Someone stole the butterflies ...

... on four of my cupcakes ... and counting!

Daddy's Cousins

Daddy's cousins Tomer and Omri came to visit us from America, and we had a delightful meal at our local brilliant Italian restaurant.  You were both very well behaved and we had a wonderful time together.

We hope you enjoy hanging out with your cousins as much as Daddy enjoys having out with his.

Making Bread

I am committed to instilling our love of fresh, healthy homemade food in you both ... and that means getting messy sometimes!  We made some damper bread ...

Carrots and Other Bounty

Lots of fruit and veg have grown in our garden this year, it has been a joy to cultivate them and to eat them!  We have grown figs, apples, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, courgettes, tomatoes … and most amusingly carrots!

We have planted more seed now ready for (hopefully) another batch in winter … fingers crossed!

Jon and Sofia got married

At the end of May, we travelled to Spain to be at the wedding of Jon and Sofia.

Your Daddy was Jon's best man, just as he was for Daddy 7 years ago.  He made a great speech, and we had a fun time being treated to fantastic food (like roast suckling piglet and sliced jamon).

The sun shone, and everybody had a happy weekend, with lots of dancing, chatting and sharing fond memories.  You even tried to swim in the pool, but found it far too cold (we did warn you, but you needed to try it for yourself).

Weaning and potty training

We started weaning Minnie last week. She's enthusiastic, but her tummy still needs to get used to it...

And you've been learning to use the potty. No nappies (except overnight) since last week. You've had a few accidents, but you're learning fast!

Still the same old baby

You're now much fussier about food. You'll still eat most things, but getting you to try that first spoonful to decide whether you like it or not can be really difficult when you're playing up. (Even if the food is something we know you love!) Partly it's because you want to feed yourself and make a big mess rather than be spoon fed.

You still love nursery, and hanging out with your granny when she comes to look after you on Thursdays and Fridays.

You still laugh when I Facehugger you, however shocking I try to make it.

You've now got ten or eleven teeth including a few molars.

You've been sleeping through the night almost without exception since about March (when you were recovering from San Francisco jet lag).

You still suck the two middle fingers of your right hand like a rock chick. Your left hand also often holds your left ear while you're doing it.

You're still very talkative. Now you often understand what we're saying to you, and you try to reply. Your vocabulary includes "Dis" (What is this?); "Dada" (Any parent or relative); "Gog" (Any animal); and recently you've been working on "No."

You're still the most delightful possible child.

Kiwi

You're supposed to peel it!

Ah well, never mind. I guess you're exercising your new (fifth) tooth.

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 Favourite Foods

Mummy here!  My second post on the blog that your fabulous Daddy set up for you.

And at the moment we are spending a lot of our time together eating.  Since you ate your first food (apple, when you were 6 months old) you have tried lots of different things:

Yummy Yummy!
Apple
Sweet Potato
Aubergine
Baby Rice
Baby Porridge
Mango
Papaya

It's OK, I suppose
Carrot
Courgette
Butternut Squash
Broccoli

Not Quite So Yummy
Banana
Spinach

Just a little taste
Chicken
Cheese Sauce
Cheese
Omelette
Bread

Sometimes it takes a long time to persuade you to eat your lunch/dinner.  But sometimes, like today when you ate sweet potato and papaya, you gulp it up with gusto.

And that makes us both smile :)

I know how it looks, but how does it TASTE?

You're at the stage now where everything you get your hands on...

...goes into your mouth.

Except, of course, for food. That tends to go everywhere but your mouth.

Your first meal

After six months of breastfeeding, we gave you your first meal.

No, not that! It was apple, and we mashed it up first!

The downside is, well, the down side if you know what I mean. Real food means real poo. YUK.

Your first taste of ice cream

You didn't like it one bit.

Will you be a chef when you grow up?

Actually, I hope you never really quite grow up. :)

Holiday Mosts

You had a lot of new experiences in Greece.

Your most beautiful sunset.

The most food.

Hottest temperatures.

The most family.

Your biggest growth spurt.

Your funniest photo.

Holiday Firsts

We took you on holiday to Greece when you were just three and a half months old! It was fantastic fun, although it was very hot.

Your uncle David got married to aunt Justina on the beach. It wasn't the first wedding you've attended, but your trip to Greece was full of firsts.

Your first flight.

Your first time abroad.

Your first time meeting uncle David and aunt Justina.

Your first time meeting your Super-Papou.

Your first swim in the sea.

Your first stay in a hotel.

Your first taste of karpouzi.