Welcome home

Hello Fred,

You arrived with us on Thursday 13th June 2013 at 9.23 am with a splash. As planed you were a water-birth at home, and due to your big shoulders (second row here we come) your mum had to stand and move around to get you out. Luckily this mild inconvenience was the only real drama of what was a very smooth, if slightly long, labor.

Your mum started early on Monday morning, moaning in her sleep in an unusual, slightly rhythmic way. As the day progressed the feelings she were having came and went, sometimes a few altogether, sometimes they'd disappear for a couple of hours. This continued into Tuesday, and by Tuesday afternoon we called the midwife, a lovely lady called Jenny, to see how we were doing. "Not today", she said, "have a nice hot curry and we'll see about either tonight or tomorrow.

The curry was nice, and by Wednesday morning things were moving at a brisker pace. Again we called the midwife, and Becky, who was covering Jenny's patients while she was on holiday, came over and confirmed that your mum was 4 cms dilated. Good we thought, as your mum had been very uncomfortable, and the surges now were getting very strong. "I'll inform the on-call midwife to expect a call tonight from you".

However, by the evening, the surges had got less rhythmic, and after a quick chat with the midwife, we decided to head to bed.

2 am and your mum couldn't get comfy, so we decided to sit downstairs and doze for a bit. By 4am, your mum said "I feel strange". I called the midwife

"I'm on my way", This was Carly, the on-call midwife for the night shift.

With your mum on her bouncy ball and me trying to heat the pool up to the correct Temp, Carly arrived and could see that your arrival was getting close, a quick call to her colleague and we got your mum ready for birth. As soon as she hit the pool your mum felt better, but her body was telling her to push. The rest I barely remember as I was solely concentrating on helping you into the world. I do remember your mum feeling your head and then wishing you to pop out. Then with a little jiggling, out you popped. I was so wrapped up in the moment I forgot to tell your mum what you were.

Now, you may remember that I had a feeling you would be a girl, well, I can say I was wrong, you are a beautiful, bouncy boy. Which threw a spanner in the works cos we now didn't have any names for you (if you were a girl you would have been called Rowena Winifred).

Luckily, I had always known that I needed to see you to be able to name you properly if you were a boy. You have a Gaelic look to you, inheriting some of my stubbornness and spirit, along with your mums looks and both of our tallness. So capturing your spirit we have decided on Aiden, and of course, your middle name will be Frederick.

Welcome to the world my son, I love you so very very much, and though you are only a few days old your impact on my life has been tremendous. Not the lack of the sleep, or the way i feel when you cry, but the overwhelming feeling of love and devotion I have for you. I'm watching you sleep right now, with a beaming smile on my face simply because you are here.

Now, I will continue writing these notes to you as you grow, cos my memory is terrible and I want you to have a record of what your life was like when you were young. However, now we get to share the adventure.

Talk soon,

All my love

Dad xxx

It's the final countdown!

Well Fred,

We are about a week away from your arrival and I’m very, very excited. Though I think the realisation that you are almost here is setting in for both your mum and I. We’ve been busy sorting out your room and your sleeping arrangements for when you are born, the line is full of clothes, cloths and other such things that you’ll need once your hear and I’ve been busy with screwdriver ensuring cot and crib are ready for you.

Your mum is doing amazingly well, and is now about ready to get her own body back I think. The aches are getting worse and your wiggling at night is keeping us both up. I think it’s a subtle training regime to get me ready for the sleepless nights to come.

Names are still proving to be an issue. If you’re a girl you’re ok. If you’re a boy then be prepared as it will either be something cool, or weird, or just Fred.

I cannot wait to meet you, and hold you. And then take you out in your snazzy Dr Who wrap that we’ve got for you. Not looking forward to all of the trials that are ahead of us, but I’m not looking too far into the future. Just wish that I could do more to help you into the world, and just know I would gladly swap with your Mum if I could. But your mum is a very strong, determined woman and given her stubbornness I’m sure your arrival will be drama free.

One thing is for certain, you will be surrounded by the most generous, the most loving people you can possibly imagine, even if some of them are a little mad.

Not long now,

Dad xxx