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!