We went up to mum and dad’s on Sunday for a few days, where we have both been thoroughly spoilt and looked after – so that was nice! It was good to catch up with friends and family – and go shopping for summer shoes (Elsie didn’t enjoy that part so much!) I went on the train because mum now has one of pretty much everything for Elsie and I don’t have to take much stuff (although of course I come back down fully laden!) Auntie Katie has bought Elsie a Bumbo seat which is great – she sat in it on the seat next to me on the train down and looked like such a big girl!

The weaning is going really well, she is very enthusiastic about her eating (don’t know where she might get that from?!) As well as all the pots of mush we have been trying, she has also sampled rocket and parmesan at Auntie Katie’s, some Bolognese sauce (photos of that to come!!), cheese on toast, dates, strawberries, cucumber – it is so exciting to see her tasting all these things for the first time. It is less exciting to change the nappies that result from these new food experiences – bluuuuuueeeeeeeeugh – so disgusting!

Yesterday we had a very full house as five of Elsie’s NCT baby buddies came round with their mums. They are all growing up so fast, we talked about the general dread of going back to work. In a way I am lucky because I really like my job, but even so it is a scary prospect – it is awful for people who don’t like what they do.

I must just mention something that happened yesterday, even though it is totally revolting. Elsie was having quite a pukey day generally, and I made the mistake of holding her above my head for a coo – and she vomited absolutely loads all over my t-shirt, which was gross enough but we mopped it all up – then later when Elsie had gone to bed and Rob and I were watching Big Brother on the sofa I noticed that my bra was full of sick which had by that time gone all crusty!!! I just wanted to share that lovely moment, as it illustrates perfectly the glamour and general gorgeousness of being a mum!

Elsie is so jolly and talkative this morning – she is sitting behind me bouncing her chair so frantically it may launch across the room at any moment.

I love this picture of her – we are on my photos of Italy now – this was in the hotel room in Venice that we stayed in the night we arrived. She was so cheerful that night! It was really late and we’d had such a long journey, but she just wanted to party the night away – I’m lucky she didn’t throw the TV out of the window in her wild revelry!