So before we know it the mid-January hangover is upon us. Christmas is a distant memory (apart from the collection of new toys strewn across the lounge floor) and Summer an eternity away. Not that this Winter has been that hard, forecasts in the Autumn were indicating it was going to be a harsh winter, but hey weathermen and meteorologists have been wrong before. The jetstream is sitting much further north than the last few years hence our winter (at least for the southern portion of the UK) has been much warmer than recent years, shame really as I enjoy a bit of snow.
So what has been happening in the Bagnall household in the first part of 2012. Well it is a case of getting back into the old routines. Éowyn now goes to school 3 times a week. She has only be back at school for one week so it is hard to say exactly how she is coping with this. Unfortunately, Lucinda’s work days fell mid-week on that week so not only did Dad have to take her to school each day, she was at Jo’s (the childminders) on one of the other days and we had to ask Lucinda’s dad to pick her up on two of the days. Therefore she has not spent too much time with Lucinda this past week (which is unusual and I think she has missed her Mommy). Éowyn loved being picked up by her Granddad because Lucinda’s dad has a flat bed truck and so, as three year old, it was one of the most exciting things that could have to have to ride home in the cab of Granddad’s truck (she probably will not think that in 10 years time!) and when we told her that on Friday that Lucinda would pick her up from school, she said, ‘Can Granddad pick me up in his truck?‘ which no doubt delighted Lucinda’s dad but is a bit of a kick in the teeth for Lucinda and me.
The main news though from the Bagnall household is the fact that Amélie has been discharged from the paediatrician. As you know when she was first born she had severe reflux and wasn’t feeding correctly. With hindsight it was probably part of the same problem: cow’s milk protein intolerance but at the time both aspects were being treated. She therefore was given drugs to help lower her stomach acid and relax the stomach to help prevent reflux and she was tried with a variety of artifical milks until we hit upon Neocate (which she is still on). The reflux went away but was that the drugs or was it the fact that her body wasn’t being poisoned with a chemical it couldn’t handle (the cow’s milk protein!). The Cow’s milk intolerance is being treated under the supervision of a dietician while the reflux was treated under the supervision of the paediatrician. As we suspected, it appears that the reflux wasn’t caused by any physical issues with Amélie’s digestive tract and was more than likely due to the intolerance. However, we are extremely grateful that we were taken seriously and she was fully investigated and now given a clean bill of health. We just have to hope that she grows out of the Cow’s milk protein intolerance, and we will be testing her for that again soon. The intolerance has not made her a fussy eater though and she has quite a prodigious appetite, quite often eating more than her sister!
Amélie is still not walking unaided, however Nanny Fran bought her a pushchair for Christmas and she can motor along with that at a fair pace. It is not just in straight lines either, if she wants to turn around or take a sharp left then she swings that pushchair round and tootles off in the new direction. I think that it is just a matter of confidence and as soon as she realises that she doesn’t need to hold onto something then she’ll be off. However, for some reason she doesn’t like a doll being in the pushchair and a squashy green ball seems to be her favourite passenger (you can see it in the photos below). Her vocabulary has also started to increase and I don’t think it will be long before she will start surprising us with words. She has always been a little chatty and will gurgle and mumble away to herself quite merrily (sometimes at 0300!) but the other day she drank her milk and handed me the bottle saying ‘Here you are,‘ or as close to that for my ears to interpret it that way. I know my place.
It is strange how the two sisters are quite different in temperament. Amélie is far more laid back than her older sister but at the same time quite cuddly and will wander over to you give you a kiss and cuddle then go back to whatever it was that she was doing beforehand. She doesn’t seem quite as intent on sitting down and learning but will quite happily play with you without need of the television. Éowyn is much more independent (when she knows that you are about) and will rarely give you a spontaneous cuddle but if you are not about she can get a little anxious and is always glad when you are back. She is always keen to learn and to impress you with what she knows (doesn’t that remind you of anyone?) but will easily waste an afternoon watching a film or just banal television (again, like anyone you know?). Éowyn does like her home and her home comforts especially when her parents are about. Lucinda picked Éowyn up from school last week and she said, ‘Are we going home? I like being at home and when Daddy is there it is the best place in the world!‘ The little sweetie!
I currently have a week off work (using up the remainder of last year’s leave entitlement) and Lucinda has done the same, so it really will be the best place in the world when they get back from school and Jo’s. It is not all that exciting for Lucinda and me though as we are trying to fit all the new toys into our already crowded house. There is a lot of consolidation going on and toys that have not seen the light of day or they are too old for are either heading down the charity shop or being boxed up and put in the loft. To be honest it is probably something that both Lucinda and I should be doing to our own stuff. Kids first!
Not the most exciting set of photos below but it is January and the year has only just begun. Hopefully none of you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia and if you did you managed to survive last Friday unscathed! If you do suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia (or paraskevideatriaphobia as it is also known), then 2012 is probably a bad year for you as there will be 3 this year, so keep an eye on April and July!
Peace and love
Baggie
