I had no idea we'd receive so many lovely cards, flowers and presents. I've seen a lot of the postman over the last few weeks! I feel very lucky. We really have some very creative family and friends - the photos show the amazing knitting done by Ed's Granny (Philip's Great Granny), tatted boots by Jacky Bland (to give you a sense of scale they're a bit smaller than his feet) and (to prove the under 60's can make things too) blanket from Amy. Philip also already has his own plate bag (from Ann P). Thanks everyone!

I fit in my jeans again. It's great.

It's snowing!! And the best thing is I'm off work to enjoy it! Not sure if it'll settle yet ...
Meanwhile P is having his first sleep in a sleeping bag. Gotta start em young.
The staying off chocolate seems to be resulting in a more settled young man. It may be psychological (or however you spell it) but the motivation of not having a screaming boy at 1am works for me. In fact I now see it as a positive thing - I'll be much the fitter for these heathier snacks I'm eating. Might be tricky round Christmas though! Oh well, two grandparents and Uncle Hugh 'll be here to do the late shifts.

My boy is so cute ... Ed's quite worried about this change of heart in me. Am I the same woman he married?

It all began on Friday night when he started being awake a bit more (admittedly not the best of timing when he was supposed to be heading to bed) and stretching his limbs a lot. He looks like a balerina, then a conductor, then a professor (thinking face) and makes me laugh!

I've also got loads of cute outfits for him, now he's into the next size up. Thanks to his Gran and Sainsbury's for several of them, other present givers from as far away as Switzerland for others, and the NCT for having a nearly new sale for the rest so far. And there's more expected from the SAGGA circuit.

Now, why is my mother worried this boy will be spoilt?

I confronted one of my worst fears yesterday and went to a mother and baby group. I mean - what do they all have to talk about?

As we walked into the church hall, my first impression was of confident Mums with much bigger youngsters (they turned out to be 12-15 mths old). The co-ordinator got me fixed up with coffee and biscuits pretty quickly and Philip and I sat quietly taking it all in. There were some pretty cool toys on show.

Luckily a bit later there was a structured discussion bit for the 3 of us with smaller babies where I felt much more comfortable. And now I'm getting to know those 2 other Mums, I think I'll brave it again next week.

I know I'm supposed to want to lay down my life for the little one, but giving up chocolate? Somethings unsettling him and it may just be life but it may also be something I'm eating and the most likely culprit is chocolate. So I'll try going cold turkey. I'm not sure if I hope that that is the problem (which will mean more sleep) or it's not (so I can carry on eating chocolate).

Have spent some time videoing Philip today. Watching him stretch when waking up is just so cute, and if he's going to change this fast I better keep capturing the moment. He's nearly grown out of newborn size stuff (now 9lb 8oz for them as is interested).

Three great things about not being pregnant ....
1) Being able to tie my shoelaces without it taking ages.
2) Eating runny eggs again
3) Being on the road to getting fitter.
Ah, the simple things in life. However, getting back in shape is going to take longer than I first imagined. A 15 min walk round the block was all I could manage after week 1. And cycling and swimming are going to have to wait for a while.

Went on my first solo outing with Phil and the buggy this afternoon. It was very breezy autumnal weather but he was snug as a bug.

Peace at last ... though for how long I'm not sure. Ed is snoozing on the sofa, and Phil in his cot so I have time to type up a few thoughts.

So what does it feel like to be a Mum? Busy, obviously. In the first few hours most of what I felt was relief that he was safely delivered to the outside world. We finally got to meet what had been kicking away inside of me, and that I'd been worrying about for 9 months already. And there weren't any immediately obvious problems.

That then turned to determination to look after him. So many things to learn - I'd read about how to pick up a baby, how to change a nappy, how to breastfeed etc. but now was time to put it into practice. We'd arranged things in the nursery with great thought (we had long enough to phaff a bit) and now they were getting altered to the reality.

It was a bit frustrating the first night in hospital as due to the drugs and exhaustion I couldn't pick him up from the cot, so had to buzz for a midwife every time I wanted him moved to where I could reach, or put back into the cot.

Then on day three, the happy hormones just suddenly disappeared and times of doubt set in, especially in the evenings. So now I'm a concerned Mum, worrying he's hungry / tired / hot / sick etc. but not yet competent enough to get the right one sorted out efficiently. We'll get there in the end.

Luckily Phil is doing just fine, and putting on weight ( he was back above his birth weight by day 10).

Philip is one week old today! I know everyone says it but it's amazing how he changes from hour to hour. Today we've seen more pushing away from things with his arms, beginning to try and move his head round towards the light and ability to wriggle out of position on the changing mat.

PKW has had his debut in print - page 80 of today's Times. TYVM to my parents.

Our cynicism in the marketing departments of Proctor and Gamble has widened. Why do nappies only leak at night-time - thus condemning a babygrow and set of bedding to the laundry when we're at our sleepiest - but seem fine during the day?

The complete set of Thomas the Tank Engine books has arrived! The danger with waiting at home with internet shopping available is that the baby arrives on the same day as the parcels are to be delivered. Slight crisis of priority. Luckily the delivery company successfully delivered on a third attempt.

philip kenneth wright has had (today, so far)

6 feeds
5 clean nappies
3 visitors
2 new cuddly toys
and the snuffles

and a message "Gee, well you tell the parents congratulations from The Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas*, and y'all have a nice day"

*overnight playground of Claire's parents

Am v. pleased to be home. There were lots of lovely midwives, and some annoying ones too, at the hospital but there's nothing like your own bed and freedom to work to your own (collective) rhythm. On the other hand it was nice having my meals cooked and clean linen constantly available.

Hugh and Jo came to visit this evening when we were feeling very frustrated at the hospital. There didn't seem to be any reason for still being there other than the poor midwives were so overstretched they couldn't fit in the "check out" procedure. So it looked like Ed was going to have another night of his "bachelor lifestyle" (seems to involve food you don't have to spend any time preparing). Then suddenly, a new widwife came on shift, saw that we were getting stroppy, and managed to conjour up a double quick discharge. I was so pleased I nearly gave her our bottle of champage. Only reason we kept it was she refused.

Once home we had coronation chicken Hugh had thoughtfully prepared - yum - and then H & J thoughtfully departed while we occupied ourselves with putting the little one down. I'm now blogging one handed with He Who Shall Be Named in t'other hand.