Loggins & Knuckles: Living the Baby Dream

Catch Up..

2008-05-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

As Kelly so rightly and delightfully pointed out in her comment on the most recent post, this blog is sure to be giving all you avid readers true insight into the life of Livi and P. hmmm...

Anyway, as anyone reading this will be aware, we've had a lot of birthdays recently: Grandpa's was the 8th of April, Stuart's the 13th and Liv's the 18th, closely followed by Penny's 1st birthday on the 1st of May and my 30th(!!) on the 20th. We've had a fab time throughout all of these and have celebrated in various different ways, ending with a surprise 30th party for me after a surprise shopping trip and tapas lunch for some friends and me, all organised by the harp who is in the running for husband of the year, er actually, month (perhaps best he doesn't relax too much...).

Penny's coming on in leaps and bounds; she now climbs stairs and says 'all gone' or, more accurately 'or gn' - close enough! She stands independently and even I now believe it can't be long before she starts walking, although having said that, I'm sure she'll keep us waiting a while yet. She chants 'dadada' incessantly and, occasionally 'mama', despite my best efforts at influencing her to favour my 'name'. I think I deserve a bit of favouritism after 8 months solid of broken sleep and frequently since; Penny, it seems, thinks differently.

Livi is on half term this week but has been kept very busy by Daddy being at home on Monday, Grandpa visiting on Wednesday and various visits to her friend's houses and to the (all new and improved!) park at other times.

On Pen's birthday Grandpa visited and we went to the local cafe for lunch, including birthday cake, which Pen enjoyed!

Pen eating cake...

Pen post cake!

Our dear friend Kelletta also had a birthday and to celebrate we went to Stowe Landscape Gardens for an hours and hours long picnic. Luckily, it was on one of the 3 days of summer we've had this year, so we had lovely sunshine in a really beautiful setting.

Livi and Pen had a great time, a picnic being the height of dining pleasure to a 3 year old, and the opportunity to play with friends is always happily taken advantage of by Liv. We adults put ourselves out for the good of our children by lounging around eating and drinking and watching the children playing.

Alice, Tilly, Liv and Katy watching their ball float in the lake (later heroically saved by Mark)

Olivia

Baby P getting in the party spirit

Girls playing in the distance

Penny and her friend Elsie

I don't have any photos of my 30th bar this one taken at the tapas restaurant (no link as no website as yet, although there soon will be designed by Stuart):

Kelly, me, Jenny, Emma, Liz, Sam and the remains of chocolate cake... !

So, we've been very busy; perhaps busy enought to account for my lack of updating... All that's left to do now is hope for some more sunshine to make use of the 300 summer dresses and pairs of shorts I panic bought on the first day of sun, thinking: SUMMER IS HERE! THE GIRLS ARE GOING TO BOIL! RUN TO THE SHOP, BUY! BUY! BUY! only for the purchases to be shoved, 80% with tags still on, into their already overflowing drawers a week later. A cautionary tale of arm waving I feel.

Business as Usual

2008-04-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

The girls have had a very busy day! Olivia was at playgroup this morning and had a great time, although we had a few tears on leaving; she hadn't done any drawing or painting today, so had nothing to show me, which was a serious issue for at least 4 minutes!

We saw the O'Neills walking home and diverted from our house to theirs to have a spot of lunch, which was very kind of Jenny, senior O'Neill. Afterwards, we all came back to our house for more playing and cups of tea, which was lovely, especially when Kelly, Matilda and Elsie popped in.

After a bit more playing, some tea and a promise of a bus ride into Banbury tomorrow (a huge treat to Livi) the girls made their way upstairs for stories, cuddles and sleep.

zzzz...

3rd Birthday Fun

2008-04-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

Livi at her party before anyone arrived - skipping up and down the hall in great excitement

Joy at the lurid pink birthday cake!

Eating the lurid pink birthday cake - this was a high point of the day for Olivia

Birthday (party) smiles! Pammy (aka Sam) very kindly gave up a Sunday afternoon to come and paint faces at the party, which goes well over and above the duties of even the most loyal friend, as she was flat out for the whole 3 hours! The children loved her, as did the mums, and she did a fantastic job! YAY for Pammy!! Liv probably isn't the best advertisment for Pam's handiwork though, as she couldn't stop wriggling, but she was still very impressed with the outcome.

Alice, Liv, Auntie Sabrina and Tilly in the pass the parcel circle.

Opening pressies on her actual birthday (before 7am... argh)

Loving the yoyo Katy picked out for her... lucky girl!

Grandpa and Livi playing Hungry Hippos (no cheating going on, absolutely not... )

Happy Pen, before she got the lurgy.

Olivia being amazed at 'another present Mummy!' - Grandma kindly gave Livi a pass the parcel all to herself; I think she was amazed at the number of presents she got from one gift!

She had a really wonderful few days - thanks so much to all those who gave gifts/cards and who were able to phone/pop in.