A Year in Pictures: Week 25

Saturday 18 June

Bit of a cheat today and tomorrow because I wanted to put both these pictures up, even though they were taken on the same day. We went over to Ipswich today for a barbecue to celebrate Jon's brother's girlfriend's 30th birthday, which was a couple of weeks ago, and his sister's birthday, which is on Tuesday. We managed to avoid the rain showers and cook and eat a barbecue outside between downpours. Jon's Mum and brother-in-law made these two cakes for the birthday girls. This one is Louise's...


Sunday 19 June


... and this is Katherine's. They tasted as good as they looked too. Although I resisted the urge to eat any of the choccies.


Monday 20 June


Another slight cheat because I didn't take this picture - Rob did - and I suspect it was taken yesterday, but I didn't see it until today :). Not quite sure how I managed to make such a beautiful girl.


Tuesday 21 June


This is how she looked when I went in to wake her from her nap this afternoon.


Wednesday 22 June


The washing machine broke on Monday. I could hear a buzzing noise, and saw that the fuse looked like it was burning through the plug, as there were brown scorch marks on it, so I turned the machine off at the wall. I managed to pull the plug out of the socket today (the plastic had melted the two together a bit) and this was the state of the plug - and the socket. Once I got the plug apart it looks like it might just need a new fuse (and plug and socket plate) and the machine itself might just be fine. Well, apparently they do say that you're not supposed to put the washing machine on then go out. It's a good job I wasn't out on Monday; dread to think what would have happened if the sparks had turned into a fire...


Thursday 23 June


This is Daisy's innocent face, when she's knows she's being naughty. You know, something like going for my handbag when I've told her not to a hundred times :).


Friday 24 June


Auntie Jen arrived yesterday and she's staying the whole weekend!

A Year in Pictures: Week 24

Saturday 11 June


Mum, Dad, Daisy and I went to the Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth Air Museum this afternoon before the forecast rain came (which it didn't, until much later in the day). This peacock was contemplating showing his feathers to Daisy but she was entirely non-plussed, so he changed his mind.


Sunday 12 June


Baby Einstein still holds her attention like nothing before or since...


Monday 13 June


So beautiful. This was taken before the screaming started (see below)...


Tuesday 14 June


I was cutting Daisy's fingernails last night and she moved just at the wrong time and I got a bit of the skin on the end of her thumb instead. She cried lots, but I think that was less to do with it hurting and more because I wouldn't let her have her thumb back as it was bleeding and I didn't want it to go everywhere, so I put her thumb in my mouth and she fought me for a good 20 minutes to get it back. Once she did calm down, she actually almost fell asleep, she'd tired herself out from crying so much. The main issue was that it's the thumb she sucks when she's tired, but tonight she was asleep before she'd finished her bottle so there was no real problem there. We did eventually get a plaster on it after about the 7th attempt - it took me, Mum and Dad to do it - and this is her with her poorly finger this morning. By the time I got her up from her nap at noon the plaster had come off and it was all fine.


Wednesday 15 June


I'm not keen on putting bows or ribbons in babies' hair, particularly if they don't have any, but I'm fed up of people telling me what a beautiful boy I have, even when she's dressed in pink...

Thursday 16 June


"I'll watch this one please, Mummy."


Friday 17 June


I was trying to get a better shot than this but she would not keep still :).

A Year in Pictures: Week 23

Saturday 4 June


Having gone to Jo & Duncan's wedding in Glasgow three weeks ago, we were then invited to their 'London Celebration' today, which was held in the State Rooms of Speaker's House inside the Houses of Parliament. This picture of Big Ben is taken from inside the courtyard; not an angle I've ever seen it from before :).


Sunday 5 June


I managed to get halfway through pressure washing the paving stones at the front of the house today before the pressure washer died :(. I'll have to borrow one from the next-door neighbours then find a spare couple of hours to finish the job. Might be a couple of weeks yet...


Monday 6 June


This picture is a screen shot of what Jen saw while we were Skyping with her today. What you don't see on the picture is that when Daisy took her mouth away from my wrist, she left teeth marks behind...


Tuesday 7 June


I love this picture of her with her hood up.


Wednesday 8 June


Having had absolutely no success getting Daisy to drink out of a 'weaning cup', I switched tactics today and went for a sippy cup. It was much more successful, but the good thing about the weaning cup is that it didn't spill when it was turned upside down. This one, on the other hand, does, unless the lid is down, and I didn't get to it in time before Daisy had poured a lot of the water in it onto her jeans...


Thursday 9 June


Daisy has now mastered the art of crawling backwards, although going forwards is still a feat to be accomplished.


Friday 10 June


I bought these foam mats today and Daisy loved her new extended play area :).

A Year in Pictures: Week 22

Saturday 28 May


Getting so close to crawling now :). She spent most of yesterday leaning forward like this, building up the strength in her arms, and she just needs to learn to push her front leg out behind her and not then flop straight onto her tummy... Won't be long.


Sunday 29 May


We saw this busker in Cambridge today. Yep, he's actually playing the guitar from inside a litter bin.


Monday 30 May


Jon and Daisy were playing 'Hide the Shoe' this afternoon. Jon found the perfect hiding place. Until Daisy looked down, anyway.


Tuesday 31 May


We tried 'Popeye Pasta' (spinach and cheese sauce) for the first time today. It was a hit! This is also a good shot of the new teeth.


Wednesday 1 June


We were just about to leave the house this afternoon when these were delivered! I'm so spoilt ;).


Thursday 2 June


This is the effect In The Night Garden has on Daisy... She was transfixed.


Friday 3 June

We went up to Rutland today to the beautiful wedding of Rachel and Matt. Here's Daisy and me waiting for the ceremony to start.

A Year in Pictures: Week 21

Saturday 21 May


Another one :). Bev brought this one with her last week when she came over for Sarah's wedding.


Sunday 22 May


I was making a cup of tea this morning, heard Jon come downstairs so turned round and this is what I saw :).


Monday 23 May


When Daisy wakes up she doesn't always cry; sometimes she just lies there, looking around, sucking her thumb, until I go and get her. This is how she looked when I went in this morning.


Tuesday 24 May


Nine months old today! We celebrated with a trip to Sing & Sign (which we were going to do anyway) and a photo shoot (which was probably more fun for me than it was for her). Afterwards we played on the bed for a while and I tried to take a couple of shots while she was sitting on my tummy. Of course as soon as she saw the big black thing in front of her she wanted to grab it...


Wednesday 25 May


How cute is this child???


Thursday 26 May


We went to an introductory Gymbabes session a couple of weeks ago and, now that we're back from holiday, went along today to sign up. She was a little bit grouchy today (see tomorrow's picture) but she loved sitting on this low bench and practising standing up!


Friday 27 May


I thought so! Both of Daisy's front teeth have cut through in the past couple of days. She's been quite snotty and was a bit grumpy yesterday, but otherwise her first four teeth have not proved to be too much of a problem. Woohoo!

A Year in Pictures: Week 20

Saturday 14 May

One of my oldest friends, Sarah, got married to Jon (a different Jon, not mine!) today in Stockton, my hometown. She looked so beautiful that I not only shed a tear, I actually cried bucketloads as she walked down the aisle. My Jon took this cool picture of them saying their vows.


Sunday 15 May


It actually felt a bit weird not to be going to a wedding today ;). What we did instead, once we'd picked up Daisy, was go to this lovely house on the Norfolk Broads to spend the rest of the week with Jon's family.


Monday 16 May


This is Finn, also known as the Finnster, Jon's 6-week-old nephew. He spent a lot of the week sleeping, as you'd expect a tiny baby to do, and he was so well behaved.


Tuesday 17 May


I love this picture of Jon's niece, Jessica, fishing off the balcony. We since found out that it isn't fishing season and the fine for fishing out of season is £50,000...


Wednesday 18 May


Here are Jess and Daisy being very cute. I actually have another one of them looking even cuter, both smiling at the camera, but as is always the way with me and photos, it came out blurry. Must find my notes from that 'How to use your SLR Camera' course I went to a while ago...


Thursday 19 May


Finn and I were worn out towards the end of the week...


Friday 20 May


The purpose of our little sojourn to the Norfolk Broads was to celebrate Jon's Mum's birthday, and here's the awesome cake Jon's brother-in-law, Mark, made for her. The diet starts Monday.

A Year in Pictures: Week 19

Saturday 7 May

Jon went for a haircut in Cambridge this afternoon. Actually it was supposed to be this morning, but Daisy threw up on the way and just after she did, the hairdresser rang and asked to change the appointment to later in the day, so we went home and tried again later. While he was having his hair cut, Daisy and I bought him a present from Hotel Chocolat as they were selling off all their Easter eggs at up to 70% off (the only time you get value for money in that place, in my opinion). Daisy wanted to keep it for herself, though :).

Sunday 8 May

We went to a christening this afternoon and Daisy looked beautiful in her pink dress.

Monday 9 May

A rose from the garden again ;). Jon picked this one for me the other day and it's opened out loads.


Tuesday 10 May


Daisy overbalanced when she reached forward for a toy. Instead of crying for me to pick her up, she just carried on watching the TV from there ;).


Wednesday 11 May


We have a scooter! Over the course of a 15-minute period, she scooted over to the sofa and looked very pleased with herself once she'd made it.


Thursday 12 May


I took Daisy into London this afternoon then at 18:00 Jon and I set off for Glasgow. We arrived at 00:30 and Jon pulled up outside while I ran into the hotel to ask where the nearest car park was. The guy behind the desk told me that the nearest one was closed, so I said, 'Right, and where is the nearest one that isn't closed?' Anyway, we stopped for dinner at KFC at Keele Services on the M6. Here's a picture of the service station. Non-stop excitement for us ;).


Friday 13 May


Isn't this a lovely room to get married in??! It's the 'House for an Art Lover' in Glasgow, which has been built to showcase Charles Rennie Mackintosh's beautiful signature designs, and Jon's friends Jo and Duncan got married here today. I'm not allowed to post a picture of them, though, because they're both MPs and have asked everyone not to. I go to weddings of important people now!

A Year in Pictures: Week 18

Saturday 30 April

This is all the stuff we unloaded out of the van last night that needs to be given a new home. It might be a long process...


Sunday 1 May


I picked up Daisy from Rob's this afternoon and she slept the whole way home. When she woke up she had crazy hair going on but I don't think the photo adequately captures just how crazy it was. It does a good job of capturing just how cute she is, though.


Monday 2 May


There's something immensely satisfying about using a pressure washer. I didn't finish the whole pathway as Daisy woke up, but I actually got more done than I thought I would as she napped for almost twice as long as she normally does. Just need to find the time to finish the job now.


Tuesday 3 May


Daisy doesn't often sit in the baby seat of a supermarket trolley - usually I put her in the carrier if she's awake or else I just wheel her round in the buggy. Last time she was in a trolley it was so big and the harness was so loose that I had to pad it out with blankets. Not so much any more - and she really loved being 'carted' around!


Wednesday 4 May


Still loving the bouncer...


Thursday 5 May


Again, I have lots of pictures of Daisy from this afternoon where she's smiling and laughing, but I loved the expression on her face on this one: 'What you lookin' at?'


Friday 6 May



We had a Skype call with Auntie Jen this afternoon before bath time. This is what Jen saw... :).