Aidan is now 29 months old. It's been a month of new challenges for Aidan as he's been getting used to having a little sister, and he's started toilet-training properly.

We have had several visitors this month which Aidan, socialite that he is, has loved! Auntie Elaine and Uncle Chris came down for a night, "Auntie" Allie and "Uncle" Ken visited from Cambridge, and a university friend of Mummy's came for dinner too.

Aidan tried out his buggy board for the first time this month when we went to Glasgow for the day. He quite likes it for short distances, but prefers to be in the buggy for longer distances! He also experienced a wave machine for the first time, when we went to the Mariner Centre in Falkirk. He had a wonderful time on the water slides, and sang "The wheels on the bus go up and down" as he went up and down on the waves!

Aidan really enjoys making things, especially baking fairy cakes and mixing banana milkshakes. He is fascinated by all things electrical so using the electric hand mixer and blender hold almost more interest for him than eating the cakes or drinking the milkshakes.

When we were at toddler group on November 22, Aidan spotted a plastic toilet seat on the toilet when Megan was having a nappy change. Despite the fact that he was wearing a nappy, he requested to do a wee-wee in the toilet for the first time. This was a success, so on December 3 we started properly toilet-training Aidan. It took him a couple of days to get brave enough to do a poo on the toilet. We've been trying to let him lead and not push him and he's had very few accidents and his naptime pull-ups are usually dry, so we're very proud of his progress.

He also had his two-year (!!) check this month. Our previous doctor's surgery would have done it at 27 months, but our new one does it at 24 months - meaning Aidan missed out, and it took a few weeks for all the paperwork to be sorted to allow it to be done here. He passed with flying colours (not surprising!), but the health visitor was especially impressed with his speech and communication skills, and how well-behaved he is (we have our own opinion on that one...!).

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Image 0046-8862 Canon PowerShot S45 1/60 sec., f/2.8 2005:11:12 12:44:19 UTC (c) Keith & Carolyn

Aidan and his new buggy board! This was his very first time on his buggy board - as you can see by the acrobatics, he got used to it very quickly!

Aidan and the "drill-mixer". Aidan created this new gadget using the drill from his toy tool kit, and Mummy's mini-whisk. He then uses this to make a "letters milkshake" by putting his magnetic letters into the container that Mummy uses to make him a banana milkshake and mixing!

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Cheeky Aidan! Playing in Mummy and Daddy's room.

Aidan's favourite play area - the attic! Aidan loves playing in the partially carpeted attic of our new house.

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Aidan on the ladder. Aidan is very adept at climbing up and down the ladder into the attic.

Aidan and the recorder. Mostly he just blows into it, but he has been enjoying learning how to put his fingers over the holes to make different notes.

Image 0047-9082 Canon PowerShot S45 1/60 sec., f/2.8 2005:11:27 10:27:32 UTC (c) Keith & Carolyn

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Aidan meets Santa! Aidan, Daddy and Grandpa went on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Santa Special and Aidan got to meet Santa and was given a lovely present - a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

Aidan and his little sister.

Image 0047-9180 Canon PowerShot S45 1/60 sec., f/3.5 2005:12:07 16:08:54 UTC (c) Keith & Carolyn