Eric Gregory was born on Friday, 20 June at 01:49 in the morning. All is well with both Jennifer and little Eric. We are now back in Devon. Jen has had some severe back pain since the birth, but it is slowly recovering. Eric Gregory was 3.1 kg and 53 cm long at birth and is the cutest boy around (I am the only other one, so the competition isn’t that great)!

Jen’s due date was June 27th. At our visit at Jen’s gynaecologist, Dr. William Dennes, on Wednesday the 18th, Little O (as we called him until his birth) hadn’t yet engaged, and we all believed he might be a few days late. So on Wednesday evening we had a barbeque party at Michael’s (rector at the Swedish Church in London) and Camilla’s home. My daughter Susanne had invited us to a tour of her job followed by a lunch on Thursday. On Thursday afternoon I packed the car and drove down to Devon with all the things needed down there.

I had only been down at Knightstone a few minutes and was strolling in the park with Chucky and Nallah, when Rowan came running with the phone saying that Jen wanted to speak to me. Jen felt a little pain. It wasn’t any contractions she said, but she was a little bit worried and wanted me to come back to London. I’m not going to tell how fast I drove back as I have a couple of magistrates among the readers of this little blog.

Of course the pain was the first signs of labour and Jen had to go to hospital with Riza (our nanny). I arrived at the same time the anaesthetist was ready to apply the epidural.

Soon after William (the gynaecologist) arrived. Everyone thought the birth would be many hours away. But when the real labour started it was very intense and very short, and soon Eric Gregory was born.

For Jennifer it was an experience of intense pain paired with the expectations of motherhood. The happiness came later, when Eric just had entered this world. I felt Jen’s pain through her squeezing of my hands, her breathing and cries, her sweat on her forehead and then her hugs and even laughter between the contractions.

We all knew that something unique was about to happen and Jen’s face (and probably mine too) was filled with so many emotions at the same time.

Then the contractions started again and William said: “Go on, continue pushing. Don’t stop, go on; he is nearly out.” And Eric Gregory arrived. . . his first cries filling all of us with happiness. This “Little O”, whom we only knew from the many scans we had seen during the months before and his kicks inside Jen’s tummy, was suddenly in front of us, alive and taking his first breaths. It left both of us very humble, thankful and exuberant all at the same time.

And soon after (although it felt much longer), he was lying on his mum’s breast and both were resting, content at being together in this world. Jen’s back pain didn’t really start until a day later (probably caused by some torn

muscles or ligaments). We stayed at the hospital all day Friday and left Saturday morning. I was given a bed at the hospital both nights and could be with Jen and Eric all the time, which was great for all of us.

We drove down to Knightstone Manor on Saturday, where Susanne and Catharina (my daughters) and our lovely staff had prepared a wonderful welcome for us. Sanna and Cat have now (Sunday afternoon) just gone back to London, Eric is asleep and Mum is organising all his things in the nursery (the former Chinese bedroom at Knightstone). It is already full of more cuddly toys than I ever seen before, plus all the balloons that Sanna and Cat hung in the room (and all over the Manor).

Jen has been amazing through all this, although she hasn’t slept as much as she ought to. But now we will rest and look after Eric and stay at Knightstone for most of the summer.

Luz (Jen’s mum) and Mikee (Jen’s 5 year old niece) will come as soon as possible and stay with us for a while. All of you who would like to visit us are welcome. Eric is ready to meet the world!