Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Your Latest Adventure in Greece
Mummy here, I just got this lovely email from your Daddy telling me about all the marvellous things you have been up to during your 5 days in Greece visiting your Super-Papou... I am SOOO proud of you, it made me smile the biggest smile, and I can't wait to see you tomorrow!
So, what has Penny been up to? (She's been delightful since her first 24 hours of misery...)
In no particular order:
1) Penny learned to click her tongue.
2) Penny impressed everyone (but especially Elias) with acrobatics at Yaya Erika's memorial gathering.
3) Penny went for a walk by the sea, despite the wind and rain. Many other walks, too.
4) Penny saw turkeys, chickens, pheasants, peacocks, deer, rabbits and goats (which she called moose).
5) Penny learned to blow out candles.
6) Penny watched Twinkle Twinkle and various other nursery rhymes on endless loop on YouTube (she got frightened at the end of hickory dickory dock when the elephant ran up the clock!).
7) Penny learned how to ask Daddy for a shoulder ride, thus making the pushchair entirely redundant (in fact, unusually, she seemed to actively dislike the pushchair).
8) Penny's Yaya did her full bathtime routine without a single complaint.
9) Penny had a meal comprising six grapes, a giant plateful of mushrooms, and a bowl of ice cream.
10) Penny decided she loves bran flakes.
11) Penny met several dogs and was very excited by them, although she dared not go too close...
12) Penny navigated her way through hundreds of people at a Christmas bazaar, walking mostly unaided in the forests of legs, fascinated by the music and baubles and face painters and Wii Just Dance.
13) Penny played horses with her Super Papou.
14) Penny met about twenty more people who could sing Platho Koulourakia like her Yaya, which served as a passport to her affections.
15) Penny enjoyed having Zog read to her by her auntie. Again and again. Daddy has it pretty much memorised now.
16) Penny discovered how to play I Hear Ewe on the iPod in Chinese, and she completed the first four levels of Tumbledrop without any help (including opening up the app).
17) Penny slept through a prayer at the synagogue.
18) Penny made friends with the shop assistants in a posh clothes store, making them laugh because every time she made a kiss sound she added "aaah".
19) Penny Skyped with her Mummy and her eyes lit up when I explained that we would be seeing her again soon.
20) Penny is currently leaning against me in bed playing Angry Birds when she should be asleep (it's 11:30pm Greek time!) - she is her father's daughter...
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Possessed
Twice now you've had a bizarre unprovoked screaming fit on a scale we've never seen before.
You've been having more tantrums recently, as you approach the Terrible Twos, but these outbursts were on a different level. In the one I witnessed, you were on the floor shrieking at the top of your voice, lashing out, banging your head on the floor - utterly unconsolable for about ten minutes.
It was extremely distressing to see you like that and be helpless to do anything about it.
In retrospect, we wondered if you were suffering from teething pain. After so many months without any teething, is it possible that your new reaction to the pain could be so extreme?
I hope it doesn't happen again. We love you so much and we don't want to see you unhappy!
(This video makes light of it, but it was really distressing...)
You've been having more tantrums recently, as you approach the Terrible Twos, but these outbursts were on a different level. In the one I witnessed, you were on the floor shrieking at the top of your voice, lashing out, banging your head on the floor - utterly unconsolable for about ten minutes.
It was extremely distressing to see you like that and be helpless to do anything about it.
In retrospect, we wondered if you were suffering from teething pain. After so many months without any teething, is it possible that your new reaction to the pain could be so extreme?
I hope it doesn't happen again. We love you so much and we don't want to see you unhappy!
(This video makes light of it, but it was really distressing...)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Thanksgiving 2012
This weekend we had our annual Thanksgiving celebration at your Yaya's house in Woodingdean.
You enjoyed putting the coloured fish into the puzzle. First, you matched all the colours correctly. Then you did it again with complementary colours. Then you tried to eat the pieces.
Uncle Dan and Auntie Erika were there. You had a great time playing with them.
But nothing beats snuggling up with Mummy.
Your second cousins Sadie and Ruby came. Here's a picture of you playing a magnet game called Polarity with them.
Erika and Emma's baby bumps are getting bigger. When I explained to you that your Daddy's tummy had no baby in it, you were devastated.
And it seems you weren't too happy with being put behind bars...
It was a wonderful weekend full of food and love and games...
...Until we were all exhausted.
You enjoyed putting the coloured fish into the puzzle. First, you matched all the colours correctly. Then you did it again with complementary colours. Then you tried to eat the pieces.
Uncle Dan and Auntie Erika were there. You had a great time playing with them.
But nothing beats snuggling up with Mummy.
Your second cousins Sadie and Ruby came. Here's a picture of you playing a magnet game called Polarity with them.
Erika and Emma's baby bumps are getting bigger. When I explained to you that your Daddy's tummy had no baby in it, you were devastated.
And it seems you weren't too happy with being put behind bars...
It was a wonderful weekend full of food and love and games...
...Until we were all exhausted.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Nose Kisses
Mummy here! Your Daddy has been teaching you how to kiss like the eskimo people do (or, more PC, Inuit) ... by rubbing noses!
You seem particularly tickled by this, and now ask both of us for nose kisses by running up to us, pushing your face against ours and saying "no nose!"
You seem particularly tickled by this, and now ask both of us for nose kisses by running up to us, pushing your face against ours and saying "no nose!"
Monday, November 19, 2012
Dinosaurs
Your granny took you to see the odd dinosaurs in Crystal Palace.
Nearly 30 years ago, she took your mum and her brothers to the same place.
Nearly 30 years ago, she took your mum and her brothers to the same place.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Nursery daily report
You spend three days a week at nursery. When we pick you up, the staff give us a quick run-down of your day. They tell us what you've eaten, how long you've slept, and how many times they've changed your nappy (and whether it was wet or soiled). Then they add one or two sentences about what you've been doing. We've got all of their daily reports recorded in a little notebook with a squirrel on the cover.
Here are some random examples.
26/03/2012
Breakfast: Baby porridge (most)
Snack: Breadstick (all), yoghurt (none)
Lunch: Pasta mix pepper carrots tomato onions (few spoons), apple pear (all)
Tea: Parsnip, sweet potato, carrots (3-4 spoons), apple (all)
Sleep: 1:00-1:50
Nappies: 10:00 (s) 12:05 (w) 2:05 (w) 4:00 (w)
Activities: Today Penny was playing with the pop-up toys, the activity gym and the rattles. She also listened to nursery songs and was rocking back and forth to "row, row, row your boat." Penny has had a lovely day, playing with the puzzles and the soft blocks.
11/04/2012
Breakfast: Baby cereal
Snack: Banana (all)
Lunch: Rice with chicken and sweetcorn (half), rise pudding with apple (half)
Tea: Leek, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots (all), apple (most)
Sleep: 12:30-2:35
Nappies: 9:35 (w), 12:00 (s), 2:40 (w), 4:50 (s)
Activities: Today Penny enjoyed playing with the puzzles and the soft sensory toys. She also enjoyed playing at the entrance of the tunnel with a peer. Penny also played in the play-den and loved Circle Time, singing nursery songs and reading stories.
21/05/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Banana and breadstick (all)
Lunch: Chicken potato carrots (all), pear (all)
Tea: Macaroni parsnip carrots (all), apple (all)
Sleep: 12:20-2:00
Nappies: 9:50 (s), 11:50 (s), 2:20 (w), 4:20 (w)
Activities: Penny had a good day today. Penny was holding a play gym and standing up and pressing the buttons; when she heard the music she started giggling. All day she was holding furniture and taking steps.
11/07/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix (all)
Snack: Banana and breadstick (most)
Lunch: Eggplants, chickpeas, carrots and chicken and potatoes (all), rice pudding and raisins (all)
Tea: Leek and potatoes (all), banana (all)
Sleep: 12:10-2:40
Nappies 9:15 (s), 11:50 (w), 2:50 (w)
Activities: Penny loved being at the home-corner area, Penny also enjoyed climbing the chairs, she also attempted to climb onto the table. Penny took part in a musical activity where she was shaking the shakers and shaking the musical boxes which had different materials e.g. plastic stars.
06/08/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (half)
Snack: Breadstick and toast (all)
Lunch: Macaroni cheese (all), bread pudding (all)
Tea: Beans on toast (all toast only)
Sleep: 1:05-2:30
Nappies: 8:45 (s), 10:55 (s), 2:00 (w), 3:40 (s)
Activities: Penny had a great day playing in the sand and also did some exploring in the home corner. She also listened to a story where we used a puppet to tell the story. Penny did a lovely wheel printing with her friend too.
20/08/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Yoghurt, breadstick, raisins (all)
Lunch: Spaghetti, cauliflower, broccoli (all), banana cake (all)
Tea: Vegetable soup and bread (all), oranges and melon (all)
Sleep: 12:30-2:20
Nappies: 9:50 (s), 12:05 (w), 2:50 (w), 5:05 (w)
Activities: Penny has been throwing the balls out in the garden and seemed to really enjoy playing with them. She also played in the play-den, looking at herself in the mirror and also played with the connecting stars.
23/10/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Breadstick, orange and raisins (all)
Lunch: Shepherd's pie with green beans (most), fruity semolina (all)
Tea: Baked beans on toast (all), melon (all)
Sleep: 12:20-2:00
Nappies 9:40 (w), 11:10 (w), 2:15 (w), 5:15 (w)
Activities: Penny had a lovely day playing outside in the garden at the picnic table. She also enjoyed playing the musical instruments while singing Christmas songs.
31/10/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Crackers and butter and oranges (all)
Lunch: Italian meatballs, french beans and roast potatoes (some), fruity semolina (none)
Tea: Spanish tortillas and toast (all), melon (all)
Nappies: 9:20 (s), 11:15 (w), 2:45 (w), 4:40 (w)
Activities: Penny enjoyed making shapes using playdough. She also has fun playing in the home corner using the pots, plates and cups. Penny had fun in the sand tray pouring and scooping up the sand in small containers.
Here are some random examples.
26/03/2012
Breakfast: Baby porridge (most)
Snack: Breadstick (all), yoghurt (none)
Lunch: Pasta mix pepper carrots tomato onions (few spoons), apple pear (all)
Tea: Parsnip, sweet potato, carrots (3-4 spoons), apple (all)
Sleep: 1:00-1:50
Nappies: 10:00 (s) 12:05 (w) 2:05 (w) 4:00 (w)
Activities: Today Penny was playing with the pop-up toys, the activity gym and the rattles. She also listened to nursery songs and was rocking back and forth to "row, row, row your boat." Penny has had a lovely day, playing with the puzzles and the soft blocks.
11/04/2012
Breakfast: Baby cereal
Snack: Banana (all)
Lunch: Rice with chicken and sweetcorn (half), rise pudding with apple (half)
Tea: Leek, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots (all), apple (most)
Sleep: 12:30-2:35
Nappies: 9:35 (w), 12:00 (s), 2:40 (w), 4:50 (s)
Activities: Today Penny enjoyed playing with the puzzles and the soft sensory toys. She also enjoyed playing at the entrance of the tunnel with a peer. Penny also played in the play-den and loved Circle Time, singing nursery songs and reading stories.
21/05/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Banana and breadstick (all)
Lunch: Chicken potato carrots (all), pear (all)
Tea: Macaroni parsnip carrots (all), apple (all)
Sleep: 12:20-2:00
Nappies: 9:50 (s), 11:50 (s), 2:20 (w), 4:20 (w)
Activities: Penny had a good day today. Penny was holding a play gym and standing up and pressing the buttons; when she heard the music she started giggling. All day she was holding furniture and taking steps.
11/07/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix (all)
Snack: Banana and breadstick (most)
Lunch: Eggplants, chickpeas, carrots and chicken and potatoes (all), rice pudding and raisins (all)
Tea: Leek and potatoes (all), banana (all)
Sleep: 12:10-2:40
Nappies 9:15 (s), 11:50 (w), 2:50 (w)
Activities: Penny loved being at the home-corner area, Penny also enjoyed climbing the chairs, she also attempted to climb onto the table. Penny took part in a musical activity where she was shaking the shakers and shaking the musical boxes which had different materials e.g. plastic stars.
06/08/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (half)
Snack: Breadstick and toast (all)
Lunch: Macaroni cheese (all), bread pudding (all)
Tea: Beans on toast (all toast only)
Sleep: 1:05-2:30
Nappies: 8:45 (s), 10:55 (s), 2:00 (w), 3:40 (s)
Activities: Penny had a great day playing in the sand and also did some exploring in the home corner. She also listened to a story where we used a puppet to tell the story. Penny did a lovely wheel printing with her friend too.
20/08/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Yoghurt, breadstick, raisins (all)
Lunch: Spaghetti, cauliflower, broccoli (all), banana cake (all)
Tea: Vegetable soup and bread (all), oranges and melon (all)
Sleep: 12:30-2:20
Nappies: 9:50 (s), 12:05 (w), 2:50 (w), 5:05 (w)
Activities: Penny has been throwing the balls out in the garden and seemed to really enjoy playing with them. She also played in the play-den, looking at herself in the mirror and also played with the connecting stars.
23/10/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Breadstick, orange and raisins (all)
Lunch: Shepherd's pie with green beans (most), fruity semolina (all)
Tea: Baked beans on toast (all), melon (all)
Sleep: 12:20-2:00
Nappies 9:40 (w), 11:10 (w), 2:15 (w), 5:15 (w)
Activities: Penny had a lovely day playing outside in the garden at the picnic table. She also enjoyed playing the musical instruments while singing Christmas songs.
31/10/2012
Breakfast: Weetabix and toast (all)
Snack: Crackers and butter and oranges (all)
Lunch: Italian meatballs, french beans and roast potatoes (some), fruity semolina (none)
Tea: Spanish tortillas and toast (all), melon (all)
Nappies: 9:20 (s), 11:15 (w), 2:45 (w), 4:40 (w)
Activities: Penny enjoyed making shapes using playdough. She also has fun playing in the home corner using the pots, plates and cups. Penny had fun in the sand tray pouring and scooping up the sand in small containers.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Old Photos
Mummy here! I recently updated my phone to an iPhone 3GS (I know, I know, it is 2012 not 2009!)
Not very exciting, but it did mean I had to empty my old phone of all the random photos I have taken with it over the last 18 months, and what a trip through time it was.
How you have changed, little one!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Counting words
Your vocabulary is growing quickly.
And... counting to ten!
- Hiya
- Bye bye
- Oh dear
- Hank you (you're very polite!)
- Please (pronounced peas, or sometimes meez)
- Nice
- Hair
- Head
- Eyes
- Nose
- Mouth
- Teeth
- Ears
- Knees
- Mummy
- Daddy
- Alex (pronounced Ayex)
- Andrew
- Norris
- Up
- Down
- Again
- Ball
- Bird
- Mouse
- Dog (pronounced gog)
- Fish
- Baa baa black sheep have you any wool (pronounced baa baa baa baa babababa baa)
- Hot
- More
- Baby
And... counting to ten!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Acrobatics!
Now that your sense of balance has improved, we have a new game.
We call it Acrobatics!
You also enjoy the beanbag-in-the-face game, but that's another story...
You also enjoy the beanbag-in-the-face game, but that's another story...
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Road Trip - Penny's Top Ten
At the end of the 2,700-mile road trip, in Vancouver, everybody shared their top ten moments from the trip.
You had your own top ten too!
10. Seeing lots of dogs (or, as you call them, gogs)
9. Wearing your bear suit
8. Playing in the playgrounds, especially the swings (and on the hammock we bought in Vancouver!)
7. Wearing hats ('ats, in Penny-speak)
6. Destroying tourist maps
5. Dancing to cowboy music
4. Learning people's names (to uncle Andrew's frustration, you found Alex's name much more fun to say)
3. Saying No
2. Tyson the Bison the Bear (so named because we wanted to buy you a plushy bison, but you favoured a little brown bear so we got you that instead)
1. Pressing people's cheeks to make raspberry noises
All in all, you had a great time! Despite your annoying parents trying to make you pose for silly photos...
You had your own top ten too!
10. Seeing lots of dogs (or, as you call them, gogs)
9. Wearing your bear suit
8. Playing in the playgrounds, especially the swings (and on the hammock we bought in Vancouver!)
7. Wearing hats ('ats, in Penny-speak)
6. Destroying tourist maps
5. Dancing to cowboy music
4. Learning people's names (to uncle Andrew's frustration, you found Alex's name much more fun to say)
3. Saying No
2. Tyson the Bison the Bear (so named because we wanted to buy you a plushy bison, but you favoured a little brown bear so we got you that instead)
1. Pressing people's cheeks to make raspberry noises
All in all, you had a great time! Despite your annoying parents trying to make you pose for silly photos...
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Road Trip - Yellowstone
Your bear, Cornthwaite, came with us on the trip. And you were dressed as a bear too!
Here's you in front of the Old Faithful geyser just before it erupted.
Here's you in front of the Old Faithful geyser just before it erupted.
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