London Zoo

We took Daisy to London Zoo on Sunday, along with Chris, Annette and Thomas. I don't think Daisy and Thomas really understood what they were looking at, but they seemed to enjoy themselves.

Daisy was very interested in the butterfly room that you could walk through. It was full of butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours that were free to fly around and land on you. She also liked stroking a goat in the children's zoo section, although she managed to scare off the sheep.

Overall, the zoo was pretty good, but there is a lot of work-in-progress on the central section, hence I am sure it will be even better in 2007 when the changes are all finished.

Andy

Washer girl

Things have continued to be busy. Daisy gets really bored at home now so we really need to be out most of the day or work very hard to keep her happy at home. Above is the little rascal 'helping' me with the washing yesterday.

Friday was the normal Starbucks with Grandma, Northcote Road shopping routine. Andy went out and had a good time with the NCT boys in the evening.

On Saturday we had an NCT bbq at Simon's mum's huge house by Wandsworth Common. After a lovely lunch the rain cleared and we were able to sit in the wonderful garden, surrounded by fruit trees. It was like being in the country, fab! After a few wines had been consumed us girls hatched a plan and sent the husbands packing, babies in tow, and we were able to have a few more wines. Hurrah!

On Sunday I met Ness for lunch in Covent Garden where we were visited briefly by Carlene, en route to the movies. It was very nice to just chill out and have a wander round, sans Daisy who was at home watching football with her daddy. Hurrah again!

Today got off the an early start at 4.30am with Daisy making a high pitched yowling sound in her sleep for about 20 minutes. Argh! She woke up about 6.10am and chattered to herself until she was allowed up at 7am. As soon as I picked her up she launched herself on me biting my arm so the poor baby obviously had a very sore mouth. Sore mouths makes for grumpy babies so we didn't have much fun this morning. The afternoon we had a very strenuous yoga session followed by a not so strenuous lunch at the pub then a walk around Wandsworth Common. Sometime during yoga or lunch Daisy's tooth popped through so she was much happier after that. Fourth tooth, nice going Daisy! It is the top right one.

Bx

Hongi

This is a self portrait of a hongi today. For the non kiwis, a hongi is pressing noses together and is a traditional Maori greeting. Kinda like kissing cheeks is a European greeting. Except we don't all go round in NZ hongi'ing each other. Anyway.....

We finished the weekend by getting caught in a Sunday afternoon thunderstorm on the way back from the swings. Luckily we made it home (running) before the monsoon like rain arrived but little Daisy still got rather wet. She seemed to take the thunder and lightening in her stride, despite my shrieking that her buggy was a lightening rod. Oh dear.

We've had a busy week. On Tuesday we had yoga then headed to the pub for lunch followed by some shopping. On Wednesday we went to baby sing-a-long at The Common Rooms cafe in Wandsworth Common. It freaked me out a bit I have to admit. There were about thirty women with babies and everyone was singing nursery rhymes and waving their babies around doing actions. Ooo - I'm going red just describing it. However, it was quite fun and Daisy enjoyed herself so we'll go again. We went out for lunch afterwards which was nice as always.

Today I decided that if Daisy was to hold her head up high as a little Londoner it was about time she tried public transport. Hence we found ourselves on the train to Waterloo to meet Andy for lunch. The train's beeping doors caused huge excitement then she was asleep within two stops. A born commuter! After a lovely lunch on the South Bank then some delicious sweet potato and baby rice for Daisy in Andy's office, Daisy and I headed in to Covent Garden for some shopping. There was so much for her to look at that she sat in her pram for two hours, huge eyed and happy. We tried to go for an afternoon absinthe cocktail at The Savoy but Daisy was very upset to discover that babies aren't allowed in the bar there. Outrage! We had to settle for playing on the swings at the London Eye instead. Sigh. We met Andy after work then headed home on the train which Daisy found even more exciting the second time round. Oh if only the rest of us found the train so much fun.

Bx

Uncle Steve

Daisy has recovered from her virus and is much happier. She came up in a nasty red rash all over her on Thursday. Poor little mite. I had a slight panic but we did the glass rolling test (which was fine) and called the doctor who said not to worry about it unless she went downhill. Luckily, she didn't!

She is getting much more vocal and spends lots of her time making loud sounds and looking pleased with herself. Her third tooth made an appearance this morning. It's on the top left centre and seemed to come through with no bother. She made sure I knew all about it by biting my chin this morning at Cafe Nero. Yeouch!

We've had a good weekend. Had a blinding Friday night with Carlene and Dave. We went to a great restaurant in Battersea that had a very flamboyant opera singer performing. We then headed back to their's for champagne and dancing. So I'm told anyway, it's all a bit hazy. Oops. We got home very late but thankfully weren't too bad the next day. Andy's brother Steve arrived on Saturday morning. Him and Andy went to see Harlequins rugby league team play at Twickenham (they won) then we had a bbq back here.

Bx

Face of woe

Daisy has been unwell the past few days so I took her to the doctor and she has a virus. It's nothing serious but she has been a very sad little baby. She's been right off her bottle and hasn't been crying much but is very quiet and lethargic. She had a really bad night on Tuesday, not much sleep to be had for anyone in the Ellis household! As a not well treat she has been allowed to watch lots of TV with Grandma. Even a baby needs to mong out on the couch when unwell! She has been sick twice since I stopped breast feeding her 2 weeks ago. I'm feeling like a very bad and selfish mother. Oh dear, a lifetime of parental guilt awaits me I suspect.

We went to see Miami Vice on Monday night. Lots of nice cars and action. On Tuesday we had a lovely afternoon in Susannah's garden. Ellie is nearly crawling! A reminder to start baby proofing the house...

The top photo is Daisy's sick, sleepy face of woe after her bottle last night. She is looking much brighter in the second photo from this morning though. Yay!

Bx

Rubber ducky, you're the one....

....you make my bathtime lots of fun! Daisy has always enjoyed having a bath but it's especially fun now she can sit up and play with her rubber duckies.

We had a good week. Daisy continues her food exploration and in addition to baby rice she has tried sweet potato, apple and banana. Apple seems to be a favourite. She got a bit of eczema when trying the sweet potato so I stopped it and it's cleared up a bit. Hopefully it was just a coincidence and the sweet potato wasn't actually the culprit. I'll try her again on it in a couple of weeks and we will find out. Maybe she'd just prefer kumara. That's NZ sweet potato for the non kiwis!

Keren visited on Wednesday night and was wearing a lovely chunky necklace much to Daisy's delight. Of course, when she took the necklace off and gave it to Daisy to play with she lost interest. Typical!

Yesterday we went for lunch at Mildred's with Ness and Bob. Always a taste sensation. To get back to the car we had to walk through Parliament Square in which an anti Israel demonstration was being held. A demonstration is a rite of passge for any little Londonder and she took it in her stride. What a brave baby.

Bx

Happy Christening Archie and George!

NCT babies Archie and George were both christened at St Andrew's church in Earlsfield today. Well done boys! Archie hosted drinks at his home this afternoon to celebrate. Some photos are above, the featured babies are Archie, Ellie and Daisy.

Andy returned from the stag weekend this afternoon slightly worse for wear but in one piece. He was actually in better shape than Daisy sore teeth and mummy no sleep!

Bx