AJ's First Birthday

I know this is a very late post but I am trying to catch up on all the important events of the last month or so. We begin with Anna Jane's birthday.

We can't believe that she is one year old already. After a very difficult start due to reflux disease she finally settled down into a sweet and happy baby. We celebrated with family a few days before her actual birthday. Nothing to fancy just pizza and cake. She enjoyed opening her gifts and cards and was blessed with many great things.

She can take steps on her own but needs to hold a finger for confidence. Her vocabulary amazes us daily and has come out of nowhere. She can say:

Hi, toe, two, ten, quack, boo, Abby, dada/daddy, yummy, crawl, up, animal, bear, ball, baby, kick, clock, mama/mummy

She loves cuddles and being with her family. She gets so excited when she see the phone and repeats over and over "Hiya, hiya, hiya....." She has recently started to talk to people on the TV and seems puzzled when they don't reply to her cheery "HIYA". She still takes 2 naps a day and usually sleeps well through the night with her bunny and paci. Generally sleeping 11-12 hours. She loves fruit and will generally at least try any food put in front of her. She has 4 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth and can eat about anything with them! She does a great job regulating her own intake. She loves music and dances at the slightest hint of a beat. Claps when ever anyone does a good job. Loves watching any animals when we are out walking. Has a great laugh and can make the cheekiest faces. She is very sociable unless tired. She doesn't like getting her teeth brushed or her nappy/diaper changed. She is a girl of extremes and can be happy and giggling one moment and suddenly erupt into a scream fest. She is a comedian and keeps us all laughing. AJ we love you, Happy 1st Birthday!

Anna Jane Grace


One of her big presents



The cake



We kept a few gifts back for her actual birthday.

Garden

I have been meaning to post for quite some time about the garden that Abby and I have been working on. We started in the autumn of last year digging out a flower bed in which we put a few plants and lots of bulbs. Unfortunately the winter was so hard last year that most of the plants did not make it through. However, the first of our bulbs to show up was the snowdrops, followed by large white crocuses, small, multiple headed daffodil's, snakes heads and finally bright red tulips. It was a beautiful display. Abby and I also planted some vegetable and flower seeds. We planted basil, courgette, french beans, carrots and salad leaves. We had a great crop of salad leaves and I still am amazed at how wonderful FRESH leaves taste compared to even the freshest leaves from the stores. We are still waiting on the carrots and the courgettes are coming, they have been very slow. The french beans have not been (no pun intended) so successful but I noticed a couple of beans on the very sorry looking plants. The basil has been fine and is such a strong flavour. I am hoping to do a bigger veg patch next year but we will see if I have time. We are also planning to put in a patio and more plants in the flower bed.

Some old BIG NEWS!

Okay as most of you who are on FB will already know, God has sent us a surprise blessing! Yes we are already expecting child number three. We had talked about having more children but had certainly not intended to have another one this quickly. We found out after taking a pregnancy test in April. We told our immediate family after a few weeks but waited until after our 12 week scan to make the official announcement. We are due 10th December. When this one arrives Abby will be almost 3.5 years and AJ will be 17 months. It will be crazy and we are now looking at double buggy options. Bedrooms are not a problem, we had thought the girls would share when they got bigger anyway. That way we can keep our guest room, which we will need for all those willing helpers to come stay when this one arrives! Please pray for a healthy, happy, contented baby who sleeps and eats well and has NO reflux. I know it is asking a lot but I will have 3 children under 4 and need all the help I can get. Everything is going well in the pregnancy so far. I am due my 20 weeks scan a week tomorrow and have another midwife visit a week or 2 after that. I am passed the nausea and the tiredness has eased as much as it can when your growing and carrying a human being 24/7! This pregnancy has been a lot easier than the last 2 were. We are both thankful for that. We will keep you all updated on this wee one.

The picture is the 12 week scan. It is not as clear as our other ones but this baby was soooooo active during the whole scan!