3 Weeks Old!

Monday, 18 December

Beatrice hit the big 21 day mark today. To celebrate we did lots of things out and about in London. We went to Hamley's, London's big toy store (think FAO Schwartz), to Christmas shop for her cousin Eleanor and her. We met Ryan and Zack at the store and spent a good hour fighting the crowds around lunch time. But we emerged successfully laden down with presents. Beatrice was in heaven (ie, asleep). Then we all piled in a taxi and went to Borough Market - to let the adults celebrate with an oyster lunch at Wright's Oyster Bar. The beef, Guinness and oyster pie was divine.

After dropping Zack off at work and leaving Ryan to explore the docks, Beatrice and I raced back up to our house to meet Carolyn (Walters) McCarthy, a friend of mine from Grady High School. We hadn't seen each other in 10 years! And now that we're both mothers we had a lot to catch up on. Unfortunately her little boy Liam had a cold and couldn't come with her to visit, but we're hoping to get a visit in with them in Atlanta in April. It was so nice to catch up - it's amazing how fast 10 years goes!


In the afternoon, the little Milk Dud and I had a great time cooing and playing with the rabbit Damien and Tamieka got for her. She loves the rabbit and will watch it intently, following it with her eyes if you move it. And I got two coos from Beatrice during the day - oh what wonderful sounds. Poor Zack tried most of the evening to get coos from her...


And unfortunately it seems we have "an irritable baby" according to Dr Spock. She has all the symptoms - crying uncontrollably for 3-4 hours from 6pm-10pm (although Beatrice tends towards a bit later in the evening). You can pick her up and she stops for 1 minute, then starts again. I particularly enjoyed Dr Spock's advice for those with really irritable babies - "sedatives for the mother". Nice - mommy's little yellow helper. Seriously though, it is a very good book. It is a bit dated - everything is written assuming the father only "helps out" - but other than that I have found it very helpful. I like that it is written assuming you want to raise a good, healthy child - not create the next Einstein.