ALICE'S CHRISTMAS 09

(with wet hair!)

A NEW PARENTING PHASE

Last Friday we had a busy day which included watching Father Christmas arrive at the local Garden Centre. While we were there Alice spotted a train set and had to be moved on as she wanted to stay and watch it (in the box - there wasn't one set up!) Ever since the visit to the Garden Centre she has been talking about the train set, so this morning I stopped on the way home from taking her to nursery and purchased it.

And the new phase in parenting - welcome (or not) to the world of expensive plastic tat!

BUSY DAY

Children in Need Day, Alice's school were having a Spotty Day, I'd decided that Alice would go as a spotty dog:

• I bought her a dog set for her birthday (hairband with ears, tail and a nose that barked when pressed),
• I used an animal print (unused) dog bed to make a skirt and a new set of ears (hairbands are no good as they slip out easily if they're the fabric covered),
  
• I used an old (slightly stained) white top and printed glittery paws over it (learnt the lesson to put some filling between the front and back whilst printing!)
• I got a bargain poncho on an auction site
• I kept the face paints very simple!!

Alice did a great dog impression too, panting and barking!

Nursery (usually a whole day) was just a morning session today - the whole school had a half day to celebrate a Saints Day. So after I dropped her off I went into the town and met a fellow prospective AP and gossiped over coffee. I managed to buy some more china - I love my spotty china, but in recent weeks I've broken a large and a side plate (I've had the china for over 5 years but these are the only pieces I've ever broken). This year Alice has started using proper plates (rather than melamine) and it's noticeable that we didn't really have enough china now it's in greater demand. They've also bought out a new piece, so I finally have a matching gravy boat! Then I went back to school for what I thought was a PTA event, mulled wine and minced pies, actually it was a school event - showing what the PTA fundraising had bought recently - it was a great opportunity to see the grounds and watch Nursery as they played outside - I love watching Alice in a different situation, she was happy to wave from a distance!

This afternoon we went to my school to watch and take part in another Children in Need event - they pompomed to a pop song. Alice wasn't happy to watch, she had to be on the yard WITH the children!

Then we popped home again, before going out for the final time today - to a local garden centre to watch Father Christmas arrive by horse drawn carriage. I didn't tell Alice about this until just before we left (I was waiting to see what the weather was going to do). We met one of her favourite friends there - O, Alice was more bothered about seeing O and his mum J - in fact she didn't think she wanted to see Father Christmas at all! When we got there she was transfixed by an animated display of elves and reindeer, then she tried to help herself to 2 balloons (1 for O!) - we weren't supposed to have them until we left so she had to leave them for a while, when we left she was adamant that she wanted a purple one. We saw FC but not up-close, we'll be going on a special train journey just before Christmas and then she'll get to share her list - at least she's consistent, she's sure that she wants a game like Mummy's, a torch (she's obsessed with mine) and a house for her hamster - so that's what she's getting!

FIRST FULL DAY OF BEING 3!

Alice woke at the usual (ish) time, I sang HB and she began the day with a huge smile. Then she had a bath - it shows how much she loves the water that she still didn't want to get out after 30 minutes and the reminder that there would be presents downstairs!

I directed her towards the largest present first and she was pleased to FINALLY unwrap her baby! She wasn't overly excited about the baby but then played with her almost all morning, I fell in love with her all over again watching her play so gently and caringly with her baby. She insisted that it was called, 'Baby' but when pushed pronounced it to be, 'Baby Sister'. It's an interactive baby that talks baby talk, cries, opens and shuts it's eyes and when you give it a dummy or a bottle it makes slurping sounds while the mouth moves! After 2 minutes of 'Dadadad' Alice told it to stop and asked why it was making that sound.

I tried to get her to have breakfast after she'd opened 'Baby' and initially she agreed but then insisted on continuing the pressies until they were all opened, as it was her birthday I let her dictate the pace but I'm forewarned for Christmas! We had a relaxed morning - Alice played a lot with her new toys before wanting a cuddle in front of a princess DVD, I was only too happy to oblige! Nana arrived after lunch, Alice opened her presents and then showed her Baby and the other things from this morning while we gently got ready for a birthday tea. C and L (T's sons and Nana's grandsons) and GFN joined us for tea and more presents.

So we had a lovely day, relaxed and happy, Alice loved her presents - her favourite was eventually NOT Baby but 2 goldfish from T and the boys (a present that I've dithered over for the last year!) So we now have Gold and Silver to add to the menagerie!

MORE THANKS!

Alice received a parcel - we should have had it on her birthday but it was a relief postie that day and he didn't know the arrangement I have for leaving parcels. Her parcel was loaded with goodies just for her from a special friend and Alice loves everything you sent, it was very generous and not just the toys but the thought and care put into the whole thing were very much appreciated, thank you!

I think you would also have enjoyed the work out that I got trying to take these photos - playing with Alice by the dishwasher before distracting her to run away before she caught up with me, so that I could capture her catching up, lots of giggles!

OUR FAMILY SUMMED UP IN A PHOTO?

This was supposed to be a thank you post - and it is!

This book was from O and his Mum (another teacher). She took 'pot luck' and bought Alice a book as a birthday present.

She couldn't have done any better if she'd known every book in Alice's library! I love this author, we already have the ABC book and now we're very grateful to have the counting one too (though not the one from this link, but very similar!) I love the detail in the illustrations and the subtle ways in which the arrangement of the book works to bring the end of the story back to where it began, wonderful.

I took several photos of her engrossed in this book but this one seems to represent our family very well - anyone know why?

ALICE IS 2!

OK, nearly 2 weeks late and now I'm having trouble with Alice's Happy Cake (her name for anything Birthday is 'Happy'!) (the photo is landscape on preview but portrait when uploaded?) Anyway the Happy Cake was Mummy's homemade fudge chocolate cake.

We did our usual things on the morning of her birthday - dashing out of the door in time to go to T*ick T*ock 20 minutes away, we were late enough that she didn't even notice the strange rug covered monstrosities in the playroom! They sang the Happy Song to her at TT and she even managed to stand at the front (with Mummy) through most of it before taking herself back to our place to sit down (the only time she sat there during the whole class!)

When we got home she unveiled her pressies - an easel from Mummy and a play kitchen (initially a 'chicken') from Grandad - she knew exactly what they both were and played appropriately with them from first sight (I thought that that was pretty incredible - especially the easel, how on earth did she know what it was?)

While she snoozed after lunch I got ready a Happy Tea ready. She wore her spotty outfit for the afternoon and discovered the tea table almost immediately after her nap and proceeded to graze for most of the rest of the day. By mid afternoon her little friends started to arrive (though all 3 of the other mums were working that day), the children played and then ate, Alice unwrapped some of her presents and the grown ups chatted, drank tea and ate too!

It was a lovely day and it's amazing to think back 12 months and reflect on how much she's changed in the past year - I miss the baby stage but I love the walking, talking, playing and independence that is Alice aged 2 (I hope that I don't live to regret that statement!!)

THANKS AND CONFUSION

A huge thank you to all who shared our day today - you helped to make it a very special day and it wouldn't have been the same without each one of you. I didn't take nearly enough photos so please send any that you have.

With all the things happening I got confused about the presents that you've given Alice - some were for today, some for Wednesday and one was even for last Christmas! Several people have also been very kind and sent cards and parcels for her. With my confusion I've tried sorting these pressies and cards into baptism and birthday, I'm not sure that I've got it right and I won't know until she's opened them! Alice was so tired this evening that she's only opened a couple of pressies - though she loved the contents of each one. So, for now, thank you for the pressies - I'm sure that they'll be lovely gifts that Alice will enjoy - specific thanks will have to wait until they're opened.

PRESENT FOR ALICE

I've finally decided!

I've been wanting to buy Alice a play kitchen, I've done loads of research and chosen a kitchen then done a load more research and come to a different decision - I've been in this loop for a while.

Today the discount code came through for Alice's birthday for a UK toy retailer, it prompted more research and consultation with T (who has quite a different perspective on things like this prompts me to consider things in different ways).

This is similar to the kitchen that I've finally ordered from an auction website - so I didn't use the birthday discount for this after all! In the end I was swamped by options and so price was a deciding factor - using the auction site meant I've saved nearly 50% from the original version of this kitchen. It's also been chosen as it will stand flat against a wall - initially probably in the playroom but I hope that one day it'll make it into a playhouse (when we get one!)

I hope that Alice will love it - she's certainly really started to role-play with small world toys and tea-sets - Mummy better start doing more baking and simple cookery so Alice knows what to do when she finally gets it!! I'm not sure yet whether it'll be a birthday or Christmas present but I do know (from the online reviews) that T and I (no I won't even be trying on my own) need several hours to put it together!

SSSSSSSHHHHHHH, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?! (AKA - NOW YOU KNOW JUST HOW SOFT I REALLY AM!!)

Tomorrow Alice will find out that there was something UNDERNEATH the box - a white rocking horse.

Now it needs a name - any ideas?

(I hope that this works - I'm trying a new 'blogger' trick, posting ahead of time and setting the publish time and date!)

EASTER BUNNIES

Alice had plenty of eggs and choccy from family and friends, so the Easter Bunny decided to bring our 'Little Miss Pickles' a rocking croc for the garden!! (As the weather's been so rotten the past few days the EB left the rocker in the drawing room to save Alice rocking in the snow!!)

Like her own Pickles Bunny, she loves her rocking croc!

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS - SPECIAL ONES

The lady was a present from friends - she's delicate and gorgeous, very much like the person who gave her!

The tram was bought in San Francisco in 1985 - while Mum and I were on holiday there. Mum was amazed to find a Christmas shop there in August (how times have changed!) We both loved SF, especially the trams, so Mum had to buy one for our tree. This decoration had a specific place on the tree - eye level in the centre, just in front of the trunk. It became a family joke to try and move it and see how long it would take for Mum to notice! I love the happy memories associated with it.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS - TRADITIONS

Every year my family buy some new decorations, maybe one, usually more, sometimes a set.

Usually old and new decorations are mixed on the tree - this year, however, a lot of (breakable) decorations stayed in the box.

This decoration (shell bell) is one of a set left by Father Christmas at my Dad's - on the year's when I spent Christmas in Wales (with Mum's family) Dad would come to visit on Boxing Day, bringing with him a cardboard box (as I wasn't with him, Father Christmas couldn't find my stocking!) One year this bell (and other shell decs - stocking, apple) were in my stocking, they've been hung on the tree every year since then.

ALICE IS A STAR!

Ever since we got home from China, GFN has been reminding me to get some 'proper' photos taken of Alice, a couple of weeks ago we finally got to the studio! I wanted 'lifestyle' photos taken - the ones against a white background. I wanted Alice to be wearing special clothes, so I chose her birthday dress and Chinese outfit - pure coincidence that the colours turned out to be red and green.

My Christmas present was some of these photos. I've always wanted a canvas of Alice and I also had a multiframe collection.

I'm posting with the photographer's full permission. I think that he was rather taken with Alice, he was certainly impressed with how quick she was to mimic him, not that that helped us to get decent photos. There were lots of lovely photos (my photos of the photos don't do either frame any justice). The multiframe is a collection of my favourites and really captures the different aspects of her personality and expressions - a second frame of this is going to be on display in his studio (so he must have liked the results!)

YESTERDAY'S PRESENTS

ALICE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Lovely day.

FC visited and left a stocking full of great things - FC plate, mug and bowl, hair clips, cuddly panda (just like the big one that lives in the car, how did he know?), books, boats for the bath, a Fifi phone and a supersoft pink taggy blanket, as well as chocolate, chocolate coins and a satsuma. All were extremely popular, so much so that it took Alice nearly all morning just to empty the stocking!!

Mummy gave her big panda (Mummy couldn't wait til Christmas!), a Leappad interactive book, more books, new outfit for Christmas (to go with the bolero cardi from her birthday outfit, all Mons00n) and a trampoline.

Alice had so many parcels under the tree that we've saved some to open tomorrow. This morning the great attraction of pressies was ripping the tags off, by this evening (with a little help from GFW) she'd learnt how to rip the pressies open - but the wrapping was more of an attraction than the contents! She's been thoroughly spoilt with wonderful pressies, lots of toys, plenty of books and quite a few clothes too.

She's been wonderful today, as usual, despite the fact that she's not feeling too good - her first pair of molars are coming through and she's been suffering, especially in the last 36 hours. She's had lots of numbing gel and pink medicine - to combat the usual symptoms. Unfortunately today she's had really bad nappies and she vomited immediately after lunch (having slightly choked on a satsuma segment the whole of lunch reappeared). Her sleep is suffering too - she finally dropped off at about 9pm tonight, very unusual and given the situation around bedtime it wasn't to do with over excitement - that's to come in future years!

THE BEST GIFT EVER

(even managed a little wrapping!)

Happy Christmas x

TODAY'S NEWS!

We had a quiet morning. After the school's carol service and staff night out last night, I was slow to get going and Alice was her usual amenable self and let me go at a leisurely pace!

Today's outfit was another lovely pressie from GMA and her family - a gift from their Florida holiday, from Gymb*ree (could become my favourite store!) I admired another IAP's daughter's outfit recently and in the process I was introduced to Gymb*ree. Unfortunately they don't have any shops over here any more, but you can shop online, so I did! I ordered some clothes (for next winter and Christmas) on Sunday evening, paid $5 extra for express delivery and they arrived this morning, 36 hours later!! Incredible and the clothes are fabulous too, I will be ordering again.

I've had another shock with Alice's clothes recently - the baby grows that are on the small size are a size larger than I'd thought, she's nearly out of M*thercare's 12-18 months, at 14 months!

For fun I tried some squeaky shoes (bought in China) (shoes that squeak as she walks - to encourage walking) on her this morning. I'd bought 3 pairs, the smallest are already too small, sigh. Anyway, Alice really loved the shoes, they didn't help much with walking, but she did a lot of bouncing and had great fun. I know that there are differing opinions as to when a child should wear shoes - I'm going to keep Alice in the soft leather slippers until she's properly walking, but occasionally we'll have some fun with the squeakers!

I also keep meaning to post about her hair. I know that Alice is looking a little 'hippyish' at the moment - that's what comes from trying to grow baby hairstyle out into a bob! I see a hairdresser's appointment in the near future!!

YESTERDAY - TUESDAY 18th CATCH UP!

I haven't got the time or patience to get the photo explanations next to the photos, so from the top:

• Photo 1 - couch potato in the making, I came in from the kitchen to find Alice sitting on the cushion like this!
• Photo 2 - giving kisses, I wish you could hear the kissy sound that goes with this.
• Photo 3 - I love that smile.
• Photo 4 - taking a call!

The cardigan was a birthday present from C - thanks it's beautiful and I think that Alice looks lovely in it! Silly me, I thought it was a bit big, so kept it in the wardrobe for a while, that kid keeps on growing and fooling me, but that's what children are for isn't it? To make a fool out of their parents?!

YESTERDAY AND A PRESENT!

Thanks for the kind wishes, texts, comments, blogs (check out 3CMum) and calls.

It's over for another year and I feel OK today, not sure whether tomorrow will be bad or not. Usually my birthday (10th) is worse than the actual anniversary (12th), not sure why - memories of both days from 2003 are very clear in my memory.

Jolly wouldn't get out of bed this morning, I'm still extremely worried about her - she's my oldest Cavalier but she's only 10.

. . . and the present? (3CMum - have you guessed yet?)

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It's a Bugaboo Bee, a new LIGHTWEIGHT, SINGLE FOLD, pushchair. They won't be released over here until February next year, mine should arrive in about 2 weeks - postal strike permitting!