Hey guess what?! Elsie can blow kisses!! If you make kissy noises then she will respond by doing them back. It is very exciting cause it's one of the first obviously responsive things she's been able to do.

We are at home today cause we were supposed to be doing baby first aid today with St John's ambulance up at Eastville Health Centre - but we got there and the trainer had been given the wrong time and had already left by the time we all turned up. It was most annoying - and all really dismissive aswell, like oh well I'm afraid she's gone, never mind. Ggrrrr... and I took the day off work and everything. Eastville Health Centre, you're what the French call les incompetents! Oh well, at least I get to spend the day with my little girl again, just like old times!

This is a picture of Auntie Katie, Elsie and I at Cousin Michael's birthday barbie last weekend - she looks so funny with her suspicious look!

Friday 28th July - Playing with the rattles and chatting away.
I took Elsie downstairs this morning, had hugs from pre-school staff.
We went out into the garden. Elsie had a ride on the swing.

Thursday 27th July - She has been playing with Ace nicely.
Elsie enjoys reaching and playing with the baby gym toys.
Blowing bubbles with Ace.
Rolling around quite happily and having cuddles too.
Playing with Ace and Oliver from toddlers.

Wednesday 26th July - Playing happy with the activity toys.
We went outside with the toddler children. Elsie had a ride on the swing. She also went in the ball pool.
Happy rolling around the floor playing with the roll balls.
Happy playing and chatting away.

Tuesday 25th July - Playing with the rattles with Millie and Esther.
Looking at books with Kay.
We went downstairs and Elsie was playing with Ellie.

Right, found her diary. Let's get some updates on what she's been up to this week!

Monday 24th July - Playing with the building bricks with Millie.
Playing with musical toys with Bayley and Amy.
Playing under baby gym very happy.
We went outside playing with the wind chimes.

Our day out at Tretower Court.

We had a lovely day yesterday, out at the Harbour Festival with Uncle Dan! And we met up with (real!) Auntie Sally and Uncle Ryan. I really appreciate full days with her now – we had a completely magic moment where I was holding her and rocking out to Fortune Drive in the rain, with Rob holding a brolly over us, and she fell asleep in my arms for the first time in ages. I couldn’t stop gazing at her beautiful beautiful face, feeling incredibly warm and fuzzy inside! Another highlight was buying loads of cheese from the French market, which I will share with Elsie if she’s a very good girl!

She is in her playpen at the moment bashing ducks together, her favourite pastime now. It doesn’t have to be ducks, but she loves this new amazing skill of whacking two things against each other! She is also into making growling ferocious noises at the moment – when I try and do it back it really hurts my throat so I’m not sure how she keeps it up!

I don’t have her nursery diary with me at the mo, so I can’t update you on that, but I did speak to them on Friday and they were so lovely – saying she’s settled in really well and she’s such a happy little girl. I think they get how brilliant she is, which is very reassuring.

Here are some more pictures from our jollies in Hay on Wye.

All has been well as the week has gone on. I am getting into the swing of things at work and Elsie continues to thrive at university.

Thursday 20 July Playing happily alongside Ace (this is Elsie’s new nursery buddy, Ace Parker, that is actually his name – I think they should get married!)
Enjoys rolling on the floor with toys
Played with baby toys happily

Friday 21 July Enjoyed playing with Amy from toddlers
Enjoyed her lunch very much and we made a lovely mess!
Excited watching the bubbles being blown rolling on the floor playing with shape sorters

Some more holiday piccies.

Just wanted to quickly say that today was much better – I think I am starting to get into the swing of things. And also to fill you in on some of Elsie’s adventures at nursery -

We had water play today with the bubbles and soft balls. Elsie loved this activity – lots of splashing. Rolling around on the floor, lots of laughing.

I think she’s ok there! They do seem great – when I phoned on Monday and Tuesday they were so lovely and reassuring, they must get neurotic mothers phoning them all the time I guess.

Here is my gorgeous girl on our boat trip from Brecon.

Elsie and her dad out on the balcony (we spent a lot of our time out there!)

Well, it has begun. The next era is upon us. Elsie has started nursery and I am back at work. She is thoroughly enjoying it by all accounts – the nursery fills in a diary for her each day, which I suppose should be part of the blog really. I’ll give you some snippets:

Monday 17 July – Rolling around on the floor very happy.
Elsie enjoyed playing on the swing, also liked the ball pit.
Big kiss from Kay for mummy (after I phoned at lunchtime).
Happy playing with the soft blocks.
Elsie has been a star today!

Tuesday 18 July - Playing nicely under the baby gym.
Rolling around on the floor playing.
We went outside and looked around the nursery gardens.
Big kiss from Kay for mummy (again! Wasn’t going to phone today but got in a bit of a state so did in the end).
Elsie enjoyed having her feet painted.

What excitement! They said she hasn’t got upset at all, although apparently it isn’t til they’re 8 or 9 months old that they know you are leaving them, and that’s when she might find it more distressing. Also worth noting is that she did three poos at nursery today – she was obviously listening when I asked her last night to save them all up for when it was someone else’s job to change her!!

I was absolutely fine yesterday, but I think that was because it just felt like a nice break, and like I was going to see all my friends for the day. Today I got really upset and went for a secret cry at lunchtime, quite unexpectedly (well, unexpectedly for me, I’m sure everyone else knew that was going to happen!) I really missed her – I just felt lonely even though there were loads of people around. Everyone is rubbish compared to her. I’m sure it will get easier, it better had – I’m never going to spend as much time with her again as I have for the last 7 months… and then one day she’ll leave home, oh god!!

Anyway… there are lots more lovely piccies of our holiday. Here are a couple of Elsie in her Bumbo out on the balcony. I love these ones where you can see her gorgeous legs! She does have a bit of a David Dickinson tan going on in this one due to a recently eaten carrot based lunch!

I took this picture about 5 minutes after Rob asked me to marry him on our walk. Elsie had been screaming until about ten minutes previously, it might never have happened if she hadn't fallen asleep! Rob is still on one knee here - what a gorgeous moment.

Howdy! Happy Sunday. It is nice to have a lazy day today after a few busy weekends on the trot. Elsie has just gone up for a nap (well, she had been awake for a whole two exhausting hours!) and Rob is in the shower, so I have come to write a few words. She is wearing her big, fluffy white sleep suit today that Granny Fi bought for her… just when you thought she couldn’t get any cuter!

We had a lovely day yesterday at Bargefest with lots of our friends. Elsie was made First Mate of the good ship Talisman – and as the crew all had regulation tee shirts she also wore one, made from a cushion cover by Cap’n Dave! Elsie was a little seasick at first (all over me!) as she did have a full 8oz bottle as we set sail, but then she found her sea legs and was fine. We had such a nice time, and again I was filled with pride for her marvellousness as everyone played pass the baby for hours, and she was perfectly happy and playing with whoever she happened to land on.

I have one full week left before I return to work – OH MY GOD!! So, this week will mostly be spent making the most of lots of quality time with my daughter – god, I’m scared. Who’d have thought it’s been 8 and a half months since I finished work on my birthday last year – wooooah.

This is Elsie and Rob on our jollies – Elsie is looking rather full as she had just helped me eat lots of cheese from my lovely lunch – including a good hefty chunk of Smoked Applewood you’ll be proud to know Auntie Katie – she’s a real cheese loving Newsome girl!

Elsie is having another nap upstairs at the moment, she is really good at going to sleep during the day now that she can just roll over and get comfy.

We have been having another very amusing morning of raspberries (her new favourite way of communicating) and singing. She is so hilarious at the moment!

Her eczema is much better these day – but she has got quite bad nappy rash again, maybe because it’s so hot and she’s getting all sweaty round there. I am trying to leave her without her nappy on for a while whenever possible, but have been put off by the fact that she seems to immediately go to the loo whenever she’s left without one. Wees I can cope with but last week she did a huge poo when I left her for two minutes to make cheese on toast – oh my god, it was so disgusting (and most unhygienic too I should imagine).

This is Elsie and I on our holidays – we both have our summer frocks on here (Elsie’s was bought for her before she was even born by Auntie Katie!) This is on the lovely balcony at the back of the flat where we spent many a happy sunny hour!

I love this one - with their matching expressions!

Elsie and her daddy. This is the first of the pictures from our jollies in Hay on Wye.

A couple more piccies from the lovely garden at Knowsley.

I had my first night away from Elsie on Friday, down in Cornwall for Bristol Katie’s hen do. I had a bit of a wobble when Paula came to pick me up and I had to say goodbye to my beautiful girl, but was remarkably ok throughout the evening – even following several beverages not a tear was shed! I am getting composed and self-possessed! (Maybe not considering I was dancing to Five and doing star jumps!! But no crying is a start!) I did carry pictures of Elsie round with me all evening trying to engage people in conversations about her gorgeousness – but Katie’s friends were very nice and indulged more than I probably deserved.

We had Saturday night at Gran and Grandpa’s in tropical Exminster – it was sooo hot (and still is today, I am sheltering indoors). Elsie is having a wee nap at the moment following her second breakfast of mashed banana.

This is Elsie visiting Branwell and Brunty with Granny.