happy halloween!

Ruby's first halloween, and she had to have a costume.... i know it is mean of me to dress my beautiful little girl up like a little devil, but it sure is cute!!!!

puppy turns 4!

it has been a tough year for gratch, but we still love him very very much! for his birthday he got a new bed, which he doesn't like that much, and puppy treats! of course he got a long round of frisbee and a walk, his 2 favorite things.

Happy Birthday pooch!

stay-at-home mom?!?

for most of my life i did not want to have my own children, heck i didn't even want to have a husband! but here i am, a SAHM living in a small village in Scotland. who would have thought it? not me, and not many of the people that i have met in my life. i hear it constantly, "you're a mom???" or "I never pictured you with a family!" i take these little comments as compliments, because i know no other way to react. i mean i have done a good job of putting the visage of independent female out there, and hopefully some people have taken some strength from that. but some people who know me longer -or even better- probably saw this phase of my life coming. i have loved being a teacher and here i am teaching my own child everyday. i have often wanted to make the world a better place, and now i have an even bigger passion for that because this is the world that my daughter will live.
everyday is a new experience and a new challenge. right when i think i got this job cracked, something happens and i realize that being a mom is like being a high school teacher, every day is different and insightful. i am really lucky to be able to stay at home and watch my baby grow. I now have more respect than i ever had before for working moms and single moms.... i have no idea how they do it! I am so fortunate to have a husband that works so hard for me and ruby!!! now if only i could get gratch to listen better, life would be perfect!

anniversary

we went away to Loch Tay in Perthshire for our 1st anniversary. we love it up there! it is very beautiful with the water and the forest- not to mention easy to get to from Dunbar. It takes about 3 hours to get to, a perfect amount of time in the car for Ruby and for Gratch.
while there, Ruby got to meet some of her relatives that live near the Loch, including her Great Great Aunt Margaret. Ruby also went on her first hike in the woods at Drummond Hill, although she happened to sleep through most of it.
david and i can not believe all that has happened in our first year of marriage and wonder how we are going to top it this next year..... all in all we have had a very eventful past 3 years, maybe it will start to calm down now and we can become an old married couple with a nice relaxing life! somehow i doubt it!

2 months old

people are not kidding when they tell you that it goes by so fast! ruby is doing great! at her last check-up she weighed over 10 lbs!
fall has set in, and i am resigning myself to the fact that i will not get a summer this year. with this kink in the weather, gratch's coat has decided to shed now (i mean he was made for australia not scotland!) and some of my flowers have given up on ever blooming. and all those cute summer clothes that Ruby has, well i will pack them away and hope that someone i know has a little girl that can use them! maybe autumn will stick around for a long time, it is my favorite time of the year after all.....
we have put up a few videos if you are interested in seeing them, here is the link: http://gedblair.blip.tv/

6 weeks!

Ruby had her 6 weeks check-up today and she is doing very well. She is now up to 9 lbs 1 oz, and is 24 inches long! This past week she has lost most of her black hair and it looks as if she will have lighter brown hair like her Daddy.
This past week Aunt Iveris came to visit for a few days! It was a nice visit and I think Ivy liked to be able to relax a bit and get to know Ruby. Right now our visitors calendar is completely open, so if you are wanting to visit Scotland, let us know! We only ask that you come prepared to cook us some good food, we aren't too picky.....
Next month is our 1st anniversary and the 4 of us are going up to Loch Tay for a few days. We have rented a cottage and will spend a long weekend hiking and enjoying the scenery. David might get to do a little fishing, and I might get to do a little kayaking if the weather cooperates. Gratch is just looking forward to rolling around in some new "things"! Ruby says she will be content as long as the milk keeps flowing!

1 month old!

We can not believe that Ruby has been with us for 1 whole month! It has been an exhausting time, a fun time, an emotional time, but most importantly the best of times! having a baby does take getting used to and your life is changed forever, but it is all worth it.
This week marked Ruby's first big shopping trip into the city. She helped us pick up food for her puppy, go get some bike accessories (for david's new bike-he is getting fit), shop for mom & dad food, and then hit the baby store. We have also been enjoying walks with other babies in the neighbourhood, and taking gratch to play frisbee in the park. All in all, we are getting used to this baby thing!