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Showing posts with label good times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good times. Show all posts

Sunday, January 31, 2010

SPECIAL VISITORS

Alice and L were adopted at the same time, we're very lucky to see them often enough to keep a bond between the girls. Alice adores the B/E family and always looks forward to their visits.

They last came to stay in mid October. This time it was noticeable that L had changed more than Alice - but L has had more reason for change this time. It was also noticeable that their relationship is becoming independent of their parents - they now talk to each other and play together, all is lots of fun with many giggles.

Precious times again.


Saturday, September 26, 2009

FUN AT THE ZOO

We went to the zoo.

Alice especially wanted to see the lions, fish, seals and 'grillas', so we did but we saw lots of others too.

She wasn't very cooperative when the camera was around and I forgot to bring her camera. She's started doing a very 'scrunched up' smile when I eventually manage to get her to look into the camera, but at least it's still a record of our memories.

She was fascinated by the lions and the lion spent several minutes very close to the glass while we were watching him. Alice was very close to him and the moment I got the camera out she told the lion to, 'Say cheese!' - something I never do but she's picked it up from somewhere and says the same when she's taking photos!

We had a lovely time there and Alice reported that the lions and the fish were her favourites. I bought her a very soft elephant in the zoo shop, not that we saw an elephant, but to remind her of her sister in Thailand. Alice says that she's going to call it, 'Elephant Sister!'

I love 'nearly free'!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

WATER PLAY

Alice's love of water continues, only 2 days into nursery and they've noticed it too (she's come home soaking!)

The weather this summer has been so poor that Alice hasn't had much chance to use the water table - in fact T put it away last week (perhaps it should have gone away earlier!)

The top photos are from today (we had a PJ day!!) The others are from earlier in the week.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

BEING A GROWN-UP FOR THE EVENING!

Alice is having an adventure - a sleepover with T and her sons L and C. Alice was very excited but not at all perturbed at the thought of her adventure, although she did instruct me to stay home and wait for her!

I didn't.

I escaped to be a grown-up for the evening! GFN and I went to the theatre to see the S0und 0f Mus1c, not only did we see C0nn1e F1sher, but we also glimpsed Andrew Ll0yd-Webber and Arlene Ph1l1ps sneak into the audience. I love the film and in situations like that I'm always sceptical about seeing a different version, but it was fantastic, CF was great (she even sounded like Jul1e Andrews) and the bits on stage that were different to the film made sense and it didn't seem a shame for them to have been changed. A fantastic production and I'd recommend seeing it. GFN drove, so I didn't even have the stress of navigating round Cardiff Bay whilst he updated me on all the bits of news that I've missed.

Occasionally it's good to be a grown-up, but only occasionally!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

OUT OF ROUTINE

Alice had a last minute playdate with O this morning. We all had lots of fun, no pictures of gorgeous O as I haven't got permission (yet!).

Then this afternoon GFN came for a cuppa, he hadn't seen Alice since just after Easter and was amazed at the changes in her, me too!

Monday, June 01, 2009

ENJOYING THE WEATHER

Covered up from the sun, slathered in sun spray and draped in a hat - Alice had a splashing good time in her new (larger) paddling pool. We're being careful but loving the good weather - unfortunately only one more day (for now) of it left.




Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A DARE-DEVIL AND HER GOD-FATHER!

Alice loves him because he makes her giggle and teaches her such naughtiness! I love him for some of that and giving me the opportunity to take photos of Alice (and the big China stuff of course!)





Friday, September 05, 2008

HARD DAY AND MILESTONES

First day back at work.

I woke 20 minutes before the alarm and so I was up before 6.30am - that's very early for me!! I crept downstairs and got things going, moping up some organisational bits for work, making my packed lunch, sorting out and tidying up. Just after 7am Alice started to squirm, I stayed downstairs and she was settled again within 2 minutes.

I went back upstairs, had a leisurely shower (quite a novelty) and got dressed. Alice slept so I went downstairs for breakfast. I twiddled my thumbs for a while until M came round to look after Alice. Alice began to wake just as I was leaving - at that point I decided to let M get her up as I thought that handing her over just as she woke would be harder on her, but not cuddling her, not telling her that Mummy was going to work, not waving goodbye, not knowing how she'd be without seeing me - was all VERY hard for me.

I try to leave home things at home when I'm working, that was harder than usual today. I don't normally ring, but today I had to know that she was OK. Of course she was fine! She was obviously pleased to see me when I got home and we had a lovely evening. She had a bubble bath tonight and had wonderful fun picking up the bubbles and blowing them away.

She's changing daily, particularly her speech and singing. She's showing more and more enjoyment of songs and singing and will increasingly join in with the words (especially the last word of the line and the verse!) Tonight she sang 'Happy Birthday to Grandpa' and gave his photo a kiss. Today, as everyday, I remember him and tell Alice about him and Granny - she finds their photos and blows kisses. Granny and Grandpa would love her so much and would be so happy to hear her sing and feel her cuddles.

Over the summer Alice outgrew her sleeping bags, even though I had the next size I hung back using them. Tonight Alice tried one of the new ones - cuddly pink jersey, it looked and felt very comfy. Once she was wearing it she lay back on the changing table and pretended to sleep - but got the giggles when Mummy snored for her!! Precious times.

We had lots of kisses and cuddles this evening - to make up for this morning. She knew 'Mummy work' (I had told her last night - which made this morning a little easier), tonight as we cuddled in front of the cot she told me 'Mummy work,' so the cuddles continued a little longer while I repeated several times that I had worked today but not tomorrow and that tomorrow was a Mummy and Alice Home Day. She's very happy at home with M and I enjoy the change of pace and feel refreshed at the time apart, but equally I hate leaving her and being apart from her, even though it's good for both of us!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

SWINGING AGAIN!

(You'd never guess that 5 minutes after this Alice needed a complete change of clothes, ugh.)






Friday, August 22, 2008

A NEW SWING

Alice loves her swing, she'll stay in it for 45 minutes or more, sometimes more than an hour. She's never happier than when she's swinging - the higher and faster the better - you know when it's wild enough as she starts to squeal!!

The baby seat that came with our park is now a little too small for Alice, she gets stuck as you lift her out as space is tight. I've been looking for a new seat for her - as she's not mature enough to cope with the flexible seat that is the next stage up. So a larger, but still baby/toddler seat was needed. I finally found one in France - we tried it at the gite and then I found one in a supermarket and bought it - only to discover that it was significantly cheaper than anticipated. It's now installed and Alice tried it this afternoon - an obvious success, great! A great side-effect from the new seat is that there are now 2 baby seats hanging from our park - so Alice and her small friends can both enjoy the swings at the same time.

DOG LOVE

. . . a little over a year ago, 11th July 07, the day Alice came home, she was screaming, terrified, rigid with fear when she first saw the dogs. Luckily her fear didn't last long - within 5 minutes she was screeching to try and entice them close enough for her to touch them!

(When I remember those early days at home and Alice's huge courage at so many new (and completely different) situations I continued to be amazed at her strength and saddened that I could do so little to reassure her.)

Now, when I watch her with the dogs it brings me such pleasure to see her active love and delight to be with them and the contrast in the time since she's been home. Such pleasure that we both enjoy our dogs and our home.

MORE PLAYTIME

Simple pleasures - spending time playing with Alice!

(How'd she get so grown-up again?)