The Stork Has Landed!

At last Jude Joseph is here!

Born on 26th April 2008

13.36 hrs

7lb 12oz

A very proud new Daddy holds his precious little boy for the first time.

Nana gets to smother him in kisses.
Delighted that at last the wait is over.
Mummy gives Jude a kiss hello.

This was a week that we will never forget.
It is a bit of long story, but I will keep it brief!
I only wish the labour was!
Katie tried very hard to achieve her dream of the Home Birth, but alas things were just not progressing and she was finding the pain too much after 12 hours with only gas & air.
The birthing pool...which I must admit I was not too keen on, was actually a brilliant piece of equipment and I could see as soon a Kate climbed in and got into a comfortable position the frown on her face lifted and she looked more relaxed.
However, as I said things just were not progressing and she was finally taken into hospital by Ambulance at 4 am in the morning.
An epidural was given and the drip put up to try and speed things up a little.
Sadly this did not work either!
By 13.00 hrs it was decided to go to theatre and perform a Cesarean Section.
This is Paul in his scrubs and looking relieved that at last the wait would be over!


I felt honoured that I was able to be there.
13.36......Jude was born.Here is the little chap looking so much better now that he has been fed, dressed and given lots of cuddles.
Now this is a very good tip given to me by one of staff.
There is always a shortage of pillows in the Maternity Dept. Goodness knows where they all go!
So pack 2 of your own and put very bright pillow slips on them so they stick out like sore thumbs and you are reminded to take them home with you!
Nothing like sleeping on your own pillows anyway...
After a few hours Jude's head...which did resemble that of an alien when he first appeared, started to mould itself nicely.
He has huge blue eyes and silky ash blond hair.
Oh yes, and big hands like his Daddy.

I want to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful staff at Queen Mary's, what very special people you all are.

Thank you to all of you have left comments or emailed me about Katie.

Blogger's United

xCx

Vintage Enamel, Spicey Cook Book & Lakelands

No News Yet!

But this baby is definitely going to be here by next Tuesday as Katie will have to be taken into hospital on Monday and be induced.

We have tried a few old wives tricks....didn't work.

So any suggestions would be gratefully welcomed as Katie would dearly love to stay at home to have this baby.

I have always wanted Cath Kidston's Wooden Stanley.

I love Lakeland's and would recommend anyone thinking abut having a dog to read up on this breed.

They are very intelligent, extremely loyal, love the children and other dogs, are small - so very easy to look after and transport about....mine has been to the pub inside my big handbag!

And most importantly, they do not moult .....you have to strip out the old fur which is very easy to do, Guy appeared to be in a very relaxed mood and enjoyed having his fur pulled out...it does not hurt!

The best tip I can offer is....tough love....Lakeland's being of the Terrier breed need firm Mum's, no nonsense; otherwise they will dominate you!

Cath Kidston has not included Stanley in the toy section this year - she may do later I was told. I called a few CK shops and managed to locate one which was sent from Brighton to Tunbridge Wells.....new shop and just wonderful!

I went with hub and collected it on Saturday.

For now, he is on display with my most recent EBay purchase a felt Stanley on the mantle and will be relocated to the nursery later.

Walking, walking and more vintage enamelware.

Katie and I went to Otford for little shopping and lunch.

We have been walking a lot in the hope that gravity will work its wonders.

I spotted this white enamel colander and had to give it a new home....love white.

And a vintage Tea Towel which I will embroider my initials on in red.

Also found this lovely white enamel Sugar container which I have filled with little children friendly sweeties...for good little boys and me.

A new enamel tin from John Lewis ....not as nice as the old but I cannot find a Vintage one for soap powder.
Lastly, this is a gorgeous book to own...if you like cook books and spicy food this is a must.
The pictures are big and bright and make you want to try something new.
I should make a hot and spicy Thai curry for Katie !

Cook books with big pictures are the best.

Have a great week all, I pray that on my next post I have some good news.
Carol xx

Old Photos. Embroidered Hearts and Lace.

My fingers are twitching......I am waiting for that call....and not feeling too good really as I over indulged last night ! and went to bed far too late....

partying is fun but boy do we pay the price the next day.

Anyway......moving on.

This is a picture of Me! and my lovely Hub....N. 28 years ago ooopps correction - just 27 years ! I still have the dress and N. still has the suit. A couple of years ago we tried them on - for a laugh - I did JUST manage to get the zipper done up, but struggled to get the dress off again.

N. put his suit on a looked liked Norman Wisdom.....

N's arms and legs have got longer ! can you believe that!!!

And this is my daughter Katherine Louise and her new Husband...Paul James.

Baby is on its way!!!!

My Mother Helen and my sister Jacqueline.....

this picture was taken at the time of the Second World War.

Old photos are so beautiful.

Seeing some your lovely table clothes and lace, I thought I would show you one of my favorite pieces.

And embroidered hearts for everyone special to me.
This is my latest 'thing' I made 5 on Friday.

Two more....the 'C' is for me.
The plain one has not photographed well, it is a very pale pink ribbon, it looks more peach here.
I have more....
but I cannot show them as they are going to be presents.

Have a lovely peaceful Sunday all.
xCx

New Baby. The Nursery and The Home Birth

First,

I must say thank you to Regina for giving me an award.....it is truly reciprocated.

Well here she is....Katie and the neat little bump.

This is the hardest part, the most uncomfortable part of the pregnancy....the last couple of weeks.

The baby is due on 16th April, but like most families we hope that it may arrive a little earlier!

The nursery is almost finished. It is all white at the moment, but once baby is born the room will have a few touches of pale pink or blue.

I am hoping for pale pink Cabbages & Roses Curtains!!!!!

Cute cuddly Bunnies....
Names are needed for these two...any suggestions?The Moses basket bedding is washed and ready.
The hand knitted pram blanket was one of several that I have bought for Kate & Paul's baby.
I found this one EBay. I am looking for little white knitted shoes/booties now.

A close-up of the blanket.
It is so beautifully made....

Katie's old pine wardrobe from her bedroom at my home is now painted white and looks so much nicer. It is slowly filling up...mostly white as we do not know the sex. We just love looking at baby clothes.....I cannot wait to get out with Hub and buy a dress or romper suit !

Lots of hand knitted shawls, cotton bedding, muslin's and 'Terry Nappies'. Katie has decided that she wants to use real terry nappies she has a mix of the ready shaped ones and the traditional square type.....nappy buckets....I remember them well !!

A wooden painted heart for the wardrobe that I bought from Daylesford Farm Shop.

The Nursery just needs a few finishing touches.

A rug would be nice....

The Home Birth Box

has arrived and the Gas and Air!

I have provided lots of towels !

and Katie has bought a Birthing Pool !

Candles, aromatherapy oils and soft music will, I hope, help to keep her calm....through the most painful bits.

So that is it...we just need a few strong contractions to kick in and we're off.....

For those of you who may be unaware, Katie (a Midwife) has delivered a few babies at home, mostly during the night for some reason, so she knows the system and how it works.

We are only a short drive (10 mins) from the Maternity Hospital....which is soon due for closure, very sad.

So if the Midwife or Katie feels that she needs to be transferred to Hospital,

then that is what we will do.

Wish her luck....

xCx

Tagged. The Lands Girls Return & Patio Garden Updated

I have been tagged by Sandi at Holding Patterns...

sandimcbride.blogspot.com/

Thank you Sandi !

4 Jobs I have had in my life

1. On leaving school….Bank Clerk

2.Bank did not pay well enough!…Onto an .Oil Company as a Finance Officer

3. Home-maker….on-going ! The Best Job I have Done!!

4. Maternity Nurse….would have loved to have been a Midwife

4 Movies I have/would watch over and over again

1. What Lies Beneath

2. Family Man

3. You've Got Mail

4. Baby Boom...Miss Potter...loads and loads

4 Places I have lived

1. London

2. Kent

3. North Cotswolds

4. Next move - To be decided!

4 People I want to bitch slap right into the middle of next week !

1. Emmm cannot say really... but he is the Mayor of.....The Capi...

2. A whole bunch of MP’s

3. I will keep this one a Surprise!

4. Oh yes...people who are ' Jobsworth' types.....Brrrrr

4 People that email me regularly

1. Good friends

2. Special Bloggers

3. My Bank

4. Cath Kidston…..! and a few other on-line shops!

4 TV shows I watch: Fictional

1. Emmmmm
2. Can’t think

3. Struggling here

4. Well anything that is historical…..Funny....and ..

4 TV shows I watch Nonfictional

1. Jamie At Home - at the moment

2. Escape To The Country - new and repeats

3. Any good cooking programme

4. Love documentaries……animal, medical, survival....

4 Places I have visited

1. Venice

2. Greece- many times

3. Belgium

4. Northern Italy, France Spain, Monaco !

4 Favorite Foods

1. Thai

2. Roast Dinners

3. Curries

4. Full English Breakfast

Where I want to be right now

1. Very comfortable at home in fact

2. With my daughter Katie with baby safely delivered! 2 weeks still to go!!!!

3. Having a massage – here (no not in the study - in the bedroom) with candle-light and soft relaxing music

4. In bed……….snoooooooooozing

4 Things I'm looking forward to this year:

1. Summer sun !

2. Our first major camping trip in Nigella the VW camper van

3. Our first cruise……in September. The first of many I hope!!!I like to pack in as many places as possible and hate flying

4. Eating the produce from all our hard work on the allotment
~~~

Well that is from me.....I am not going to pick anyone but would like any of you who would like to join in with this one to do so.

The Land Girls Return - with helpers...

Here is Carole my allotment partner, with her Son Mark pushing the 'short' wheel barrow.

It is so peaceful....I did wonder what Mark would think of his day here, he really enjoyed it.

The little pile of turfs are I hope going to grow and become a grass bench as well as our boundary line.

On Monday I did not rush to get up, I took my time, slowly put on my old clothes.

This is all part of the de-stressing!

Collected my lovely vintage garden tools and took one strong man by the arm - shed builder!

Today the two 'Carols' are going to plant something-yippee - jump up & down!

now it is getting real.

You can see how nice and neat our Potato bed is looking.

We have put Red Onions in here and some wild flowers too.

The Brussels have been netted to keep off the Pigeons.

One Husband returns with some wooden pallets - these will be made into our shed !

Watch this space with intrigue....

Hub is very clever with wood.....we will see just how clever when it is built!

These Brussels went in, came out and went in again - we had planted them too close, as yo can see below.

We had such a great day together. The quietness really is good for the soul. I felt like I had travelled back in time to an era when the pace of life was much slower. The other allotment folk are very friendly and willing.

As I am finding it hard to fit posting in, I am making this a Big One...so

Update on Patio and a little garden tour

These Terracotta Pamets with a Tudor Rose are perfect to highlight and add interest to the grey slabs.

My Son James laid the footings and then the reclaimed London Stocks (bricks) around the edge.

The terracotta balls were a gift from the Nursery...they will be used to fill in any odd spaces.

My Ornamental Rhuem just beginning to push up through the soil.

The line of brick here are not old Stocks, but will not be seen once the herbacious plants grow and cover this edge. I have an Herbaceous Geranium here.A beautiful specimen tree called Liquidamber Sstyraciflua - it has the most wonderful deep red and copper coloured leaves in the Autumn.