family photos (finally)

When people come over they like to take Anna.

Like, pick her up and take her.

So we've got lots of photos of Anna + someone else, but none of the three of us. Which is sad considering this little girl is not so little anymore.

Today Luke and I decided to change all that. We went to a park to have a "picnic" without food or drinks or games or anything really. Just us, Anna and a big BIG camera.

Family photo success!!

We also got about 200+ others just for good measure. Here's a nice little selection for you.

new things

Anna can do stuff now! As well as learning how to squeal (we're not sure how we feel about this yet) and sucking her fists non-stop, she has also mastered three new tricks.

Blowing bubbles and drooling. Lots of bibs are now required.

Rolling her "r's" like a proper Italian!!

And after complaining at mother's group this week about my little chunka-chunka not getting any closer to mastering the Sphinx pose or rolling, suddenly it all happened at once. Maybe next week I should complain about how she only sleeps for 45mins at a time during the day.

In other news, Anna is gaining weight well, and would be close to 6kg by now. She also shows preference to particular people on particular days. Some days she has mamma-days and sometimes daddy-days. I'll let Luke gloat later about her daddy-day preferences. She recognises rooms well enough now to screech whenever we walk into the bedroom, and coo whenever we are going to the living room to feed. And heaven help the person who takes her into the spare room to change her bum...

Last Anna selfie, just to get you through the week.

gym junkie

In desperation I went and bought Anna a playgym the other day because she was totally over being held all the time and she looks at rattles being shaken in her face with complete disdain.

Ok so admittedly the first day was not very successful. She hated that she couldn't reach any of the dangly toys.

So I went out and got more toys. (I think this was her plan all along.)

Now she loves it. And instead of talking to human being, Anna seems to have found her soulmate in a jingly pink elephant. Whacking it and cooing can keep her entertained for a good half-hour.

So Mamma has finally been able to drink some tea. Even hot tea!!

Much love,
Ally xxxx

nearly done with work...

Hi everyone,

Hope this little post finds you well. We've both been a bit neglectful on here of late but at least this will brighten up your Sunday mornings.

A few positives of late:

1. It's the long weekend, so 3 days off work.
2. I then only have to work for 4 days.
3. After those 4 days, I have a month off.
4. It's getting cold.
5. Anna's getting interesting.

Yes, number 5 seems a little bit harsh, but it's true. As those of you who have been through this before will understand, the first 5/6 weeks are just a little bit tedious. Mothers are up at all hours either stopping bub from crying or feeding them or changing them. Fathers are floating around trying to remain inconspicuous and not make noise at inopportune moments. Cups of tea are left cold and sad and lonely on the kitchen benchtop - untouched next to the kettle.

Then. Suddenly. Almost overnight. Something changes. YOU START TO GET SOME KIND OF RETURN OUT OF THIS SMALL CRYING MACHINE. A look of recognition. A smile.

Then it progresses. A noise as an attempt at conversation. A smile that isn't just wind.

I have two favourite times as a father at the minute. One is still bathtime - when I first put her in the water and she gives me a "this is amazing - therefore, you're amazing" look. The second is the power of my voice. I get home from work and start talking and she stops everything she's doing to try and find me. Ally made the mistake of putting me on speakerphone a couple of times. Then had to deal with the "no physical Daddy" consequences.

So yes. In my 4 weeks off I'm looking forward to having a little family time. Going on some trips. Taking plenty of photos with my nice camera. I may have slightly unrealistic expectations of what she should learn to do in that time, which includes but is not limited to the following:
*Talk properly [in English, Yorkshire and Italian]
*Laugh
*Sit up
*Roll
*Crawl
*Pull herself up
*Walk
*Write her name
*Tie her own shoelaces
*Kick a ball
*Ask nicely for food
*Politely inform us that she's due a nappy change

We had our first "ish" family outing last night, except our little angel went apoplectic just before we could change her into her dress. So we kept her in her sleep-suit. Photos of her in said dress are below. Taken this morning for posterity's sake.

That's all for now,

With love, as always,

Luke xx