Yesterday was Gemma's biweekly visit to the health clinic, and the hefty nine pound milestone has been reached (4.1 kilos) - that's exactly double her coming home post-birth, losing-up-to-10% low of 4.5 pounds. Gemma celebrated by being in a good mood much of the day, with lots of cooing on demand (especially after being fed on demand) and good naps throughout. In the early hours of the morning she tired of her bassinette and assumed her preferred sleeping position: on her back, in the "big bed" between the 'rents. It's amazing how nine pounds can take up so much space - arms stretched wide, mum and dad scratching out a position on the perimeter, happy for the silence.
The Boys arrived from Toronto Saturday night (weighed down with a stash of our wedding gifts which have been cluttering up their basement and now adorn our kitchen) to begin a week of galavanting around town and country. Jason demonstrated his famed and valued abilities as a human pacifier, carting an appreciative Gemma around the house. The Boys are also up to their usual tricks of buying groceries, cleaning dishes etc. earning them lots of Frequent Guest Points, and so far there's been nary a mumble about any five am squawking noises which could have found their way into their room.
Today also marks our two year anniversary, and besides being able to use a lot of the great gifts which have recently arrived, we also went for our first dinner out alone since June 23rd. Kathy and Brett were the lucky first babysitters, who did the right thing by having Gemma fast asleep when we got home.

8 pounds, 8 ounces (3.88 kilos; more than half a stone...): that's the verdict from the last weigh in on Monday, which means Gemma is coming along nicely in the scales. She's moving on to her next set of clothes and saying goodbye to some old favourites. All other signs are good as well.
In the Department of Transport area, Gemma's now fitting into, and starting to take to, the Baby Bjorn, which means she can be strapped in and carried around. Her head is still too low to have her perform to her full Chick Magnet potential but this will come. We went for a walk in the hood last weekend in one when she looked at the scenery for the first few minutes, slept for the rest of the trip, and displayed an uncanny knack for waking up just as the key was reaching for the home door a half hour later. Of course we were delighted to have her up and sharing opinions while we had our lunch.
Kathy and Kathy Petcher had a quick visit with a nursery school that falls somewhere in between our respective neighborhoods, but the dingy setting and illiterate handout provided were not good omens. Their fate was sealed when Kingsley told us the school associated with nursery was heavily fined for poor standards. Not bad for the small fortune they were trying to charge.
Plans are afoot today for Kathy to hang out in the shops with Trish (and her new baby Felix), which means Ms. Brown's first solo drive with Gemma. Reports to follow...

Big developments in the vocal department: besides being able to cry at increasingly impressive and painful levels, Gemma's also been emitting a lovely series of Oooohs and Aahhhs, usually when prompted by others. This is followed by cries of "good girl" and smiles all around.
Gemma had 7-8 friends and family over to watch her first international football match last night, witnessing England hammer Germany 5-1. Michael Owen's hat trick contributes to the excitement and post game exhaustion, and Gemma has to be woken up for her next feed four hours later. Having a few German supporters present, in the form of the Brinkmann Brothers, didn't hurt the atmosphere.