Signs!

Spot the mistakes. We were in Asda cafe.

There were at least 10 of these signs stuck around the place!

A tooth

Yes, on Monday we felt the edge of a tooth. As yet we can't see it; (She won't let us!)

We have been to Durham for a few days. We had a great time. It was nice for Jamie to be back in his University town remembering all the places he/we frequented. We especially enjoyed visiting Durham cathedral. We visited Beningborough Hall on the way home. It is home to half of the National Portrait Gallery's paintings. We experimented with our own type of portrait.

Emily is now spending more and more time on her feet so we invested in her first shoes. Size 3, width G. Hopefully there is plenty of room for growing as they cost just as much as adult shoes!

We arrived home to pick up a parcel. It was a box filled with 4 helium balloons - Thankyou to Emily's family in Northern Ireland.
Well it has been a busy week. Happy Birthday to Esther in Sydney, James and Katy in York, Nicola in Knaresborough, James in Bristol and Geordan in Manchester. Happy Anniversary to Deirdre and Andrew. (I hope that is everyone!)On the house front, three people came to visit today, maybe the person who wants our house visited today!!

We have enjoyed our week of half term, one more day to go with Jamie.

Half term is now upon us.

Yeah!!

We have been busy getting ourselves back on our feet after this virus that has hit us all. Sneezes, coughs and whoozy heads are nearlly banished so roll on the holidays.
We have started to sort out some of the details for our summer holiday to France. We have picked up a swimsuit and baby blockers for Emily. We are practising with the specs! What do you think?

Emily is also enjoying her new mega blocks, (I am trying to encourage her to be an architect, I think that would be an interesting job). She prefers playing with the tub as a hat or knocking the blocks over! So maybe building design will not be her forte!

Since Emily has been in hospital rolling around with just a nappy for nearly 4 days, it has been interesting trying to get her back into clothes! Or should I say nappies. She rolls around so much it is at times, difficult to get the nappy on. This pic was taken after she escaped without the nappy!

Well for all you milestone watchers out there, this past week was a BIGGIE!!!! On Tuesday in hospital, Emily poulled herself up for the first time. Since then she has mastered the art. She does need furniture or something for leverage and can't really move that much when she is up, but she is UP!!!

So half term is now here,;we are off to Durham for 2 nights to enjoy the north east of England. Jamie went to uni there so it will be cool to visit the old places again and to chill out walking, reading and picnicing if the weather allows. We love Half Term!

My 4 day visit to Hospital; I caught a virus.

We have been in hospital since Saturday. Emily had a high temp and a rash. Thankfully she seems to be improving, we are now at home with paracetamol and ibruprofen to help with her temperature. To those of you who knew, thankyou for praying. For those of you who didn't don't worry; it was difficult to communicate as J was back and forth to the hospital after 12pm most nights and back around 8am. We have had the most AMAZING medical care. Our experience of the NHS has been great. The staff were helpful, kind, calm and in control. Emily responded well (maybe too well to all the attention). We are truely grateful to people who assist in the most stressful situations. Emily has been great, she is the smiliest, sick baby we know. I have included lots of pictures for those who were on the end of the phone worried, who could not see. She was fab. We have had visitors, phone calls, emails and messages. Thank you.All seems well, some results come back tomorrow, hopefully all will be well. We hope this is the end of this episode; Thanks be to God.

Waiting in A & E Thankfully there was no sick involved.Let me out.
Peekaboo
Daddy brought my favourite book
My own telly.

Standing up all by myself

Do you like my boxing glove? (Note the morning hair!)

Now I'm home and feeling a little better.

Another busy week.

Emily got a pop up tent and tunnel this week. It takes up the entire floor space in our lounge.We have no space left so we wiggle around it in order to get around in the lounge!

We also went ot our first children's birthday party complete with party bags! Happy second birthday Katie B! We have started thinking about Emily's Birthday party; we are hoping to have an outdoor picnic on July 7th.

We have had a busy week. Emily has now learnt to blow raspberries whilst having her dinner, thus spraying us with yoghurt, pasta, chicken and baby mush! She is also great at mimicing us when we tell her off.

Her love of books continues with her bumping her face daily as she drags the latest edition off the shelf.

Jamie is off to the Year 11 Prom tomorrow night, then Range Rover driving and FA Cup on Saturday morning with his dad and brother (a birthday gift for his dad). Emily and I are hoping to meet up with family.

Bits and bobs yet again

Well, Emily has turned an amazing 10 months old. Where has all the time gone. She is such a great kid. I know I say this time and time again, but who could argue with a smile like this!

We went to visit Marple canal on Monday. Here are some snaps!

We have been painting the kitchen cupboards. Emily wanted to get in on the action with the drill as J put the handles on.
Well, that is all, today is my Friday as I am off for the rest of the week. Tomorrow I am meeting a friend for coffee, then we are going swimming with another friend and then off to parent and toddlers. (Where incidently we are doing a sponsored, fancy dress obstacle course to raise money for outdoor play equipment.) Hopefully J and I will make it to see Spiderman 3 tomorrow night.

Have a great day and night.

Bank Holiday Weekends

Chatsworth House, Home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire

Silly Moorhen, having a shower under the Fountain 13 'Steps' each one at different heights so that the water sounds different.

This weekend we made it to Chatsworth House, one of my favourite places to visit. We had a great day in the sunshine, we walked, ate ice cream, walked, played with the ball, walked some more and lazed in the sun. The gardens are truely beautiful.
On Sunday we had fun with Emily, she refused to go to sleep for most of the day, instead choosing to whine. We are not used to this as she is usually such a happy babe, we got used to people staring at us because she was in such a foul mood!

Today we went to walk the canal path at Marple and visit the 16 locks there. (Photos will follow on the next Blog) I was risk assessing the venue for my class. As we are learining about canals and this one is 2 stops away on the train ....we are going to visit in June. I am not so sure about the water... open spaces.... and wooded areas... we will have to see if my Head will allow it. I think I will need a better adult to child ratio than usual.

On the house sale... well our house is now £5000 cheaper. This weekend we have spent time painting our kitchen cupboards and putting new handles on. (Jamie is busy measuring where the holes will be for the handles as I type!) We have put away a lot of our dishes to free up space and are still trying to declutter. I do have to say it is difficult to give a sense of space when there is so much stuff needed for an active baby! (Also I like stuff and things so it is hard for me to declutter!)
It has been great having an extra day off together. Now that I am back at work, every day seems more and more precious. Well that is all, Emily is sleeping (bum on the air) Jamie is measuring (oh the maths) and I am procrastinating, (I hate doing school work at home!) All is well in the McCulloch House. Thanks be to God.

I love having a daughter ...

... for many reasons. One being that I can buy cute clips! Today was the first day that required cute clips. Ignore the scowling, Emily has had only 30 mionutes sleep since 7.30 am and it is now 4pm!

Our Little Lucy

Our little God-Daughter is not so little. She turned eight today. She is such a great little girl, full of fun, laughter, questions, compassion and life. (We wonder what words her parents would choose to put here!) We miss her dearly, she lives in Essex with her family.

Well Jamie was reminiscing today about going to visit her in the hospital the day she was born. He looked out of the window and saw the Old Maine Road football stadium! He says that Lucy was so tiny and fragile. She is not so tiny now.

Well, Happy 8th Birthday Lucy, we hope the sun was shining on you and you had a lovely birthday.

Mum

Happy Birthday Mum.

Today my Mum celebrates a significant birthday. We were in Belfast this past weekend to celebrate and catch up. It was nice to see all the clan. On the Emily front, her balance is imporving, she can now ride her bike. Unfortunately her legs are a little too short so we pull her across the room. That is when she falls off!

On the work front, we are managing the rhythms of work and home. I am trying to adjust to the less responsibility and nowhere to leave my coat and file. I am really struggling to deal with the not being needed in the same way, and not being noticed by some at all. I do have to say there is a small army of people who are looking out for me and trying to support me, without them I think I would be miserable, instead I am quietly unhappy. I suppose I should just be happy I have the stability of a job and be happy!

Well, that is all for now, we are well and wish Mum a very, very happy birthday and a great fun filled year ahead.