Andy finished up at work during the week, so we're finally on holiday! On some days, it feels like this year has just stretched on and on and on ... and at other times, we wonder where the time has gone and how we managed to fit in anything at all.

Andy and I celebrated our tenth anniversary this week ... we splashed out and had dinner with Isobel at the local Red Robin restaurant. Isobel was so well behaved - drinking from her little straw and cup, and chomping down on chicken strips and some chips. We were both amazed at how much she managed to eat - more than a whole chicken strip, and several chippies too. There were a couple of other families nearby with small kiddies running around, and Isobel took great delight in watching their antics from her high chair - so glad she sits quietly when we go out, although I'm sure that only lasts so long!

I also had another checkup with my OBGYN this week - the results from the scan last week weren't back yet, but the blood test from a month ago was all good news. Always good to hear Peanut's heartbeat on the doppler - about 160bpm. These early weeks are tough, before I can feel the baby move myself ... I always worry that something is going to happen and I won't know until my next appointment. I'm a worry-wart like that.

Steve and Di popped around with Chris and Katie for a visit today, dropping off a present under the tree for Isobel and some yummy shortbread for us! Andy's arcade machine was a big hit with everyone ... Chris and Katie loved feeding the tokens into the coin slots and Katie managed to whoop Andy at a couple of games - beaten by an almost-eight-year-old!!

Isobel is almost running everywhere these days - we rugged her up and took her for a walk to the letterbox yesterday before it got too dark, which is around 4.30pm these days. She waves away any attempts to hold her hand, and toddles along quite happily on her own.  dog-leg lane down to our house has a little hill where it joins the rest of the street, and Isobel managed to climb the hill both ways for the first time on her own - the downhill stretch to the letterbox itself is pretty steep, so we had to step in and take her hand as her brakes don't work too well yet. Apart from that, she managed the whole thing herself ... we're so proud! She still has a habit of turning around and heading back up the lane before we get home again, as if to delay going back into the house - and she can move pretty quick when she wants to. We usually have to carry her up the steps to the house, as she gets a bit upset when we spoil her fun and finally bring her inside again. I think she'll be spending a lot of time outside next year when the weather improves again.

Only a couple of days to Christmas now - the decorations are finally up and the storage boxes packed away. The weather reporters are forecasting a chance of snow on Christmas Day - wouldn't that be a lovely touch? Merry Christmas, everyone!