The end of school, getting into a routine and more visitors

I've had a very good week indeed 

It's been a busy week, I finished work on Wednesday for the summer and Sophie, Katie and I have continued to have lots of visitors, the health visitor came for the weigh-in, we've had lots of walks and even a trip to Silverburn with Auntie Gill.

Uncle Paul and Auntie Nicole are busy planning their Wedding but they took some time out to go to the trouble to create an amazing hand made mobile for Sophie.

It fits really well with the woodland theme in the nursery, matches the new curtains and everything.



If anyone would like anything similar, the very talented Nicole is starting a wee sideline creating a variety or different arts and crafts - if you would like her number let me know!

Woodland creatures on the mobile

Wonderful mobile

We had the weigh in again this week from the Health Visitor - Sophie has been piling on the pounds (which had been obvious to us but we were interested in the score) Sophie now weighs in at a healthy 9lbs 1oz

I'm tired....

Time for a nap

Auntie Clare has been back to visit which has been really nice as we didn't have a photo from before - here she is holding Sophie. 

Auntie Clare

Trying out some new gear

Auntie Gill has been up from London visiting which has been great - it was great to see her and we really appreciated her making the dinners and letting Katie and I actually sit down together and eat. Amazing! Gill was also brilliant with Sophie - mucking in and getting the nappies changed then settling down for cuddles.

Hopefully we'll get some more photos soon - we're out and about this week and hopefully getting more visitors. We're also popping down to Paul's to celebrate his birthday.

Couldn't resist some more this weekend - it's why we're blogging not facebooshing

Wee sleeping feet

In an ever increasingly complicated world of Steph v Stephen and Oman v Oman Brown, it is probably worth clearing up that I don't care what I am called and when (Stephen or Steph - just not Stevie, ok? ) and as for the surname, our family surname is Brown but Sophie has Oman as one of her middle names.

In our comprehensive pre-nuptial agreement Katie had her lawyers thrash out a clause that she be able to retain the usage of Oman but as part of this agreement I was able to protect my vast fortune, my super yacht and I also got the TV and the Sky Sports. I really like the name Oman but i think i am winning with the Sky Sports ;o)

Great Aunt Joyce

Great Uncle Ronnie

Birth tag

A spooky owl gift from our neighbours - which spookily matches the curtains.

We're all going on a Summer Holiday

Sophie perfects the "Blue Steel"

I returned to work this week, the girls were probably very pleased with the peace and quiet ;o)

It felt good to be back at work but even better to come home and have two smiling faces waiting for me.

I only have a couple of days left though and then school is out for the summer.



Then we'll be able to start our adventures for real - we have a couple of Weddings to attend and we will also get down to Kintyre for a wee holiday.

Almost time for a Summer Holiday

I'm going to take some more professional style photos at some point this week so please check back next weekend for some more updates. These ones are from my phone - and with my phone having been down the toilet at 3am on Wednesday morning the quality is probably even worse than usual.

Not ANOTHER World Cup match?

Dad, I think I need another clean nappy...

When Finlay met Sophie

Forgot to add this from the other day, when Marie and Barrie visited they brought Finlay - he's 3 months old. Needless to say Sophie and Finlay got on fabulously well.

I have told Sophie however to be wary of older men. ;o)

Two weeks in

Aaaargh! Not more football Dad?

Two weeks have now passed and Sophie gets a little bit bigger every day - whether it's getting longer or heavier we're not sure but think it is a healthy mix of both.

As I write Sophie has fallen asleep next to me whilst Brazil v Mexico is on the telly - the way the game is going I may well be joining her.

It's been busy as usual here - my Dad has been  helping me to install a dishwasher, unfortunately the pipework and the kitchen cupboards were much older than I am so we met a few complications along the way. Pleased to say that everything is now up and running and we are leak free for now. Thanks Dad.

I return to work on Thursday and then finish up for the summer next Wednesday - it'll be hard to leave Sophie-chops and Katie but it's only for a few days.

Here are some more photos of Sophie and her visitors - apologies to any visitor who doesn't get their picture taken, I don't have a strict plan to photograph ever single person but I am trying to get as many as possible.

Great Auntie Christine

Gran getting involved in bathtime

Grandad take a break from plumbing

Ok, so I'm away back to sleep.

Another busy day!

We went for a walk today, Sophie had some things to pick up at Homebase and we also had some great visitors - Marie, Barrie and the very smashing wee Finlay Duncan.

The Duncans

Alisdhair (Step-Grandad) also paid a visit which was brilliant

Alisdhair

and finally, the midwife turned up today, apparently she was on the doorstep for 10 minutes because we don't have a doorbell (ooops) but she has now discharged us, not because she was tired of standing on the doorstep, but because Sophie has been piling on the pounds and is now 7lbs 9 and a bit. All going very very well.

Anyway, enough of my chat - here are some more photos:

Sleeps like her Father

And Auntie Nicole at the hospital to visit.

And one quick one from last week when we were still in Hospital - Auntie Nicole with Sophie - I had to get a copy of this from my brother so apologies for the delay!

Auntie Nicole 

One week already since the birth.

The photos won't always come thick and fast but in these early days the camera isn't far away.

Sophie's first week has been amazing and things couldn't have went much better - thanks in part to Hilary staying with us for a while, some supportive midwives and us just about being able to cope with sleep deprivation.

All our friends and family have been amazing, showering us with gifts and cards - all three of us really appreciate it, thanks to everyone.

We've had visitors aplenty already - please feel free to let us know if you are planning a visit, we'll try and tell you a time that's best. We wouldn't like you to turn up at the "zoo" to see the "panda" and find that she's sleeping, feeding or hiding. ;o)

Sophie has been piling on the weight and she's back at her birth weight already which is great news - she seems to have an appetite to match her pizza eating champion Mother and like her Father she needs to eat every 2-4 hours.

Auntie Caroline, Auntie Shirley and Great Aunt Isobel

Taking the new pram for a spin

"on the changing mat again, oh man!"

"Thanks for my bath Mum."

Katie the new Mum

First Bath

Visitors

We've already had lots of visitors to see Sophie but yesterday we had Uncle Ewen, Auntie Andrea, Uncle Crisps, Auntie Laura, and super cousins Emily and Niamh.

(l-r) Steph, Emzo, Xavi, Uncle Crisps

Auntie Laura

Uncle "Crisps"

Uncle Ewen

Auntie Andrea

Emily, Andrea and Niamh

We also had Auntie Pam and Uncle Alan with cousin Olivia but unfortunately I was so delirious with tiredness and Sophie was needing fed so they had to leave fairly quickly although they brought amazing gifts and food so they can definitely come back any time.

There's a new adventure in town....

I have so many posts sitting here as drafts that haven't been published due to an incredibly hectic year) and many still with photos missing).

This blog however (and life itself) has now changed for ever with the arrival of our baby wee girl Sophie Elizabeth on Tuesday the 3rd of June 2014 at 5.52pm at the Southern General. Sophie weighed in at 7lbs 3oz (hospital said 7.5) and Katie was absolutely amazing during the whole thing.

Here's how the media broke the news.

We'll now be using this blog to update those that are interested in how she is getting on - we don't want to use facebook for this so please join us here for baby photos and general self indulgence. ;o)

Although convinced she was going to be late Katie finally had to give in and accept she was in labour (and going to have to cancel her shopping trip with her Mum) after experiencing pains and "feeling different" all night the night before.

We rushed to the Southern, via the house because Katie wanted to be prepared, and Katie was told that if she was wanting a pool birth then she would have to get into the pool immediately.

The birth was absolutely amazing and to see wee Sophie coming out was an unforgettable experience - especially as she looked about twice her actual size because she was underwater!

Sophie Elizabeth Brown

Proud parents

We're all home now and enjoying settling into as much of a routine as we possibly can - we'll post some more pics for now and then update you with any other stories as we feel necessary. (please ignore the date stamps from my Mum's camera - the date and time say a.m. but actually it should be p.m.)

Proud Grandad

Proud Grandparents

Proud Gran

Proud Grandparents

Proud Gran

Mum, Son, Daughter

Proud Uncle Paul - photo of Auntie Nicole to follow!

Proud Auntie Karen

Smug smile in my new pram x