The countdown

It’s that time of year when the countdown to Christmas begins. Everywhere you look there are seasonal gift ideas, recipe choices and shopping guides. Dedicated websites tell you how long you have to wait by day, hour, minute and second. Christmas Day is just 71 days away.

POD’s birthday is also 71 days away, she was born on 25th December 2010. The lead up to the festive period is always especially poignant as a result. Some of the Christmas tree decorations and the Rudolph we have on the door provide fond memories of that time. As does the snow, a lot fell in December that year.

This photograph was taken when POD was one hour old, she was remarkably alert given she’d just endured a 47-hour labour. She arrived to the sound of the Salvation Army singing Good King Wenceslas outside the delivery suite. Surreal yet memorable!

Now a toddler, POD has an incredible character, is fiercely independent and highly entertaining. It’s likely this will be the first birthday she’ll remember. It’s going to be amazing to see the joy on her face and be able to share her cries of excitement.

But the time between now and then will fly past too quickly, it always does. If I had my way the countdown to Christmas would be in slow motion. Especially this year. Just so I can enjoy POD being a two-year-old that little bit longer.

We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? on PODcast. To see more photographs and read the stories behind them, click on the badge below.


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  • Iona@redpeffer October 14, 2013 at 7:53 am

    Aww, that photo brings back so many memories for me too. Gosh I can imagine just how busy you’re going to be between now and Christmas. I know what you mean about the 2-3 things, my son turns 3 shortly.

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 10:36 am

      Happy birthday to your son. There’s definitely something about them being three isn’t there. We’ll be organising parties before we know it 🙂

  • Kara October 14, 2013 at 8:28 am

    Wow – what a Christmas present.
    I love Christmas at age 3 as they really start to understand what’s going on and get so excited about Santa.
    I think it’ll be excitement overload in your house!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 10:36 am

      Thank you Kara. I suspect POD is going to absolutely love Christmas this year 🙂

  • Only Best For Baby October 14, 2013 at 8:46 am

    I can’t believe POD is just an hour old, she looks so alert (perhaps it was the Christmas music in the background)! How special to be born on Christmas day x

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 10:37 am

      Thank you, she does look a little startled as well but she did brilliantly. She won’t thank me for it but she does have a special birthday 🙂

  • Coombemill October 14, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Oh Charlie I hadn’t realised Pod was a Christmas baby, how special.

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Thank you Fiona 🙂

  • Louise October 14, 2013 at 9:13 am

    Best Christmas present ever!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      She definitely was – and still is 🙂

  • LauraCYMFT October 14, 2013 at 9:49 am

    Bet she was the best Christmas present ever. Lovely photo, she really is very alert for a 1 hour old bub!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      Very much so, thank you Laura 🙂

  • Notmyyearoff October 14, 2013 at 10:09 am

    Oh my god – 47 hours!!!! I went 40 hours and I was absolutely shattered by the end of it. I completely understand wanting it all to go in slow motion now. Z will be 3 on the 16th of that month and I want it to go slowly now too 🙂

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 3:07 pm

      Guess there’s a reason it’s called labour, 40 hours is some stint too! Thought Z’s birthday wasn’t far off POD’s. It’s going way too quickly isn’t it!

  • sarahhillwheeler October 14, 2013 at 10:33 am

    What a lovely story, makes Christmas so special and you are so right about the 2-3 thing, time really does go quicker when they get older. Love the idea of Pod being welcomed in to the world by a Salvation Army band!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 5:59 pm

      What a fabulous comment, thank you Sarah. The last few months seem to have flown by and she’s changed so much! She was very lucky to be sung to when she arrived 🙂

  • sarah October 14, 2013 at 11:18 am

    ah we have a christmas baby too. well she was due christmas day and arrived on new years eve! she is going to be 8 this year, seems nuts. Just had my sons birthday and i cannot believe he is 11!!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:00 pm

      That’s so lovely you have a Christmas Day baby too, New Years Eve is a great birthday! People will always be up for a party at least! I read you post before your comment, I hope you son had a wonderful birthday 🙂

  • Actually Mummy... October 14, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    Oh yes, Christmas all goes by in far too much of a whirl to really stop and enjoy it!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:01 pm

      It really does doesn’t it. We definitely need to have a half year birthday as well as her party 🙂

  • Sarah MumofThree World October 14, 2013 at 3:03 pm

    Bless her! It must seem like a very long run-up to her birthday with the whole world counting down to Christmas for three months! She looks remarkably alert in that photo for just an hour old 🙂

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:02 pm

      It’s very true Sarah, everyone is waiting for that day and we don’t want it to come yet! She was unbelievably alert when she was born. Funny really 🙂

  • Erica Price October 14, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    I hadn’t realised that Pod was a Christmas baby. How lovely!

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      Thank you Erica 🙂

  • amanda walsh October 14, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    ah a christmas baba how lovely, they certainly grow up too fast

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      They do don’t they Amanda. Can’t believe she’ll be three!

  • Sara (@mumturnedmom) October 14, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    Three is a lovely age too 🙂 But, I know what you mean, I can’t believe the wee girl is 18mo now! What a special Christmas you will have xx

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 6:04 pm

      Thank you Sara, her third birthday seems to be coming round so quickly though! Amazing that the wee girl is 18m now, that’s flown by too 🙂

  • Cathie B October 14, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Love this photo so much. What a lovely day to have a birthday – twice the celebrations. #Whatsthestory

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 11:51 pm

      Thanks Cathie really kind of you 🙂

  • Funky Wellies October 14, 2013 at 9:59 pm

    What a birth! Lovely photo of your newborn baby girl. xx

    • Charly Dove October 14, 2013 at 11:52 pm

      You could say that! Thank you 🙂

  • Mary @over40andamumtoone October 14, 2013 at 10:13 pm

    Beautiful birthday, enjoy every day of being 2, 3 will open a whole new world!

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:28 pm

      Thank you Mary, I can only imagine what 3 will bring 🙂

  • Nichola Fabfortymum October 14, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    Well what a magnificent Christmas Present you got that year – that’s going to be one gift that can’t be topped. I love that she is a wee Christmas baby and that she arrived to Good King Wenceslas, how wonderful. Those birthdays seem to arrive faster every year don’t they xx

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      The birthdays do seem to arrive faster, doesn’t seem 5 minutes since she was two! Definitely the best Christmas present ever xx

  • Fiona October 14, 2013 at 10:48 pm

    Siena wa born a week before on the 18th, the snow was beautiful but taxis wouldn’t drive down our road… Not the best when you have to walk on ice after a c-section! I’m really looking forward to her 3rd birthday too 🙂 where has time flown though?! X

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:44 pm

      Wow how amazing is that – not the walking on ice, that must have been horrendous! I remember that time very well as it was just a few days before I was induced. No idea where the time’s gone, doesn’t seem 5 minutes since she was two!

  • Lou's Lake Views October 14, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    That must make Christmas extra special and extra busy! I got a bit distracted by the 47 hour labour comment…OUCH!

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:45 pm

      Very much so Lou – can’t believe she’ll be three *tries to erase labour*

  • Mammasaurus October 14, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    What a beautiful way to come into the world x

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:46 pm

      It really was, something I’ll always remember anyway 🙂

  • Jo Laybourn October 15, 2013 at 8:40 pm

    Wow, 47hr labour! Aww, 3 years old on Christmas day, how cool is that!

    • Charly Dove October 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm

      Memorable Jo! Can’t believe she’s going to be three, incredible 🙂

  • Alison October 17, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Aw what a sweetie, it makes Christmas more special

    • Charly Dove October 18, 2013 at 6:28 pm

      It does indeed, thanks Alison 🙂

  • older mum in a muddle October 17, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    Only an our old *swoons*… just awe inspiring, getting your head around that. So double presents for POD then? What a special time Christmas will always be. Little A was a very alert baby too…. and *coughs* a forty seven hour labour !? X

    • Charly Dove October 18, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      It’s amazing isn’t it – I’m so glad we have this photo. Double presents although we do try and split them up so she doesn’t have everything in one go. She had her main present in the spring this year – much better time to get a playhouse! Good to hear Little A was alert too, they’re amazing aren’t they 🙂

  • older mum in a muddle October 17, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    I meant ‘hour’…

    • Charly Dove October 18, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      Was still with you 🙂

  • Carolynne - Mummy Endeavours October 19, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Ah what a special photo. I always wished we’d taken more of those first precious minutes after ours were born but so much is going on at that time!!! What a lovely christmas present for you – and yes it all goes far too quickly xx

  • Leila - Mud Mud Marvellous Mud October 19, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Aww, what a lovely Christmas present she was and what special memories xx