~NINE~

Bethany Hope is nine days old today.

She just slept for nine hours and she weighs over nine pounds.

I am loving the number nine! I think my little girl must have read 'Contented Little Baby' as she is following a good proportion of the Gina Ford - all by herself! She has found herself a little routine, it's still flexible, she eats- plays- sleeps and repeats at varying intervals throughout the day and then eats and sleeps at night.

She sleeps so soundly and as she is a nice weight she feeds up before bed and then surprised her mummy and daddy! What a blessing. Can you tell we delight in her every moment?

We're off out for a trip today taking her out in the pram and a car journey. I'm really looking forward to it, we just haven't yet decided where to go, so much to show her!

Axx

-Voting-

And I almost forgot!
You were right when you voted, 'baby b-b' was ,overwhelmingly, a girl!

*Birth of a Baby*

Introducing:

Bethany Hope

Our beautiful baby girl was born on Wednesday 15th August 2007 at 22.17pm

Weighing a lovely 9 pounds and 5 ounces.

God blessed the labour, it was all we had been praying for during the pregnancy. She was born within 32 minutes and all the way through I (Anna ) remained completely at peace, awaiting the moment I would hear her first sounds! Our lives definitely changed, for the better, in ways we couldn't have ever imagined that night! I didn't sleep at all that first night, the thrill of giving birth to a baby and the joy I felt was overwhelming! I watched her pretty much all night long, then finally she awoke at 4am and I got to hold and play with her for a bit!

The rest of the week has been fantastic. She loves to eat, sleep and play. In varying orders throughout the day. We are really enjoying being a family and each day, no, each minute brings a new adventure! What a gift from God. We are privileged that He has given us such a precious gift, we treasure her and well, adore her!

We are all healthy. And another thing is that she sleeps during the night in 4 to 5 hour slots! Obviously we don't let her go that long in the day, we can't resist seeing her awake, cooing, making music with Daddy and having long cuddles with mummy(and the grandparents!).

With love and thankfulness for your thoughts and prayers over the past week,

Ryan, Anna and Bethany xxx

-Zimbabwe-

Just saw this on BBC news today.... Quite incredible that $200,000 still won't buy you much. Considering that Ryan's first guitar was $24,000 back in 2000. And a family friend sold their lovely big house set in 3 acres for $3 million! hmmmm...

Zimbabwe inflation hits new high

Zimbabwe's annual rate of inflation jumped to 7,638% in July according to the first official figures to be published for three months.

It is the first time that the Central Statistical Office (CSO) has released official inflation rate figures since May, when it stood at 3,714%.

The Zimbabwean government has called inflation its number one enemy.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund warned annual inflation could reach 100,000% by the end of the year.

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has said the real year-on-year inflation is far higher than the official rate - 13,000% in June.

*Parenthood!*

I love reading all that Anna has to say here. You know what its like: talk is important to ladies and even though Anna and I talk alot I can always get a little more insight by reading her blog first! Its like doing my relational homework, virtual reality and all that.

I am so pleased right now with this awesome news that was enevitable, but now that the day has arrived it is still SO amazing! So I will risk breaking the style of this blog for the seer joy of saying...

I am a Daddy!

Man, I'm gonna get one of those T-Shirts!

Baby Bethany Hope Baker-Barnes was born on Wednesday night at 10.17pm, weighing a huge 9lbs 5. Anna did so well, I am so proud of her - she grew our beautiful daughter in her for 9 months and then brought her into our lives with a strong, quiet confidence and laughing with joy at the thought that we would soon meet the kicking bump within.

Love is a hard thing to explain when it is real. I cannot yet explain how i felt and feel. I am in love again - renewed for Anna and awoken for my daughter. I got to hold Bethany, all wrapped up for the first hour of her life, and she was so contended just to be in Daddy's arms. I see that picture whenever I close my eyes now, her little face looking at me. The mid-wife informed me that babies are not able to focus their eyes for the first few weeks; but that did not distract my though that she was gazing back at me.

Soon you meet her; soon you will hear more praise about her; and sooner still Anna will write another amazingly insighful blog.

- Nine months and counting-

Here are a few pictures from the week of the 'due date'


Ryan at 40 weeks!

Anna at 40 weeks!

Bump from Anna's view point.... Looking at it now it does look a bit round but honestly, when I look down it looks so perfect and as if my little baby is very comfortable.

Walking, walking, walking.

-Education-

I know I'm on maternity leave. I know that I am probably the least test focused teacher in, well about a mile's radius from my house. I know that I care more about the children than about how well they do.
But when the new Minister of Education announces that only 0.14% of primary school time is taken up with SATS. And only 5 hours in the last few weeks of primary is dedicated to the 'test'.

I somehow can't believe it.

He honestly thinks that Year 6 is a year of teaching and learning, completely disassociated from wait for it... SATS!? I think that, perhaps, he needs to spend time in school. Any school. Not just the one I taught at, where, even I got caught up in making sure 'my' children were well revised in all aspects of Literacy. I even tried with the Numeracy group (if you knew me while I was teaching, you'd understand how funny this is). But anyway bet you didn't know that 5-2=11 and that 5x5=50. Yes, that is what it was like.

Anyway. Testing is really big today. As I just got a letter inviting me to be a 'marker' for a pilot test that the primary children will be taking in December. Trying to work out exactly how old B-B will be, whether I will want to leave the house from 5-9pm to do group marking and how much it will pay... I think I preferred mystery shopping!

Life continues. I am trying to learn a few new skills. I wanted to make this:

But it was a little tricky. And, I am sorry to admit that I have given up. I wonder what new things the rest of the day has in store. Baby? Baking? Well, I'm definitely having a (double) vanilla latte at King Cup later on. That is if Lumi doesn't mind giving me caffeine! Axx

~It is perfect~ or coffee

I think it's important that I am having such a blissful and relaxing time as I prepare for our baby. My days have been perfect and at the end of each one, I think to myself
"today would have been a perfect day for the baby to be born..."

On Thursday, Elle took me out for a Starbucks she had an iced Caramel Macchiato and I had a delicious Caramel Macchiato:

A signature Starbucks® beverage.
Vanilla and steamed milk are permeated with intense
Starbucks® espresso and topped with velvety foam
and our own proprietary buttery caramel

Who'd have thought my sister would drink coffee. No really. Brought up in a family of coffee drinkers, whose parents regularly upgraded coffee machines, who when on holiday could turn anything into a coffee percolator with a paper filter, who might possibly have been the first people to purchase an at home espresso making with latte frothing properties machine(which we have inherited, yes it is old-fashioned, but it is a perfectly sized latte maker!) I mean, there is still room for you to have a food processor, microwave, scales, kettle etc filling up your work surface not just a professional sized coffee machine with ALL the functions! Can you guess who has one of those? Well, Elle didn't like coffee, but the iced coffee is altogether different! I'm so proud of her changing taste buds!

Then we went back home and wished for the sun to shine! As soon as it did, we went for a walk, yes I was am nine months pregnant. And the walk was so lovely. The amount of stares we got from the fishermen at the lake was hilarious. Yes I am pregnant, yes I am walking.... Fun times!


The rest of the weekend was filled with
meals out we found the most beautiful restaurant on the way to Wolverhampton. Only last Sunday, Ryan was taking one of our Canadian friends out for dinner and he asked the barman for a Vanilla Latte. Although, you can imagine the answer was 'no'. We have now found a lovely place that not only serves delicious food, but also real lattes and coffee. Well, just a week too late for Samuel, but next time...
brisk walks (!) need I say more.

And today. I will be resting, reading and cooking a roast leg of lamb.

Axx

-The First of August 2007-

So, here it is, the 1st August 2007. We have been waiting for this month, well, for nine months! As we drove home last night we were like August is almost here. That means that baby is almost here..... big smiles!

The baby is doing really well, his/her heart beat was so loud yesterday at the appointment and, personally, I think that he/she is ready to be born. I know that it could be another 2 weeks MAX! But deep down, B-B can't wait another two weeks and would quite like to enter the world, well, anytime really.

Yesterday we went to a really nice BBQ at Farmer James' farm. We, that is me and Elle, asked if we could see the new-born calves, and he gave us a whole tour of the dairy and the baby cows. To think they are four days old and that BIG. Wow. James said that he has to separate the calves from their mums after 12 hours.

He doesn't think that they miss their mums. But he did say he has never asked them... He probably thinks I'm a town girl with no cattle skills! I know they were calves, but still seeing twenty perfect little calves made me want our perfect little B-B to arrive.

We'll be three soon. Until then I'll keep baking, ironing and washing, oh and while it's here - enjoying the sunshine xx