Well, why not?
I have moved my blog to http://garethsblog.com and all new posts are there.

The latest posts are:

• Our Little Girl is Off To School
• Our Holiday on the Llyn Peninsula
• Children Pick Up on Everything

Please go and check them out.

I look forward to seeing you there.

The new home of Gareth’s Blog will be at garethsblog.com.

Please update any bookmarks and feeds that you may have.

My blog is being hosted by Hostmonster.com, who were extremely good value. I originally bought the hosting package for my new company website, which is still under construction, but added the Blog as an addon domain.

Gareth’s Blog will still be based on the WordPress blogging platform, but being self-hosted it means I have more freedom to do what I want with it. As I get my head around everything I’m sure that the site will evolve and develop. It’ll be quite exciting.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to Gareth’s Blog on WordPress.com, and I hope that you’ll join me over at garethsblog.com.

I will carry on posting on WordPress.com for a little while until readers get used to the new address.

See you all at garethsblog.com.

We decided to go and see him after seeing him on BBC’s “Mock the Week.” I think he is absolutely hilarious, and we are both looking forward to it. All of the regular guests on the program are really funny, and we wouldn’t mind going to see any of them.

This will probably the first time that we will have had chance to go out since Liam was born, so Nana Mandy has kindly volunteered to babysit Ellie and Liam.

He has been weighed regularly, and at the last weigh in he was 10lb 8oz. Since he was born he has put on 3lb 2oz in 5 weeks, which is pretty good going. Liam definitely enjoys his food! He looks quite different from the day that he was born. All his newborn wrinkles are gone now, he’s really filling out.

He has begun to smile a lot more now, Gemma managed to get this photo the other day:

Ellie is still really fascinated with him, giving him lots of kisses and cuddles. She’s been really great with him, always wanting to give Gemma and I help with changing him and feeding him. Hopefully they’ll be the best of friends when they’re older.

It seems mad to think that he was only born 5 weeks ago.

As previously mentioned our son was born into the world on 1st July. Here is the story of what happened.

It is now a week since our son, Liam was born. So, I thought it was about time that I shared with you all the story of how he came into the world.

I was woken at around 2.15am on Monday night/Tuesday morning depending on how you think. Gemma was complaining about pains in her back that were coming and going. We weren’t too concerned at this stage because Gemma had had similar pains the previous couple of nights.

As time went on the pains showed no sign of going away, so it was fair to assume that Gemma was now in labour. The contractions were now gathering momentum so it was time to make some phone calls.

First up, was the hospital, to let them know and for Gemma to talk through what was happening with a midwife. Secondly, was a phone call to my Mum, who was going to come up to our house and look after Ellie.

On the advice of the midwife I ran Gemma a bath, as this would bring on the contractions, and also to help alleviate the pain. As each contraction came, it was my job to time them, whilst massaging Gemma’s back to help with the pain. With each contraction they would get longer and stronger.

With all our moving about upstairs we had disturbed Ellie and woken her up. She was brilliant, and took everything in her stride.
I took her back to bed and explained what was happening, how Mummy was going to have “baby Liam” or “Baby Liram” as Ellie calls him. and that Nana was coming to look after her. Ellie had been given a “Baby is Coming”  book which had help us to explain what would happen.

“Mummy, you ok?” she’d keep asking. We reassured her that everything was fine.

We settled Ellie back into bed and went downstairs to wait for my Mum so that we didn’t disturb her any more that was needed.
Another phone call was made to the hospital to tell them that the contractions were a lot stronger now. At this point the midwife suggested that we make our way to the hospital.

We were getting nervous now.

We were hoping that my Mum would arrive soon, as it was about an hours drive from my parents to our house.

At about 4.30am, my Mum arrived. This was a huge relief as it meant we could now get in the car and head to the hospital. We left the house with a shout of “Good Luck” from my Mum.

We made our way to the hospital. Most of the lights seemed to be going for us, but as we got close to the hospital, we stopped at one set of lights and it dawned on me that we’d been following a car with a couple in it since we left our street.

“What’s the betting that they’re going to the hospital too,” I said. “Where else would a couple be going at this time of morning?”

And sure enough they pulled into the hospital car park ahead of us.
Gemma and I headed into the hospital and found way to the delivery suites. A midwife admitted us and showed us to an assessment room. She told us that someone would be along as soon as possible as they were having a few deliveries at that moment, but in the meantime could you please pee in this tiny pot.

The contractions were really kicking in now, much more regular and stronger.

After about 20 mins or so a midwife arrived to check on Gemma. After a quick chat and seeing Gemma having her contractions she suggested that we all move straight to a delivery room.

We made Gemma comfortable as the midwife got everything prepared for the delivery. After everything was ready, Gemma began to say that she needed to push. After a quick examination Gemma was about 5cm dilated.

Halfway there!

And it wasn’t long before Gemma was ready to push the baby into the big, wide world. Gemma began the process of pushing with a little help from the Entonox, to take away the edge of the pain. Everything was going really well.

Up until this point, Gemma’s water had not broken.That was all about to change.

As Gemma continued to push, her waters finally gave way. And in quite spectacular fashion – all over the midwife!

The midwife told us that it would not be much longer now until baby arrived.

About this time the Entonox was only just having the desired effect for the pain, so Gemma asked for something a little stronger like Pethidine, but the midwife told her that it was too late to administer anything, as it wouldn’t have the desired effect.

“You’ll just have to grit your teeth,” she said.

Shortly after the waters had gone, his little head began to show. There is something quite magical about seeing your child coming into the world, and the second one is no less special.

One more big push and he would slip out into the world.

At 6.26am Liam David was born into the world. He weighed in at 7lb 6oz (or 3.37Kg for those of you more metrically inclined) It took a couple of seconds to make his first sound, but when he did it was such a huge relief to know that he was alright.

The midwife then handed me a pair of scissors so that I could cut his cord. Cutting the cord was not easy – its a bit like trying to cut a thick piece of rubber with children’s safety scissors. It didn’t help that I was in an awkward position holding Gemma’s hand at one end of the bed and trying to reach to the other. After a couple of snips though, Liam was free, and on his own.

After a quick wipe down Liam was put onto Gemma’s stomach for some bonding time, while the midwife tended to Gemma. Gemma had torn a little during the delivery and needed a few stitches. (I actually lost count of how many) She’ll be a little sore for a few days.

Once Gemma was stitched up and cleaned a little, Liam had his first feed. He was pretty hungry, feeding for a good 30 to 40 minutes.

The midwives left us alone for a while as we got to know our new son, and at this point I took the opportunity to firstly ring Ellie to tell her that she had a new baby brother and that I’d come and fetch her so that she could meet him.

I also rang the proud grandparents to tell them the good news. Even managed to get an early picture sent to them from my mobile phone.

The midwives even arranged for some breakfast to be brought into us, which was gratefully received, even if Gemma wasn’t up to eating much. After toast and coffee we decided that I’d go home to fetch Ellie so that she could meet Liam on her own.

When arrived at home Ellie was tucking into some toast. She was very excited about going to see her little brother. After collecting a couple of additional things for Gemma, Ellie and I headed to the hospital.

On the way we stopped off so that Ellie could buy Liam a little present. She chose a small blue teddy-bear for him. We arrived back at the hospital and spent about 5 minutes trying to find a parking space. That was one good thing about going to the hospital in the middle of the night, there was no shortage of spaces.

Ellie and I arrived at the Delivery suite and you could really tell that she was getting excited. We were let in, and as soon as we were through the door Ellie was off. It was as if she knew exactly which room he was in. Gemma said that she could hear Ellie coming from a mile off. Ellie greeted Gemma with a big hug, and then she wanted to see her little brother.

“Baby Liram” she said excitedly, as she pointed at the cot. I lifted her up so that she could have her first proper look at Liam. Ellie was really happy.

“I like Baby Liram” she said.

After the introductions we had to wait for the Doctor and midwives to do their final checks before they would let Liam come home. It took a long time for the Doctor to get around to us, on various occasions we kept thinking that they had forgotten about us. In the end the doctor arrived and went through all the routine checks with Liam, with Ellie an interested observer. Everything was as it should be and Liam was given the green light to leave.

At about 3pm, and after some final bits of paperwork we were on our way home. Now the hard work begins!

Both Gemma and I would like to thank all the Midwives and staff at Wigan Royal Infirmary for all their hard work. They made the whole experience very relaxed. All of them were very caring and were always looking out for Gemma.

I’d like to say to my darling wife, I am so proud of you. You’ve given us a gorgeous little boy to add to our beautiful little girl. Thank you. I love you so much x x x x

I opened the parcel and was greeted with a few drips of water.

“What the hell is that?” I thought.

Inside was a plastic box which I promptly opened to find out where the water was coming from. I wasn’t expecting what I saw.

It was a piece of grass.

On closer inspection though, this was no ordinary piece of grass.

Grand Slam Turf

This was a piece of turf from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. A piece of grass that Wales had played on during their triumphant Six Nations Grand Slam Campaign in 2008.

This was something very different and a present I’d never have thought of.

It will now take pride of place in our garden, in its own little pot. We can’t have it mixing with all that English grass!!!

Thank you very much Ellie, and Liam, as it arrived after he was born! x x

I won’t reveal her age (as I’m a gentleman – Honest!!) But I just want to say that she means the world to me, and is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I love you x x x x

He was born at 6.26am on 1st July 2008, and weighed in at 7lb 6oz.

Both mother and baby are doing well.

Further details to follow when we’re not feeling so tired

Within the next couple of weeks we will have a new addition to our family. It is not going to soon enough for Gemma. She is really struggling now with her bump. It is quite difficult to move around now.

Gemma has had a few appointment with the midwife lately to check on the progress of her pregnancy. Everything is going well, with the midwives giving Gemma a clean bill of health. They are predicting that our little boy is going to be a bit bigger than Ellie was when she was born. Not really want Gemma wants to hear.

We are looking forward to his arrival, whenever that may be, and welcoming him into our family.

I am getting quite nervous now, the anticipation of when things are going to kick off is started to get to me now. So many things are going through my head. Will I be with Gemma when she goes into labour? Will I get home from work in time? Will we get to the hospital in time? How will it all go?

So many questions, that will only be answered in the fullness of time.

The other night Gemma and I were woken at about 4 o’clock in the morning by a really strange noise from outside. It sounded like someone was dying. A really loud groaning sound. I got out of bed to investigate.

I looked up and down the street. Nothing seemed obvious, I couldn’t see anything or anyone who would be making such a noise. But, just as I was about to return to bed there was the noise again. My attention was now focused across the road. And there was the source of all the noise!

One of our neighbours was hanging out of his bedroom window throwing his guts up. Not the most pleasant sight to greet my eyes at that time of the morning. He had his whole torso out of the window and was being sick on to his porch / garage roof below. The roof was angled away from the house towards the street and so there was a small river of sick running down the roof.

Why he couldn’t go to the bathroom, I have no idea! After laughing a little at his position, I returned to bed.

Only to be woken again an hour later by the same retching sound, and another torrent of stomach contents running across the roof. I went back to sleep shortly after before having to get out of bed to go to work.

The river of sick was still there as I was leaving for work. It was so obvious to any passer-by what had happened. Luckily though, by the time that I got home from work later that day all traces of the incident had been removed.