So the EMC office has its own iPad which team members can book out for a couple of days at a time. Finally being based back in London Bridge meant I was able to give it a test run.

I’ll be honest, I was initially very sceptical. Away from home I have my iPhone. At home I have my laptop – albeit a not very good one. Just couldn’t think why I’d need an iPad. But I guess that’s just it. You don’t buy an iPad out of ‘need’. You buy it out of ‘want’.

After a night playing with it, I can now see where the iPad would fit in in our household. It would essentially replace the browse / entertainment aspect of my home laptop. The iPad is very portable and lighter than our laptop. You can take it anywhere without needing a lot of the peripherals that are often attached to the main computer. It’s also quite fun browsing the web on such a responsive and intuitive touchscreen interface. It’s something I’ve become accustomed to on the iPhone but the iPad just magnifies the whole experience a lot more in an environment (your home) where device size is less of an issue and you’d like a bit more screen real estate.

It’s a shame there are less apps available out there right now for the iPad. It’s meany we’ve only really been able to surf the web and play a few notes on the piano app. I’ll be keeping an eye on developments (and prices) now though with interest.

We just watched ‘The Bucket List’ – starring Jack Nicholson an Morgan Freeman. It was quite a moving film about two oldish guys, two very different guys who are both told they have 6 months to live. They then create a bucket list of things they want to do before they die. Things like skydiving, see something majestic, kiss the most beautiful girl in the world, etc.

Have to say, the most moving bit – the most memorable bit – of the film for me was a bit where Morgan Freeman described how his marriage had become stale and all focused on the kids without them knowing. When the kids left he looked at his wife and couldn’t remember why he loved her in the first place. That scares me. It’s such an easy thing to happen. I’ve witnessed it happen first-hand. With our first child, now almost 9 months old, I can really understand how that can happen to a couple, and how I – as a husband – need to guard against that from happening. Before you know it 30 years have passed.

I and the guys who watched the movie made our own Bucket Lists. Most list items involved spending time with friends and family. We set ourselves the challenge of making a list of 3 things. For a long time I could only think of 1 – ‘to spend every single remaining moment I could with those who truly mattered to me. My family and friends’. At the time of writing the list, all I could think about were my wife and little girl. All the stuff about going to places, eating nice food … that didn’t really appeal.

None of our lists contained anything work or career related and I’ve kept hold of that piece of paper as a reminder. You don’t want to be making that list when time is about to run out. Identify what really matters to you and use your time wisely doing these things.

Olivia is 8 and a half months now and tonight, during dinner, she started clapping for the first time! Previously she’s only been slapping her forehead so this is a massive step forward!

She’s almost crawling. She can move backwards and turn 360 degrees but is yet to make the big step forward. I have been told to enjoy this period of non-mobility.

She’s also saying DA DA alot. I’m not delusional enough to think she’s trying to say Daddy … or am I?

On my way in for my second day back at work today. I think being a dad’s still sinking in. I’m getting quite good night’s sleep though. Can’t complain. My wife is doing an amazing job at night, as well as throughout the day. She’s a natural mother – and I always knew she would be. Having my mother-in-law around to cook and clean’s also been an incredible help. Apparently new mum’s should eat chicken and pork only, drink lots of warm milk, no cold food and drinks, have lots of soup, only specific types of veg, lots of ginger, and not squat (although I think the squatting one’s a bit of a myth). She’s also helping with the kid. I must admit, it was quite hard getting out of bed this morning when the little girl was peacefully sleeping beside me. Oh well. It makes leaving work to go home even more of a bonus when you know your daughter’s there and she’s changing so much each day – and becoming more and more alert. Also trying to stay fit and well myself – alot more proactively than I normally would. I don’t want to bring any viruses home for mum and daughter. Lots of Vitamin C being popped. Maybe a bit less coffee, he says optimistically.

Baby watch: She did her first open-eye smile this morning, her eyelashes are getting longer and she’s staying awake much longer.

The little girl is now off the ventilator now. Slowly the tubes and wires are being removed. Now she just needs to re-adapt to her fixed heart and lungs. She’s breathing ok but jerks a bit. I think that’s normal but after the last few days, anything slightly abnormal can be a worry. They’ve taken her pink hat off now and now, with the ventilator and mouthpiece removed, you can really see her face clearly.

I’m going to make a few predictions about her now based on her first few days. I remember as a kid when grandparents and aunts would look at a baby and make predictions about their character, physical appearance, or even future job. I always wondered if they were ever accurate. Well, for our little girl I think she has a great spirit – like her mum. We think she’s going to be cheeky, or even naughty. We think she’s going to be an active, outdoors kid who’s more comfortable in trainers and jeans rolling around on grass than in pink dresses playing with dolls – or is this what I prefer? Ha … not sure! But don’t get me wrong – we still have about 3 years’ worth of pink clothing for her to get through! I also think, like her mum, she’ll be more artistic than intellectual … this may be because what I’ve seen of her character so far reminds me alot of her incredible mum.

Ah yes. I also want to note down here our thanks to both our parents for all their help at this time, cooking and cleaning while we’ve been in and out of hospital after and before the birth. Can’t imagine how I’d have coped without them. And our friends and family too, whose messages and visits have really given us alot of strength. Our little girl really is a blessing from God in so many different ways.