Thursday evening turned out to be beautifully warm and balmy, just right for the barbecue with Elaine & Brian.
As I'd said earlier in the week, summer seems to have arrived at last and it may continue for a few more days.
Steve & I have been looking after our niece & nephew for the weekend. Steve has come back with a cold and I'm feeling shattered. The two little ones were amazingly happy, considering it was the first time they had ever been left overnight. Maisie at 19 months is an absolute poppet, she is feisty, funny and accepted her parents absence without any fuzz. Vince at 6 months is a happy delightful little baby, he smiled, laughed, puked and poohed to excess. Vince still has formula in the night, so I was prepared for being up in the small hours. At my suggestion Steve happily slept in the spare room. Vince sleeps in his cot at the foot of his parents bed and that's where I spent the night. After a very busy day, we were very successful in getting both children into bed for 7.00 pm. Maisie went happily to bed after Steve had read her bedtime story. Steve & I had a Chinese take away before we retired separately. Steve slept reasonably well on a deflating airbed.
My night was busy, a 'dream' feed at 10.00pm did in fact go like a dream and the little guy slept through it and was deposited safely back in his cot where he slumbered until Midnight. This waking wasn't in the routine that Rebecca had left, it was obviously far too early as his next feed wasn't scheduled until 2.00pm. A quick nappy change and thankfully Vince went back to sleep until 3'o'clock when he was fed again and again returned to his cot. I'm not sure how much I actually slept as it was the hottest night of the year and the windows needed to be open to let in some air and the residents of Leigh on Sea seemed to be partying through the night. Maisie was woken a couple of times as the occupants of a house somewhere over the back from her bedroom were having a barbecue that went on and on and on. Maisie was easy to settle, reassurance, a dummy and her favoured 'blankie' and she soon went back to sleep. Vince woke at 5.00 and as his schedule stated is the time he comes into the parental bed, this is what he did and we dozed together until 7.00 am when Maisie was nosily awake to begin her day.
The morning was a hive of activity, washing, dressing, breakfast and a walk to the park. At noon when both children were settled for their naps, I took the opportunity and had a little snooze. At 3.00pm with Simon & Rebecca both in charge, we took our leave to drive home separately as I'd gone up a day ahead of Steve to get familiar with Maisie & Vincent.