Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy.....

Up until quite recently Olivia simply used to swing backwards and forwards in the door bouncer. Then all of a sudden she realised that she could bounce. Now there's no stopping her. If only we could hook her up we could probably power the lights....

Visit to Stoke

Last week Olivia and I drove over to the Stoke campus of Stafford University to catch up with Judith and Audra from the NWUPC. Unfortunately Audra was called away almost as soon as we arrived but we still managed to have lunch with Judith. Afterwards we went for a walk round Hanley park and admired the wildlife.

Olivia Goes Commando...

...and no, this is nothing to do with not wearing her nappy. Olivia is now very mobile and drags herself across the floor to get to where she wants to go. Yesterday she was after her toy windmill. I now really do need 'eyes in the back of my head' as my Mum often says.

Trailer Trash

Chris and Tim have now moved their caravan and awning into the space left between the shed and the greenhouse. Tim's eldest son James lent a hand and Archie the border terrier watched with interest. They will be staying here until they move to the Lake District in 3 weeks. It was quite a job getting the caravan in place as our lawn turned out to be very soft - it took 5 of us to push/pull it into position.

Scary New Look

Rich decided the other day to adopt a new look. He only kept it for a day though and shaved the rest of it off. He is now bald and beardless. There's a long story attached to this which I'd rather not go into now, except to say that it was a result of pressures at work forcing his hand (don't ask).

Off to Telford

Well, on Wednesday this week Chris and I took Olivia off to Mothercare to use a Pixifoto voucher I got with my hospital Bounty pack and have some professional pics taken of Olivia. The photoshoot was free and we got a complimentary print but as they took so many wonderful pictures I ended up spending a lot of money. You might say that they really saw me coming, but to be honest I was fully expecting it and was a willing victim (photos to follow). We then went to Frankie and Benny's where Olivia sat very nicely in the highchair and ate her lunch and then got to grips with a couple of straws. She looked for all the world as though she was water divining - no Olivia, we're christians, we don't do that! The only blight on the excursion (for Olivia that is) was that I gave her a piece of calamari to try which went round and round and round and round and round her mouth.... she got quite upset. It didn't dissolve and as she still doesn't have any teeth she couldn't chew it either. Poor girl.

Aunty Nat and Uncle Bill

We went to see my parents last weekend and who should drop by but Aunty Nat and Uncle Bill. Olivia was getting crabby at this point so it was a miracle that we managed to get such a good picture.

Wot No Highchair?

We're having real trouble at the moment getting Olivia to eat in her highchair. Strangely enough breakfast isn't a problem. However, lunch and dinner have become really difficult and I usually end up having to have her on my knee and moving her from one leg to the other to get her to eat without bawling her eyes out. It might be because she's tired. If there's someone else there to distract her that works too. Anyway, I've resorted now to putting her in her activity centre and feeding her there with the tv on (CBeebies is good for this).... probably not a good habit to be getting into but if it works then I guess that's what you do.

Greenhouse Day

Our very good friends Chris and Tim came to help move the greenhouse to a spot nearer the hedge so that the space could be used more effectively. Actually Tim did most of the work and we simply stood back and admired his handiwork. Olivia sat on Chris' knee for some of the time and Deana roamed around the lawn. Ivor has introduced me to Windows Movie Maker. Not the best video ever I have to say (yes I know some of the photos are the wrong way around and rather repetitive), but still a very useful way of blogging a series of pics. See what you think.

Hurrah and Jubilations!!!

Well well well. Friday night she surprised us all and went right through the night for the very first time! Bed just after 9pm, up the next morning at 8.40am! It was such a momentous event that I went into her in the morning and took her picture (as well as text hundreds of people) and she was in her usual good mood. We've been looking for that elusive 12 hour night that so many other babies seem to have sussed long before this point. Don't get it though. If anything, you'd think that I'd have had to get up to her more given that she was so full of a cold..? Just goes to show that you can't predict things at all..... She hasn't repeated this since but at least we know that she can actually physically manage to go 12 hours without eating.

Snotty

Oh dear. Olivia has a real streamer at the moment. She's been a bit congested for the last couple of weeks but now it's developed into a real snot producer. Still, it's the first real illness she's had, so not bad given that she's got to 6 months of age. Think the breast feeding must have kept all those other bugs at bay :-)

Bananarama!

It's strange isn't it? Take one baby keen to explore the world and she'll stuff almost anything in her mouth. In the last week alone she's been found chewing on the dog's blanket and sucking the end of the cat's tail. However, give her some food and all she wants to do is squash it between her fingers and smear it over herself and everyone in the vicinity. Today we went to the 3 fishes cafe met up with Julia and Chris. I'm trying to get Olivia to eat more finger foods (the baby police aka 'health visitors' tell me I must) so after shovelling a load of her usual mush into her I gave her some banana to finish. She had a great time and eventually, with a little help, ate some of it but not before covering all three of us. We were absolutely plastered in it.

Happy Birthday Mum

It was my Mum's birthday this weekend and we were joined by Bex, Ivor and Molly and also Aunty Cynthia. Was great to see everyone. Molly and Olivia seemed to get on well too and I'm really looking forward to the day when they'll start playing with each other. Er..thanks Ivor and Bex for letting me nick the photo of the 4 of us from your blog (Not that I asked!). Sorry Mum, I seemed to have forgotten to take a picture of you and it was your weekend!

Don't tell Trinny and Susannah

Oh dear... See what happens when I leave Richard to dress Olivia. Some people just have no idea at all...