Emily's Christening Gallery

Thought I'd post a few pictures from Emily's Christening at St Luke's Parish Church in Thurnby on 17th December. The one above is George and myself with Emily after the service. You can also see me, Helen, Rosie and Emily in church, a proud father with his daughter .... and "Girls Aloud" - Emily in the pub afterwards with sister Rosie, mummy, granny and great granny!

"I shot the sheriff"

Move over Elton John, Rosie May McCarthy is knocking on the door to stardom - not! Here she is entertaining the family on boxing day. When she shouts into the microphone she really does sound like she is singing "I shot the sheriff" - the old Bob Marley song. Mind you the automatic rhythm track on the organ is starting to grate a little now.

What shall I play with first?

Rosie enjoyed her first real Christmas although at 21 months she isn't really sure what is going on - although she has clocked that people keep bringing her presents. We put chocolate coins in her advent calendar so she is used to unwrapping chocolate and she was very upset on boxing day when no body could unwrap a smartie for her! She soon got used to the taste though.

Christmas Day - Missing Michael in New York

Mike - here are the presents ready to open ... Rosie hasn't seen any of theses yet ... so you are the first! Hope it's not too cold in New York and you are enjoying your trip. Speak later. Dad.

Grandpa's knee

Poor old Granpa. There he was holding Emily when Rosie came downstairs from her lunchtime sleep and also wanted a piece of the action. What is a Grandpa supposed to do? Thats absolutely right - give in!

A tribute to Mick

Sad news today. Mick Beesley died in the night. Mick was my life saver in hospital in 2000. I'd had three heart operations in quick succession and spent 3 months in hospital. By co-incidence Mick had an infection in the same valve as me. He was in the bed opposite and just looked after me - I was getting divorced at the time so with the operations as well I was really just ready to give up on life. Mick had other ideas - he got me up and about the hospital, kept my spirits up and helped me recover, probably more than the drugs injected straight into my heart did! Since then he came to my wedding, 50th birthday, christening .. all the big events. In fact if it wasn't for Mick there would be no Rosie and Emily - or me. I'll miss him very much - haven't been so sad since my mum and dad died.

Yet another first!

Yes here it is - another first. This time it's Rosie enjoying her first proper Christmas party at her playgroup in Bushby. As you can see from the photo and the food on her plate as compared to the girl next to her she hasn't got the whole stuffing yourself at Christmas thingy yet. Still I am sure it will come.... I have just bought her some chocolate coins for her advent calendar!

Phil and Teds first big adventure

This is me with Rosie, Emily, Phil and Ted. Phil and Ted is the make of super dooper push chair we got from New Zealand for the girls. Emily is just big enough to sit up now - so we have set it up as a double buggy. Neat, isn't it? Saves a lot of space on a normal double buggy and you don't have to push everyone else off the pavement. Plus it fits round the aisles in local shops. Great.

First food!

Every picture tells a story so I thought I would let you see two! Here is Emily having her first food - ever. Helen mixed up some baby rice and then offered her one spoonful. As you can see she was a little unsure. But then she couldn't take here eyes off the spoon or Helen. She absolutely yummed it up, grabbing the spoon all the time. Rosie, meanwhile, had some pork chop, veg of the day and some cider mash. Lovely!

A slinky little number

Isn't Emily growing like mad? She can just reach out and grip things now - with a little bit of concentration. This is her with Rosie's new slinky which she got in Ormskirk. Sadly it's still there - the slinky not the town! Rosie had great fun with it and even took it out to the market for a drag along the street behind her.

Forever blowing bubbles

It's alright ... don't worry, Emily isn't turning into a West Ham fan! I haven't seen her for nearly three days and here she is in a cafe with her mum blowing bubbles for England. Missing her and Rosie something rotten. Still when I am driving back from Liverpool this afternoon and they are crying in the back of the car I may change my mind.