The Big Announcement!

To coincide with the first Mother’s day of the new decade the Bagnall family would like to make a very big announcement:

Lucinda is Pregnant

Yes, we are expecting our second child on 26th September 2010, a few short weeks before Éowyn’s second birthday and a couple of days before my little sister’s 30th birthday!  So will forgive if this update is short and sweet because it is news that should not be buried with one of the usual updates and I will get you up to speed with the general Bagnall news, including flying visits to Nanny Fran in an ‘end of quarter’ post.

The keen-eyed among you will have noticed the changes to the side bar.  Éowyn still has her dedicated page but there is a new one for September’s arrival.

I hope you can forgive the lack of photos of Éowyn in this post but I trust that I can placate you with a copy of the two scans (yes, there is only one baby in there!) below.

Love and Peace

Baggie, Lucinda and  Éowyn

Bagette deux
Bagette deux

Telly Addict

It seems that winter has finally left our little corner of Albion and spring is in the air (apologies to those of you in the Northern half of our land that are still struggling through blizzards).  Unfortunately I have, as yet, not been able to take full advantage of these vernal days.   In contrast Éowyn has been able to do so with her Granddad in Nan and Granddad’s garden.  In fact she enjoys being out in the garden so much that she refuses to go in to eat her lunch, much to her nan’s dismay.

As I may have mentioned before, Lucinda’s parents live in the same village as us, which definitely has its advantages, one of which is that Éowyn is able to see them often.  She loves to go round and is now able to walk all the way there.  Which is definitely good for my back!  She is certainly becoming little miss independent.  However, she  gets frustrated either because she can not do whatever it is that she is trying to do; we are stopping her doing whatever it is she is trying to do; or she can not get us to understand what it is she wants to do.  I suppose that it is all just part of growing up.

Éowyn has finally discovered the television.  Not something that I particularly wanted her to discover.  She has always enjoyed ‘Deal or No Deal’ but now she has discovered that there are channels devoted only to children’s programmes.  It is the intent of pre-school television programmes to freak out right-minded adults?  I can sort of handle the Waybuloos, even with their freaky form of pipling yoga: yogo.  Chuggington is a Disney-fied Thomas the Tank Engine for a new decade (Éowyn particularly likes the theme tune and sings along with it – Chugga-Chugga-Chugga-Chuggington). But In The Night Garden is just a couple of stops passed freak-ville for me.  I think that there were one too many drug-fuelled nights involved in the conception of that idea.  The episode the other day had the tombliboos climbing about the psychedelic ninky nonk train which travelled really fast and they ended up with no trousers on.  They stepped off a little dizzy and after swapping trousers got on the pinky ponk, where they drank pinky ponk juice and ended up with no trousers on.  And don’t get me started on the haahoos!  I’m not sure if I want my little girl watching this kind of thing.  Bring back the Clangers and Chorlton and the Wheelies!

It is not all Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka though.  Éowyn has also been taking in a little culture.  As you can see in the photos below she has been to Kew Gardens with the greater-Cathrall clan (I was unfortunately at work) for their Tropical Extravaganza Orchid Festival.  This was the second time that Éowyn has been to Kew Gardens which is two more visits than her dad.  This is even though I once rented a flat in Richmond Upon Thames from which I could see the Pagoda.  It is amazing that when things are on your doorstep that they become a little matter of fact and taken for granted.  I will have to make the effect and pay a visit, especially since I have visited the Eden Project twice and that is the other side of the country!

I do apologise for the dearth of photos once again, but I have not yet succeeded in achieving the correct work/life balance in my new role and Lucinda is not as trigger happy as me.  I will try harder for next time.

Peace and love

Baggie

Growing up, fast

Yet again, work and other factors have prevented me from an update until now.  Yes, nigh on three weeks have passed without word or photo hoisted upon the screen.  We are a very busy family!  Actually that is probably not quite true at the moment.  Lucinda’s and my working days are in opposition at the moment, so we are not seeing a lot of each other and the days off that we do have are, quite rightly, hogged by Éowyn.

Éowyn is going through one of those phases of rapid skill acquisition and development.  I am finding this quite fun.  Since our last update she has learnt:

  • to climb the stairs (not good for a 16 month old) and climb down the stairs (essential considering the first skill);
  • recognise pictures and videos of monkeys and do an impression (ooo-ooo);
  • recognise fish and do an impression (the mouthing of the word ‘bob’);
  • recognise ducks (and say a word that sounds as if she is saying ‘duck’ and ‘quack’ at the same time);
  • understand more complicated phrases such as ‘take your shoes off’ or ‘get your coat’ and action them;
  • eat a whole peeled banana, now refusing sliced banana;
  • and climb onto the settee to sit next to you;

Not bad for three weeks.  She has also used Skype for the first time to ‘talk to” and see her Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz.  I think that Nanny Fran had more difficulties with Skype than Éowyn.  She didn’t really understand it at first (Éowyn not Nanny Fran) and I think was more fascinated by her own video picture in the bottom corner than Nanny Fran and Aunite liz on the big screen.  But soon accepted it as normal and gave Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz a kiss (leaving dribble all over the screen), then made them a cup of tea with her tea set and tried to give it to them.  I think that Nanny Fran really enjoyed it as although she saw a lot of Éowyn over Christmas she has not seen her since 2nd January.  We will have to make amends.

Last week Éowyn caught a slight case of conjunctivitis.  Conjunctivitis is a very contagious disease and so it is imperative to clear the infection quickly, therefore we made a timely trip to the doctors to get a prescription for eyedrops.  Éowyn was incredibly brave, lying down to let you put the drops into her eye, we feared it was going to be a struggle but I think she knew that they were for the best.  Unfortunately our childminder will not take children while the infection is contagious (which is fair) and so Nanny and Granddad came to our rescue.  She thoroughly enjoyed herself especially in the garden with Granddad, to the point of throwing a mini tantrum when Nanny asked her to come in.  She is also a big fan of Harvey (their West Highland Terrier) although he is more nonplussed about her.

During a break in the wet weather we took Éowyn to the garden centre in the village (I know what you are thinking – those adventure seeking junkies!) to take a wander around their extensive pet section (it is cheaper than the zoo!).  They have a wide range of fish, arachnida (Tarantulas and Scorpions to you), lizards, snakes, birds and rodents (rats, guinea pigs, degu, chincilla, gerbils, mice, hamsters, etc) and lagomorphs (rabbits).  She was most interested in the fish (‘bob’) and wasn’t interested in the mammals at all.  I am of the firm belief that it is good for children to have pets, it makes them take responsibility and in the case of the short lived creatures introduces them to bereavement.  However, Éowyn is far too young at the moment and our house is far too small and with our work patterns at the moment it wouldn’t be fair on any pet that we have.  It is far better to play with other people’s pets and pop round the garden centre or zoo when you want to have a look.  Far less messy and much cheaper!

I have not seen much of my daughter these past few weeks so there are not many photos in the update.  I will try harder for next time.  Until then..

Peace and love

Baggie