Nuppinck

Williams new answer when we offer him two choices:
Do you want to wear wellies or shoes?
You can have pasta or rice for lunch, which would you like?
NUPPINK!


I’m 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant. William was born on his due date (apparently only 4% of babies are, but, there might be a genetic link for it on the Marshall side, with Stephen and his sister Linda born on their due dates), so I have no previous experience with going over. Although I am impatient and now almost constantly physically uncomfortable, we are unexpectedly cherishing the time with William. Today has been a lovely Easter Sunday. In the morning we visited a farm, were in addition to seeing what was likely to have been the three billy goats gruff, William played with an eclectic digger and rode on a small tractor. Then we’ve filled the rest of the day with hours of playing with trains and multiple re-designs of the train tracks, building towers with duplo, taking all the bedding off both mummy and daddy’s bed, and William’s bed, and jumping on them, setting up a tray of special dirt/compost and planting mushroom seeds, and walking in paint and then on black paper. Phew – no wonder William’s parents are exhausted!




We also had an Easter egg hunt in our back garden, and the look in William’s eyes as he found each shiny egg that Andrew had hidden was joyful innocence and excitement. It makes everything worth it. This evening William hasn’t wanted to fall asleep and has been chatting to himself and his toys in his cot for the last hour. We’ve been listening to him, trying to decipher bits of conversation. It isn’t easy, but it is very cute to hear him singing songs to his toys.

Our friend (and William's godparent) Simon has travelled up from Southampton this evening, to look after William and I tomorrow while Andrew works a 13hr shift. What a saviour! I bet he'll have to sing 'Two little dickie birds' 50 times for William tomorrow. But, right now, Simon and Andrew are rehearsing for a concert they are both singing in on 1st May. I find it entertaining to listen to them singing Latin, interspersed with swear words as they stuff things up. :)

Roll on Spring!

My window box is now looking good, after months of bulbs lying dormant. The crocuses are up and out. The mini irises will open next. It is very cheering to come home to. I'm working at home this week (almost 38 weeks pregnant, but no hints if any immediate action on that front) which will be a lot more comfortable than getting the bus and walking in to work each day. Quite frankly though, I'm ready to stop work as soon as I can. I'm not super mobile and feeling uncomfortable much of the time. I'm ready to move on to the next phase....which probably means that the baby will be 2 weeks late!

William caught up with his second cousin Zoe last weekend, when Richard, Carmen and Zoe came over to Wales for Mothering Sunday. They look pretty cute together, holding hands. My favourite is the picture with William checking out the price tag on some pots, looking just like a married couple going shopping at the garden centre together!

Spring is here!

Blue skies and sunshine really lift the spirits. This week is my last week at work (well, at least going in to the lab) and that too is lifting my spirits. I've been trying to document the size of the bump, and this weekend, William wanted to be involved too.

This is what a pregnant woman needs

34 weeks

Bump is looking a nice size now. However, I'm sleeping pretty badly (can't seem to stay asleep after 3am) and this morning felt like a steam train had run over my hips during the night. But all was well again when I walked in the door this evening after coming home from work, to be greeted enthusiastically (with a loud BOO-BANG) by William. Andrew then handed me a glass of pink champagne and told me that he and William were making shortbread, William had had no (wee) accidents all day and was very brave and didn't cry when he got his swine flu vaccine. What more can a mum ask for?

February 2010

I wanted to record a bit of an update on William…….so I’ve had a glass of pink champagne and hopefully the memories and words will flow.

First thing in the morning these days (any time from 5.30-6.30am) William will wake up and seem to be immediately fully alert – “I want my Mummy, now” he’ll say loudly. Or, “I want downstairs breakfast”. He talking in general is coming along very well. He often repeats everything you say. Which is good for practicing, but also quite funny when you’re not expecting it. Today we laughed when he repeated after Andrew “Holey Moley”, and later, he tried to say ‘waspy fiend’, but it came out as “wappy tiend”. [the reason for the second phrase is that we were discussing how unexpected it was that I was stung on my thigh by a wasp at 5am in bed this morning].


William now mostly eats what we do now, which is good, but also means that we are eating fairly plain tasting food. Tonight was good – we all had stir fry vegetables and rice, which he liked. We just cook it, take his portion out, then add some sauce. He thinks that it is funny to finish the last of something, and always tells us that there’ll be "none left for Daddy” and laughs. The last week we’ve had dinner with the lights off and a candle lit (just for variety) and he thinks it is great fun, and now requests a “candle-lit dinner”. He has a good go at using a knife and fork these days, although not all meals. Some things are just easier to eat with fingers!

On either the bike or in the car on the way home from nursery he likes to point out the state of the traffic lights. He knows (and reminds us every set) that “red means stop, orange means get ready and green means Go”.


We’ve also told him that I have a baby in my tummy, and he has accepted it quite easily (at this stage). When we mention it, he says things like “little tiny baby” “sleeping in there” and “I feel it move”. Today he leant his head against my tummy and whispered “hello baby”. He also gives me very sweet kisses when I say that I’m not feeling well.

Winter Wonderland

You can see the progression of the snow overnight, from a shot of my bike out the front of our house at 7pm on 5th Jan (left) to this morning at 9am on 6th Jan (on right).

















When we woke up this morning, it was STILL snowing! Andrew and William lost no time in getting in to the back garden to make a snowman, but then had to set off to nursery. Too much snow to drive or cycle, so Andrew took William on foot (or shoulder, as the case was today). Fortunately William received a very 'handy' Christmas present from his friend Maeve - and hand-warmer, with a warm gel pack inside - perfect for this morning!



And for a final special treat (and for comparison with next year when I'm sure he'll know the words even better!) here is William Dylan Marshall singing 'Jingle Bells, coming to you from the special location of being in his backpack carrier while it sits on the dining room table!



Oh, Andrew is just back from taking W to nursery, and he says that there are already some great snowmen in our street, and that people are snowboarding down Divinity Road! How exciting! This is definitely the most snow that Oxford has seen since I've been here.