Monday

This morning Mummy and I were busy with glitter and stuff to make a brightbear the pirate cutlass! We also dressed as pirates with our cropped trousers and PL with the onesie we bought from the maritime museum.

We walked into the village for lunch, and also to return library books (library was shut so we had to post them into the returns box). Lunch was at our local cafe where Tanya commented that PL looks a lot like Daddy!

We then walked up to Tumbletots. I showed the ladies my cutlass and was telling one of them that I was wearing my pirate trousers! We then walked home through the jungle route - I walked almost all the way home!

Once home we played and I watched some of Flushed Away. Iain the lawnmower man came and did the lawns - I watched him from my window.

Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?

At the London Wetlands Centre it could be either - what with the birds to see and the planes flying overhead.

We met George and Helen there at 10.05. I was getting tired so sat in the pushchair while we looked at the birds. There were lots of different ones to see - all Ducks to I-B. We then came across some living teepees - these were made with willow cuttings planted in the ground and then trained into a teepee shape. Mummy and I-B think that we should plant one in the back garden as IB enjoyed playing in it tremendously. I was getting more tired by now so Mummy put me in the sling while we continued to walk around. By the time they reached the hide in the wildside, I was asleep and IB was very good at being quiet while we looked at the birds. Hiddy was apparently making a noise but Mummy said that Isha was setting a good example to Hiddy by being as quiet as a mouse.

We then ambled to the other side of the reserve to the pondlife area where IB armed herself with a net and went pond dipping. She found lots of pondsnails and watermites.

Lunch was calling to us from the panniers so we ambled over to the adventure playground where IB could eat and play, and as could the rest of us. We spent the rest of the afternoon in there. For a while IB went to play with other children she met in the playground, she then came back to us and played with us - mostly with Helen. The only tears occurred when she toppled and grazed her foot - although she cleaned it very well with an anti-bopple wipe; and when a little boy deliberately snaffled her feathers. It wasn't an obvious feather-snaffle at first but little boys can be like that sometimes, so Mummy says.

IB was sound asleep by the time we got home. Mummy gave me dinner (lentil and veg mush) and tried waking IB up to give her dinner but she was so asleep she just wanted to go up to bed. It was then my turn for bed, Mummy took me up, read me a story and by the time she had ordered the Indian takeaway, she was asleep.

All in all a good weekend was had by all. The only thing missing was a Daddy pate to tap...

Ahoy there shipmates

This morning we drove to Greenwich where we met Helen and George (Mummy only took two wrong turnings - once onto the South Circular and then she turned off the A2 too early). We walked up to the Observatory and Planatarium where there was lots of astronomical paraphernalia and something called a Meridian Line. Mummy explained that Bright Bear needed this line to help him navigate when on his quest for treasure.

I also touched a meteor - Mummy says that it is the one which Tintin brought back from his adventures in the Shooting Star Mystery. George and Helen went to watch the black hole show in the Planetarium while Mummy, P and I looked at chronometers (Mummy says we should make one for Bright Bear's treasure chest) and climbed up into the Observatory.

We realised that Bright Bear was AWOL so we headed back to the Planetarium where a very nice lady found him for us. He had been helping sell tickets to the Planetarium shows. There is one for children which Mummy thinks we should take Daddy to see.

We met up with George and Helen again and walked down the hill to the cafe for lunch. There was an outdoor play area where I could clamber and climb to my heart's content. Mummy wanted to go into the Maritime Museum and look at the ships and things so I reluctantly left the play area and went in. Once up in the Handson Gallery I had lots of fun. My favourite game was cargo loading where I had to operate a crane which was loading cargo into a boat! There were also some interesting computers in the your sea area. Mummy said that we would come to the museum another day with Daddy as there was lots there.

We all drove to our house where P and I had dinner and I played with Helen in the garden while Mummy got grown up dinner ready. I then had a second dinner from Mummy's plate! We arranged to meet tomorrow and George and Helen then left. Mummy got me ready for bed and then read Monkey Puzzle to me.

Friday again

And so ends another week. I-B had nursery school this morning so Mummy and I went to Sainsbury's. I sat in the trolley in a sitting up seat rather than a baby seat. This was all very exciting as I could see what Mummy was putting in the trolley and I could nibble the trolley bars, despite Mummy's attempts to prevent me from so doing by attaching a large number of nibble rings to the trolley.

After we picked up I-B from nursery, we headed home for lunch - chicken curry and rice - which I enjoyed. I then polished off a whole yoghurt (Raspberry).

I-B had an extended dancing lesson this afternoon - she had her normal lesson followed by a picnic while we watched the tap dancers run through the locomotion. It was then our turn so Mummy and I watched while I-B joined the big girls dancing to the High School Musical number. High School Musical is something which had hitherto passed Mummy by. However, she has had the "We're all in this together" song stuck in her head for the rest of the evening (and is in fact about to switch on the hard drive to find something to listen to). I-B really enjoyed herself and was full of beans all the way until bedtime. Although she descended in to baby babble because she was so tired - so much so even I couldn't understand her!

"There's a six on the clock Mummy"

This morning I woke up very early, took myself to the loo and then clambered into Mummy's bed. When she realised what time it was she said, "it's still night time, we can go downstairs when there's a six on the clock". Once a six had appeared, I woke Mummy up to tell her. She said that it was 5.06 and she meant when the time began with a 6 and ended in two 00s! She helped me find some puzzles to do and this occupied me until it was 6.00!

Once we had breakfast and were ready, we set off to go swimming with Aunty Tina and Henry. I had lots of fun floating in the blow up ring and P-L had her blow up seat.

After some crisps and a play in the park, we drove home. By the time we got home, I was fast asleep so Mummy let me sleep on the settee while she tidied up ready for the Estate Agent chappy to come and buy our house!

After a nice long sleep, I was wide awake and ready for dinner - Salmon in a cheesy sauce and pasta. It was v yum and both me and P-L enjoyed it lots.

Bedtime and Bathtime soon followed but because I had slept this afternoon, I was still a little bit awake - enough to enjoy It's a George thing and Mr Perfect. I then took It's a George thing and a book about a hedgehog to bed. Mummy showed me the special pockets where I could put the books once I had finished reading them. After a brief trip to the loo, I then slowly fell asleep after singing to myself for a bit!

Tecknogeekery wish list

Today was a nursery school day so we walked there (I walked as far as the station and then went in the pushchair) and then Mummy and P-L walked back home to do some domestic stuff before going to Tumbletots.

P-L was crawling everywhere at TTs, although she managed to fall off a mat when she turned suddenly to look at something - Mummy scooped her up and gave her lots of cuddles so the bopple was soon forgotten. Before coming to collect me, Mummy popped into Homebase to pick up some bedding plants to jazz up the front border in the front garden now that the bluebells have had their day and the hydrangea aren't quite in full bloom.

I had a lovely morning at nursery school, I did a collage which matched my sparkly red hair bobbles and a painting, I remembered to put my name on both of them. We also had the music lady today and I have spent the afternoon singing about speckled frogs.

When we got home, the cleaners were there so I had lots of fun talking to Su, Alison and Lesley while Mummy and P-L had their lunch.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Playbarn with Anna, George and Amelia. P-L tried out her crawling skills in the soft play area and George and I played very nicely together. On the way home I was telling Mummy how I wanted a bike, a robot and an electronics kit for making a light for my birthday!

When we got home, Izza and a friend of hers from up the road were out on their bikes. I asked them why they didn't have crash hats on!!!

P-L and I both enjoyed our lentil and vegetable curry - I had Naan Bread and Chutters with mine.

After reading "a squash and a squeeze" to P-L, it was my bedtime - Mummy read Mr Perfect. I said that I had Mr Silly hair. Mummy said that I had lovely hair and I concluded that means I am little miss lovely! Mummy agreed.

MacGyver Moments

This morning I woke Mummy up at 5am with an empty tummy. Once my tummy was full, I quite happily went back to sleep until 8am! During this time I-B had her breakfast and watched some Cbeebies.

Once I was awake and had breakfast, we spent a pleasant morning playing in I-B's room - robopops toys; fairy bluebell boot and some puzzles. It was then time for me to have a snooze so I went and snoozed while Mummy and I-B played downstairs (making items for the Bright the Pirate Treasure Chest).

Lunch was mainly comprised of salmon in a lightly simmered sauce of sweetcorn mush.

Mummy attempted to tidy the lounge while me and I-B played. We then headed out into the garden. The paddling pool wasn't up to much as Mummy didn't know where the bungs to keep the air in had got to. Mummy was trying to have a MacGyver/ A-team moment where she was going to get clever with plastic lids and masking tape or playdough but it didn't work out. Luckily we still had Alison's paddling pool so I sat in that playing with the balls while Mummy tidied up pots and bits and bobs. I-B played with Hiddy and the car for a while and then wanted to help Mummy with the pots. This worked for a while until I-B decided to move soil from one pot to another.

After Dinner, I gummed a banana while I-B played on next door's trampoline with the little girl who lives there.

Bathtime was followed by Mr Grumble - with I-B doing the "Bahs"!

A day in the Garden

As Daddy did not need to be at the airport until this evening, we decided to spend the morning at Wisley. This is a very big garden where there was lots to look at. Highlights included: the waterlilies, the giant rhubarb-like plants, the rockery, the fruit trees. Mummy and Daddy were very inspired by the gardens and came away with various ideas for their garden (current and future) together with two lawn-chamomile plants.

We played with the Duplo this afternoon and then it was time for Daddy to head to the airport - I said I was going to miss him lots and I scampered after the taxi for a little bit.

After a little bit of time playing in the garden, it was time for bathtime and bedtime. No BBTP this evening, Mummy read "it's a george thing" and then I couldn't sleep so I sat on her bed while she went on the cross-trainer.

Sunday Sunday here again...

This morning, Thamu arrived and once Mummy had made a mountain of food (supplemented by a small hill from Thamu) it was time to head to the Teddy Bears picnic.

It was a very hot day, so once we'd had our picnic, we retreated into the shade and Thamu and P-L sat under the sunshade while Mummy Daddy and I had a wander. I went on the merry go round and saw a real fire engine. When it was my turn to get in, I was all set to switch on the ignition (isn't that why they left the keys in?). The ice creams had sold out but Mummy won a pedicure treat and I won a stretchy multi-coloured slinky. We also won a teddy bear in the raffle so a lucky day all round.

Mummy and Thamu made yummy cakes for the cake stall - gingerbread bears and chocolate chip muffins which all went down very well.

Waiting for Daddy

On Saturday, Mummy was determined to pack in as much as possible so we weren't hanging around until Daddy got home. She had received a text message saying that he was going to be delayed.

Aunty Susan and Uncle Ian had stayed the night so I had a lovely morning playing with them and sharing chocolate croissants with them. It was then time for Gymnastics. Mummy picked up a t-shirt today, now all she has to do is sew my badges onto it!

We then popped into town to buy aunty Tina a birthday present. This was followed by a visit to the family fun day at my dancing school. While there, I visited the cake stall (twice), had my facepainted, went on the lucky dip and won three snoopy toys and Mummy bought herself a necklace.

After lunch we drove to Uncle Phils and Aunty Tina's as it was Ethan's birthday. I had lots of fun with my cousins, playing on the trampoline and playing with the toy guitar. It was then time to leave as Daddy was on his way back from the airport. This is where living near a town where a sporting event is taking place can be a drawback as everyone was leaving as we were arriving back in town. This meant that the traffic was a little busy so Daddy made it back before us.
We were all v pleased to see him and he brought back a lovely red spangly hat for me and a ship in a bottle for Mummy.

Friday

This morning was a nursery school morning. As it was such a nice day, Mummy brought a picnic with her and we played at the swings on the way back. Later in the afternoon, we went to my dancing lesson which I enjoyed lots, as usual. The weekend was looking even more exciting than usual as it meant that Daddy was coming home - woohoo!!

Sandy Day

This morning we went to the park to meet Louis, Elisha and Jasmine (and the grown-ups too!). L, E and I had great fun playing in the huge sandpit. It took a bit of time for us to share the spade but we soon realised there was lots of other fun to be had in the sandpit. We did try burying ourselves ala Grandad style but lying in the sand scraping it over ourselves didn't quite work so well!

After a go on as many pieces of the play equipment as Mummy would allow, it was time to go home and have lunch (in the garden as it was such a lovely day). Lunch was followed by Gingerbread baking.

It was then time to head out to meet a piano teacher. She teaches using a method called the Suzuki Method - I think it involves learning to play the piano without having to look at all the squiggly dots and dashes. We listened to two sisters having their lesson - first the youngest and then the oldest. Once they had their lesson, I had a go playing "twinkle twinkle little star" and the teacher said I played very nicely!

Once home, it was time for dinner followed by a little pre-bedtime Cbeebies. When Mummy asked me what my favourite thing today was, it was the piano playing!

Back to Nursery School

This morning we walked to nursery school to drop I-B off - she quite happily scampered over to the mat where they sing their welcome song. I snoozed while Mummy walked home and then stayed snoozing in the garden while she hung out the washing and did a snail audit.

I-B claims she didn't play with anyone at Nursery School (!). However, she did some painting (although she forgot to get her name written on the painting/ write her name on the painting so it didn't come home with her. Anna the songstress was there today. She sat next to Carmelo at lunchtime.

I impressed the ladies at Tumbletots with my new crawling skills. There were lots of babies there today so we had great fun squealing at each other!

Lunch was followed by a visit from the estate agent. This involved Mummy talking to some chappy about houses with interjections from I-B and interruptions when Mummy turned me round once I had crawled to the edges of the room.

I slept through most of the Sainsburys visit but I-B and Mummy had it all in hand.

We had the Very Hungry Caterpillar as a bedtime story and then I-B had Charlie Cook's Favourite Book. Once we were safely tucked up in bed, Mummy pootled in the Garden and watched the parakeets.

Rainy Tuesday

Today we mostly went to Chessington with Jane and Thomas. It was all rather rainy so first stop was the Sea Life area. I-B was most interested in the anenomes and the Sharks. My knowledge of sea-life is all derived from Disc 2 of the Finding Nemo dvd!

Next stop was the indoor soft play area - grown-ups weren't allowed on the equipment which was a shame - I-B needed a bit of help finding the slide! This was followed by lunch and a show - something to do with Dragons and Monkeys and Elephants - I-B seemed to enjoy it. We then ambled our way out via the merry go round and the ice-cream emporium. Following a minor day while hunting for keys (don't ask) we then headed home.

Once home, P-L had a snooze and I-B played in the garden while I washed up and prepared a carroty meal (soup if you're a grown up, mush if you're a baby). Once P-L was awake we played with the alphabet cards and things that made lots of noise. P-L and I-B had great funny shaking things and laughing at each other. I-B and I also played with the Pingu magnetic book but I-B told me off for putting snowball magnets in an indoor scene!

P-L has been very mobile today - crawling lots although when playing "cafes" we couldn't get her to crawl from one end of the lounge to the other!

Monday

Term-time activities started today so we were back at Tumbletots this afternoon. I-B was very good at clambering and climbing on all the equipment.

This morning we had a relaxing morning at home where Mummy did things with drawer liners although now hers and Daddy's room smells of furniture polish. I-B mostly played with the t-set (with Hiddy too) and did some sponge painting. She was very good at tidying away the paints etc afterwards.

After Tumbletots we wandered up to the post office (I was asleep) and I-B picked a Balamory magazine.

At home I relaxed in the exer-saucer while I-B had a go on the Wii Fit. She then decided that the garden looked much more fun so she and Mummy played hula-hoops again while I watched from the pushchair. After a while I-B got a bit frustrated when rolling the hoop - which meant that she didn't roll the hoop very well, which made her frustrated. Aaaah the vicious cycle of toddler frustration.

Dinner was followed by some quality time spent crawling round the carpet. Everytime I moved towards Mummy, she took one step away from me. I then looked up as if to say "oy, I know your game!"

Before long it was time for bed. My bedtime story was Mr Snow. I-B's was the Night Pirates and she took Count Worm to bed with her to "read".

Sunday Sunday

This morning I wanted to go to the playbarn so off we went. However when we got there it was too noisy and although I don't normally mind, today I didn't want to go in. Instead we played in the outside area.

Afterwards, Mummy suggested we went to asda-tasda for a hula-hoop. But they didn't have any. Mummy had a cunning plan which involved driving home via the nearest Tesco as we had seen them in there last week. This was all very tiring for me and P-L so we fell asleep. Thankfully Mummy had the pushchair for me and the sling for P-L. A very nice man apparently carried the sandpit sand to the car for us and when I woke up Mummy had bought two spangly hula-hoops.

After lunch we put them to the test and even though Mummy is a hula-hoop champion on the Wii Fit she's not very good. So we played games involving rolling the hoops to each other and throwing frisbees (another onotok purchase of Mummy's today) to land in or through the hula-hoops. I then put my new sand to the test and Mummy picked 5oz of Gooseberries. The question is - what to make with them? Actually Mummy's thinking Gooseberry and Pear Crumble. What do you think?

P-L has been moving forwards - they're sort of bunny hops but I think she's starting to think about moving her legs behind her. Also she surprised up by pushing herself up to standing - using the musical keyboard which I used to use for the same purpose!

I'm now in bed after Mummy and I read the night pirates - my favourite story at the moment. I did escape and come downstairs but Mummy explained that it was bedtime and that if I was still awake when she had finished on the Wii, she would come and read me another story. I don't think I stayed awake long enough...

Getting Mobile

This morning while I snoozed, Mummy and I-B made some sticky sweet mice. I-B was responsible for something known as "QUALITY CONTROL"! Once I woke up we headed off to the garden centre to buy some potting compost, netting and an off piste seedling that Mummy couldn't resist.

Once home I-B played in the garden while Mummy got lunch ready - some of the neighbouring children were playing on next door's trampoline so I-B had lots of fun chatting with them and once she had finished her lunch she went next door to join them.

It was then naptime for me so Mummy got I-B to come back round - at which point she was invited to play on the other next door's trampoline (where there was a grown up outdoors). This enabled Mummy to get on with some planting - sugar snap peas, morning glory and clematis round the arch. She thinned out the Nicotiana (which Daddy had planted with a shaky hand) and the Japanese Lanterns. By this time I was awake but I was happy to sit on the picnic blanket while she planted the Camomile, the Delphinium and the Cucumber (replacing the Sugar Snap pea plant which had been decimated by our one-footed friends. This has been planted in the pot by the arch in the [vain] hope that it revives...

Next it was scooter time but I-B was too tired to make it to the swings so we came home for a rest while Mummy got dinner ready.

While Mummy tidied up I worked out a way of moving forwards instead of backwards. There was an inflatable ball in front of me but a little out of my reach. While putting as much weight as possible on my hands I "revved up" and dragged my legs forwards. I had made it closer to the ball. The ball rolled away a little. I made it closer to the ball. The ball rolled away a lot. I-B rolled the ball back to me. This is a very exciting breakthrough for me and I look forward to putting these newfound skills into practice tomorrow.

After bathtime it was time for a well-earned rest.

Ah new Shoes

Today was a soft play and farm day. On arrival I managed to recognise all the letters in the word "welcome" (completely unprompted). I spent an hour in and out of the soft play - sometimes lurking and sometimes going in there. People had to climb over me to go down the big red slide but at least I wasn't trying to climb up it today! Our friends arrived at about 11.30 so we went outside and played on the vehicles. We stopped for a lunch of jacket potato with cheese and beans - which Mummy finished off. P-L had a very orange mush which Mummy finished off. Wearing.

After this we went to see the farm animals - I liked the goats best and wanted to take them home with me.

We then ambled over to the outdoor climbing area which I enjoyed tremendously - once I had my ice lolly.

After this we went into town where Mummy got carried away buying half price -age in the health food shop. We then picked up some bits for cake and sweety making but we didn't have time for that today because I wanted to have my feet measured. It was good that I did as my feet had grown. I came away with a lovely pair of shoes. They're the best shoes ever and I even kept them on while Mummy got me ready for bed!

We saw Aunty Clare and I showed her my playdough and rainbow painting.

OH I do like to be beside the seaside

Except the tide was out so the sea-side was a long way away today.

This morning we drove to the swimming pool to meet Grandma and Grandad and 4 of my cousins - Megs, Sam, Eth and Henners. We had lots of fun - me in my bond villain seat and I-B in her floaty ring. I-B clearly enjoyed the floaty ring as she was pushing off from the side while wearing it and lifting her feet off the bottom and floating and kicking! After lunch in the park we drove to the beach.

For me, the beach involved sitting on the picnic rug and nibbling the picnic rug label. Once I'd tired of that I discovered that grabbing sand was good fun. The other grandchildren took it in turns to be buried in the sand - including I-B! I-B was a little less convinced by the feel of damp squidgy sand as she walked to fill the bucket with water!

The rain clouds were looking darker and darker so we decided to head back to Grandma and Grandad's for dinner (Spag Bol for everyone else; chicken and veg rissoto mush for me).

Following this it was time to drive home...

Dante's missing layer

Today we have mostly been at the layer which Dante missed - soft play on a rainy half-term wednesday. This wouldn't be so bad if there was a cafe area for the mummies etc but a bench along one side trying to prevent the babies being squooshed by 6 year old boys who are incapable of looking where they are going.

Actually it wasn't that bad - it was nice to see Jacqui and the girls (and the new nanny who is going to put out feelers for me - probably approaching friends of hers who are also want to move away from a nursery working environment).

A more relaxing afternoon making chocolate fruit (we'll make some more for you next week) and biscuits - we'll make some more for you as we will take them with us tomorrow.

Evening was rounded off with some toe-nail painting (or was it just toe painting - you be the judge: ).

I have just put I-B back into her bed having found her asleep on the landing! Photo to be posted in the usual place