To sleep, perchance to dream...

I have long been notorious for early rising and for not needing more than about 6 hours sleep a night - well now, dear readers, I can tell you that the 6 hours has to be unbroken. The advent of the little mite, Lily Beatrice, and her habit of getting snackish at frequent intervals in the small hours of the morning means that I am getting to bed at the customary 23h30 or midnight, waking every hour or ninety minutes and then rolling out of bed, zombie-like, at 06h00. All this after starting, as can be seen from the picture adjacent, with a fierce sleep debt anyway. I got back from Germany the Wednesday night the induction process started, slept very little (although admittedly more than Marcela did) until the eventual C section on the Friday morning, spent much of the weekend at the hospital and on the Monday when I had to collect the little item (in a Health and Safety approved car seat, no carrying baby in one's arms allowed), I was pretty shattered. Tuesday morning and off to Germany again on the redeye (this often means the 06h50 from Stansted so an 03h00 shower and breakfast before the 85 mile drive to the airport).

I know that the ladies amongst my extensive readership will be tossing their heads in disgust already, delicate hands crumpling their petit point as they become enraged at my whinings. "Think of poor Marcela" they cry. Well yeah, but I don't get to sleep during the day you see. Although many who have watched me work would be taxed to spot a difference. Still, I am a tired puppy right now I must admit. But all worth it, of course, for the tender moments when she sleeps on my chest and for the hilarious moments like today when she sneezed while Granny was changing her nappy. Hilarious for me at least, the Valsalva-like manoeuver of sneezing with her whole body meant her internal presssure increased sharply, squeezing out a mustard yellow spray which I must say Granny took in good grace.

So all in all a very interesting time. Lily grows apace - she gained 300g since birth (in 2 weeks, that is) and according to our rough measurements she is now 4,8kg and 55cm tall. A ways to go to match her dad - she lacks 130cm and er, shall we say over 100kg, but still I think she'll be a bonny lass.