Three Beautiful Things

1. It's a day of visitors. First PaulV comes round to meet Alec and take a few photos. Then in the evening, Katie and Jules drop by for their introduction. It is so good to see some non-baby people. 2. We tell the midwife about this morning's baby grow filler poomagedon experience. She shows us how to put a nappy on -- properly this time. "You can do the tabs up tighter than you think." And despite the extreme off-loading, Alec has put on a pleasing few ounces. 3. While Nick gets ready for bed, I sit at the kitchen table typing a post one-handed with Alec on my knee. Picture by Paul Viney

Wow, it's photographarama today. First, two beautiful things from my mother. a. Today a white van came rattling down the track and a small movement in  the far top corner of the field turned into an avalanche of sheep  pouring towards us bleating anxiously. 'I hope you've brought something  for them too' I said to the delivery man. 'How odd' he replied and  climbed back into the van... after handing  me the parcel from John  Lewis. A natural lambskin for carseats and strollers! b. Every where has been covered in frost all day and this morning a pure  white pheasant appeared on the garden steps, but not for long. And here are my beautiful things: 1. Two of my friends post on Facebook pictures of their babies. Oli is doing a tarot card series of his son (I particularly like the Tower built from Duplo, and the guest appearance by a big sister as the Priestess); while Paul has posed his little boy in tableaux from famous films. The Good, The Bad...

1. Late Christmas presents -- my aunt, uncle and cousins were away for Christmas, so we've only managed to meet up now. 2. A compartment box of beads for adding to embroidery. It's plastic, so when I rub it with my sleeve, the tiny beads stick to the lid. 3. My aunt is a born 3BTer in her photographs. She gets pictures of mushrooms and uncurling ferns and butterflies.