December 8, 2009
Kajsa, our beautiful girl, was stillborn on the 20th August 2009 at Stirling Royal Infirmary weighing 6lb 7oz and measuring 52cm. We have since learned that placental insufficiency was the cause. We are thankful to have answers but will always wish that we had no need for them.
I have swithered for a long time about if I should post anything here at all. But I feel its wrong not to give her a birth announcement on this our family blog and I want to continue adding to this place as our family continues to live life, all be it without her.
August 2, 2009
Nope there is no baby ‘news’. No 2. does not seem to be as impatient as their big brother was and seems to be quite happy serving its full sentance inside. In answer to the question ‘how are you?’ I usually answer ‘fine’ but more truthfully I am rather grumpy and impatient. I didn’t have to do any waiting last time around but others are even more restless than me although I’m not exactly sure what they’d like me to do about it…
Here is the bump, small but perfectly formed, and due to the recent growth scan we know its not a tiny baby in there, at exactly 39weeks.
We haven’t been sitting around just waiting either. Henrik’s birthday was last week and we welcomed Moose Jnr the goldfish, Rip, Rap and Rup the little tetras and Smeagol the snail into the family. Birthday beer tasting was undertaken at the Bridge of Allan brewery, we had a lovely lunch and Henrik even got a quiet hour to himself at the driving range. And of course there was the obligitory ‘happy cake’ or cakes in this case.
Photographic proof here that Lachlan had been doing a little taste testing before the singing and candles!
Yesterday we enjoyed a day out at the Safari Park with our NCT buddies to wish the best to a couple who are off to experience island life. Mum and Dad popped down for the weekend too ‘just in case’ but are now away back up the A9 with still just the one grandchild and I guess with their fingers crossed that they are not going to get called back mid journey 
The other new thing in our lives is our ‘wee bus’ as Lachlan has christened it, a rather nifty Mazda 5 which has room galore for us all. I have yet to drive it but am hoping that its size and power dont overcome me!
Away to wait somemore…..
PS Spent the afternoon uploading to flickr so head on over for a full photographic roundup of Lachlan’s birthday and some recent days/trips.
July 16, 2009
Hello my ever patient reading audience of five or so. We are still here if a little rough and frayed around the edges. Well that would be me At 36+ weeks perhaps I’m getting a bit impatient and still don’t seem to have grasped what I should and shouldn’t be doing…e.g. bus to park with a 10minute walk tagged on the end fine deciding after active play supervision (including hill scrambling!) to walk the 2 1/2 miles home NOT so wise! The big boy is his usual energiser bunny self even with a pulled leg muscle (who said running was good for you?) and the wee one is a joy or a cranky so-and-so depending on what time he decides to get out of bed in the morning. We just had a great weekend on Skye made even more fine by the tropical weather we were treated to. I was just relieved to get up and down the road without going into early labour as I wasn’t too keen on a roadside delivery. Must dash for now as Lachlan and I are off to a ‘Brainy Bairns’ summer club just hope they don’t expect the mothers to be too bright! Shall leave you with this wee video which is the reason for the title – someone in this household is not camera shy…. (Sorry tried to embed it but it wont let me – you’ll just have to click)
July 3, 2009
Being two:
One operates on a first name basis with parents. Calls of ‘Henrik!’ are heard quite frequently in this house (…wonder where he gets that from?)
Catchphrases are acquired: “no(t) bad”
Blind acceptance is no more: “no thanks…”
Favourite bedtime reading is decided upon. Text to ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’ – I know it.
Full extent of ‘outside’ is realised. Shoes are demanded frequently. Door handles are hung off if requests to go out are refused.
Daredevil qualities tested. Be still a mothers beating heart!
Welcome little person.
June 21, 2009
We have been busy, busy, busy lately with birthday things and not so happy things but we can’t deny you a glimpse of the boys birthday. So a small selection of photos:
Birthday train set.
Tractor t-shirt.
Lachlan’s favourite ‘exhibition’ at the Transport Museum
“I will get on PC Plums bike!” (despite the barriers….)
Cake N0. 1
Party cake (mamma very proud that it actually looked like a tractor!)
Jump! @ Briarlands (party venue)
All the other pictures will be uploaded at some point but we have a full house this week and Lachlan has us all in training for future baby sleep deprivation.
PS: Here is a pic of the lovely bits I got from Izzi at Green Parent for the summer craft swap:
And heres the ugly fellow I made for my swap partner….
June 8, 2009
Number of:
Years married = 4.
And a bouquet of seasonal organic blooms from a tuned in hubby to mark the occasion.
Nights spent in ‘big boy bed’ = 6
Yes, we are still in the ’settling in’ stage but as soon as it was built he wanted in it and wont entertain any suggestion of sleeping in his cot. I tested it out for a wee snooze this morning while trying to convince him that 5am is not getting up time…its very comfy if a bit short.
Peas shelled for accompanying BBQ salad: ….lost count!
Ok, so it was meant to be a broad bean salad but peas were a tasty substitute if a little time consuming. Click here for the recipe for Flamed Red Pepper and Broad Bean (or Peas) Salad. Lots of positive comments on this one from BBQ attendees.
Weeks pregnant = 32.
That means 8weeks to go…if we reach the EDD this time around.
Going by Lachlan’s arrival we could be looking at 5 weeks left…
In other news….
Henrik is uploading pictures to flickr as I type. Feel free to go see. This one alone is worth the trip.
The house revamp is going well. Downstairs is done. Upstairs is middling to messy. And the attic…well lets not talk about that.
Birthday preparations are in full swing. Party time is coming and cake and visitors!
I finished up with Edinburgh. I like being unemployed
June 1, 2009
Is there anything that suggest summer more than ice lolly eating and bermuda short wearing…
May 30, 2009
Excuse me while I slowly roast, swelter and drip attractively in the heat. Bumps and sun aren’t the best combination. The other members of the family are off to ride the train in the park and I have wedged myself into a small shady corner in the garden with the hope that my feet will revert to a less swollen state.
I realise this blog has a large ‘Boys Only Trip to Hungary ‘09′ shaped hole but it isn’t the responsibility of the non-attendee to share the details. The person whose responsibility it is has also promised a flickr update in the near future, so keep an eye out. I think its safe to say that they had a great time and kept mamma sweet by bringing her back some chocolate among other things.
This weekend is my last one of work and my little brain is already buzzing with ‘to-do’ lists to fill up all that non-working time. It shall be nice to get evenings and weekends back to ourselves and get the house in order prior to the new arrival. We were at IKEA, unashamedly one of my favourite places, this morning to stock up on a few essentials to allow this house revamp to happen. Lachlan now has a new bed and a chair. We’ll set up the bed but its up to him to decide when he wants to start using it. As for the chair it was kind of a necessary purchase as hes been shunning the highchair. Just another couple of things to remind us that hes growing fast!
I leave you with a picture of the boy enjoying paddling with the compulsory tractor in attendance.
May 19, 2009
Lachlan’s tips for super salad making:
Shred.
Add.
Mix.
Eat.
[My bump looks ginourmous in these pictures]
May 15, 2009
The sunny weather has been determining our activities of late and its mostly been all about the garden and the park. Free range toddlers are a delight, pretty much self entertaining and supervision can be given from a park bench or a warm garden step. However, the clouds do return and needs must so today was a return to domesticity with food shopping, planned meals and baking. We did detour to Good Green Fun on our way home from the food shop , supposedly just to check if they had swim trunks for Lachlan but we managed to find a few things that weren’t on any official shopping list. A wooden xylophone, Thomas, teeny tiny newborn nappy wraps, a couple of pre-folds, Bob’s hat (or one very similar anyway), a ‘Bear Songs’ music cd and some little wooden bits for little hands accompanied us home. Its nice to both pick up a few bargains and support a local initiative. The book pictured below is one of a slowly growing collection that I’m amassing for Lachlan of children’s books published in the 1980’s. They are all very familiar to me being a child of the era and I love the illustrations and the no nonsense feel of the stories. Also, picking them up second hand, the one pictured was 49p from Oxfam, is an inexpensive way to build up the boy’s library. Next step a bargain book shelf or two!
Baked today were gingerbread biscotti (a version of this recipe) which are to be presented in a glass jar (which I fear may be a little small for purpose) and offered as a housewarming gift. The less pretty end pieces are being enjoyed by Henrik and I with tea for those that can stand it and chocolate milk for those who cant.
And almost forgot to mention a lovely afternoon with ball pits and slides for little people and coffee and chat for the mammas and a gifted car garage from the same friends which L enjoyed before dinner despite his no-nap exhaustion.
