nearly done with work...

Hi everyone,

Hope this little post finds you well. We've both been a bit neglectful on here of late but at least this will brighten up your Sunday mornings.

A few positives of late:

1. It's the long weekend, so 3 days off work.
2. I then only have to work for 4 days.
3. After those 4 days, I have a month off.
4. It's getting cold.
5. Anna's getting interesting.

Yes, number 5 seems a little bit harsh, but it's true. As those of you who have been through this before will understand, the first 5/6 weeks are just a little bit tedious. Mothers are up at all hours either stopping bub from crying or feeding them or changing them. Fathers are floating around trying to remain inconspicuous and not make noise at inopportune moments. Cups of tea are left cold and sad and lonely on the kitchen benchtop - untouched next to the kettle.

Then. Suddenly. Almost overnight. Something changes. YOU START TO GET SOME KIND OF RETURN OUT OF THIS SMALL CRYING MACHINE. A look of recognition. A smile.

Then it progresses. A noise as an attempt at conversation. A smile that isn't just wind.

I have two favourite times as a father at the minute. One is still bathtime - when I first put her in the water and she gives me a "this is amazing - therefore, you're amazing" look. The second is the power of my voice. I get home from work and start talking and she stops everything she's doing to try and find me. Ally made the mistake of putting me on speakerphone a couple of times. Then had to deal with the "no physical Daddy" consequences.

So yes. In my 4 weeks off I'm looking forward to having a little family time. Going on some trips. Taking plenty of photos with my nice camera. I may have slightly unrealistic expectations of what she should learn to do in that time, which includes but is not limited to the following:
*Talk properly [in English, Yorkshire and Italian]
*Laugh
*Sit up
*Roll
*Crawl
*Pull herself up
*Walk
*Write her name
*Tie her own shoelaces
*Kick a ball
*Ask nicely for food
*Politely inform us that she's due a nappy change

We had our first "ish" family outing last night, except our little angel went apoplectic just before we could change her into her dress. So we kept her in her sleep-suit. Photos of her in said dress are below. Taken this morning for posterity's sake.

That's all for now,

With love, as always,

Luke xx