Alder's Tone

More cake, anyone?Two years old!

It hardly seems like two minutes, never mind two years. But when we look at how much he's come along in this last year - walking, just starting to string sentences together, size 6-and-a-half shoes, two room changes in nursery, chickenpox, train obsession, Nemo obsession, fully acquainted with luxurious hotels, the list starts to look more like "how did he fit that into just a year?".

However we look at it, and I think I speak for both of us when I say that it's been a great year, one to make us very proud as parents of such a wonderful kid.

Happy birthday, son!

All our love, Mummy & Daddy.

Continue reading "Happy birthday, son! Again..." »

Posted by Lee at 22 August 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

On the eve of his second birthday, the boy's shown us that he's well and truly ready to move out of his cot and into a bed.

He's been showing us all week to be fair, but tonight was a clear line drawn in the sand.

Continue reading "Ready for bed?" »

Posted by Lee at 21 August 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've had a major outbreak in recent history of foot & mouth disease, almost crippling the UK's livestock farming industry, affecting rural areas in terms of tourism and general movements of goods and people. Then, with the worst behind us, we have another handful of smaller outbreaks.

And has this affected us directly as a family in any way?

Continue reading "Another bovine outbreak?" »

Posted by Lee at 11 August 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a running saga between me & Vicki over the countdown to when we revisit Holestone Moor Barns, so when we were arranging payment and she asked "how many days now" she got the following reply...

"Well, it's 14 days until the boy's 2, and then...."

And then, and then I realised. TWO YEARS OLD SOON.

Where on earth did that year go? We've only just cleaned the carpet from his FIRST birthday wet BBQ.

Posted by Lee at 11 August 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

And the next milestone along the journey of all things vocabulary passes us by this week. Yesterday it started, and it wasn't the usual case of try it once, leave it a while, then come back to it. It was mastered instantly, in context, repeatable, you name it.

So, in the immortal words of one Mr Freddie Mercury, we'll let you in on the secret of the last word.

Continue reading "Anyway the wind blows..." »

Posted by Lee at 29 July 2008 | Permalink | Comments (6)

He's not even 2 years old, but he's been sucked in by commercialism already! Am I talking about Thomas the f***ing Tank Engine? No!! Well, I suppsoe I could be...

Continue reading "Logo Recognition" »

Posted by Lee at 14 July 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not a line from The Full Monty, but a hint at both the event and the reaction last night. Far too cryptic to solve, so what happened?

Continue reading "Chuffing nora...." »

Posted by Lee at 26 June 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Over 20 years since I was last in Blackpool, I'd tried to get MOTS and the boy to go last year but didn't manage it with other things on around the time of the illuminations. We're just back from a couple of days there, after finding a cracking hotel.

Continue reading "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside" »

Posted by Lee at 16 June 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations!Congratulations to the Bowes on the birth of their second son last Sunday! Had Mr B sent the text to my personal phone rather than my work phone which has been switched off while I've been on holiday.... That has to be a record though, texts out within 25 minutes!

Hope to see the four of you soon.

Posted by Lee at 16 June 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

At long last, the boy's vocabulary is starting to expand! There's nothing wrong with understanding (mental note of where the "off button" is - the bottom button on the TV), taking words in is fine, it's getting them back out again. We have now mastered the outward "ta", so not only is there a new word it's with manners too.

Although speech has been a recent worry, and he's well behind his peers, the Baby Whisperer suggests around a 10 word vocabulary at 18-24 months. He's comfotably in that, just need to read more to get those words up.

And hopefully something different to "toot-toot", AKA Thomas the Tank Engine!

Posted by Lee at 09 June 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our family is in the process of becoming larger! I'm so chuffed!

Continue reading "The family is extending!" »

Posted by Lee at 31 May 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's almost 3 weeks now since we left our boy home alone for the first time.

And before social services kick up a fuss, we had legitimate reason - we were out getting drunk.

Continue reading "Baby's first...Home Alone" »

Posted by Lee at 22 May 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sorry, I mean a tree for the boy.

Our neighbours have a Rowan tree (native Scottish) at the foot of their drive, which is over the wall from our back garden. It has produced offspring, which has been growing as a weed (a weed is merely a plant growing in an unwanted place) next to our deck. The Rowan sapling as it is now is going to die where it is, it simply can't stay there.

Continue reading "A Boy for the Tree" »

Posted by Lee at 08 May 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)

I had a sly chuckle to myself this weekend, a routine stop-off during a long drive turned into a gauntlet run and a major empathy session.

Continue reading "Three's a crowd & empathy" »

Posted by Lee at 23 April 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations!Congratulations to Jared & Joe on the birth of their son Mackenzie this morning. See the three of you soon, hopefully before he's grown out of his newborn clothes. Oops, too late....

Posted by Lee at 06 April 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many congratulations to Allan & Lynn on the birth of our latest neighbour, Jessica, on Friday!

A long slog, puts MOTS' 27 hour session to shame - and there let the trumps begin!

Posted by Lee at 11 March 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The performing seal is doing us proud, he's got a number of tricks that he performs on demand (most of the time). Some of which I've already covered as routine stuff, but here's the current run-down on the tricks.

Continue reading "Party tricks" »

Posted by Lee at 05 March 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's 24 hours since we last did a spot check. If there was the slightest of doubt last night, there can be no doubt whatsoever now. He's got the pox!

They're increasing rapidly in numbers!

Counting suspended, there are more spots than unspoiled ballot papers in a Scottish election.

Posted by Lee at 26 February 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here I go, about to go off on one. For those who know my volatile temper this won't come as a big shock, but for those who don't - be warned. This post contains strong language and right-wing political views on law and order.

Although I started the post immediately after the event I have waited to post it over 3 weeks to see what the outcome was.

Continue reading "Rant: Budget hotels (well, their guests anyway)" »

Posted by Lee at 26 February 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Developing fast is today's main topic. It started out as simple check to look for the tell-tale signs for when to move from cot to bed, but ended up something entirely different. And all because of a virus!

Continue reading "Poxy development" »

Posted by Lee at 26 February 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had an interesting day at work today, feeling rather sarcastic in a reply over what a particular error message meant. Then, as with the title of this post, the clue is in the message / title.

So we're talking about baby's first bath, right?

Continue reading "Baby's last...day in babies" »

Posted by Lee at 06 February 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

In the previous post I covered being told what to do by the little fella when it comes to bedtime. This has now extended to bottle times, both his mid-morning and and his supper.

So what do we now have to do?

Continue reading "Routine, routine, routine?" »

Posted by Lee at 31 January 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The opening of the seven seals.

The apocalypse.

Bedtime.

Probably in the order that most parents want to face these three events with their toddler. And before MOTS starts bleating on, yes I know he's still in the baby room at nursery. Why do I know this? MOTS hasn't been in floods of tears that her baby is all grown up.

So, bedtime. Hell in all it's fury. Right?

Continue reading "Being told what to do .... by a 17 month old" »

Posted by Lee at 14 January 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

MOTS has already told me in no uncertain terms that it's my job when it comes to explaining the birds and the bees. And as he's taken an interest in watching me go to the loo (a possibly early indicator for potty training?) then there's clearly more to be had.

What else could there be? I had one with Snoopy this evening...

Continue reading "Some conversations you just don't want to have" »

Posted by Lee at 14 January 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's just over two years now since the little fella first arrived on the scene. MOTS was knocked up just before Christmas 2005, and with a possibility of impending arrival becoming more of a question mark while we had visitors, the test was delayed until after the New Year of 2006 once we were alone again. In that two years there has been a remarkable development, which takes him full circle to exactly where he was then. But now, not then. Oh read on and see what I'm babbling on about.

Continue reading "Swimming in circles" »

Posted by Lee at 10 January 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

2008!I'm ahead of myself this year, typing this on Boxing Day. Yes, scheduled post again, I won't be awake at midnight...

I am looking back at what life was like a year ago so find it appropriate to schedule this post now for then. Or then for now, whichever way you like to handle post/future tense ramblings.

What a difference we can see when looking back 12 months, something not fully appreciated on a day by day basis. The only constant is change, so long may change stay at a constantly high rate. It's been a brilliant year for watching the wee fella growing up, so I look forward to welcoming the changes that 2008 has to offer. I hope your changes are as adventerous, as enjoyable.

Happy New Year for 2008!

Posted by Lee at 01 January 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was sat here yesterday, on Christmas Day, wondering what I hadn't posted. A topic that had slipped my mind. What was it?

The arrival yesterday of the 10:45 Mallard service from Darton Central didn't remind me, nor did the MIL's tale of Grand Central's maiden voyage from Sunderland to London resulting in a breakdown and no further service (poor sods only have one train). I have no idea why, but there was a train from Plymouth to Edinburgh running yesterday, and is was the sight of that the reminded me. Yes, Junior met Santa the other weekend!

Continue reading "All aboard..." »

Posted by Lee at 26 December 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Was it the White & Company luxurious bathrobe? Was it the Nintendo DS with More Brain Training? Or was it the Chanel Chance?

No, it was something far cheaper than any of those.

Continue reading "Mummy's best Christmas Present" »

Posted by Lee at 25 December 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just a little bit of investment advice. If your pension fund has gone down the tubes thanks to the pillaging it got from Gordon Brown, then here's a sure-fire way to make money:

Buy ICI shares.

Continue reading "Buy ICI shares" »

Posted by Lee at 06 December 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Always one parents will dread is parents evening, will Little Johnny be the disruptive one, or will he turn out to be teacher's pet? Will he be looked upon by other in the same way his parents do? Can he do no wrong in our eyes but be a little git in reality?

So we invented "parents evenings" to find out the truth. Or so it seems.

Continue reading "Baby's first...parent's evening" »

Posted by Lee at 28 November 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Gravity? Milk? Nah, can't be milk, in the early days that's a case of what goes down must come back up.

So what's our latest worry?

Continue reading "What goes up..." »

Posted by Lee at 26 November 2007 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Well if anyone wants their bank details out in the open, please leave them in a comment here. Alternatively, have kids, claim Child Benefit, and let HM R&C lose them for you.

This country is run by Waldorf and Statler!

Posted by Lee at 20 November 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

With apologies to any Scot with a tickly throught, we've had a week off work this week. As it was a break from the norm, what did we get up to?

Continue reading "A Wee Cough" »

Posted by Lee at 09 November 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're onto the first lot of Baby's second... This is a frightening thought, especially as we head rapidly towards his second Christmas.

Continue reading "Baby's first...second things" »

Posted by Lee at 09 November 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I apologise for the drought of new posts over the last few weeks, it's been a little busy around these parts. What with chasing after Forest Gump here ("run, Forest, run") and dealing with the worst nappies I've ever seen in my puff (for 3 weeks) and having the winter vomiting virus spread through the house (and guests), the blog has suffered a little.

Which is a shame because we've had some really memorable moments.

Continue reading "A drought of new posts" »

Posted by Lee at 25 October 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

We had our first family holiday at Holestone Moor Barns, with the Bowes family kindly coming along to help keep us on the straight and narrow.

So where did we go, and how was it? Was it suitable for us? With two young children in tow? And one of those just on his feet?

Continue reading "Holestone Moor Barns" »

Posted by Lee at 07 September 2007 | Permalink | Comments (8)

The first family holiday has been booked for quite a while, and we'd invited the Bowes along for good measure, sanity, and a sneak peek into the life and times of a two-and-a-half year old. So what did we get up to, and more importantly did the little 'un enjoy it?

First holiday, first night away from home, first steps just before going, first time leaving the house without enough food packed to see us through 'til we get home. Surely it was a disaster?

Continue reading "Baby's first...Holiday" »

Posted by Lee at 07 September 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a funny old couple of weeks, what with being off work but actually going back for a rest. There's been lots going on, and no doubt I'll lose plenty along the way, but here we go anyway. First up, the unique horror that was the first birthday party.

Continue reading "Time off work? Let me get back for a break, please." »

Posted by Lee at 07 September 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Birthday? Already? Blimey...

Continue reading "Happy birthday son!" »

Posted by Lee at 22 August 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

In The Unique Horror post about the forthcoming birthday party we discussed the options for the MO for the day. Now it's over and done with what was it really like?

Continue reading "The unique horror that was the first birthday party" »

Posted by Lee at 21 August 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why is the man of the household referred to as the "head of the family"? OK, that's a little old fashioned, but there is compelling evidence that this is history.

The evidence in our house was presented to me on Tuesday night. Not only did it suggest I wasn't on the top spot, not that I ever thought I was, but explicitly stated I was right at the bottom of the rankings I never knew existed.

Continue reading "Knowing your place in the pecking order" »

Posted by Lee at 17 August 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

With all the recent excitement (if excitement is the right word) we sort of missed out on the real goings-on this weekend, and that was the next step in learning to copy what mum & dad do.

Continue reading "If you're happy and you know it" »

Posted by Lee at 01 August 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was inevitable. You can't go through life with kids and not rush to A&E at the children's hospital at some stage. We know of trips involving nothing more than a cold, through to raisins stuck up the nose and onto broken bones. Ours, this morning, was for a smashed tooth.

Continue reading "Baby's first...Trip to A&E" »

Posted by Lee at 29 July 2007 | Permalink | Comments (6)

Here's the latest picture of the boy, for those who don't have access to his online album.

Continue reading "Latest pic of the boy" »

Posted by Lee at 26 July 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Until we dropNot my words, but Berkmann's. I've had a look for Marcus tonight but can't find him. DISASTER, my bible has vanished. And there's a couple of newbie dads to be I know out there who could use him. Perhaps I should cut this lending Marcus out crap and just get them to buy their own copies?

Back to the party. It's coming, and I'm really looking forward to it. Here's my 10 step plan to maintaining peace, tranquility and serenity.

Continue reading "The unique horror that is the first birthday party" »

Posted by Lee at 17 July 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

As we approach baby's first birthday (the invitation's in the post) I'm starting to reflect back at the last year. As I sit here on a pleasant Sunday morning I can smell that all too familiar indicator that a nappy needs to be changed. This paragraph is actually the last one I've written, only because I got the whiff! I'm about to hand over to MOTS so I can get dresssed to go swimming, so perfect timing, lad!

Get the hang of ...changingChanging a nappy is the same trauma every time. It doesn't matter how many you change, there's always a drama. It's an ever-changing process, so here's the run-down of the various stages of changing the nappy of a baby from birth to one.`

Continue reading "Changing a nappy - a guide from birth to one" »

Posted by Lee at 15 July 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've just had my first trip away from home, so my first night away from Junior. Almost 11 months now, and with MOTS having had hers what seems like ages ago, it was my turn to enjoy a night away.

Apart from I was at work, at the office in the Village.

Continue reading "Daddy's first...Trip away from home" »

Posted by Lee at 15 July 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Three events this week that show our little boy is just that, rather than a baby. Every couple of weeks it is the same - "he's really come on in the last couple of weeks". This weekend we had three things showing us yet again that he's growing up. And as these are horrifying, I'll put them against horror films.

Continue reading "Triple horror bill this weekend" »

Posted by Lee at 25 June 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

I do wonder about that boy of mine sometimes. He shows signs of real intelligence, then follows it up with something really dumb. Tonight's mutterings show both of these in one act.

Continue reading "I wonder about that boy" »

Posted by Lee at 20 June 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Happy father's day out there to all dads, especially to the first timers like myself, and those not quite there but know they'll be celebrating it next year. For those in the latter category, ie Graham, congratulations!

Continue reading "Daddy's first...Father's Day" »

Posted by Lee at 17 June 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Junior's room faces slightly North-West, getting full sun at this time of year from mid afternoon into early evening before the sun drops behind the trees of the local wood. Needless to say it gets a bit warm in there, and very light, which isn't too great for a 9 month old trying to sleep.

So blackouts are the answer?

Continue reading "Tale of two blinds" »

Posted by Lee at 10 June 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's a constant process of handing over the plastic, punching in the four digits, and waiting for the bill to arrive. I've become so uninterested in even seeing the bill I have set it up to leave by direct debit. The big things make a huge impact for a short time, but the little things just keep on coming.

Continue reading "Haemorrhaging cash" »

Posted by Lee at 31 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday 21st May saw Junior's first day in nursery. With MOTS' return to work imminent there's some time between the start of nursery and the return to work, just to help the transition.

Continue reading "Baby's first...Day in nursery" »

Posted by Lee at 29 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm bordering absessive on dates, half-way markers, % until x sort of thing. which is why, when MOTS truned 27, I gave her constant abuse for being 90% of the way to 30.

So, today marks a major milestone for Junior. The time since his birth is equalled by the time before his birth. He's been with us equally inside and outside the womb, making his date of birth the mid-point of his life.

Posted by Lee at 10 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Teeth are like buses. You wait ages and ages for one and then two come along at once.

Number two through today.

Posted by Lee at 04 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year, with MOTS only a couple of months pregnant, we went to Glasgow's SECC to The Baby Show. This year, with junior around 8 months old and MOTS most certainly not pregnant, we went through again.

And what a difference.

Continue reading "Seeing things through different eyes" »

Posted by Lee at 02 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

From a very early age Junior has shown pleasure at seeing his Dad come home from work in an evening. But this Monday was something else.

Continue reading "A touching moment..." »

Posted by Lee at 26 April 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

In the immortal words of the Bay City Rollers, "Bye Bye Baby".

There have been many things along the way, a lot have been written about here, that show our baby is growing up, but yesterday I realised we've lost our baby forever.

How?

We met Gent Junior for the first time. And with the two together at just over 2 weeks and just over 7 months, our monster is huge! Bye bye, baby!

Posted by Lee at 01 April 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

One small milestone for baby, one giant worry for parentkind.

That's the transition from having this small screaming thing to having this small screaming thing that moves. Quickly.

Continue reading "Mobile" »

Posted by Lee at 20 March 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Times they are a changing, and at present this is most notable at mealtimes. Sure, Junior is rolling over at will now (we've actually seen it this afternoon, so know he's not "Jack Jack"*), but mealtimes are the biggest changes we're seeing just now.

Continue reading "Mealtime = Funtime!" »

Posted by Lee at 17 March 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well done the Gs!Congratulations to the Gs!

Many congratulations to the Gents on becoming parents in the small hours this morning, and to the two sets of seniors on becoming grandparents.

Today will be magical, long, tiring, and even better if someone makes Dad a bacon roll when he gets home!!

Can't wait to see the three of you.

Posted by Lee at 14 March 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

39 Weeks on Saturday, the baby is due a week on Sunday, at some point shortly this is no longer going to be about a bump but rather a living breathing person! Here's a brief summary of the most recent goings on....

Continue reading "39 Weeks on Saturday!" »

Posted by ChrisGent at 08 March 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yup it is now 37 weeks since Sarah and I had one too many wines on a warm summers night. 37 weeks on Saturday past to be precise. Time goes by extremely quickly when you are waiting around and counting down the days. I have no idea how to sum up what the past month or two have been like as quite simply they have been a blur..

Continue reading "Its now 37 weeks..." »

Posted by ChrisGent at 27 February 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Here it is, the interim appraisal. Common in the workplace, also known as the "6 month review".

Is it that time already? But we haven't even got our objectives set yet!!!!!

So here's the ratings:

Continue reading "Interim Appraisal time" »

Posted by Lee at 20 February 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

In an early post I briefly mentioned that in Berkmann's book "Fatherhood: The Truth" a brief chapter covered "Piss, Shit & Vomit". I also added, with a sense of expectation, that it was possible that the ratio of chapter:book was not in fact related to the book:reality ratio. How correct I was.

Continue reading "Piss, Shit & Vomit" »

Posted by Lee at 12 February 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok so I covered my classes in the last post, but Sarah has also been to a couple of antenatals and we have both been a tour of the maternity ward. Sarahs antenatals have been women only and covered labor and breast feeding. Standard ante-natal stuff. The tour of the ward on the other hand was pretty intense.

Continue reading "From here to Maternity" »

Posted by ChrisGent at 24 January 2007 | Permalink | Comments (4)

I cannot believe that it is less than 2 months until junior arrives (should our ETA be correct). The best way to describe how I am feeling at the moment is excited and wanting to speed up time, along with totally unprepared and wanting it to slow down. A vast array of emotions but the over riding one is of antcipation. I am looking forward to the coming years with a real sense of purpose. Will there be hard times, sure, any regrets, not a chance. And having seen the effect Iain has had on Lee and Debs it just makes me more excited about the future. Back to being unprepared though - well the antenatals and Dads 2 be classes have started so...

Continue reading "Again...did I mention it's all getting VERY real?" »

Posted by ChrisGent at 24 January 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've mentioned before that there is a postcode lottery when it comes to maternity care in the NHS. So far this has been in and out of the press at a trust level, but what about getting into a trust and looking to see if there's a postcode lottery within a trust, rather than just between trusts?

For the smart cookies amongst us you will have figured out by now that as I'm doing a post on the subject there must be. So what have we uncovered so far?

Continue reading "NHS Postcode Lottery" »

Posted by Lee at 24 January 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2)

We always had Christmas and New Year to think about before the birth - not any longer. Dont get me wrong, this is not a bad thing but it is, well, another milestone on the journey.

All of a sudden it's not next year this and next year that, it's this year all the way. Have I said yet this is going fasssst. I cant wait and yet feel like I am still ill prepared!...

Continue reading "We are having a baby THIS year." »

Posted by ChrisGent at 08 January 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

2007!When we embarked upon 2006 we had an expectation of what was to come. We sort of knew at the start of the year that we'd be parents, but didn't confirm this until after we had the house back to ourselves. And from early 2006 to the end of 2006 it has been an incredible journey. So as I sit here on Hogmanay, wondering why I'm sat in front of a PC rather than out on the town (hmm, that wind might be one reason) I look back and wonder if it was all worth it.

EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

So whether you're part way on your own journey, in the departures lounge, or still trying to buy a ticket, my family wishes you a very Happy New Year!

Posted by Lee at 01 January 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Apolgies Lee, it has been far too long since I managed to get onto the site and do my "weekly" update! I had had big plans, every Saturday morning I would grab an hour and update everyone on how Sarah is doing with Junior Gent, every Saturday I would find myself either in Babies R Us, Mothercare, Homebase or on my way to Glasgow to some Pram Centre that a certain Curtis family told my wife about - thanks for that guys! :o) And so it is that I now find myself in the third trimester and I have the whole of the 2nd one to summarise in a shortish post! A lot has happened...

Continue reading "So this is Christmas, and what have you done?" »

Posted by ChrisGent at 26 December 2006 | Permalink | Comments (3)

We're almost set for Christmas, the decks are being cleared ready for the invasion. Sounds a bit like Dunkirk, just hope it's not! Poor Jared, having a house full and no baby's first Christmas as an excuse. That's what you get for sending me pictures of pints of Tetley's and Seabrooks crisps!!!!

Anyway, here we go, all systems ready, all rooms tidy, I'm looking forward to this, all pigs fed and ready to fly.

Merry Christmas to all and see you on the other side..

Posted by Lee at 23 December 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)

It never really sank in when people used to say "enjot it while it lasts" because you hear that so often in so many contexts. But when it comes to the newborn child it couldn't be more true.

At 16 weeks old, Junior is growing so fast, both in size and as a person. Yes, a person!

Continue reading "Growing up so fast" »

Posted by Lee at 12 December 2006 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Health is always a worry, especially for someone who eats too much, exercises too little, and is a prime candidate for diabetes due to the sedentary lifestyle. Is it lifestyle, or hereditary, or what? Well, I just keep the blinkers on and take the line "it depends what books you read".

So the news I got last night that my father is in intensive care with pancreatitis was first and foremost met with fear, a fear for my son. The multitude of "what if..." scenarios went through my head with respect to hereditary ailments. Thankfully, it doesn't look like I have too much to worry about on that score for Junior after looking it up, but being under exercised and over weight I decided to go for a diabetes test today, mainly prompted by the news my father has been borderline for the last 2 years.

Continue reading "Fathers - needed for health?" »

Posted by Lee at 08 December 2006 | Permalink | Comments (2)

MOTS has started a Santa List for Junior. There's a few things there just now just to get it going. Not holding out much hope for a new Beamer, but you never know.

I'm not posting the URL here, so if you would like it please email me or leave a comment asking for it.

Posted by Lee at 31 October 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can you remember the formulae for calculating the area and circumference of a circle from the radius? Working it backwards? Did you ever think at school "this is a waste of time"?

Well, it is vital you know how to do this when looking at playpens. I kid you not!