'I love you Mummy'

One day this week while we were eating lunch, Matilda said (unprompted), 'I love you Mummy. And Daddy.'

I tell her I love her as I'm nursing her before bed - although I worry that I might forget one day and then she might be upset. But as she is nursing at the time she doesn't have an opportunity to repeat it as she does most things. Still, that and whenever Sam says 'I love you' have obviously sunk in, and she even told me yesterday that she loves the baby (she sometimes likes to stroke my tummy and says she's stroking the baby). She's also been really affectionate and cuddly lately, which I've been enjoying. She puts her arms around my neck and holds on really tight. She's always asked for cuddles at night since I became pregnant and cut down on nightfeeds, but has never really wanted a hug in the day except if she hurts herself. She was always too busy doing something else.

At bedtime she pulls Sam's head towards hers for her goodnight kiss and then asks him to 'kiss those feet' and waves her feet in the air, followed by toes, hands, fingers and thumbs. She likes to fall asleep with her arms around Bear and my arms around her.

My gorgeous baby...

...is now two! And what a lovely birthday she had. She has been singing Happy Birthday for the last few days, and talking about blowing out the candles on her cake. We'd planned a picnic with friends (to avoid overwhelming the birthday girl) but it rained so we all crowded into our house. Despite that, Matilda still had a great time - probably because it was all people she knows well and likes, and Daddy had the day off work so she was not short of attention. I didn't do party bags but I did make her a cake and a birthday lunch of egg sandwiches, salad, houmous, potato salad, cheese scones and fruit.

Happy Birthday Matilda - you are so loved!

Chasing shadows

Last week, with the first proper spring sunshine of the year, Matilda had a great time chasing her shadow, waving and pointing at it and trying to step on it. On pancake day we walked over the hills into town to watch the pancake race with some friends. It was a lovely chilled-out day - a picnic on blankets on the grass, watching the ducks on the pond, and following a little shadow around the park.

Last weekend we went to Goodrich Castle to meet up with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Matilda had a lovely time with her cousins, but refused to wear her gloves and cried when her hands got cold so I ended up having to carry her with her hands tucked into my coat. Wish I hadn't left the sling in the car!

Toddler moments

This week I have been struggling to remain calm in the face of Matilda's increasing awareness of her independence. Too often I've found myself trying to bargain with her, making empty threats or losing my temper. Obviously it doesn't work as she's way too young to understand it! As much as possible we try to go at Matilda's pace but sometimes there are times when we have to be somewhere at a certain time or a limit has to be imposed and then it can get difficult. I've just read Deborah Jackson's Do Not Disturb and that really reinforced the way I would like to parent but let's just say we're learning all the time!

So anyway, I thought I would share some of the lighter moments from our week...

Trying to play with toys despite wearing her 'gubs'.

Eating porridge.

On the big basket swing in the park.

Upsy Daisy having 'Matilda milk'.

Reading to Doll and Bear while Mummy was in the shower.

Helping Mummy cook.

On the climbing frame at the park.

A very huggable hoody.

Out and about despite the clouds

This week we have been out walking a few times with friends despite the grey and miserable weather. Yesterday we were supposed to meet up with friends locally and go for a walk on the hills but Matilda was not really up for going in the sling and wanted to walk herself so my friends kindly agreed to a slow-paced walk to the playground. Matilda walked pretty much the whole way there and back and even went on the zipwire with Mummy. Today we went on our weekly walk on the hills with the local mums walking group, and afterwards Matilda had a great time splashing through muddy puddles. I was planning to stay home in the afternoon but shortly before tea Matilda wanted to put her rucksack, gloves and wellies on and then started saying "walk". I couldn't really argue with that so we went for a walk round the block, bumping into some of our lovely neighbourhood friends on the way. It's been fun!

On the way back from the playground yesterday

Getting ready for our walk on the hills today

Walking round the block later in the day

My little hiker

On our recent trip to Cumbria we went for a lovely walk above Ullswater in the Lake District. Sam and I really enjoy walking so it would be great if Matilda loves it too. Well, she seemed to enjoy her first Lake District hike - she slept in the sling for the first part, had fun roaming around during lunch, happily went back in the sling while we descended the steepest parts of the route, then strolled the last bit herself, even using Grandad's walking pole for some of it! So far, so good!

Here she comes...

Practising her walking on our local playing fields...

On the swings in the newly refurbished playground...

Happy 1st Birthday

Happy 1st Birthday my lovely little one :)

The joys of co-sleeping #1

Having a lie-in while the little one plays with / eats / destroys the newspaper you left beside the bed.

Isn't that a pip?!

What's in a name? I've been trying to start this blog for ages (well, since Matilda was born really) but I could never get passed the 'name your blog' screen. Well today I was looking round the room for inspiration and saw Matilda playing with her favourite board book. I don't know what it is she loves about it so much (perhaps it's the chunky feel and the big mirror page). It's all quite random (but maybe it makes perfect sense if you've watched In The Night Garden!) but I can't help but smile at the last page with the big mirror and "Isn't that a pip?!".

On the move (with no trousers)

The washing machine has broken and until it's fixed Matilda is in disposable nappies. This has an unexpected side effect that her trousers keep falling off. I tried to take a photo but she was too quick for me!