know their latest grandchild (in a long line of at least 432 grandchildren, at last count!). She seems to sleep peacefully at the pub (or in fact anywhere outside the house), and then wakes up nice and refreshed ready for a night of shouting. She wasn't toooo bad last night, although decided that 5am was a perfect time for us all to be up trying to work out why we were all up so early. Having tried all the usual solutions, I resorted to taking her downstairs to help me make a cup of tea. As usual, a nice cupper solves everything and she went to sleep - for another 45 minutes at least.

Anyway, here's a nice picture of Meabh with her Granny, and a close up too. She really seems to have changed over the last week or so. Now that she's got over the traumas of being born, and having rashes and blotches all over the place, she's now turning into a really beautiful wee thing (not that I'm biased...)

Meabh meets the Fergusons

It was a whirlwind weekend, with a besotted Granny and Grandad Ferguson and Auntie Fiona flying over from Ireland to meet Meabh for the first time. She was very excited about the visit, and fell asleep especially - she was snoozing away happily when everyone arrived, and missed all the great presents they'd brought over for her.

Next day, we packed Meabh off in her pram for a long walk round the village, while the two of us finally caught up on some sleep. There was no rest for Meabh though - as soon as she got back she discovered that the Posh had just been promoted to League One, and was jumping up and down with excitement. She's really looking forward to next season now.

On Sunday, Meabh persuaded us to take her on her first outing to the pub. At one week old she was allowed in, but stuck to the soft drinks (largely milk, in fact). There were lots of admiring looks from the other pub-goers, and she behaved herself very well.

After managing to separate Meabh from her Granny, we then waved everyone off to the airport..

Worn out

Mum and Meabh are worn out after a busy day getting ready for more visitors. But after an afternoon nap, both were raring to go: Meabh had another bath - which she enjoyed just as much as the last one, and then there were lots more pressies for her to open.

Meabh meets the family

Yesterday, Meabh met Granny and Grandad Hull for the first time, and auntie Nic and cousin Alexander. As you can see from the pictures, she was bowled over by the experience, and could hardly contain herself! She says thank you to everyone for her presents, especially all the clothes as she's going through around 12 outfits a day at the moment.

It was nice to finally get the chance for a photo of the three of us too. Tonight, the Fergusons arrive from Ireland. Meabh tells me she's very excited about meeting them.

I lost my husband to a woman in a cable knit cardi.........

Well, it was bound to happen i suppose...she's younger than me and she's prettier than me - not so sure about her taste in hand knitted cardigans though! Dan is completely besotted, they seemed to be joined at the shoulder as you can see from piano lesson No.1 - bit ambitious i think....but you know Dan!

All the parenting books advise that the daddy should not be made to feel left out after the birth - not much chance of that here....i just make the milk!

Home

After lots of waiting around for the right paperwork to be done, I finally brought Mum and baby home yesterday afternoon. At last we had the space to think about names, and we've decided to call her Rosa Meabh (pronounced 'Maeve' for all the non-Irish out there!) The two names seem to go well in that order, although we'll call her Meabh, rather than Rosa, day-to-day.

Here's a picture of us strapped in and ready to leave the hospital, and then two of Meabh once she'd arrived.

Initially, she seemed quite impressed by her home and new surroundings. However, by midnight she was fully awake and ready to try out some full-blown crying. She must have been very amused as we ran in all directions for the next few hours trying everything we could think of to settle her down.

Eventually, by 4am, all was peaceful and quiet...

Day Two

We're unlikely to keep this up for the next 6,568 days, but for the first few weeks anyway we'll try to put up some pictures of our new daughter every day. She's already changed, and (thankfully) looks a bit less battle-scarred than her first day.

She (who remains nameless) spent the night tormenting her mother by crying loudly and demanding to be fed. She must be a persuasive character, as she managed to wake up all the other babies in the ward and prompted them all to demand the same thing. I'm not sure mum (or any of the other mums) got much rest. She seems to be louder than all the other babies - I hope that's a good sign.

I swanned in at lunchtime to find a quiet, contented baby, building up some strength ready for the next night of shouting. Anyway, here's another picture - a bit fuzzy as it was taken on a mobile phone.

Two more legs...

At long last, after a mammoth struggle lasting a whole week, Marie-Claire gave birth to our daughter last night.

If it was the raspberry leaf tea that did it, it took its bloody time. It was horrible seeing the one you love in pain for that long, but the whole thing was worth it in the end.

A strapping great 9lb 15oz girl arrived at 1.55 this morning, all happy and healthy and shouting with life. Here are some pictures we took today - both Mum and baby are a bit bashed about, but doing well.

The picture at the top shows her about 40 minutes after birth, after carefully being dressed back to front in her vest by Dad.

Here's Marie-Claire and her sleepy daughter sizing each other up, and Dad trying not to drop her as she yawns at him.

Now the tricky task of coming up a name for our new set of legs.