Kate and Richard's wedding. The littlest bridesmaid goes a bit mental after sitting still during the ceremony. 

AHA! At last, another update to this Victorian pauper of a blog.

So why hasn't this blog been updated for a year? Try having a baby. And a new house. And being a lazy git. Mix all three together and you get the square root of SFA done most days. At least that's my excuse.

What's been happening? Well, the builders are still putting right a few of our snags on the house. Our little one is now 16months old. Starting to say a few words. But not yet taking a few steps. Yabbers like her mother though. And thankfully looks like her too now. There was a scary time when she was just a couple of months old when she looked like me. Nuff said.

At last it happened. We moved. We got in the new house. Despite the best efforts of the archaic and obfuscatory English property laws we eventually sold our old house and moved in this weekend.

It wasn't made easy by the fact I had to fly in from Canada on the Saturday morning and then move house in the afternoon, but we had plenty of help. Now, Monday morning, I'm suffering from after effects of jet lag and muscle ache, but it was all worth it to get in and start getting settled in.

The cats weren't too impressed though. Especially as they can't be let out for a while and there was a massive tom cat in their garden. In true cat form they decided to take out their frustrations on the furniture. Looks like we could be needing a new settee sooner than we planned.

Well, she's just under a week old and already she's turned our life upside down. Beforehand if we wanted to go out of the house it was as quick as picking up the car keys, grab the house keys, and then leg it out of the front door.

Not now. Now it's a case of get the pram out, get the car seat out, get the changing bag out. Put the pram in the car. Put Ella in the car seat. Realise her nappy needs changing. Get her out of the car seat and upstairs to get her changed. Take her back downstairs and back in the car seat. Take her back out of the car seat to clean up the sick she's just deposited all over it. Clean her and the car seat, in that order. Take her back down and deposit her in the car seat again. Put her in the car. Lock the door. Leave. Get half way down the street and turn around to go back and fetch the changing bag.

You get the picture.

Ah. The moment I've been waiting for. Sarah and Ella are coming home today. After a furious tidy up round the house (as the result of two days living by myself the house was a complete tip) everything is ready for little Ella's first trip home.

Sarah actually got some sleep last night, and I managed to sink a few beers while I had the chance. Everyone keeps telling me that it'll all change once they're home. Probably.

Anyway, the car seat is installed, so it's off to the hospital to pick up the precious cargo.

Excellent.

The most wonderful news - this morning at 3.30am Sarah gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Ella Hope Dembry. Sarah did have one hell of a time with it, and she's still feeling knackered, but as the old cliche goes - it was all worth it in the end.



Ella, in true baby fashion has a fine set of lungs on her. Mostly used to full effect during the hours of midnight and 6am. A wonderful sleeper, she will happily sleep for 3 or 4 hours. During the hours of 11am and 8pm. When I'm visiting her in hospital. Hmm.

Of course, all the rellies were told of the new arrival. And for the most part they were all thrilled. With the exception of grandad Dembry. His words?

Oh, it's a girl. Well that's lovely for Sarah.

Aha. Something is finally stirring. Not in my loins (precious little has been allowed to stir in there for the last nine months), but in Sarah's. Labour pains starting so this could be it.

What in god's name am I doing still writing a blog you ask? Well, she's not that worried yet so it sitting at home enduring the contractions for a little while longer before going to hospital. Let's hope the cool, no panic, approach pays off.