Have you been to garethsblog.com yet?

NO?

Well, why not?
I have moved my blog to http://garethsblog.com and all new posts are there.

The latest posts are:

• Our Little Girl is Off To School
• Our Holiday on the Llyn Peninsula
• Children Pick Up on Everything

Please go and check them out.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Comedy Show

Gemma and I have got tickets to go and see Russell Howard at the Albert Halls in Bolton in November. It’ll be the first time that either of us has gone to see some live comedy.

We decided to go and see him after seeing him on BBC’s “Mock the Week.” I think he is absolutely hilarious, and we are both looking forward to it. All of the regular guests on the program are really funny, and we wouldn’t mind going to see any of them.

This will probably the first time that we will have had chance to go out since Liam was born, so Nana Mandy has kindly volunteered to babysit Ellie and Liam.

The Birth Of Liam

As previously mentioned our son was born into the world on 1st July. Here is the story of what happened.

It is now a week since our son, Liam was born. So, I thought it was about time that I shared with you all the story of how he came into the world.

Fathers Day Present

Finally my Fathers Day present has arrived. (A little late, but that’s the UK postal system for you!)

I opened the parcel and was greeted with a few drips of water.

“What the hell is that?” I thought.

Inside was a plastic box which I promptly opened to find out where the water was coming from. I wasn’t expecting what I saw.

It was a piece of grass.

On closer inspection though, this was no ordinary piece of grass.

Grand Slam Turf

This was a piece of turf from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. A piece of grass that Wales had played on during their triumphant Six Nations Grand Slam Campaign in 2008.

This was something very different and a present I’d never have thought of.

It will now take pride of place in our garden, in its own little pot. We can’t have it mixing with all that English grass!!!

Thank you very much Ellie, and Liam, as it arrived after he was born! x x

Happy Birthday Gemma

I just want to wish my wife a very Happy Birthday.

I won’t reveal her age (as I’m a gentleman – Honest!!) But I just want to say that she means the world to me, and is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I love you x x x x

An Announcement

We are very pleased to announce the birth of our son, Liam David.

He was born at 6.26am on 1st July 2008, and weighed in at 7lb 6oz.

Both mother and baby are doing well.

Further details to follow when we’re not feeling so tired

Gemma’s Pregnancy – Week 38

There is not long at all to go now.

Within the next couple of weeks we will have a new addition to our family. It is not going to soon enough for Gemma. She is really struggling now with her bump. It is quite difficult to move around now.

Gemma has had a few appointment with the midwife lately to check on the progress of her pregnancy. Everything is going well, with the midwives giving Gemma a clean bill of health. They are predicting that our little boy is going to be a bit bigger than Ellie was when she was born. Not really want Gemma wants to hear.

We are looking forward to his arrival, whenever that may be, and welcoming him into our family.

I am getting quite nervous now, the anticipation of when things are going to kick off is started to get to me now. So many things are going through my head. Will I be with Gemma when she goes into labour? Will I get home from work in time? Will we get to the hospital in time? How will it all go?

So many questions, that will only be answered in the fullness of time.

Ellie’s Birthday (Weekend)

Ellie had her 3rd birthday this weekend. It really is hard to believe that she was born three years ago. The time seems to have gone so quickly.

On Saturday, which was her actual birthday, we had to wake her as Ellie was being a lazy bones and decided that she would sleep in. After waking, Ellie came into our room where we gave her some of her cards and presents.

“Oh, ” she would say each time she got an unopened present. “What’s inside?”

“You need to open it to find out,” we replied.

After that we all got up and came downstairs for some breakfast, and also to give Ellie her main present, a battery powered jeep.

Ellie had a small ride in it and wasn’t very impressed. She couldn’t work out how to stop as she careered across the garden towards her trampoline, getting out and declaring that she didn’t like it. Hopefully she will grow more accustomed to it and have another go in the near future.

Once Ellie had had her presents we made a trip to the supermarket to do the weekly shop and also get the food for the party. After returning from our shopping trip, the three of us went to Knowsley Safari Park.

We had a great time. We were pretty fortunate with the weather too. Ellie even had a go at driving around.

After our visit to Knowsley, we headed back home, but first we had to make a stop at Wigan train station to pick up Gemma’s brother, Shaun. Ellie was very excited as she loves going to see the trains.

Once Shaun was safely loaded into the car we headed home, where Gemma set about making Ellie’s birthday cake. She had done a trial run the previous weekend and it looked and tasted brilliant. This one was no different.

On Sunday, we had a BBQ party, and we were very,very lucky with the weather. During the previous week the weather forecasts had not been too promising, so it was with some trepidation that I lit the BBQ shortly before our guests were to arrive. And very soon after I had lit it the first spots of rain began to fall.

“At least I’ve got a waterproof coat,” I thought. But luckily for us all, it was only a brief shower and the sun soon showed his face to make it a gorgeous day. Gemma and I were very thankful for this as it would have been a bit of a tight squeeze trying to get everyone inside the house.

Shortly, after the BBQ was lit, guests began to arrive. My sister Lynwen and her husband Geth were first to arrive with their two boys, Dafydd and Aled. Next to roll up were Nana Mandy and Taido, with Carl, Craig and Ricky. We had a few other guests who came to see the birthday girl.

Once all of our guests arrived, Ellie began to open the mountain of presents that had been bought for her, while I got on with cooking the huge amount of food that we’d bought. (We bought way too much!) Gemma gave me a helping hand with all of the salads and extra bits and pieces. After serving up and everyone tucking into the vast amount of food, it was nice to sit down for a few minutes in the sunshine.

Ellie in her “Stephanie from LazyTown” wig	Me slaving away at the BBQ
Party Guests in the Garden	Blowing her candles out (for the 2nd time)

Once everyone had finished their food and given it chance to settle, it was time for Ellie to blow out her candles. The cake was brought in to a chorus of “Happy Birthday”, and before it was finished and the photos were taken, Ellie had already blown out the candles. Cheeky girl – no patience. So we had to do it all over again so we could get it on “film”.

It was a really good day and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. We did had one minor mishap when a stray gust of wind blew our parasol over right on top of my sister. Luckily she escaped with just a bump on the head and a bit of a sore neck. Sorry!

Thanks to everyone for coming. And a big thank you from Ellie for all of her presents