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Wedding, Portrait & Baby Photographer Hampshire

Photographer's Baby Blog

Oh My God!

1st Jan 2006: 15:44

Oh my God, Wendy, my gorgeous wife has gone into labour!

This is so exciting, I know I should be nervous, scared even but all I feel right now is like a kid before Christmas! The nursery is finished, the hospital bags packed, all the essentials bought, paid for and ready for use, now I just want our little baby with us.

Wendy is such a trooper, even though she's been in labour since 3:20am she's sent me off to do some work as she says she is fine now , but will need my full attention later!

My business website needs a full overhaul so I'm out in the studio working away trying to get as much as possible done before the new arrival.

Update: 17:30

False alert, the contractions seemed to have stopped, for the time being...

Update 11:00

Some contractions but irregular. We both now believe it was a false labour and have to admit we were both so disappointed it didn't happen today. 

Babies Everywhere

2nd Jan 2006 17:42

We went to see our friend today who gave birth to her little son Adam on New Years Eve. He's gorgeous, just as new babies should be, falling asleep in my arms and then waking with little fits and starts. He just looked perfect to me.

Adam got me so excited about the arrival of our little baby and when we got home, Wendy had a show! We've now had a false labour and a show within 48 hours, definite signs that we won't have to wait too much longer.

 

More Contractions!

3rd Jan 2006 17:22

Wendy woke up at around 1:00am having contractions again. After last time she wasn't sure so waited and once the contractions had settled into a steady 6 minute interval and were getting very uncomfortable she woke me up.

Tens machine on, car packed, tea made...then nothing. It all stopped again about 06:40.

This has stopped being fun, very tired and now due to start getting ready for work. No, I think a days holiday is called for here. This can't go on though, we are both knackered!

 

And Even More!

8th Jan 2006 03:12

Can't sleep, something about your wife telling you she thinks she's having contractions again tends to do that to you. Is tonight (or this morning) going to the night? Part of me is screaming yes yet part is really skeptical. With two false labors already behind us I just don't know what to think!

 

False Alarm

8th Jan 2006 14:20

It didn't happen, contractions just sort of stopped after a few hours. Both feeling a bit gutted and fed up, we just want our baby. Wendy's Dad rang from France, he's coming over for a few days next week, Will Wendy give birth during this time?

 

Adam's First Shoot

9th Jan 2006 22:20

Our friends came over today with their new son Adam for his first shoot, he's just 9 days old and like last time we saw him, absolutely gorgeous. He was as good as gold in the studio, lying there quite happily while I took plenty of shots of him.

We had a fun evening with our friends, talking about Adam and what he'd been like during the first week. We are both really, really looking forward to seeing our little cherub now.

 

Cream Crackered...

12 Jan 2006 19:50

And still no baby. Wendy was up a lot last night and kept me up, fortunately I was able to take a day off today and try and catch up with some sleep.

We saw Wendy's dad today, he's off to South Africa for three years on Tuesday so we really, really hope that the baby comes before then.

 

Why Are We Waiting...?

17th Jan 2006 19:32

Still no baby, Wendy is now 8 days overdue! The midwife visited us at home on Sunday and gave Wendy a membrane sweep during which time she ascertained it would be a few more days yet before Wendy was ready. Now booked in to be induced on Monday the 23rd.

Poor Wendy is really fed up now, she's so uncomfortable and just wants the baby!

 

A Star is Born

25th Jan 2006 17:12

On Monday morning 23rd Jan at 04:26, our little Cerys Rebecca Parkes was born weighing 7lb 3 oz. She is absolutely gorgeous, if a little demanding!

We went into the hospital on Sunday morning to have a routine trace on the baby and a slot came up to induce Wendy so we took it. Wendy had a bit of a rough time, she was having severe Prostin contractions but as she wasn't dilating, wasn't allowed any gas and air. 

At 12:00 the hospital sent me home as she wasn't dilating, at 01:10 they called me and told me to get back down quick! I arrived 01:30, Wendy was fully dilated and already starting to push!

Unfortunately the midwife thought Wendy was pushing properly with the Gas & Air so after only being allowed to use it for about an hour and half, was told to avoid using it. She was a trooper, she just bit down, dug deep and went for it with no pain relief other than her Tens machine.

Afterwards it all seemed very surreal, sitting in the delivery room drinking tea and eating toast looking at our lovely little girl. Then we heard the lady in the next room getting very religious and our heart went out to her.

We brought Cerys home the next day and had our first sleepless but comical night, we were both very tired but it was so funny and we just kept pepping each other up to get through it. Today she's been asleep all day so we are expecting more fun tonight!

We had a great day today with her, now we know we have a girl we could go out shopping and we bought her a few girlie outfits, can't wait to get her in the studio when we get a chance.

 

All Settled in now

04 February 2006 01:43

Cerys has really settled in now, she's put on nearly 10 oz over the first week and half too so we are both very happy that she is doing so well.

During the first couple of weeks we've seen massive changes already, for the first few days her eyes where shut, now they are open and you can see she's focusing. While at first she just slept after her feed, her periods of being awake are getting longer and longer.

We had our first little studio session with her at 7 days although she was still a little jaundiced, still, they look great in Black & White!

She now has her own website, www.cerysparkes.co.uk where you can see a few pictures of her.

 

I just love her to bits!

12 February 2006 00:21

Fatherhood is strange, the more you do for your baby, the more you love them!

Its week three, now I'm a bit more confident with her I can change her nappy and get her ready for bed by myself. I've found doing this has really helped me to connect with her and now I just can't get enough of her. I find myself wishing she was awake while she's sleeping just so I can look into her eyes and watch her expressions. I can quite happily just sit there and gaze at her.

She's over 8lb already and has changed so much, her iris has also developed a definite inner and outer ring of different colours, just like her mum!

 

15 Weeks tomorrow

6th May 2006

So much has happened now I don't know where to begin. Cerys is smiling now, in fact every now and then she gives off a great big chuckle. When I get back home I usually get a great big grin which just makes my day.

A big thing is when she started sleeping at night. From about 6 weeks she does 6 hours, has a feed than another 3. Its made a huge difference.

She started rolling over a couple of weeks ago, we keep finding her at the opposite end of the cot to which we left her too which usually gives us a few giggles.

Nobody told me being a Dad was going to be so much fun. I thought it was going to be all sleepless nights and dirty nappies, but so its just been the most amazing experience and one I know I'm going to want to repeat in a few years.