Chest Infection

Yes that's what it is. Emily has been unwell since her birthday with a cough and runny rose. We went to Blackpool on Saturday for a day out at the Seaside. We had lots of fun walking on the sand, going on the rides (no more rollercoasters for us!)We visited the Sealife Centre to see the Sea turtles, sadly they didn't have any but we saw Dorrie from Finding Nemo and some sharks. It was here that we realised that she was running a temperature over 38 degrees - closer to 39. We had to strip her down and bring her home. The news is now she is getting better ...her temperature is being controlled with Calpol and Ibruprofen and she has antibiotics for her chest infection. Incidently we saw a great doctor yesterday who was just fab with Emily and really reassuring. We love the NHS!
We are enjoying the holidays, the sun has been shining today, we had lunch outside in the garden; it was a fun time as recently Emily has been refusing to eat for about a week, so we opted for finger food whilst we were eating. It was a success! More homemade pizza tomorrow!
We went to a garden centre with a miniture railway. Emily enjoyed travelling al fresco on her dad's lap! (I was relegated to behind!)

Emily is obsessing over windmills; she has 3 on the go at the moment and won't let them out of her sight! (Note the cute shirt, Thanks Greg and Sara x)

Jamie has been working hard during bathtimes teaching Emily to call him 'Da da'. She has got the first bit but is still working on putting them both together. There is a video of this but it won't load to night. I will post it tomorrow.

School's out for Summer

Emily has enjoyed her chocolate birthday cake. Look at those smiles! She has also been having fun with her new musical instruments... gifts for her birthday.

It's the summer holidays for Jamie and I. Yeah!!!!! We have had a busy couple of weeks; Emily now has another tooth on the top, she is standing more readily unaided. I have been to York for a Hen Weekend. My lovely friend Lucy is getting married on the 4th of July. It was lovely to meet up in York again as that is were we originally met at University. Note the inflatable bustline and Kevin Keegan wig!

The weather has been pretty miserable. We have hardly made it outdoors at all; Emily has even had a wooly hat on in the middle of August. Now that school is done, we are looking forward to a summer break. We hope to spend days out and about before we go to France for 14 days. On the house sale front, we have had no success. We are changing estate agent and as soon as we get back from France we will try again. Since Emily's birthday our house feels smaller with her bigger toys including prams and walkers! She has even learnt to feed the baby!

Next week will be our 7th wedding anniversary. With having lots of gifts as wedding presents, 7 years on they are starting to go kaput. In the past month our washing machine, hoover, lawn mower, dvd player, Emily's room CD player and toilet cistern have all broken.

We hope to repair the toilet cistern (and it wasn't a wedding gift!) but all the other stuff has go to the recycling man. All gone! The other very sad thing is yesterday at school I lost one of the diamonds from my wedding ring. So many things falling apart or breaking, but we are all ok. Just broken possessions!
Bathtimes continue to be fun especially with new birthday bath toys! Sometimes food is good especially when it it lasagne or pasta, but the food refusal and spitting continues. (No smirking from you parents out there!)
Well that is all for now, busy busy busy. J and emily have had fun times together as I have been away and at work. Big smiles all round tonight.

Happy holidays everyone. School's out for Summer!

Birthday snaps

Just a few pictures, there are loads ... so be patient, it will take a few goes.

Tree hugging at one.

She was supposed to bash them together.

Catching the bubbles during Rhythm time

Yummy Birthday cake... chocolate.

Birthday girl.

Wow, our little Emily turned one today. We can't believe how much joy she has brought to our lives, how much change and how many times we have laughed with her over the past 365 days.

We are blessed with a little bundle of energy who brings smiles to all she meets and whose 'hiya' is as clear as day (But in a strong mancunian dialect!)

This weekend we celebrated in Belfast with cake, presents, birthday tea and Ellie May, Emily's cousin who is one day younger.

Birthday cake, mmmmmm........

mmmmmm..... cake tastes good.

Today we celebrated at Grandpa and Grandmum's with cake, presents, birthday tea but sadly no cousin.

A great book called 'Emily's Balloon'

(Granny and Granda's dog is lurking in the photo.

She waves it around like a wand, instead of rolling it on the ground)

A new bike from us complete with a steering handle.

How not to enjoy birthday cake!

( We stopped her from holding the burning candle)

Well, she is sleeping now, something I have missed these past 365 days, she has been a good sleeper at night but is an early riser. Maybe the early riser in her may change over the next year.

On a final note tonight, thanks be to God who has given us people who have listened, advised, supported, cooked for us, written notes, prayed and been patient with us over the past year as we have learnt to become parents.