Izzy's First Bike

As you may or may not know, Claire and Izzy attend a lot of playgroups during the week (our social live seems to have exploded since Izzy came along, although most events now seem to contain sing-alongs, soft toys and lots of mad running about). During one such playgroup (Little Church on Wednesday) Izzy decided that she would learn to ride a bike; well, a tricycle really, and while Claire watched (ready to run over and catch her should she fall) she swung her leg over and started to push herself around, even trying to use the pedals (which did prove a little too hard).

So… behold Izzy’s first bike.

Hopefully she’ll have many hours of fun riding around the garden before building up to a 2-wheeled version.

Claire Robinson Childminding

After a very (very) long time without updating this blog, I've decided to be a little more committed (at least for a short while anyway).

It is with a great cheer that I can finally say that Claire Robinson Childminding is now officially up and running. Claire had the 2 girls she's looking after (along with Izzy of course) for the first time proper this week, and is was a great success. After months of planning and training, reams and reams of paperwork and some vital home (and garden) improvements Claire has launched her business.

I am so proud of the way she has set up her own small business whilst still looking after Izzy so well. I may have helped a little with the more physical side of things (putting up what seemed like a mile of fencing in the garden) but the new business is all down to Claire's drive and commitment.

The girls have now broken up for the summer holidays, and won't be back until the beginning of September (when their teacher mother goes back to work), but this week has been a really big occasion for us.

Izzy's 1st Birthday

It was Isabella's first birthday yesterday, so a big thank you to everyone who sent a card or present for her (thank you cards will soon follow).

We had a really nice day out at the farmyard at Chatsworth. We saw numerous exotic beasts like pigs, chickens, cows and horses. As well as some odd choices for a farm- Guinea Pigs!? After a quick play on the massive adventure playground there, we came back home to have supper - complete with chocolate cake with a '1' candle.

I'll try and get photos to those of you who would like to see some soon.

Rob

Uh oh!

It's started, there was no getting away from it, it was bound to happen - Izzy is crawling!

She has been close to going for a number of weeks now, and last weekend was taking 1 or 2 small shuffles (whilst gently spinning around sideways) but this week she has taken her first big crawl across the floor. It was yesterday at the Little Church group Claire and her attend (why do these things always happen when I'm not around!), she crawled right across the stage (a good 8 or 10 'steps').

We carried on the good work last night and had her crawling along our bed whilst we filmed the event for posterity.

We've already got the fireguard up and clips on the kitchen cupboard doors, but I'm sure she will find some dangerous and unsuitable object that we've missed.

Walking next!

Debut performance

This weekend has been marked by 2 momentous events.

The first was a trip to the cinema for Claire and myself for the first time since before Izzy was born - I think Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith was the last film we went to see! We organised a babysitter (one of Claire's friends) and booked our seats at the beginning of September (Belper's new cinema is so popular that every showing is fully booked weeks in advance). It felt really strange to be out without pushing a buggy, but as we settled into our comfy seats (me with a pint of beer, and Claire with a coke) we sighed a happy (if slightly nervous) sigh. It was a really good night out though, great cinema and a great film (The Bourne Ultimatum), only slightly marred when we returned home to find Izzy wide awake and playing 'silly-beggers'.

Many thanks to Antoinette for babysitting the little goblin.

The second momentous event was Isabella's first stage performance! On Wednesday afternoon Claire and Izzy go down into Belper to go to Little Church (just one of the many groups that they attend), this is a small group fun by our local C of E church for any children too young to go to school, they play, sing songs and generally have a wonderful time.

On Sunday the church was holding a family fun day and one of the events was songs from Little Church. After a local school choir had sung, it was time for Claire to take Izzy up onto the stage (along with more mums and loads of other kids). They sat on the floor of the stage and the music started. I can honestly say it was one of the proudest moments of my life - Izzy was having a wonderful time clapping her hands and shouting very loudly along with the other children. She really enjoyed it and it brought a lump to my throat to see her (and Claire) up on stage in front of dozens of people.

Hopefully it won't be the last time we see Izzy performing on stage, maybe it's the start of things to come.

A personal message from Bob

Thanks to mum for sending me this message from bob. Even though is all a big advert, its still pretty cool and made me laugh when i played it.



Its also a chance to try and embed a video for the first time.

Yet another seldom updated blog

Woo hoo you cry, it's yet another blog started that'll rarely be updated. This is of course just a test post to see what everything looks like.

Hopefully I'll keep this up to date with all the exciting news from the Robinsons in Belper (Izzy, dogs, veg patch and maybe even news on the chucks).

Anyway, bye for now.

Rob