Meet Rosie in Our Happy New Year!

In order to avoid opening with the cliché of Christmas and New Years' card greetings, let me say it has been a most exciting holiday season for our little family. I do hope it was for you, too.

Even though we expected our daughter to come on December 26, Rosanna decided to make an appearance on the 23rd, late at night. We were transferred to Brighton, and before we knew it, I was holding her in my arms. That was the moment when I felt the world complete.

We came home quickly from the hospital, and her presence was too wonderful to focus on planning any kind of parties or celebrations for midnight. The last few years, our New Year's celebrations were not so good, to say the least. Actually, they were all terrible, come to think of it. When we stayed at home, we forgot to look at the London fireworks live, or the TV mysteriously decided not to work; when we opted for watching them from the pier, they moved them to another place in town, which we of course, did not read about in time...This year, we were even less prepared if that is possible: Andy had been fighting the flu for days before New Year's Eve and I was struggling with a slight fever that was peaking the very night of the 31st. And the last thing to think about was buying any champagne at all.

Going in spite of all our brilliant past experiences, Andy turned to me at around 8pm that night and said: "Rosie is sleeping; why don't we get changed and take a few photos of our first New Year's Eve together?"

I gave it a second's thought, shrugging my shoulders: "Actually, that is not such a bad idea. Even if she is sleeping, we can hold her in our arms, and who knows, perhaps we will for once have a nice evening."

We got ready while Rosie was in slumber, and when she woke up, I changed her into a pretty little dress with puff sleeves. And a lacy old bonnet that my mother bougt for me to take me home from the hospital in. Despite giving birth a week ago, I put on something red, of course - the tight and gorgeous Ava dress from Stop Staring! It was only appropriate: never will I slouch around the house in a robe or anything like.

"We have the glasses, but we don't have any champagne "- Andy said.

"We received an amazing bottle of Martini for Christmas, let's open that!" - I replied.

"Ok, I'll get it".

When he opened the box, it turned out it was a 2016 Vintage Prosecco sparkling wine.

"How lucky is that!" - I said - "Our night is changing for the better."

I was a little worried how Rosie would react to the photo-taking, but she even posed in some pictures, as you will see below. She was an absolute darling as she allowed us to laugh at the camera with her while sipping our grand discovery from the brightly shining glasses. I even got my new purse out, perhaps to feel as if we went somewhere, or maybe just because I am crazy about holding on to something as lovely as that, despite the fact of staying at home. A beautiful gift from a dearest friend.

When the photoshoot was over and we put Rosie back into her crib to rest, we sat down, and it was five minutes to midnight.

"Goodness, we again forgot to look at the time and of course, the fireworks!!!" - Andy said.

"Quick, turn the TV on! Quickly! We might just make it!" - I rushed him.

As soon as he swithced the device on, we realised we haven't been watching TV in the past two years. Faithfully, we clinged onto the selection Netflix had to offer. It was too late to set everything up.

"Well, that's for the fireworks then - Andy said sadly - Or perhaps I can find a live stream on Youtube on TV!"

He frantically grabbed the remote again. Needless to say, it did not work. We were sitting in the dark, with midnight upon us, and again no entertainment.

"Wait! We could try our smartphones!" - I hurriedly grabbed my phone, and as I typed in the last words to find the stream, I clicked on the link, and two seconds later, Big Ben tolled. We were sitting on the sofa, looking at Rosie in her crib with the sound and sight of fireworks, holding the best sparkling wine in our hands and smiling that we just made it at the last moment. This year is going to be good.