Today is Saturday.

It has been three weeks since we found our beautiful baby daughter sleeping.

Every Saturday on this blog I am going to share a memory of Matilda Mae, either my own or one that someone has kindly shared with me.

Today I share the memory of my cousin and his fiance, the day they first met Matilda Mae.

Hi Jennie and Dave,

We’ve attached the photos we took on the day we came to meet Matilda. We hadn’t sent them yet as we didn’t want to upset you but we thought that, if it were us, we would want to have them.

When we first met Matilda, the first thing we noticed is how unbelievably cute she was! She was constantly smiling with her gorgeous, chocolate eyes twinkling the whole time. She was very happy to be held by us both, as long as she had you both in her sights.

She very contentedly sat in P’s arms in a little yoga-like pose. We were all amused that she was so intrigued by P, though W joked “he is big and hairy” and Matilda could hardly take her eyes off him. She was quite at home inspecting his fuzzy beard and moustache with her little fingers, adding the occasional bit of her dribble here and there.

She was such a scrummy and wriggly little cuddler, playing with P’s beard and, of course, tracking the big box of doughnuts we took over, which her big brother and sister kindly sampled on her behalf. She was licking her little chops hoping a bit of doughnut might work its way into her little rosebud mouth and we were saying it would later when you fed her, as you were eating your doughnut.

Matilda snuggled up, nestled in Dave’s arms, while we ate our doughnuts watching Esther and William trundling in and out of the toy room. W and Dave trotted out to the garden with William and Esther after Jennie managed to match up some croc shoes for the twins, then Matilda watched as Esther and William were drawing on a big piece of white paper (and the carpet at one point) on the lounge floor.

After William and Esther had eaten their crumpets and Matilda had her milk (and that doughnut you had eaten) we went home, as it was bath time! We had such a lovely afternoon with you all and you were all so relaxed and happy. We hope in time your pain will ease. Matilda is such a joyful little soul. We talk about her and to her every day. We have never known someone for such a short length of time who has made such a big impact on our hearts and lives. We read every update of Jennie’s blog with tears on our cheeks and love in our hearts for all of you.

Love you and miss you Matilda Mae

So, so much x