Brace yourselves for another weekly whirlwind round up then….

Bike riding on two wheels? Piece of cake. I’ve been trying to make things more exciting by careering around the playground and weaving through the kids/play equipment. That was going well until Alastair turned up:

I’ve really missed him since he stopped going to nursery but we wasted no time resuming our usual style of play…..

Rough and tumble all the way.
They are both complete fools if you ask me, how one of them didn’t end up in hospital is beyond me. Having said that, I’m no stranger to danger myself:

Here I am after I had just managed to escape from Ned’s wooden railway before getting run over by the 6:15 express! (Ned took the photo on his camera).
We’ve moved rooms at nursery into a much bigger one. It’s brilliant, we’ve got loads more room and even a quiet corner that I made use of today to catch up on some sleep after the busy weekend. It was a double bonus actually, I missed Tuna Bake which was on today’s lunch menu and got a special one off cheese and ham toasty instead. What a result, think I might play the tired card every time there’s a dodgy dinner in the pipeline.
I’m not fussy, I’ll eat anything and everything. Meat, fruit, veg, yoghurt, newspaper, books, tissues whatever I can get my hands on really. I’d still love to eat that internet cable but keep getting caught in the act.
Mum sang me a funny song this week about ‘Walking the dinosaur’ one morning on the way to nursery, it sounded ace….even though she didn’t know many of the words. Dad got the proper one from the internet and we listened to it loads and busted out some fat moves to it. My new favourite song I think, although I also quite like track 5 on the Reel Big Fish album too. We like to sing it in the car on the way to collect Mum from work, it’s about slowing down, not quite such an issue as it would have been in our old car. Andy even took Dad to see the band last week, I really wanted to go with them but was told I’d have to wait until I was older, I hope 4 is old enough.
I’m crawling! I can move forward under my own steam in the direction I have chosen to go. How about that? It isn’t particularly elegant crawling but I’m working on it. I’ve also decided making loads of noise using my mouth is the way forward, everyone else seems to do it pretty much non stop so I thought it best if I join in myself.
I’ve also taken a shine to a 12 year old girl we pass on the way to nursery every morning. I get really excited when we see her come along the path and I make sure I issue a nice big hello each day, she loves it.
Mum and I have been working on my party invites (for my friends, a separate ‘family’ occasion will be announced in due course). It’s the social event of the year so it’s taking up pretty much every waking moment I have. Dads heard enough about it already I think, all he keeps going on about is how much it’s going to cost him.
Time for a big ‘get well soon’ for Grandma who’s in hospital at the moment after a little fall. We went to see her on Saturday with Alan, it’s cool when he comes out with is because he sits in the back between Ned and I and we have someone to play with/antagonise.
So Sunday was mother’s day, thank god for that. The build up had been long and arduous thanks to Dad making us go to pretty much every shop in town at least twice. We did get to make her a card though which meant getting the paint, glitter and stick on googly eyes out.
Yeah, I got to squeeze my hand into a great big paint pad and do some handprints which was really good but Dad had it planned like a military operation and wiped my little hand clean before I could do any serious damage with it….KILLJOY!
We had an outing to Virginia Water and in the great family tradition I had to suffer the very public indignity of the parcel shelf change:

Except this car doesn’t have a proper parcel shelf so I get to enjoy the full spacious luxury of the boot itself, what a lucky girl I am!
We had a picnic by the side of the lake that was ogled, eyed up and coveted by every passing man, woman, girl, boy and dog.

I enjoyed some really crispy things out of a crinkly packet. Now normally I would have gone for the packet, but I have to confess to enjoying what was inside more.
I rode my stabiliser-less bike for miles without riding into the lake itself or any of the numerous muddy puddles that adorned the edge of the path, pretty good for a confirmed mud magnet like myself.

We found a really good waterfall which was probably the best thing I have seen in ages, I don’t really know why but I loved it.
On the way back I decided the foot path was a little tame and wanted to get some off road action going on. I demanded Dad launch me along this really bumpy high level pass:

I shouted up at the sky for my both my Nannies to watch me after Mum said how proud they would be of me.

Then it was back to the car, I decided to wear just the hood from my coat. I’m an innovator, a style icon, a trailblazing maverick or maybe just a bit of loony…..

We’re gutty pigs, both of us. I had two dinners at nursery the other day and even managed to finish before my friend Hugo. Anyone who knows Hugo will realise what an achievement that is, sadly none of you probably do so you’ll have to take my word for it.
And I’ve discovered the world of puddings at long last:

Mum let me have a lick of her ice-cream, foolish mistake. I soon had a vice like grip on it and she soon gave in and let me have it all to myself. I didn’t finish it all but she didn’t want the soggy cornet back for some reason….
Dad’s been doing this really weird thing lately, we’ve got a perfectly good car on the drive but every so often he decides to walk to nursery to pick us up. Weirdo. Anyway, we show our displeasure by completely blanking him on the way home (or if the truth be told, we nod off):

Oh yeah, did anyone know that my Mum is a proper clever clogs? When I got up last Tuesday morning there was a bag of money on the table that she won at the quiz Monday night, I was really impressed….
Tuesday afternoon then, I had to visit the doctors. Dad said I had to have some ‘medicine’ Great, I’m quite partial to Calpol and the only other sort I’ve had was a lovely banana flavour one. He didn’t bother to tell me that the medicine was going to be delivered via an injection though did he…in BOTH arms as well. Well I shocked him, the nurse and myself by not being bothered one little bit about it. No tears, no whingeing just a generous helping of white raisins for being a good boy and a lovely pair of plasters to make me look tough. Once we were done there we had a special extended visit to the Early Learning Centre for a good old play and then over to Auntie Christine’s shop for a lolly and a play with the I-Phone (which you can get Cbeebies website on and everything). I had no trouble using it, unlike Dad…..
I can’t remember any particularly exciting events for me this week. Nursery has been good, I appear to be the only baby in my room that doesn’t cry and moan at least 90% of the time. I don’t know what the problem is with all the others, why cry when you can smile instead? I’m still sitting up very nicely and do a good job on trying to pull the internet cable out at every opportunity. Well, if they are going to be so backward as to not have a wireless connection then I’m going to punish them.
The weekend arrived with an early start to go and get Alan his new car. When we saw it it was so small, I thought it was actually for me:

I was pretty disappointed when it did really turn out to be his after all. Still, my car seat went in the back no trouble at all and me and Mum came home in it. We beat Dad as well, which was of course vitally important.
After a quick bit of lunch and a bit of scootering:

It was time for Caitlin’s party…..wahey!!!
Yep, I went too. I had my lunch at the side of the sports hall sat on a bench, nice or what? I thought not and made my disapproval clear by having little spew on the nice shiny floor….

We did space-hoppering,

Took over the castle and tastefully decorated it with soft furnishings,

Ate loads of food (but not as much as Hugo…)

And I managed to win two of the mini prizes during pass the parcel due to an ‘administrative error’
I got to play with one of my favourite-ist things ever…..Paper!

After a nice team kip on the sofa it was off to Rach and Ben’s for the night. Kimi had already turned in so Ellis and I got to play with all his presents unhindered, I hope your feeling better soon big man!
Swimming Sunday and I relieved Dad of another one of his duties….taking me on the flume slides. I decided to go it alone, gave Dad the thumbs off at the top and off I went. To be honest I was a little disappointed at how slow I went, I’ll have to pick up some tips for a quicker descent in the future.

Cold enough for you lately? I loved the frost on the way to nursery, I’ve been making footprints on peoples gardens (and treading in frozen dog poo).
I haven’t, ive sat in the buggy looking lovely:

Although I’m now sitting up all on my own without toppling over much at all. Clever eh? I’ve also learned how to clap as well, I love it.

I'd like to point out that I don’t have the back up cushions any more now.
We’ve been playing twister:

Mum and I are pretty good but Dad is rubbish. Mind you we did make him wait a while before we spun the spinner, by the time it had stopped going round he’d toppled over.
It’s come to my attention that Mum and Dad actually seem to know quite a lot of stuff, Mum always has an answer for my questions and Dad seems to know some really good short cuts and things. I ask them how they know these things but never really get a satisfactory answer.
I reckon it’s because they make it all up on the spot and you fall for it!
We had a pyjama party at nursery the other day, how cool is that? I wore my bestest Lightning McQueen pj’s and was by far the coolest. We had a game of pin the tail on the donkey, Dad was amazed I could have got it so far from the correct place.
We haven’t had any parties but I’m carrying on the family tradition by eating food at nursery I refuse point blank to have at home (this week fish fingers, and pretty much any pudding).
I also set a record for the worlds dirtiest coat after falling off a spacehopper into a puddle. Mum also equalled her previous best for washing and drying it over night, ready for me to go and do it all over again the next day.....
So, another sunny weekend then, lovely! We met up with John and Sarah and went to the new indoor playground at the bowling alley which was okay and then on to the fair which was much better:





I am in there with John, it’s just that I was braced for impact.

I didn’t go on anything, it did look like fun though.

When we got home Dad and I made some orange juice with some real oranges! They took a lot of squeezing, it is a lot easier to get it out of a carton.
Sue and Charlotte came to play with us Saturday night so mum and Dad could go to the pub, ha, more fool them I say, I bet we had a much better time.
I missed all the fun as I had a really boring early night!
Sunday we went to Lepe, again!

I’m not complaining though, the sun was out and I got to catch a few rays.

We played on the playground.

Had a walk along the sea wall.

Did some building.

Chilled out some more in the buggy.
But the biggest news……I used the hand drier in the toilet without being scared of it! How's about that then?

Impressive?

No?

Want something else do you? Try this for size then….I can now ride my bike with no stabilisers!

I’ve been talking about it for a while, Dad’s been saying that once they’re off we can ride in the woods properly, so I was on a mission. A good starting push and I was off, a little wobbly at first it has to be said. Mum and Dad seemed more happy about it than me for some reason. We all know that video doesn’t usually work, but we’ve had another go here, see how you get on with it. This was after about 10 minutes when riding around on the flat got boring so I thought I’d start using a start ramp.

Pleased as Dad was, I soon bought him back to earth with a bump when we had a picnic in the car. Ellis and I made a great team effort to make as much mess as we possibly could, dropping crumbs and what have you everywhere, he was getting quite upset about it. Mum didn't help matters with her laughing....ha ha.

As if I hadn't had a good enough weekend, Grandad and Anne took me out for the day on Monday. We went to the New Forest and saw the horses, Grandad even got a kiss from one of them, they're very friendly down there obviously, he didn't even have to get out of the car. After that we carried on to a place with little steam trains you could ride on around a lake. There was a really ace playground and a shop selling double sized mint choc chip ice-creams too. What a great place. I had a lovely time, thanks Grandad and Anne.

Yeah, I missed him. Dad came to get me from nursery which was nice, but there was no Ned to smile at. I came home and decided i'd have a kip, and when I woke up he still wasn't back. Dad gave me my milk and I kept looking at the door hoping he would come home and give me a cuddle.

Then on top of all that, Auntie Trish came round for tea. We had a lovely play:

And she got us all a pressie!!!! She can come again, i've missed my pre-quiz cuddles since i've been packed off to bed earlier.

Okay then, just a few pics from my latest photographic efforts for you:

Leaves, very arty.

A rather indulgent self portrait.

And one of my little sister.

I’m pretty obsessed with the grip on my shoes at the moment. It’s probably the most important consideration a three year old (nearly four year old) has got I think. Grippy shoes make me fast, really fast. Dad keeps telling me it’s me that makes them go so fast but I know it’s all about the shoes really. The downside of such grippy shoes is that sometimes my feet stick the floor and I trip over…and bump my head. I did just that last week after we’d met Mum for lunch (while also bumping into Auntie Christine and Auntie Trish, both in the space of one lunch hour). Dad thought I was just whingeing when I went over, it wasn’t until he pulled my hair back he realised that I looked like a unicorn…..I had a very sore bump indeed.
Weird stuff’s been going on around the house, Dad gave us a bath on his own last week and if that wasn’t shocking enough he’s also been putting our clothes into the big noisy white machine in the kitchen. I realise that I’m only young but I’ve never seen him use it before.
After we’d been to Tesco I watched Dad put all the food away while having a good old bounce:

It was pancake day as well, but instead of shrove Tuesday we had them on Wednesday. I had some emergency sleep to address on Tuesday night and did one of my famous no-shows for the evening meal. I was glad they waited until I was awake to have pancakes:

Quite honestly I didn’t really like them. I did however like the lashings of ice cream and chocolate sauce that went with them.
I didn’t bother with the pancakes at all, I’m into more hearty meals, like lightly mashed roasts. I had my eight month check with that awful health visitor on Thursday, she always makes me cry. Mum and Dad seem to really like her though…they talk for ages and ages so I do my best to cut it short by bawling. Anyway, through the din they’ve established that I’m doing fine, all my bits and pieces seem to function correctly and my weight is pretty much back on the all important ‘line’ Good, I don’t have to go back for two whole months.
We had a day out in Windsor on Saturday, we had a lovely morning in the park, riding scooters:

We rode on fair rides:

I cuddled with Mum:

And then cuddled with Dad:

Ned also tried to feed the ducks, but as soon as the bread came out several hundred geese appeared from nowhere and started to get a bit too close for the poor lad’s comfort, I found it really funny.
I didn’t, they were taller than me and really quite noisy. We went into town afterwards to the really good toy shop. We had a proper sit down dinner and everything rather than a pasty sat on a wall. I invented a great taste combination, chips dipped in chocolate ice-cream.

Not for those without an adventurous palate like me. Best of all though was that I was allowed to have a toy as I’ve been really good lately. I’ve eaten all my dinner every lunchtime and at home in the evening for a whole week now (yep, even the yucky vegetables). They used a technique called good cop/bad cop apparently, With Mum and Roses from nursery being the good and dad obviously being the bad (as well as the ugly!!). Between them they’ve convinced me that plate clearance is a good thing….if it means you can have Postman Pat’s friend with his Jeep, horsebox and pony then I’m all for it.
They got me some new clothes as well, which is great, but apparently I can have them for my birthday! Rubbish. I hope they've taken my rapidly increasing size into account.
Once the shopping was done we went back to the park for a final bit of scooter action, I made Dad run around with me while Mum gave Ellis her bottle, I think he got the short straw. He didn’t too bad with the running to be honest, but I think he could have benefited from some grippier shoes to speed him up a bit.
Sunday we had Grandma and Alan round for dinner, when they arrived Ned and I decided that we’d both have a good old cry about something or another, I’m surprised they didn’t turn around and go home again there was such a row.
Thankfully they decided to stay so I had a nice captive audience for the day. We played games:

We did jigsaws, played with my toys, ate biscuits and enjoyed some very unconventional half time entertainment during the football match on telly….
We went out to the park this afternoon:

This slide was a bit high for me, but Ned and his new little friend seemed to like it. I did really enjoy the see-saw and had a lovely go on a swing with Ned pushing me very nicely.
Yeah, I had an ace time with a boy called Oliver. We tried to outdo each other dreaming up the silliest way to go down the slide and then we compared shoe grip, mine were grippiest!

Been getting creative this week with some of the Christmas presents that have been waiting for a quiet afternoon:

I’ll be having my breakfast cereal in my very own decorated bowl (and cup for my juice).
While we’re on the subject of breakfast cereal, what does the world record for most Weetabix eaten by an 8 month old stand at? I tucked away three in one sitting on Saturday morning. Dad said that was the equivalent of him eating three pillows.

I’m still eating like no ones business, they keep making me nice little baby dinners up and then have to scuttle back to the kitchen to get me a second, and sometimes even a third bowlful.
The sun came out for a bit last week and instead of going to Tesco we went to the Discovery centre in Thatcham:

I climbed…..

I slid….

And I even went on the aerial runway on my own, right from the top! Brave or what? I also managed to convince another little boy (who was 4 I might add) to go down the slide for the first time. His Mum was really pleased with me for managing that one as she had been trying for years by all accounts.
I watched him from the comfort and warmth of a Dad cuddle, making sure I wiped my snotty nose all over his clean black jumper, ha ha!

I also had a good old play with some of my Christmas presents this week, I love my gym…so does Ned! But it’s mine, why can’t he stick to his cars and leave my stuff alone?
Slim and Trace came round for a surprise visit Friday afternoon. Tracey took pity on me crying in the front room while Dad was mucking about in the kitchen, no doubt preparing another tiny portion of nouvelle baby cuisine. She picked me up for a lovely cuddle session while Slim and Ned at biscuits. But the really big news was that I got my first Uncle Slim cuddle!

He decided that after 8 months I was probably ready…he was right, and about time too.
Saturday morning we went swimming, it was ace, I didn’t want to get out. Even the usual sure fire bribes wouldn’t work this week (the lure of the showers or the offer of lunch). I amazed everyone with some real proper swimming this week and set off across the pool like a boy on a mission. My little arms and legs were spinning in a blur as I made my way across the open water.
He was very impressive, I like to take it easy and just relax in my inflatable ring, slapping the water as hard as I can.
Mum went to work on Sunday….booo! She earned lots of money for holidays though by all accounts…Hooray! Dad took us down the park where I rode my scooter on the ramps:

I had my first ever go in a swing too, we should of course have a photo to mark such a momentous occasion but I think Dad had his hands full trying to keep both of us moving.
In the afternoon I watched my new favourite film, the Jungle Book on something called a video. The films itself was brilliant but at the end I couldn’t just watch it again as Dad had to do something called rewind the tape???? Never heard of that before, seems a bit of a pain to me….