Happy First Birthday Emma!

What an action packed weekend! On Saturday we had a barbeque and lots of lovely people came to wish Emma a happy birthday. Helen and I were dashing about cooking and talking and didn't take many photos leaving our blog rather bare. If you good blog readers could forward us some of your photos I'd be most grateful!

The photos we have to share show Helen preparing special cakes wishing Emma a happy birthday, and one of Paul and Becky on the bench next to me with their son Joel who is a little younger than Emma. Cousin Rosie played with Emma lots, much to Emma's delight.

The Cyberman turned up and scared everyone. Turns out it was Billy with a mask. When Rob put the mask on it turned out all the cyberman wanted was "a nice cuppa" - still in an evil distorted voice though.

Our neighbours also came round for a chat and a drink. Below are Dud and Cindy watching Emma having her tea.

Here are some shots from earlier in the week. Emma is getting to grips with feeding herself with a spoon. Still a very messy business!



This morning Emma enjoyed playing with the balloons from the night before. Click here to see a video. Jim and Emma came down from Stroud to join our barbeque on Saturday and brought a present - a pull along clacking dinosaur. Emma was intrigued by it and had a pull.

Here she is attacking the enormous pile of presents on the table.

She received her first lottery ticket from Susie. She missed out on the jackpot unfortunately. Next we unwrapped a lovely Gap dress from Becky and Paul. You can see her in it later on.


Jane and Jasper had brought lots of goodies from Granny and Grandad Shallcross. A wooden Noah's Ark that she spent ages playing with. When she wasn't pulling tissues out of the box of course.

A package came from Uncle Dave and Auntie Lisa in Kent. It was a lovely Minnie Mouse dressing gown. Here she is modelling it.

Here she is playing with some squeaky eggs from Jane from work, and opening some fun books from Mike and Lin.



One amazing gift was the little bench that Rob and Becky got her. It's so sweet and they even had a plaque engraved saying Emma's Bench!

Auntie Jane made some lovely bunting. It spells out Emma's name in pastel shades. It's going to make lots of blog appearances in the future!

We had 8 for lunch today as Nanna, Becky, Jon and Shirley and Rob and Leila came to celebrate. We had Chicken Merengue in the garden. Nanna had got for Emma a bubble making machine. It filled the whole garden with bubbles.



I gave some encouragement by showing Emma how to blow and pop the bubbles.

We had to turn it off after one too many bubbles went in her eye.

Rob and Leila got Emma a super ride along bus. It makes lots of different noises and the little peoples heads go from side to side. Emma loved it!


We left it until only a week before to organise the parties as we were worried it might all be too much for Emma. We were amazed at how she coped with it all. She dashed around with the older children and semmed to have boundless energy. She normally sleeps for an hour or two at 1pm but she did without both days. We had lots of sun on Saturday for the barbeque and Sunday was dry but cloudy. The forecast had said showers on both days so we were very lucky!