Today Rachel and I visited Torbay Hospital to see the consultant about how baby is going to be born.

When Freddie was born he got stuck and was delivered by emergency caesarian and so at the time they suggested we would need to see if it were likely to happen again another time. After a chat with the consultant, he advised that a caesarian was probably the best option again, although this time we would do it by appointment....

So, all being well Rachel and I will head into the hospital on Tuesday 13 May and later meet a new little person. Baby may appear earlier of course (like Freddie who was nearly three weeks early) but we cannot do much about that anyway.

So hopefully all will go to plan.

Rachel perches on the bench

We had not seen the type of bench that the Zoo got for us, but it was made of sustainable materials and sourced in accordance with their conservation thinking.

It has been positioned overlooking the gorilla and orang utan islands, and faces our house which is 200 metres away. It was a lovely day and it was fairly quiet there. The bench is nice and sports a brass plaque, simply engraved “Precious Memories of Freddie Wills 19 March 2006 – 2 May 2007.”

It is a really nice quiet location that many people pass by. Whilst I was sitting on the bench Rachel noticed something rather strange. A few feet away, on the path sat a Peacock butterfly which was basking in the sun. It stayed there for a minute, enough time for me to get a close-up photograph, before fluttering off out of sight. Very strange. Those who have followed the ‘blog will have remembered the relevance of butterflies, as one appeared just after Fred died on the 2 May 2007. They have appeared in various situations since, even in the middle of winter.

As we set off back to the entrance a family came by and stopped and read the plaque. They noted that Freddie was just 13 months when he died, and went off explaining to their children, who were toddlers, what the bench was all about. Very sad in one way to hear strangers talking about our Fred in that way, but in another it was exactly why we wanted the bench.

Today would have been Frederick's second birthday. I remember who pleased we were two years ago when Fred arrived, and going to Sainsbury's to get some things we had forgotten.

I also whizzed over to Mothercare in Torquay to get a "Baby on Board" sticker for the car as I had always wanted one of them.

Last year we were in Ward 34 celebrating as best we could but until I knew all was clear it hung over us, the worry of what was to come, if anything. The staff got Fred some stuff and we received lots of cards, which went on the notice board in his cubicle.

This year, nothing. After getting up pottering Rachel and I decided to go out for a bit. We went to Paignton seafront and parked just by the place that we took Fred to on his first day at the beach. It was so hot then we had to keep him covered in sheets and parasols so he did not get to see the sun. It was too bright. My dad and his friend George popped over to see us as they were having a drink at the Club nearby.

Today the beach was empty except for a few dog walkers and pram pushers. And some seagulls.

We then went to the Zoo for a walk about. The bench is yet to arrive and I guess it must be imminent by now.

We received several messages during the day from well wishers, as well as some from the nurses at Bristol. That was nice.

Not much else happened other than Rachel and I met Hayley in town for some lunch and we headed home.

It is another day when we visit the midwife, over in Brixham. Today Emily came with us, as she is interested in getting into paediatric nursing or similar, so we hoped it may be of interest for her.

Rachels bloods, blood pressure and baby growth seems fine and again we heard baby's heartbeat on the doppler. The midwife gave another indication as to the baby's sex - a "train" sound if a boy and a "horse" if a girl. I am sure it is for entertainment value only.

Rachel is getting bigger now, and so I am stoking her up with soya beans, spinach, sprouts and Paignton cabbages, which she gratefully accepts (?)

Just under eight weeks to go now, and if Fred's arrival is anything to go by, it could be just over five weeks.

Yesterday we wandered the aisles of Mothercare and next week will enter the hallowed portals of Babies 'r' Us. Soon all Fred's stuff will be brought out and washed and dried. Conveniently our washing machine went to the "other side" today so that was helpful. Maybe Fred had a hand in making sure we got a new reliable one before baby arrives?

I am back in the office for just one day this week - tomorrow -and will then be off for another week using my annual leave up. A new leave-year approaches so I can take my time again with the new born.

On the 19 March, it would have been Fred's second birthday. Nearly a year ago, we celebrated on Ward 34 with a cake and presents from the staff, our relatives and others we did not know. Amazing how time and circumstance change.

Rachel and I are looking forward to meeting Fred's new brother or sister, and guess with more anniversaries approaching things will be a bit bumpy.

Not sure who reads this now, but it did its job during its time. The old site managed 110,000+ hits, and we only have 200 now. I am happy with that as we have nothing much more to say really but I enjoy updating this.

When baby is born I shall stop doing this one I think, and maybe do another on the we'un. Fred might feel a bit style-cramped I think.