What a difference a day makes

It's hard to believe that 6 months have passed since we came home from Bolton Hospital a trio.

The daily difference in Isabella is incredible.  She has found her smile, her giggle, her laugh and her voice.  Bath nights are a daily highlight and every morning, seeing her beautiful, beaming smile at recognition of her loving parents, sets us up for the day perfectly.

The first time we saw her smile it could have been down to wind or just an involuntary reaction, but it meant so much to us both.  This then became more a recurring reaction until the point that it has become a real character of hers.  So many people comment on how smiley a baby she is, if you just look at her and smile, Isabella will reciprocate almost immediately, and since her first two front teeth have started to form, this smile has become infinitely cuter.  The highlights of my working week are seeing her smile first thing in the morning after us all waking from deep slumber and returning home from work to see Clare and Izzy engaged in some fun activity to which she stops, looks up, recognises and smiles the biggest smile ever, Daddy is home.

Clare is doing incredible as a Mummy, always amazing.  We have both been through some hard times in the last couple of months and struggled with our relationship.  These are the things that the parenting books do not tell you about.  Guides focus on the best things for baby (which is our primary focus), but they seem to shy away from the difficulties and strains this new addition adds to the dynamic.  Clare and I as a couple were strong, loving and immensely supportive of each other but our priorities have shifted and now lie solely on our daughter.  Our nights are very rarely spent with each other, relaxing.  Either one of us is involved in some activity with Isabella, which is definitely not a bad thing, but I do miss her and miss the closeness we had.  I know this will return in time when Izzy is a little older, but for the time being I try to be the best I can for us all.

Seeing Clare with Isabella only supports the love that I have for them both.  I love Clare more each day, knowing how much she is doing for our daughter.  Clare has become an avid member of the local community children's groups taking Isabella to Baby Massage, Swim Tots, Baby Rock 'N'Roll (one of Izzy's favourites), Play Days and many more, and in doing this, they have both become close to another mummy and daughter team, Chelsea and baby Scarlett.

When I return home from work, my main tasks for the evening are bath night and sleep time.   Being a water baby myself, I think some of my love of the water has been passed down to my daughter.  She loves splashing and splishing in the bath.  So much so that when we are both absolutely drenched and as the bath time draws to a close, one little lady does not want to get out.  Isabella would happily stay in the tub for most of the night, only leaving for feeds and cuddles.  She is a water baby through and through.

Sleep time is something that is dear to my heart at this stage,  Once our little one has been bathed and fed, it is quiet time.  Knowing that little Izzy has had an adventurous day whizzing around in her walker, pulling and chasing Chewie wherever he may go and being involved in numerous activities throughout the day with Mummy it is time to reflect on the day and rejuvenate the batteries for the morning.  I pick her up and take her into the bedroom (at 6 months, Izzy moves into her own room after months with Mummy and Daddy), put her head on my shoulder and sing "The Bear Necessities" to her.  This has always been a song I love and adhere to, "Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities, forget about your worries and your strife".  You don't need fancy cars and flash furniture, as long as you have love in your life.  All worries, stresses and strife can be forgotten.

Once the Bear Necessities has been enjoyed, Izzy knows that she must change cuddle position and happily slumps into my cradling arms for a rendition of Johnny Cash's "Give My Love to Rose" and Kenny Rogers' "I am the Greatest".  Once I reach the end of this triumvirate, Izzy in normally gently snoring in my arms.

Since my last update (1 month in) Isabella has been a well traveled little girl.  Her first trip was to Withernsea for Grandad's 2nd retirement party, but since then she has been to Nanny Sue's caravan in Talacre, Scunthorpe with the Family Clan, Scotland for the Colmonell Fun Run and we have a trip to Poland planned in December.  There are more trips in the planning stage, but they will be in the upcoming months.




We have put in plans for her naming ceremony and named her Supportive Parents who were all happy to accept the responsibility.  The people we chose were selected because of their outlook on life, their meaning to us and support they have given to Clare and I over the last few tumultuous years.  We are very proud to have them in our lives.  I endeavor to make a little post about the naming day as a separate entity.

Now 6 months in we have a little girl in our lives full of character, love and adventure.  She is proudly sitting up, most of the time with a little support, but there have been occasions she has done this on her own.  Rolling over with pride, eating some form of solids (Aunty Dora's pasta and pizza have been recent additions), and doing something new each day.