Merry Christmas to All

From Mark, Claudia and Riley, we hope you all had a really special Christmas. We most certainly did with our new little bundle. It is also great having all the family around, and sharing this time with them.

As you can see, Emma and Riley went all out to pose for the camera. The stress just got to Riley a bit, so she decided to have a nap...

The Life of Riley

It is Christmas Eve, and Riley will be two weeks old tomorrow. Hard to believe...

Our little girl is adorable, and very content (most of the time). This is a picture just after she has fed. We are a little early as we are going to go to the St Martins Carol service tonight. This will be a short service, so probably a bit easier (we hope).

Rattling Riley

Stacie sent Riley an ethnic rattle from her wedding last week-end, so we thought we would do an amateur photo shoot with Riley and the rattle. Nowhere nearly as good as Stacie, but sweet none the less.

Meet the GrandParents

Well, Riley has now met her three GrandParents, who seem to be quite taken with her. She was quite content while being held, and talked to, by Domenica (Nona), Anne (GrannieAnnie) and Michael (GrandPa).

She is feeding now and we will be off the the clinic for a quick weigh in as she has lost a bit more weight. We are going to check if all the waking to feed etc has helped... We do hope so.

Catching Rays...

Riley has had a very mild dose of jaundice, since she left hospital. We were advised to let her lie in the light for a while. Yesterday was the first day with some sun, so she spent a while catching rays in the lounge.

Her umbilical cord stump also came off shortly after this. This makes it so much easier to look after her. As much as we are told that cleaning the cord does not hurt... It looks like it should.

Then it was off to the clinic for the first week check up.

Riley is doing well. She has lost a bit more weight, so we are now on a strict feeding routine and are waking her to feed during the day. The next weight in is tomorrow (Wednesday), so she will hopefully have gained a bit of weight by then. :-)

Getting comfy

On Saturday morning (16th December at about 03h15) Riley had just fed, and decided to get comfy on her dads chest while we all tried to get back to sleep. She managed to squirm into this position. Arm under head etc. This seems to be the most comfortable sleeping arrangement she has.

After she went back in her crib, she slept through till we woke her for a feed.

Sorry, Say that again...

Our little Riley still does the movements that we saw in her 4d scans. She loves to hold her ear, suck her hand etc. All very cute.

Pic of the Day - 13 December 2006

This is the cutest picture from today. Claudia and Riley both had a good day. Riley most certainly has an appetite. We are expecting to come home tomorrow all things being equal. Can't wait...

Wanna go Home ...

This was too cute to miss out on. Riley snuggled right up to Claudia's tummy, looks like she wanted to burrow back in.

Pick of the Day - 12 December 2006

This is the pic of the day. Riley seems to have changed overnight too...

Claudia and Riley share a moment (or two)

Claudia was feeling much better today. She had a good nights rest and spent the day encouraging Riley to feed.

This is one of the moments they shared.

Living the life of Riley

Claudia and Riley are both doing great. Riley seems very content for now. Claudia is a bit tired, but I am sure will be feeling much better after a good nights rest tonight.

Here are to slightly better pictures of Riley, after her bath and a bit of a feed.

Thank you all for you good wishes and prayers. We really appreciate the good vibes.

Can't wait to get my family back home though.

Riley - First Pics

Just rushed home to post the first pics while Claudia and Riley sleep before visiting hours at 15h00. Will try do some better ones a bit later.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, its off to birth we go!!!

Well, the day has finally arrived. It is early Monday morning and we are just leaving to go the Umhlanga Hospital for the "planned ceasar. We are expected to be there at 06h00, and the opertation will most likely be done at around 09h00, and lasts about 60 minutes or so in total. Riley will most likely be born by about 9h15.

A lot depneds on what happens before our turn as Claudia is scheduled as the second operation of the day. Dr Hartmann even spoke about starting early (i.e 07h30) which could move the whole day up by half an hour.

Strangely, it is actually quite chilly this morning. I suppose after the last few days of rain this is to be excpected. The sun does look like it will be shining, which is a good thing.

What this means, is that in a very short while, Dominique Riley Fredanus van Gelder will be born, slightly earlier than anticipated - well, maybe not (I thought around the 10th).

As soon as we have any news and pictures I will post them for all to see.

Wish us luck...

B-Day - Monday 11th December 2006

Well, Monday it is... We have just been for the final scan, and Baby Riley has not given up on her growth pattern. She now weighs in at 3.716kg, about 300g more that 6 days ago.

We are happy with our decision to go the ceasar route on Monday. And as you can see below, waiting would probably not be in the best inetrests of Riley or Claudia.


During the scan today, Dr Hartmann managed to get a bit of inteligible footage of Riley's face and hand. As she has gotten bigger, it has been very difficult to actually see anything other than limbs etc.

This is a picture we managed to get of Riley, with her hand, once again firmly in her face - do we have a thumb sucker on our hands?

Hail Ceasar!!!

It seems that Riley has not slowed down her growth spurt at all... We have just been for a checkup and her conservative weight is now 3.467kg.

Dr Hartmann was very nice, but has suggested for Claudia and Riley's safety that we go the ceasarian route. So we have made a tentative booking for Monday 11th December 2006. We go for a "last" checkup next Thursday (7th December) after which we will know more.

It is quite amazing how everything can change so quickly. All along Claudia has said that she would prefer to go natural if possible, but we are not happy to take chances, hence the changes.

The following screen shots tell the story: