Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, Oma arrived safely this morning at 10am and already has taken over feeding. She spent a good hour unloading so many gifts of clothes and things from her suitcase. We are so thankful for them all and would just like to say a big THANKS to everyone who sent us a gift by post or by Oma... Colin, Heather and Isla (Somewhere under all her new outfits)...

Dear Diary, Isla has been home for a week now and is settling in very well. Here are some new photo's for you all.. Aunty Marg was on the phone with Heather just in the last 1/2 hour, so these are the pictures promised. Heather on the phone. Isla in her cot. We have also received many flowers from people, even some tulips, heather's favourites.. That's all for now folks, thankyou for all the prayers and best wishes for us. Colin, Heather and Isla..

Dear Diary, Isla and mummy came home at last on thursday night. It is now saturday and the little one seems to be settling in just fine. The midwives have been to visit, both called Ann, and are happy with the progress they are both making. It has been interesting how the cats have responded, very gently they come on over to see the new arrival, maybe they smell the milk. Pearl has been making strange faces when Isla cries, but we're keeping a close eye on them both. But judging from these two pictures they're not too upset. Heather will be back to adding more notes to our blog shortly, so for now that's all. She always did say I was a man of few words.. May Yahweh יהוה bless you all... Colin, Heather and Isla..

Dear Diary, Day four and Isla had a visit from her Granny Black.. We're still in debate whether she will be called granny, nana, or gran Black. Definately not oma, so mum vandenberg, you're safe enough. Isla is feeding quite well also, but we're having to top her up with a supplement, which is good because I get a chance to feed her. So all is well in the Black family. This last picture was taken when Heather was burping Isla, but the look on Isla's face was just too cute not to add a speech bubble. I will leave you with a little story; My brother Alan has two girls, Erin and Amy aged 6 and 5. Erin must have overheard her mother talking about Isla'a weight because when Alan came home later that night Erin rushed to him and said something along the line of, "Daddy, was Uncle Colin and Aunt Heather's baby really that cheap, mum said she was only five pounds (£5)?" Erin may also have been thinking, if they're that cheap why can't we have another? ...

Dear Diary, Well folks, baby and mummy are still doing great. Isla is feeding well and most of the time is nice and calm and relaxed, unless someone is changing her nappy(dyper) or taking blood samples. Some more pictures for you all.. Enjoy.. Until next time, Colin, Heather and Isla...

Dear Diary, The arrival of Isla Jennifer Black took place this Lord's Day 17th Feb 2008 at 10.20am. She weighed in at a mere 5lbs 4ozs, but mother always told me good goods arrive in small bulk. That's all for now......... The Black Family..

Dear Diary, As I mentioned yesterday, we went for a drive and walk around the coast at Ballygalley. It was a lovely afternoon, warm at 11 degrees but more importantly, no rain. Here are a few photos.... The above photo is of Stephen McIlwain and his two sons who we met on the beach. Stephen's family also attend our church and as you can see youngest son Ben is a bit of John Deere fan. Everything about him is John Deere right down to the baseball cap!!!! Too cute. There is a retriever in the above photo and the last time we checked he was half way to Scotland. This silly dog kept going and going and going, much like the Engerizer Bunny! Who said there were no polar bears in Northern Ireland?!?? I was contemplating life or was I watching the dog swim by? Hopefully the last photo of just the two of us!!! Yes, I wear Colin's oversized sweaters since not much else fits! 'Til next time, Heather and Colin

Dear Diary, Are we there yet? That's what I am starting to ask myself everyday but so far the answer is a resounding NO. Oh well, I waddle my way on through the day. I've been home on maternity leave now for two weeks and surprisingly, I'm not that bored yet. Alot of sitting around in order to get the blood pressure down, which has worked by the way, but the days are going remarkedly quickly. I make sure I go somewhere everyday and do a few things around the house just to ensure I don't feel too lazy and I'm still earning my keep! Colin had Friday off work and we did a bit of shopping for a chest of drawers for the baby and a few other things around the house like lights to replace the hanging light bulbs (thankfully there are no Schoons here as that could've proved dangerous to their heads). It's been put together and the nursery/office/guest room is becoming more baby friendly every day. By the end of this week, even if she came a bit early, we would even...

Dear Diary, I found this poem on the internet and thought it must capture what every expectant mother feels and thinks.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Gift -Bujayjay- I wonder if you ever dreamed… About me and the world unrevealed I wonder if you ever smiled… Whenever I talk to you from the outside I feel butterflies within… Is that you that I am feeling? I feel happy when you do that… Now let’s see, what else do you have? Every night I want to dream of you… Hold your face and kiss you Feel your soft skin and smell it… Give you a hug and tickle your feet That is real enough for me… To see you in my dreams and hold you tenderly However, I still can’t wait to see… My precious little gift… my baby. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I can't believe I am counting down the days already! It seems only like yesterday that I had an idea that I could be pregnant and here we are, 35 days to go! We are both excited and anticipation is growing daily especially now that I am home on maternity leave. ...

Dear Diary, By now 2008 has entered with a bang, quite literally around the world, in fact the City of London spent a cool £1 million on fireworks alone which is ridiculous if you ask me but that is another story. Colin and I have both returned to work today after the holidays and it's a good thing traffic was really light or else I would've been late. Colin thought he was going to Londonderry to start a new installation but the plans changed and he was told to go to Galway instead. Since he didn't expect to go and we were already half way to Belfast when he got the call to go, he didn't have an overnight bag to take with him. Being a man, all he needed was a new pair of knickers and socks and hey, why not wear the same clothes for a second day!! I can't imagine it but whatever, it doesn't bother him. I have 12 working days left before I start maternity leave on 21st January. I had a little freak out a couple of nights ago about this and Colin just smiled and tu...