This weekend we had M's parents visit to help out with getting the floor laid and of course to play with Fidget! They brought her some lovely new clothes including the lovely flowered hoodie she can be seen sporting below.

The drive fellas turned up on Saturday, but were driven away by rain, but it is looking fantastic already.
The floor is now all down, bar some detailing in the doorways, and Fidget thinks it is fab.

Fidget is 19 weeks old today, her Daddy is home from work and had a great time making Fidget laugh while I took her photo...

It has been really nice having M back. This morning he made us pancakes and realising we had nearly run out of maple syrup he whipped up a concoction from crystallised honey, crystallised golden syrup, molasses and orange and mango juice - few seconds in the microwave and hey presto! The man is a genius!

Update on the drive: new fellas turned up today and started levelling out the sand, as I type it is getting dark but they are still going and most of the bricks are down on our side. They say they will be finished tomorrow.

Now that M has had a good night's sleep and had a day off from DIY, he has been able to regale us with stories of his adventures in China. We also had a wander out to get his photos developed, so here for your interest....

This is the centre bit of the temple of heaven complex. If you look really carefully you can just about see a little boy with his father relieving them selves in the corner of the stairs

The carving is of clouds

The structure was burnt down and re-built so its all very bright and shiny inside. Guess which one is M - he who casts the longest shadow!

M and his shadow on the great wall

M infront of the olympic stadium

Daddy is home! Time for daddy fun....

Grandma Walker is heading home tommorrow and Fidget will be very sad to say goodby to her chum.

We all had great fun today, with Jolly Babies this morning and then swimming in the afternoon.

But we can't wait to see daddy again tommorrow!!!! Hurray for daddy coming home!

You may have noticed a few new features on my blog. Some new functionality has been added and I am trying to test it out. So please do have your say in the poll on what I think we would all agree is the pressing question of the moment.

I am also trying to get a slideshow to work, but I still haven't quite figured it out, but in the meantime for all you dedicated Fidget-Fans I have started a "teamchallis" photo book on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/ though I think it may not be visable for a day or two until authorised (which may be the root of my slideshow issue).

With Fidgets Grandma here, I have finally been able to go and have my hair cut...

...I can see again!!!

Finally got the video to load up!!

Grandad Walker has gone home today, but Grandma is still here. We all enjoyed a trip out to some new shops to have a brisk walk in the wind and rain! But Fidget was nice and cosy in her lovely new outfit bought by Grandma and Grandad.

She really is a wriggler and keen to be up and running about, unfortunately the video I took of her earlier wriggling out of her chair wont load up also - boo.

Photos taken this morning as uncle A was leaving of uncle A, Fidget and drive progress...

Fidget is 18 weeks old today... her dad is away in China, so her Grandma and Grandad have come to visit, and her uncle A popped down for the first time since she was born. I think he noticed quite a difference!

Aunty B was exhibiting her work at the Hereford contemporary craft fair (http://www.craftfair.uk.com/ http://www.rebeccagouldson.co.uk/), so we all went along today. Fidget was very interested in all the crafts, colours and lights, and enjoyed smiling at everyone from the Baby Bjorn and getting plenty of smiles and attention as we went round.

There were lots of tempting and lovely things to buy, I pushed the boat out and bought some badges to adorn my shopping trolly.

The fun continued at home, with her uncle A to entertain Fidget she couldn't be happier

unfortunately the videos I wanted to post of the uncle A fun just wont go, which is a shame.

In other news, after a solitary fella appearing on Thursday afternoon and working until dark preparing ours and next doors drive, this morning a whole bunch of chaps arrived, when we returned home we found much progress had been acheived, the scalpings are all down so it is now just the sand to go down then the bricks. It should all be finished before M's return from China on Wednesday. (Photos to follow).

Today was a much colder day so it was an opportunity for Fidget to try out her proper coat that she was kindly bought.

It has a nice cosy lining and so she was toasty warm in her pram as well as very stylish and pinked up to the max with her pink hat on!

If you are interested, you can follow the link to Mush's blog entry for our Westonbirt day out: http://topflumps.blogspot.com/2007/11/westonbirt-arboretum.html it has some super videos.

You can also see more of Fidget (and her chum mini-Mush) on the postings "suprise visit", "from-pumpkin-to-dunkin", "happy halloween", "mothers meeting" and "yoga".

A good weekend with much achieved, M cleared up lots of little jobs and then today Mr Mush came across with Mush and Mini-Mush to help move our remaining furniture out of storage, so it is great to be reunited with it all again!

We have been trying to encourage Fidget to sit up, her legs are getting strong and she likes to be standing or in her baby bouncer, but seems to dislike sitting and will arch her back to stretch out whenever she is sitting. But this evening she sat for a good while playing with Mr Giraffe, and was pretty good at supporting herself, though it may be awhile till she does it all herself.

If you click on the picture below you should be able to see a gif that was very kindly put together by a friend, that compiles images from Fidgets 17 Fridays so far...

Fidget is 17 weeks old today...

Today we went out to Westonbirt Arboretum with Mush and Mini-Mush. I managed to pack most of Fidget's possessions including several coats and blankets, but forgot my own coat! Fortunately pushing the pram along the paths let me work up enough of a sweat to keep warm.

It was really a lovely day, when we arrived we set out on the "Seasonal Trail" and found a beautiful spot where we all had our lunch.

Fidget and mini-Mush were reasonably blase about the autumn colour and it was Mush and I acting like we'd never seen a pretty tree before, with much ooing, photos and kicking up of leaves.

eventually the fresh air and beauty was all a bit much for Fidget and mini-Mush so we headed back to the cafe for a cup of tea, and not before time as it threw it down!