Development From The Heart

So 4weeks have passed since I started full labour (technically started early labour 4weeks an 3days ago) and it has been best 4weeks of my life. You are an amazing bundle of joy, although Dad would prefer if you didn't cry so much when he comes in from work. Last night we had our first feedin blip,for some reason my milk all dried up. You were a hungry caterpillar as always and demanding food at top voice, thankfully I expressed in early days and had frozen some. This meant Dad was able to feed you for first time, lovely to see you two developing a unique bond. My milk seems to be back in this morning, which I am so glad about as breast feeding is something I have looked forward to, feel passionate about the benefits and I felt quite stressed at thought of having to stop. Fingers crossed for a good day, GP and Granny Mo coming to visit at lunch so there will be lots of cuddles and a very excited CJ.

Well baby T, thought you may like to know what tunes we have swayed and rocked and danced you to during those evenings when you find it difficult to settle. It is now week 4 so I titled the playlist 1month, sure there will be many more to follow. I should emphasise this is my music choice. Your dad has his own and would not necessarily approve of all mine. His favourite for you just now is Ben Howard. But here is mine: All of me - John Legend Sway- Bic Runga (New Zealand artist, I think of Uncle Alistair & Aunty Gemma when I hear it) Me and You - Barry Louis Polisar (this is our current favourite to bop to) i'd rather be with you - Joshua Radin Go Gentle - Robbie Williams True Companion - Marc Cohen (this will be me and your dads wedding song next March)

So today is a milestone, Dad went back to work today. The last three weeks have flown by, it has been amazing to spend time as a family. We have all been on a steep learning curve, we are trying to learn what cry means a feed and what cry means burp me. So far we have managed outings to Falkirk, St Andrews, Livingstone & Aberfeldy. This morning has been fab, with the sun shining we headed to the park to play with CJ. After posting thank you letters for all the incredible gifts we've received, we went for a coffee and scone at Cafe Kisa. While you have been sleeping, I have been putting together our wedding invites. This evening is an eve of sport on TV, World Cup football and an NBA play off game between Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Day one has been a success. Thank you for sleeping and feeding so well, you really have made being a mummy a fabulous experience so far. I feel blessed to call you my son.

Tobias the tiger officially registered today: watch out world it's only a matter of time before they give me a passport, drivers licence and a vote!

How can you be a week old already? Today was a big day, you lost your umbilical cord and we bathed you ourselves for the first time. It has been a busy week with visitors and us being on as steep a learning curve as you about our new world and responsibilities. There have been long nights, tears and a few naughty words said as we tried to fold down the pram for the first time and put the car seat in. But everyday has been a real joy, enjoying lots of daily cuddles as Dad is off on paternity leave. We have been inundated with messages of congratulations on your arrival and overwhelmed as more kind gifts arrive daily. Already you have a full chest of drawers of incredibly cute clothes from 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 month outfits. I cannot believe that at this time you will ever fit the 6months+ clothes. Dad hosted a BBQ instead of a traditional pub 'head wetting'. Th sun shone, Dad did an amazing job with his garden furniture assembly and first BBQ'ing cooking. We have been out daily with CJ both in the pram but also in the sling. We took you to see the Kelpies up close, I am sure we may be regular visitors. It was lovely to be able to surprise Granny Marion and Anty Joyce with a mid-week visit. The first week has been eventful from labour to your first outing. We are enjoying learning together as we try to work out what cry means food is required and which means time for a nappy change. Dad has been incredibly supportive throughout, while you have been amazing eating and sleeping well. Hope this sleep continues so we can all enjoy each day. Bring on week 2!

After the months of developing physically and emotionally, the big day and most precious arrival came at 1:43am on 27th May. Suddenly the world stood still, at 8lb 12 we had a healthy baby boy instantly called Tobias. It didn't matter that you were 5 days overdue nor the hours (actually days) of labouring and contracting. From that moment nothing was ever going to matter the same, it was as if the world had shifted on its own axis causing a systemic change. An altered perspective; one in which love was given new meaning and was a stronger force than previously given credit. After a short rest a day of firsts was to take place. Again previously these had not been considered but all seemed monumental when they took place over the last 36hours: - first cuddles with mum & dad - meeting Granny Mo & GP - meeting cousins Kyle, Reiss & Ryan - having first bath - success in breast feeding instantly (much to mum's relief as no bottles have been purchased) - meeting Uncle Derek, Aunty Llana, Uncle Alan & Suzanne - cuddles from Great Aunty Joyce - receiving first teddy from Granny Marion - hearing test passed (yippee!) - first ever lung full of fresh air (exiting the hospitals sliding doors) - road trip in car (to Tesco to stock up and then to home) - lick and welcome home from CJ - sleep in Moses basket (making you 6th generation of Colbeck/Campbell/Keir to sleep in the basket) Quite a 48hours since your arrival I think you'll agree. Since writing this you have just fed again and look like you are falling asleep n my chest (a feeling I cannot imagine ever tiring of), so it's back to Moses basket for you and bed for me so we are both prepared for whatever new experiences lie in store in day 3.

So today was 21st May, a date etched in our thoughts and diaries since November 2013 when we found out we were expecting. The day has been a non-event, which I am sure is unsurprising to majority of population but still it's difficult for the mum-to-be. Trying to carry on as usual, it was a morning aqua class followed by coffee and cake with my lovely ante-natal friends. As a wee bonus we met Imogen for first time, a lovely 8lb baby with a very full head of black hair. The rest of us expectant mums looked at Imogen and then reflected on our belly size, pondering that a similar baby lurks inside and is now due to make an appearance. D and I took CJ for a walk along river Tay and opted to dine out to celebrate due date even if baby has decided to stay put for a while longer. Curiosity is building. What will bubba look like? Are we expecting a boy or a girl? What will labour be like? So you decided not to come early or indeed today. Maybe tomorrow! I thought today would be a good chance to start this blog and reflect on the experience and learning of a journey into motherhood that we are about to embark on. Can't wait to meet our baby....hopefully not too much longer.

Celebrating UNESCO World Book Day with images of our education and literacy projects in Zambia

Reflecting on another incredible Zambia experience. The country never ceases to amaze; it educates, empowers and inspires on a daily basis

After a busy start to the week with EduSport Foundation, we spent an awe-inspiring few days in Bauleni. We visited a library in one of the schools, Lantana Camara School, the kids were excited to see us and lots of smiling faces soon appeared out of the classrooms. Fred quickly formed a circle and initiated some Zambian energisers, before long the circle was filled with 100kids in school uniforms shouting Konko madeso. After speaking to some of the senior pupils about the library books and asking them 'what education means to them'? We moved onto SWAAZ (Society of Women Against AIDS in Zambia) orphanage and school. This institution offers education and meals to kids who would otherwise be left behind by a society which continues to be blighted by deaths caused by HiV/AIDS. Often when parents pass away and family members are left to care for their children, the costs of Governments Schools which require uniform and learning resources stretch a family beyond its income capacity. This is what makes schools like SWAAZ still an essential part of the fabric of Zambian communities. We were shown into a small classroom where the children were reading their books, also donated by Umutima's library project. Just like the other schools visited in the communities of Libala, Chawama, Kalingalinga and Bauleni the same message from Head Teachers and young people came across consistently. The library books were encouraging a reading culture and the 2nd consignment had proved invaluable because the books were more appropriate for younger age groups and targeted towards less experienced readers. It is always great to hear that learning has taken place and the library project has been able to be even more effective with its second phase thanks to feedback received. It was great to hear Headteachers speak so positively about the impact of the books. I just wish the impact of the library project could directly reach those who worked so hard to make it happen including Derek Keir, Anne Stokes, St Johns School Malborough and the Barr family (and lots of the population of Biggar!) Seeing the children reading, discussing the stories and sharing their learning simply cannot be captured by images, it needs to be seen, heard and experienced first hand. Something that extended way beyond the capacity of my limited photography skills. Just one example was at Libala High School, a school with 2620 registered pupils, the librarian allowed us to speak with two senior pupils who commented on the books improving their study preparations for their end of term exams taking place that week. Pupils at the Secondary School are allowed to take fiction books out of the library for two weeks. The librarian commented that the teenage girls had so far engaged more with the library books, which were donated just a month prior to our visit due to the rainy season, he noted "the girls like the novels for romance" and the ever popular JK Rowling's Harry Potter books had quickly disappeared off the shelves once the library opened. He said the children have seen that some of their favourite TV shows actually come from books, they are now reading rather than watching the Secret Seven was one example given. The teacher at the adjoining Primary School said "we have already seen an improvement in the English of some children. They are allowed to take books home so they can now read not just during school hours" It is not just schools and learners that have benefitted from the library project both BUSA and the EduSport Foundation have utilised the library books as engagement tools in the communities where they work. The EduSport Foundation have established 10 new libraries since the start of 2013; their development strategy coincides with their Go Sisters Goal project (girls empowerment through sport) where schools have been asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that EduSport can engage pupils in their programmes, have use of the school facilities to host workshops and existing peer educators/young leaders also have access to their library facilities. Another outcome of the library project was instigated in the community of Chawama, where to test the improvement in reading and understanding of English the community peer leaders organised a debate between schools who have received library books. Based on the success of the first debate, other communities have now expressed an interest in establishing debating competitions between schools involved in the project across Lusaka. One area of future development and request that has come from schools is the need for more dictionaries. Some schools received encyclopaedias for the first time thanks to the second consignment of the library project. However a few teachers commented that they felt the children were learning to read new words and pronounce them correctly but they expressed some concern that the children did not always know the meaning of the new words hence the request for dictionaries. This will be discussed with the library development steering group for the next phase of our commitment to developing literacy and supporting education in Zambia. Overall it was evident how much schools and children are benefitting from the library project. To those that made it possible, you should feel a sense of achievement as the books donated in the UK are truly making a difference and improving literacy in Zambia.

7 months have now passed since London handed over the Olympic and Paralympic flags to Rio, the memories of sporting triumph and moments of sporting endeavour are now imprinted in Olympic history books. However the commitment to Olympic legacy that captured the imagination of the IOC during London's bid remains ever-present. None more so than on the dusty playing fields in Zambia. Zambia was one of 20 countries to benefit from the Olympic legacy programme 'International Inspiration' delivered by UK Sport, UNICEF and the British Council. Working with local grassroots organisations such as EduSport, Sport in Action and SCORE sport and leadership programmes were delivered across Zambia and established a new level of partnership working between local and International organisations to ensure the programme reached its aim. The IOC committed to developing Zambian sport thought the construction of the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) which was opened by Princess Royal in September of 2012 just a matter of weeks after she presented her own daughter an Olympic medal! The OYDC is a hub of sporting facilities for both performance and community use. Having previously blogged about our inspiring day at OYDC I won't linger on the impact of the physical structure however our visit was this time focused on the development of literacy programme run through the OYDC education team. Some fail to realise that the IOC is about far more than the delivery of the Games every four years, it is about the development of sport and communities through the embodiment of the Olympic values. Education is a core component of the IOC vision and mission Internationally. In Lusaka, the OYDC offer education classes to local communities and to their aspiring athletes. Players and athletes from different sports train and learn on site. During our first visit we saw an English and Maths class in operation. Following discussion with the Director, Clement Chilshe, and the literacy teacher about the need for learning resources we returned on Thursday with 400books for the OYDC. The books including reading sets at different levels and also a range of story books for leisure reading. Our motto as a charity, educate, empower, inspire remains at the core of our work. However the Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, excellence, friendship, determination, courage, equality and inspiration are close to the 'hearts' of our Trustees and we believe embedded in much of our work both in the UK and Internationally. Therefore, Umutima proudly presented the books in front of the Olympic statue to National athletes representing 4 different sport (tennis, badminton, girls football and volleyball) and to the Director. The local TV station, Mubi TV, broadcast interviews with Umutima, Clement and the athletes about the books and the OYDC's ongoing work to develop sport and education. It is a privilege for us as Umutima to be able to work in partnership with OYDC and future visits of Trustees to Lusaka will now include a compulsory trip to the OYDC to be inspired and to see how the books are being used by staff, athletes and the community.

Today at BUSA. Playing with te Queens and trying our hand at Korfball