Walking

100,000 words and bipedal motion!

Monday 30th January 2012Monday 30th January 2012Baggie

We have seen 100 posts, we have seen 100,000 hits and now we have hit another milestone 100,000 words (total words across all posts and pages). Yes this website now has more words than the average novel. Impressive ne pas? I never realised I was so verbose or that so much has happened to this enclave of the Bagnall clan over the last 40 months or so.

However, that is not the greatest achievement since the last update. For the greater accomplishment is that my second child can now be truly classed as bipedal. Yes, last Thursday (19th January 2012) Amélie just decided to stand up in the middle of the floor and walk. Not just one or two steps but half a dozen. The encouragement that she received spurred her on. Within minutes that total was up to 11 and by the end of the day had nudged that total up to 12. I suppose because she has been cruising for so long her legs have the strength to support her, she has the balance to carry herself but she is just lacking the confidence to continue. It will come, with encouragement it will not be long before she will leave her crawling days behind her. She will happily hold your hand and walk for yards and hopefully the more we do this the more this will give her the confidence to strike out on her own.

Now usually on Thursday morning I would be at work, however I still had a number of days left over from last year’s entitlement to use by the end of January and therefore, fortunately, I was at home on annual leave for the week. It was good to spend some time at home but it wasn’t the most exciting of times (apart, obviously from Amélie’s first steps!). Lucinda took some time off too but with Amélie already booked to go to Jo’s and with Éowyn still at playbox myself and Lucinda had time to off together but there was no time to enjoy that for we decided that we would attempt to straighten the house after the Christmas period. Not that the house needed that much straightening but it was more an opportunity to go through the kid’s toys and either take the ones that they never play with down the local charity shop or put away the ones that they have outgrown. Then finding space for them all, either in the toy boxes (yes plural), Éowyn’s bedroom or just tidied away. It felt good to get back some of the house!

We also managed to take advantage of my tastecard (for the first time!) and go for lunch, which was good to spend some time as a couple rather than a mommy and daddy, although there is still that little voice in the back of your head saying, Keep an eye on the time, you have to pick Amélie and Éowyn up. On the Thursday we also managed to invite friends of ours, Neil and Emma, around for an evening. So we managed to put the girls to bed early (not that early but early enough for us to enjoy our evening) and to their great credit they went down and we heard not a peep out of them all evening. It was good catching up with friends especially Neil and Emma who we hadn’t seen in over a year. It is amazing how quickly time passes us by and if truth be told we have a long list of friends that we have not seen in over a year, something that perhaps we need to rectify in 2012.

We also took advantage of the time off to head up the M40 to West Bromwich and Nanny Fran. Éowyn gets very excited about seeing her Nanny Fran, so much so that she didn’t take advantage of the 120 mile car journey and sleep but rather stayed awake for the entire journey asking the epitomic question ‘Are we nearly there yet?‘ They start early don’t they? However this tiredness manifested itself as grumpiness and misbehaviour, so there were a number of trips to the re-instated Thinking Step.

In fact, there has been quite a number of trips to the Thinking Step of late. After many months without even the threat of a trip to the Thinking Step, Éowyn has been a regular visitor of late. There are a number of reasons for this, namely: She is doing 3 days a week at school, plus trips to her childminder’s so she is missing her afternoon nap (I know the feeling) and getting tired and when she is tired she gets grumpy and her behaviour get worse; Amélie is getting a lot of attention of late, especially with regards to the encouragement that she is getting with her walking and her increasing vocabulary, so jealousy plays a part; She gets influenced by the behaviour of other children (as all children do) so making sure that she realises that just because her friends do it, it doesn’t mean that she has to (I think that is going to be a battle for many years to come!); and I have been working some long hours so she doesn’t always see me and Lucinda has, obviously, returned to work so she is not always seeing Lucinda either. Plus she is probably just going through one of those phases where they try to push the boundaries and see what they can get away with, which is going but it puts pressure on us to keep the boundaries well defined.

Despite her frequent forays to the Thinking Step Lucinda treated Éowyn to a special day out last Wednesday. A Peppa Pig live stage show was enjoying a run at Richmond Theatre and so Lucinda and Éowyn and her friend Christine and her daughter Arabella took the short trip down the A316. Éowyn was completely enthralled by Peppa Pig’s Treasure Hunt (a puppet show) in complete contrast to the last live show that she saw which was the In The Night Garden live show, so much so that at the interval she got a little upset that it was over. I think this is because, unfortunately, between booking the In The Night Garden tickets and actually going Éowyn grew out of the phase and was no longer interested in the antics of Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy (not to mention the hosts of other similarly named characters). Now, Peppa Pig is a different matter, it is by far her favourite show and with trips to Peppa Pig world and a bed full of cuddly Peppa Pig characters I think it will stay her favourite for a few years to come yet.

Unfortunately I must end this update on a sad note. My Great Uncle Albert passed away just after 1505 on Friday 27th January 2012 aged 90. He had been ill for a little while and while the loss of any one is always sad in some ways his passing is a blessing. Uncle Albert was my materal grandmother’s brother and was an inspiration. He gave me my first paid job (in the despatch department of Accles and Shelvoke packing slaughter equipment: bolt stunners and cartridges) the summer after my GCSE exams. He also ignited my interest in genealogy, tracing his own family tree back to 1546. He also typed (with one finger and a lot of correction fluid) his wartime memories dubbing himself (in his self-depreciating style) Churchill’s Secret Weapon on an old manual typewriter. The reasoning behind his monicker was that shortly after he completed his training the war in Europe ended. Then, as he set foot in Asia (he was posted in India) the war in Asia ended. Obviously, the enemy did not want to engage Albert Wyton in battle. He is now at peace with his wife of 64 years (my Great Auntie Iris), sleep well both, reunited in love.

Peace and Love

Baggie

Great, Great Uncle Albert and Éowyn Vera

You can have this Uncle Albert

Great, Great Uncle Albert and Amélie Iris

I’m gonna get you!

Come back!

And Smash!

Keep watching…

Whey-hey!

Nothing happened

I defeated you with this spoon

Sisters!

Mu ha ha ha ha!

Emotional phonecall part IV

Big cheeky grin

Mommy and Éowyn

The power of the iPad

Kiss the iPad!

This is as good as an iPad

Where is this year’s snow?

Wednesday 18th January 2012Friday 11th May 2012Baggie

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

Me and my old friend Mr Snowman!

Bye bye Mr Snowman, until next year!

Like my new hair?

I like breakfast!

I like toast!

I like spaghetti

Cheeky smile!

Can I have my ball please?

Camera, please!

Dinnertime’s great!

Nothing to see here…

You can’t see me!

Don’t stop me now!

Like my hat?

Or an Angel with a wand…

Stand in the place where you live

Monday 21st November 2011Monday 21st November 2011Baggie

Is it just me, or is this November more depressing than usual? The usual anticyclonic gloom has truly spread it’s November mirk over the land, Christmas is over a month away and coupled with the darker nights, even the news (as reported by the Daily Mail – so it must be true) that this is probably going to be the warmest November (in the UK) in recorded history hasn’t raised the mood.

There is, however, some news from the Bagnall household that may just disperse the melancholy: Amélie has begun to cruise. She has gone from being the Usain Bolt of crawling to bipedal movement almost overnight. OK, she had not taken her first unfettered steps but she is pulling herself to two legs at every available opportunity and every opportune object that stays still long enough (even the back of your legs when you are doing the washing up). This presents itself with more issues, for her reach has now increased itself tenfold. Those little arms can reach, almost Mr Tickle-like, further than you would believe and always to the one thing that you don’t want her to have. Hence the lack of photos on this upload as Lucinda’s camera is one of those shiny things that Amélie has become besotted with and it no longer works as it once did. However, it has given me an idea for a Christmas present for Lucinda. Shh!

There is a second reason why there are not some many photos as usual and that is because I have not had so many days off work as I have in recent weeks. It is still manically busy at work so on some days I have left the house before the girls have woke and am back just as they are going to bed. Then, the days off I do have with them Lucinda is working and so at the moment there has not been the collective family events and thus such photographic opportunities. My working does have others effects especially on Éowyn. Last weekend we were chatting and she said, ‘Daddy, do you have to go to work tomorrow?‘ I replied that I did and she wandered off to her table and took out a sheet of A4 paper and her crayons, furiously scribbed away and wandered back. ‘Here’s a map, Daddy, so you know how to get back home,‘ she said handing me the finished picture. There was a tear in my eye.

Éowyn has been very good of late. She has seemingly left her terrible twos far behind and I can not remember the last time she sat on the thinking step or even was threatened with sitting on the thinking step. Indeed, she has been very thoughtful and polite and is truly a pleasure to be with. She has also begun to really enjoy going to pre-school (Playbox) and seems to have made many friends this term. At the end of the last school year we were undecided as to whether we should be sending her there as she didn’t seem to be enjoying it but perserverance has paid off and as of January (when she is entitled to 15 hours of childcare paid for by the government) she will be going there three days a week.

Éowyn also has inherited her father’s (and grandfather’s) love of films. At the moment she is going through the back catalogue of Disney films. She knows Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast inside out (as indeed Toy Story 3) but her current favourite is Lady and the Tramp. At least it gives us a rest from Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer (her current favourite television programmes) and I’d much rather sit down with her and watch a film for at least it is a fixed, defined duration. Watch the film then do something else, rather than the ending stream of television programming punctuated with endless adverts for toys and games (I want one of those) that she doesn’t need. All you parents out there are saying welcome to parenthood. Thanks!

Christmas is rapidly approaching and myself and Lucinda have promised ourselves that we will be more organised this year. We have to be with two children and are both in employment. So presents are being bought (internet shopping is a wonderful thing) and days are being booked off to attempt to get ahead of the game for since both of our jobs are shift based, the Christmas period is no different to any other day of the year, we will be in our respective places of work. There is no two week break for us. I always remember when I first got my first job in television and some friends were disgusted that we would be expected to work during the Christmas holidays and I replied ‘What do you do on Christmas day?’ ‘Eat, drink and then fall asleep in front of the telly.’ ‘Exactly, someone has to be pressing the buttons at the other end to make it all work.’

So with that in mind I will bid you adieu and once again apologies for the less than usual number of photos below and I promise to do better next time.

Peace and love

Baggie