Home sweet home

Hi! It's LVP again! Since being home it's been a whirlwind of excitement...

Mummy put my pictures up on Facebook, and was overwhelmed by how many people posted lovely comments and congratulations about me. Thanks, everyone!

18/4: am: Iran the midwife visited - I'd lost 10% of my birth weight, which is normal - and she told Mummy she was making great progress being up and about. Mummy was pleased that my tan was coming through, until Iran said, "Er, no, that's jaundice!" Again, perfectly normal, and she said a bit of sunshine and breastfeeding would get rid of it.

pm: Surprise visits from neighbour Auntie Clare, who brought me a lovely little nautical top, then Auntie Soph and her son Seb. It was funny when Clare asked to hold me...Daddy was so nervous he exclaimed "Careful with his head!" (Clare is a mum of two...)

19/4: A morning stroll to a local cafe (to soak up some gentle rays as advised) via a couple of cooing neighbours, Marron and Joyce (I slept through it all in my posh new Stokke pram, a pressie from Grandma and Grandpa B). The cafe has a breastfeeding advisor on site, so Daddy left Mummy at the door as he thought it'd be full of "women with their waps out", but Mummy came back to report she'd met a lovely couple there, Dawn & Steve, and there'd been categorically no flesh on sight. She wasn't sure if he looked relieved or a teensy bit disappointed.

There is a sign on the door for a male stay-at-home dads group, which proclaims "WE MUST STICK TOGETHER!". Mummy laughed, "Against WHAT, exactly?! Their emasculating wives?!" Daddy nicknamed them "Fathers for Justice", which made Mummy laugh so hard, she feared her stitches were going to burst.

pm: visit from Auntie PK, who bought me a cute outfit, and rather excitingly, a footprint canvas set (more about that later!). Auntie PK is also pregnant and her baby kept kicking me when she held me! Jealous already, huh?!

21/4 another midwife visit. Mummy had her stitches out and I was weighed again. I've put on 60g in 2 days!

22/4: Busy day...11am: Daddy's friend Eamonn and his daughter Scarlett, 4, came over with a generous haul of baby clothes. I'm already too big for the newborn stuff and Mummy reckons I'll outgrow my 0-3 gear soon (I might not even get to wear all I've been bought in this size before I outgrow it all), so she's asked Daddy to go back to the shop and swap some items for bigger sizes!

3pm: NCT meeting for more ladies to coo at me :)

6pm: came home to a very excited Grandma & Grandpa B visiting on the way to their holiday.

7.30: Auntie P, Mummy's cousin who's just moved to London came for dinner bearing flowers and champagne (she knows Mummy well...lol!). I decided to play up so Mummy and Daddy couldn't eat their dinner together - tee hee! But Auntie Priya fell in love with me anyway. :)

Friday 23/4: Mummy & Daddy had a date night! Leaving me with the Gramps! I wasn't there, so can't report much, but apparently Mummy was 'nicely tipsy' after half a bottle of Prosecco :)

24/4:Another busy day. created my first artwork with my Footprint set. Daddy held my ankle whilst Mummy painted my foot and moved the canvases onto it. The paint stained my feet and wouldn't wipe off (Mummy said I looked like a Smurf...?!) so they had to give me my first bath, which I didn't cry through, in order to lull them into a false sense of security.

Then we went to Auntie PK's and Unca Col's and I waited till they all sat down before I let rip and played merry hell and wouldn't settle, so Mummy and Daddy had to eat their dinner in shifts again, and Mummy decided that they should leave by 9pm.

25/4: I felt bad, so decided to be angel child after last night. Fed on time, slept like a baby on schedule, hell, I even pooped to rota. Unca J (Daddy's bro) and Auntie S came over to visit unexpectedly, and they fell in love with me too. The pareys congratulated themselves on a perfect day and reckoned they were getting the hang of this parenting lark.

26/4: We went to the cafe again to meet Dawn & Steve for brunch. I slept through the sweltering heat and only kicked off towards the end as I wanted a feed, so Mummy & Daddy decided to head home. One of the weedy-looking "Fathers for Justice" tried to get Daddy to join their group on their way out. Mummy and Daddy hurriedly said he'd be back at work next week, and left. After we got home, I decided to play up a little all day, just to keep them on their toes. Mummy's starting to worry how she'll cope when Daddy's back at work.

27/4: Iran visited again. I've put on 13% of my body weight since the last weigh-in and have now exceeded my birthweight! Iran commented on how big, strong, gorgeous and alert I am. It is true, since day 3 I've been doing push-ups on Daddy's chest, raising my head up by myself and trying to 'walk'. It's really quite freaking them out how strong I am.

There's been a stream of cards and presents coming through the door since I was borned (thank you everyone), but my favourite present has to be the bib I got from Auntie P. She chose it from my Amazon wish list http://is.gd/bon1v . Here's me modelling it with my gangsta stare.

Scared? You should be... ; p

Luc Van P is borned

Well, "Hello, World" for real!

I'm finally here and 10 days old, so I'm still getting Mummy to do my typing for me! :)

Luc Van P - that's my name (don't wear it out): Mummy and Daddy spent ages thinking up combinations. They liked the French spelling of Luc because it goes with my surname (which is actually Belgian, but there you go), and 'Van' was inspired by Grandma B's Indian name, and because they like Van Morrison. It also means 'son of' in some countries, but Mummy said that wasn't a problem as I am the son of my Daddy anyway! I'm a quarter each of Indian, Mauritian, Belgian and English so they liked that LVP sounded a bit cosmopolitan and dashing - a name that would travel well, they reckoned. People have since said I could be a superstar DJ, a rockstar, an artist, a heartbreaker or 'destined for great things' with a name like mine: no pressure then, eh?!

My grand entry wasn't quite the hippy-chilled pool birth they'd planned: Mummy had quite a time trying to get me out - her waters broke (whatever that means) 6 days late (Monday 11th April), and I didn't arrive until the 4th day (Thursday 15th April). I don't really know all the gory details, I was cosy inside her all that time, but I heard Mummy saying something about feeling like a human pin-cushion and 3 days later, when my heartbeat started going a bit crazy, the doctors decided they needed to get me out as soon as possible, so they took her into a big bright room, with Daddy wearing an outfit like the doctors, holding her hands and telling her how much he loved her (he'd said it was about as romantic as emergency surgery could be), and at 6.32 that morning, 15th April 2010, weighing 7lbs 9oz, I was finally borned, much to everyone's relief and joy.

Mummy held me close..."Hello little Luc!" she kissed me, and whispered "I've got a secret to tell you! I always knew...I always wanted a boy...!"

My new parents cried from sheer relief and overwhelming emotion as I gazed at their faces for the first time from Mummy's arms.

Everyone since has commented on how long I am, and what big feet and hands I have. This, for some reason, causes Daddy to puff his chest out with pride and swagger a little. Mummy's midwife Theresa had commented that I was a big baby for her little frame, and I think she guessed I would have to be borned by C-section all along.

Once in the ward, Grandma B came to see me. She had been with Daddy in the hostipal since Tuesday, and been an amazing support - quite literally when Daddy fainted during Mummy's epidural! (But that's a whole other story, best to ask them about that). She was very tired but couldn't wait to say 'hi'. She nearly cried with excitement as she whispered "My grandson!". This was a day she never thought would happen! She introduced herself, had a little chat and said she loved me very much.

A while later, Grandpa B came to join her. He stroked my cheek and whistled at me to get my attention. Mummy said he could talk to me properly as I understood quite a lot already!

Whilst Daddy texted people the news, Mummy phoned her brother, A, to let him know he was an Uncle (would he be an Auntie if I was a girl?). Unca A asked if it was OK for him to come down and visit. "Yes! Anytime...when?". "Today?!" "Oh! OK! That would be lovely!" He arrived about 4pm and spent a long time sitting with Mummy and Daddy and holding me for ages. It was nice to get to spend time with him!

Daddy had earlier given Mummy a beautiful piece of jewellery, a white gold solid hinged bangle made of 3 hoops, one for each of our new little family. Mummy cried again when Daddy gave it to her! Amazingly, Unca A'd had a similar thought to Daddy, and bought her a delicate silver piece with 3 tiny rings holding together 3 loose bangles.

Mummy had to stay in the hostipal a couple more nights so they didn't get home till Saturday 17/4, 5 days after she'd first gone in, but Daddy came in every day from 8am to 10pm to spend as much time with his new family as he could.

He's taking to fatherhood like a natural, and is so wonderful and gentle and soothing with me, Mummy is frequently reduced to tears watching us together. The midwives said it's the 'Baby Blues' but Mummy assures them she couldn't be happier... :)

The sort of stuff I like...

Some lovely family and friends of Mummy & Daddy have been wondering what to get me when I'm borned.

They've said I don't need a lot, as I'll just be sick or poo on everything, and they've been given/lent lots of stuff already. They've also bought lots of plain white 0-3 month basic stuff...

So OK, I might not need anything big, but I still want to look good and not let the side down, so I'd like to style my basics up!

I've heard Mummy saying it's all about the accessories...so this is the sort of stuff I'd like, please...unisex stuff with style and attitude, not twee pastel baby stuff with cutesy phrases on!

...and here's my Amazon Wishlist...(please check the notes to the side for quantities and sizes)

http://is.gd/bon1v

Thank you in advance!

:)

40 weeks + 4: I'm late, I'm late for a very important date...

So I was *due* to (literally) show my face on Tuesday and it's now Saturday...

Mummy has been trying all the recommended routes to get me moving (apart from she can't find the apparent sure-fire one, Raspberry Leaf Tea anywhere) but all she's had so far are some more fake 'practice' contractions (called 'Braxton Hicks') and more hefty kicks in the ribs from me, which she is trying to visualise are the result of me doing a sort of front crawl to get nearer the exit.

Her Facebook and phone are going crazy with messages from friends and loved ones asking for any news - she has had to assure everyone that no news is...no news. And that she reckons I'll be a week late anyway.

The other day when she was walking down the street, she looked into an estate agent's window (as you do) and realised SHE was the size of a house! People are staring at her in the street and shop assistants and randoms in the street are saying things like "Ooh you look like you're about to drop!". Um, thanks for that, Mummy's not *that* clumsy!!!

She wouldn't mind so much but her feet are sooo swollen, she swore today that she could see stretch marks on her ankles, so she's trying to keep them up more, but that doesn't help with everything else that needs doing, like cooking, hoovering, mopping the floor, etc.

Daddy would help more, but he's got a bad back too - and is spending a lot of his time lying on the floor! Mummy says perhaps Daddy has got sympathy pains, but it also seems like a flash-forward into their lives in 30 years, both creakily getting up and going "Ooh, my back!" They are a funny Mummy and Daddy!

Mummy's filling her time listening to a slightly mentalist lady on a Hypnobirthing CD she got off one of her friends, and reading a more sensible book called The Baby Whisperer, which is all about treating babies like the people we are, not objects, and talking to us properly and listening to us from Day 1. Mummy has been listening to me even in her tummy, so this bodes well!

Meanwhile, it is sooo warm and cosy here and they've still got chocolate in the house, so I'm staying put till Mummy eats it all...so she's off to have some more...

Promise I'll see you soon. I just like to make a grand entrance, you know how it is...!

39 Weeks: A grand day out...

Hello again!

I'm nearly ready to meet you all...fully growed and still kicking like crazy. Mummy says it actually feels like I'm trying to punch my way out of her stomach, and sometimes I really boot her hard in the ribs and it makes her gasp. Sorry Mummy - I don't know my own strength!

The hostipal says I'm due April 6th but Mummy reckons I will be a week later than that.

Apparently UK doctors count the length of a pregnancy as 40 weeks (and 80% of UK babies are therefore said to be 'late' - after their due date), but French docs are more laid back and as well as allowing as much Brie as you can eat, say it's 41 weeks (stands to reason more of their babies will be borned "on time"). Mummy reckons as I am a Pieroux and my name sounds French, I'll go with the French system.

Daddy reckons I won't come out until all the Easter Eggs are eaten anyway, and he is right. Yum! Although he would like me to come on time so he doesn't have to go back to work after the Easter Weekend. Mummy said she'll see what she can do, although Daddy said if I'm anything like Mummy, I'll be late anyway. Cheeky!

They are both very very pleased I managed to stay put for April 1st anyway. They would have had to get me this bib or babygro if I had...! http://www.nippazwithattitude.com/mama.html

So what news since I last wrote? I did ask if Mummy ever put her feet up - well, she is doing now - but not before she and Daddy managed to get MARRIED!!!

NO-ONE saw that one coming (least of all me as I can't see anything yet - lol!) but Daddy proposed to Mummy on 17th February, whilst they were watching telly (no, they can't remember what was on) and then he hatched a crazy plan to get married *before* I was borned so I'd have a matching set of parents - and because Mummy is as much of a loon and romantic as Daddy, she said "Yes" to it all!

It started to feel a bit stressful when they started discussing what they would be expected to do, so they decided to get married in secret so there'd be no big fuss and no one else telling them what they *should* do, and who they *should* invite and that it was a silly idea trying to organise a wedding in such a short time.

So in the end, they decided to do it with just one close friend each for witnesses (Nige, Mummy's oldest friend and Claire, Daddy's oldest friend - they only told them a week before!) and decided to have *their* perfect day with no compromises or stress.

This was the posh event I couldn't tell you about in my last post - Mummy couldn't even mention it to her friends at her Mummy Shower!

They realised that once you strip back all the usual stuff that goes with organising a wedding and bring it just down to two people who love each other, how much of the kerfuffle is done to please other people.

Daddy sorted a date (24/3/2010) and their wedding rings in good time. Then Mummy got her dress online (she got some help with choosing between two she'd bought from her neighbour Clare, who was sworn to secrecy) and the rest of the outfit from town, Daddy bought a load of suits and ties and got Mummy to help him pick the right one to go with her dress (which he didn't see before the day, in true tradition, as he stayed at his friend Lisa's the night before). Mummy got her flowers and the boys' buttonholes from the florist's stall at her local tube station...and transport was courtesy of pre-paid ComCab black cabs!

They kept it all local as Mummy didn't want to stray too far from the hostipal, in case I decided to arrive early, but I wouldn't DARE ruin Mummy's lovely dress, she needn't have worried! :)

After a touching service at the beautiful local town hall, they had a yummy lunch with their witnesses at a lovely posh restaurant (where Daddy and witnesses managed to drink their body-weight in champagne and fine wines, whilst Mummy had a glass!), then their guests left mid-afternoon and Mummy & Daddy went to a local spa for a his and hers massage (Daddy fell asleep and he snored...ha ha!), then off to Hotel X, a bizarrely-located boutique hotel in West London, where they also had dinner in the strange little Japanese restaurant joined to it.

The best bit for me was that I got to go to my Mummy and Daddy's wedding!!!

Here's a photo of the 3 of us Pieroux cuties...I look the cutest though, huh?

Mummy joked that at least I won't now be borned illiterate...at least that's what I *think* she said...!

See you in a few days, maybe!