Paul's first birthday

Paul is 12 months old!

Paul's first birthday cake--I made a funfetti cake with vanilla frosting and chocolate sprinkles

George helped Paul blow his candle out

Paul instantly knew what to do with his cake!

Paul enjoyed throwing his clothes around--even after he opened other gifts, he kept going back to the clothes!

George picked out this book to give Paul and showed him all of the lift-the-flap pages inside

Paul loves his Moomin books from Aunt Julie & Debbie

He got this lovely Big Jigs shape sorter from Janette & her family

George picked out and signed this birthday card for Paul

Paul got this postbox from Aunt Tissa & Uncle Tim--he loves it!

 

Eleven months

 

Paul is 11 months old today!

Our first Christmas tree in our new home!

The boys at Caffe Nero

Mailing off Christmas cards

Birthday bratwurst with Carly & Zoe!

I made a devil's food cake with salted caramel frosting

George's Christmas jumper day at school

We dressed up for the children's church service

The Christkindlmarkt was cancelled this year, so I tried to recreate it at home with imported Bratwurst, rotkraut and sauerkraut, fried potatoes, hot honey mead, and Austrian polka music! It was so much fun!

I made Gingerbread from scratch this year and I do not recommend it! The kits are way easier and work better! It took a lot of icing to keep this baby from falling over. I will say, though, that it tasted delicious as we ate it over the following weeks--it didn't dry out or get hard.

Paul gummed down some gingerbread cookies while we decorated them

We started giving Paul multigrain Cheerios as a finger food and he loves them!

George made this Nativity scene with his Wow toys and an Ilkley Brewery gift box

On Christmas Eve, we watched Elf

Paul opening puzzles from grand-mère

Richard and I both got Wellies for Christmas and they have been our most used presents--they're brilliant!

Paul fell asleep during the present opening, so he had some more saved for the next day

I love the look on his face--it's just like when Grandpa used to say "Oh gee!" when he opened presents

I got Paul these cute teethers and pram toys that are like mini-versions of classic Fisher Price toys

Paul got this classic peg & hammer bench from Aunt Julie & Debbie--he loves it!

Even after all of the presents, he still loves playing with the vacuum

Stockings on Christmas morning!

We read Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in November, and George was thrilled to get a Wonka bar with a golden ticket in his stocking!

George got a Bumblebee Transformer from Santa--and Monster Munch!

Biscuit's Christmas stocking

Paul's first Christmas stocking!

We got Biscuit a new scratching pad--her old one was really torn up and worn out

Christmas dinner

Boxing Day walk

We walked up to Farnley and across to Newall Carr Road--it had gorgeous views of the countryside and lots of sheep!