Holly: “Holly looking at guitars for Daddy.”
Me: “Are you going to buy me a new guitar, then?”
Holly: “Yes.”
Jo: “I think Daddy’s got enough…”
Holly: “No, Mummy – more!”

I don’t think anything else needs to be said…

Mum and baby are doing incredibly well and are coming home later this afternoon!

I’ve got my mobile permanently attached to my person (on vibrate, of course – don’t want to disturb my meetings too much); waiting for the call from Jo to tell me that the baby’s coming.

Sure, it’ll be hard work, and I’ve no idea how number 1 will react to the news (she’s only 20 months old) but I can’t wait.

<happy>

I have been both amazed and humbled by the miracle that is birth.

Only 2 weeks old but already she rules my life.

I’ve recovered fully from the excesses of the Festive Season ™ and put away the decorations for another year – Christmas is out of my system for at least another 11 months. So, what’s eating me?

Well, our baby’s due today. He/she agreed not to emerge on either 25th December (my little chat about only receiving one batch of presents for the rest of their life obviously did the trick) or 1st January (mum-to-be wasn’t too keen on having her post-natal photo plastered over the local rag); for which we’re both eternally grateful. But now we’re getting impatient. Every day that passes without any signs gnaws away at us. I know it sounds sappy but I can’t wait to see the little one’s face and behold the miracle that is procreation.

Some might say that I should be at home today instead of in the office. I’ve already spent a week or so getting under Jo’s feet and will do so for another couple once our imminent arrival… er… arrives.

So here I sit; eyes darting to the ‘phone every couple of minutes, willing it to ring.

Christ, if I’m like this now what will I be like once they’re in their teens?!

And no, it’s not my countdown to the January Sales (which seem to have started already in some places). And definitely no, it’s not the amount of time left until Easter Eggs appear in my local Tesco.

In 4 weeks, or thereabouts, I will be a *real* Dad – newborn baby, estate car, shed, rusty tin of nails and even a stick *specifically* for stirring paint… yup, I’ll have the lot. OK, I admit it; I’m only missing the first one at the moment.

Before I know it I’ll be knee-deep in dirty nappies; midnight feeds will mean bottles for baby (not kebabs for me) and soon after I’ll be complaining about the youth of today, their lack of taste in music and declining standards in education. My soapbox will be a permanent fixture in the lounge (sorry dearest).

And do you know what’s the best part? I can’t wait. Seriously.

So, in the tradition of proud Dads, I give you the first glimpses of baby Edwards:

Dating scan – 12 weeks 4 days:

Foetal anomaly scan – 24 weeks:

I can see me becoming a real baby bore…