Feb 1st News:

We had a great holiday to Dallas and got to see quite a few people. Paul got to meet my cousin who is also an economist (and lives in DC) and Ailsa got to meet my cousin's little girls - who loved the fact that they have a cousin (she's closest in age with the youngest, Gracie, who turned one a month or so before Christmas).

Ailsa loved Julie's sons - Tyler and Dillon...and I think the boys thought she was funny (well, it isn't like she was going after their toys).  The boys would make silly faces at her and she would coo and nod her head up and down. At one point I saw Tyler touch Ailsa's head...touch it gently again...then start to give her 'noogies' (rub her head with his knuckle - a 'big kid' thing) - yes, at that point I stepped in. 

While staying with my dad and Ruth, I was introduced to the game Mastermind. First Paul and my dad played and they each solved their puzzles in 6 turns, so Paul decided to challenge the 'women'....so I then went on to solve my puzzle in 4 turns, which Ruth topped by solving hers in 3 goes (heh heh heh). Dad and Ruth had a stuffed elephant that Ailsa loved. I've since bought her a small pink one from the Manhattan Toy Company (they have a lot of lovely animals, etc - but most of it is labelled from the age of 3) .

Ailsa was great on the flights and we drove straight up to Leicestershire for New Years after we landed (well - we stopped home and re-packed). Ailsa then  got sick...bless...but she was smiling in between coughing, etc. - she actually threw up on New Years Day (might be doing that again about 17 years from now) - but didn't seem phased by it. She recovered quite quickly, but then I went down with it. I'm glad that I had stayed up there in the week after New Years - I kind of just handed Ailsa to Paul's mum to be fed and played with while I went back to bed. At least there was only one day that I was completely out of action. I think I still have a touch of it in my lungs - I didn't get much sleep the other night (not Ailsa's fault) and got the sore throat again...darn it - I must shake this completely.

At least Ailsa gets to spend time with other babies close to her age - and I'm taking advantage of living so close to a 'city farm'. I've started to take her quite often as it is only about a 4-5 minute walk away and there she gets to see cows, sheep, goats, big pigs, ducks, etc.

Ailsa is crawling quite well right now. She started off pulling herself around in November. A little over a week ago she pulled up to her knees using the shower, and last night she started making the motions of trying to get onto her feet from that position - just need to get a bit stronger.

We're also looking at taking an actual holiday this Summer - around Ailsa's birthday - most likely with Paul's parents. I started off looking at Croatia, but ended up looking at Italy. No telling where well end up. It will be fun to see Ailsa with a bucket and spade on a beach. Paul just wants to kick back and relax. I would love a week of no cooking or cleaning - just relaxing and getting to spend some time using big words. 

We're thinking of installing that internet telephone software (Skype). We just need to get around to picking up a microphone, etc. That will make it easier to chat with everyone. Santa even got us a web cam that we can use. We'll keep you posted for when we get it up and running.