A year in the life of Iolanda.: First month.

And so on the 4th February 2011 we reach the end of your first month... and what a month it's been!

Your daily activities are quite basic, and not so numerous, but it is not to say that it does not fill the day! It is a general routine of breastfeeding, changing (which you absolutely hate!), some time kicking about on your play mat on the living room carpet and then it starts all over again. Within this cycle you tend to change from a peaceful, adorable little baby to a very loud, crumpled face but still adorable little baby!

Beautiful, peaceful little baby girl...

Screaming little monkey!!

Despite this you are generally quite good, and slowly but surely we can see how you are developing. Throughout this first month your weight has gone from your birthweight of 3.250kg down to 3.080 kg, up to 3.190 at 22 days and finally to 3.40kg at one month old. Your mom is still resolutely sticking to keeping you on breastfeeding alone, despite Heino's regular pleas for the mercy of a formula bottle!

You are the size of two books!

But the month has also been full of things outside of your normal routine as well. Loads of people stopped by to visit you and you and your mom has attended our National Child Trust (NCT) group's weekly meetings to catch up with our new friends who all recently had babies. Various trips to health clinics, midwifes and the hospital have confirmed that you are doing well and is generally very healthy. To top it all off you've had your first vaccination which should hopefully guard you against something nasty called TB!

NCT: Isabelle and Charly, Rachel and Kitty Bee.

And so after a month full of firsts (not forgetting your first bath!) we look forward to the month ahead. Registering your birth, getting a passport and a trip to Italy is all planned but who is to say what the month will hold. For now we are just celebrating the miracle that is Iolanda, and savour every minute that we spend with you!