Christmas Hair Crisis!

Christmas Crisis... Maddie is going bald! All her baby hair is falling out and she had to face her first Christmas with nothing but a bit of fluff on top and old man tufts at the back and sides! Simes keeps teasing her and calling her 'little Bobby Charlton"! Luckily she overcame her crisis to have a truly wonderful first Christmas. Although we were sad to be on the other side of the world from our family and most of our friends, we were welcomed by Nattie's parents, Pam and Mike, at their gorgeous house in Stanmore. This is the third Christmas that Simes and I have spent with the Freedmans and each year gets more and more spectacular. Nattie's mum Pam cooked for 16 of us and spoiled us all rotten. Maddie was "the bell of the ball" and was drowned in kisses and cuddles. We all stayed the night and enjoyed a very indulgent Boxing Day brunch before heading home to sloth in front of the TV.

Simes has 3 weeks off work over Christmas and the three of us have been having a blast hanging out together. It's bloody cold outside, but that hasn't stopped us from taking Maddie to the Notting Hill Markets and for walks in Hyde Park and around Maida Vale. The Truth is, she sleeps through most of our outdoor adventures, but we take plenty of photo's to prove to her that she is a little "minx about town"!

We are really looking forward to spending New Years Eve at Richard and Jane's beautiful house in Clapham. So much has happened in 2006 - the same group of friends that were all hideously drunk at a beach house in Cornwell last new years eve are getting back together to see in 2007... the difference is we are now all married, up-the-duff or with child! How times change.

Wishing you a spectacular Christmas and an even more wonderful 2007 xxxxx

A Royal Visit

Little Madeleine had a super busy week with lots of visits from friends and her first big outing. Benny and I took her to Kensington Palace to see the Mario Testino photographs of Princess Diana. She had a lovely afternoon which included a stroll around the Palace, afternoon tea in the Palace Cafe and a lovely walk through Hyde Park (see pics).

She is a beautiful little soul and is getting more and more animated each day. Her gummy smiles are adorable and they make the night feeds much more bearable. She has started to recognise our voices and is fascinated to hear her daddy's voice when he calls from work during the day. One of her favourite activities is when Simes gives her an early evening bath... she is quite the water baby (see pics).

Benny (otherwise known as Mrs Doubtfire) left us earlier today and is on his way home to Sydney (huge thanks to Richie for the temporary loan) . He filled our lives with laughter while he was here and little Maddy fell for him 'hook, line and sinker'.... so much so that she asked him to be her Godfather and was thrilled when he accepted. Simes and I are eternally grateful to him for being such an amazing friend.

Take care & lots of love xxxxxxxx

Maddy the Minx Hits the Town

Little Maddy has been spotted around Maida Vale being carried by Daddy in her Baby Bjorn. She absolutely loves this mode of transport and dozes off withing five minutes of leaving the house.

London winter has kicked in and the days are getting shorter, but there are still glimpses of sunshine and little Maddy is a ray of light.

Lots of love,
Maddy, Simes and Smythie xxx

3 Weeks Old and Smiling

Here are some more pics of little Madeleine Grace. She blessed us with her first smiles this week. It might have had something to do with the fact that Benny arrived from Sydney on Thursday (he has put a smile on all of our faces). Little Maddy went to her first dinner party at Simon and Natalie's house and loved being part of the social scene! Cuddles all round.

Take care and much love xxxx

Our First Outing

Our beautiful baby girl is changing every day. There is nothing more wonderful than looking down and seeing new eye lashes growing and her little neck getting stronger and her eyes becoming more alert and engaged. Simes and I are both completely in love with her. She enjoyed her first outing last weekend (see pics)... sadly, her first adventure was not wildly exciting (a walk to Tesco and back)! It was just wonderful to get out of the house.

All the grandparents are now safely back in Australia and we all miss them dearly. We treasured every moment of having them in London. Maddy has had lots of lovely visits from our wonderful friends... and the great news is that her uncle Benny has decided to visit from Sydney and arrives in London on Thursday (a last minute decision to come and rescue Maddy's mad mother and share the short grey winter days with us for a few weeks!).

Being a parent is the most extraordinary feeling in the world... but I have to admit that the lack of sleep is a killer. Simes is having some cuddle time... so I'm off to catch some zzzzzzzz

All our love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS: Uncle Mikey - I have attached a pic of the little baby gym you gave her. She is too tiny to really enjoy it at this stage, but I wanted to show you how fab it is.

Family Life

Simes, Madeleine and I are starting settle into a nice little family routine of breasts (Maddy - not Simes), cuddles, poo, wee and sleep. Sadly, I am on the graveyard shift and my sleep now seems to be some time between 7am and 9pm... all a bit nocturnal really.

Madeleine is officially a daddy's girl and as you can see from the attached pics, she is rather keen on a cuddle with her pappa.

Her midwife, Margaret (see pic), comes to weigh her every couple of days. Turns out I need to rest more so that I can produce more milk (who would have thought that these knockers would have issues producing milk!). I had better go and have a snooze.

Love to you all xxxxxxx

Baby Madeleine Grace Nicholls Makes an Entrance!

Simes and I are incredibly proud to introduce you to baby Madeleine Grace Nicholls. She was born at 10.40am on Tuesday October 31st, 2006 weighing 8lbs 4oz after a very long labour. She was lucky enough to be delivered the old fashioned way (and boy does mummy have the stitches to prove it!) and without any drugs thanks to her amazingly supportive daddy. Simes has been truly wonderful throughout the entire pregnacy and judging by the way he and Maddy have bonded, there is no doubt that he is going to be the worlds greatest dad too.

All the grandparents were in London to greet her and they have showered us with their love and support, which has been a life saver.

Madeleine is positively beautiful and apart from the sleepless nights, her daddy and I have never been happier or more in love.

Sincere thanks to everyone for your kind wishes and gorgeous cards and gifts. We will be in touch with you all once we are back in the land of the living.

Here are a couple of pics of the little lady. Enjoy.

Love to you all xxxx

Still Waiting for Little Nicholls...

We thought it was time post a quick update to let you know that little Nicholls still hasn't made an entrance into the world. It is now five days overdue and seems to be very comfortable inside Smythie's pot belly. We have tried, curries, sex, long walks (see Smythie at Hampstead Heath), hot baths, rasperry leaf tea and just about everything else, but it seems that the little person just doesn't like the idea of an English winter! It looked like we were going to have some labour action yesterday afternoon, but it turned out to be a false alarm.

The grandparents-to-be are now all in London and waiting with baited breath for the new arrival.

We hope all is well in your worlds. Will keep you posted on any excitments.

Take care & much love,
Simes, Smythie and little Nicholls xxx

Dad-To-Be... Pops Piklz

The wait is on... Smythie 9 months up-the-duff!

Smythie after Baby Shower - what a pot!

Smythie & Simes at Richard & Janes Wedding (Sept 06)

Little Nicholls... due any minute!

On January 1st of 2006 (new years day), Simes and Smythie decided that it might be time to start a family. They hoped to be pregnant by the end of 2006. By the first week of February, Smythie was up the duff!

Today is October 17th and little Nicholls is due to arrive on Sunday October 22nd. The nursery is ready, the crib is made up, the little clothes are washed, Smythie has finished work and is climbing the walls in anticipation.

Simon's parents (Kathy and the Dodge) arrived on October 2nd and have been drinking their way around London, Cornwell, Bristol and Birmingham visiting family etc. They had not returned to the UK since emigrating to Australia 40 years ago, so it is a pretty amazing trip for them. Birmingham included the event of a lifetime for Simon and the Dodge as they ventured to Villa Park to watch their beloved Aston Villa (who drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur).

Smythie's parents (Rozzie and Christopher) arrive on Sunday October 22nd for the big event. Wonderful time.

Fingers crossed for a peaceful and safe birth.