Ordinary fool

Here is baby number two at 20 weeks. The observant will notice that the name of the hospital has changed since the twelve week scan. You'll also notice that, unlike the Whittington scans, this one is in colour. I believe things got colourful for Dorothy once she arrived in Oz. We've lived through the whirlwind as we boxed our lives into half a container, and packed ourselves onto a plane. But now, here we are on the other side. In New Zealand… not exactly Oz, but more or less next door.

We have a second on the way. Here is the baby at 12 weeks, deftly bouncing back those ultrasonic waves. Due date May 5th 2009.

Nicola's parents are staying with us, helping out wonderfully. They came bearing many gifts for Ivy from New Zealand. Amongst the many wonderful things, was this crocheted shawl from Ivy's granny Marian. It's soft, beautiful, and will keep Ivy wrapped and warm for years to come. Thanks Mum!

Mother and baby arrived home today, 36 hours after baby was born. Both are fine! As always, there are a few photos of the event.

Oh, and we've decided on a name: Ivy Cecilia Leicester. What do you think?

With an average of 7 minutes between contractions there's still time to knock up a chart in OpenOffice. I'll keep it updated as long as I can, but if it all goes quiet you'll know why.

The 20 week abnormality scan says all is well (heart, kidneys, kicking legs etc.), but we're no wiser about gender. Apparently baby has his/her legs crossed. Bashful baby. On the other hand, the home made old wives/witches pendulum test (constructed in this case by Granddad to be, Nigel) says boy. We'll see. Unisex toys until further notified.

Oh, and Happy New Year! :)

A couple of years ago, someone I hadn't seen in a long time stumbled across this site. She took one look at Lula's scans and sent a message of congratulations... to me on my becoming a father! Hmmm. At the time I thought she was mad, but it turns out she was just a couple of years early.

Since Lula's time the Whittington has upgraded to some impressive new Philips ultrasound gear - a nice piece of kit - but let's not talk about that now. Here's one look at baby at nine weeks, and three at twelve. (Oh, and sorry about the long absence, I've been busy!)

Nine weeks

Twelve weeks

Here, direct from the Whittington Hospital Prosound SSD-5000, is the latest image of Baby Leicester—at 20 weeks. This was a scan to detect “major abnormalities”. Abnormalities? I'm not sure about that, but my brother Warwick thinks his baby has inherited our father's unusually large nose. I suggested that baby might be a unicorn. Either way, baby is beautiful.

By the end of the year I'm going to be an uncle. My brother Warwick and his Polish wife Jo only got married back in March. Maybe it was the wedding day champagne, I'm not sure, but they certainly didn't waste any time. Whittington Hospital has a policy of not giving the game away so I don't yet know whether I am going to blessed with a niece or a nephew. I've looked very hard at this scan but I just can't quite tell. Actually, someone even had to tell me which way up baby was.

This is going to be one Internet-age baby. As soon as Warwick knew he was going to be a Dad, he was online, registering "babyleicester.com". We're all waiting for the blogging to start. The maternity wear is via Maternity Exchange. Dietary adivce is via the Food Standards Authority. Advice on helping your cat adjust to the new addition to the family is via the Pregnancy Lounge. OK, they are reading a book or two but even Birth and Beyond was viaAmazon.

So where will all this googling leave the rest of us, the uncles, aunts, grandparents and old wives? Will we get a look in? After all, it might be me that inspires my little niece to play fullback for the Black Ferns in 2023. It could be me that encourages my little nephew to go off to win the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2038. It's sounds like I'd better go and register "uncleleicester.com".

Update: Here is what babyleicester sounds like. They say if the heartbeat sounds like a train then it's a boy, or if it sounds like a horse then it's a girl. Judge for yourself!