Heidi’s week seems to have been at a slower pace in the last few days, picking up a little at the weekend just gone.

In the early part of the week she headed up to Chagford to buy some things and enjoyed her time in the sun although it is now getting cooler. She has been out again in the front loading papoose and loves seeing what around the corner.

Mid week and she was back at home and ventured into her new cot on Wednesday. She has been put in it a few times and seems happy with the environment. She has her toys and now has more room to stretch and wriggle if she wants. She now has been sleeping overnight in the cot and is happy, sleeping normally.

One of Heidi’s godmothers – Claire – her mum Margaret gave Fred a musical bedside light that moves and projects up on to the ceiling. He loved it and it played an important part in Fred’s nocturnal activities, annoying nurses in the dead of night as it was sound activated too. A slight noise and it would burst in to light and song and they would feebly be trying to switch it off whilst I peered through one eye at them in the gloom – usually about 0400h in the morning. Fred invariably dozed on.

Well, Heidi has it now and she loves it. It projects on to her ceiling through the mobile that over hangs her pit. A useful tool. Hearing the familiar tunes and words took me straight back to the ward in Bristol, and Rachel too. We have got used to it now.

Friday saw Rachel and Heidi coming in to the office before we went to a pub for lunch, and so the girls all cooed and made her entertain them. Heidi was wide awake and beamed a lot.

Saturday saw Rachel head off to a wood carving class near Bude, and I headed in the opposite direction towards South Petherton. Heidi came with me for a party at Violets house, as it was her third birthday. Her mum and dad I have known for many years, and their daughter Violet was in Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital for an operation whilst we were there. It was good to see then and I later returned there to see her when she had had an operation after Fred had gone. She seems fit as a flea now and she seemed to be enjoying her third birthday.

I met up with Frances in the morning as she lives only a few miles away and so we had a nice time in the garden and Daisy and Samuel kept Heidi entertained. A nice leisurely lunch saw Frances, Samuel, Daisy, Heidi and I head to the party for 1500h.
Lots of noise and general running around by the tots and Heidi observed from a distance. She had never met so many little people before and kept awake as long as she could. She really was fascinated by the noise, colour and movement.

Once we got back home on Saturday evening Heidi had a nice bath with Rachel who had missed her so much during the day. Lots of cuddles and sleepiness meant she went out like a light.

Sunday saw us head over to Torquay to get some stuff and the sun was shining too. Saw a few people we knew and we had some lunch in the pub – Yates. Heidi is a regular here as it is quiet and spacious and gives us a chance to sit down and have bite to eat. Heidi brings her own – this time mashed broccoli. It’s a first for her as we suspected it would not go down well. Clearly she was not sure at first and a blob of green hung on her tongue before being manoeuvred back in. Within a few minutes the two small ice cube sized pieces of vegetable had disappeared and was washed down with a bottle of finest milk.

In the evening Emily popped by and helped bath her. She took some photographs whilst I sat by the fire, trying to keep Heidi upright so as to strengthen her back and neck muscles. One looked as if it would be at home on the cover of “Hello” or something so I spent the evening trying to arrange a magazine cover off the internet……