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.