EV is trying out nursery

and I'm twiddling my thumbs.... nervously!

EV is affraid of balloons

Mostly when they are being blown up and looks as though they are some grotesque, brightly coloured cyst growing out of someones face (kind of understandable). But also when they inexplicably bounce off things, carried by a draft of air, and chase her.

Let's hope she never watched It: "They all float down here!"

EV is staging a sit in

As EV's skills grow, so does her independence. Her recently found ability get herself into a sitting position from any starting point is great news when she's playing. She is more mobile and needs my assistance far less.

However, this new found talent seems less to celebrate when I am trying to put her down for a nap, put her to bed at night or lie her down to change a dirty nappy. Playing in her cot, refusing to sleep until she is too tired to remember how to lie herself back down and struggling against me, rolling over to pull herself up on the side of a (by this stage quite messy) changing mat are just a couple of the ways she has found to assert her free will.

EV is on her feet

EV pulled herself to standing using the furniture for the first time! She has been using my hands to help her pull herself up for a while and she could do it in the bath a few days ago (I guess there's less weight to lift?) The buttons and lights on the CD player were enough to inspire her today - probably as she knew I'd never willingly help her up to reach them!

EV is helping me fit the stair gate

No, not helping, that's not quite what I meant. Erm...

Hindering. That's the word I was looking for: EV is hindering my attempt to fit a stair gate.

I'm sure a stair gate must me much easier to fit if you do not, in fact, have a toddler!


p.s. I will go back and fill in some July blanks sometime soon, I have them all scribbled on bits of paper.

EV is w-a-i-t-i-n-g (patiently)

Determined to prove that we could still do those things we used to do before EV, we went on an impromptu trip down to Bristol with EV, yesterday and today. Traffic was awful travelling down, but EV was so patient in the traffic jams for 5 hours. Stayed in a nice hotel and took EV to the restaurant in the hotel with us (since we couldn't go out anywhere without her). Despite it being almost 9pm when we sat down to eat, EV charmed the waitress and was on good form eating the fruit salad we ordered for her and sharing our bread whilst we ate.

After dinner we retired to our room, and EV retired to her cot in our (thankfully spacious) en-suite! Hey, it's dark, it's adjoining and the door makes the glow and noise from the TV much less distracting for her. Luckily she slept really well, despite my late night creep to use the loo - very quietly.

In fact, EV slept so well, that our plan to get straight up and out when she awoke in order to beat the queue for the Banksy exhibition was foiled. We didn't manage to check out until after 8am and by the time we joined the queue it was already well past the 3hr mark (and the museum wasn't even open yet!).

Never mind. EV was well entertained in the queue, as were we, by watching all the other people, children and babies (there were quite a number - many much tinier than EV, we even saw a couple of queue-locked nappy changes). She managed a brief mid-morning nap and we managed a couple of pick-me-up-and carry-me spells. A street musician playing a weird plastic mouth keyboard thing (looked a bit like a kids toy, any ideas?) provided timely distraction as we bounced and danced along. EV even felt roused to a quick round of applause.

Finally, 3 1/2 hours in, we had our hands stamped to cross into the final section of queue. Just time to give EV her dinner before the food was quickly stashed away and we entered the gallery. Hurrah! And not a tantrum in sight. Just the car journey home again now then...

EV is filthy!

Took EV to one of her friends' 1st birthday parties today. It was a lovely family BBQ, yummy food and a chance for Dads to meet all the mums and babies we all go on about!

The other babies have been crawling for a while now and the novelty has worn off, but EV is still in the can move: must explore stage. In spite of all the toys and other children to entertain her, EV was only interested in shuffling over to investigate between the cracks of the flagstones. This would have been fine, had it not been for the fact that it is obligitary for it to rain at any British Summer BBQ. Which would have been fine, had EV not been wearing a cream embroidered party dress. In spite of my early vigilance, I eventually gave her up to the elements and returned home with EV stripped to her nappy and a very soggy black dress.

EV has teeth!

Hurraah! they are through, two tiny teeth in the middle at the bottom. And we had 2 days of only accepting finger foods to contend with but all is better now... until next time.

EV is passing it behind her head

Very strange this one. EV has spent the day practicing a new skill. It's one I haven't conciously taught her and I don't think she has even seen anyone else doing it. I've never heard of babies doing this before.

She is very spacially aware, first she studies the object she wants to pass behind her turning it over in her hands. Then, taking it in one hand, she holds it behind her head and twists her wrist, feeling with the other hand for the best way to get hold of it. Then "Ta-Daa!" It appears out the other side. Magic.

EV is passing, thankyou

EV has mastered the art of passing objects. Aiming for her recipients hand and letting go at the right moment. She is very proud of this skill, rightly so, and practices it incessantly. The only problem is, no sooner has she given something away, she wants it back again! The passing back and forth of EV's toys is not a major part of my day.

Being the very polite kind of mummy that I am, I always remember to say "Thank You" when EV gives me something and even say thank you for her when I give it back, as a little kind of prompt. It is obviously working as I sometimes get a little "an-oo" back.

We met up with some friends yesterday, a little girl the same age as EV. They both have similar temperaments and this little girl is really getting going with talking. They played so nicely together, passing toys between them and babbling to one another, they were so much fun to watch together.

EV is buzzing

Bee-bug circled high in the sky above the bed. He swooped tantalizingly close before soaring back up, swirling back and forth in dizzying figures of eight. And all the time, with a taunting, incessant buzzing. Finally, he honed in on his target, "Zzzzwoosh!" and landed...

"Beep!" on EV's nose.

All in all, a scenario so thrilling and dramatic that it had to be repeated again and again and when I had had quite enough of playing the part of the half-ladybird-half-giant-cuddly-bee-mutant that is Bee-bug. EV took him off me and lay on her back, swinging him from side to side and humming "Nnnnrrrr..." She doen't have the teeth required to zzzzz.

EV is drawing

When the H.V. came around Yesterday, he left two "Bookstart" packs for EV. One for her first birthday and also the one for her second birthday (as 2yr development chacks and home visits aren't done any more). The Bookstart packs typically contain one or two free books for the child, book vouchers, leaflets for parents about reading with your child and language development and about library membership. The age two pack also contained crayons and paper.

I thought, since EV is so good with her hands she might like to try the crayons now (I read that most children cna hold a crayon and make marks from around 12months).

We had a lovely time playing together, EV watching me use the crayons, feeling and holding them herself (and a quick suck of them too, just to be sure). Beginning with a few light pressure dots (bangs) and lines (swipes), she has scribbled a beautiful first picture, which is now hanging proudly on the fridge.

In fact, EV was obviously so enthralled with the idea, she had a little go at emulating the experience with a carrot stick, with rather disappointing results, later on.

EV is meeting with the Health Visitor

EV has had her 10 to 12 month check up today. And everything is going along fine. She is still "very petite" (and still hasn't quite made the 16lb mark!).

She performed all the tricks required: picking up toys, passing them from on hand to the other, babbling, smiling at her visitors, looking around, reaching (she even managed to move a little way).

The health visitor asked whether she can support some of her weight on her feet, pick tiny things up with finger and thumb, what food she eats; I should have pointed him to this blog! He also asked me whether she was talkinng yet, "She won't have said any words yet, will she? Mama? Daddy?"

"Erm..." I thought for a moment, "She says quack quack. And relates it to going like this." I sheepishly demonstrated the hand gesture, opening and closing my hand like a beak and then smiled proudly at EV.

"I'll put no then." Said the H.V.

Oh. Okay. I'm proud of her vocabulary anyway - I'm quite sure Quack is a word!

EV is going to a garden party

Sitting out on the grass, eating a scone, enjoying the sunshine in her best summer dress. Oh, and meeting a couple of donkeys too! What a lovely afternoon for a very civilized young lady.

EV is having fun with daddy

I think fatherhood is starting to come into its own now. Althought EV is still definitely a mummy's girl when it comes to cuddles/crying/fedding/bedtime/comfort etc. she is starting to realise that dad's are just more fun!

Dad is the one who pushes the stroller just a little too fast downhill. Dad is the one who throws her up in the air (just a little higher than mum really thinks he should). Dad is the one who pulls scary faces and makes trumpy noises when playing peekaboo (This has EV is stitches!) and Dad is the one who sometimes forgets that he was the one who said "No Ice-Cream for EV."!

EV is dancing to the theme tune to Bewitched

She goes absolutely crazy for it! Stops whatever she is doing when she hears it and dances, waving her hands as though she is conducting!

Combined with the frequent nose scrunching I wonder if I should be getting worried?

EV is having venison

I'm sure I've mentioned before about EV being a bit of a baby gourmet. Can babies even eat venison? EV obviously can.

EV is going blonde

EV's hair is getting fairer by the day, in front of my very eyes. She isn't quite blonde yet but a fair, golden shade of brown (as compared to the dark brown hair she was born with). I'm not sure how it is getting lighter as it hasn't noticably fallen out.

EV is partying in her pyjamas

EV's swimming class had a sponsored "Splashathon" today to raise money for Tommy's baby charity. Babies and mums(!) had to go in their pyjamas. It was also suppose dto be good experience for life saving (knowing what it feels like to be in the water fully clothed, I guess) Fun but heavy; EV and mum are both exhausted now!

EV is easily distracted by shiny objects

EV has been playing with kitchen foil today. She loved it. She scrunched it with her fists, felt along the tiny creases with her fingers, mashed it with her gums, she even had a go at moulding it over her feet. So much fun to be had with such a simple object. And it makes a great noise too. EV passed it from hand to hand, rotating it all the way round and watching the light on it. It's quite crumpled now but it still has quite a way to go before it becomes a shiny little ball. So I've put it in EV's Treasure Basket for now so she can rediscover it another day.

EV is making marks

EV is starting to show an interest in the marks and textures she can make with food spilt on her high chair. She is really tactile with her fingertips and sometimes forgets all about eating once she notices a piece or puddle of food on the tray and starts to move it around.

EV is berry confused

My Grandma came round today to watch EV for me for a little while. She had brought some fruit round for us to have with dinner- strawberries and raspberries.

Whilst I was out, my Grandma offered EV some of the chopped up berries as a snack, starting with a raspberry. EV did not like the taste of raspberry one little bit. Since she hasn't yet grasped the art of spitting out (thankfully!) she had to reluctantly stomach the tart little mouthful. Seeing the contortions of EV's face, my grandma decided that maybe she would prefer a little piece of strawberry.

EV showed off her emerging intellect, took one look at the ripe red fruit in my grandma's hand and pulled the exact same face she had for the raspberry, closed her lips tight and waved her little arms defensively!

EV is using a spoon

This one got me very excited. I loaded up EV's spoon and left it in her bowl, whilst sneaking a bite of my own lunch. EV picked up the handle and guided the spoon directly into her own mouth. She repeated the half a dozen times (with my help to load up the spoon) and it wasn't even too messy. Fantastic!

EV is consolidating

Haven't posted in a little while again. EV hasn't really been up to anything new in the last few days, just practicing and getting better at the same old tricks: turning on her bottom, reaching for things, clapping, quacking, waving, "Dadaada"-ing (it's getting very close to "Daddy" now but she'll say it to anyone!) She is getting a lot more confident at all these things.

It's really interesting to watch how something you see first only now and then, very briefly, with lots of encouragement and maybe dismiss as a fluke can slowly evolve into being part of her everyday repertoire, such that it's often hard to put a finger on when any real "firsts" are.

EV is quacking like a duck

EV has given up on blowing kisses for now, but she has taken to opening and shutting her hand like a beak and saying "quack quack quack."

Her first word??

I'm not sure whether it counts or not? She obviously associates the "word" with the action but she really has no idea what a duck is and doesn't ascociate the sound or the action with actually seeing a duck. of course it doesn't help that when we go to a park we see more geese than ducks and the ducks we do see rarely quack. I think it's likely she cottoned on to making the noise and action from singing songs like Old MacDonald and 3 Little Ducks. She definitely recognises the work "quack" too as ,when I mentioned it in conversation, she stopped playing and looked over her shoulder at me and said "quack quack quack?" complete with action and a big smile!

My vote is for word but, word or not, it is quite a party trick!

EV is blowing kisses

My mum has taught her this one. It took quite a bit of gurning and lip smacking for EV to master it but it is very cute. It has to be said that EV does not discriminate between kisses and raspberries though, offering them both up with equal generosity and delight!

EV is taking brunch

And very well behaved she was about it too.

Took EV to a really nice hotel restaurant, near my mum and dad's, for brunch. Very civilised. EV joined in really well, she had plenty of melon, some scrambled egg, asparagus, red pepper and bread roll pieces.As usual, EV enjoyed watching everyone else and charming as many strangers as she could!

EV is so well behaved when we take her out. I've found it's great to go out for lunch (and brunch!) with EV, since it's hard to go out for an evening meal without a babysitter, it really helps that I can trust EV to be happy coming out with us to a restaurant, or even the pub, during the day.

EV is putting her feet up

EV has taken to lifting her feet up onto everything she can. She puts them up on her toys, up and the bumper bar of her pushchair, supermarket trollies, even the tray of her high chair. She even managed to pick up her feet, whilst sitting on the floor and cross them, one over the other.

I guess her stomach muscles must be getting a bit stronger. She moves her feet around a lot when she is sitting, playing now and pulls one up to her to turn herself around or roll over. Surely it can't be so long before she is properly on the move?

EV is sleeping in late

EV coped really well with her jet lag when we arrived in America. She caught up 3 whole hours the first morning, waking at 4am. Then she caught up an hour a day, so she was all caught up after 3 days.

But, since then, she seems to have carried on catching up! She has slept in slightly longer and longer each morning, so that this morning she wasn't up until 9.30am! (could be because her room here is darker with the blinds closed than at home?) Lovely lie ins for me on my holiday, but will it make the reverse process that much more difficult??

EV is the life and soul of the party

My mum and dad had a few people around to meet EV today, only 30 or so! EV was absolutely in her element, the life and soul of the party. She smiled and laughed at everyone, was happy to be picked up and cuddled and generally gave off the impression of well behaved general cuteness. A little social butterfly in the making!

EV is allergic to something

but I'm not sure what. She just suddenly came out in a rash around her mouth and neck. I could see it getting pinker as I watched but I don't know what caused it. It was a bit scary when I first noticed but it quickly improved and I gave her a bath and washed all her skin. I'll have to keep an eye on her with everything that I can think of that she has eaten or touched today. (She's fine now by the way!)

EV is reading with her feet

EV was lying on my tummy in her pyjamas having a story this morning. It was one of her favourites, "That's not my lion," with touchy-feely bits in it. She was kicking her feet in the air and noticed how the pictures felt against her feet. After we'd finished the book together, she grabbed hold of it, dropping it and picking it back up to get it to open to different pages, and held it above her head. She then preceded to work through all the pages, rubbing her feet over the textured parts of the pages. I was amazed by how co-ordinated and purposeful she was. It is so much fun to just sit back and watch EV playing and investigating the world!

EV is all dog slobbery

EV met my parents dog, Lucy.
Lucy likes licking EV, EV likes sticking her hands in Lucy's mouth.
I like buying antibacterial wet wipes.

EV is travelling

By 8.30am EV had already enchanted the airport security guard, who made excuses to search me, I'm sure, just so she could get a cuddle. She had also munched her way through 2 entire weetabix with cranberry smoothie (Ev that is, not the security guard, I've no idea what she had for breakfast). We had to improvise slightly on the weetabix front as I couldn't find milk in any of the post security liquid check point shops.

It turns out, travelling intercontinental, via 3 flights and over 12 hours of airports and aeroplanes is, contrary to all my worries, EV's ideal day. Firstly, I didn't leave her sight all day (she even came with me to the loo). Second, airports offer a limitless supply of willing passersby to play the "Oops I dropped my toy" game with. Thirdly, the busy international flight means a captive audience of nearby passengers, at the mercy of a cute smile and held hostage for 7 1/2 hours with no way to escape peek-a-boo.

All of this attention unfortunately meant that EV didn't get much napping done on the flight but then she didn't do much crying either so I can't complain too much. Worryingly, EV was in such a good mood, full of endearing smiles and cute noises, that she prompted the young couple sat at the end of our row into a conversation he obviously wished she hadn't brought up. I only heard snippets... "It's only like if I said I wanted a dog one day, it's not that I'm threatening to leave you if you don't want a dog, it's just that I'd be letting you know I want one... a dog," and, "Well of course you're going to feel negative about it if you only think of the negatives, there's lots of positives too." Man, they are in for a long trip!

EV isn't even in disguise.

We went out in the woods today. Turns out we weren't in for a big surprise, although we did see a bear.

EV took a real shine to a carved bench with carvings of animals from the Jungle Book, it was designed with the help of the local cub-scouts. No real bears, fortunately though.

Since EV and has to spend the day cooped up in aeroplanes and waiting around in airports tomrrow and the weather was so nice today, I took EV to the woods and wildlife reserve near our home. We had a nice woalk and got lots of fresh air and EV had an explore on the carved bench. While we walked around, (EV was in the sling so she was up high, sitting on my hip) I showed EV some of the different types of trees and flowers and she had a feel/grab at them. It was a really lovely afternoon.

EV is waving, and pulling faces

Although not at the same time. I thought I would update my reader on these facts, as I completely missed them out over the last couple of weeks when I was being rubbish at keeping up EV's blog.

EV will wave, usually only when we are saying "bye-bye" or sometimes if they leave the room. (she doesn't seem interested in waving at other times though eg. hello, or waving back at someone waving to her to prove she can)

EV has adopted a new facial expression, screwing her nose up. It started during a period when it was quite bright and sunny and also EV was quite bunged up and snotty. The first few times we all thought it as quite funny and laughed, and soon wished we hadn't as she has been doing it more and more. I don't know which, in any or all, factors are to blame, but the nose crinkle seems to be here to stay. Thankfully, she isn't doing it quite so much now... only every time someone gets a camera out!

EV is not happy about having her face wiped

In fact she hates it. Face wiping of any kind is met with disapproval, swiping away of your hands and a disgusted facial expression.

EV doesn't like having sun cream rubbed on her cheeks, she despises having food cleaned from around her mouth with a muslin, she disapproves of having her face cleaned at bedtime or bath time with cotton wool and she detests having her runny nose wiped with a tissue.

The latest form of protest is to blow a big raspberry at you, sticking her tongue out and wrinkling up her nose. In one of my more generous moments, I wondered if she is mimicking the noise we make when we blow our noses with tissues?

EV is copying!

I was telling EV's dad this morning, while EV was playing on the floor in our room, about one of EV's friends. EV's friends favourite babbling noise is clicking his tongue against the roof of is mouth to make a king of clip-clop or ticking noise. I then demonstrated. EV looked up at us and morphing her mouth, as though she wasn't quite sure how to use her facial muscles to produce such a noise, she produced a very good imitation of the tongue clicking sound. This is definitely the first time EV has spontaneously copied back something new that she has seen or heard but hasn't been able to do before. We were very impressed. EV will often mirror back her favourite sounds now, especially raspberries and "pffff" (like you're blowing your fringe out of your eyes) sounds.

EV is picking up finger foods

All shapes and sizes, from off her tray or off a plate.

EV is glad to be home

We had a weekend away with friends over the Bank Holiday. It was great and EV loved all of the extra attention. However, EV isn't so oblivious to her surroundings as she once was and wasn't entirely convinced by the idea of sleeping somewhere that isn't home. She was reluctant to go for a nap in the room in her travel cot the during the day, she cried for almost half an hour when we put her down for bed the first night and she was awake by 5am every morning.

It's nice to know EV appreciates home though. She looked around the house with an expression of sheer awe and wonder when we first got home. "Wow! It's this place, no, it really is.... awesome! I thought I'd never see it again. And, look, there's the ceiling...the stairs. Wow!!!!"

EV is toppling backwards

on purpose

and finding it hilarious

The game of the day with EV is to lie on the bed, putting her hands up to be lifted to sitting. Once she is sat upright and unsupported she, grinning to herself in anticipation, throws her head and her entire weight back, hard, to crash back onto the soft, bouncy mattress! Then she laughs and puts her hands up for help sitting back up again.

I really hope she doesn't fancy experimenting with this one on the hardwood floors downstairs.

EV is putting one object inside another

Thanks to La Troll for teaching that skill, during our weekend away. EV can, just about, drop a small object intentionally inside a beaker.

It seems funny now that it never occured to me to teach her this, or even to persist to see if she could do it. I think sometimes a new face is much more interesting to her so that she wants to see what they can do and is much more open to their praise and new ways of playing.

She is still quite clumsy with this skill but has taken a keen interest in seeing where she can drop things and the effects of different movements (throwing, waving, wrist, fingers, dropping etc.) on the tragectory an item takes and where it lands.

EV is rolling over

At last!

She knows she can do it and actively rolls on purpose to get off her tummy. She still isn't rolling consistently and independently from back to front though. Well, only about 2-4 months late on achieving that one! I've been worrying needlessly about turning my back on the changing table for months!

EV is on her feet

EV will stand, for just a few seconds, holding onto my hands! She is still very short though, so short I think she would struggle to "cruise" on our sofa!

EV is wearing Uggs

She is better dressed than I am. They created quite a stir when I took EV int work today. I think her footwhere got ore compliments than either of us. (I'm getting quite used to being upstaged these days but I'm not sure what EV would make of it?)

They were a present, brought back by EV's grandad from Australia. And i am so fashion ignorant that I had no idea, really about Uggs. I was in shock when someone told me how much an adult pair costs. Wish I'd known, because EV was turning heads in hers whilst I tried to explain to my boss that I really can't afford to work less than 3 days per week! (Mixed messages??)

EV is in 6-9 month clothes

at last.

She is really very little! Only a week shy of 8 months and they drown her still!

EV is all talked out

We had a really busy Easter weekend with lots of family and friends around. EV loved all the attention and company and, from the moment she woke up on Friday, she seemed to talk for 72 hours straight. Being with just mum and dad today then was comparatively boring and EV hasquietened back down a little! Talking at the moment mans a long string of, quite expressive and animated "Da-da-da-da-da-da, ga-ga-wa-ma-ma-ga-ga" etc.

Ev is cold

Brrrrr.

EV didn't like the public swimming baths anywhere near as much as she likes her swimming lessons. It was quite big and loud and busy and the water was quite a bit colder than the pool where she has her lessons. The idea was to go as a family so her dad could see how well she is getting on at swimming. But cold little EV just cried when we put her in the water and, when she finally did recover and cheer up a little, clung to me like her life depended on it and started crying whenever I tried to pass her to Dad.

In the end we found a shallow paddle pool part with some fountains and she was much happier there. It really took me by surprised that she didn't ejoy it as she loves her swimming lessons, I hope she is a bit happier in the outdoor pool when we go on holiday in June.

EV is at the zoo

Joined the zoo with EV, a years unlimited entry for £65 which I don't think is too bad really. We will be able to go, just for a walk, as analternatie to the park all summer. Also, the passwill last into the school Easter holidays next year so I will be able to bring EV then too.

We went this afternoon. All the big animals are too big and too slow for EV to really recognise as being alive and interesting. The elephants and giraffes didn't do much for her. But she loved the birds which fly around freely in the reptile house and her favourite animal was the "Warty Pig" (apparantly different from a warthog). They are about the same size as her and run around a lot. EV saw them and exclaimed "Ah, Caa, Cahh!" a few times. A definite seal of approval.

EV is drinking by herself

EV can hold her own cup and drink from it independently now. She still loves her water. This is really good news as she loves to play with it, so it keeps her well occupied. It also means an official end to bottles. If / when EV is weaned onto formula or cows milk she won't need bottles anymore so much less work for me!

EV is patting the dog

I'm trying to teach EV to be "gentle." She's at an age now where she loves touching people's faces when they hold her and reaching out to touch other babies who are playing next to her. I don't want to discourage her from learning about other people by saying "no!" or moving her away when she shows such curiosity but then I don't want her grabbing a handful of someone's ear to eat it either.

So when she reaches out for a person I tell her "gently" and stroke her arm gently to show her. I ave no idea whether EV understands this yet but she does seem to be quite slow and reserved when touching obviously living things.

EV is also really interseted in pets now and always keeps a close eye on her Nana's cats but they won't come close enough for a hands on inpection (cats are sensible like that). Today EV met a dog for the first time, at a friends house. It was only quite a young puppy actually so the pup was as excited as she was! The meeting went off very successfully. Ruby, the dog, was sat by her owner and on her leash. I started with EV on my knee and, as Ruby became calmer and more used to her being there, gradually moved EV closer to the dog. Eventually she reached out to touch doggy's neck and ears ("Gently!") and Puppy returned the favour with a cautious but friendly like of EV's hand. EV was totally mesmerised.

EV is getting wet in the rain

Drizzle to be precise. I wonder what babies think of weather?

EV is working on getting somewhere

But mostly she just bounces up and down on the spot, or reaches so far forward that she slides onto her tummy and lies there looking fed up, or wriggles very slowly away from her intended target.

But ten out of ten fo effort. She has played so hard today that I feel tired just from watching her!

EV is so vain

If EV knows one thing about the world, it is that it revolves around her. And she expects other people to know that too.

I worry about her sometimes, she gets cooed over,and I get told how she is "like a little doll." Because she is so small (and with a birthday at the end of the school year) I think she is destined to be the little cute one. How come people never treat boy babies like that?

EV is having a takeaway

She only had a little bit, so she could join in with us. Don't tell anyone!

A few pieces of Naan, with a little of my pasanda sauce on a couple of them.

EV is in a puch chair (sometimes)

A few weeks back, we bought EV her first pushchair. We had put off getting her a pram before she was born, partly because of the extra cost for a cary cot or lie flat pram, which doesn't last long. And partly because I had read up on all the benefits of "baby wearing" and fancied myself as a bit of a hippy!

Once EV came along, we all found we loved the sling. EV especially likes being up high where she can see everything that is going on. So we decided that we'd stick with that until she gets too heavy to carry (and at 7 months she's still barely scraping 14lb!)

However, after much deliberation, we finally bought EV a pushchair that suits all of our needs and should last her as long as she will need it. It's also a very snazzy shade of green!

After buying said pushchair, it was just a matter of when EV was actually going to get a ride in it.
Popping to the butchers and the greengrocers in the village? I'll wear the sling because it's easier to get in and out of shops.

Tescos? Car seat and trolley.
Meeting friends for a walk in the forest? Too bumpy (and muddy), the sling will be better.
Sunday lunc at the pub up the hill? The hill is quite steep and the pushchair will take up a lot of space in the pub, so it might be tricky to get a table.
Right. Got it, EV's big outing in the pushchair - Off to the "stay and play" coffee morning down the road. Oh, it's raining. Can't be bothered with the rain cover, an umbrella will be easier.

3 weeks later, the pushchair is starting to pay it's way. After EV's poorly week, when I couldn't put her down, it's nice to rest my back and shoulders. It's also opened up the opportunity for relatives to take her for walks, which they love as much as she does! And it is doing the job nicely, but I still feel a little bit sad that no-one stops and talks to EV when she is down in the pushchair and she doesn't get as many cuddles and smiles. So the sling is still getting plenty of wear too!

EV is possibly trying to say mummy

It sounds like "ommmaa"

It either means mummy or, more likely, something along the lines of "Give me milk. Now. Be quick about it. I'm sleepy and I want to go to bed. So the quicker you give me some milk, the sooner I'll be asleep for the night and out of your hair."

I didn't know babies could communicate such complex emotional states so early. She must be a genius.

The "ommaa" sound has now replaced the "a-a-a-a-a-a" noise that EV used to make when she was expecting to get, but hadn't yet had her fill of, milk. It usually has a slightly pitiful tone as though she is pleading with me not to let her starve to death. I honestly think that she truely worries that I will let this happen, despite having aboslutely no evidence to support such a belief.

EV is at the aquarium

There's so much I could write about EV right now, seeing as the blog has been offline for 3 weeks...

Pushchairs, vanity, toys, poorly tummies, baby play cafes, ball pools....

But all in good time. For now, I will return to what feels like a recurring theme in EV's blog - Water. And fish.

I took EV to the aquarium today. No, not because I have an obsession with teaching her about water and swimming and fish and secretly want her to grow up to be a deep sea diver. But because the UK's largest Aquarium just so happens to be 15 minutes from my house and it was my friend's last week of maternity leave so we had a baby outing.

It was good fun. A bit on the pricey side at £15, but we got a whole day for that. There were all kinds of fish ,reptiles, amphibians and even otters. Typically though, you never can predict what babies will be enraptured by - EV saw and touched some particularly enthralling rocks.

She was also enchanted by the low level tanks where the huge fish swam right up to her and, when she was getting sleepy, she lay back in her push chair (yes we have a pushchair now - I'll fill you in later) sucking her thumb and staring up at the rays and sharks swimming over her in the aqua tunnel. All in all a successful day.

EV is still here!

Sorry we haven't posted for so long. This is partly because EV has been a little bit poorly sick. This made her very clingy to mum for a week or so, hence I haven't been able to put her down long enough to blog. But EV is, thankfully, all better now and the prolonged absense is also partly due to my just not bothering to switch on my computer.

Sorry. We are back.

EV is scratching stuff

Just to see what sound it makes under her fingernails.

Denim: "Scratch"

Bed clothes: "Scritch"
Velcro: "S-c-r-at-ch"
Ribbed cushions on the sofa: "Scr-scr-scr-scr-scr-"
Ribbons: "..."
High chair tray: "Zts-zts-ztssss"
Mummy's neck: "OWW!"

EV is wearing hair clips

What a pretty little girl. At least people will have a higher probability of guessing her gender now. I don't know why but even top to toe pink keeps some people guessing.

EV has lost her trademark Elvis quiff. The long section of hair, straight down the middle, at the front, which she has had since birth. But I couldn't bring myself to cut it into a fringe so instead I bought her some pretty, polka dot, mini clips, from accessorise. Now she can wear it clipped off her face instead of in her eyes. It's clipped to one side, I might add, not vertically, cartoon style! It's very chique, honest.

EV is shouting at strangers

In the opticians. In the street. In the clinic.

EV has connected shouting "AAa!" (very loudly) at strangers with them paying her lots of attention and talking back to her. It must be her first attempt at a greeting. She even looked quite perplexed as we were walking through the busy city centre and many of the objects of her vocal attentions refused to return the compliment!

EV is never full

Overnight, EV has doubled her appetite!
Could it be to do with no longer having a night feed? (She slept through again last night, but not Tuesday night.)
Could she be having a growth spurt? She is very sleepy, having lots of long naps.
This morning at breakfast she put away 1 weatabix with full cream milk, 1 banana and a trial sized packet of baby cereal (I had to make something quick as she was almost crying after finishing off her usual breakfast.) That'd fill me up any day. Yesteday, at lunch, she finished off 50% more food than usual (about 80g)and ate almost the same again in fruit and yoghurt.
Looks like I'm going to be making a lot more baby food from here on in.

EV is not where I left her

EV can move. Not very far, she has moved about a foot a few times now. First time, she was lying on her back and wriggled backwards up her cot. Today, she has somehow moved, whilst sitting on her bottom.

The only trouble is she can only move backwards. This must be really frustrating for her. Both times she moved today, she was after getting a toy that was out of reach, only to find herself even further away from it! I was doing the washing up at the time, so I didn't catch her in motion. Possibly, she moved at such a snails pace I wouldn't have noticed!

EV slept all night - and then some!

Hoorah!!

After just two agonising nights of refusing to feed EV or get her out of her cot in the night, last night EV slept right through. And, more to the point, so did I! I feel great! I can't gloat too much because it could well be a fluke. I had prepared myself for a long battle. Even just one night of solid sleep, however, has made all the difference to me.

I don't know if the same can be said for EV. Having got up at 6.20 for a feed, nappy change and a short play, she was ready to sleep again by 7.30 and slept for another two hours. She's since been quite clingy this morning and has now gone down for her second nap.

I wonder if the napping/clingyness and sleeping through are related? Maybe she's just really tired? We'll have to wait and see but, for now, I'm making the most of it!

EV is playing footsie under the table

Took EV out with a couple of freinds and babies today. SHe took particular interest in one little boy as they constantly reached for one anothers hands. He, being a few weeks older and more co-ordinated, was feeling her feet with his foot out of the side of his high chair. EV was obviously quite delighted at this as she proceeded to grab at his toes. (Presumably to suck them??)

EV is all fingers and thumbs

EV has started to pick things up between her finger and thumb, not just by grabbing at it with her fist. This is a very useful skill for feeding herself, something she would prefer to do herself, with lots of mess, thanks Mum. She also had a good go at 'pinching' the diamond out of my engagement ring!

EV is playing ball

We bought EV a few new bits and peices (inclluding her door bouncer), One of which was her first ball. She was fascinated watching it roll past her and frustrated when it rolled away when she tried to grab it. But it must be good because it incited some rather determined, if futile, bottom wriggling.

It was also really lovely to see EV really enjoying playing with her dad. Or should that be her dad really enjoying playing with her? I think the first inklings of developing ball skills have made EV suddenly a lot more interesting!

EV is out in the garden

I have decided that, for cheap, baby friendly days out, garden centres are the way forward. The independent had a list in its Satuday supplement, a few weeks back, of 50 top garden centres. Quite a number of them are in Cheshire, so I've decided to to the rounds.

EV likes looking at the fish and pets (Burleydam garden centre even stock reptiles!) you get fresh air and a nice walk, entry is free and a lot of them have lovely cafes too. It is a little too tempting to spend a fortune whilst you are there though (especially when places stock gorgeous toys and gifts like the Grovsenor)

I bought a few bits and pieces for the garden earlier in the week so EV has been out in the yard for some fresh air whilst I gave it a bit of a tidy today. It was a bit damp so she had to sit in her car seat, not her favourite, but once it gets a bit sunnier I will have to try her on a blanket - mind you she may well be moving around by then!

EV is gathering moss

EV's motor development is coming on in leaps and bounds at the moment. It is great fun to watch her bending double to reach out as far as she can and attempting to lift her big-nappy-clad-bottom off the ground for a little shuffle (still not quite there though).



There is one developmental milestone in the movement department that EV just doesn't seem inclined to master, however: Rolling.



The health and development guides I have read suggest that some babies first roll over from 3 months onwards and most babies are competent rolling both front to back and back to front by 6 months. No such signs here.

EV is jumping up and down

We discovered a fantastic new gizmo today, a baby doorway bouncer. EV tried it out at a friends house and she loved it. She is basically held upright in a harness on the end of a big spring, so that her tip toes just touch the floor. She can the use the momentum of her body movements to bounce herself up and down.

Whilst bouncing on it's own is great, the freedom of movement compared to being held and bounced by an adult, means she can trun herself around to look behind her, giving her much greater control over what she sees, and she can kick and straighten her legs, dance and practice putting a little weight on them.

I'm going to rush out and buy one on the weekend.

EV is arching her back

EV is keen to push off anything she can at the moment, in order to change her view of the world. This means arching her back and pushing with her head, when she is sitting up against something, so that she slides down away from it, onto her back. It also means kicking against things with her feet to push off, when lying on her back or front(but she hasn't figured out how to push off the floor yet), and arching her back, when lying on her back, in order to see behind herself.

EV is a fish out of water

I get the feeling that EV has made a the connection between moving her legs and getting around. Whilst lying on her front she will kick her legs wildly from the knee down, whilst reaching out with her arms. This would work fantasitcally if she was in water. On the rug however, she looks more like a stranded fish.

EV is squelching my food

I think we are almost past the days when EV will be able to sit on my lap whilst I eat at the table when we are out. In spite of the fact that EV had only just finished her own dinner she had her eyes, and hands, on mine the instant she saw it.

I had to make a little area, at one edge of the plate with slightly cooled food that she is okay to eat, in order to keep her hands out of the rest of it. To my surpirse, instead of just mashing about in the potato, she managed to bring her sticky hands to her mouth to eat it. She even had a go at gumming a slice of carrot.

EV is sick of looking at cars

We have been out to look at cars today. All day.

Found one, hurrah! But EV was not overly impressed by the experience, it was windy and bitterly cold and Dad hadn't thought to put her a poppered vest on, so she kept acquiring a little gap between her the bottom of her coat and top and the top of her trousers. Brrrr.

She perked up a lot when we went indoors to do the paperwork and everyone cooed over her, though. She loves being the centre of attention!

EV is waiting for the local news bulletain

Most mornings, we have a routine whereby EV has a milk feed and a nappy change at about 7am, then we get up and I have my breakfast and she has a play on the floor whilst I watch the Breakfast news before she has her breakfast.

EV plays quite happily and independently in the mornings, and generally doesn't pay the TV too much attention. But every time the jingle for the local news bulletain comes on, she turns around, craning her neck to see. It's quite odd, I can't explain it but it has been every day for the past week!

EV is playing peek-a-boo!

Hurrah! One of those moments all mums celebrate. The first time their baby finds repeatedly disappearing and reappearing faces endlessly riveting. (tiring after a while though)

For an extra twist on the old classic, I've found it really fun to play peep with a hand held mirror so that the face she sees alternates between hers and mine!

EV also loves to twist her head from side to side as though checking back to check that the face she saw is still there. She does this with strangers when we are out shopping, so that she looks as though she is being bashful. The other day, she was lying on her tummy with her cuddly dog next to her. She turned away to rest and suck her thumb but had to keep lifting her head, ever so briefly and see he was still there. I couldn't resisit hiding him after the 6th or 7th check. Suddenly she was up on her elbows, looking all around!

It's more and more fun to play with her as she seems to be becoming aware of her surroundings so quickly at the moment.

EV is thirsty

EV absolutely LOVES her new red cup! I've heard of a lot of babies who refuse to drink water, even from a bottle or a spoon. I've heard of even more who won't take anything from a cup but EV is extremely enamoured with hers.

So much so, in fact, that it is quite difficult to feed her any food. She gets so distracted by it, sitting their on the tray of her high chair, glowing brightly and distracting her. She just stares at it intently whilst I poke a spoon in her face. As soon as I lift the cup towards her, her mouth opens and she leans forward, excitedly. It's not even as though it's juice.

I have found I can lure her into eating a few extra spoons full of food by waving the cup in front of her and then sneaking the spoon in around the side as she eagerly opens her mouth expecting the refreshing Eau Naturale. Is that really bad of me?

EV is stroking stuff

EV is suddenly into textures. Her usborne touchy feely book has found a new lease of life, turns out that she thinks her lion is actually the very first one, whose ears are too soft. Ribbons, labels, fleecy cuddly toys are all good, velcro isn't so popular. a very sensible conclusion really.

EV is snotty

Very blocked up and doesn't much like having her nose wiped either.

EV is rubbing meat in her eyes

It's not a good look and I really don't want to have to take her to the doctor to explain a lamb hotpot based eye infection. I don't know what to do. EV's "rubbing the back of her head whilst sucking her thumb when feeling sleepy" trick has evolved into a "rubbing her eyes whilst sucking her thumb when feeling sleepy" trick. And since eating meat seems to make her drowsy (lets be honest, who hasn't been there?) I am worried that protein based eye puss will ensue. I have tried restraining EV's hands, seems a bit cruel and she just stops eating, putting a muslin over her arms, temporarily works as a cloth but as it, too, gets meaty, the problem just spreads further.



Maybe a blindfold??

EV is smelling the roses

Ah, Valentines day. This morning I got a lovely lie in whilst EV's dad got up with EV, gave her breakfast, took her out to the shops and came home with pain au chocolat, a paper and a gorgeous arrangement of yellow roses. "EV helped me choose the flowers," he says as he sits her on the bed next to me. EV smiles and lunges hungrily for the roses.

Of course! I'd almost forgotten, EV is a big fan of yellow roses, ever since she attempted to eat some at a friends house a couple of weeks back. She obviously hasn't forgotten them, and what good taste she has, must take after her dad!

EV is a hamster

EV can secret away food in her cheeks for later consumption. Just like a hamster.

I learnt this during the 24 hours since I gave her 2 small slices of avocado as finger food at lunch yesterday.

Thursday 11.30am EV has lunch, some mashed avocado and two small slices to practice holding and sucking/chewing.
12.30pm EV has a bath, as she has smeared quite a lots of the avocado on her face and hands.
12.40 pm Get EV out of the bath, find a small, green piece of avocado on the changing mat. Dispose of small piece of avocado.
1pm Put EV in her high chair whilst I make my lunch.
1.20pm EV looks sleepy, take her upstairs to bed.
2pm Get EV out of bed, what's this she has in her clenched fist? A small, brown piece of avocado. Dispose of small piece of avocado.
2.05pm Carry EV downstairs. I seem to have acquired an avocado-ish smear on my sleeve. Where did that come from.
2.20pm Put EV down on her mat for a play, what's this all over the outside of her tights? Looks familiar.
2.25pm Find a small, purple piece of avocado on the seat of EVs high chair. That explains a lot.

Friday 2.30am Get EV out of bed to feed her, as I put her on my bed, a small, black piece of avocado falls from her hand. Nice.
8.30am Get EV out of bed. Decide to change the bedsheets, they used to be white.
8.31am Decide not to give her finger food again for a while.

EV is bumps-a-daisy

Now that she can sit up steadily and unsupported to play, I let EV play independently, on a few layers of blankets and rugs and playmats (we have hard floors), surrounded by cushions and with my feet or legs or hands nearby, just in case.

So how is it that she topples over just as I am reaching for something or getting up to stretch my legs or looking at a text message? And how does she aim, so accurately, for the gap in the cushions, just past the edge of the thickest most padded bit of blanket, where there is a toy with hard placticky bits to fall on? Every time.

EV is pushing my buttons

I can't do anything technological at the moment without EV getting her hands all over it. She is constantly after the mouse when I am sat at the computer, she has toppled herself over numerous times in pursuit of a just-out-of-reach remote comtrol and as for my mobile phone, with its jaunty ring and light up, animated screen, she cannot resist. What is it, I wonder, that makes gadgets with buttons so irresistable? And why is it that my gadgets with buttons are so much more exciting than any of her own lights flashing speakers beeping batteries not included toys?

EV is a two meals a day girl

I've tried to up EV to solids three times a day this weekend, introducing the delights of meat!

Despite the tempting delights of No-chilli-chilli and a roast dinner, EV's appetite doesn't seem to be quite up to the challenge just yet. So the meat will stay on the menu but we'll have another go at 3 meals a day in a couple of weeks.

Still, less cooking and blending for me to heve to worry about.

EV is firmly planted on her bottom

Now that EV has mastered sitting upright, there is no thing that can upset her from her favourite position. She can lean or reach forwards or sideways and right herself again, although leaning backwards still results in a floorward dive. Her latest trick is to rock backwards and forwards when she wants to get something just out of reach (usually Bee-bug) so I'm offering odds of 10:1 that she'll crawl before she bottom shuffles. Combined with the bath locomotion last week, bottom shuffling looks like the odds on favourite.

EV is living in 2D

Now that she has got to grips with grasping, so to speak, EV has taken to trying to pick up objects that appear in pictures. 2D blueberries in a board book and a lion's face on her play mat have both been the subjects of unsuccessful grasping attempts. And she doesn't give up easily!

EV is playing with the big kids

Thought EV would have to miss swimming today, due to the car incident. But we have a very nice baby friend who goes to the swimming class straight before EV and offered to give us a lift.

I had planned to hang around during baby friend's lesson (he's 6 weeks older than EV and he is in the 6m-1yr class) before doing our lesson and getting a taxi home. But the lovely instructor said that, since EV is nearly 6m now and one person hadn't arrived for the class, we could do that class instead!

Their is a lot of the same stuff, but some more challengin things too (jumping in fro msitting on the side!!) and the pace is a lot faster. EV was exhausted! Which meant long naps this afternoon and quite time for mum to recuperate from her car ordeals!

EV is feeling very clingy

Lots of hugs and cuddles and sleeping on mum and crying and not wanting to be left with anyone else.

A bit snuffly- full of a cold, a bit bothered by her teeth, possibly a bit of picking up on mum's Car-Stress ( It set on fire when I dropped it off at the garage today, we're fine, again, but little blue car has definitely bitten the dust), and maybe a little bit of stranger-anxiety. Poor little bundle. At least there's lots of cuddles for me to make the most of.

EV is all in one piece

I had a bit of a scary incident today and crashed my car in the snow.

Unfortunately we have had to say goodbye to my lovely little car but, fear not, EV is unscathed. In fact, she slept through the whole thing!

Ahh, to be a baby and blissfully unaware of the stresses and strains of the world!

EV is a baby gourmet

Further to my post about EV's preferring 100% Organic shop bought food to the stuff I usually feed her yesterday, EV is proving today that she has a refined palette.

We took EV to Bourough market Yesterday. We showed her the sights and smells of all the different foods and, of course, picked up lots of free samples for mummy and daddy along the way. We also bought some olives and other yummy bits to snack on for lunch today.

EV has been in messy finger food heaven! Sucking on sliced of tomato, crinkly dressed lettuce (her fave since it is so easy to get hold of and cram in her mouth - and an interesting texture too) and even the thyme maniaded olives!

Mushed carrot and birdseye peas just ain't gonna cut it anymore!

EV is preferring bought baby food to mum's cooking

We travelled down to London today to stay with friends for the weekend. So, instead of cooking EV good wolesome home cooked food I bought her some ready made stuff from the supermarket, to save on microwaving, washing, cooking, blending and sterillising during our weekend away.

EV put away twice as much of the bought baby food as she usually eats. I guess that says something about my cooking?? (It was yummy though, I tried it: Sweet Potato, Pumpkin and Prunes from Ella's Kitchen)

EV is an underwater predator

EV had a fab time at swimming today, swimming on her front and even closing her eyes for the first time in response to the cue for going under water. When we got home, I have a bath with EV and she bottom-shuffled all over the bottom of the bath chasing her bath toy (a walrus who blows bubbles!) I was amazed. Obviously she is more boiant under water and the reduced friction on the base of the bath meant she could get around far more easily than she would be able to on dry land. Bath toys everywhere BEWARE! EV is out to get you!

EV is moving into her own room

Tonight's the night. Hope it means more sleep for everyone involved! I'll let you know.

EV is full of hugs and kisses

Hugs for mummy, hugs for daddy and kisses for mummy too.

When her dad comes home from work EV greets him with a big smile and, if I am carrying her, she reaches out her arms to her dad. Likewise, if she is sat with someone else, she will sometimes reach out with her body and arms towards me.

EV also wraps her arms round her favourite cuddly toy, Raf-raf and even plants me with wet kisses on the cheek (without sucking at it now!)

EV is learning to sign

Our latest class endevour is baby signing (so easy to miss-type/miss read). An hour of singing with other mums and babies, accompanied by Sign Language insted of actions. I struggled to remember more than 2 or 3 of the signs we did today - a sure sign that my baby-braincloud hasn't subsided just yet. It's good fun for EV though, free, lots of other mums and babies, regular, familiar songs and a few useful signs she might want to use later (e.g. more, nappy, teddy).

As EV gets a bit older, she is much happier in the day if we go out somewhere. I think it's partly the novelty and the other people but also, she has my full attention when we're out as I'm not constantly spotting jobs I need to "nip" and do around the house.

EV is a barfly

After telling you how serious EV can be the other day, I may have to retract that comment. Today we went to the pub to watch the footie and EV was a regular socialite. Smiles for everyone who said hello, almost no crying and even, in spite of much cheering and goal scoring, an obliging nap. I have only one conclusion: EV is obviously at home in a bar.

And to prove my point, she had one more party trick up her sleeve... She was after our drinks! A few determined but clumsy swipes at a pint glass, fitting of a rather worse for ware pub regular, sent it toppling over, taking a couple of nearby bottles with it. All of which EV found occasion to grin broadly at.

Now I know why they don't allow children in a lot of pubs!

EV is part of the e-generation

I could have already told you that, given she has her own blog and all. But today EV showed the precocious interest in and understanding of technology typical of "the kids today."

We speak to EV's grandparents on the web cam every couple of weeks so they can see her face to face, being overseas. Today EV watched the screen delightedly (even more so than simple telly) and showed a particular interest in the camera. She reached out for it, held it and, inevitably, attempted a suck or two. I'd say she is definitely getting to(o literal) grips with technology.

EV is super serious

EV doesn't hand her smiles out to just anyone, you really have to earn them. I'm starting to think EV isn't as smiley as a lot of other babies I meet. Instead, she has a pensive, thoughtful, serious (baffled??) look on her face most of the time. She has even been known to cast the odd dirty look at those whose coos and pleas for smiles are obviously futile.

That said, it does depend what sort of mood she is in and whether she wants your attention or not. For a while I wondered if her lack of vacant smiles might be a sign that EV might be studious and deep. Now, however, I realise it could just be a sign that she might be a stroppy madam!

EV is boucing

I bought a big birthing/aerobics/pilates ball, one of those inflatable 75cm diameter things, when I was pregnant. It is supposed to be good for back ache, pelvic pain and getting the baby head down. Well we have found a new use for it. EV loves to sit on someone's knee whilst they bounce up and down on the ball. It goes without saying that Dad is more fun than me because he bounces her higher and isn't a protective scaredy cat like me!

EV is sucking her toes

A baby milestone, surely? Couldn't manage to get her to repeat the trick for the benefit of my camera but surely there'll be plenty of opportunities for that now that she's mastered the trick.

I just hope she doesn't try the nappy dipping variation my mother-in-law has warned me about. Eww.

EV is a baby pteradactyl

All day long EV has been deafening me with her new noise. It's not a cry, she makes it when she is playing quite happily, presumably she's testing out how loud she can make her voice. It is a long, loud, high pitched screech, something like - AAeeerrreee!

Half territorial tom cat, half baby dinosaur (I imagine). EV definitely conjours up the flying dinosaur image the most as the squawking is often accompanied by frenzied (and delighted??) arm flapping.

EV is wearing camouflage

EV has khaki war paint streaked across her brow and cheek bones. She even has some in her hair for good measure. She looks like an extra from Apocolypse now.

And, no, we're not indoctirnating her into the armed forces at an early age. It is in fact dinner. It is amazing what a convincing camouflage paint colour/texture combination you can get from sweet potato blended with brocoli and red pepper. Forget Annabel Karmel, I should write a book of "recipes" that double up as "organic all natural" face paints, I'd be a baby food legend.

EV is winning me over

with the little noise she makes when she stares up at me, all wide eyed, and smiles. It's sort of a "hhheh" Awwwww.

EV is recovering from having pooed in the bath

Nice.

(Actually she wasn't in the least bit bothered about it. Just me then?)

EV is sitting unsupported

What a clever girl!

EV is staying in a creche

EV stayed at creche today, first time away from family during the day, for an hour whilst I did "Salsacise"! It was quite good actually and, surprisingly, I didn't think or worry about her at all whilst I was there. Mind you, I was in the same building (the local school) and the I've met the lady running the creche quite a few times. All went well, no tears from EV, in fact she was asleep when I went to pick her up.

EV is spinning around

I think the end of being able to put EV down somewhere and expect her to be in the same place when I return is nigh. I put her down in her cot this morning whilst I did some quick jobs and I was very glad I chose somewhere secure to put her because, when I looked round, she had rotated herself through 90 degrees and was lying with her legs poking out between the bars of the cot!

EV is tiring me out

So tired. I thought she was supposed to sleep for longer once she started weaning??

Actually, I don't think she was hungry most of the times she woke last night, just struggling with her teeth. I wish they would get on with it and come out!

After waking up 4 (or was it 5?) times through last night, EV ended up slepping in our bed at 5 this morning. Is it the start of a slippery slope?

EV is throwing her teddy out of the pram

A bit of poetic liscense here since EV doesn't have a pram, or indeed a teddy. She has, however, worked out how to let go of/ drop/ throw things. Of course, she immediately wants them returned. And returned again. And returned again.

EV is holding up

EV helps me change her nappy by holding onto her feet whenever I put her down on her changing table now. She has got quite a good grip on them and loves waving them around, making her bottom one less thing for me to have to juggle when cleaning up.

Speaking of cleaning up....! That's becoming a bit more interesting now EV has started weaning. It's not as smelly as I dreaded it might be but definitely a whole lot stickier! The flushable liners have really come into their own.

EV is happy

Had a lovely, calm and happy day with EV today. She seems much less agitated than she has been over the past couple of weeks. It might be because she is less hungry (having started having 2 meals a day today!) or just falling back into the predicatbility of her normal routine. I think she is starting to understand what to expect in certain situations (e.g. getting her nappy changed when she goes in the bathroom, going out somewhere when she's put in her car seat) and to communicate a little what she wants (hungry, bored, tired, sore etc.)
All in all she's had a lovely day, long may they continue.

EV is the big girl in class

EV was back at her swimming classes today, after the Christmas break. Last term EV was easily the tiniest baby in the class, having started at 5 weeks old halfway through the last term. Now most of the babies from the last class have moved up to the 6 month plus group and EV is one of the big ones! There was even a tiny 5 week old baby there - I can't believe EV was that small when she started. The little baby just wanted to sleep and feed and cuddle mum the whole class through.

Meanwhile, EV is now into swimming (floating to be precise) on her front. The instructor, who is wonderful, said she couldn't believe EV was wanting to float on her front already, she has to stay little a while longer!

EV is singing

EV loves bedtime these days. She smiles up at me as I put her into her cot as if to say, "Thanks, Mum, I've been waiting for this all day."

She has a bedtime routine: change nappy and into bedtime clothes, brush her gums, feed in the bedroom with just a lamp on so it's dark, into bed and a few nursery rhymes before I switch the lamp off and kiss her good night.

Over the last few nights, EV has started "joining in" with her bedtime rhymes, chattering along tunefully as I sing. She stops when I stop and joins in most wholeheartedly with the rhymes I sing most often. I know parents often imbue their children with abilities they can't really have but I'm convinced EV recognises the songs (she's heard Baa Baa black sheep and Rock-a-bye baby practically every night since she was born) and thinks she is singing along. It is amazingly cute.

EV is catching up

Sorry for the lack of posts, settling back into the New Year Routine has been tough (for me not EV!) Not to worryt though because I'm sure that, unless you are a baby food fiend - I'm let to believe that such oddballs do exsist - you would probably have been bored to death with the last 5 days of blogging, which, I imagine, would have looked something like this...

2nd Jan: EV is weaning!
Got the green light from the health visitor (are all mothers scared of health visitors or is it just me?) to begin weaning EV. She was ravenous over xmas and the New Year and her weight gain is slowing down. I am very excited about weaning and have already spent several hours day dreaming about which foods I am going to give her first and what exciting pairings I can think of. Yes, I am aware of how sad that sounds, thank you.
Disappointing then that the first exciting meal is... Potato! Wooo! Potato! Okay, so not as exciting as I had fantasised it might be. Barely two minuscule spoon fulls made it past EV's lips but she did enjoy the experience of having her mum and dad fuss over her and make her smile whilst getting to sit in her new high chair. We also got some lovely "first food" photos, in which she looks like she is actually eating.

3rd Jan: EV is having carrot and potato
Some mild success. EV finds it much easier to eat off my finger than the spoon so I tried alternating the two. This meant that she got to eat some of the food and start getting used to the idea of having a spoon in her mouth.

4th Jan: EV is having sweet potato
Bring on the root vegetables! She sucks her thumb between mouth fulls. Not sure if this is to stop me being able to force feed her and give herself a rest between mouth fulls or if sucking makes it easier to swallow, that being what she is used to after all?

5th Jan: EV is having parsnip
Not so much of a parsnip fan :-(

6th Jan: EV is having carrot and potato (again)
Success! Loved it. Got the hang of the spoon. Finished the lot. Even leant forward and opened her mouth obligingly. Tomorrow: Fruit!

EV is talking to baby V3

EV:V3.

Get it?

In the mirror I mean. She is quite interested in touching and talking to that strange mirror baby who is always getting carried around by her mummy and her daddy. She has no idea that it is herself, of course. But V3 can do all sorts of interesting things, like blow raspberries at her and smile.