Really saying something...

It's incredible watching your child growing up. Everyday something new is discovered and something different is learnt. We are starting to enter the wonderful "What's this?" phase, where every possible thing imaginable is prefixed or suffixed by the question "What's this?". It's currently a true pleasure answering this question 50 times daily, although I am not sure that will last. Next comes the "Why?" phase apparently. That could be a whole heap trickier.

Emily's very first selfie

As the snow has melted away we've been out and about exploring our new surroundings with the first hints of spring in the air. It's been absolutely great having some of Scotland's treasures on our doorstep, and whilst the supreme being hasn't quite got our stamina she does enjoy trotting along through the countryside. Next week we move to our 'final destination' and we are all very excited. Emily is particularly starting to talk of 'new house'.

 The Campsie Fells are just a few miles away

 A rare shot of Daddy and Daughter out enjoying the fresh air

The Fintry Hills aren't far either

The best thing about the supreme being at the moment is her growing vocabulary and desire to chat about everything. Not everyone can understand her all the time, but we manage most of the time. It doesn't really matter though - she loves chatting away, singing songs, and her new favourite is counting. Sometimes she says the cutest things, particularly in mornings when she says "Mummy get up, Daddy sleep bit more." Now that's really saying something...

Videoclip: Nursery Rhymes (although not sure what the first one is)

Videoclip: Learning to count

Snow-trepidation...

"Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood."
(Andy Goldsworthy)

Or at least that's how I imagined it would be. Emily's first snow since being a baby...exhilaration, playfulness and fun. Supreme wonderment from the supreme being. Again, at least that's how I imagined it would be.

For at least the hundredth time...note to self...nothing is ever straight forward bringing up children.

We were away for the weekend with a whole heap of adults and their progeny. Feverish anticipation was in the air as we arrived on the Friday night. There was snow on the ground, sledges were going spare and there was a whole weekend to enjoy it. All the ingredients required for an experience to remember.

 Picture postcard Pitlochry

It started so well

But that was maybe where the problem started. Too little sleep, a grotty cold and a world full of stuff that's actually quite cold and wet, seemed to introduce the concept of snow-trepidation into our lives. I was all set to revert to my childhood memories of sledging and snowballing. Emily had different ideas. She was more than happy to play indoors and look at the snow from a distance. But venturing out seemed to induce over-tired tears, sleep or minor discontent at the wrong snow for snowman building. Not quite what I planned but we did manage to get her on a sledge for at least a little bit. She almost seemed to enjoy it...almost.

Videoclip: First sledge before Mummy took over 

So for the weeks after we have been trying to foster better snow vs supreme being relations with mixed success. There's been moments of delight and some definite leanings towards pure snow-heaven, but I have to admit it's been patchy. Maybe another year will solve that and we just won't be able to get her out the stuff. At least I hope so...I am always one for re-living my childhood.

A smile in the snow

Letting off steam...

Emily is learning at a phenomenal rate. Apparently toddlers learn more in their first four years than in the rest of their lives put together...and this is nearly all done through play. From the moment she wakes up till when eventually she wears herself out, mainly all she justs wants to do is "more playing Mummy...or more playing Daddy". Either that or indulge in her guilty pleasure of "telly". If only we all got to spend the rest of our lives like the first four years. And to think, in years to come she won't remember much about it either.

Supremely happy

All the playing though helps her learn vital skills, whilst having fun and letting off steam at the same time. And given her voracious appetite its important we help her burn off those calories and use up all that energy...otherwise she would never sleep (and neither would we).

The theory of being an on-demand playmate for the supreme being sounds quite delightful. The reality is somewhat more demanding and exhausting. Most nights we sit silent and spent after she is in bed, till we summon up the energy to drag ourselves off to bed too. Weekends are a great way to rejuvenate as we get to take it in turns whilst the other sneaks off for a crafty nap. Fun and play for the wee one equals a pair of worn out old parents!

Emily is a delight though, and we are truly blessed by a daughter who has a lovely nature and a thirst for life. My most recent proud Daddy moment was when she went solo on her balance bike for the first time. As spring comes on I reckon she'll master it and then there'll be no stopping her. Well done to Emily!

Videoclip: Couch jumping...a good way to let off steam

Videoclip: First time solo on balance bike

A warm welcome to 2015...

Double steak pie-tastic

So once more we deposited ourselves on North Berwick to see in the New Year. And we had a lovely, lovely time. The evening started with a traditional scoffing of a steak pie doubler and the kids staying up far too late. This was quickly followed by a wee dram and watching Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham play in 2015; accompanied by the ritual conversation that Scotland really does have much, much better traditional music to offer but for some reason the BBC are contractual obliged to wheel these two out every year.

The next day Daddy decided to brave the loonie dook into the Firth of Forth, under the watchful eye and tutelage of the original Man of Iron and longstanding dooking veteran Big John. Daddy seemed not to disgrace himself in such notable company, managing to successfully dunk his head under, although other parts of his body are only just now reappearing. The afternoon was then followed by some first footing from Ohms and Ciara and their wee posse. But the highlight of New Years Day had to be Emily's first sparkler holding - to which the supreme being seemed to be supremely delighted.

Daddy delighted at breaking his dooking duck

Emily delighted at breaking her sparkler duck

And so followed a few more lovely days of quality family time. Lots of fun, laughter and merriment was had by all. Emily became completed besotted by her big cousins; Gurney's and Rooke's alike enjoyed some competitive Love Letter's (a great family game); lots of tasty food was eaten; all followed by Daddy and Big John blowing the cobwebs away with a jog round North Berwick. Thanks once again to the Gurney's for another lovely New Year, and here's wishing you all a wonderful, wonderful 2015!

Emi completely enthralled by big cousin Abbie

Guess who's who?

The happy couple 10 years on and not looking a day older

A nearly full moon shone over North Berwick

A frosty festive jaunt...

So this was to be Emily's first Christmas where she started to have an understanding of what it was all really about. Yep, after hearing the word repeated by Daddy for the first 2 weeks of December and being forced to look at pictures of Father Christmas, she finally started to get to grips with 'Sanda'. But as is ever thus, things never go quite to plan and the supreme being made sure he was kept at arms length. There were numerous opportunities to see the scary man in red and white...all declined. Indeed the very idea of sprinkling some Santa dust to help him find his way was met with complete disdain. Instead she preferred to keep well away from the funny old man, and enjoyed the rest of what Christmas had to offer instead, particularly all the lights, presents and singing the odd rendition of 'Dindle Bells'. Plus thoroughly enjoying all the edible festive fare that was on offer of course.

The supreme being with festive crown

We had travelled down for Christmas to see my brother, his family and my parents - and they had planned some lovely age-appropriate activities including a trip to the local farm. Emily delighted in feeding and stroking the animals, followed by a slap-up supper of potato hedgehogs. Mummy enjoyed it too as she won the best hedgehog competition. Christmas day saw Emily playing the perfect Santa's helper, dishing out presents to all concerned, followed by a lovely dinner and some wonderful frosty walks over the next few days. Then it was a long drive back up to our temporary abode in Lenzie to recover for a few days, before the festivities were set to continue with our annual New Year invasion of North Berwick.

Eye to eye with the goats

The favourite bit of Xmas - a close encounter with the local horses

The prize winning hedgehog

My brother likes to ham it up at Christmas

As if butter wouldn't melt post-present apocalypse

Grandad and Uncle David try to figure out how on earth the turkey had shrunk

Cousin Chloe provided entertainment on Emily's new ukelele

Exploring the frozen planet

Crunching through the forest

Merry Christmas everyone...

Drama queen...

Daddy: "Emily, who is your favourite Daddy?"
Emily: "Mummy."

Funny. Our daughter is definitely funny. She also does angry, stubborn, happy, crying, sad, thoughtful, pensive, sulky, brave and a whole host of other emotions. She's got them all down to a fine art. RADA awaits. Her acting ability is legion and growing by the week. It's a theatrical delight. The supreme being is truly a drama queen.

 Pensive daughter

  Sad daughter

 Desperately sad daughter

Braveface daughter

De Niro daughter

 Supremely angelic daughter