“PAPAHOOD”

I managed to get a short film of Gracie crawling this morning and have uploaded it just for you. If anyone is interested, the background music I’ve added to the clip is from David Crowder*Band’s latest CD REMEDY and the track is called ‘Everything Glorious’, If you want to hear the whole song and others from the CD then click on the link and it will take you to their MySpace page.

Well as you probably realise, I was unable to blog last week as I could not get a signal. 3Mobile claim to cover 93% of the UK. Just my  luck that I was in the 7% bit that can’t get a signal. Ah well! as Rabbie (Robert Burns) would say, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an ‘men Gang aft agley”. Roughly translated it means, ‘things don’t often go according to plan’.

There’s a line in an old song that goes, “What a difference a day makes Twenty-four little hours”, well What a difference a week makes, I can hardley believe the changes in Gracie, she is now crawling and at high speed too. She is repeating quite a few words, her favourite is, “WASSSSAT” (what’s that).

Me, Gillian and the kids are going away for a  short break on Friday so I will be away from Gracie for another week. This time I hope to be in the 93% area 3Mobile talks about so that I can continue blogging. I will post some more Gracie pictures before I go.

Twice a year, summer and winter, for the past eight years Gillian and me have taken a bunch of local kids away to camp. So we’re off tomorrow. I won’t see Gracie for a whole week but Carrie has promised to send me regular reports and pictures and I’ve got myself a dongle (don’t ask) so if the signal is OK I’ll hook it up to the laptop and keep right on blogging.
I took this picture a few days ago, Kids seem to have a fascination for my wheelchair, Gracie is no exception.

Carrie sent me this the other day, Gracie wearing the latest meal.

grad·u·ate (grăj’ū-āt’) - To advance to a new level of skill, achievement, or activity.

My youngest Daughter (aged 4), Gracie’s aunty Hope  had her Nursery Graduation ceremony today. She has completed her Pre-school year. Primary 1 after the summer holidays.

In 15 or so years time I’m going to have another Graduation picture of Jordan and Hope.

I was thinking about buying some new shirts the other day, I seen a few that I liked they were the kind of shirts I wore in my late teens/early 20’s; they are collarless shirts called “grandpa shirt” or “granddad shirts”. They seem to be making a comeback now as happens with fashion but then I started thinking, It was trendy for me to wear a granddad shirt when I was young but what about now that I really am a granddad it doesn’t sound quite so trendy to me, now that in fact every shirts I wear is a granddad shirt - literally .

And the price of them, £30! I used to buy my shirts from second-hand shops and give them to my mum and she would make them collarless for me. I can still see her now peddling away at her old singer sewing machine, a treadle one. I managed to find a picture of the identical machine to my mum’s it is so alike that even the bottom door is hanging off just the same.

Did you hear about the baby who tried tap dancing? She fell in the sink

But seriously folks, Carrie gave me some pictures of Gracie in the kitchen sink and it took me right back to my childhood.    I remember in the kitchen there was a huge double sink with a mangle (wringer) between each sink. It seems ‘Stone age’ but mum would do the washing in the sink then put it though the mangle to squeeze the water out then the clothes would be hung out to dry. Anyway I remember being bathed in the kitchen sink and from what I remember it was great. All the family, I think, were bathed in the sink. Now the sinks are far too small, there’s hardly enough room for the dishes never mind children.

After nine months of good behaviour we’ve had to send Gracie to the pen. Gracie hasn’t attempted to crawl but can she get about, she can roll across the room in the blink of an eye and then she is into everything. So I thought it was about time we invested in a playpen. The one we got was made by Lindam, it’s hexagonal and there’s plenty of room in it. Gracie loves it and it lets me get on with my multitude of tasks knowing that Gracie is safe and secure. It folds away quite easily too so when Gracie goes back to her mum’s it only takes five minutes to put it away.

Isn’t it amazing that no matter how well you think the room has been hoovered, a baby will alway manage to find a small bit of something to shove in their mouth. That’s another plus for the play pen, it stops Gracie finding things in the carpet, as someone once said, “The pen is tidier than the floor.” Oh that was me. Don’t worry we’ll let her out soon.

I know I should have posted this on Sunday but I was soooo busy.

I’ve had quite a few Father’s Day cards over the years but this is my very first card for grandpa on Father’s Day. I’ll try my very hardest not to be a “boring grumpy toad”.

This is what a lot of Dads woke up to or will be waking up to, TIES. The most popular Father’s Day gift is the necktie. I usually get aftershave and razors ’cause my wife doesn’t think  I shave often enough.

I ‘googled’ to find a bit on the history of father’s day and this is what I got.

The history of Father’s Day is very interesting. The thought for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. The idea of having the Father’s Day came to the mind of Sonora Smart while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.

After the death of her mother, she along with her siblings was raised by her father, William Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted to tell her father how special he was. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

The National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized the Father’s day in 1956 and in 1966 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Thus, the Father’s Day was born in memory and appreciation by a daughter who believed that her father and all other fathers should be honored with a special day.

I don’t know what kind of father you had/have, may be a kind one, maybe a cruel one, or perhaps you you grew up never knowing a father. There is a Father who loves unconditionally, who is alway gentle and kind and patient with His children, and is and always will be there for you. We pray to Him “Our Father” and if we belong to Him then he is “OUR FATHER”. The Bible says,
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5)

This Father’s Day why not get to know your Father God, He’s only a prayer away.

Gillian (my lovely wife) doesn’t get to spend much time with Gracie because she works and by the time she gets home Gracie is heading back to her mums. But whenever she can Gillian gets down on the floor with Gracie and then there are toys and bricks everywhere.

When I was a youngster my mum had a “Button Tin” that was full of cotton reels, old coins, string, thimbles, marbles, shells, and yes - buttons. We would play for hours with the contents of the “Button Tin”. Now you can buy a tub of coloured cotton reels and buttons from E.L.C, our two kids,Jordan and Hope loved them and Gracie and Gran think they’re reel cool too.

Yesterday I lay Gracie down on the floor, turned round to do something and when I looked back she was sitting up. This happened several times that day. one minute she would be lying on the floor the next minute she would be sitting up. I lay her down and watched for ages to see her sitting up but all she would do would be to roll about but as soon as my back was turned she would sit up. It was as if she knew I was watching and so she waited to sit up when I wasn’t watching.

I caught her today though. Now she sits up, lies down, rolls around. Crawling and walking next I think. Watch This Space!

“Away the ‘nock!” That was the chant of several thousand people from my home town of Cumnock yesterday when they travelled to Rugby Park, Kilmarnock. The reason being that the local football team, Cumnock Juniors were playing Bathgate Thistle in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup final.

The weather was driech.
The football was dire.
The result was depressing.
The supporters were dissappointed.

Yes, Cumnock, after being 1 - 0 in front with 14 minutes left to play got beat 2 - 1.

The Last time I was at a Cumnock game was 19 years ago, Cumnock won the cup that time and Gracie’s mum was just a baby.

Gracie more than made up for any dissapointment after yesterdays game by posing with the team colours.

On Saturday night Robbie “Kaptain” Knievel, son of the late daredevil Evel Knievel, successfully jumped over 24 delivery trucks on a motorcycle (watch clip). I read something this morning on the BBC News website and could hardly believe it,”Baby Jumping”. Yes! I did say, “Baby Jumping”. Jumping over a row of trucks on a motorcycle is one thing but jumpin over a row of babies.

They don’t use a motorcycle but it seems that in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia they have been jumping over babies for over four hundred years. Someone dresses up as El Colacho (the devil) and then hurdles two rows of babies under a year old. This cleanses them of evil (of course it does).

I knew that in Spain there were some freaky rituals that people took part in like the running of the bulls in Pamplona, where people allow bulls to chase them though the streets, goring whoever isn’t fast enough. Or there’s even the freakier ritual held in the village of Manganeses de la Polvorosa where a live goat is carried through the streets and is then thrown from the town’s bell tower. But “Baby Leaping” how cruel and unusual, I’m sure that in this country, after a health and safety check and a risk assessment had been done, “Baby Leaping” would definitely not be allowed.

My son Jordan and his class (P1) were doing a topic on Christianity and last week, they were talking about baptism. The class were to act out a baptism ceremony, Jordan was chosen to play the minister and had to dress appropriately. We managed to get hold of a “Dog Collar” (Clerical collar) and put it on him.

Whenever I see someone wearing a “Dog Collar” I immediately think of STV’s “Late Call” which was a five minute religious slot just before the late film or before close-down - Yes, TV stations, all three of them used to shut down at night back in the 70’s. In “Late Call” a miserable looking priest or minister would drone on for what seemed like half an hour.

The Scottish comedian Rikki Fulton as the “Rev. I.M. Jolly” parodied these programs with his “Last Call” sketches which were hilarious. The picture shows Jordan (Rev. I.M. Jordie) with “dog collar” and the “late Call”/”Last Call” background.

In case anyone is interested the sombre theme music used for “late Call”/”Last Call” is from Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony the 2nd Movement.

Top Ten Toast Toppings

1 Marmalade
2 Jam
3 Cheese
4 Baked Beans
5 Honey
6 Butter on its own
7 Chocolate Spread
8 Marmite
9 Sardines
10 Bananas

My personal favourite is Bovril which is a bit like Marmite, but it didn’t get a mention.

Gracie, as you probably will have gathered, loves toast. Carrie gave me these pictures which were taken on Saturday.

Do you know there’s even been a song about it? Yes, 30 years ago (I know - before most of you were even born) Paul Young with a group called streetband had a top 20 hit with “Toast”, probably the worst record he or anyone else, for that matter, has ever recorded. Sorry to do this to you but I managed to find the song so if you’re brave enough play the clip.

I know I posted a thing for “Mother’s Day” back in March but that was the UK one. Anyway there’s no reason why you cant celebrate it twice along with all the US mums. You deserve two celebrations - at least.

I read this article in “Our Daily Bread” which is a Christian devotional booklet, and I thought I would share it with you all.

On Mother’s Day, 2007, British national television ran an intriguing story. Peggy Bush’s daughter had died, so Peggy absorbed the responsibility of caring for her daughter’s three children while her son-in-law worked. Then, tragically, her son-in-law also died. With both parents gone, Peggy took her three grandchildren in and raised them as if they were her own.

In a world where wrong is glamorized and the lurid is presented as appealing, we seldom hear of the good things that happen. Yet this woman’s love and sacrifice were recognized, acknowledged, and honoured as the nation took note of her as Britain’s “Best Mum” for 2007.

Today is Mother’s Day in the US. Most of the efforts, sacrifices, and expressions of love our mothers have given us will not be the lead story on the news. Their recognition will be more personal. But what matters is not the scope of the appreciation but its genuineness.

On this special day, may we thank God for the mothers who have moulded our hearts. As we honour them, we fulfil the truth of Proverbs 31:28, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Bill Crowder - Our Daily Bread 11/05/08

In the mid-sixties a doll was launched in the UK called “Tiny Tears” it was unique in that it piddled and it cried real tears. It didn’t really cry real tears it cried tap water tears. Maybe we could get the manufacturers under the trade descriptions act? What you did was filled its bottle with water, fed it, and then tears would flow and it would piddle. Before you start thinking that I’m wierd to know so much about dolls I do have two sisters and now have two daughters so I’ve seen plenty of dolls.

The reason I mention all this is that I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon. Every time I feed Gracie her bottle her eye waters, a tiny tear runs down her cheek. I dab it dry with her bib but another one appears. You will see it bellow in the pictures I took this morning. She’s hasn’t been crying and it always happens. Strange or what I’m sure someone will come up with a logical explanation to this mystery.

Today Gracie’s Uncle Jordan was six. That’s the quickest six years that I can ever remember having. Here he is with two of his favourite presents, Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story. The film was out seven years before Jordan was born but it’s all new to Jordan, he loves it, and the second one. We all had a Chinese followed by birthday cake. Gracie had chips (she loves chips) and prawn crackers. Its been a good day. Happy Birthday Uncle Jordan!

What great weather we’ve been having over the past few days, could this be the start of summer? With temperatures of 21°C - 70°F since Monday and the weather forecast is for more of the same. But remember the old saying, “Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May is out” which means roughly something like, “don’t put away your winter clothes until the end of May”. Gracie, however, has disregarded this old proverb and has got out her summer dress and doesn’t she look pretty and cool.

What terrific weather we had today for the May Day holiday. I took Carrie and Gracie to Greenan shore which is at Doonfoot, just outside Ayr. Here’s a picture of the beach with Greenan castle in the background, I’ve also put in an arial map of the area. Below is a birds eye view (I love playing about with microsoft live search maps)of where we were. X marks the spot where Gracie got her first experience of sand. She loved it and was not pleased when Carrie picked her up to bring her back to the car.

Here’s Gracie on the sand.

Gracie was back in the aisle yesterday but this time it wasn’t shopping it was wedding. Her other papa ‘papa Brown’ Alan’s dad was getting married at Cumnock Old Church. Alan said she was very well behaved.

Before Gracie left for the wedding she was posing in her new dress, so here are some pictures.

Carrie thought I was off my trolley again when I whipped the phone out and started snapping away in Tesco the other day. I needed some baby supplies and its the first time I’ve seen Gracie sitting up in the shopping trolley. I took her picture in the trolley before but she was in her baby seat. So here she is - Gracie in the baby aisle.

For a change I had loads of stuff I wanted to post on the blog but my broadband wasn’t working (server down) for almost a whole week so you’re going to get it all at once. I’m seriously thinking about changing my sevice provider as I’m not happy with them. I won’t mention their name but it’s a fruit, a colour, and it rhymes with no other word. I had to go back to dial-up to check my email, Man! I’d forgotten how slow it was.

But enough about that. Carrie gave me a clip I thought I’d share with you. You’ve seen the happy face, now listen to the happy giggle. Yes, she is laughing. Gillian (my wife) thought it sounded more like crying. Sorry the quality isn’t that great it was recorded on Carrie’s mobile.

Carrie transferred some pictures that she’d taken of Gracie over the past couple of weeks from her phone to my laptop. I put them into a movie clip and I knew right away what background music I was going to use. I’ve used a song by ‘Van the Man’ (Van Morrison) called “Have I Told You Lately” from the album Avalon Sunset.

I Love You - These three words are spoken too often without sincerity but they are not spoken enough especially by us macho - big boys don’t cry - men. But since I became a Christian over 17 years ago now, my heart has changed, in fact the Bible speaks of being given a heart of flesh in exchange for a heart of stone. Now, sometimes when I see my wife, family members, children, grandchild, I’m filled with such feelings of love for them that it is quite overwhelming, (and no, I’m not at that ‘funny age’) now I don’t have a problem saying to those I love the words “I Love you” and I never get tired of hearing them said to me.

Have you told your wife/husband, mum/dad, papa/gran, son/daughter, brother/sister, grandson/granddaughter, or God lately? Tell them while you still can.

I was talking on the phone to Gracie’s GREAT! auntie Isy (ma wee sis). Isy checks out the blog most days and she said she was looking at the blog the other day and was not impressed with “The Wiggles”. I mean, come on, you cannot be serious, not impressed with “The Wiggles”. When it comes to children’s TV my sister is more ‘old school’, even older school ’cause it was her birthday yesterday. So just for you Isy, you should remember this 70’s classic.

I was looking at the ’swing pictures’ this morning and it just dawned on me that Gracie hasn’t got her shoes on. I’m waiting for all the accusations of neglect and mail telling me what a terrible papa I am so before this happens let me explain - Gracie will not keep her shoes on, or her socks for that matter. She either kicks them off right away or she tries to eat them (her socks also get this treatment) for a while and then just pulls them off. On the short distance from the house to the car she can manage to lose a shoe. The other week Carrie arrived home with Gracie minus one shoe which she had kicked off while at Tesco. Carrie went back for it the next day and had to wait an hour until someone from security went to fetch it. Perhaps we should change her name to “Gracierella”!

Another new experience today for Gracie was her first go on a swing. Gillian and the kids are on holiday from school/work so Gillian decided to take Jordan and Hope to the park to tire them out (well that was the plan). At first we let Gracie sit in her buggy and watch Auntie Hope and Uncle Jordan swinging. She was laughing and squealing at them so we let her have a go. She really enjoyed herself, she was just getting into the swing of it when we had to leave.

We all have new experiences every now and again, some good, some not so good. When you’re a baby these new experiences come fast and furious. Gracie took her first car journey in a proper car seat yesterday. Up until now she has been in a rear facing baby seat thing so I couldn’t see her she couldn’t see me and she couldn’t see out the window her only experience of the journey was the motion of the car. But now I glance round and I see her and she sees me and she is able to look out and see where we are going now too, She loves it.

When my youngest kids (Jordan and Hope) were babies their favourites were “The Teletubbies“, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po. Barney was also a favourite of Hopes. But my favourites were “The Wiggles“, the kids thought they were OK but they were bottom of their list but guess what? Gracie loves them, what taste that girls has got. I’ve tried her with the other stuff but she hardly looks at the screen. Stick on a Wiggles video and its a different story, Anthony, Murray, Greg, and Jeff have got her hooked, its got everything with characters like Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword.

I can’t even get her to look round at me when it’s on. Hard to believe these crazy Aussies have been doing this for 17 years. Gracie’s mum was three when the Wiggles first appeared on our screens and now she’s 20, its her 20th birthday today actually, happy birthday Carrie!

It’s Good Friday today. I know that some people think the reason it’s called ‘Good Friday’ is because you get a day off work. I get a day off watching Gracie because Carrie is off work but that’s not the reason. The reason it is called ‘Good Friday’ is because it is the day Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. What can possibly be good about that, I hear you say. The disciples thought the same thing,
“Good grief! What are they doing”
“Good grief! That’s horrific”
“Good grief! How can people be so cruel”
“Good grief! They’ve killed him”
They didn’t know that he would rise from the dead on Sunday. They had forgotten what the prophet Isaiah had written about 700 years prior to this event: “He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6)
That’s what is so Good about this “Good Friday” that’s the “Good News”, that’s “The Gospel”

The Gospel in a Nutshell

The Apostle Paul put it like this:
“Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it-unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me-that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.”(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

A number of years ago someone I know put a Bryan Adams song to a clip of Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth”. Have a look and may you by faith, receive this ‘Good News’ this Good Friday.

I got Gracie a “Baby Walker” and tried her in it for the first time today. Well it’s more a “Baby Dangler” at the moment because her feet don’t touch the floor, she just dangles there.
She loves it as you’ll see in the pictures.
What a great invention the “Baby Walker” is. I don’t know who invented them but they’ve been around for almost 500 years.

It is illegal to have one in Canada because of the number of accidents. I think they are pretty safe as long as you supervise the child properly and if there are stairs in your house then make sure you have a saftey gate.

Gracie’s uncle Jordan has lost his first tooth and he is so proud that his BIG teeth will be coming soon. We will put the tooth in a box and keep it with his other baby stuff. We have a friend who has kept all her children’s baby teeth, the children are now 17 & 19 years old.

Some information gleaned from the internet for anyone interested: “The first tooth falls out at around 6 to 7 years. It’s usually the lower central incisor, (”They got that bit right”) the first to appear in babyhood. Baby teeth don’t actually fall out; they’re pushed out. The adult tooth below presses so hard on the baby tooth above that the baby tooth’s roots dissolve and its crown has nothing to tie it down.”

“My tooth fell out and left a space
So big my tongue can touch my face,
And every time I smile I show
The place where something used to grow.
I miss my tooth as you can guess
But now I have to brush one less!”

It’s Mother’s Day (Mothering Sunday), well it is if you’re in the UK, I know that different countries have different dates but I’m here in the UK, Scotland to be precise. It’s Carries first Mother’s Day, I hope Gracie has bought her something nice.

When God sent his Son Jesus into the world He entrusted Him into the care of a mum. If that’s not an endorsement of motherhood what is?

I just want to take this opportunity of telling all you mums out there that you are very special.

My wife Gillian has a poster on the kitchen wall which says:

Mums, you are all these and so much more.

To all you parents and grandparents out there - I’ve just discovered a way to save you thousands at Christmas and birthdays. It’s a new interactive toy Gracie loves it and you can get some enjoyment out of it too.

First buy yourself a packet of Wotsits. Next eat the Wotsits. Then give empty Wotsits packet to child. It is guaranteed to keep them enthralled for hours or your money back.

Gracie’s Aunty Hope celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday. After school we had a small party. Why does everything have to be in Barbie© pink? We had piny cups, pink plates, pink napkins, even the icing on the cake was pink and to top it all off her big sister even got her a Barbie© doll. She also got a boy doll that pees so she had great fun getting this doll to pee everywhere except its potty. Hmm, that’s just like a real baby actually.

Here’s my little valentine, she’s got little hearts on her dummy (pacifier) and little hearts on her bib and in case you want to know what’s written on her bib it says, “100% Adorable”, which is 100% true.

We are now into week two and I don’t feel too weak. I have to say that week one wasn’t too bad the only difficulties I faced were nothing to do with looking after Gracie but whilst doing that, looking after my wife Gillian who came down with some virus on Tuesday night and has been off work since, (she goes back on Wednesday) and our daughter Hope who was not well for a couple of days.

Allan came to pick up Gracie last week and before he left I got these pictures she looks so big when she’s standing and doesn’t need too much support.

Carrie only phoned me once today (she must be getting more trusting) but at the very moment I picked up the phone Gracie started crying and Carrie started panicking, “what’s wrong with Gracie?” she asked “nothing, she’s just crying”. Bad timing there Gracie, I’ll probably get four phone calls tomorrow. Gracie has been very good today, I’m starting to get into the swing of things now, it’s all coming back to me.

I took these pictures of Gracie this afternoon she is almost ready to take off on a crawl as soon as she realises how to push off with her knees there will be no stopping her she’ll be crawling everywhere.

Well I survived day one, it’s over and it wasn’t half as bad as I feared. I picked Carrie and Gracie  up at 7.00am and then Carrie went for her bus to work. It used to be me phoning Carrie to ask how Gracie was and Carrie taking pictures for me. Now Carrie is phoning me and I’m taking pictures for her. Gracie only cried a couple of times and I always remember the advice I was given a long long time ago, If they cry it will be one of three things:

• They need fed
• They need changed
• They need sleep

I took Carrie and Gracie back home at 5.00pm. Tomorrow will be easier and by the end of the week I’ll be into a routine. Here are some of today’s highlights.

Playing time again.

 Sleeping time again.

Laughing time again.

Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and now Windows Vista. When I was younger, so much younger than today (Hey that’s a good line for a song - been done, ah well!), when I was younger the only windows I was interested in were either the round window, the square window, or the arched window. For those who never experienced the excitement when asked to “guess what window we’re going to see through today?” you don’t know what you missed. I am of course talking “Playschool” which was on at 4:20 on BBC1.

With characters like Jemima the rag doll, Humpty, Big Ted, Little Ted, and not forgetting Hamble the doll, “Playschool” was compulsive viewing for most youngsters back then. click here for “Playschool” trivia

I wonder which window we’ll see Gracie through today?

It’s been a whole week since I put anything on the blog, I must apologise for that, but you know what they say, “Better late than never”. It’s not because there hasn’t been anything happening the opposite in fact, there’s been too much happening but hopefully life will settle down to a more sedate pace now.

Gracie has had a touch of eczema but after a week of various creams it seems to be disappearing. Other than that she is doing really well. Carrie starts back at work two weeks on Monday and then it’s full time “Papahood” for me. I’m looking forward to it and I’m not looking forward to it.

I’ve been trying out a new camera and put together this clip of Gracie. Uncle Jordan and Auntie Hope also make an appearance. The background music is called ‘Leftbank 2′ by the Lance Gambit Trio. You’ve probably never heard of them but you may recognise the tune. It’s been used to advertise Loans, pizza’s, rice pudding, and VW’s but I remember it from a T.V programme for deaf children called “Vision On” from the early 70’s. Life seems more sedate just listening to it.

Here are the last pictures of Gracie for this year 2007 excuse the picture quality, Carrie has just got a new phone and the camera settings need adjusted.

This year, like most years, for me and for most people, has been a rollercoaster ride of happenings, hurts, and happiness. Tomorrow we step into a new year with all that it has in store for us, good and bad. I’m not one for making New Year resolutions but this coming year 2008 by God’s grace I will try to be a better friend, a better brother, a better husband, a better dad, and a better papa.

I would like to leave you with the lines of a poem by Minnie Louise Harkins (1875-1957) which was included in King George VI Christmas broadcast in 1939

‘I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.”‘

May that Almighty Hand guide and uphold us all.

Carrie sent these pictures earlier today. In the first one Gracie is finally getting to grips with her Christmas presents and in the other one we see the ‘Happy Hoodie’. David Cameron the Conservative party leader gave a speech some time ago where we were encouraged to, “Hug a Hoodie”. Well here’s one happy hoodie I don’t mind hugging.

Well folks, it’s Christmas eve, only one more sleep until Christmas. I’m looking forward to Christmas, watching the kids tearing open presents. I still have to build some of them first and I can’t say I’m looking forward to that bit. Carrie will phone me to come and get her and Alan and Gracie early tomorrow. My first Christmas as a papa, Carrie and Alan’s first Christmas as parents and Gracie’s very first Christmas. It’s going to be a great day. I’m not sure if I’ll get time to post anything tomorrow so I would like to wish everyone out there a very happy and peaceful Christmas and to quote Tiny Tim “God bless us, every one!”

I will leave you with a song from my daughter Hope age 3, I recorded it on my mobile so excuse the video quality.