h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks for sending the photo. He looks so huggable . I've rarely seen so much personality on a new baby - he looks so good humoured and alert.

Of course, he's really gorgeous as well - and it's a relief to be able to say that without crossing my fingers for once. Congratulations again.

Thanks Bernadette - of course we all believe our own children are beautiful but it is lovely to hear other people say so. He is very nosey - wants to look at everything. I really love him - he is so cute

I forgot to say thanks for keeping me company during the labour. I have read your diary about the birth of David and there were a lot of simiarities to my experience of labour and pregnancy.

I meant pregnancy rather than labour - damn breastfeeding hormones!

You'll get your brain back in about 18 years, I think. Although apparently weaning helps. Since both Charlotte and Isobel stopped feeding only after I'd got pregnant again I haven't yet felt the benefit of that.

I never believed that your brain went in pregnancy but it really does. I find it hard to remember words or names. I had been hoping it was just due to lack of sleep but it sounds like it might hang around for a few years yet.

My sister still has trouble, sometimes, and her youngest is 8. Of course her husband doesn't get home from work until ten or eleven and gets up at five, so that may have something to do with it.

I was just about to say something interesting about short term memory but James spoke to me and now I can't remember what it was. Really.

I was reading aloud to Harry last night and I kept mispronouncing words - is that a sympton too?

Wait 'till you try reading a story, and don't even notice that you're getting it wrong until you notice a puzzled child looking at you and saying "why did Cinderella go to America?" and hear yourself saying "because the ham should be in the fridge."

At that point you get someone to take the little one/s and go to bed for an hour.

Actually James falls asleep while reading stories, sometimes, so I don't think it's just hormones.

Are you enjoying it?

I am but every now and then I would like a few minutes to myself. Long hot baths are a thing of the past and I am now the one handed typing expert! Also my back is killing me from having a baby permanently attatched to it and I think one of my stitches has come apart. Still he is one of the best things to ever happen to me (the other being Doug) and I don't regret having him for a second!