Month 7

Well what a busy month its been. Finlay enjoyed the music round at Michelle's where the mums, dads and babes gathered for a tea and tune session - fab idea Michelle. Annie even dusted off her violin after 13 years but the record was beaten by Lindsay who hadn't played her flute in 18 years. Luckily Michelle and Steve kept us right and we all merrily played Scottish fiddle music with the babes accompanying us with bells and voices.

Annie and Finlay have kept up their gallivanting going to yoga, Tiny Tunes and coffee/lunch with Rachel, Claire and Lizzie, and Maddie with Laura at Inverurie garden centre where we all had yummy cake (if you visit remind us and we will take you there). Also met up with old work colleagues (not in age of course but former work place) at one of the local parks for a walk. Finlay enjoyed the swings and was so relaxed he fell asleep, it was so cute. Unfortunately, Annie only thought about taking a piccie afterwards.

We all met up with Rene (Finlay's godfather), Anke and Susan at a beach café and Finlay enjoyed the cream from the hot chocolate. Seona and Ewen who are soon emigrating to New Zealand also visited so Finlay made a flag for them to celebrate. Annie, Michelle and Ashley headed out for a Mums walk up Bennachie in lovely sunny weather to be followed by a large hot chocolate in a local café, while the Dads looked after the respective babes. Nik took Finlay into town and was brave enough to attempt a solo feeding session a coffee shop/book store. He was a little nervous that Finlay might spray the sweet potato puree leading the compulsory purchase of a large quantity of books - but all went well. The Dads were slightly more ambitious the following day when they got their day out, deciding to attempt 3 peaks. They left at 6am in very windy conditions and returned 13 hours, 3 munroes and 90 mph winds later - with grins from ear-to-ear, and aches and pains all over. Who knows what will be attempted on the next Mums and Dads walks….

The end of the month saw a trip to Stockholm where Nik was at a conference. Finlay was again an absolute trooper on the flights smiling away at the flight attendants and got 2 books and a cuddly dinosaur for his efforts plus his first stamp in his passport. Stockholm was lovely and very, very child friendly. We went on a great boat trip around the archipelago plus a museum containing an beautifully preserved 17th century ship which sank on it's maiden voyage (the Vasa) and the Nobel Prize museum.

Finlay had his first Halloween parties, one at Newmachar baby and toddler group and one at our house with 9 other babes all looking fabulous in their Halloween costume. We all indulged in ghost, bat and cat shaped gingerbreads, ghostly fairy cakes and spider chocolate cakes (we had way too much fun making stuff!)

Finlay is sitting up very strongly now and is on the move backwards, we don't seem to have mastered forward yet but we're sure it won't be long. He also now says "Ma-ma-ma Ma-ma" which Annie thought was sooo cute to begin with but less so at 3am and has since been trying to teach Finlay "Da-da-da". Now that he has his 2 teeth the toothbrush is out - how hard can it be to clean 2 little teeth - very when Finlay prefers to eat the toothbrush. He has also learnt to clap his hands and gives spontaneous rounds of applause frequently.

Finlay celebrates Seona and Ewen's move to New Zealand

Finlay with cream on his nose, having hot chocolate with Rene

Steve (Ellen's Dad), Dave (Holly's Dad) and Nik after mountain-biking to the start of their hike

Aber-Dads (Extreme) playing in some white-stuff

Finlay shakes the bells whilst Anne and co play their tunes

Finlay likes chewing the tooth brush

Nik & Finlay on the boat in Sweden
"We're on top of the world"

Finlay in his pumpkin top for our Haloween party

Holly in her pumpkin dress

Lyndsey and John with little James (the bat)

Week 25, 26 & 27 (6 months)

Well it's been a wee while since our last update and from now on we are just going to update the blog on the last Sunday of each month, so whilst your giving "a pinch and a punch" for the 1st of the month - remember to check the blog.

So Finlay has reached six-months, a whole half a year!! And the last 3 weeks have been very active, seeing us out on our bikes, cycling to the supermarket and back (12 km round trip), Newmachar and further north along the old railway line. Finlay loved being in the bike trailer, having a good gawp around, and also having a bit of a doze when the scenery wasn't interesting enough. Passersby thought he had it sorted!

Annie & Finlay have been out on their usual coffee mornings (had to keep busy while Nik was off gallivanting to Belgium and Norway) and had a trip to the Hoodles soft play barn again.

On the day before Finlay was 6 month old we headed off for our first family holiday to see Nik's folks in the south of France. Finlay was great on the flights, not grumbling at all and just enjoying the extra bit of milk on take-off and landing. We had a fabulous week relaxing in the sunshine and taking several dips in the pool. The weather was great at 30+ deg. C, and the pool was about 24 deg. C. And when we could drag ourselves away from the pool we went for walks: along the midi canal, a seaside resort and after a drive to Montsegur, a long trip up Finlay's first hill to see a ruined castle, the last stronghold of the Cathars. The French obviously aren't use to carrying little ones in slings as everyone thought it was fabulous that Finlay could be carried up.

Finlay is now enjoying a huge range of food, and has enjoyed his first taste of chicken (Nik is determined to eliminate any vegetarian genes!). He has hardly turned his nose up at anything although the blackberries Annie had picked were a wee bit tart. Annie on the other hand thought the few jars we had to give him on the flights were disgusting as customs made her taste them at 9am in the morning. Back home we are back to all homemade food quite a lot of which has come from the garden which is very satisfying. Finlay has his first tooth now, and the second is just breaking through.

Finlay is now sitting up very well and is enjoying this new perspective on life. He was also very excited when one of the mums at the babies and toddlers group brought a ferret in for everyone to see!! Plans are afoot for a Halloween party, and we are all off to Sweden before the end of the month, more about these next time.

Finlay about to board his first plane

Finlay in the Chariot bike trailer

Mastering the art of sitting, by the pool

Finlay kicking and splashing in the pool

Gramps pushes Finlay along the Midi Canal

Finlay's first hill, Montsegur (1207 m)

Finlay didn't find the ascent to the castle too hard

Nanna, Gramps and Nik with Finlay at the top, admiring the views

Nik & Finlay at the "Intermittent fountain of Fontestorbes"

After a long wait we winessed the flow go from a trickle to a torrent within an hour
(animation to follow)

Week 23 & 24

Well it has been a quieter fortnight, Finaly and Annie went to Yoga now that it has started again after the summer break. A lot of their friends have moved up a group so it is all new faces. But Finlay still enjoys the yoga very much, and it seems to calm him down when we do it with him of an evening.

Claire & Charley came round later in the week and what with Charley being more mobile now it has reminded us we are going to need to "child proof" the house.

The weekend saw us harvesting more of our potato crop, which Finlay has been enjoying as part of his exploration into the realms of solid-foods, still pureed at this stage, but peach and mango seems to be a bigger hit than broccoli and cauliflower (just like his Dad then).

This last week we had the health visitor appointment, he now weighs 15 lb 9 oz (7.1 kg) and is 66 cm long. He has grown out of all of his 0-3 month clothes, and is working through the 3-6 month collection we have.

Annie hosted an NCT coffee afternoon and walk here on Wednesday, with lots of mums and babies coming around. Unfortunately it was raining, but it dried up while everyone was having tea and cakes, so they could get out for a walk afterwards.

Annie also had her first trip to the local village mothers and toddlers group. Finlay got to play with lots of new toys, and meet new playmates, and Annie recognised some of the other mums from baby yoga.

This last weekend we decided to go on adventures north...
We went to the Macduff Aquarium where there were lots of fish, and jellyfish and an octopus to keep Finlay amused. Then we stopped of to go exploring for a stone circle marked on the map, just off the Buchan & Formatine railway line further north. We pushed the buggy as far as we could go, then when we got to a style, we unhitched Finlay's seat and carried him. At the stone circle there was a nice large flat stone to sit Finlay on while we all had a rest.

Back in the car again we headed over to the disused airfield where we watched the motor racing. There were stock cars, and minis, and hot rods and banger racing. Finlay loved watching the cars scream past. Nik was a little worried when a wheel flew off and bounced to a halt 5m from the car bonnet!! (Nik exagerates!!)

Then on Sunday we walked the railway line from Udny Station back home, with the Sea Cadets who were doing it as a sponsored walk. And in the evening Ashley and Dave lent us their bike chariot - so next week we'll take Finlay out for a ride and trail him behind in the chariot.

Finlay takes a midmorning nap - in a most uncomfortable position

Finlay riding a slug (??) at the Newmachar Funday

Finlay was mesmerised by the fish at the aquarium

Nik and Finlay watch the diver feeding the fish

Christina eating Finlay's foot

Finlay eating Christina's foot

Finlay sitting in his car seat on the alter-stone of the stone circle

Annie & Finlay inspect the cars in the pits at the stock car racing

Finlay's first baby rice
(clicking the image above should allow you to download the video file)