Hospital update...

Today was Summers latest check up at Southampton Hospital - Childrens outpatients. They were very impressed with her weight gain - nearly two pounds since they last saw her 5 weeks ago. She is now 9lb 10 oz and nicely rounded all over!

The skin over her exomphalos continues to grow well and they anticipate it will be fully covered in another months time. The doctor in charge of Summers care simulated what they will do in her operation and pushed the exomphalos back down into her abdominal cavity for a brief minute. It was amazing to see what her tummy will look like when completely flat and gives us something to look forward to. The fact that she was able to do this is means she is fairly positive that they will be able to perform the closure when Summer is older as there will be plenty of room for everything to go back in!

On a practical level the doctors are now happy for Summer to go into her normal car seat as there is less risk of her exomphalos rupturing and it is also much smaller then when she was first born. This means we do not always have to take her carry cot in the car giving us room to take passengers!

A very positive visit!

The Rudd family photo shoot....

As promised here are some pictures from the Rudd Family Photo Shoot (well it was actually our 1st wedding anniversary photo shoot) which Summer was the main star of!! The three of us!

Our gorgeous daughter - happy as always!

A formal shot!

Summers checkup...

Summer had her eight week check up this week (slightly late as she is ten weeks!) which meant she saw the health visitor, doctor and nurse at our local surgery.

• The health visitor weighed and measured Summer. She now weighs 8lb 12 oz which means she is still steadily putting on a good amount each week. Her length is 52.5 cm - she has grown by 4.5 cm since birth and head circumference is 40cm which is an increase of 6cm - must mean she has a big brain!

• The doctor gave Summer a thorough examination and declared her "perfect in every way" apart from the obvious exomphalos!

• Then it was a visit to the nurse for the first of her immunisations - poor thing. Summer had two injections. One will which cover her for : Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Polio, Influenza and one for : Meningitis , Pneumonia and Septicaemia. She was very brave and the only effect seemed to be that she was very sleepy and slept for the rest of the day and night - I think mummy was more upset by the injections!

More piccies...

Summer and her giraffe

Look at the gorgeous smile!

Summer and mummy getting ready for a party

Summers first holiday

Family Rudd on holiday

Outside the lodge

We took our first holiday as a family this week down in Croyde - North Devon. We stayed in a lodge at the Ruda holiday Park with Emma's parents and had a fantastic time. Weather was great and Summer got loads of fresh air. We visited Woolacombe and Lynton & Lynmouth but mostly just rested - definitely what the doctor ordered!

Chilling with Grandad

With Granny and Grandad

More weight gain...

Look at those long legs!!

Chatting with daddy

Gorgeous girl

Summer was weighed again this week and has put on another eight ounces . She is now eight pounds exactly. The skin over her exomphalos is also growing really well - it is amazing to watch her body basically repairing itself.

She's a model!!

Today the family Rudd had a photo shoot done by Photofinish (our wedding photographers).

It was actually a 1st Anniversary photo session for us but as mini Rudd joined us a week before our wedding anniversary we thought we would let her join in as well!!

As soon as the photos are ready we will post some on here.