A not insignificant challenge...

Today dawned bright and clear and bone chillingly cold (-4 deg overnight), not that you'd realise this inside the Turtle House Sauna. Our small but perfectly formed flat in Clapham Old Town would be the perfect venue for ITV's "Celebrity Weight Loss" reality tv show right now - the entire place has been intentionally heated up to between 19 and 22 degrees, with central heating on non-stop throughout these last few weeks of winter (he says hopefully). I am struggling a bit with this I have to say. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the heat provided it comes with white beaches, clear ocean, scuba gear, a few scallops and the prospect of a large fish on the end of a line. Anyway Alexa seems to enjoy this Sahara like warmth so that is the main thing... mmm.

Alexa is nearly a week old today. She is even more gorgeous today than she was yesterday, shocking I know. It was always going to be a week of firsts, both for Alexa and her virgin parents. With this week came my first nappy change and believe it or not I quite enjoy "mucking in". If only you could see the wonderous spray art patterns little Alexa creates on her Pampers canvas - my only criticism would be that her colour palette is quite limited (think chocolate dairy food yoghurt on days 1 through 3 before a quickchange to a bright yellow wholegrain mustard). I thought about exhibiting some of her work on the blog but...

Then there was the first time Alexa peed on my hands just as I was finishing up clearing up the fallout from her last painting session (and after I had already set up a new Pampers canvas for her!). Gotta love it.

Keep the blog comments rolling in folks. Kirsten and I don't have a whole lot of time to ourselves right now but it is fun to stop for 5 minutes every now and again and check out what pearls may have been added... particular thanks to Dawko for his query as to when I can next manage a round of golf! Actually on the subject of golf I am looking for investors for my latest business idea - golf creches, bound to be a massive hit with home husbands.

Oh and a quick update on how Kirsten and Alexa are doing just in case you were wondering... Kirsten is a fantastic mum and coping unbelievably well given the physical and mental challenges that motherhood brings. I'd be lying if I said we were getting enough sleep. I'd also be lying if I said we instantly know why little Alexa cries from time to time (sometimes with heartbreaking enthusiasm). Those of you who are parents will know the anxious debates you and your partner have at times when your child is distressed, is it wind? is it hunger? is she overtired? The list of questions goes on and on, trust me, and navigating your way to the answer is really not that easy. We are finding it quite hard at the moment but we are getting better at it day by day. In spite of all this, Kirsten is doing amazingly. I can tell that she worries that she isn't. I try to reassure her but hopefully reading this will drill the point home.

Alexa is taking each day as it comes. Pooing every now and again. Maybe the odd pee. Plenty of feeding but not enough sleep. All of this is adding up to a little girl who is growing more and more beautiful (check out the pics) and more and more loved (take my word for it) by her parents each day.

Ok I had better sign off now. Lynne (Kirsten's mum) is just serving up another feast - tonight's gourmet offering comprises Moen & Sons' (our local butcher) award winning chicken sausages plus leeks, carrots and taties... Lynne you are a legend!!