Strong Baby

Yesterday when we went into Ilona's room to check on her at the end of her nap, we found her like this. Next stop, crawling

Ilona News

Here are a few pictures of Ilona - she is rapidly growing up as you can see - lots of smiling and laughing these days. She has even begun to suck her thumb whilst sleeping (not pictured yet). Her eyes are spending an ever increasing amount of time following Bluet around the room, we assume because she is ready to learn to walk and talk.

How to Slide

This Sunday we went on a very successful family trip to Brazos Bend State Park. We saw a Bird of Prey (injured), lots of alligators (apparently they are so safe, it is ok to fish whilst standing almost on top of them, judging by the behaviour of others), and some turtles.

After our picnic, Bluet showed Ilona how to slide

Here is Ilona watching, raptly

And Bluet's demonstration


1) Swing to build up momentum

2) release and slide

3) jump off the end

Ilona video

Ilona was smiling a lot in response to me talking or smiling, (and laughing too) so I tried to take a video. Unfortunately the camera was not as effective at eliciting these responses

Spot the Difference

One from the vaults:

One for today:

Playtime

Ilona has been getting better at this whole eating-sleeping thing, she's even started to incorporate some play into her routine. We've also seen a couple of smiles, but they almost certainly weren't real, intentional ones.

Of course, Bluet did not like all the attention Ilona was getting from the camera, so asked to be photographed sitting in this chair

Home again/for the first time

On friday Emily and Ilona were allowed out of the hospital, a time of great rejoicing. The last of our hospital photos are below. Since then, Ilona has mainly been sleeping and eating, and eating very well, may I say.

As mentioned before, Bluet was staying with her grandparents, so didn't get to meet Ilona until Sunday morning. She had been told she had a baby sister, and even knew her name, but to make sure she wasn't too traumatised we made sure there were some presents for her - including Iggle Piggle from Gran Helen, some hello kitty plasters and some sticker books. Here are some pictures of Bluet meeting Ilona. At first she seemed interested, and asked to touch Ilona ("The baby is soft") and even gave her a kiss. If we ask her who is in her family she lists Ilona (or 'the baby') and she even told me off for playing with one of Ilona's toys ("that's not yours, Dadn, it's for the baby"). The sweetest thing she did was to run out of her room carrying a doll baby, which she held up to Ilona and exclaimed "they match". We are very proud that she has taken the new arrival so well.

And some videos

These are from yesterday, when Ilona was very hungry, so maybe not at her happiest

And then there were two

From this afternoon:
So here we are in the hospital with Bluet's new baby sister, Ilona corse Collins. We were supposed to be spending this weekend, the last weekend with Bluet as an only child, celebrating thanksgiving with Emily's family just outside of Austin. However, Ilona is here a fortnight early because Emily's blood pressure was really high on Tuesdat at the regular check up (just like with Bluet). So Tuesday Bluet and I dropped Emily at the hospital for a c section the next morning. Other more pressing cases turned up, pushing back the c section to Wednesday afternoon. However this confusion meant that I was heading back home after a visit to the supermarket, so had to turn around and head to the hospital. Ilona was born at 14:49, at which time I think I had just entered the hospital. I think I made it to the room about 5 minutes later - ready to get a first look whilst she was being measured. We then hung around for a while while we waited for a room. Ilona was very hungry and cried a little while she waited to eat. Once she was sated she was happy.

18:43 Emily is having a shower. Ilona is sleeping. She's been eating very well all day. We're hoping they are coming home on Saturday. You may be wondering 'where's Bluet? Surely she isn't at the hospital' and you'd be right. This weekend we were supposed to be spending thanksgiving with Emily's family, and Bluet still is as her Nana came to pick her up yesterday. Last night she shared a bed with her cousin Lila and I hear they were up talking until 22:00. I would love to know what about. Then today she made a chocolate turkey (no idea how Abatha got her to sit still for this photo) and had Wayne explain all about scorpions.
We still haven't found out how long Ilona was when she was born, but the weight was 3.23kg (7lbs 2oz).