Looking Festive in my new gear

Thanks to Ralph and Claire for Aston's new outfit. We think he looks a bit like Santa's Little Helper in this outfit which is a festive velvet texture and will probably be good for the UK at Xmas - if the little porker hasn't outgrown it by then. Rob's not so sure about the get-up however as the easy access to nappy removal facility (ie button down at front) is not apparent as it's a button's down at the back number. Equals more difficult exercise.

Aston in the Bath

We've finally gotten used to the bath experience - and had our first non scream the house down bath today. On some occassions he actually looked like he may have enjoyed the experience.

Baths are supposed to be very relaxing for babies, Aston is still warming to this idea but thanks to Glen and Cheri and our baby bath temperature monitor we're pretty confident plonking him in and knowing that the temperature is just right.

We're also using the portable, blow up bath thanks to Raylee - though after I went a bit light headed blowing it up the first time, we don't bother to deflate it each time and store it under the sink in one of the bathrooms. Much easier.

Baby Gap Rocks

Here's Aston modeling his gorgeous Baby Gap all-in-one from Jenny, Brian and Pat.

I've also captured a moment between Aston and Pooh Bear. He's starting to make lots of little noises now, sounds, sigh's and well cry's but whenever we plonk him on the change table (come cheap Ikea coffee table) to change his nappy he looks around for Pooh Bear and then directs a range of little noises towards the bear. I'm not sure if he can actually make out Pooh's feature's yet or if he is attrached to the fetching red Jersey and soft feel of the Bear. Either way it makes changing his nappy a much easier task as he's so preoccupied he hardly notices these days.

Pram Outings

We've now had four little outings in the pram with increasing success each time.

Outing 1 - the night we came home from Hospital we walked down to the local supermarket to get milk, bread etc. Aston screamed all the way there and all the way back.

Outing 2 - shopping to Dubai Festival City for a breast pump and steriliser equipment from Toys R Us and Nursing Bra's from Marks & Spencers. We timed out departure straight after a feed and Aston slept all the way there and all the way back - he didn't even know he left the house

Outing 3 - to dinner at Waggamamma's with friends. We tried to repeat the same performance as with outing too but the little bugger wasn't too interested in sleeping (probably because he's most alert in the early evenings). Anyway he went really well, was somewhat perplexed by his surroundings and only screamed towards the end when it was getting close to another marathon feeding moment.

Outing 4 - to start the long and arduous process of obtaining his birth certificate in arabic and english. To a local government hospital. We accidently walked into the Labour & Delivery Cell Block first - boy are we glad we didn't give birth there. He behaved beautifully despite being surrounded by hundred's of indian workers lining up for the visa blood tests.

Here's how comfy he now looks in the rolls royce of baby pram.

Thanks Jenny, Brian and Pat

Aunt Jenny and Uncle Brian returned from their high-jinks at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Cardiff and brought Aston back the most GORGEOUS set's of clothes for him to wear.

Pat has also given him some very cute clothes that will be perfect for when we are in the UK at Xmas as - much like the bootie post below - we're a little short on clothes suitable for cooler climates much less the snowy conditions of the UK over Christmas. Aston is without doubt going to look like one cool kid this winter and we look forward to visiting Pat, Jenny and Brian in Cardiff between Xmas and New Year.

You may also note from this set of photo's just how much weight the wee one has put on in the last week. It's a non stop feeding frenzy at this end. The panic that set's in if he's not given the chance to eat within minutes of waking up each time is truely amazing. So here he is in a rather fetching number from Marks & Spencers which Jenny had given us before he was born, and dwarfed by his pooh bear from Jenny, Brian and Pat.

In fact, the Pooh Bear now sits on the corner of the change table area as it catches and holds his attention long enough to allow us to change his nappy each time with the minumum of fuss.

Aston's also started making a range of little noises which he directs at Pooh Bear while waiting for a clean nappy to be afixed.

Thanks Julie Archibald for Aston's gorgeous clothes

A huge thanks to Julie Archibald for sending over a special gift of hand knitted booties, jacket and hat.

The booties have come in SO handy as we have a lot of clothes for Aston with no legs or feet and discovered very quickly in this air conditioned Miami in the desert - his little feet and toes and head gets hmmm a tad cold.

So we've been wearing the booties almost every day and even managed to get a bit of poo on the white ones when I forgot to take them off before changing a nappy and his little kicking feet got in the way of my clean up operation. Lucky they washed up beautifully.

Ta Daaaaaaaa - Aston Eric Richard Dales

Amist much pain and the inneffective pleasures of a failed epidural and emergency c-section we are proud to introduce baby Dales in all his cute glory.

Check this website often for the latest photo's and updates on the wee one!