Introducing Isla Frances Barrett

It was an amazing experience to bring our younger daughter home to meet Ellie. I think this picture gives you a slight taste of Ellie's excitement as Crystal extracts her from the car seat.

But I suppose I should digress for a moment to give you her name! “Isla Frances Barrett”. Crystal had fallen for the name Isla some months ago and, knowing her husband, thought it wise to introduce me to it well ahead of the decision time. She knows it takes me awhile to adjust to new and different things. It's a Scottish name, derived from the "Isle of Islay", known as "the queen of the Hebrides" — a series of islands off the west coast of Scotland. (You can read about the island on Wikipedia or see a picture there.) You pronounce her name "eye-luh", or just imagine singing the last line of the Gilligan's Island theme song with a but of an "uh" at the end. Don't worry — you'll get the hang of it. We think it's a beautiful name and that it goes well with "Ellie".

Anyway — on with the pictures! Here are a couple of Ellie's first time holding Isla.

Then it was Grandma and Grandpa's turn, though Ellie couldn't be kept away!

And of course, one of the whole (newly enlarged) happy family. (Maybe it's time to replace the picture on the home page of our website, which was taken during our engagement!)

There were a few landmark events on this Isla's second day: first night at home, first overflowingly poopy nappy, first midwife's visit, first non-family visitor, and first time in the bouncy seat (she much prefers human contact).

I thought I'd add this one last shot my dad took on our pre-Isla trip to the London Aquarium of the city skyline across the Thames.