The Ark, Curls and Walking sdrawkcab.

Not sure if this is the start of imaginative play or not, but she does enjoy playing with the animals from her ark. She can recognise animals now and when we ask her to bring us the camel, she does and then brings the other one (there are two of every kind you know).



Of course when you see photos of Alice, what you don't see are all these wee curls that are forming at the back. It's so funny, because her hair is poker straight at the top and curly at the back. Not great to have that combination of mummy and daddy.





Alice started walking backwards the other day too. The first time she did it, we just laughed and laughed and then she did it loads and loads, looking very proud of herself.

Rock on Rocky

This is how Alice says banana. Not quite sure why she doesn't just make a noise to go with the facial expression. Also she went through a wee phase of not wanting to go on Rocky, but quite enjoys having a go now. I think maybe it's because she can rock properly now. Alice is quite a mover, wouldn't you say? She certainly doesn't get her rhythm from her father. He can't dance to save his life. She sometimes moves on to shimmying her shoulders and sometimes shaking her leg, Elvis style. The radio is just above where she's dancing and when she wants to dance she always goes to that spot just below the radio. She'll walk into the kitchen, have a dance and then come back into the back room again when she's had enough. Funny girl!!! Well we think so anyway.

What you talkin' about Willis?

Alice has started pulling this face when we're eating at the dinner table. Not quite sure which parent she's mimicking!!! She's started pulling funny faces to try and make us laugh, rather than us pulling ridiculous faces to make her laugh. The frown can go a lot deeper than this. It did remind me of the 70s programme Diff'rent Strokes where Arnold used to shout this at his brother and pull a similar face.

She looks really angry, but she's not at all, because two seconds later she's laughing and smiling.

This is more like the Alice we know and love.

Nana and Grandpa's visit

Nana and Grandpa (Stuart's parents) came to visit Alice for a few days this week. She really enjoyed spending time with them getting to know them all over again. That's the problem with a wee person, they forget easily and relationships have to be built up with each visit. Not be long though, until she does remember who they are. We were given a wee photo album by a friend of Ian's (Stuart's dad) in which to put photos of family members she doesn't see that often. So hopefully that'll help.

We took Alice swimming for the first time this week. She wasn't too sure initially, but we put her in a wee inflatable seat where her legs could dangle out the bottom and within a few minutes she seemed to enjoy it. The pool was great because it has communal changing rooms (with cubicles obviously), but it means that when we take her swimming again we can both be dealing with her while one of has a shower etc, rather in different changing rooms. Really great idea.

We went to Bedlington Country Park, not that great, don't think we'll go back but good for a quick stroll. However, we did all get bitten (apart from Alice thankfully), just not much there. This is Daddy keeping a tight hold of Alice close to the river.

Grandpa carrying Alice over a wee bridge. Always wearing blue, I think it's Arsenal he supports, or is that Spurs? I can never remember.

We had another trip to Whitehouse Farm to see the "gags" as Alice calls pigs. Of course it's more for Daddy to see the "gags" rather than Alice. She did enjoy being on this tractor and beeping the horn.
When we got back from the farm we got the bubble machine out. Not sure Nana was overly impressed by how sticky the bubbles were.
Alice enjoying chasing and catching the bubbles.
Really great to see them and for Alice to get to know them more, see you in 5 weeks again!!