Back on the beach!

Apologies fort the late update this week (especially to Nick) but dad left the camera in Andy's rucksack at the weekend, and I know how much you lot love the pictures....
Trish and Nanny came over for tea last Wednesday and I got to show off my pizza eating skills. Nanny and I ended up taking penalties at Dad in goal with the beach ball out in the garden. Pretty surreal stuff. Nanny is back on the ball after she was apparently found to be deficient! Dad reckoned she'd been deficient for years....
Mum went to work on Saturday so Dad and I went to see her at lunch time and we dropped in to see auntie Chris in her new shop. She attached several hundred balloons to my puschair for some free publicity. Thank goodness they weren't allowed helium ones, i'd have floated off. We dropped in to see Nanny in the afternoon as she's on holiday this week. We watched show jumping on the telly so that was pretty good, don't know how yuo gamble on it though? Saturday night i'd been invited to one of mums work friends 18th birthday party, the cakes were nice and I drank loads of mums ginger beer.
Sunday, was an early start...we went to Croyde for a surf trip with uncle Alan, auntie Hanna and Andy.

The internet had apparently promised big things but upon arrival they seemed a bit disappointed. Never mind, the sun was out and the wetsuit was on. I got to wander over miles of wet sand in an erratic fashion, join in on a group surf lesson and get in for a paddle. We then had a picnic in the dunes before heading off for home.
Mum was off work monday so when I finally got out of bed we went to Toys R Us. They were more excited about it than I was I think. Anyway, I got a smart new toy:

I'm getting the hang of the bouncing quite nicely already, I bet Nanny will have kittens when she see's me on it!
Yesterday dad took me out on another one of his lovely walks in the country (yeah, looking for bike tracks again!). We wandered through some pretty dense undergrowth and he got scratched and stung like mad which serves him right for wearing shorts the fool. Anyway, I escaped unscathed, even though I rode down the track in my pushchair....
Last night while mum and dad were washing up, I decided to get the potatoes out of the cupboard and take them two at a time and place them on the sofa. Once all the spuds were liberated from their dark prison, I picked a couple of favourites to snuggle up to while we watched some TV! Mum and Dad thought I was really funny but I was just spreading some love to the vegetable kingdom.

Animals animals animals

Summertime and the livin' is easy!
We've been out in the garden loads lately, eating dinner out there, playing and just sitting back. Saturday morning 'Jeremy' came out to play as well:

After numerous bodged attempts at the ramp (down to dad's bad driving skills) he finally started catching some air!
On Sunday we went over to the Law's to celebrate Fen's first birthday. I got to share his sandpit, drive his smart new car and even play golf. Melissa cooked me a lovely tea as well, mini sausages, sweetcorn and alphabites! The exact number of sausages I put away will remain undisclosed, rumours that it runs into double figures are wildly exaggerated.....as is the claim that I created merry hell when I was fed sausages at home earlier in the week and spat them out.
This weeks area of interest lies in the animal kingdom. The cat and I have been getting a lot better aquainted lately, although I don't know why she has to rub up against my legs, it puts me off balance. You can keep your C-Beebies as well, because I love the racing channel! As soon as I see the horses I make the clip clop sound and sit transfixed until the race is finished and the funny looking blokes start analysing the race.
Continuing the animal theme, nursery had a visiting zoo today for us! It was ace, the garden contained all sorts of funny creatures like sheep, pigs, goats and a pony. The pigs were great (reminded me of Dad) but the pony was my favourite. i'll keep an eye out for him in the 3:15 at Doncaster!
In other news, I've been having some more tooth action which of course means gallons and gallons of dribble, I now have 8 teeth!

...August? Already?

Welcome once again. What have we got for you all this week?
Wednesday afternoon dad and I took the car to be serviced in Basingstoke. While we waited we went into the town. We went in a smart car/model shop and after ransacking the lower shelves I managed to find myself a lovely Dodge Viper, I put on my best face and dad bought me it, Sucker! We then went to sit at a coffee shop outside. Dad said we could share a chocolate brownie but I made sure he didn't get any. After the brownie was gone I sat reading my 'Baby Einstein' book for a bit to look sophisticated in front of the passing ladies.
Parents evening at Nursery last Thursday! Andy came round to look after me while mum and dad went to get the lowdown on my mornings. This is what they wrote about me:
Since Ned moved up to the Ladybird room he has settled in extremely well and settles quickly into nursery.
As Ned has just started to walk he is gaining confidence in his walking abilities and this especially shows when he is in the garden. Ned likes to walk around the garden sometimes pushing a push along aiding his balance, he also likes to climb up the slide and push himself down.
At first Ned wasn't too sure on the messy activities but after a couple of attempts he soon plucked up the courage to touch the paint and then there was no stopping him!
Ned likes to play with all the small movement toys including musical instruments and the trains and cars, and he also likes listening to the nursery rhymes we sing and he tries to join in the actions.
So there you have it, Mum and dad were pleased with me.
Saturday we went to Marks and Spencer in Camberley, woooo excitement city! While dad was trying on some shirts the fire alarm sounded so mum and I legged it out of the shop leaving the part clothed fool inside to burn. It was a false alarm anyway and he soon appeared outside the shop slightly dishevelled. After that we went to the Lookout for a walk (as usual, dad was doing a fact finding mission for a future bike outing). I walked miles and miles before retiring to the push chair for a kip.

I also got a whippy ice-cream and didn't actually waste that much of it, just as well, Dad would have gone spare.

Saturday evening Slim and Trace came round so I got to stay up late and play.
Sunday was party time! I had an invite to from Layla who goes to my nursery for her second birthday party. It was a outdoor do with a bbq, face painters, balloon modellers and everything.

I did my mingling thing and made friends with Layla's Gran, I prefer the mature woman.
Mum had an afternoon off on Tuesday so they thought they'd take me to the outdoor pool. They thought i'd like it. I didn't. I hated it and I let everyone know just how much. That showed them.
Anyway, the walking is coming on a treat now and i've learnt to shake my head. Trouble is I like doing it so much I do it at every question, even things like 'Do you want a banana'

Busy busy busy

Hello once again. Had a busy old time this last seven days. Auntie Trish and Nanny came over last Wednesday so I stayed up late to entertain them, they loved it! The next night I went to see Grandad and Anne, they gave me chocolate milkshake, it was lovely. Saturday morning I decided to have a lie in until 9:30 and then they took me to Fantasy World!

About time too! There were ball pools, climbing things, swinging things and all sorts. As it was my first visit I think I was a bit overwhelmed with it all but I have a feeling we'll be going back pretty soon.
That evening the usual suspects came round for an 80's themed music quiz but dad made sure I was put to bed before I had the chance to witness his teams horrible defeat or as he put 'to save the poor boy being subjected to such poor quality music'
We had a few errands to run on Sunday before we went for a walk up at Snelsmore common. I walked under my own steam from the back gate almost all the way back to the car park, although I did take a head first tumble into a bush at one point. Never mind it was a nice soft landing.
Nanny hasn't been too well lately, so we have been keeping an eye on her this week. I've done my best to cheer her up and I think ive succeeded to some degree. I got to see Auntie Chris last night as well which was nice as she's normally at work.
Anyway, that's about it for now, see you same time, same place, next week!
That's it for now, see you

I'm in the mood for dancing.....

What's new this week? Dancing. Proper dancing, thats what. I love it and just can't stop myself as soon as I hear some music i'm off. I don't like these mix dj's though, I like to have a clap and cheer at the end of each song.
Mum worked on Saturday so dad and I spent the morning lazing about and catching up on some zzzz's. We met her at lunch time and had a picnic in the park. We walked home along the canal and I saw a cat living on a barge and a great big dog throw himself in for a swim which was pretty funny. That evening we had a barbecue for tea. We had the ball pool out and everything. I got to ride around in the garden in my little wheelbarrow until they were too tired to push me anymore and then I threw some shapes on the patio to the radio.
Sunday we went for a shopping trip to Southampton, I don't know why because i've got plenty of clothes. We went to Pizza Hut for lunch and I got my own pizza and everything, but as usual I was too interested in all the passers by to be that bothered about the grub. Late afternoon and we went to Nick and Carol's for poker. Jase sat in the cats chair and got a really hairy bum. I went walking out on their patio through the puddles in just my socks so they were nicely soggy. Luckily (?) mum and dad didn't last too long at the cards, so we could get home at a decent time although it didn't really matter as mum had Monday off so no going to nursery.
We went to Camp Hopson's smart new cafe and I had some chocolate muffin and got given a toy car just like uncle Alan's. We had my feet measured but I don't need any new shoes just yet.
I'm feeling a bit groggy today, runny nose, sore throat and some teeth coming through so that's not too good but i'm okay. They gave me Chicken Madras and Basmati rice for tea (it was mixed with plain yoghurt though) which was okay but I played on my condition and managed to secure not one but two bananas for pudding...result!

Holiday time again!

I've just got back from my second summer holiday in Cornwall, I was only 3 months old last year when we went so it was all change this time round.
Things didn't start too well on the Friday afternoon as there were loads of roadworks on the way meaning that it took a liitle over 5 hours to get there. Dad was a bit 'tense' when sitting in traffic so I thought it best to lie low and kept it down in the back. When we arrived we went straight to the chippy and I ate my fish cakes and chips off of my own fork, I found it really funny. The weather was a bit wet on Saturday when mum made us go for a walk around the headland, I don't know what she was thinking really. Once it had cleared up I went for a walk on the sand for the first time, it was pretty weird at first but I soon got the hang of it. Sunday was a much better prospect weather wise so we got a picnic together and headed for Harlyn.

Mum had a dodgy foot (probably trench foot from yesterdays walk), so we sat on the beach while dad went out for a surf, he came back and said it was really good, although the tide was so far out we couldn't see him, in fact he could well have just sat round the corner eating an ice cream for all we know!

Once he was back, I got into my wetsuit and we went in the water, it was still pretty cold but I loved it.

I offered to drive home but there were no takers. Can't think why?
On Monday Uncle Slim and Aunty Trace came over from their campsite for a visit. We had a great day, the sun shone and we went down the beach.

Slim took me for a paddle and Dad tried his hand at catching waves again but we didn't see him because we were too busy laughing at a silly family get cut off by the rising tide. Lunchtime, and Trace come up with the goods with the biggest plate of scones and cream ever, nice one!
We then went over to Polzeath for some shopping, Slim splashed out on a huge quantity of shorts and I got a T-Shirt. After a little bit of shoplifting (it was a fit up job, Mum hung the jersey up on the back of my pushchair!) we hit the ice cream shop and I ponced most of Slim's ice cream off him.
Other selected highlights of the first week were a trip to Falmouth where I was schmoozing all the old dears at the bus stop and trips to the beach, the most eventful being the one where the gail force winds blew sand all over me until I looked like some sort of sand creature. Still, they had actually splashed out on a bucket and spade for me which was great, I could flick sand much further with the spade.
On Thursday night Andy and Owen turned up but I was already in bed so that was a shock come Friday morning to have two new playmates. Over the course of Friday and Saturday all the usual suspects appeared so I had loads of new targets.
Saturday night we went down the pub and after seeing off my own carvery dinner I was busting some moves to the band, my audience loved it but were indifferent to the band.
The second week was really warm and sunny so I was doused with cream and had to wear my silly flap hat non-stop pretty much. I went in the sea every day which has been really good, although getting me dry and changed afterwards has been quite a game:

The second weeks events are all a bit of a blur, but we had a barbecue on the beach where I set the all of England record for scrounging food and eating it.

Yanna was great fun, spraying me with bubbles.

Fen was a great sparring partner, he had me beat on size but I reckon I had the upper hand on agility!

Tuesday night was donkey derby night at Newquay football club. The donkeys were okay, but Mum's deafening screaming at the last race made me cry! And all over a few quid on the tote.
On Wednesday afternoon they all had a bodyboarding lesson so I sat on the beach with Owen, ate my first pasty and eyed up the bikini clad talent. Owen tried to use me as a lure and had been rehearsing his story of how the tragic mother was drowned surfing a reef in an exotic far flung location but he drew a blank. After the lesson, their Australian surfer dude instructor 'Ade' offered to take me out and catch a wave! I got on the front of his board and we rode on into the beach, I wasn't sure at first but I liked it in the end.
Other than that it was a week of being a beach bum, poncing ice cream, stealing other kids beach toys, drinking sea water and eating enormous quantities of sand. The latter causing an interesting consistency to the contents of my nappy.
So after two weeks of late nights and lie in's we came home, but I couldn't go to nursery on Monday as the sea water and sand diet had played havoc with my digestive system.
By Tuesaday I was back on it and everything was back to normal, until next time.....

That's neat, that's neat, that's neat....

WALKING!
IT'S EASY!
When I feel like it......
I'm getting about quite well now on my own two feet without holding on! Sometimes though, it is just quicker to crawl.
My manky old dry skinned back seems to be a bit better at the moment too, which is nice as I don't have to scratch quite so much.
We went out for a picnic on Sunday evening:

Here I am starting on my sarnie....

Here I am mid-way through the sarnie....

Here I am off for a jaunt accross the common....

And here's mum cleaning the wet cow pat from the underside of my car. Dad wasn't very happy about it the miserable old git but Mum got it all off with the aid of 274 wet wipes and a pointy stick.
Well it's that time again, we're off to Cornwall for two whole weeks this coming Friday so there'll be no update next week or the week after but expect a special bumper photo extravaganza in the near future.
The first week i'll only have mum and dad for company, but the full gang are on board for the second week so that'll be really smart!

Phew what a scorcher!

How's it going?
The weathers been pretty warm hasn't it?
Had a busy few days recently. Mum and Dad went out on friday night so Andy came round to look after me, so that was good fun.
On saturday, mum went to work so dad made a picnic and we met her in the park for lunch. I ate loads of strawberries and made sure I smeared the cream into dad's fresh black t-shirt and mum's smart work skirt.
They went out again saturday night so Nanny came over with her handbag...that means chocolate!
On sunday it was fathers day! I got him a very 'pudding heavy' cook book to keep me and mum happy and a bike DVD to keep him queit.
They got my paddling pool out for me to cool off:

It was a bit cold at first but I soon got into it. They did let me have loads of toys in it as well although they aren't in the picture. Later on all the usual suspects came over for a barbecue and poker. Auntie Hanna cleared it with mum and dad so I could get back in the pool even though they had changed me and I had a proper nappy on, not a swimming one. By the time i'd been in there a while I could barely move because the nappy had absorbed so much water, it weighed a ton.
I got put to bed before the cards started, I was having none of that! I cried for ages until they gave in, mum took me out onto the patio where they were playing until way past my bedtime. It was okay though as I didn't have to get up for nursery on Monday.
Mum was off again on Monday, so I slept for Britain. When dad got home we had lunch and then I played in the sandpit. It would probably be more accurate to call it just a 'pit' now as I manged to excavate most of the sand onto the lawn....
Mum was a bit worried about me at nursery since i've gone up a room, but today I was well up for it and was my usual keen, smiley self again.
Until next time.....keep filling your pants and get someone else to change it!
Ned.

Hmmmmm....

Well hello once again!
A bit more back to normal this week, no trips away or anything.
Nanny looked after me on Saturday while dad tiled the kitchen floor (that means chocolate buttons) I didn't hear too much bad language so I assume it must have gone reasonably well, although Andy did have to come round and help him out a little bit.
On saturday night we went to a barbecue at Nick and Carols. I did some mingling, copied mummy by dipping my dinner into a pool of ketchup and then bedded down in the travel cot. I didn't go much on the chili flavour kettle chips either by the way.
Mum had Monday off, so when dad finished work we went to Milletts farm again to see the animals (it's free).
I saw a peacock with all his feathers out and got a fright from a goat coming at me a bit rapid! The geese were pretty good but the sheep, cows and horses were dull, even though Mum was talking them up. The slide in the playground was a different matter though! They put me up on the platform and then I threw myself down the chute headfirst! It was great fun, I had a good few goes before they called time out on me and we retired to the coffee shop. I shared a cream scone with dad, I can't believe the greedy pig let me have any at all, he must like me!

Back on the westside

Hello!
I had a special treat this week, uncle Alan came to look after me while mum and dad went to see a band. Mind you, 10 minutes after they left, I had a quick play with the cat flap and fell asleep in the hallway! So I wasn't much company really. Sorry Alan, i'll try harder next time!
Been back off holiday a week and then it was back off to Cornwall on friday night for the weekend.
I had a great time and plenty of fresh air in my lungs. I think I took my first unaided step as well in the caravan but haven't repeated it again yet.


Here's me with Mum and Andy, I expect the dialogue is going something along the lines of:
Andy: 'I reckon it'll get better at high tide'
Mum: 'Can we go to the cafe now?'
I got to see John and Sarah again before getting dragged off to Polzeath for the umptenth time for mum's pilgrimage.
I mentioned before that I had a rubbishy old carrier bag for nursery with the promise of something a bit more special on the way, and here it is:

Mum did a cracking job on the sewing machine and with dad's artistic input the reults are pretty good, which was something of a surprise.