Beanie arrived into the world six weeks ago. She made us wait for ten days beyond her due date but the anticipated mad rush to the hospital didn’t really materialise. D’Better Half very calmly told me that I may not be going into work that day when the alarm went off at 5.30. She then proceeded to wash her hair before it was considered time to get in the car and take Nearly-Four to her Grandmother’s house while we headed off towards Holles Street.

Now, I make that journey every working day driving the exact same route and I am fully aware of the traffic problems that can occur at that time of the morning. Evidently Beanie had timed her arrival to perfection, as it seemed we were just ahead of the traffic all the way in and I almost didn’t have to resort to using the bus lanes at all. In all honesty I think both of us were a little disappointed at that.

After spending years watching other “taxis” using the bus lanes every morning as we are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, this was one opportunity for us to do the same and have some sort of moral justification for doing so. But as I say, we were ahead of the traffic all the way in.

When Beanie did make an appearance, at just before 4pm, I was once again emotional. That’s how the midwife put it anyway. D’Better Half summed it up more succinctly by saying I was a “Dribbling Mess”. I don’t deny the charges for one minute. I was in floods of tears. Tears of joy at the arrival of our second, beautiful, perfect daughter. Tears of pride in what my beautiful wife had achieved and had done so in a manner I doubt many of us fathers would were we in the same position. Most of all, I think, they were tears of relief. Everything was okay, everyone was healthy and the world was fine once again.

For the prospective fathers out there I would encourage you to embrace the occasion when your little one arrives. Don’t be afraid to shown some emotion. If this event in your life doesn’t create emotions within you then I don’t know many that would.

Of course Nearly-Four was delighted that she had a new sister. Especially when it was pointed out that her sister would be able to share her toys with her in future. Our eldest did a few mental calculations and quickly figured out this meant she had suddenly inherited the potential to get access to “more” toys than before. She was a little disappointed when Beanie arrived home. Mostly at the fact that her brief holiday with the grandparents had come to an end, but also at the realisation that Beanie was small and helpless and didn’t ride into the living room on a bike. She told her mammy that she loved her. She told her mammy that she loved her baby sister. Then she looked at me with eyes that said, “You promised me a sister to play with! What exactly is this?”

She has gotten over her initial disappointment. The baby has given her new ways to rule the roost. Anyone entering can be told to keep quiet because of the baby. She can have more cups of “tea” because “the baby is hungry so I may as well have one too”. Her body clock instantly adjusted to waking at the same time as the new arrival in order to ensure Mammy and Daddy were feeding her properly. All little bonuses that she grasped with delight. She takes great joy in telling anyone knew what her sister’s name is.

But she will not, under any circumstance, appear in a photo with the baby. No way, no how! That is a battle to be fought this coming weekend though as the grandparents are pressuring us to provide the family photo.

So we are trying to get back into some shape and order as a household. It takes some time after a new arrival and there is upheaval all around you. But I wouldn’t change a single moment of these weeks, the upheaval, and the lack of sleep; not even the baby throwing up on the sofa for the third time that day. Not one single moment would I change if it meant I couldn’t have my two little princesses. And that is what they will always be to me.