My First Christmas!

We have spent Christmas at Grandma's & Grandad's. Uncle Julian & Ally were also there before they go off to Taiwan in January.

Unfortunately, I wasn't very well and was sick on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. I'm better now, however, I gave my bug to Mummy, Ali, Grandma & Grandad!

On the Sunday before Christmas we all went out for lunch to a local pub. Daddy fed me before everyone else had their carvery and I played in the high chair.



On Christmas Eve, Daddy cooked steak for all the grown ups after I went to bed. Luckily Santa came, although we forgot to leave him a mince pie out! I hope he'll come back next year!

I had lots of presents to open (although I did have some help from Mummy & Daddy).



I now have lots of new toys to play with - I like my sit on car that Grandma & Grandad gave me. Once I get a bit taller and my legs can reach the ground I will be able to drive around myself. At the moment I have to have a push from one of the adults!



Daddy says that I have got some more presents to open when we get home as he couldn't fit everything in the car on the way!

We all sat down to Christmas lunch - I had a bit of turkey and some of the vegetables and even got my own cracker with a hat in!




Ally cooked on Boxing Day (with a bit of interference from Uncle Julian!) which gave all the grown ups a break from turkey as she cooked a Tiawanese dish.

We were going to go back to Sheffield early on the 27th, but we ended up staying because Mummy was ill. Daddy went off to the local bank to do some work as he should have been at work in Sheffield.

Mummy is better now so we are going back to Sheffield tomorrow after we have been out for lunch today with lots of the Smith family.

Thank you for all my presents (the wrapping paper and the boxes were equally good to play with!)

Hopefully we will all see you early next year.

Happy New Year!

Love

Joshua

Great Uncle Graham's 60th

We all went to Stratford the other Sunday for Great Uncle Graham's 60th. It was a surprise party and we only just arrived in time to hide the car and then join everyone in the house before he arrived back.



There were lots of people at the party and I got to meet more of the family for the first time. All the adults shared a whole roast pig and then had some birthday cake. The cake didn't have 60 candles on though - I think it would have to have been a very big cake to fit them all on and we might have needed the fire brigade to help Graham put the candles out!



I had a sleep on Sarah's bed until the cat came in and woke me up.



After I had my tea, Daddy drove us back to Sheffield. We had to stop halfway so I could have my milk and get ready for bed.

Lots of visitors!

Its been a busy weekend with lots of visitors coming to see me.

Granny, Grandpa and Auntie Emma came up from Croydon on Friday, Great Granny & Great Grandpa and Uncle Nick came on Saturday, Verity came to day and Grandma and Grandad are coming tomorrow!


Granny, Grandpa, Auntie Emma, Great Granny, Great Grandpa, Uncle Nick, Mummy, Daddy and I all went out for lunch yesterday. We went to the Carvery next to Daddy's cricket ground. I got to eat mine first and then played in my high chair whilst everyone else ate their lunch. Daddy came home with me so I could have a sleep as everyone else was finishing their coffee. After my sleep I played with Auntie Emma and Granny.




After tea Daddy gave me my bath before I went to bed!

Verity came to visit this morning and had to take off her dangly earings as I thought they would be good to pull on!

Grandma & Grandad are coming tomorrow so they can go to the theatre to see Joseph with Mummy.


Mummy and I have been busy over the last week. We went to Nottingham to visit Great Nannie and Great Grandad, Sarah and Chloe.

We also went to see Emma and Hannah. Hannah is only 3 weeks older than me but much bigger and whizzes round the room in her baby walker!

Next weekend we are off to Chris' 30th birthday party - that's very old (especially when I am only 7 months!). I wonder if he will get lots of presents?

See you all soon

Love

Joshua

Leeds & London

We spent the other week travelling round the country. We went to Leeds on the Monday to so that Mummy could do her exam. Daddy and I stayed with Jane & Trevor, whilst Mummy and Roxie stayed with Great Granny & Grandpa. This was supposed to be so Mummy could get a good nights sleep before her exam; although I think Daddy and I slept all night and Mummy was up early! I got to stay in Ed's room and Daddy even let me watch his television in the morning whilst he was in the shower!

Whilst Mummy was at her exam I got to play with Great Grandpa and Great Granny. I was very good and had two naps on their sofa!

After lunch we drove to London to stay with Granny & Grandpa and Auntie Emma, although we had to stop a couple of times so I could have my milk & tea! Daddy got in trouble because he left part of my baby monitor in Leeds!

On the Wednesday it was Uncle Julian graduation at the Albert Hall. Mummy went off early to go to the ceremony.

Daddy and I then caught the train later on. I liked playing with all the people on the train and being in my baby carrier when we went on the tube. Daddy took me to the Science Museum so he could feed me. I don't think he got to see as much as he hoped as I feel asleep on a bench whilst he had his lunch! Hopefully we will both get to go back when I am a bit bigger! We met Uncle Julian, Grandma, Grandad and Mummy in the afternoon and went and had our photograph taken. We all had a look round the Science Museum before all the grown ups went for a meal. I got to eat mine at the same time - the nice waiter let Daddy have some hot water to warm mine up. He also played with me whilst everyone else was eating.

We saw Chris, Andy & Zoe on Thursday. We were a bit late as I feel asleep and slept for much longer than normal! I didn't get to see much of Zoe as she was asleep when we got there and when she woke up I went to sleep. Zoe was very nice though and let me use her highchair and sleep in her cot! She is much bigger than me and it won't be long before she is walking!

On the way back from Chris & Andy's we saw Great Grandad.

On Friday we went up to London to see Becky and had lunch with her. We went up to London early and went to Harrods so i could have a feed. We then looked round the toy department and Daddy bought me a Harrods bib to prove we had been! Before lunch we went to Trafalgar Square and saw lots of pigeons!

Before we left, there was just enough time to play with Granny & Grandpa whilst mummy packed the bags and Daddy loaded the car! Auntie Emma was still in bed so she didn't make any of the pictures!

This week Daddy has been back at work so Mummy and I have seen Emma & Hannah, Ruth & Chloe, Grandma and Uncle Julian who came to visit, Angela & Rebecca and also got to go swimming on Wednesday! I think next week we will be going to Leeds to collect the bits Daddy left behind!

I can now sit up on my own and like to sit on the floor and play with my toys!

Bye for now

Love

Joshua

Back Home

I've been staying with Mummy at Grandma's & Grandad's for the last 10 days so Daddy could do some revision for his exam. Whilst we were at Grandma's & Grandad's I saw Great Nannie & Grandad, Uncle Julian, Great Grandad and Mary.

We came back on Wednesday so I could go to my swimming lesson and got home just in time to see Daddy before he went to his exam. Grandma is coming to stay with us this week to look after me during the day so Mumy can do some work for her exam next week.

I'm eating lots now - my favourite is banana and blueberry. I think Daddy needs a bit of practice at feeding me though!

Yesterday we went to Swig & Bec's wedding. Bec looked very pretty in her wedding dress and Swig very smart in his lillac tie!

I was very good and sat on Daddy'd lap during the ceremony and then even had my own highchair at the meal, although I made sure I got fed before everyone else! I was even allowed to stay up late so we could go the some of the evening reception.

Daddy managed to avoid finding out the result of the rugby last night so we watched the match this morning. I think I know what Daddy will be doing next Saturday night!

I'm off for my nap now befoe I have my sweet potato, leek and pea for lunch.

See you soon

Love

Joshua

Real Food

Joshua has now started solids!


So far everything seems to have been a hit - at least the screaming when its all gone seems to suggest so! The apple and prune porridge was a particular hit.



He also likes sitting in his high chair!

Holiday

Daddy had the first two weeks in September off work so I got to see lots of him!

We went to Croydon to stay with Granny & Grandpa so Mummy could go on a revision course for her exam. Daddy looked after me all day (with a bit of help from Granny, Great Granny and Auntie Emma).

Back in Sheffield we went to Meadowhall for the day where Daddy bought me a great new toy to play with (Mummy was cross with him as she wanted to buy more clothes!). Everyone got something apart from Daddy! After a trip to the doctors to get some medicine to stop me being so sick after my feeds we loaded the car and went to stay with Grandma and Grandad for a few days.

I got to try out Grandma's pushchair when we went to the beach and to walk round Skegness.

Grandma, Daddy & Mummy finally managed to get an ice cream - there seemed to be a shortage on the day we went! I also saw the donkeys, although I am still a bit small to have a ride on one.

I also found a new toy to play with.

Mummy and Grandma went to see the dance show on Friday night and I was very good and went to sleep just in time for Daddy to watch the rugby. On Saturdya night Mummy & Daddy managed to go out for a meal whilst Grandma looked after me. Daddy got in trouble when they got back though for waking me up!

After loading the car (again!) we went to Norfolk to stay in a nice barn conversion with Granny, Grandpa and Auntie Emma. The barn confused Roxie because all the bedrooms were downstairs and the living space upstairs! The barn had a big garden which Roxie enjoyed chasing her ball round.

On Monday we went to Sandringham to have a look round the Queen's house. I liked looking at all the paintings, although I feel asleep when we went round the museum so I missed seeing some of the cars.

On Tuesday we went to Snettisham Deer Park. I got to meet lots of animals in the farmyard and Mummy & Daddy fed the greedy goats. We then went on a tractor ride where we saw all the deer. They all swam across the lake when the tractor stopped and then we were able to feed them. The stag was called Albert and he had 60 girlfriends! After seeing the deer we had a meal with Grandma and Grandad and Granny and Grandpa. There were lots of exciting things to look at so I had to be pushed round the car park to go to sleep. Everytime I came back inside I woke up again! When we got back to the cottage Granny & Auntie Emma pushed me round the garden of the barn so Mummy & Daddy could catch up on some sleep!

The next day we went to Hunstanton to visit the sealife center. We saw the seal and lots of different fish and then got to se the penguins being fed! All the grown ups then had fish & chips and ice cream later inthe afternoon. Mummy then did lots of Christmas shopping at the lavender farm on the way back to the barn.

We were supposed to travel back to Sheffield on Thursday after meeting Sanjay and Kavitha in Norwich. Sanjays sofa was a bit slippy and I kept sliding off and had to be propped up to stop me falling off! When Kavitha got back from work we all went for a meal at a very nice pub. I got to play with the nice lady sat next to Daddy whilst he ate his meal! We didn't get very far home before a warning light came on in Daddy's car so we went back to the barn to stay the night. Luckily there wasn't anything major wrong with Daddy's car - he took it to the garage the next morning and we managed to drive to York just in time for me to do my next modelling job!

I got to model a very fancy Mammas & Pappas bouncy chair and will be in the Spring Summer 2008 catalogue!

I now weight 13lbs 5 ozs and have just started baby rice. Mummy has made lots of purees for me and hopeflly I will ge to start these at the weekend!

I'm off for a sleep now before Grandma arrives to look after me whilst Daddy is at work and Mummy does some revision for her exams.

Love

Joshua

Daddy's Birthday

It's Daddy's birthday today, he's 28, and I gave him his card and present before he went to work. I wrote in his card all on my own, mummy gave me the pen and I did a scribble. I liked seeing Daddy's presents but loved the silver wrapping paper!!! I bought him a "My Dad" book for him to read to me. His main present was a TomTom satnav to stop us getting lost on holiday next week.

It has been another busy week, we had a lazy bank holiday Monday and then I did my first modelling job on Tuesday. I wore a blue baby dressing gown and slippers which will be in Peacocks Autumn/Winter range. I had lots of fun and now have more pennies for my University Account. Wednesday I had my last lot of injections, 3 this time and I got really upset. Daddy had to come home from work at lunch time to rescue Mummy from my screaming!!! Yesterday Grandma came and she has taken Roxy doggy to her house for a holiday and we will see her again next week. Today Mummy is geting food ready for Daddy's party tonight, his friends are coming later when I have gone to bed.

This week I have also welcomed another baby, Mummy's friend Ruth had a little girl called Chloe. It was all a bit of a rush and panic as she was only 31 weeks pregnant but chloe is doing really well. I also hope to have another new playmate today as Angela is 12 days overdue and has been in hospital since Wednesday for induction!! My mummy is now very thankful I was a but early and came in 7 hours from start to finish, I am a good boy!!!

Tomorrow we are going to Croydon as Mummy has a course on Sunday in London and then we are going to skegness on Wednesday and Norfolk next weekend so lots of travelling to be done.

See you Soon

Joshua.

XXX

Daddy Blogs

Joshua and Mummy spent Friday in Leeds with Jane, Trevor, (Great)Granny, (Great) Grandpa, Emily and Ian.

Daddy arrived after work in time to put Joshua to sleep. Daddy thinks the sleeping through the night and long naps are due to him putting Joshua to bed rather than Mummy reading her book!

We all stayed over night and spent Saturday with Granny & Grandpa. Grandpa and Daddy got told off by Granny & Mummy for watching the Challenge Cup final with Joshua. Still he seemed to enjoy it far more than when Mummy makes him watch the dancing programmes!

Mummy has gone out tonight with some friends so Daddy is looking after Joshua.

I am sleeping through the night!!!

Mummy feels she has to write a blog to celebrate this milestone!!! Since birth I have been gradually increasing the time I will sleep between feeds or without needing attention from Mummy and Daddy. They are both very pleased as for the last week I have been going in the cot awake at 7:30 pm and not waking up til 6 am. The first time I did this Mummy and Daddy woke up in a panic because I used to feed late at night and I hadn't. Mummy thinks this new change is due to her reading The Baby Whisper book.

It has been another busy week, Mummy has started studying for the last exam she needs to take to get her membership to the Royal College of General Practitioners. She works when I nap during the day, I think she is finding it hard as it is the essay paper. Daddy also has his last chartered banking exam in October so when I go to sleep this house becomes very studious!!!!

This week I have also: seen Grandma, let mummy have lunch out with Emma and baby Hannah and been with mummy to see Angela. Angela's baby was due last weekend and she is getting very fed up, I hope it comes soon so I can play with it.

Today I am going to leeds to see Aunty Emily, my godmother, before she goes back to University next week. I am also looking forward to the fact that it is a bank holiday weekend so Daddy will be home for 3 days this weekend.

Love

Joshua

XXX

This week I have...

1. Learnt to suck my thumb (but only on my left hand!)

2. Let Mummy & Daddy have a meal out together

3. Realised both my hands belong to me and that I can make them touch each other

4. Been to visit Grandma & Grandad

5. Seen my friend Phoebe

It's been a really busy week!

Love

Joshua

Christening

Been a little while since the last blog, although Daddy has updated the photos on the web album.

I am now 12lbs 8ozs although I don't appear to be getting any taller. My head is also growing - mummy says it must be all my brains!!

I saw more of the family at my Christening and got cuddles from lots of new people. I was really good throughout the service and didn't cry when the water was poured over me. Auntie Jane, Uncle Trevor, Emily, Ed and Ian had prepared a fantastic lunch for all the big people although I was quite happy with my bottle! There was lots of food left over which saved Mummy & Daddy from cooking for the next few nights!



We all went to London and stayed at Granny & Grandpa's. Daddy had to buy a roof box for the car so he can take all my stuff. Whilst we were in Croydon I met baby Zoe and baby Thomas and we all had our picture taken with Great Grandad.



On the Friday night Mummy went to the theatre whilst Daddy and Grandpa looked after me. We went for a walk on Saturday and then to the pub for lunch.

Auntie Wendy and Stefanie came over from Norway and we all went to the park for a picnic as for once it wasn't raining!

At the weekend I went to Mummy's VTS BBQ whilst Daddy was playing cricket at Bakewell. I was very good and got to meet all the other babies as all Mummy's work friends seem to have had children recently! I think there might be a shortage of doctors in Barnsley as they are all on maternity leave!

I've joined the gym with Mummy & Daddy and we have been several times to use the baby pool so I can practice what I have learnt at baby swimming classes.

Thank you to everyone for my Christening presents and I hope to see you all soon

Love

Joshua

I'm a big boy now!!!

Since daddy last wrote on here I've been getting bigger every day!! The health visitor came today and I weighed 11lb 7oz, I've put on a whole pound in a week (mummy's milk is very yummy!!). I'm drinking lots and playing lots now, sleep is for the weak! Mummy and Daddy have moved me from the basket in their room to my big cot in my own room. I like my cot but prefer to play in it than sleep. We've all been busy in Sheffield getting ready for my christening on Sunday. Unfortunately Mummy had a minor crisis this week when her washing machine broke ( I have been making too much washing I think). The men from Currys saved the day by fitting a new machine yesterday so we no longer have to travel round mummy's friends houses doing the washing. Mummy has also had a cold and been fairly poorly, she was too tired to feed me sometimes so I had mummy's milk in a bottle from daddy and Grandma.

I now have regular "boy's time" with daddy, my favourite thing is to go swimming on a Saturday morning. Last week we also went to the barbers ( I didn't need a cut this time) and watched some cricket

Time for more milk so must go, hope to see lots of you on Sunday.

Love

Joshua XXX

Its raining again!!

Its been rather wet in Sheffield over the past few weeks. Luckily we live at the top of a hill so all the water has run past our house. However, lots of people have been flooded up here. Daddy's not managed to play any cricket due to the rain - I think Mummy must be doing a rain dance when he's not looking!!

I'm growing all the time - I weighed 10lbs 7 when the health visitor came the other day. Mummy & Daddy know I'm getting taller as lots of my baby clothes no longer fit and have been bagged up and put in the cellar.

I went with Mummy to stay with Grandma and Grandad for a week to see lots of the family I had not yet met. I enjoyed it as I got lots of attention and cuddles - I think Mummy felt left out.

I have started baby swimming classes, although I didn't like it when the instructor poured water all over me and in the end I had to get out a bit early as I was getting tired. I do have a rather funky nappy to wear though.

Grandma has come to visit today and is going to look after me tonight so Mummy & Daddy can have some sleep - I've been keeping them up rather a lot over the past few nights. Mind, Daddy says he can sleep through me kicking my legs and gurgling its Mummy talking at 3:30 in the morning thats keeping him awake!

I've learned to sit in my Bumbo and have started to play with lots of my toys. We went toy shopping at Mothercare at the weekend and Mummy bought some new toys. think they are more for her to play with than me though!

Later this month it's my Christening so I expect I'll see lots of you then.

Daddy has put some new photos on the web at http://picasaweb.google.com/jongillgrass

See you all soon

Love

Joshua

What a month!

Its been a little while since we last blogged and lots has happened over the past few weeks. We have been to 2 different hospitals, visited Granny & Grandpa in Croydon, stayed in a hotel and been to a wedding not bad for a 6 week old!

We had to visit Sheffield Childrens Hospital after I choked on some milk and nearly passed out. Luckily Daddy was able to pat me on the back rather hard, but Mummy thought it best to get me checked out at the hospital. After the doctor had taken my blood, mummy had to wait for me to wee and try and catch in a funnel so the hospitalcould check to make sure I was ok. The doctor decided it would be best if I stayed in over night to see the consultant the next morning. This was fine by me as I got a nice cot, however, it was rather less fun for Mummy and Daddy whose sleeping arrangements were rather less glamorous. Daddy started in the chair, tried to sleep on the floor with his briefcase as a pillow and evemtually had to evict Mummy from the bed, put the mattress on the floor and sleep squashed up against the wall on the bit of mattress Mummy let him have! After seeing the nice consultant the next morning - he told me I could have milk whenever I wanted it I was allowed home.

We visited Granny, Grandpa and Auntie Emma last weekend. It took ages for Daddy to pack the car - it made a change for someone to have more stuff than Mummy! The journey down was good although I think Mummy found feeding in the services rather uncomfortable.

Our visit to Croydon also included a visit to Mayday hospital after the hospital in Sheffield rang to say that they needed one of the tests repeating. Luckily we did not have to stay in overnight this time so Daddy didn't have to sleep on the floor again!

When we were in Croydon we went to visit Great Grandad and also saw Chris & Zoe. Zoe is much bigger than me at the moment, but I'm sure I'll catch up at some point. You can read what Zoe has been up to at http://www.giddymonkey.com/ I also got lots of cuddles from Granny and Grandpa. Unfortunately all the adults had to eat at different times as one of them was needed to occupy me!

After visiting Croydon we went to stay in a hotel so we were close to Wembley for Sanjay & Kavitha's wedding. The hotel was very nice if a bit warm. Uncle Julian and Ali came to visit having had to cancel the night before when I had to go to the hospital

The wedding was very colourful - Mummy dressed up in a bright pink outfit. Lots of the guests thought she looked very smart and that I was very good for sleeping all the way through the ceremony. I also got to meet lots of Sanjay's family, although Mummy wasn't very impressed when somebody woke me up just after I had gone to sleep after being walked round the block in the pram for half an hour.

On the way back from London we stopped at Great Auntie Sue's and Uncle Ken's house. I needed a feed and Daddy had a sleep in the back garden. We managed to get most of the way home before I needed to feed again at which point we had to divert to Mothercare for another feed!

The health visitor has been this week and I am growing nicely now - I weigh over 9 lbs. Today Mummy took me swimming for the first time with Emma & Hannah. Judging by the weather in Sheffield we could have gone in the puddles outside!

Hoep you are all well

Love

Joshua

Mummy brings the blog up to date!!!

Since I last managed to get on the computer to do this an awful lot has happened!! Jon has gone back to work which has brought with it many highs and lows ( to be expected I suppose). I've got over a week to talk about so excuse the long blog.

Since the 13th May we have been invited to a Hindu Wedding in Wembley, Joshua was very good while I went and got measured for my outfit ( bright pink with lots of crystals - not sure how baby friendly it will prove to be). We have booked a hotel near the wedding for Saturday and Sunday the 9th and 10th of June, we are travelling to croydon on the Thursday before and are hoping to catch up with as many people as possible.

Great Nanny and Grandad came over to visit on Thursday the 18th May with Grandma, we had a lovely day and got some nice photos.

Joshua got a very sore bum and developed an allergy to Pampers nappies. We were told not to put water or cotton wool near him and dry his bum either by blowing or with a hairdryer!!! As you can imagine with a little boy this has resulted in a few close calls in the weeing department. We are waiting for some "real" nappies to arrive to see if they are kinder on his skin.

As Jon has written below the weekend of my birthday and Joshua's thanksgiving was good but hectic!! We had an unsettled day Monday which I think is largely due to the overactivity at the weekend. We have been discharged from the midwife as Joshua is gaining weight nicely and the health visitor came on Monday. Joshua has his first jabs on the 26th June ( our wedding anniversary) so we hope it doesn't upset him too much.

On Tuesday we went to baby group and met some more little babies, there is no group next week but we have arranged to meet up and do something with a couple of the mums. Wednesday we went over to my work to see my GP trainee group of friends and then on to Leeds to see Great Granny and Grandpa G, Great Aunty Jane and Aunty Emily (who is going to be my godmother). We had a lovely afternoon, we went for a walk with Joshua in Jane's old silver cross pram. I had to get used to the fact that the wheels don't swivel, there is no head support and the suspension os so bouncy his little head was wobbling away!!! As Jane said Emily and Edward are both ok so it just goes to show how much we have on our pram that is unecessary!!! No photos as yet as I forgot the camera, Great Grandpa has them on his film camera so we will get them soon.

Yesterday Grandma came with our friend Mary, Joshua had wind from the cauliflower cheese as Jon mentioned but otherwise we had a good day. Joshua got turned away from a pub as under 14's could only go in if eating a meal, despite the fact that we were eating and I'm feeding him we still weren't allowed to stay so we ended up in Pizza Hut.

At the moment Joshua is fast asleep, we are waiting for Great Aunty Sue, Sarah and Chloe to arrive. We will try and keep up to date from now on to save on long blogs.

Love to all

Kirsty and Joshua

XXXX

Thanksgiving

It was my Thanks giving service at the Church where Mummy & Daddy got married last Sunday. Granny & Grandpa (back from holiday) and Auntie Emma came up to Sheffield on the train on the Saturday and Grandma & Grandad and Uncle Julian came over from Skegness on the Sunday.


I was very good and slept all the way through the service and whilst everyone had lunch afterwards. I really enjoyed the day as I ot to be the centre of attention all day. After all the family left some of Mummy & Daddy's friends came round to have cake for Mummy's birthday (quite how they managed to eat any after the big lunch they had I don't know!). Even better I got even more cuddles! I also got some more presents and it wasn't even my birthday!

Grandpa found some pictures from when Daddy was little - can you tell who is who?

This week I've had my first feed of Mummy's milk from a bottle so now Daddy can help feed me as well! Mummy & Daddy have had meals from the nice ladies at the baby & toddler group for the last 2 weeks, although the last meal has just arrived! They have all been delicious although the cauliflower cheese Mummy had yesterday did give me wind! I think they will get a shock next week when they have to start cooking again!

I need to go now as its time for a sleep.

Love

Joshua