Hello World! My Name Is Daniel

Hello World, My Name Is Daniel!


Our little addition has finally made an entrance, albeit a bit late.
Baby CT is a little boy called Daniel who weighed in at 8 pounds and 4 ounces. Born at 18.32 on 05/05/05, he's absoulutely gorgeous and is well and healthy.
Mum is doing really well, has been very brave and will have a few days in hospital now for some very well earned rest.



The staff at Cheltenham General Hospital are fantastic beyond words - the Midwives and the Doctors, I can't say enough good things about them and thank-you just isn't adequate enough.
Suffice to say that the experience was the most amazing of my life and impossible to put into words. Certainly 18.32 on May 5th 2005 will be a moment I will never forget until the day I die when our little boy cried after arriving into the world.
There's a new little Villain in town!


Our List Of Thank-You's To All At Cheltenham General Hospital
To all the midwives and staff at Snowshill Ward, who looked after us so well before Daniel was born, especially Jane and Sarah who were there near the end.
To the midwives (especially Sam) and Doctors upstairs in the Theatre who carry out the most complex work and still manage to talk about everyday, mundane things while they're doing it. Incredible, amazing people.
To the fantastic midwife who looked after us in the Special Care Baby Unit where Daniel spent just one night. She reassured all the time - I wish we could have brought her home with us.
To the Midwives at Bibury ward who advise and help all the time with the parents of the new borns. We met some lovely people in there.
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou.
Mexican Wave before I'm one day old? No problem!

The health visitor came yesterday (June 1st) and Daniel had his first hearing test which came back positive. He is alert and starting to respond to his new surroundings which is reassuring for us.

In a few weeks he will have the first of his injections - the last one was a small one in the heel of his foot but he cried so much, it was really sad to hear him, so we're not looking forward to those!



He's had some full days of crying and being unsettled but night times are generally good. He tends to like motion, being in the car, pram etc and likes having his hair washed. Bath time is a mix as he likes the bath but isn't so keen on having his ears and eys cleaned!

**Now He's 2 Months**

He's really settled down, starting to smile and gurgle. He sleeps really well for about 5 hours at night and has been really good, even in the very hot weather we had recently.



After one particularly bad day at work I was upstairs getting changed, feeling pretty down and just talked to him while I was there. The smiling response was worth it's weight in gold and made me realise how insignificant the odd difficult work collegue actually is.

We're both getting more used to being Mummy and Daddy now and everything that entails. He's had his 2 month injections and was very brave despite a few tears.

We've got a new HP digital camera now and have some excellent photo's of him.

12 Weeks - It's Time For A Swim

July 31st - Daniel had his first swim today.

We thought we were a bit mental being outside the Cheltenham Rec at 8am on a Sunday morning but clearly we were not. By 9am the pool was full and soon the staff closed it until people left!

Daniel really enjoyed the warm kiddies pool. Looking quite the cute boy, armed with his nappy trunks and armbands he was happy as anyone as we walked him in. He soon started kicking his legs a little bit although he wasn't quite as keen on his back.

He was getting lots of adoring looks from everyone else as we floated him around the pool. He lasted about 25 minutes before getting a bit restless so we were quite pleased with that. We'll be back there in two weeks.

19 Weeks.....

Daniel is now sleeping in his own cot after moving on from the moses basket. He tends to wake up at odd times but only because he loses his dummy - generally he sleeps very well and always seems to be smiley and happy when he take him out in the morning.

He's been swimming a few more times as well and is just starting to grasp the idea of kicking his feet while we move him around.

He now has his first England shirt which I just couldn't resist although the night they were humbled by Northern Ireland, he was wearing a green and white striped top! Spooky!

He's still a very happy baby, very ticklish and has started to laugh and chuckle a lot. Already we look at photos of him and say "aahh, he was so small then" - time passes very quickly!

Nearly Six Months!

Daniel's First Aston Villa Outfit. It had to happen sooner rather than later.

Daniel was bought his first Villa "outfit" from the Villa Village by a friend of ours the other day and these are the first pictures. I actually bought him a coat from the club shop at the end of last season but it was age 12-18 months so there was obviously going to be a delay in wearing it.

Anyway, he's been a bought a "Star Villa Player" top, some claret bottoms and some great Villa booties. He also has a Villa drinking cup in club colours and a sign for his door with "Daniel's Room" in Claret and Blue underneath the club badge.

Some might say he's doomed already! I would add he's yet to be sick on any of his new Villa items which, believe me is a great sign.

Daniel has been a bit ill recently but has been so happy and smiley even when he's not been feeling good. We've been so proud of him as he's also started a day and a half weekly at a local nursary where he's fitted in amazingly well allaying any fears we first had.

He's now rolling over and nearly crawling and is very active and bright. It will also not be very long before some solid foods come into mealtimes - prepare for food evreywhere!

Being Ill

Since being around the six months mark Danny has been through the mill when it comes to being ill.

First he was covered in spots and went very lifeless and was taken straight to the Doctors where he was diagnosed with an ear infection. He was then developing a cough which he very chesty - this still hasn't gone (Nov 16) despite trying Tyxlix and Meltol cough medicine.

Then he was diagnosed with eczema and was perscribed some cream and yet more medicine. Despite still trying to be a happy little guy, he has had more restless nights than normal, waking up coughing - almost seemingly choking and scaring the life out of his parents. Add this to the teething and you can see he's having a really bad run of things.

He's just starting to take proper food in the last week but has generally been quite tearful and upset - in fact only his magical Nana has been able to keep him calm and fed! The last few weeks have been really hard work and psychologically exhuasting.

Why is it that you have to virtually beg to get a Doctors appointment for a child?