What a Difference a Sleep Makes

This morning both Isobel and I got out of the bed the wrong side.

I was tired and emotional and Isobel was just tired, too tired to get herself to sleep and too tired to let me rock her to sleep.

So we went for a walk in the sunshine. I walked for 2 hours, she slept for 2 hours. The things we saw that made us happy:

People hiring row boats on the river;

A gondola pulled up on Twickers beach by the White Swan;

Children playing in the park;

Adults sleeping in the park;

Isobel smiling in her sleep.

Then we came home to play.

Overtired?

Overtired is when your baby decides that sleep is the enemy and must be avoided at all costs; refusing sleep until they no longer know what sleep is and neither do you.

Only solution: settle down for an afternoon of English village crime drama while cuddling said baby. (It's tough but someone has to do it!)

Failing that, take a walk.

(I recommend the former, it works best if Mum has a plentiful supply of tea and biscuits)

The Witching Hour

It has to be said evenings aren't Isobel's favourite time.

She enjoys her bath, that much is true. But, otherwise, she could very well shout the whole evening through.

Unfortunately for PD this the only time he gets to see his darling daughter - not ideal for bonding.

I think the witching hour is actually 5-6 though: whatever Isobel does then sets the tone - if she doesn't take a nap it is unlikely that she will until ten.

Who's Counting - Three Weeks

Isobel is three weeks old. We are just about heading into our fourth week and, as every week has been very different, I'm wondering what surprises this one will hold.

Isobel is adorable, but she can also be a little trying and we really are trying to be the perfect parents (well, just parents I suppose).

She spent her three week anniversary getting overtired and refusing to sleep, and then the rest of the day asleep on Mummy (which I must admit, just between you and me, I did enjoy; it's nice being needed, and it broke my heart a little seeing her take milk from a bottle).

As my Mummy said to me this morning 'Children and Dogs (she has 2 Great Danes) make liars of you: just when you think you have a nice routine, they change.' This is certainly true this weekend.

But I'm sure there will be far bigger challenges in the years ahead, and while we are learning to parents, Isobel is learning to be Isobel.

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