Health

We have been so lucky to have such a healthy and happy baby. Your Daddy always says how grateful he is for his good health. I am for mine too, and we are so pleased that so far you have barely had any of the endless list of baby ailments we hear of other babies getting.

You do have a bit of a snotty cold at the moment, with your nose streaming and an occasional cough, but nothing major... it just makes you a bit grumpy.

I caught a cold when we were on the Bike Trip this summer, and you didn't catch it! We figured you picked up all my clever antibodies through my breastmilk, and so you cured it before it could get to you. Genius!

New Year's Eve today. May your good health last long into 2012 and beyond!

Penny Roulette

If uncle Andrew is visiting when I give you a bath, part of your bath time routine is a round of Penny Roulette.

I take you into the lounge to dry you, and then before I put on your night clothes, while you're still naked, I hold you over uncle Andrew's head for a few seconds.

He particularly doesn't like this game when he's still wearing his work suit.

We've played at least a dozen rounds of Penny Roulette, and you haven't weed on him yet...

Learning

You're getting cleverer.

You've got a book called "That's Not My Bear", and recently you've started reaching out for the textures on each page. You'll be reading it next!
You also clap now when you're asked.

The other day I met a baby just over two months older than you who was walking around - maybe you'll be doing that soon too. It's so exciting to think what you'll learn next!

Your First Christmas!

Your first Christmas!

We're at your Granny and Grandad's house in Spalding.

Your uncles Andrew and Matthew are here, as well as Matthew's girlfriend Anna.

You and your mum dressed up as reindeers.

You received lots of generous gifts, like these penguins drawn by Granny...

...and this laptop which excited you very much.

Once or twice all the excitement was a bit overwhelming...

...but all in all you're having a ball.

Now the day is over; you're fast asleep...

...and dreaming lovely dreams.

Pole dancing baby

Please, at least wait until you're 18.

Marriott

We went for a very posh afternoon tea in the Marriott County Hall, right opposite the hospital in which you were born.

It was a sort of pre-Christmas celebration, with Gramps and Marion, Aunt Erika and Uncle Dan.

We had a lovely time...

...But I don't think we're really cut out for high society.

Growth spurt

Tuppence

Your First Thanksgiving

We went to your Yaya's house to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Demetris was there too...

You met Guy who is your first cousin once removed, and his wife Sarah, and their daughters Sadie and Ruby.

You tried to walk using the same toy that helped me learn to walk 30 years ago.

You ate lots...

Opened presents...

And you were typically delightful!

Your latest favourite song

Today, guest blogger Kirsten (our lovely Danish-American friend) will tell you about your new favourite song, which you laugh at even more than Kounelaki...

Klappe klappe kage
I morgen skal vi bage
En dejlig Penny-kage
En til mor
En til far
Og en til lille Penny!

And now in English:
Clap clap cake (a bit like patty cake, patty cake I guess)
Tomorrow we will bake
A lovely Penny-cake
One for mum
One for dad
And one for little Penny

Obviously you have to clap throughout and, although I hate to admit it, it's probably the clapping you enjoy more than the actual song. It's great for distracting you when you get a bit grisly though or just to make you laugh (which is such a delight). You positively beam whenever I start the song :-)

Take two

Your mum loves this photo of you.

I prefer this one. You look like John Wayne. :)

Your Current Favourite Noises

You have started squeaking a lot more over the last few days, but the usual suspects are:

Da-da-da-da

Nya-na-na-na

Ta-ta-ta-ta

Plus sometimes a snort of derision or two :)

Inception

We did the maths and worked out when you were most likely conceived. Interesting to see what we were doing that day...

I love that your mum's blog post talks of "interesting discussions about the future"... I wonder what we were discussing? :)

Robot Baby

This would be child abuse if you didn't enjoy it so much...

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

Your mum and I went to Japan for our honeymoon. One of the places we visited was Nikko, home of the three wise monkeys - Kikazaru, Iwazaru and Mizaru.

When you suck your fingers, you sometimes cover them with your other hand. Looks a bit like Iwazaru...

You often cover (and even scratch at!) your left eye when you're tired. Looks a bit like Mizaru...

And today, to our delight, we caught you covering your ears while you were feeding. Just like Kikazaru...

Glasses

I've had terrible eyesight since I was about eight years old. Your mum started having to wear glasses for driving in her late twenties. So, you might have to get used to this...

I promise the rest of our genes are top notch!

Cosy Coat

I found this lovely coat for you before you were born, a second-hand bargain and just so cute. I knew it would be the right size for you when winter came along, and lo and behold it is!

I know you get a little grumpy in it, as the thick layers restrict your movement a bit and it is harder for you to reach your hand to suck your fingers. But it keeps you so cosy warm.

You wore it for the first time today (Mon 28th Nov 2011) and you looked so grown up. Such a beautiful girl.

Bouncing Baby

A fabulous toy, that lets you explore what your body can now do.  You love to bounce up and down, and you enjoy being able to stand upright by yourself.

A great way to get you to expend all your energy and have a good nap!

You're much bouncier now than you were five months ago...

Rice Cakes

Rice cakes are more of a project than a food to you.  You gaze at them like they are precious jewels, and you love to grab at them.  Some more staring and investigation, then you then fit the whole thing in your mouth, making it smooshy enough to bite off with your gums and swallow...

...and fall in bits all over your clothes and the floor.  Yum!

Your daily routine

I'm not sure why your mum had this stuck up on the fridge...

Guy Fawkes

We took you to the Brockwell Park firework display a couple of weeks ago for your first Guy Fawkes night.

The display was amazing - one of the best I've ever seen.

You seemed mostly nonplussed by it...

...but you had fun in the pub afterwards!

BRAIN SLUG!

Telling our parents

When we first found out that your mum was pregnant with you, we kept it a secret. After three months we got a scan; we saw that you were healthy and happy, so we decided it was time to share our secret.

We arranged to see all your grandparents on the same weekend. Gramps and Marion were first.

We were at a chocolate-making workshop to celebrate Gramps' birthday with Gramps, Marion, Aunt Erika, uncle Dan and Elle. At the opportune moment, without a word, we showed them the strip of images from the scan - and they jumped for joy.

Then we took a train to Brighton to see Yaya and Demetris. Hugs and tears all round.

What a joy to have such wonderful news to share! As if we had learned a magic word that instilled jubilation in all who hear it.

The next day we met for dinner at Azzurro in Waterloo with Grandad, Granny, uncle Matthew and uncle Andrew. We wolfed down our starters, gave each other a meaningful nod, and revealed our magic news.

In stark contrast to the voluble reactions from the Sundt side of the family, the Smiths seemed rather shellshocked.

Once they'd gathered their wits, they were elated, but how funny that it was such a surprise!

Then again, think of it this way: you're the first new baby in the Smith family for 30 years. The last time they'd heard this news was about your mum. No wonder it took a while to sink in... :)

The Big Bang Theory

I wrote in an earlier post our reasons for calling you Penny.

But, I realise now, there might have been another influence playing on our subconscious. You see, we've recently been addicted to a clever sitcom called The Big Bang Theory, which features a character called... you guessed it... Penny.

And the winner of best baby ever is...

You!

(Round of applause!)

Your first Halloween

You had a ball at our Halloween party a couple of weeks ago. You were very excited by the punkin. It was yummy too.

You dressed up as a witch...

...and then at midnight you turned into a punkin.

Barnard dressed up too.