Due to the now biweekly schedules for weigh-ins and check-ups, and with this week's visit cancelled because of the charmingly named "Bank Holiday", we've not hoisted Gemma onto a scale recently... but we're convinced she's added on ounces. Next big check-up is on September 3rd.
These days Gemma splits her time between sleeping, being unbelievably charming and adorable with gummy smiles, feeding or displaying an unspecified malaise through cries and whimpers. Luckily we still have the scam of overcoming the latter by playing Basement Jaxx, the beat of which soothes her down within seconds. We've also discovered the benefits of long drives to get her sleeping. Last weekend we went to Jeremy Ree's retirement party, which being in Newbury.

In the small step for maternal/parental freedom department, Gemma's completed her first couple of bottle feeds. The first one was a test (successful) and the second one gave Kathy the chance to get a better night's sleep. I know that it would be positively boarish to point out I was up to three in the morning feeding/burping/changing/cooing/sleep-inducing-dancing, given the nightly rituals the breast-feeding Kathy goes through, so the less said on that the better.

Gemma's birth hits the Globe & Mail.

Another week, another avalanche of ounces packed on. Early this week the scales were screaming in pain with 7 lb, 6 oz / 3.45 k of 100% pure Gemma on top. Appetite is strong, and the mysterious slight stomach ailment which blew into town last weekend seems to have gone.
Speaking of gone, Nana made a tearful farewell and left for Montreal yesterday, so we've lost the charms of the visit and help around the house. The final few nights were saw a flurry of activity, including dinner at home with cousin Jenny, and in one socialising breakthrough, dinner at a restaurant; besides pretty good food, the staff fawned over Gemma with no snooty please-don't-bring-your-baby policy in place.
The other big event of the week was the visit to the doctor yesterday, when Gemma got her first two jabs. Screaming, lots of screaming. But after 5-10 minutes she calmed down and was pretty good for the rest of the evening. She's a trooper.

Whoa - burning up the scales is Gemma. Her weighing on Monday came at in at 6 lb, 15 oz / 3.1 kilos, which is up 1 lb 3 oz in two weeks. She's certainly looking a little more rounded in the face and eats like a demon. Feeding moves from a three hourly cycle to hourly sometimes, and she goes from 0 (sleeping) to 60 (gagging for food) in a few nanoseconds.
We also seem to know her new favourite band: Basement Jaxx. During a recent wailing cycle she pretty much immediately chilled out when "Romeo" came on. These are important things to know until, I guess, it doesn't work anymore.

Next stop: shiatsu. Gemma had her first baby massage this week, Kathy being taught by one of our favourite midwives, Laura. Focus was on feet and legs. Next week: tummies. Dutiful grandmother "Ann Ann Frying Pan" also came along, and sheepishly was made to practice the fine bodily art on a plastic baby doll. Apparently she mumbled when asked to start the process by telling the baby you're about to begin the massage. Gemma, however, was all cooing and giggling.