Birthday

And so here we stand in April.  Where has the year gone?  For most of the year Lucinda and myself (and Éowyn of course) have been keeping a big secret from all and thankfully the weekend of Mother’s day we were able to share that with you all.  Judging by the speed of the last three months it will not be long before our family of three becomes a family of four.  With such momentous news it was only right and fitting that it was a separate entry and should hog the front page for a couple of weeks. Therefore this update will cover nearly a month and so there are bound to be many omissions, but hey, you’re only here for the photos!  Right?

So what has been happening in the Bagnall household over the last month?  Obviously the Mothering Sunday weekend and following week was dominated by the news that Lucinda is pregnant, this included a flying visit to West Bromwich to let my Mom and sisters know and a meal with Lucinda’s parents to let them know.  Obviously all are delighted, our main concern will be Éowyn.  She will be going from the centre of attention and the apple of Daddy’s eye to sharing that limelight with a sibling.  Éowyn already shows signs of jealously if Daddy is showing attention to others, and woe be tide that Mommy and Daddy have a cuddle: the tears start and she demands to join in for a group hug.  I think that it will be a bit of a juggling act and new skills to be learnt when the new bubba comes along.

Éowyn has already begun to push the boundaries.  She is seemingly entering the terrible twos six months too early.  In some ways it can be quite funny to watch, when she looks around for something to throw and then launches herself on the floor kicking and screaming.  But when you are trying to do something, or go somewhere, or just get her to do something it can be extremely frustrated.  Months of watching Super Nanny on telly somehow still doesn’t prepare you for the tantrums.  In all fairness her tantrums tend to be short lived and she is as good as gold before and afterwards.  Hopefully this phase is over by September and there will be little or no troubles when the new arrival comes along.  I really am clutching to straws there, aren’t I?

As it has been nearly 7 weeks since a detailed update it is quite hard to remember all that we have done (visited a farm, bought new shoes, lots of time around Nanny and Granddad’s, playing with cousins, fun at the childminder’s, fun at home and skyping Nanny Fran).  Hopefully it will not take me 7 weeks before the next update.  By then we will have a new government (we presume) and the airline industry will have gone bankrupt due to the unpronounceably named Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland.  It is a timely reminder from Mother Nature that however powerful we think we are as a species how she can affect so much and cause so much disruption with what is, in essence, a very minor geological hiccup.  Living so close to Heathrow airport (still the busiest airport in terms of international traffic) the effect of a total ban on traffic in UK airspace is dramatic.  The village seems eerily quiet and the skies are not punctured by large aircraft heading for exotic locations.  The sky is clear blue (it has been particularly fine April weather the past week) without the merest hint of a contrail (or chemtrail should you believe the conspiracy theorists).  However, I think that when they return we will really notice the noise levels, the smell of aviation fuel and the great big iron birds in the sky.

While the big iron birds have been conspicuous by their absence the bird life in our little corner of the land has been very noticeable.  The number of species around here is fantastic for an amateur bird watcher like myself.  One in particular has taken a liking to our garden.  As we all know spring is the time when birds nest.  Maybe you have nesting birds in your garden, but I think we are quite fortunate with the species that has decided that it will raise its family 10 feet from our back door.  A mallard had decided that our borders make an ideal nesting ground.  Unfortunately we didn’t notice her at first and we scared her off the nest, which gave us the chance to have a look in at the dozen or so eggs in her down lined bowl on the ground.  We have been very careful since and Lucinda (probably empathising with impending motherhood) has been on duck-watch ever since.  Hopefully most of the eggs will be viable and we should soon see a team of little ducklings.  Duck is probably Éowyn’s favourite bird mainly due to the fact that it is the one bird that she can recognise.

I don’t think that I am going to waffle on too much, but by way of appeasement I have uploaded more than the usual number of photos for your enjoyment and hopefully you will not have to wait quite as long for the next instalment.  A quick mention goes to West Bromwich Albion who will be plying their trade in the English Premier League next season, well done boys, the new bubba will be born supporting a top flight side (Oh yes it will, it has no choice!).

Peace and Love

Baggie

Who’s the prettiest of them all?

I shouldn’t be here, should I?

You can’t see me!

Have this food, bunnies

I’ll get some more

Look mommy, ducks!

Just there!

Granddad’s girl

Coming through!

Have some food ducks

Where have they gone?

There you are!

On the sofa with Nanny Fran

Cheeky chocolatey grin

Look, no hands!

Shall I read to you?

No, I’ll read to you!

Just chillin’

Concentrate

This is fun

Beep Beep, reversing