Snow and Power Cuts - not a good combination!!

Friday morning we awoke to around 10 cm of snow! I love sow - it makes everything look perfect, its cool to play with - it even makes a great sound when you tread on it! Duncan was able to work from home so when Lucy had a early nap - we bundled up and took Amelia into the back garden. Some time ago Duncan's cousin had given us a red all-in-one ski suit which I didnt think we would ever use (other than to dress up as Tom, the helicopter pilot in Fireman Sam!) but it was perfect - she looked so cool - calling it her 'skinny suit'! And we built a snow man -pelted eachother with snow, made snow angels - brilliant.
We were meant to have been at a little party at Louise & Jack's that morning, but she had had to cancel as they had no power that morning.... well Friday night as I was dishing up dinner, our power went off. Luckily the girls were up at the table because it was pitch black- the whole road was out - we had to use our mobile phones as torches til we could find the proper torch and Duncan found some tealights - we didnt have any proper candles!! Everything was out so the girls had a brief wash after dinner..and into bed. We made it an adventure for them and the power came back on around midnight.
So Saturday we bought candles for the next eventuality - whenever that might be.....and it was Saturday night. This time it went out literally just as we got in the bath. I am so glad it wasnt one of the rare nights when Duncan isnt there for bath time - can you imagine being plunged into complete darkness with your two daughters in the bath?? So we bathed by candle light!! But the power didnt come back on in the night - in fact it still wasnt back on in the morning when the girls woke up early at 6.30am! We were due to visit Duncan's parents that morning, so we bundled the girls up quickly, got in the car and just went there - took clothes for the girls to get dressed after some breakfast. It was so dark, cold and miserable in our house! Luckily Duncan's parents house was warm and they made us a lovely brekkie - but the power wasnt back til nearly 10.30!!
In the afternoon though we braved going to Burnham (though the snow turned out to be far less over there) and finally met the gorgeous Jack 'Enjamin Friday (his name according to Amelia) who is just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Ben & Dawn look so happy - Dawn look blummin fantastic! It was so lovely to finally meet him - i cried - but not too much :)
Brief power cut Sunday night - but it has been back to normal ever since - very strange - there as some conspiracy theories about it - but I dont buy into that!
Duncan is now off work for the rest of this year!! But we are limited in activities as the snow is still around, but is now that horrible ice mush which isnt terribly enjoyable. I just cant believe its christmas eve tomorrow! Got to make Lucy's sack & finish her Christmas day dress tonight... and wrap most pressies (might assign some wrapping to Duncan - I can say Amelia did it!!) but I am SO SO excited about the next few days!!!!

Amelia-ism of the Day
Called out from her bed as Duncan and I went downstairs at their bedtime... 'I love you mummy - all the world and back again. Daddy - I love you nothing' and then she laughed because she knows she made a joke - little monkey!

A bit Poorly

Poor little Amelia has been poorly the last few days, it started with a cold but developed into a tummy bug with little wet farts and a lot of sick in the night last night :( She is so good when she is ill though - only moaning a little about a tummy ache - but she is definately off - yesterday she didnt even want to eat some prawns my dad and Tom bought round!!!

Our Christmas cards have finally arrived andwill be sent off tomorrow - it took me ages to get a good photoof them - I wanted something cool so made some paper snowflakes for them to play with for a 'photo shoot' in front of some red fleeceI hung up. Well - they ate them - Lucy is eating one in the picture - but I love it - it captures them well!

Lucy is definately perfecting the art of just screaming to get something - usually something her sister has - its so hard, as Lucy doesnt understand why she can just take some things, but not others, and I dont want Amelia to think that her sister can scream and automatically get what she wants - so I am developing a good diversion technique!

Anyway - we are meant to be at a Christmas party tomorrow - but will have to see how the little monkeys are - poor things :(

Amelia-ism of the day

'I waish I was just like you Daddy.' Said as she was falling asleep after puking everywhere last night. Very cute - but quite mad!

Photo Face

Lucy has developed a photo face. Or photo snarl . Its half a smile, half a menacing gesture!

Every time the camera is on her, especially if theflash light glows.. we get this face.

Thank goodness its still beyond cute!

Both the girls are loving the christmas decorations which went up at the weekend - especially some little baubles in the tree with little toys for them in. They were originally for Amelia to give out to her friends - but she is not too happy about this and has decided they may all need to be hers!

Today they played together while I put stuff away - Amelia in her bed hiding in the covers and 'booing' Lucy - who was standing at the side of the bed screaming with laughter and trying to lift the covers up each time Amelia hid - its just brilliant. They also do a fair ammount of crawling off together - usually when I want to get them dressed and its so frantic and cute that I dont care it takes over half an hour to get two such tiny monkeys dressed!! I just love it when they play together!

And this weekend (December 13th) Amelia & Lucy got their first cousin, Jack Benjamin William Friday. He is GORGEOUS! Just thrilled for Ben & so proud of Dawn and cannot wait to meet him (not til the weekend though - boo!)

Amelia-ism of the Day -

'Nanny to you have a little Nanny car seat?' - asking my mum!

Duncan's Birthday.. and other stuff

Well Duncan turned 30 last week so we have had a week of celebrations! Last Saturday Duncan and I went out for a drink with his friends to celebrate - it was the first time we have been out together since having Amelia!!! Mum and Dad came round to babysit and off out we went - I felt very strange at first, like something was missing (Amelia & Lucy!) but was fine in the pub and we had a really good time. Dad picked me up at a respectable hour and the men went on for a curry and when we got home I learned Amelia had woken up. Was she upset Mummy and Daddy wern't there?? Oh no. She was over the moon and very impressed that Nanny Green was there!

On his actual birthday we went to London Zoo. Its smaller than Colchester Zoo but this suited us as Amelia insisted on walking most of the time and Lucy didnt want to be in the buggy either and we forgot the sling so we had very tired arms when we got home. There is quite a lot of stuff there and as its smaller, you are very close. We saw lots of monkeys, lions, tigers, meercats and the aquariums and insect houses are so impressive. But the highlight was the gorillas, they came out to eat just as we got to their enclosure and all that is between you and them is a big window (I am assuming it is fairly unbreakable!!) and they can walk above you in walkways, so above us most of the time was the new 20 stone male gorilla they have bought in, a few meters above our heads, looking down at us. Amazing.

Amelia however, preferred the statues of the gorillas, especially the mummy and baby ones and also didnt want to leave a little tree house in the childrens section. Its ridiculous really, I am glad Duncan and I enjoyed it as much as we did cos Amelia is easy to please with some lunch, a tree house and gorilla statue! The journey home was a nightmare though - taking nearly 3 hours. Both girls were stars though, especially Lucy as she hadnt really been able to crawl around all day - had been carried or asleep in a pushchair or car for most of it.

We also had a little party for him yesterday - just both our families here, a bit of BBQ on the chinmea (or, as it turned out, on the actual BBQ as it would have taken too long to use the chimnea!!) and some fireworks! I had been wondering how Amelia & Lucy would fare with them - we had seen some from indoors around bonfire night and I had told Amelia how loud they would be. Well she loved them! More More she was shouting!! Lucy was not so keen, she didnt like the initial whoosh as they took off - so we actually played indoors while pyromaniac duncan did his fireworks!

Last night I awoke to Amelia crying out, almost sobbing. I went in there and she was beside herself, 'I wanted that Nana (banana)' and I realised she was half dreaming, so I said 'Well you can have the nana darling'

She replied 'Its Lucys'

'She will share'

'But I wanted them breadsticks'

'You can have the breadsticks'

'They are Lucys'

'Lucy will share them with you'

'She cant - they are hers!'

and this went on for a good 10 minutes until she fell back asleep, it was so wierd. This morning I asked her if she remembered and she said 'yes - I wanted Lucys breadstick, but I didnt snatch them' - now how good is that?? Even in her dreams!!!

However today we went round the whole of Tescos with her denying she needed a wee - she hadnt been all morning. I should have just taken her and made her go.... because after I got both girls in the car, packed the shopping in the boot (in the pouring rain) and put my key in the ignition she announced 'I neeeeeeeed a wee'. I asked if she could wait. She could not. So I said 'Well you will have to sit on Mummy's knees and go in the car park'. She thought about it and beamed 'Yes Please, like a dog.'

She was so impressed with herself afterwards. How disgusting!!!

Amelia-ism of the day

'Mummy, why have you put that shoe polish on your eyes?'

It was eye liner - shows how long it is since I have worn make up - and how badly I clearly apply it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cold Water

We take it in turns to bath with the girls every night - so much fun, so much mess! We usually try to throw cold water over the other one and Amelia has picked up on this, two nights ago she got out the bath and while brushing her teeth, filled up a cup with cold water and chucked it over Duncan who was stuill lounging in the bath. I couldnt have been prouder, except last time they all ganged up on me and I had several freezing pints chucked on me - even Lucy thought it was funny!!!

Amelia-ism of the day

Me 'Are you drinking the bath water?'
Amelia 'No - I am just washing inside my mouth.'

She was drinking it - but is very very sly!!!

A Wendy House

The girl's wendy house was finally put up this weekend ... both Grandads came round and it actually went up a lot better than expected - I think its brilliant. Amelia announced 'Its the best wendy house ever' and fell over the step each and every time she ran in and out!!!!! It just needs a bit of TLC and it really will be the best one ever!
We went swimming at the weekend too, it took Lucy a while to get into it as it was quite a bit colder than usual..but we had a great time in the end, well over an hours worth of splashing and shark imitations..brilliant.
We spent Sunday afternoon with Ben, Dawn and the Jack/Grace bump. CANNOT WAIT til that baby comes out. CANNOT WAIT. It hammered with rain all morning, but we braved their excellent local park. Amelia loved it - but near-gale force winds did not agree with Lucy, especially as she would not keep her socks on... how she kicks them off so quickly, I will never know. Funny how both the girls have an aversion to anything on their feet, as soon as Amelia could crawl, she would rip her chums socks off too!!!
Plans are coming together for Duncan's 30th next week. Amelia is getting him a kite. There is no danger that he will see this and be surprised before his birthday as she has informed him several times she is getting 'The best kite ever!' (do you see a Best Pattern Ever here?!?!?)
Lucy is pulling herself to stand on anything and everything, she will not stay off the fireplace, knowing full well she is not allowed on there - she gives me a little smile and tries to climb into it. She is also letting go and trying to stand unaided. Its ridiculous - she is my tiny baby!!!!
Got Amelia a christmas present today - a stocking filler really - a cheapo tutu fairy skirt from a 99p shop, I forgot to put it away though when we got home and she managed to convince me to let her wear it ... well she loves it. She took it off fr her birth , but cred until Duncan gave in and let her wear it in bed. 99p..... I hope we get a suitable reaction for all her more expensive presents. She also told me today I could 'cry about it'. That monkey.. I was laughing at her and Lucy having a scream off after lunch!!!

Amelia-ism of the Day..
'Cuddle Mummy Cuddle'
'Why'
'I dont know.... I cant cuddle myself' (read as... I I dont knooooooooooooooooow, I cant cuddle moi-sellllllllllllllllllllllfffff!!)

Jumping Up and Down in Muddy Puddles!

Today while Duncan has been at home with the flu, we went to Hockley woods to check out the new play equipment and for Amelia to jump up and down in muddy puddles a la Peppa Pig.
So we got in the car (we couldnt have walked and taken the buggy - would have been filthy!) and Lucy got in the sling and we went off to find muddy puddles - it had rained so much earlier in the week I thought the place would be awash with mud and puddles, but ...no. After walking down the hill and finding dry ground we cut across to find wetter ground, and got a little bit lost...but did not find a single puddle...until we got back to the car park - which was full of them!! Then there was much jumping and Amelia got covered in muddy water! Surprisingly, as normally when she gets wet she wants to whip her clothes off, she was pretty happy to get soggy & filthy - maybe as she was wearing her wellies and woods clothes.

A real shame we had to jump in the car park...but needs must!

This is how lucy spent the walk - all slinged up ... looking a little thoughtful in this photo..

Then we went into the park and were not too impressed with the new equipment really, its a bit to old for her - but we went on the old faithful - the swings and both were happy!!

We had to leave in a hurry though - with Amelia announcing she needed a wee and it was going to come out - we ran to the car and I strapped in Lucy , whipped Amelia's trousers and knickers down to have a dignified squat and she started a poo strain - I could not believe it! Luckily she didnt manage to actually poo there - thank goodness!

Amelia-ism of the Day

Duncan 'Did you have fun at the woods'

Amelia 'I needed a poo in the car park but it didnt come out. Just a little bit of wee wee.'

Apparantly that was of more interest than the puddles & swings!!

Lucy - a little terror!

Lucy is becoming a little terror - in the nicest way! Now she is crawling she is SO fast and she is also trying to pull herself up to stand on anything and everything. She has a nice red line down her forehead from falling over in her cot when she woke up today poor thing.

On Monday we came home from the weekly shop and as I transferred stuff away the girls were left with the shopping in the hall, it all went very quiet and I came out to find this...

Yes - she was munching her way through a spring onion, looking very impressed with herself and seemingly un-phased by the taste - she reeked of it all day!

No cup is ever safe... my coffee cup

or her sisters cup (excuse the nakedness - but how CUTE!!)

She is proving to be a bit of a maniac and keeps crawling under the table and getting stuck!!

She is also a great mover and loves dancing - especially to the noddy doll

Amelia's current favourite games all involve role play - she might be Julian from Postman Pat, Ash from Fantastic Mr Fox, Mandy from Fireman Sam etc - and the rest of us have characters too to play (Postman Pat, Jess the Cat & Ted Glen)- but she is also taking it to another level and playing role play with her toys - this was her reading to them at the weekend..

sometimes its scary how bright she is but its so much fun pretending to be Postman Pat, or Naughty Norman Price all day!

Amelia-ism of the day

'my room smells funny! Its disgusting! Daddy did a windy in it!!'

Poor Duncan had left for work three hours ago!!!

A day with Gabriella & Madeleine

I havnt had a chance to update on a day we spent when Emma came and stayed at Duncan's parents. Amelia was so excited to see her big cousins. They are just such lovely girls and so good with her. She followed them around and seemed so little, which was nice as she normally seems so far in advance of others. We had a really lovely day.

Duncan & Lucy with Madeleine

Gabriella being a devil

Madeleine the deviland Amelia being a devil

Sitting at dinner

Madeline & Lucy

Gabriella reading to Amelia - how lovely is that!?!?

The girls and Iris

Amelia is already asking when we can see them again - shame they live quite far away :(

Amelia-ism of the Day

Boggis, Bunce, Bean

A Fat, a short a lean,

Orrible crooks, a diff looks

a ne ne ne ne ne ne ne MEAN!

Halloween Party!

The girls had their Halloween party today. I put lots of decorations up last night...bought cakes and we were ready! Lucy was a little orange pumpkin and Amelia a scary devil. Amelia only wore her costumeafter she insisted I put a 'face' on it like Lucy's! The monkey. She didnt have it on for long though.. she spilt some water on her top - so it had to come off...then the tights got wet...she spent a lot of the party in a t-shirt and knickers!!

But it was great fun. Natalie bought her witch Scarlett and the witch's cat/mini witch Daisy, Louise bought spider Jack, Fiona bought skeleton Ciaran, Miriam bough her pumpkins Maya and Darcey and a very very pregnant and uncomfortable Liz did very well and bought her little with Annabel!

Lucy spent most of the party asleep and missed it but it mostly involved lots of balloon kicking, cake and biscuit eating chaos but the children seemed to love it and us Mummys had a little conversation too!!

So happy Halloweeeeeeeen!!!

Amelia-ism of the day

We found a pair of socks that were too small for Lucy today, 'I know, lets give them to Bella'. What a clever little girl.

New Babies

Anna had her babies last night! Her section was booked for Wednesday but those babies wouldnt wait! Annabella Olivia and Stanley John (Bella & Stan) are the newest members of the family. Amelia has asked several times why they arnt Topsy and Tim anymore but has seen photos and said 'Ahhhhh'!!
I am just so emotional about it and keep welling up. Lord knows what I will be like when Ben and Dawn have their baby in December !! I cannot wait to meet them!
We bought our pumpkin for the girls Halloween party today and Amelia has spent the majority of the afternoon sitting on it, whilst bottomless. I dont know what her obsession is with feeling stuff on her bare bum! My Nanny Friday and Aunty Jo also visited today and she took off her bottoms to feel my Nanny's scarf on her bare bum too??? That child!
Lucy is back to fighting form again and I think will be having a career in the music industry... she just loves Amelia's keyboard...

Have been making the girls Halloween costumes, they are basically long tutus that makes dresses. Lucy's is an orange pumpkin and Amelia will be a red devil - though she wants to be a pumpkin too and has informed duncan he can wear the red dress...hmmmmm!!

Amelia-ism of the Day

'Are you old' to my aunty!!! cheeky monkey!!

The Cinema!

Today Amelia had her first trip to the cinema. Duncan took her to see Fantastic Mr Fox... of 'Mr Tantic Fox' as he is known in our house. She has been ridiculously excited about it all week. She loves the book ,Duncan has read it to her a few times at bedtime and she had seen film trailers. I kept telling her it would be a big room with a huge telly, that it would be very dark and very loud ... but I think she might have thought she was actually going to meet Mr Tantic himself!!
Duncan said she was a little scared at first as it was so loud but soon got into it and was asking very loud questions - especially about the surround sound noises! Luckily there were only a few other people in the cinema. She loved it and I am so glad they had their little treat together.

I stayed at home with Lucy who has been ill with a high temperature since Friday. Today the temperature had gone down but she was thoroughly miserable for most of the day, poor thing and has only gone back to her normal happy self since dinner. And considering that the clocks went back and they were up an extra hour today - they have both been very good girls!

Amelia-ism of the Day
While we were all in our bed this morning...
'Mummy, Lucy's donea pooh'
'No, I just checked her nappy - she hasn't'
'She has. It smells like garlic'
....it was Duncan's breath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another tooth!

Lucy has tooth no.2 and i suspect tooth no.3 is days away. She has not been well today - running a very high temp - hot all over - but mosty happy within herself. She has really perfected 'dancing' (bobbing up and down whilst seated) every time she hears music - so cute! She is also copying a lot of Amelias noises.... this was the 'monsters' at lunch..

Yesterday we went to Anna's for lunch and were joined by Natalie, Scarlett and Daisy. We had a lovely time, Anna has 6 days to go and was horribly uncomfortable but a gracious host, despite Amelia knocking over a vase, two airers of tiny babies clothes and smashing her ceramic loo brush holder!!! (replaced it today - felt awful!) Amelia also had her first real collusion of naughtiness with another child. Her and Scarlett were definately egging eachother on, sneaking up the stairs together, touching things they shouldnt etc. Officially I was cross buit inside I thought it was so cute. When I told them not to go upstairs again, Amelia said 'Come on Scarlett' and off they ran like a deadly duo!!

I love watching her playing with other children. She just loves the interaction and gets so excited. She talks a lot about being a 'big girl' but doesnt actually really get how to play with children yet. However, her and Scarlett have seen a lot of eachother since birth and both are very clever with more than a little bit of cheekiness so I am expecting them to be right little monkeys together!

And we have new settees!!! They have finally arrived and i LOVE them. They are just gorgeous! Amelia loves them too - mostly to run up and down and jump on - she keeps demanding that the new corner one is 'hers' and no one else can sit on it!

First photo is after our settees were taken out and we just used cushions for a settee.The second photo is before we rearranged the toy starage - but you can see how lush they are!!

Amelia-ism of the Day
'Dont have the medicine Lucy - its disgusting. I'll have it instead'
Amelia - who loves Calpol trying to get some of Lucy's. I hope she hasnt totally twigged on to the reverse psyhchology I use to get her to eat stuff!!!!!!!

A tooth, a little tooth!!

So Lucy has finally cut a tooth - it has been lurking beneath the skin for a good month and has finally come through. I actually dont think it has troubled her too much - nothing the teething gel couldnt cope with anyway. You can barely see it - so there wont be photographic evidence for a while - but me can definately feel it!
The tooth is a lovely end to what was a grim weekend for me. Friday night I came down with mastitis. I never really had any problems with Amelia but knew all the mastitis symptoms so when I felt a lot of pain, dizziness, nausea and was going hot to cold, I knew what it was. Typically this started on a Friday night so I couldnt go to the GP first thing and get anti biotics but NHS Direct proved to actually be quite brilliant and I got into a clinic at the hospital and emerged with a prescription within 5 minutes. However I spent the rest of Saturday in bed. I have never felt to wretched - it was awful - I couldnt even hold the squirming Lucy and still had too feed her through the pain (ouch!) but the anti biotics did kick in so quickly - by their bath time I felt ok to sort of sit there while Duncan did all the work! I think he may have kind of enjoyed his day alone with the girls - it just never happens normally.
This morning (monday) I am feeling so much better and we do the monthly shop as normal and get back to the car only to find.....it wont start. Flat battery. Typical. I have had quite a few flat battery moments recently - but only on the drive. Luckily, Duncan was only 30 mins away so I didnt bother the call-out people and we waited in the Tescos Cafe (Amelia was impressed to be allowed a donut!) til he arrived with the jump leads. The car will have its much needed service and possible new battery on Thursday.
Amelia's 'treat' in Tescos was a comic that she chooses. Today was a Fireman Sam comic. With a water pistol. Not the best freebie. Within milliseconds of being home she wanted it filled up and she attacked Duncan in his suit. I have to admit that part was pretty funny - but then Duncan got hold of it and we all got soaked. So I confiscated it for bathtimes only so he sneakily filled it up while he was running the bath and soaked us all again. There will be vengeance!!!

Amelia-ism of the day

'Mummy's got a sore boob'. To the neighbour. Male neighbour.

The Table Tent

Last night I made the girls a table tent. Amelia has been into hiding under covers, making tents and dens, so I saw this idea on another website and had to copy. A few old duvet covers and sheets from my mum provided the perfect materials.

Originally I wanted to do something fancy with windows and applique flowers, but Duncan stepped in and informed me that a proper 'tent' has nothing of the sort - hence the final result. He may like it more than the girls!!

Ameila has been in and out of it all day - and not liking it being rolled back so we can eat - I love that such a simple and quick thing has been such a success and will be played with/in for a long time!
You would not believe how long it took to get the photos above...most looked like this.......

The terror.

Lucy's favourite thing of the day? Trying to drink the bathwater during every second that she was in it. Strange child.

Amelia-ism of the day

me - 'Your halloween party is soon, what do you want to dress up as?'

Amelia - 'A pirate'

me - 'what about a beautiful red fairy called a devil'

Amelia - 'Actually no. A postman'

me - 'not a lovely red cinderalla type devil drss?'

Amelia - 'her dress is blue.'

What can I say to that!?!?!?!?!?

Bedtime Stalling Tactics

Amelia is starting to develop an even stronger aversion to bedtime. She has never been a fan of sleep, but is now starting to realise that she can attempt to talk herslef into staying out of bed a little longer. As I type, Duncan is reading her bedtime story - but I have already heard 'I dont want to go to sleep. Its boring' and an insistance that one of her teddies has to poo on the toilet. Others include deciding she 'needs' lots of kisses and cuddles (which she knows we find hard to resist), asking for one more story and complaining about aliens in her knicker basket (inspired by the book 'Aliens Love Underpants - she's not a complete loon!) eventually she does give in and goes to sleep well but i fear its only a matter of time before it turns into screaming tantrums :(
Lucy however, loves bedtime. One last feed before falling asleep all milk drunk in my arms..and not even the complaining of the terror across the hall wakes her til she is ready!

Last night Duncan was home very late and had been away the night before for a conference - there was no keeping Lucy awake - but I let Amelia, for the first time ever, as a treat, come downstairs and wait for Daddy. She sat with me in her little fleece all-in-one and drank hot milk as we watched Bob the Builder. Duncan got in at 7.45 so it was late for her - but not the latest she has managed to stay awake til and she loved it! she now calls her fleece all-in-one her 'treat'.

We have a new game in the house. Swing Lucy. Lucy goes in her Tigger doorway bouncer while I am going to be in the kitchen for a while cooking, washing up etc. She loves it. Amelia loves bouncing her in it. At first I would tell her to do it gently, but the harder she does it - the more Lucy laughs and the more Amelia laughs. It has now progressed to swinging. Amelia pulls her back as far as she can and swings her into the kitchen - I had to move the bin before she got high enough to kick it! They both find it incredibly amusing..

Amelia-ism of the Day

There have been many since I have last posted. but 'Mummy I need a new door. This ones in my way!' is my favourite - I can just hear her little voice ringing in my head (its in moi waaaaaaaay!)

A bit of This ... A bit of That!

Just a random update ... lots has been going on really.

First is a video of Lucy crawling - she crawled, commandod .. wiggled.. whatever you may call it to get her sister's balloon so I, like any good mother, moved it further away to make her crawl even more and get it!!

We have been growing sweetcorn this year...but (ahem) forgot to harvest it - when we did though - Amelia was most amused. This needs to be turned up loud but she has an interesting idea about where it came from ...

We did some paint stamping today - which Amelia loves - good fun and not too messy considering it has to be done indoors now - but Aunty Catherine arrived and it went downhill with Amelia being mostly painted on her legs, hands and face... cue the mid morning shower!

Lucy looked on most amused - I have relented and finally started putting a little clip in Lucy's long fringe - it was in her eyes - I was worried she would look chav - but it looks cute, today she wore an old apple one of her sisters - got to make her some of her own ones tonight!

I love this photo as her eyes look dark like Amelia's - even with dark eyes they are nothing alike physically, but I am starting to see a lot of behavioural characteristics in Lucy which are so familiar from Meme. Their wide open laugh, the fake cry and the pooh face are all the same! I dont care that they dont look alike but I love that Lucy is picking up things from her sister and copying her - she watches her all the time - little face shining - and Amelia is really good with her, which makes me a proud Mummy.

Finally, we all had a sleep in our bed the other day - I had to sleep in a bed with this - my life is SO hard!

Amelia-ism of the day

'Noight Noight Meme Spider - I love you' To the giant spider in the web in her ball pit in the garden - and I had to physically restrain her from kissing it!!!

Lucy - A tiny menace?

It occured to me today, that even though she is only 7 months old, Lucy is a little menace. She terrorises her big sister. Every time they are in a shopping trolley she becomes obsessed with pulling Amelia's hair (All I hear in Tescos is 'Lucy Nooooo!') and when they are in their buggy I see a little hand creep across to Amelia's side to grap whatever she can. The silly thing is, I then have to put on my stern mummy voice and 'tell her off' as Amelia cant see her getting away with it.... and Lucy will look at me with those big blue eyes and laugh.
Today for instance, they were playing nicely with Amelia's toy kitchen and Amelia was concocting 'supper' consisting of sausage, chips and, randomly, a strawberry, in the oven, but Lucy kept opening the door.... hysterical .. watch for the innocent look at me at the end!!

She is also saying a lot now. A lot of 'da da da'. Her first words, according to Duncan. Yet I feel there is something quite savage and menacing in the way she says it!!! Take a look ...

The little terror. Oh and she is pulling herself up to standing on me now!!!

Amelia-ism of the day

While she was supposed to be falling asleep at nap time

'Mummy can we pleeeaaase go to the pub?'

'No'

'Ooooooh, Thats a Shaaaaaaaaame.'

Amelia Playing Boo!

I just had to put this video on here. Many people think Amelia isvery very clever, and indeed she is. But, as this clip will show, in some ways she is a simpleton. Here, she cannot even get under bed covers. Apologies for the shaky camerawork - but I was laughing A LOT at the time.....

oh and yes - its sideways again ... but I think I may have nailed the technique for next time!

The Dentist...

Well I thought I would have a really funny dentist post to write but actually Amelia was a little star - very impressed to see the dentist (even more impressed with the balloon and sticker she got) and has perfect and very clean teeth. I however, need a filling. Boo.
The only events to note was her deciding she needed a wee in the waiting room and proceeding to drop her knickers there and then (luckily the waiting room was empty!) and Lucy savaging my Mum's face and leaving her with a cut on her nose from her razor talons. Poor Nanny Green had come along to sit with Lucy while we saw the dentist - and came home injured! Who am I kidding - she loved it!

Amelia-ism of the day

Whilst sitting on the toilet..

'Big girl's wee wee - to the rescue!'

I have no ideas......

A Baby Shower!

Yesterday we went to a baby shower for my Sister in Law and soon to be mummy in December, Dawn. It was a great afternoon full of family, friends, yummy food and lots of lovely baby presents.

Our contribution was a selection of the infamous carrot cakes and together with my sister Catherine we presented Dawn with some maternity PJs, a bola necklace, Some of Heather Bailey's Bitty Booties and a post baby survival kit of breast pads, maternity pads and disposable knickers!!!All the glam stuff!

Amelia was on great form - her and Lucy were wearing some beautiful matching dresses - but at the last minute she insisted on wearing a bridesaid dress from last year, which she only just squeezed into, insisting 'I'm Cinderella. I need my ball dress'. But she looked gorgeous and didnt complain of being hot despite wearing both dresses all afternoon! Dawn kindly let her 'help' with the unwrapping of the presents too. Lucy, despite being very tired, was a great little girl too - though she stuck by me all afternoon and noone else really got a cuddle - several of my cousins and my brothers (who had gone down the pub with my Dad and Duncan to avoid the shower) were gutted!

Photos from top left to bottom right

1 - The carrot cupcakes 2 - A Brilliant Nappy cake made by Dawn's Mum, Lin 3 - Stork Bitty Booties 4 - Amelia with ANOTHER rice krispie cake 5 - Dawn the Yummy Mummy! 6 - A happy Lucy 7 - A brilliant baby basket from Lin 8 - Eating...again 9 - More gifts and 'help' from Amelia.

It was a brilliant afternoon , another highlight in that I felt my cousin Anna's little baby girl move around in her tummy - she was squashing her twin brother underneath her! The feeling was so familiar to putting my hand on my own tummy and feeling a little baby move - i felt a real pang - i loved being pregnant! Her babies are due end of October so more baby stuff soon!!!

It was really nice to get together with my family and Dawn's and just generally chat babies unashamedly! Both mine came home knackered though ...it was far too much for my littlest lady who didnt even make it into the bath and was asleep on our bed..

Tomorrow we are going to the Dentist - Amelia's first time and mine in a very very looooong time, I am ashamed to say! She has seen the dentist on Peppa Pig and is very excited - though Peppa's dentist is an elephant. She has informed me she can go in on her own ... we'll see. Personally, I predict that this poor dentist wont see little more than the Amelia frown!!

Lucy still hasnt had a tooth through, I could really feel one but it seems to have subsided ... and on the plus side... so has her teething pain! and it does not stop her eating anything and everything anyway! There was more crawling today, she is bringing her leg up and shuffling along - sort of like how a really drunk person might crawl - will try to get some video evidence!

Amelia-ism of the day

'Mummy, mummy, clean him! Him has rolled in his own poo!'

refering to her toy cat beany, who was innocent of this disgusting crime. Later though, Lucy pooed either during her nap or upon awakening and did roll it up her back, on her bed sheets and on her cuddle blanket.... but she didnt get any on her top or dress!? Very clever ... and she did look very pleased with herself!!

A Fun Friday

Today was unusual in that we had no plans whatsoever. This doesnt happen very often and I kind of like it when it does. We did lots of fun stuff - some painting and rubber stamping - making a bed tent (any excuse to lie down and cuddle the two of them) and made cakes.

Amelia likes to make cakes. Specifically she likes to eat anything that goes in the cakes (she has tried handfuls of butter before!). We made carrot cakes and she even tried to drink the sunflower oil that went in . Gross. Quite a lot of batter made it into her tummy before the cakes were made...but actually they are pretty good!

Lucy was asleep during the culinery creation, but upon awakening displayed for the first timewhat cannot be called crawling, but is definately a forward movement of some kind, half crawling, half commando shuffle. She can also roll and pivot to perfection, nothing is safe! Teething is hurting her though - her first tooth is so, so close!

Amelia-ism of the day

A feature I have decided to have....there are SO many I can choose from..

'My feet hurt! Them's broken! I need new ones. Take me to Tescos!

Yes, apparantly Tescos are taking over the world and sell new feet.

Turns out she had a piece of toenail hanging off, catching things. So she didnt need new ones after all.

Cleaning little faces

So the thing Lucy may hate most in the world is having her face cleaned, specifically after food. So perhaps the girls having Wheetabix for breakfast was not my best idea. Amelia has always loved it - and Lucy liked it too (especially as i mashed in half a banana!!) but it does make a mess. Following it with Marmite on toast isnt the best either!! There isjust such mess created by the two that I have bought some oil cloth and intend to make proper bibs - we'll see!!!

Amelia managed to get not only some new Peppa slippers today - but a whole new blanket from her Nanny Green after claiming she 'needed it' (I was meant to be buying it for her new niece or nephew!!). The little scamp is lying singing in bed with it over her, and the duvet over her too!! She has looked so grown up today - i am proud, yet sad that she is definately not a baby - she is a 'big girl' as she tells me 100 times a day!!

Below is a montage from our hoovering. Every time, as I finish, we have to 'suck' eachother. She likes to suck 'Mummy's wobbly tummy'! Oh the shame!!!

First Real Post - Lucy playing Boo!

Right so here is my first attempt at a 'real' post'. For the past few days, Lucy has been playing 'boo'. Hiding her head and popping up smiling. As she is only 6.5 months old - I think this is fairly clever! I cant remember when Amelia did this (though she didnt have an older sister to copy!)
Anyway - I had to catch it on video. Amelia stayed quiet throughout as she had sneakily stolen my yoghurt (we were at the lunch table) - you can see her verdict on her sister's antics (and the state of my yoghurt) at the end!!

and apologies that its sideways ... not used to my new camera phone!!

First Post - An Introduction!

I have been meaning to start a journal for ages - but after discovering the world of blogging - I can see that this would be a much better way for me to record my life and be able to look back at not just words, but images and films. Also, others can dip in and out and see what the family Wall is up to - and what the little scamps have been doing lately.
I am sure this will be boring at times to others that may read this - but its primarily for me so that when I am old and grey I can look back at my wonderful life in full techni colour .. and savour it!