the hardest thing about fatherhood (so far)

Nappy changing - easy. Keeping on top of the growing piles of washing up and laundry - can do it in my sleep (which is just as well, as that is often when it gets done). Carrying baby daughter in sling - no probs. Dealing with Spanish bureaucracy - I'm practically a professional.

No, the hardest thing about being a Dad, thus far, is being left with Rosie while Kate is in the shower. Invariably Kate only manages to get a shower after feeding Rosie and expressing milk, which usually only leaves 30 minutes until the next feed. I don't begrudge Kate this time at all, in fact I wish I could give her more personal time, but nonetheless I spend those 30 minutes praying for her to hurry up and hoping Rosie wont cry.

When she does cry it's heartbreaking for me. There's nothing I can do. I don't have breasts and because of the whole nipple/teat confusion, bottle feeding is now banned. If Rosie wakes up crying with hunger I have no solution for her. Soothing, cuddling, nappy changing, rocking, singing,philosophical debate, music, full on circus troop with bells on - nothing distracts her from her hunger. It kills me that all I can do is wait for Kate.

Just popping out to weigh the baby... -by Theo

Can you do this in England? Will Boots weigh your baby for you?

One thing that bemused me at the hospital was one of the nurses telling us to take Rosie down to a pharmacist and weigh her. "Can we do that?" I wondered. "And why a pharmacist? Why not a fruit and veg shop? They've got scales!"

Yes we can is the answer - one of a the three local pharmacists within 2 minutes of our house (there's loads in Spain, all independent) has baby scales that are free to use. According to our pharmacist friend Ana (below with her boyfriend Jon) this is really common in Spain. Who knew?Anyway, we've been a few times and it's all good news. Rosie weighed 2.52kg (up from a low of 2.1kg) on Friday. Must be the drastic feeding measures we've been taking....