For James, part 3

Written about a month ago:

Darling James, you are now coming up to 6 months old! I will shortly have to go back to work and put you in the nursery during the day, which just breaks my heart! I know that you will quickly get used to it and you'll probably have a fantastic time but mummy will be crying every time she has to leave you. You have been such a wonderful baby - so good natured and smiley. People comment all the time that they have never seen such a good baby! You hardly ever cry or complain and you've slept through the night for months now, letting mummy and daddy get much needed sleep!

I wanted to write down some memories of your birth before they fade altogether. The birth was a bit scary because by the time I went into the hospital you had done your first poo in the womb. It is quite common for overdue babies to do this so the doctors are well prepared to deal with it but it did make things a bit hairy, particularly as they were really busy and I couldn't get a doctor for AGES! They told me that they were worried about your heart beat and then left us to wait while we got more and more stressed. Eventually though we got a doctor to come and examine me and you were nearly ready to come out by the time they arrived! When you finally came into the world we all held our breaths to see if you would cry or not. The doctor told us that if you breathed the poo into your lungs on the way out that they would have to take you straight away to suck it out. Luckily though you let out a little cry and daddy and I were SO relieved! I can't remember the order of things already - I know that at some point they wiped you down a bit so you weren't too icky, and then you lay on my front for just hours and hours! The room was dimly lit and all I was aware of was you and daddy: it was like being in a cocoon just the three of us. I felt warm and drowsy and just blissfully happy. You looked into my eyes and we just lay there staring at each other for hours. You didn't even cry although you gurgled a little bit, and daddy and I just told you over and over how much we loved you.

Eventually the time came to go up to our room and daddy had to go home. It was 6.00 in the morning at this point (you were born at 1.00) and we put you into the see-through perspex crib that was in the room. I couldn't sleep, I was so excited - I didn't think I'd ever be able to sleep again. I just wanted to stay awake and watch over you to make sure you were safe. I won't bore you will the schedule of feeding, nappy-changing and cat-napping over the next few days. We stayed in hospital until the Monday evening (you were born on Saturday morning) and we had lots of cuddles. Having you in my arms was and still is the best feeling in the world. I just want to eat you all up! You are so gorgeous!