T' North

I seem to have omitted Grannie and Grandad Yardley in my account of our glamourous holiday. They were the instigators of the vacation-long search for cats that has been required to take place in every location that we have been to (including in Hyde Park this afternoon). Here they are recovering from an intrepid journey round the garden to hang over the fence to search for felines.

We didn't have the time, the weather or sufficient Alice leg span to make it to Blackpool to ride a real donkey, but here she is gamely enjoying riding a llama or somesuch.

We had a lovely time in Bolton - the daily routine involved Daddy eating at least one pie, Alice setting off to hunt cats and then walking back (as long as her parents weren't looking) and Mummy lifting her head from Heat or OK magazines to grumble about the weather. But only three or four times a day - I didn't want to get on anyone's nerves or anything like that.

The daily routine when we left Bolton involved Alice asking after "Geya" (which was the grandparental concept rather than an accurate pronunciation of either Grannie or Grandad) about a hundred times per day and to go to search for cats at least twice as many times. They certainly left and impression upon the young lady!

I'm starting to believe that she might really walk one day

Still a touch of the goose step but nearly there...

A beautiful day in Hyde Park.

Moving in a southerly direction

We've had a lovely week in the South, where the sun always seems to shine, the Aunties are plentiful and prawns are sold by the pint (Alice gamely and repeatedly sampled both these and the cockles but wasn't overly keen).

She's had fun with family...

...fun in the sandpit...

...fun with new friends...

Seems like Daddy wasn't paying attention when she met her latest admirer

...and most of all fun with Maisy the Dog. Here she is very excited at Maisy almost jumping in the bath with her.

I think that she is delighted to find someone lower in the pecking order than herself. On returning home from London this evening, she stood at the back door hollering "Maisy, Maisy, Maisy" in a very cross tone. Delighted to find someone to tell off who won't tell her off back, I guess. I will try to take a photo of the intrepid duo before we leave.

The cousins

Alice visited her Cousin Milly last week and decided (at last) to begin to copy the novel idea of pushing the baby walker from a standing position.

Anything you can do...

I'm sure that this will be the start of a lifetime of competitive cousins (if either of them have inherited anything from Dad/Uncle Stu) who still won't let Alice win even a knee walking race.

Unfortunately Cousin Milly wasn't too well while we were there, but still shared her menagerie of toys/remotes/wallets beautifully.

Alice is still asking after Milly ("Mia"), Uncle Andrew and Auntie Deborah ("Anu Dobber"). I wonder whether the names will stick. Bet Auntie Dobber hopes not :)

She also proved to be the second A. Yardley to develop an obsession with Anu's cooked breakfasts. Since dining in Wythall, she has started to ask for sausages most days. I wonder if I can learn to make my own organic ones a la Masterchef. Hmm. The words of a woman with too much time on her hands perhaps!

Progress indeed

If you listen carefully, you can hear Alice's sound effects that seem to be used to propel her foward..."Walker, walker, walker"

Last week we had to persuade her to do this and now she nags to walk at every opportunity. Surely it can't be long now...

Alice's Christening

Lots to catch up on, following a whirlwind tour of England, punctuated by the momentous event of Alice's baptism. Hours of preparation and UN-style peace talks had gone into co-ordinating and organising the day, which arrived in a swirl of cloud and arctic temperatures. The southerners shivered their way up the M6 to the lights of Bolton and were treated to the sight of Alice and her cousin Emilia Kitty Greeerrrrce being dunked by a retired postman who began the service with the words, "Ah'm not you-sally allahed to dooo baptisms"...

Of course the northern rellies didn't think that Fred Dibnah accent intoning the words of the sacred rite was that funny, but it was a lovely reward for those who had been through 8 hour motorway journeys. Auntie Ruthy giggled along and was heard offering members of the congregation "tea-keerrrks" during the Peace.

Alice and Milly behaved very nicely during the service and Alice particuarly enjoyed head banging to Shine Jesus Shine. Despite the vicar's best efforts to the contrary - "Ah think we'll do the water now. Orrh. And Ah think Ah'm supposed to give yoooo a candle" - it went all went without a hitch. We had a birr'ova do afterwards with a lovely spread and were glad to avoid the wuthering wintery weather outside.

Pretty dress and godparents











The Golden Girls get reacquainted.

"Wu-king"

For those waiting with baited breath, Alice took two steps on Sunday evening. Uncle Tom (whose deep voice/general hairyness used to make her cry at the very sight of him) had her walking around his lounge, holding his hands for some time. She then happily let go and lurched a couple of steps from Tom to Auntie Kirrily and then again from Tom to Daddy. Haven't managed a repeat performance as yet, but I've been too busy deeply regretting a Thai chicken larb to get even myself onto my feet. No doubt Alice's "wu-king" won't be far away. Very exciting.

Oh really?!

Let's hope she's ready...see you on the other side...

Best daycare report yet

Just look at the classification at the bottom. I must remember that next time I reach for the takeaway menu.

"Italian Pizza Shop Restaurant

Following on from our Japanese Dining Area in Home Corner last week, we are looking at other Cultures foods and traditions. This week again we have implemented An Italian Style Pizza Store to Introduce the children to different ways of eating and cooking. With the pizza bases, we are Encouraged to pick up all the different ingredients provided using The tongs to top our pizza’s. Luke Searched all the cupboards for all the ingredients that he and Alice would need to make their yummy pizza’s.

Alice held the tongs tightly fostering pincer grasp. Alice picked up each individual ingredient such as cheese, mushrooms and onions and placed them on her preparation plate. Alice then transferred her ingredients from the plate to the pizza base filling it with all sorts of yummy toppings."


Date: 03.08.09
Codes: NSE4
Developmental Area: Multicultural Awareness

Diagnosis: Stubborn

All of Alice's tests from the other week came back fine. She is a healthy little girl who just doesn't really want to walk yet. She does have hyper-mobile hips, which make it hard for her to balance - apparently the surface area of big tum to tiny feet with Elvis/Shakin' Stevens type hip joints in between are just going to take more work to overcome than most little people have to go through to get on their feet. No treatment required, just time. So good news!

Today's report from playgroup

Alice has gone all arty recently. This dispatch received this morning from playgroup:

"This week we introduced Indian Rangoli Rice Collages as a follow on from our mix and mess ingredient exploration. By using the rice, we placed into zip lock bags and adding food colouring, each of us had a turn to shake the colour through the rice, watching it transform. After the rice had dried we each chose a wonderful Rangoli pattern to which we pasted our coloured rice, using our fine motor pinching skills that we developed last week through a similar experience. Alice confidently participated in this art and craft experience, having a go at every aspect of the activity."

Look at the intense concentration...