EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

I'd spotted a pink rocking butterfly in ELC, but failed to get it from the first couple I tried - they're only stocked in larger stores.

Today we went to Bristol, to buy Alice's birthday present and some other things, including a duvet for her cotbed. Usually we just go to Cribbs Causeway, a regional shopping mall with John Lewis etc. Today we headed towards the city centre, to a different retail park - to a Motherc@re, for a cotbed duvet that's out of stock online, it's also out of stock in Cardiff and Bristol!! On the same park is a Mamas and Papas, so I thought I'd check out the rockers there (as they make the one in ELC). They had 4 to choose from, but not the pink one, Alice tried them all, rocked on each one and had a great time. I've never been quick at making (relatively) simple decisions (yet strangely, important decisions are usually reached quite quickly!) There was a caterpillar rocker (unsupported back, Alice was a little wobbly on this one, but no size restriction), a yellow and pink butterfly (like the ELC one but less pink) and a brightly coloured version (both had relatively large seat area) or a brightly coloured 'Lottie' (smaller seat but turns into a wheeled rider). Eventually I chose the 'Lottie' rocker rider - it would have been a much quicker decision if I'd realised the prices, I, of course, chose the most expensive, but equally it should last longer as it's multi-functional (even if the seat part is smaller than the other choice!)

The next dilemma - whether Alice should have it immediately or wait until her birthday. The decision - if she has it now then she'll get more use out of it. I brought it into the playroom and she beamed, it wasn't a surprise as it had sat next to her in the back of the car all the way home but she obviously hadn't noticed it!!

Alice, delighted, rocked the night away - til bedtime at least!!