Happy 18th Birthday Alex :-)

Happy 18th Birthday Alex!

Hey there down under - am thinking of you today - as I think you are officially going to have a very long birthday - think you will have already started by the time I hit the sack yesterday - or today - whatever! And I guess - me (and especially your mom and dad and Phil) will be toasting you today - which is now your tomorrow - or is it?

I thought I'd share some of the snaps that make me smile and bring back fond memories - or should I say mammaries - as this was the first time I met you - 3 days old - and as usual you were hungry - when are you not? However - as you can see from this shot - you were unsuccessful this time - but mom and dad aren't laughing at you - they are laughing with you.... honest :-)

Just look at that first smile though :-) aaaaaahhhhhh!!!

You started becoming vain at around 4 months - but who could blame you - you were (and still are) gorgeous! I remember you being quite bright even in those days checking on your dad's attempts at sorting your nappy :-)

My mom and dad still talk and laugh about the time you landed in someone's lap at Cannon Hill Park - so this photo always makes me smile - as I think you still had your ice cream in your hand as you flipped over the man's head into his lap - acrobatic dance moves even then!

Then Flips came along - and you had a play mate!

You were also mad about exercise even at the tender age of three :-) so good to hear you are jogging with Esther down under :-)... Dave is missing out!

I also loved the birthday parties - your 5th was fun - here you are with your 'Beauty and the Beef' cake and then with your mom who was explaining the reason to a very tearful Alex why she wasn't simply 'allowed' to win the 'Muiscal Chairs game just because it was her birthday!! :-D

You had model good looks in those days too - and never posed for the camera - not much anyway......

I loved having you both stay over - you'd totally wreck my kitchen but baked some fab cakes which we would then take on picnic - and in cases of inclement weather would set up picnic in the sun lounge!

Then I'd pack you off to bed in the mad spare bedroom - and wondered why you'd never sleep with all those eyes watching you! Remember the pose we gave to the Evening Mail though :-)?

And now - here you are - all grown up - mind you if you're anything like me - you wont ever :-D

Here with my last photos - are you at your A' level recital when your dad embarrassed you by telling everyone how proud he and your mom are of you - I think if I remember rightly that night I was a little under dressed - in lilac!? Thanks Alex for all the funny memories you've given me!

Well, hope you are smiling today and not blushing too much - but just to say hope you are having a fabulous time down under - and I will be thinking of you today - and love you very very much.....

Your very proud bestest oldest mate and honorary Auntie......... Kimmie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx