Lily Boo: Do the bump.

It all started when Emma felt sick in Tesco at the end of September 2006. Sure enough, 11 weeks later...

By Christmas, a bit of a bump could be seen. In fact, Emma felt the first little flutterings of something in her tummy on Christmas day.

So we both had to start getting ready.

By New Year, the bump was coming along nicely.

Which meant letting a bridesmaid's dress out a little bit.

Then, in late January we went for a second scan. The lady asked us if we wanted to know the sex. When we said yes, she told us, "I think it's a little girl."

The bump then grew and grew and grew...

Although you still can't see it from behind!

Mind you, there's a lot of it about.

For now, all we can do is wait. It could be any time.

37 weeks...

The nursery is ready.

And we've bought a good car sea... hey, get out of there!

38 weeks. Little pains every 16 minutes for an hour or so last night. Stand by...

Into the 39th week. Due date is just five days away.

A couple of days before due date, Emma had to go to the hospital with high blood pressure. She's fine and the baby seems fine. But the doctors say they want to induce next week.

We went in so the doctors could induce labour. But Emma was told they couldn't fit her in for another 3 days. They wouldn't let her go home until she'd had a 'quick' blood test and a doctor had okayed it. That was over 8 hours ago and she still hasn't been allowed out. Not because anything is wrong, but because they can't get their act together. It's been a very low day. But we did have a nice walk around the grounds in the sunshine earlier.

Well, Lily Boo couldn't wait another 3 days. On Wednesday night, Emma began to feel pains. By the time we went to the hospital next morning, Emma was already 6cm dilated. And by 9.20pm, weighing 8lbs 5oz, our beautiful baby girl had arrived.

Emma was fantastic. No-one could believe how calm and brave she was. Apart from one shot of diamorphine halfway through, Emma managed on just gas and air and didn't scream once.

I'd like to say I was a rock and a tower of strength. Sadly, I was a quivering jelly of a man. At one point, the doctor asked me if I was going to faint.

It all got a little fraught at the end, and suddenly the room was full of concerned doctors and midwives, talking about assisted deliveries. But Emma made one last gargantuan effort and pushed Lily out. All that effort certainly took its toll.

I was asked to pick out some clothes for the baby to be dressed in as soon as she was born. Somehow, the 'I love Daddy' babygrow found its way to the top of the pile.

Lily Boo was kept in for 24 hours for observation.

There was a slight feeding problem, so she and Emma had to stay another night, but the following morning, everything seemed to be fine.

So Lily prepared for her first voyage out into the world.

We finally got to bring our baby home.

Now, a little over six months since we first saw her waving at us on the 12 week scan, we're together as a family.

And finally, Lily Boo - The Movie. Here's a short clip of Lily just 20 minutes after she had been born.

Had a home visit from the Community Midwife today. Lily Boo is doing well. She feeds then sleeps, then feeds, then sleeps, then feeds then... well, you get the idea.

And following on from the success of Lily Boo - The Movie, we are proud to present...

(Click on the picture to view the clip.)

We will never speak of this.

A nice sleepy morning today. Not like yesterday when we had to race up to the hospital. Thankfully, it was a false alarm though.

We're not sure what Lily's hair will be like. Light brown and very curly at a guess.

We took Lily shopping. There's a general consensus that she looks a bit like her Dad. Today, a complete stranger saw her, then saw me and said, "She looks just like you, are you the father?" Poor Lily Boo...

Lily Boo is one week old today. Now that's something worth blogging.

This time last week, she was all squashed up inside Emma's tummy. But now, she's out and showing us her moves. 1, 2, 3, 4...

This morning, we took Lily out in the baby carrier. We went as far as the local shop. Judging by how my back feels after less than an hour, I have a new found admiration for how Emma coped getting around during those last months of pregnancy.

Friday. 4pm. Must be hat o'clock.

Friday. 5.30pm. Sleepy girls.

Group hug!

There's nothing Lily likes more than a little boob snoozin'.

Today, Lily Boo had her first 'proper' bath.

She didn't care for it much. Must take after her Daddy.

Parent and child parking. How exciting!

Just look how many grandparents Lily Boo has. She's a lucky girl.

I think it's safe to say that the cats are starting to get used to her.

Great news today. The Community Midwife came for her final home visit and she weighed Lily. Babies lose weight after they're born, and when the midwife weighs them a fortnight or so later, hopefully the baby will be back to its birth weight. Lily Boo weighed 8lbs 5oz when she was born. Today, aged 11 days, she weighs exactly 9lbs. So Emma's doing a fabulous job with the feeding.

This being a Dad lark is a doddle. Click on this picture to see a movie of a nappy change that's as slick as an F1 pit stop.

Looks like Lily Boo has made a new friend.

Afternoon snooze on Daddy while he updates the blog (she's still asleep on me as I'm typing this).

Sometimes, Lily cries and cries and there doesn't seem to be any reason why. But a trip in the magic baby carrier always settles her down. Emma took her out into the garden this morning...

...and sure enough, within seconds...

Whose room is this again?

One of the nice things about people coming to visit is that they take group photos of all three of us.

Look at those curls!

My return to work was remarked upon in an all-staff email.

Uh oh. Lily Boo misbehaves for her Mummy and screams the house down. Click on this picture to watch - but if you have speakers, you're well advised to turn them down...