Patience

I must remember that balancing on low walls and trying to walk on every single crack in the pavement are of the utmost importance to a 22 month old and therefore should be indulged wherever possible; even if it turns a 30 minute amble to town into a 3 hour marathon.

Tantrums and Bicycles

A 'new' (new to us) bike, as pink as a very pink thing indeed, has appeared in Lily's life. Think it may be love at first sight, she had to be forcibly extricated from the fluffy cerise saddle.

Telegraphic Speech

I think we might possibly have had our first proper, if slightly brief, sentence from Lily. Today she said something which went a bit like this...
"No! Stop tickle Mama, !!%^$&***???!!!...(stream of baby expletives), no tickle!"

Boris

For some reason there is still a huge amount of snow at my parent's place, this is Lily and Dada's first snowman together.

Katrina Kenison

"This is perhaps the greatest legacy we can bestow upon our children: the capacity to be enchanted by the quiet gifts of everyday life."

Homeward

It was snowing on the way home from Steiner, Lily kept repeatedly getting down on her knees to lick the snow off the pavement and then when I gave up and forcibly shoved her in the pram, stuck her tongue out like some very thirsty Alsatian, lapping up all the snowflakes as they tumbled down from blizzardy skies.

Steiner

Steiner playgroup is like a sweet drop of rain in the desolate desert of your average, run of the mill toddler playgroup. I have come to relish these mornings of sitting on comfy sofas, drinking fresh coffee and conducting civilised (and usually uninterrupted) conversations while the children just seem to play contentedly at our feet. There is something very calming, for all involved, about the group and so much different from the usual 30 manic kids in a church hall dribbling over a few grubby plastic blocks. I am biased of course, Steiner became my saviour at a time when I seriously thought Lily would grow up to be socially inept due to my refusal to attend other sessions.
Plus they make great coffee, so on mornings when you don't even have time to remember your own name, this is just heavenly.

Bub-bub

Keep trying to get a recording of Lily speak, new words are appearing at a rate of knots; however, shove the movie camera in her face and she suddenly recalls the meaning of shy. Some of my favourites are 'Par-Par' (Grandpa) and 'bub-bub' (blueberry).
Some of her favourites are 'cake' and 'more'.

I am a sad besotted Mama.

No longer quite so compliant...

Only a matter of time....

Green Eyed Girl

Pigtails

Looking serious with new hair style.

Wren and Lily

Snow

There's something magical about your child's first steps in the snow.
Lily spent most of the time eating it.

Dolly Dancing