Grandad's Boy

First Smiles

That's my boy!

The wee charmer is smiling lots now, not just when he's windy, and every day brings changes as he continues to grow and develop into a right wee character.

Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

Fraser is doing just fine.

Whilst Lo and I are knackered, the wee man keeps us on our toes.....day and night....

Taken 29th October 2006

Fraser on Tour

We've just returned from three fabulous days away in Wroclaw, Poland. Fraser was very well behaved and he seems to be a born traveller. Prior to this, his longest jaunt had been a run in the pram to the local shops! Not too bad for 6 weeks old.

Flying seemed to suit the wee chap and he snoozed and gurgled his way comfortably through the 2 1/2 hour flight.

As cities go, Wroclaw has a particularly attractive old town. We managed to get out and about every day to see all the main sites which include a vibrant central square, Rynek and the stunning Raclawice Panorama.

Rynek and Tumski Most & Cathedral

Out and About

Lorraine is now much recovered and has been out and about almost every day with Fraser. The little chap is now tipping the scales at nearly 11.5 lbs now and continues to have a voracious appetite for milk......mmmmm.

Spot the Difference

Little Man

'Little Man' is piling on the pounds now (9'3'' and 57cm long) and has become a bit of a wee rascal. On Saturday he got along to his first party and even charmed a few babes.

In between feeding and poo the wee toad is not too demanding..........so far..........

He's a strong little chap and for the past few days has been determined to hold his head up on his own, usually when he gets within sniffing range of Mummy's milk.

Safe......and Sound to the World!

Lorraine and I are so pleased that little Fraser is doing well.

Following a marathon labour of over 40 hours, Lorraine was rushed for an emergency caesarian section so the little man's entry to the world was rather more sudden than we had anticipated. Fortunately both he and Lorraine are recovering very well considering the traumatic delivery.

We're so delighted with 'our boy' and can't wait to get him home.

Thank you all for your kind messages. We hope to be in touch once we are settled.

New Arrival

Fraser Murray Carstairs arrived today at 9.00 am weighing in at 8lbs.

Mum and baby both doing fine. This photo was taken when he was 1 hour old.

More news soon!

Countdown

We're really excited now that Lorraine is full term.

I'll rephrase that.

I'm really excited - Lorraine just wants it out! No doubt baby will come when baby is ready.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy but have somehow passed slowly and whilst I don't want to wish away what's left of my summer holiday, for Lorraine's sake, I hope the next couple of weeks fly by.

Lo is doing well but the whole pregnancy seems to sap her every available ounce of energy from within. Little tasks such as tying shoe laces fall to me.......good practice I suppose. Lazy afternoons have been spent tip toeing round the flat or lounging whilst Lo catches a wee nap. Highlights of the daily holiday routine include 'Richard and Judy' and I've even been known to get enthusiastic about the occasional episode of 'Countdown'.

Not long to go. Hopefully some news for next post.

Summer in the City

So far, July has been a bit of a scorcher! Lorraine is finding the unusually hot Scottish summer a bit energy sapping and still 'The Bump' continues to grow relentlessly.

Our count down to the baby's birth is in full swing now that we're down to counting weeks in single figures. Amidst fanning duties to keep Lo and bump cool, I've gutted our flat from top to bottom and Lo has begun some serious nesting, scrubbing and cleaning at every opportunity.

Later this week will see our first major baby shopping trip in preparation for 'Bob's' birth at the end of August.

In between shopping and cleaning I've been trying to cram in some more hills and mountain biking to try to burn some excess blubber........recently I feel as if I've been eating for two!

Ben Alder, Central Scottish Highlands
by John Guerrier 15.07.06

'Bob'

Lorraine is well into her third trimester now aka 'The Humpty-Dumpty' phase and she really is starting to bloom. I know it's such a cliche but she looks great.

'Bob', as the bump is now known, is a bit of a wriggler these days. I'm really still in awe of it all, feeling him/her moving about. Today, I went along to one of Lorraine's antenatal clinics to hear the baby's heartbeat - what an incredible experience. All is well and wee Bob seems to be doing gymnastics at every available opportunity.

Back on the bike.....soon

After crashing my bike into a car 2.5 years ago I've missed having my wheels for commuting. Once I had recovered from the injuries I managed to fix it up and make it more or less roadworthy but, a leisurely afternoon's cycling with Lorraine went horribly wrong when I went off a small kerb (whilst being sensible on my bike) and the front forks snapped leaving Lorraine to remove many sizeable chunks of gravel from my very grazed posterior and arms. I began to wonder if my pride would ever recover.

Anyway, I've finally taken the plunge to buy a new machine following a renewed enthusiasm after the Mountain Biking World Cup at Fort William (see photo). I'd always been a bit of a hardtail cross country purist and the fewer bouncy bits on the bike, the better. However, seems things have moved on a bit in the world of mountain bikes in the intervening years since I bought my beloved and now sadly mangled Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo. After 2 months of trying out dozens of bikes (or in the words of Lorraine, 'playing about') I've bought a Cannondale Prophet 600 SL with a fabulous bump-munching 4 inches of both front and rear travel.

Due for delivery on 2nd July....the bike, that is!

'The Bump's Progress

Lorraine continues to keep well. Having agreed that it would be important to record 'The Bump's' development and progress, after much cajoling, I managed to get a snap.

Managed to snatch a last minute getaway to Tighnabruaich on the Cowal peninsula for a night of pampering and luxury. Fabulous!

Travel the World

Hoping to travel to Europe with our bambino next summer. As you can see from my map of countries visited, most of our usual destinations are strictly off limits. Had a notion to rent a mobile home and drift across France, Spain and Italy. Any advice greatfully received.

Bum Sliding

Every weekend in Scotland throughout the winter season, hundreds of would-be mountaineers head to the hills in search of adventure to bag their latest summit. Often braving the ferocity of the elements, these intrepid enthusiasts pit their stamina and strength against Scotland's highest peaks, rustling along in crisp Gortex in an array of garish uncoordinated colours. Loved ones at home believe that we are away to bag yet another dull, wet summit in some distant corner of the country. However, in reality, this elite band of nutters are in pursuit of the ultimate thrill, a little known past time able to challenge the adrenalin-rush of even the most daring adventure sports - welcome to the world of bum-sliding.

Largely the preserve of men, bum sliding offers up the opportunity or excuse (depending on your perspective) to behave like a 5 year old. Despite it's current ranking as a non-olympic 'sport' it's certainly worthy of such status as most runs usually involve a variety of well honed sliding techniques and skillful manoeuvering. Successfully executed, one can glissade gracefully down a very steep slope at what seems like a hundred miles an hour, carving a luge-like piste through steep mountain coires with ones nether region before sliding to a halt with a spot of carefully placed ice-axe braking. However, should the slider select too challenging a slope down which to launch themselves, the thrill becomes a spill and the risks vary from wrapping your boy-bits round a protruding rock to launching oneself into oblivion.

With the imminent responsibilities of parenting in the not too distant future, this is likely to be my last winter on the mountains for a year or two so it's been a bit of a bum-slide fest over the past few months. Try it....you know you want to!

A New Life

Lorraine had her 18 week scan today. Still finding it hard to comprehend the enormity of what I saw on that little monitor, what we've created. Both Lorraine and 'bump' are well and the little wriggler seemed to do just about everything to avoid being scanned.

For now at least, we both have a real sense of relief at seeing our baby again and some reassuarance that all is well.

This shot was taken at Lorraine's first scan at 12 weeks.