Glorious day in LA

Jaxon's 1st birthday party in the park followed by the Getty.

I have to make a huge apology to Jaxon and mummy Jennifer. Reu and I were playing with the wonderful display of balloons which Jennifer had wrapped around my feet and suddenly, there was a scene as from Ian McEwan's Enduring Love, where the balloons slipped from my hands and we watched as they soared higher and higher. I strangely had this feeling they were going to come back down again as it was too surreal that I'd just let the whole lot go, the big 1 and the many other colourful balloons alongside. And then they just hung there at great altitude above our heads.

Beautifully warm and sunny at the Getty and an unusually balmy evening where we watched the sun go down over the Santa Monica Mountains and dipping into the Pacific whilst eating al fresco framed by the bourgainvillea. It's one of the places that truly excites Reuben, whether it's the stark naked birch trees, the maples hanging onto a few autumnal leaves, the waterfall over boulders, Van Gogh's Irises, a Romanesque sculpture or the tram ride there. Wonderful that, as it's not only my favourite place in LA, but actually, one of my favourite public spaces globally.

The other positive thing to note is that we're no longer having night nurses, as the realisation eventually dawned on us that we can rely on no one else to look after Reu than ourselves, and despite a few teething problems mostly on Jason's side whilst he's adjusts to Reu's little snores through the trach, it's been great having him in with us. So much more natural. Instead, we're having a day nurse full time during the week.

We're feeling pretty blessed that we got through the Christmas holidays without a hospital visit. Reuben was sensationally well over Christmas and New Year and what a joy that is! I guess had we been living in the UK, we'd be bogged down with colds bred from carriage to carriage through The Underground (aka subway). I have had but 1 cold whilst living in California and that was because of a fair gift from the Glaswegians last Christmas when we travelled back and 2 more colds in 5 years, all inherited from the UK. Erica, you're right.