Two weeks on

Little Iris seems to be settling in nicely. Waking only once on the whole but I am sofa sleeping so I can work. Caitlyn may tell a different story.
Asking for lots of family to be around has proved a winner, would have been very hard on our own.
More pictures posted if you click on any other pics to take you to the albums.

Iris Belle McCarthy Johnson

Well its been so long since I have posted anything that we have made and had another baby!
Iris Belle was born on the 21st of July at 1.30 in the morning at home in the same room and the same pool as Matilda Bean two and half years earlier. Both Caitlyn and Iris Belle are just fine (although Caitlyn is a little sore) and sitting on the sofa napping as I write this. Matilda is upstairs having forty winks also and is taking it all in her stride at the moment. She likes kissing and stroking her new sister and tells her 'its alright' when she cries.
The 'Belle' in Iris's name is in memory of our wonderful Bella Nana as well as alluding to the little pickles beauty!
All a bit weary after the sleepless nights and high emotions of the past couple of days but being well supported by Nana Johnson and Grandma Garrard who have been superstars of cooking cleaning and mothering.
Please click on the picture below to see lots of pictures and video of our lovely girls.

Will post again soon for the California and Amsterdam contingent to see everything that is going on.

She is nearly 2!

I cant believe it was a year ago I posted on this site....its been a busy year and a fantastic time for all the family. Matilda Bean is talking in fairly clear sentences now and is not shy in telling the world what she wants.
She helped me sand down a coffee table with the electric sander (delighted) and hoovered up the dust.
Ms Bean can be seen cooking up a storm in her Christmas wooden kitchen and wont be long before she is cooking dinner for real.
I have placed a link to a different site in the blog called OVI which uploads all the pictures/video I take on my phone automatically so please take a look regularly to catch up with the Bean and I will carry on blogging this year (unlike last!)

Nearly 1

Well Christmas and New year are done and Caitlyn, Matilda and I hosted a family Christmas and cooked the dinner....which officialy makes us grown ups!
Caitlyn goes back to work next week which is a little daunting for all concerned....well apart from Ms Bean who is taking everything in her stride bar sleeping in her own cot, well why would you when mummy and daddies bed is bigger warmer and cossier?
Its been an amazing year and now it is us being cliched about how quickly it has gone and how fast lovely bean has grown.Its her birthday in two weeks and we are having a little party and naming ceremony, but more of that when it is done. Lots of Christmas picks going up.
Love to all and a happy new year. x

Christmas Bean

A Welsh adventure

8 month bean

This weekend has been one of firsts for all the family.
I (Caitlyn) have been away on a yoga retreat and had my first full nights sleep in 8 months. Words can not describe my joy.
Lyndon has held the fort at home with Nana Johnson and Matilda Bean has slept in her own cot, in her own room, for the WHOLE night. This is a very exciting development in the McCarthy-Johnson household.

We have also had our very first family holiday. After months of slogging away at the house (just the hallway and two bedrooms then we're done!)and adjusting to being new parents, we couldn't wait for our two week break. Long lie-ins, lazy days reading and eating and chilling. Aaaaah...
After a solid seven hours of packing up the car (why do such small people require so much kit?), we eventually set off to our little cottage retreat in Wales. The setting couldn't have been more idyllic (see pics) and the wood burner and pet pheasant really made the place special.
Just as we'd made our first cup of tea and kicked off our shoes, Ms Matilda roared her head off as a way to let us know that now, just at the beginning of our stress-free holiday, right this minute, she was going to cut her first tooth - which would take just about two weeks. Hmmm...
Suffice to say, we have lived to tell the tale and Ms Bean has a lovely pair of gnashers in the middle of her bottom gum.
Matilda is now sitting up, almost crawling forwards (to be fair, it's more like dragging herself along the floor) and saying mummy and dada. She has also had her first weekend being looked after by her Grandam and Grandad (whilst her parent's re-discovered debauchery in London for the evening).
We have also booked Matilda into a nursery for one day, starting in a few weeks time, to get her used to the idea that others can care for her so it's not such a shock when I go back to work in the new year. Fact is, she'll love being with the other children - she's such a sociable bean.
See new pics via the link below.

Green poo and baby rice

Matilda Bean is now a very grand 5 months old and a couple of days ago lunched on some baby rice. The first thing to pass her lips not from her mums breast. A week of green poo suggested that she may be getting a little peckish and the rice seems to go down a treat (seasoned with a little breast milk).
Ms Bean is full of joy exploring toys by eating them, starting to reach out for people and taking an interest in everything the world has to show her. Great Aunt Anne sent her a lovely card when she was born that read "Show me a day that the world wasnt new" and Matilda has taken that to heart.
Aunt Petra has sent Matilda the first blanket she has ever knitted (in the picture) to keep her warm, which she has been thankful for when napping in what is turning out to be a wet English summer.
We are all working hard on the house still and will have a carpet down in the front room in time for the Bean to crawl on.
New pics uploaded so please click on this one to see them.

5 Months On

The Building Site

A word of advice to anyone considering how to tackle a house renovation. DONT live in the house whilst builders tear it apart....rent a flat, move back to your parents or buy a tent but dont stay in the house. At least Matilda Bean seems not to care!

The lovely Bean is now mimcking sounds and expressions (Johns rasberry's in particular) and is using her hans to shake rattles and squish toys, captured the first time she did this at Mums in Bridport, check the pic.
Caitlyn and I are praying for normality to return to our home but are keeping in mind our goals and looking forward to chilling out when its all done.

Hope people are coming to the party on Chisel Beach weekend of 3rd June, details on the photo album if I have not emailed or posted an invite to ya!

So Matlilda has grown out of all her 0-3 Month stuff and Caitlyn and I are uttering cliche's when we see newborns 'they grow so quickly'. But they do and she has, health visitor will let us know what weight she has put on tomorrow, if she can get past the skip.

13 Weeks