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.