Photos from last weekend's trip to Dublin:

Puppy actually paying attention at mass!

Congratulations Mary and Jonathan

Symmetrical faces?


Playing a duet with cousin Isobel

We had planned to be in Walsingham for the Youth2000 festival this August bank holiday. We were partially successful, being able to attend the morning sessions, before Puppy decided he had had enough. Our afternoons were spent visiting the lovely towns on the North Norfolk coast. We went to Cromer, Wells and Sheringham, where Puppy had a wonderful time playing on the beach and taking in the sights.

'Catch me if you can!'

'Has the train arrived yet?'

'Oorrhhh EEeeee Orrhhhh!'

'But Daddy! I don't want to go!'

Having, for the past few months, willed Puppy to start walking, I am now entertaining thoughts wishing that I hadn't quite done so at all! Now that Puppy has a newly found freedom, he has been finding his way round the house, investigating every nook and corner!

'Wonder if my favourite DVD is here?'

'What's in this cupboard?'

'Ah! Found the biscuit box!'

'Another box to open!'

'Oops! Caught in the act!'

'Oh whatever, I like sultanas'

Puppy had a jolly good time on a nursery excursion today. He made lots of friends, and I must say, he is turning out to be a bit of a Dr Dolittle!


'Oh there you are, Mr Otter!'


Having a tete-a-tete with Billy the Goat


'My, Mr Scarecrow, I think you look like a pumpkin!'

Puppy has also discovered that rice is rather fun to play with, and that mummy really raises her voice when he shakes the rice packet out:


'I didn't do anything, honest!'


'Let me help you clean it up'

Father's Day took us to Ongar, first to a restaurant for Sunday lunch, then to the Ongar Railway for a bit of train geeking. We also went for mass at St Joseph's, which was well timed, as it was the first communion for a bunch of children. Puppy thoroughly enjoyed himself, having a lot of space to stretch his legs in church, and making a couple of friends on the way.

'Daddy! Daddy!'

'Pick me up, Daddy!'

'Yay! Daddy's got me!'

'I love my Daddy!'

Oh, and Happy 2nd Anniversary to TMBMITW!

Puppy is now 14 months old. News about obese babies prompted me to take him to be weighed at baby clinic after a 3 month absence, not that I was particularly worried about him being obese. He'd put on about 1.15kg, and now weighs 11kg, which is just nice.

Over the past month, Puppy has also started walking, and over the last week, has been managing to get himself to standing position from the floor unaided. I now really have a puppy who follows me everywhere!

I've also got a new camera, a Panasonic DMC-FZ8. My old camera works fine, but I think I've outgrown it, and am ready to start trying to progress in my photography skills.

'I'll just stick to taking photos with the camera phone'

'All that photography makes me sleepy'

We've just returned from a long weekend in Poland. Congratulations to Pzemek and Aneta who got married on 26 May. The wedding was held in a lovely church in the outskirts of Warsaw. The party afterwards was quite out of this world. This is how Puppy fared with all that vodka drinking:



Now what I need to do is get to know more Polish people so I can go to more weddings in Poland!

Recent events are that Puppy seems to have cut his upper right first molar. I'll have to double check on this as it's not easy sticking my finger into his mouth without a high risk of it being bitten off. He's also managed 4-5 unaided steps today.

Puppy has also started driving lessons, here's how he got on over the weekend:

Mirror check

Engaging a corner

Parking the car

I've been a little busy lately, and will post more photos when I get round to it, but the latest news is that on 8th May 2007, Puppy managed to walk unaided. Only a couple of steps, mind, before falling down in heaps of laughter. I took him to Lakeside today, and he decided to push his stroller around, which was a lot of fun for him, although this meant that I didn't get to do any shopping.

You scored as Elizabeth Bennet. As one of Austen's most beloved characters, Elizabeth Bennet represents what most women would like to become: strong, independent, and loyal. Of course, she has her faults including a stubborn will of iron and a clinging to first impressions. Overall, Lizzie is bright and lovable...something to admire and aspire to. Elizabeth Bennet 66% Elinor Dashwood 63% Jane Bennet 56% Charlotte Lucas 53% Emma Woodhouse 50% Lady Catherine 47% Marianne Dashwood 38% Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com

I chanced upon this on Erynne's blog - I'm sure DH would love to see the results of this! Like Erynne, it seems I'm also Elizabeth Bennett, although not as clear cut. I have to say that the first time I did the quiz, I was Elinor Dashwood, about 58%, with Lizzie second.

Puppy is ONE!

'Finally! I had to wait an entire year to wear my Manchester United outfit!'

'Hurry up daddy! I want to play with my new toy!'

'So this is how it works'

'I'll just get a wee snooze before the festivities continue'

'Schumacher, look out!'

'We're eating a caterpillar?'

'Wonder what it tastes like?'

'Are you sure about eating the caterpillar?'

'Mmm, tastes rather good!'

'Looks like I'll be doing something with pens when I grow up!'

I was there, and it was an absolutely magnificent performance.



10 April 2007: Manchester United 7 - 1 Roma

DH had the misfortune yesterday of missing the bus to Old Trafford. Pity, since Manchester United put in a stunning second half display to beat Blackburn 4-1. Fortunately for his wife, it meant we were able to go shopping, after attempts to do a bit of rambling in the countryside failed, thanks to a certain little Puppy.

We decided to go to Bluewater, which DH had never been before. It was a lovely day out....most of it was aimless window shopping, but we did get a dryer, after months of hmming and haaing.

Some light reading before setting off

Look Puppy, we're coming up to the Dartford bridge!

'Zzzzz, what's so exciting about that?'

'All this shopping makes me thirsty'

'If you ask me, balloons are more fun!'

'Going home now, via the Dartford tunnel'

'Glad the Reds won, I can sleep easy now!'

Last Saturday, the couples in my antenatal class met up for a 1st year birthday party for the babies. It was great to see everybody again, especially those who didn't do the regular meets. Anyway, since I haven't obtained permission from any of the parents to paste their child's face on the web, I won't do any pictures of those, so you'll have to be content with a birthday cake instead, oh, and of course, an obligatory video of Puppy's antics :)

Yummy birthday cake

Since the last post, we've been to visit Puppy's relations in Ireland. We hadn't been since Puppy was 4 months old, and he had a lovely time meeting up with Grandma, Granddad, uncles, aunts and cousins. He seemed particularly fond of Richard, who, in fairness, was probably the only one around who had the most time for him while we were there.

Looking up to my uncle Richard

'Like my new smile?'

Puppy's also turned 11 months old. He is now 9.85kg, which is a relief considering he hadn't put any weight on since December. From the way he was eating at Tarantino's this lunchtime, I suppose I didn't have to worry, really.

Puppy also had a good time at the park today, enjoying a little tete a tete with the wildlife.

'So, that's what duck looks like when not in a pancake!'