Merry Christmas.... its my first one!

Merry Chrsitmas to everyone..... i dont yet really know what its all about, all i know is its my first one.... wow! how amazing to think all that time ago i was just happy to make it to the next day and now, NOW its Christmas and im performing in my first nativity play this evening at the village church. I'm playing the role of someone called Jesus, all i have to do is pretend to be a baby! thats easy i do it all the time. I have all these colourful parcels at home too that im not allowed to open yet, apparently i can open them soon though after a man in a red suit has finished his deliveries, maybe he is from DHL?

Anyway, a quick note to you all from me, little Oscar (also known as little 'O' by my mate Scotty) just to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a big thankyou for all you love and support this year during my difficult start in life and everyones hugs for mummy and daddy who i think have been through a bit of a tough time worrying about me. Merry Christmas, Oscar xxx

I said that I'd show you how big my bum is... it can be even bigger when my bamboo nappies are on, this is a cotton one, size 1 not 2... They're lovely and soft, I'm glad that Mummy's put me in these.

I've got a new cousin, hmmm, let me get this right... It's Daddy's cousin Lucy who's had a baby, he's called Charlie, so it's Daddy's 2nd cousin and my something or other... he's small anyway, smaller than me because I'm big now; well, bigger anyway.

Snoozing with Stuart the bunny, can you spot him lying next to me; he looks the same as my sheepskin!

I've visited the health visitor since my last update, I'm 12lbs 12oz's, which Mummy thought wasn't a lot at all, seeing that I've only put a pound on in the last 4 weeks - however after a while the weight gain tends to trail off a bit and I'm on the up slowly but surely. I'm still following a nice growth curve, so that makes me fine! I'm also doing the things that a 31/2 month baby should be, chewing my hands, looking at everything and anything, chatting and in the last couple of days I've begun to blow raspberries, how cool is that... dribble, dribble, dribble!

Grannie Annie had a birthday, it was a biggie birthday... but I won't tell you how many candles were on her cake...

I went to my first Christmas Fayre on Thursday last week. There were all sorts of things, cakes, puddings, mince pies, flowers, wreaths, jewellery, handmade cards and remote control helicopters - I'll have one of those please Daddy!

I got a rusk, but look how I hang on to it!

I saw Gt Aunty Andy and Gt Uncle Terry on Friday, I nearly didn't make it as we've all been poorly this week. A bug was around... Mummy got it, possibly from me and then Daddy got it, he reeeeeaaallllly got it. I was supposed to see Gt Aunty Janice and Gt Uncle Brian too but this was earlier in the week, but Mummy told them how we all were and we thought it better to stay away. A and T haven't seen me for ages as they live in Cyprus, they think I've grown and I did lots of giggles for them.

Saturday, what a special day... I went on a steam train... The Black Prince it was called. Ssshhhhhhdeecoof, ssshhhhhhdeecoof, ssshhhhhhdeecoof. We went to see Santa, I got a little teddy from him, he wears blue dungarees just like I've got! There was a brass band playing Christmas carols too, I wasn't that keen on the trumpets though! Gt Uncle Robin will be very impressed that I've been on a steam train, I bet he'd have liked it!

Another special day was on Sunday. Daddy, Mummy and I went over to see Gene and his Mummy and Daddy, Sam and Stewart. We had a Sunday dinner and chatted a lot, both Daddies got a bit merry and we all sat in front of the open fire and thoroughly enjoyed our day! There were piccies of Gene and I but Daddy left the camera at their house, doh! Silly Daddy! Piccies next time - Gene looks fab and we really liked playing together. We missed Harriet though and we'll do it again when she's around... her Mummy and Daddy took her on holiday, oooooo, get you!

I saw Gt Aunty Vallee yesterday, she stayed for dinner and then bathed me, gave me a lovely massage and fed me my bottle of milk before bed time. Not to mention the lovely cuddles and kisses! She bought me a few things for Christmas, I've got my first stocking! No, not pair of stockings, that'd be rubbish... but a single, red stocking that's already got presents in it... I was allowed to open one; a horsey rattle with carrots in it's mouth and beany tags that I can stick in my mouth, it rattles too so I look at the coloured balls go round and round. I need to develop my grabbing though so I can hold on to it tight. I'm getting better at grabbing, I love holding on to my muzzy!

This week I'm going to working on blowing better raspberries and doing push ups! As well as going to my first Nativity play and Carol singing at our friends house. Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiits Christmas!

A special hug for Aunty Stephanie.

I've been bamboozled...

...Mummy thinks it's funny to make my bum look massive just like hers. She's bought me 2 types of nappy, a Tots Bots Cotton nappy because I'm still small, and then I've got some Tots Bots Bamboozles for when I'm a little bigger, but they'll probably do from now really as there's some nifty popper thingies that help make a smaller nappy... I'll have to learn to get my fingers round to unpop them so that my nappy comes off without Mummy knowing, then I can walk around naked!

What update do I have for you then... well, Mummy had lots of coffee and I had to go with her when she drank it at her friends house!

My mate Justin came to see me with his Mummy and Daddy (Tammi and Graham).

I went out to lunch with Gt Aunty Janice and Gt Unc Brian... Do you like my cardi... Gt Aunty knitted it for me, it's got teddy buttons!

urrrrmmmmm... Grandpa Barry and Grannie Annie came down on Friday, that was lovely. I got lots of cuddles and was of course my usual smiley self. You know, I didn't even take any piccies of them did I, how awful...

I've been helping Daddy work (well, I've been doing his work for him actually, he's a real durr!)

And I've been chillin' out with bunny!

I was sooooooooooooo disappointed that I didn't get to go out with MY chums on Sunday. The girlfriend's got bronchiolitis... Harriet's Mummy and Daddy have both had colds and have passed it on to my princess; my Daddy gave his cold to Mummy and now I think I've got a snuffle and a slight cough (nothing drastic though). Gene's Daddy and Mummy have colds too but I think he's pretty much OK. I can't believe it though... we all missed out on a lovely day because we're all ill, great! However, I am seeing them on Thursday, all being well!

The number of medicines has gone down... I no longer take Ranitidine or Gaviscon for my sicky burps and when I'm a little sick and I no longer have to have my Phosphate. That means that I just have 2 supplements, a multivitamin called Dalivit and an iron supplement called Fersamal. How fab is that, I'm becoming even more normal... dare I say it!

Mummy's been doing her training for the run in March. She really must sort out when and where this run is and must get some interest from people for it. Daddy's had a great idea about how to spend the money... I'll say more about that when details get confirmed... Mummy must get her running shoes out next week though, the walking phase is nearly over... get those leggies working Mummy!

In fact today is Thursday, so today I saw Harriet and Gene. They look just fab. We're all so smiley and cuddly and we love our Mummies. Harriet's going on holiday tomorrow for the whole of next week. On the 9th I'm getting the folks to take me over to see Gene, I'm getting them taxi-ing me around already!

...dapper me!

A breath of fresh air...

Not if you go anywhere near me at the moment anyway, phewey, I need a bath... Fishy dinners nearly every day! I'm looking forward to when Daddy can catch me a fish for my dinner!

We went on a lovely walk last Sunday (11th), we walked for what seemed like miles and miles. We saw a deer and heard an owl and it was nearly dark by the time we got home, dirty stop out eh! Look at me with my friends Charlotte, William, Georgie and Harry... not missing out Daddy though...

...Mummy's 2 favourite boys.

My first friends group is going well, lots of faces I recognise from post natal group and some new ones too, there's loads of us and we all chatter and sing, Mummy sings too, she's got a lovely voice (she told me to say that!). Twinkle twinkle little star and all that!

Mummy's going to get me some cloth nappies this week. Some Tots Bots Bamboozles with a woolly wrap, cosy snuggley mmm. I'll show you my big bum when I've got one on.

Wednesday was an odd day, we went to see an Orthopaedic consultant who mentioned things about my upper arms and thighs being a bit short. Mummy doesn't think that there's anything wrong with me... it's well known that with premmie babies, my head will grow bigger first, then my belly and then my arms and legs. So that's that... I'm fine!

We've been to the pub again this week, twice... I love it there, the pub girlies are all lovely to me, they cuddle and coo me and it's soooo nice. When I get bigger they'll do me some little dinners - yum!

Daddy's friend Will came over from America this week, he's really nice. He bought me a baby grow and a t-shirt that I'll wear when I'm a bit bigger. Will's daughter Beatrice wrote me that lovely note when I was in hospital, here it is again as a reminder... I did it Beatrice, I did it!

It was Aunty Steph's birthday on Friday... she was 30something years old, I'd better not tell you because she might get miffed (37 anyway), she can't be miffed with me, I'm too cute! Big birthday cake and present for Aunty, she's lovely!

Another birthday went to Cousin Yaz, she was 18 on the 15th and we went to her family party on Sunday... cake there too, mmmmm. I saw my cousins Conrad and Chelsea too, we all played together. Great Aunty Rosina is going to run a half marathon for the special baby cause in my name... Mummy's wanting to do it too, but she's just trying to get her head around this excercise thing... She's printed out an 8 week training programme so at the end of it she'll be able to run 3 miles... then she'll add another mile on per week so that she's able to run 13 miles by the end of March... that sounds quite tough though (in her words!).

...cosy Great Aunty Rosina

THIS WEEK, is quieter. We've got Justin, my mate, coming round on Tuesday for tea. Mummy's taking me to see her friend Julie on Thursday and on Friday..... ON FRIDAY... Grandpa Barry and Grannie Annie are coming down for me for the day, yippee, that'll be fun. They can cuddle and kiss me whilst I'm eating my lunch and I can splodge it all over them... they can't get miffed because I'm sooooo gorgeous!

I'm going to get weighed this week, I'll hopefully have hit the 13lb mark, wouldn't that be exciting. Mummy's got a bad back at the moment and can't pick me up and carry me a long way, she can't stand up straight... not majorly or anything, but it's painful for her... altogether now arrrrrhhh! This week I will be mostly eating fishy wishy, veggie weggie and rice, how nice!

NB... Daddy's just stuck his finger in my poop!

I'm a big boy...

I've probably joined the 12lb crew by now as earlier this week I was 11lb 12oz's... what a whopper! Still smaller than my girlfriend, who has made the transition to baby rice (today in fact) congratulations gorgeous!

I've been mostly eating grown up stuff... porridge, rice, banana, butternut squash (my fave), salmon, smoked haddock, pear, cauliflower, sweet potato, broccoli; these are all the things I like which sometimes means that I need a bath after because I've yummed it all over me! Mummy's tried to push lentils down me and some stewed apple, oh and some bio live organic natural yogurt... she made me say it like that as it's the full fat yummy one that as I don't like it Mummy'll have to eat it and Daddy will tell her that every mouthful will go straight to her big bot!

In fact I'm getting on so well with eating that I'm having 3 meals a day and a milk before bedtime. Breakfast at 8am, lunch at 1pm and dinner at 6pm with my bedtime special milk at about 11pm with sleeps and dreams until a bit before breakfast when I have to talk to myself for a bit.

When I have my 3 meals I sit in my high chair... Isn't it wonderful?! My friend Georgie's Mummy and Daddy gave it to me. It's an all singing and all dancing height adjustable, back rest recliner, strap me in take it anywhere type. I'm very grateful for their kind gift because I know we'll just get along fine and dandy. Mummy likes it too, she says that it frees up her other hand to stop my hands from going in my mouth when I've got food it in - whatever does she mean!

Daddy's fishing this weekend. Mummy's at home with me being my sole entertainment - which is............ OK! He's caught 2 brown trout (no, one isn't Mummy!). I don't think that his were the biggest, but we all know that size doesn't matter............ I'm small. Daddy's missing The Kylie Show, he likes Kylie... I think she'd think I'm cuter than him though!

I was measured on Tuesday afternoon, I'm 54.5cm's long. I also had some blood taken from my right hand - ouch... I though that all of the poking about with needles had finished... it really hurt so I cried a lot and went all hot. A sleep in the car helped me recover though and I was fine and dandy when I got home.

On Thursday I saw Harriet and her Mummy. Gene and his Mummy were supposed to meet us for lunch but Sam is a bit poorly and she didn't want to pass it on to any of us, so she stayed in and kept Gene with her. We're meeting up on the 16th though so we can all chat.

On Friday I went for a lovely walk with Mummy, Ellie and her Mummy Nicky and Little Harriet and her Mummy Clarissa. Yes, you've spotted it, there's another wee Harriet in our midst, Little Harriet's tiny though, she's only 3 weeks old... but still weighs in at over 8lbs!

Bunny's still poorly so Mummy's very sad. Let's all wish him a speedy recovery... he's got more medication than me!

I can't keep my eyes open like this for long...

Whizz Bang!

There's been a lot of that going on this week. Mummy says that it's fireworks to remember when some bloke tried to blow up an important building; she then went on to tell me what happened to him... gruesome!

I met my Gt Aunty Carole last Sunday, she bopped me on the head 3 times... she's poorly you see, I think that she thought I was her little doggy. But she cuddled me and chatted to me as well so that put the smile back on my face, and hers...

On Tuesday Mummy got me weighed, I'm a whole 11lbs 4ozs! A right chubby checka. That's because I'm on 3 meals a day now... Porridge with banana for brekky with a milk chaser. Rice for lunch with squished avocado and a milk chaser and for dinner I have rice with mashed butternut squash or sweet potato with perhaps mashed mango for afters... and a milk chaser. I love my grub. Grandma Pat thinks that I might be having too much... she says that she should mind her own business because she's not my Mummy... Mummy agrees with her... It's amazing what a baby can pick up from conversations! It's all in good humour though, that's important to add.

I went to a party on Wednesday, a Halloween party with ghosts, skeletons, witches and devils. I was a pumpkin. Don't I look smashing in my little outfit; my friends Holly and Josh got it for me. I wasn't allowed any donut or jelly or cake or choccy - boo, but I did get lots of attention for being a cutie though.

We had a family dinner at the pub and Gt Aunty Janice, Gt Uncle Brian, Gt Uncle Robin and Gt Aunty Chris, Gt Aunty Vallee, Grandma Pat, were there... Mummy and Daddy too of course... it was real fun and I was sick on Grandma Pat, but she didn't mind...

I wore my new stripey outfit to the village bonfire party. All of the whizz bangs were fun; they were bright and loud and everyone went 'oooooooo' and 'aaaarrrrrrrr', a bit like when they're tickling me! We had curry for dinner, on Friday night and last night, Mummy and Daddy say 'yummy'.

Grandma Pat's got another couple of days here so I'm off to see her today. On Monday I've got my special care baby check-up at the hospital. I'm still special... I'll let you know how I get on. Mummy's going out with the girls on Tuesday and I'm seeing buddy Gene and girlfriend Harriet on Thursday... it's always go, go, go and I love it like that... Mummy's a bit tired and needs a cleaner but Daddy won't let her have one... He's allowed to go on a boy's fishing trip and spend lots of money on 'tackle' but Mummy's not allowed a cleaner... hmmm something's not right there (says Mummy)!

Everything's sooo exciting...

I've got a great family, not just Mummy and Daddy, but everyone as they're all so interested in me and how I'm getting on. I've got amazing friends too - Harriet and Gene and Justin and Ellie (Justin was early too but Ellie was born at 42 weeks 2 weeks before me and she's over 20lbs now!).

Everyone is so kind and they love to cuddle me, which I love as it makes me all warm and snuggly. Take last night for example, Daddy took me to the pub so that Mummy could get an early night because she's very tired... and if I remember correctly, he only held me for about an hour and then Sarah and Lisa the landlady's took over and so did their chef Louisa (who is a very special friend of mine). As Mummy wasn't there, she does maybe think that Daddy relinquished his duties to me, but I'm sure no one minded as they think I'm quite cute really.

Yesterday was also an exciting day because we got a new car... yes, Daddy made the leap of spending oodles of dosh and we've got a nice big car that fits all of us in... and more....

Also yesterday (I'll talk about other days in a minute), I saw Gt Grandma and Grandma Felicity. You see the car we got was in Newbury and as luck would have it so are some of my family... so we knocked on their door and got a warm welcome. Gt Grandma even phoned her friend Marion to come and have a look at me - what a celebrity!

OK, so other than yesterday (which was Friday 26th by the way), I've been doing bits and bobs and big splodges of proper poop in my nappy! Sorry, that sounded a bit naughty! You see, I've been having not just 1 meal a day, but now it's up to 2 meals a day. At 11am I have baby rice with milk and banana and at 7pm I have baby rice with milk and either butternut squash, broccoli or carrot and swede. It's all mashed up into small bits, not quite pureed so that it's smooth as the blender can't quite manage smooth. But I do chew properly and am learning quite fast I think. Mummy likes to tuck one hand under her arm and hold onto the other one, she's not keen on mess, she thinks I'm a real charlie (Daddy thinks I look like him)... but I'm not that messy really. Sometimes my arms get free and I put my hands in my mouth when there's food it in - that's her worst nightmare... never mind eh, I'm only a baby!

I've graduated from post natal group to 'first friends'. This means that I'm no longer a 'new baby', I'm a fully fledged 'baby', there's nothing new about me... after all I am 6 months old on Tuesday! I know that I had a very tough time at the start - but that's what's made me me and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I smile and giggle all of the time (apart from when 'real' hunger kicks in) and I'm enjoying home life very much.

Some other breaking news is that I've kicked the feed in the dark depths of the night. I go from 11pm feed to 6.30 am now... That means I'm sleeping for a whole 7 hours by the time I finish my night feed and go to bed. I'm sure it's something to do with the proper 11zies and dinner - I'm more satisfied and have more work to do inside my body to digest it all.

Today is an exciting day, I had an early morning conference with my new buddies (courtesy of Charlie - no, not Brown... Briggs, he's a buddy too). I had to let them know that it'll be a bit different round this place when Grandma Pat arrives. She's going to cuddle me later. I'd better have a bath and put a snazzy outfit on for her to see how grown up I am. She's having dinner at my house too, so I'll get her to feed me too - shall I put my hands in my mouth? Shhhh, don't tell her my trick!

Righty ho, must dash, Mummy's got my bath ready... bring on the bubbles!

This little piggy went wean wean wean all the way home...

...a bit unsure...

...let's give it a chew...

...I'll have some more!

Mummy's making me eat some mushy stuff. Baby rice it's called, it's all sloppy and it makes my face all dirty. It's quite nice though but doesn't taste of much. Today, she put some banana in it, mmmmm, yum!

I've been eating it for 11'zies for the last 4 days and I'm getting quite used to it. I'm given some milk afterwards to wash it down, so it's gentle on my stomach. Just look at what it does to my face though...

Mummy's going to put some butternut squash in my rice over the next couple of days so that I can have sweet and savoury (not together!). I'm even getting hungry between meals now too but I'm not allowed any snacks!

On Saturday it was Grandpa Barry's birthday. He had a good day until he watched the rugby; a bit like the rest of us, eh! I even wore the same Major Giggler outfit that I'd worn the Saturday before for good luck (washed in between Mummy says).

On Sunday Grandad Martin and Grandma Felicity visited for lunch. No, I didn't eat them... we all went to the pub and had a yummy lunch, I had plain rice again (a bit boring I must say). Look at Freddie, the big hairy grey doggy, he's trying to eat my Mummy!

I've been playing with my hanging teddies today, this makes me laugh a lot, just look at my dimples!

Countdown to Saturday when Grandma Pat can cuddle me!