Month 12

Well, the big event of this month was Finlays 1st birthday. He had a lovely party at the weekend with all his wee play mates. Nik built a giant ball pool and with a loan from some of the other Mums we had other 1000 balls. Finlay loved his banana birthday cake that Annie made for him (as you can see in the pic) - well it had to be banana really with his third word being "nana". On the Monday, which was his actual birth-day itself, his 2 godparents and some friends joined us to help both Finlay and us mark surviving the first year. Thank you everyone for your very lovely cards and presents. We bought Finlay a bike seat for his birthday so we have been up and down the railway line and the beach. He loves his new vantage point, as being that high up he can really have a good gawp around.

Another highlight of the month has been Finlays first shoes - they are so cute. He was very good getting his feet measured. He is a size 3F, so short and wide at the moment. And since getting his new shoes he is getting much more stable on his feet and now wants to walk everywhere holding our hands, whereas before he only wanted to use the walker. So we are both adopting a stooped pose.

Apart from that it has been the usual mix of nursery where Finlay has been doing lots of arty stuff including a lovely card for Mothers day and swimming and Tiny Tunes.

Next month sees both grandparents visiting so Finlay is going to be getting lots of cuddles.

Finlay enjoying his cycle-seat and crash-hat

"I'm having cake and champagne for my birthday"

Finlay playing in the giant ball pool

You can't go wrong with banana cake

Playing hide and seek witha plastic egg and a lots of kitchen roll

Finlay being measured for his first pair of Clarke's shoes

Month 11

Annie started work this month at the North East Scotland Biological Record Centre (NESBReC) based at Aberdeen University, working Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And Finlay has started at nursery, just around the corner from Nik's work. Finlay seems to be enjoying nursery and enjoys charming the nursery assistants with his big blue eyes, well that and chasing around the hoover at the end of the day. They seem to do lots of fun activities including: action songs, Valentines craft, bean play, sponge painting, floor puzzles, parachute games, fun at the farm, treasure baskets, finger painting, bubble fun, puppet play, musical instruments and shaving foam messy play.

Ben & Esters wedding gave us the excuse to get Finlay in his kilt we bought him in Edinburgh. It was a lovely day and Finlay was a star socialite flinging himself at anyone who would have him, and even got a big hug with the Bride (while the groom wasn't looking).

February also saw a couple of weeks of snow, Nik enjoyed taking Finlay out in the baby rucksack on the cross-country skis, going down the railway track. At the weekend Annie joined us on a skiing jaunt and we were able to get a photo.

In fact it's been a musical month with Annie running the Tiny Tunes class twice, who would ever have thought that Annie would run a singing group for Mums, babes and toddlers. And then with three other Mums, Annie dusted the cobwebs off her violin and played in a concert for babes, toddlers and little ones playing a mix of classical and folk music inter-mixed with a few nursery rhymes. Loads turned up with more than 50 plus wee-ones and 70 parents so there is talk of doing a repeat.

And we even managed a night out for our anniversary to see Fame at His Majesty's Theatre - 'I wanna live forever, I wanna learn how to fly, high….' Ruth was a star babysitting for Finlay - thanks Ruth!

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A packed room at the concert for babes
(Photo by Moray Grant)

Annie and the other mums entertaining the crowd
(Photo by Moray Grant)

The musicians take their curtain-call
(Photo by Moray Grant)

Finlay and Esther the beautiful Valentine bride

Family Robinson at Ben & Esther's wedding...

Finlay's enjoys a cross-country ski along the railway line

Finlay's first steps with his walker

Month 10

Well the news of the month is that Annie has a job!! She will be based at the University working for Aberdeenshire Council, working Monday, Wednesday and Friday as a project officer for the North East Biological records office. So Finlay is starting nursery and had his first taster session last week and got on fine.

January saw us off on our travels again this time taking the train to Glasgow, then flying to Newquay for a week with folks. Although the weather wasn't great, we got out and about lots for walks and visited the Eden project. We even went for a cycle ride from Wadebridge to Padstow along the old railway line. In a moment of madness we hired a tandem bike with a trailer for Finlay, as the guy said "you are going to be a long vehicle but its possible". So with Finlay flying a Cornish flag we set off and after a few initial wobbles we were off!! Finlay slept most of the way waking up just in time for a pub lunch and a warm up. Annie is not converted to the idea of getting a tandem, finding it too strange not being in control by not having any steering or gears.
Finlay finally met the Harveys (aka Aunty Sarah, Uncle Ian and cousins Caroline and William) and had a great time playing catch and he loves 'Bacon mark 2' who oinks although we reckon he sounds more like a frog croaking.

We then headed to Salisbury to see the Millers. Alastair and Katie did a grand job of entertaining Finlay and introduced him to the Wii (a games console) and then we went to feed the ducks and play in the park where Finlay loved the swings. After popping by to see Finlay's great grandmother we stayed with Duncan and Verena and their 2 girls. All 3 kids enjoyed playing with lots of toys and mealtimes were logistically interesting with 3 wee ones round the table.
Finlay had his first tour of London riding on the Tube, seeing the London Eye, the aquarium, the Houses of Parliament and the Natural History Museum. And our grand voyage ended with a trip home on the sleeper where Finlay was a star not waking anyone up it must have been the rocking motion.

So we are all set for Annie starting work on the 9th and will let you know how we manage getting us fed, ready and out of the house by 8am...

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Finlay takes a perch, his first taste of tree climbing

The road was blocked, but this was not an obstacle
for our intrepid explorers

Finlay loved seeing the animals at Newquay Zoo

We managed to catch feeding time for the penguins
Happy Feet is one of Finlay's favorite films

A tandem and a trailer, no quick turns for us...

Finlay's first trip on the Sleeper train

Finlay takes in the sights in London

A quick look at the London Eye,
then off to the Aquarium