Ben with a big lolly

All About the bowl

Alex is such a showman

While I'm driving.

Ben sits behind me in the green car, turning the pages of a board book

MUMMY! What is THIS?
I can't see, love, I'm driving. What is it?
It's a bird!
[pause in which I feel something more is required from me]
OH! Nice! What colour is the bird?
It's brown.
[pause]
MUMMY! What is THIS?
I can't see, love, I'm driving. What is it?
It's a tree!
Oh, a tree. Does it have apples on it? [I know this book quite well]
YES! RED apples!
How many apples are there?
There are .... [counts apples] seven. SEVEN, Mummy!
[pause]
MUMMY! What is THIS?
I can't see, love, I'm driving. [getting desperate] Do you want to listen to the radio?
NO! MUMMY! What is THIS?
I can't see, Ben, I'm driving. What is it?

For twenty minutes. I am NEVER FORGETTING MY IPOD AGAIN.

On a train at the zoo

Alex is just chilling.

Keeping those cheeks round and squishy is exhausting.

Marina came into the office...

Alex

Two months

Alex weighs 13lbs 8oz and is completely squidgy and delightful.

Alex the Wizard

A lot of snow

Ben is two and a half

  He likes sweetcorn straight from the freezer, as a snack.

 He's a merry soul, and laughs a lot.

Most of all he loves music, being outside, and our techie gadgets.

We are very lucky parents.

Alex is 1 month old

  He weighed 11 lbs at the start of the week, which is a respectable 8oz a week weight gain, and seems to be thriving. I'm conscious that we don't take as many photos of him as we did of Ben - anyone would think we had other things to do - but a friend came over today with an excellent camera and a wonderful eye for catching both Ben and Alex looking very much like themselves. These are all faces Alex pulls when he's observing the world.

This was us on our honeymoon, driving up Hardknott pass in 2008. We're always behind the camera now, holding a hand or wiping something or being bossed about by one of our boys. It's nice to find an old photo and think: this is us before parenthood began - somewhere, not too far under the nappies and exhaustion, these two people are waiting, and they'll be back!

Sleep

Ben wasn't keen on sleeping, but Alex has it down like a pro! This is us trying, and failing, to wake him up. He's a calm lad.

Two weeks old

10lb 2oz, growing well and the doctor is pleased with his health, which is lovely.

Alex is doing well.

We have his 2 week checkup on Wednesday and I am looking forward to finding out what he weighs!
He's feeding a lot, sleeping appt, and so far being a very placid baby.