5 months minus 2days

Hello,

I have been really bad writting this blog lately. Nothing to compare to Peter-Sheana-Ethan and their great blog which is updated few times a week.

So what had happened the last 2 months? Many things in Fact. We went to France for holidays. Asaldis had been baptized. Mummy went out alone with her friends leaving Daddy and Asaldis at home. and Asaldis had her first Halloween.

The trip to Nice

A beautiful sunshine was on dunfermline when we left for Nice.
We were a little bit stress as it was the first time we were flying with Asaldis.
We had a baby carrier for the trip as Asaldis had no seat, it was impossible to have the car seat.
Graham's father drove us to the airport.
We ------- our bags. Quite light I must admit but it was the way to France...
Then we had to pass security. It was fun!
With the regulation about liquids and with a baby. It can quite an interesting challenge.
So must have formula. Enough for the trip. Not too much. But enough as they may ask you to test it.
No water to mix the formula so you have to buy some once you pass security
No ready made formula. Of course, the 250mn carton is liquid... (try to mix formula in a plan with a hungry baby on your knees... ) A carton would have been the perfect solution

Asaldis was sleeping in the baby carrier. Fortunatly they let me pass security without taking Asaldis off from the baby carrier. They saw I had formula but didn't ask me to taste it. I might not have the profile of a terrorist!

Then we were waiting for boarding when Asaldis started screaming (everyone's nightmare is a 3 hours flight with a screaming baby) Everyone started to stare at us. Fortunatly she was only hungry and tired. After a bottle and a cuddle, she felt asleep and woke up in Nice. She spent the whole flight sleeping in mummy's arms. The only think I had in mind after the flight was : "CRAMPS"
We arrived in Nice. and it was RAINING! September in Nice!!! We left sunny Scotland for rainy south of france.

We had rain the first week except one day

A friend of mine was suppose to let us a push chair but she played dead for the whole week before our trip despite my emails and messages. She could just have said "sorry it won't be possible" as it would have been fine. But playing dead is quite stupide and imature.
So we had no pushchair. I went on the web "le bon coin" (a kind of gumtree) and found a woman who was selling one a very correct prise and with the rain cover. I called her. We arranged a meeting and we bought the push chair so Asaldis won't be in the baby carrier for 2 weeks. Not that it is not nice but my back won't support it.

The only sunny day, we went to the Russian church. It is the biggest Russian church outside Russia.
The Russian aristocratie was spending lots of time in Nice in the beginning of the XXth century. The Tzar Nicolai II paid to have this church built.

The sunday was also quite sunny (we arrived on monday) But this was a very important day as it was Asaldis'christening.
My family was here. My mum with her husband, my dad with his wife and of course my brother and sister (the godparents)

The church is called Saint-Pierre d'Arenes. My grand parents got married there in 1950.

We were the only one in the church. It is commun in france to have 3 or 4 christenign at the time.
The celebration last 50mn. It was really nice. Asaldis was sleeping in my arms. She just woke when the priest put the holy water on her forehead but she felt asleep quite fast after.

The following day, we were here for a week, Graham had to leave us. unfortunatly, he had to go back as the uni started the very same day. He is dong his second year of law degree part time classes on evening time.
His bag was heavier than on the way to Nice as we bought French books for Asaldis. It is really important to us that Asaldis access both languages easily.

We were staying for one more week.
We met with Eve, the creazy traveller and Francine. It was quite nice.

But I must admit, I was in a hurry to go home. Asaldis missed her dad and I did to.

I was of course with heavier bags on the way back. More books and some toys in French.
To pass security this time, they ask me to take Asaldis off from the baby carrier but I was able to keep my bottle of water.

Two passager of the plane help me with my bag as Asaldis was in my arms.
When I got on the plane, Asaldis started crying. She was simply hungry. The woman seating by my side helped me to mix the formula and once she had eaten, Asaldis felt asleep for the whole journey.
The woman and her husband help me with my bag. They help me also at the baggage claim. I am really thankfull to have met such nice people.
They gave my suitcase to graham who was waiting for his women at the gate. we drove home.
It was nice to be back home and Asaldis was happy to see her daddy and her home.

The pictures can be seen on my flickr page like always (I am better putting picture on flickr than blogging)

I will tell about Carina's birthday and Halloween in the next blog. I promise, it will be really soon

It is amazing how time flies.

Asaldis is now more than 3 months-old. She is growing really well.
She is smiling most of the day. She loves mummy's singing, daddy's stories.

She sleeps now in her bedroom. The first nights were hard (for us not for her). Little by little we got used to the fact she is no longer sleeping in our room. We have the baby monitor to hear her. But I suspect myself to have a kind of a radar as I don't hear noise from the street but I heard any noise from her bedroom. I go to have a look each time I hear something(also when i don't hear anything) but she is always sleeping like an angel.
She started sleeping through the night almost all the time for the last 3 weeks.
The first time was a kind of panic from us. Did she cry and we haven't heard her. No she simply slepy throught the night and woke up with a huge smile on her face.

Now we have a kind of a routine for the day. We love being together.
I am thinking sometime that in france i would have been back to work when she was 10 weeks-old. how cruel!
I enjoy every minute with her.

Some of her clothes are too small now. I had to go and buy more pyjamas.
I have plenty of bigger clothes for her. She is always well dressed and really really cute

Next week end, it is her christening. A really important day for us. I will write about it.

have a nice day

2 months old

How time flies! Asaldis is 2 months old.
She went for her check last friday. She is 57cm and 4.94kg. She is growing well and she is perfectly healthy.
Since my last post, many things happened.

We had some friends over to introduce her to them.
Leonie came with her lovely little girl and her mother in law. She brought toys once belonged to her children. Asaldís will love them for sure. There is the singing frog in English. Graham bought the same one in French while I was pregnant. She also bought lovely clothes.
Jude came with her children. Elliot is becoming a big boy. Last time I saw him, he looked still like a toddler. Now he is a little boy. He played shy (which I know he is not). She brought some books for Asaldis and chocolate and champagne for us.
Carina came with Simone just before living for sunny holidays. The chocolates she brought were delicious and the flowers are still alive. I am still working on the cross stiches she got me while pregnant.
Karen came with Lauren, her daughter. I have met her only once long ago. She really is a lovely girl. They bought lilies (which were the flowers for my bridal bouquet), some champagne that we drank together and bought with her a really original gift. It looked like a wedding cake but made with nappies, clothes and a soft toy (named cassey (KC, the initials of Karen)
Guys from work gave me a card with congretulations in as many languages as people (almost) and voucher for Asaldis. She already shop at Next for lovely skirts.

Johan, who couldn't make it, came few days earlier. He adopted a polar bear with WWF in Asaldís'name. She has this little polar bear with her called Plume (due to the story "le Voyage de Plume" or "little polar bear" in English)

Now the pregnancy is behind me. It is weird as it seems almost unreal. It is amazing how it is easy to forget about the pain and the tears. It is easy I must admit with such a lovely baby smiling at mummy so often.
I didn't take the time yet to thank those who supported me during this hard pregnancy.
I am gonna try to give all the names

Saskia
Sylvie
Carina
Leonie
Karen
Tracy
Eve
Patricia
Julie
Charmaine
Johan
Vala
Céline L.
Céline D.
Frances
Andrew
Hannah
Kristina
Rima
Robert
Everyone at CB

If I have forgotten anyone I am sorry but I thank you all with all my heart. It has helped me a lot.

Asaldís is waking up now. I am gonna sing for her (she loves it)

Don't forget to see the pictures, my flickr page. More than 200 pictures of her since birth. If you don't have the code yet, just ask.

5 weeks old

Asaldís is 5 weeks-old today.
Such amazing 5 weeks!
This week, we have the visit of grand dad Didier and Grand ma Christiane. Two of the six grand parents.
We went to St Andrews as grand dad is a golfer and wanted to see the old course. We had a lovely weather.
We also went to Sterling. We had a lovely time there too.

Asaldis had a hip scan which was perfect.
She is having lots of fun in her bouncer. I must admit, her daddy is really good to entretain her there.

Asaldís is 3 weeks-old

3 weeks ago, I was at Forth Park to give birth to Asaldís

Now, at home, we are spending lots of time together. She loves falling asleep in my arm after feeding. She has those lovely bleu-grey eyes. I just love the way she stares at me.

Yesterday, we went to visit Career Builder. It was really nice to see guys from work again. It has been so long.
I have introduced Asaldís. They all found her really cute (saying something else would have exposed them to serious troubles)
Tracie wanted to take her back to her home. She had a "no way"as an aswer.
It was a really nice visit

Then we went to visit HSE. We meet daddy's co workers. They all said how cute she was.

It was a nice day

Asaldís is 12 days old

Nona left this morning. We've spent a great week together.
Asaldís visited Culross, Dunfermline.
We also went to Kirkcaldy so my mother could see where Asaldís was born.
She brought in her suitcase lots of clothes and french books.

Asaldís is doing great. She is really sweet and calm.
The midwife weighted her and she is now 3220gr. She found her really healthy.

Graham is really creazy about her. They are really cute together.

I am recovering well from the pregnancy and the birth. I haven't feel that well since october. It is nice to be able to go out again for a walk, running upstairs downstairs (we always need something which is on the other floor) Just being healthy enough to take care of her.

Those last months were so worthy.

Don't forget to have a look at the pictures on my flickr's page.

Cheers

Asaldís is finally here

Asaldís was born wednesday 03rd June at 18:17

It has been an interesting week which started last sunday evening.
My water brokes around 11pm sunday night. After a call to Forth Park, an appointement was set for the following morning at 9.
As I had no contractions, another appointement was set up for tuesday. But still no contractions so the last appointement on wednesday morning at 8 to induce the labour.

Wednesday was quite a long day.
We arrived at 8 at forth Park.
After a monitoring and consultation, they gave me the drugs to start the contractions.
They started an hour later. and five hours and 20mn after the first contractions, she was here.

I won't go through the details of labour.... I leave the surprise when your turn comes.

It was the most amazing moment. She was lying on me and looking at me with her big eyes. Since then, I can't keep my eyes away from her.

I staid at the hospital until friday. We had a great time.

I received flowers from work. There were also a teddy for Asaldís which has been named Bleuette and a box of chocolate for Graham and I.

I went home friday afternoon and now we are starting our life as a family and we are managing quite well
I must admit, Asaldís is an amazing baby. And Graham an amazing husband and new Daddy.

We are having a quite week end just the three of us.

Tuesday my mum is coming to see her grand child.
My dad is coming later this month

Everyone is so pround of our little princess....

8 days to go

So... eight days to go..... It seems like forever.

But the baby seems enjoying her time inside. It is true that it is so much fun to kick mummy.
I am trying to make her understand that once she will be born, she could kick her daddy and that will be so much more fun... Also, she will have a nice moises baket with more space to move.
We also have a beautiful pram for her.
And her father can't wait to see her.

Graham has taken his exams. So we are just waiting for the wee one.
What is she waiting for????????????

2 weeks and a half to go...

And I am loosing my mind!

The baby is heavier and daily life is becoming tricky.

Earlier today, I was watching Friends ; the end of the 8th season when Rachel is close to her due date.
The baby is not coming and she is loosing her mind. First time I saw it. I thought it was a little exagerate for comic relief but finally, it is so so so so true!!!!
Rachel is saying to her unborn baby "get out". I did it myself few times.
She blames Ross for her misery..... 'Ve done that
Her friends are betting about the time of birth..... Me too....

Anyway....
Everything is ready for her to come so she has to.......

No no, I am not loosing my mind.... juste a little maybe

37 weeks

Hello,

So today, I had a scan. The last one. I have stopped counting how many of those I had. It is the good part of having a bad pregnancy.... more scans. It is nice to see the baby.

She is doing perfectly well. Right size, growing normally.
But the best news is that I won't have a c-section. It was uncertain until today. The scan was planned for this reason.
So, we are just waiting for the baby to decide to come.
Hopefully it won't be while her daddy is in Glasgow to take his law exams. We asked her but not sure she will listen to us.

We bought a car last weekend. It is an hyundai i10.
We were talking about it for a while and decided that with the baby, it is nice to have one and practical.
Don't worry guys, I won't drive it (not yet anyway) as I don't have my licence.

So only 3 weeks before baby. Any idea when she may decide to come?

Cheers

4 weeks and 1 day to go

So, 4 weeks to go. How time flies.
I must admit I can't wait for this pregnancy to be over and to do the mum part.

The health visitor came yesterday to visit. It was nice to meet her before she comes after the birth.

We will have the pram delivered on friday. We chose the rolls roys one. 8 in 1 from mamas and papas. As said before, nothing is good enough for our little princess. She can thank grand ma and grand dad Chandler for it.

Next week I have my 36 weeks scan. This is the bright side of a bad pregnancy : extra scans.
The last one was so amazing not only because my baby is doing great but also I could see her face. Not an alien face at the 20 weeks one ; a real baby face. Some persons said she looks like me. The only think I am certain of is that she is the most beautiful baby in the world.

Graham is taking his exams at the university. He is working so hard to pass them all. We just hope the baby won't come while he is in Glasgow.

The baby is kicking a lot. I can feel her knees against me (it is really painfull sometime)

As I say, I can't wait for her to kick her dad for real!!!!!!

O my god!

My dear friend Sylvie always find links to send me with either funny or shoking things concerning pregnancy or babies.
As she is the mother of an 8 months old and I am 8 months pregnant. we have plenty to talk about all the time.
She sent me this article (in French sorry guys) but quite surprising.

This woman gave birth to triplets last summer. But for the last months, she goes to Mc Donald. You will tell me, if she wants a big mac, where is the problem? I agree on that. I also feel like going for one once I have my baby. But the shoking aspect is that she is feeding her children there.
She says and I quote "My children were 6 months old when we went to McDonald's for the first time. They had fish and chips. I was chewing their food as they had no teeth yet"
She goes on saying "Sometime I give them micro wave lasagna."

They are only babies!!!!!!

She seems to think it is normal to do so and there are no consequences.

Am I the only one shoked bu this?

http://www.leblogbebe.com/2009/04/ils-connaissent-ronald-depuis-leur-6-mois-.html

Yesterday

So yesterday we had the visit of 2 friends.
The main subject was of course baby and pegnancy. A quite commun subject those days.
They brought an adorable cuddling toy for the baby. A little giraffe. I am certain she will love her.

Later that day, we had a discussion with Graham. It was more like a translation course. It is important we both know every words in both French and English.

Pram = landeau
Push chair = poussette
Cotbed = lit
Moses basket = couffin
Changing mat = matelas a langer
Bottle = biberon
Formula = lait
Dummy = tétine
Nappy = couche
Bumper = tour de lit
Plug-in light = veilleuse
Cuddling toy = peluche

With all that, we should be able to survive....

34 weeks

So today I am 34 weeks + 2 days pregnant.
Finally!!!
This pregnancy seems endless. But there is an and which should be around June 04th.

Graham and I are expecting a little girl. We chose the name already (in fact, the name was chosen months ago ; before knowing a girl or a boy)
Her name will be :

Asaldís Nicole Verna

Asaldis is Icelandic. The icelandic spelling is Aðaldís
Nicole was the name of my beloving grand mother
Verna is the name of Graham's aunt.

In my family, the tradition is to have 2 middle names and they are from family members. So we decided to keep this tradition.

The nursery is ready.
Pale lillac walls. A Nice white cot bed. The moises basket already has babies in it : my husband and his brother and his sister. It is a family heritage.
The baby will have plenty of soft toys. Her own zoo to be true.
And many books. Many, many, many books.....

Grand Ma Elizabeth has been knitting blankets for the pram.
Auntie Verna has been knitting cardigans (many sizes) and hats
Mamie Christine is doing some shopping for clothes
Tante Carine is buying French books

No no!!! she is not already spoiled. (and I haven't mentionned yet what mum and dad bought)
Asaldís will be our little princess. Nothing is good enough for her......