Meeting Grandad David

David arrived home today and met Theo - they seemed very relaxed together -

Lots of catching up to do and then some unpacking..

Theo's wardrobe has now expanded a little with a few American outfits..

Including this body suit which he will surely grow into soon..

Theo's other special visitors today were Great Grandad Arthur and Great Nana, Janet - photos tomorrow..

Allium and Iris

This is the white allium in Lauren's garden which has a different shaped flower to the beautiful purple one and may not make a fully round flower I think.

The individual flowers that make up the head are striking with the seed in the middle.

This rather lovely blue iris has also just started to flower in Lauren's garden.. The picture does not do it justice.

Mum has some beautiful and unusual iris in her garden which I intended to photograph before I left last weekend - but in the end left in rather a hurry so did not manage it...

Here is another rather more prolific - or rather well established - and quite unusual iris which I photographed in Leamington town centre the other day..

The flower was more subtle than this photo really shows and I really liked the variegated leaf.

PS. Baby picture of the day...

Sssh.....

Adjusting to Change

Until the arrival of Baby Theo, the cats thought that they knew where they stood in this household.  The sign hanging on the kitchen wall perhaps sums it up!

Ginty seems to be surprisingly relaxed about the change and has been intrigued to explore new items of furniture and equipment as they have appeared..

This evening she was keeping guard at the door as Theo slept in his pram..

Emma on the other hand is still keeping her distance from Ginty and is mainly staying out of everyone's way..

Shifting Victoria

In front of the imposing Victorian civic centre in Leamington is a majestic white marble statue of Queen Victoria herself on a substantial granite plinth.

Dashing past today when running a few errands in the town centre, I spotted a small plaque which I had never noticed before.  Of course I had to stop and have a look..

As you see it commemorates the fact that a German bomb in 1940 shifted this massive stone by one inch on its plinth and you can just about see that shift in the picture too, so it must have been decided that it should not be shifted back into place!

Coming Home

Safely tucked into his brand new car seat and covered by his blanket, crocheted by Great-Grandma Vivien, Theo came home today.

(Great) Aunty Maggie came to visit..

This evening, Theo met Grandad David via Skype..

Looking forward to a proper, face to face meeting on Saturday!

Baby Theo

Today has been a day of reflection on the excitement of yesterday and baby Theo's arrival.  A time of sharing the good news and receiving of good wishes for the new little family.

The joy and excitement of a new life beginning and the impact of this little person on Lauren and James' life and all that he brings to their family and friends is a wonder to behold.

Welcome to the world, baby Theo, you are destined for a life full of love.

A very big day..(and night)

It is a very long time since I have gone to bed as the sun rises and listening to the dawn chorus...

But there can be no better reason for doing so than the privilege of being with Lauren and James for the arrival of their beautiful baby son.

Photos and details to follow... in the meantime I need to sleep..

Baby Theo - less than an hour old..

..and proud Gran...