This post is not a hint to anyone here, it is more for my own benefit, so I can add things here when I think of them, and remember when family ask. But if anyone is wondering, I prefer dark chocolate and pink wine ;) Oh, and I'm allergic to soap/bubble bath etc, so it's easier to avoid smellies!

Me:
Princess Bride on DVD
keyboard sheet music (maybe of disney songs or 80s pop or something people can join in with. I used to be up to grade 4... don't play much now, so no where near at the moment, but only through lack of practise!)
amaretto
DS/GBA games
My Monopoly Voucher

Izzy:
Music DVDs - she likes folky stuff.
Disney DVDS - we don't have any yet!
money for savings account (can provide account number if anyone actually wants it!)
toys (at the mo she likes things that are brightly coloured and she can eat or fiddle with!)
picture books (we have the gruffalo, the very hungry caterpillar and each peach pear plum, but other than that we need to build up the favourites!)

Richard:
Comdy series on DVD. (maybe Dad's Army, we don't have that one yet or the high life if it is out on DVD)
mandolin sheet music
spiced rum

collectively/if you win the lottery:
food ... particularly biccies/chocolate of ANY description!
wii games or even a wii fit!
money towards our next holiday
homebase/garden centre vouchers

01. Think of the first word that comes to mind when you think of me.
02. Go to Google Images and search for that word.
03. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results.
04. Put this in your own journal so that I can do the same.

ION, this baby is protesting at my continued failure to turn the sun down. Sorry baby :( Lots of crying and flailing this morning - I don't think we are going to the library by 11am. but who knows, if she goes to sleep I may be allowed to wash up. Oh the excitement ;)

This time from strawpig

1) What's your favourite cake?
Battenburg. Although it is a close run thing. I also love lemon drizzle cake and anything chocolatey. And cheesecade. mmmm.

2) What would your dream home be like?
Big enough, but not too big to look after (although if it is my dream home can I have robots to clean it?!) with lots of storage space, a dining area, so we don't always have to eat off our laps, and a garden. It would also have a turret and a garden pond with frogs in. And a cellar with a pool table in.

3) Is there any parts of your musical taste that you're embarrassed by?
nah, I'm too old to be embarrased for liking things. There are probably things I *should* be embarrassed by though ;)

4) What are you most looking forward to from the allotment?
Oh, good question. Probably the aubergines if the work. Or sweetcorn. I'm looking forward to it all though really. I'm hoping the pumpkins come up as well as they did last year. And we're trying courgette and marrow. AAnd beetroot should be ready soon. Loads of stuff!

5) Tell me about you next pair of shoes!
I've not spent money on myself for so long I've got no idea what they will be. Probably a replacement for whatever falls to bits next. and probably from the back to school range in Clarks (they are the only shoes I can ever find to fit me!) I'm looking forward to that window where Izzys feet will be big enough to wear matching shoes will Mummy, and while she still thinks that would be cool. Or maybe matching wellies?! Would probably get away with them for longer, as they would be worn at the allotment where nobody sees us ;)

.. is still therem and still quite far away ;)

We had a fab weekend visiting Granny with my parents. I took this photo in the car in the way up :)



We did bits of shopping, took Granny out and Izzy got thoroughly spoiled :) There were also Oatcakes, Indian takeaway and cake, so that automatically counts ars a good weekend! Didn't do amazingly well on the sleep front, but we canj't have everything ;)

Now, time for a meme...
Leave me a comment saying "PIMM'S O'CLOCK".
I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can get to know you better.
Update your journal with the answers to the questions.
Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

This is what freddiefraggles gave me:

1) What's your favourite wedding outfit?
I like going to weddings as an excuse to wear a posh frock, but this years weddings I'm having to wear separates, or I would have to put baby up my skirt ;) But yes... something long and brightly coloured. Preferably with a wrap too. And now I'm a married lady I need to invest in a hat for going to weddings in.

2) Where would you most like to go on holiday?
I have a great long list of places I want to go - Egypt, Croatia, New Zealand, parts of the USA, bits of Germany and Italy I've not seen, plus lots of bits of the UK. I think the place I want to go most (in an "if I won the lottery" kind of way is Egypt. But in a more realistic frame of mind, I'd like to go to Croatia in a few years when Izzy is bigger. And next year I want to go to the Forrest of Dean :)

3) Given the choice between cider and wine, which would you choose?
What kind of cider do you have? (and what kind of wine for that matter!) At the moment I'm missing cider - I can only have a tiny bit of alcohol when I know I'm not going to be feeding Izzy for a while. And I am quite often in the company of people who are drinking the rest of the bottle and I can have a small glass, but that never happens with cider. My favourite Cider is either Frome Valley Dry Cider or single variety Katie cider, biy I'm happy to try anything that looks interesting. if it's strongbow I'll give it a miss!

4) How has your life changed with having a wee bairn?
Completely. Why else would you happily spend your time picking someone elses nose, helping them suck their feet, and congratulating them when they burp or poo?! It's weird - in some ways the time (5 months!) has gone really quickly, but in other ways it's like she has always been here. It changes things so much, as everything you do you have to plan around baby, that you can't remember not doing it. And you love this little person so much you forget how it felt to ever not have them there too :)

5) Do you like waffles?
I don't believe I've ever tried them, so no idea. I expect i would though. I like most things.

I posted the recipe for some of the food I made on Sunday on some recipe communities, but I figured some of you lot might be interested too. I made these for Grandad's birthday party at the weekend and they were very popular and really easy to make, so I thought I'd share :) (Actual recipes from this book, with my notes underneath of what I actually did!)

( mushrooms )

( eggs )

Seeinhg as nearly a week has gone by, I'd better update about my birthday before I forget it!

Richard had to work a half day, so we dropped him off as normal then had a relaxed morning playing and reading books. Izzy and I now know all about the Gruffalo and the very hungry caterpillar :) My mum came to pick us up, and we went off to fetch Richard and then headed off to the zoo. First stop was the cafe for lunch (Granny fed Izzy without too much fuss or mess :) ) and then we got on with visiting the animals. Izzy liked the Okapi best and I'm inclined to agree. We also had a little go in the play area :)

In the evening I had tacos for tea (could have got takeaway, but I wanted tacos damnit!) and pootled around on the net till sleepy time.

Saturday we were going to have a picnic at St Giles Hill, but the weather forecast said it wouldn't be a good plan, so we rearranged to meet at my parents house instead. I think there were 14 of us all together, and we had a lovely afternoon and all stuffed ourselves silly. Izzy was feeling poorly to start with, and wouldn't let me put her down, so we did lots of cuddling (shame!). She calmed down after a while though and had lots of cuddles with everyone else too :) Richard's parents had brought a Wii as a joint present for me and Richard, so we set that up to make sure it works (it does :) ) and it's all good.

Other than the Wii, Colin got me Monty Python sheet music, and I also have enough money to buy a food processor and a game for the Wii as well (possibly with enough left over to buy some kind of insult to music as well... we shall see!)

This week has been reasonably quiet - found a new singing songs with actions group on Monday, Izzy woke up with conjunctivitis on Tuesday, to add to the poorly tummy she already had, so we've got a lot done at home in between eye drops, crying and cuddles. nackered today, as Izzy would not sleep till gone midnight last night (not sure if that was tummy, eyes, or teething), so could have done with a nap. Sadly there is a disco happening downstairs by the sound of it, so no nap for me! Have got lots of useful things done though, and with any luck Izzy will let me have an early night tonight to make up for it :)

We've had a lovely few days here. Andy and Ethan were up for half term so we did a few bits with them (visiting Granny's work so Ethan could show off his new cousin to Granny's friends, swimmimg and a BBQ on Friday night.) And Saturday we went to Catherine and Charlie's wedding. We all had a brilliant day - the ceremony was lovely, the reception was great fun (if a little warm - we were all crossing our fingers for beautiful weather, but I think we over-did it a tad) and it was great to see everyone. Izzy got to meet more of her extended family and had lots of cuddles. I think she decided that Jennie's fingers were the tastiest though! Izzy let us stay till about nine as well, which was later than I was expecting :)

Then yesterday we had a relaxing day, with a potter round the allotment and some lounging on the sofa with a bit of leisurely "getting stuff done" snuck in quietly when no-one was looking!

I thought there was a NCT coffee morning this morning, but the website doesn't mention it. I'm sure the most recent newsletter said it was going to be twice a month now, but i have deleted the e-mail. We need some bits from town anyway, so I think I shall walk in shortly and let Izzy have a nap in the buggy, then we can pop our heads round the door and see if it looks like I'm right or not. The dilemas you have to contend with when you are on maternity leave!

And this one we spent at the zoo with my parents :) We saw all kinds of things, but special mention goes to the new frilled lizards, which were really active, and the Okapi. The Dwarf Mongeese were as cute as ever too :)

In the afternoon we had an exciting trip to the supermarket then watched Freaky Friday. I quite enjoyed it actually. Not one I would have paid to see, but suitable lazy afternoon viewing. We headed off to the allotment around half 5 for watering duties, and fed Izzy while we were there. Note to self: next time you feed the baby beetroot wear protective gear. or at least remember the baby wipes!

We've been busy at the allotment this morning - lots of weeding, and got peas and runner beans planted out. And we seeded Italian beetroot (not sure how it is different from the other beetroot we've planted, but I will report back!) and kolorabi. My dad has cucumbers for us too, and tomatoes. We've bought a new aubergine plant (after the ones we seeded died when we planted them out too soon) and another chilli plant (only 1 survived - they were planted out at the smae time!) plus some sweetcorn plants to try. Still got other seedlings on the windowsil, and my Dad has leeks and a few other bits for us too.

And I've just eaten the first of our home grown rocket. Yum.

Izzy tried banana for the first time today, and it seems to be her favourite thing so far :) She has been far more interested in fruit than vegetables, but she's only tried a few things so far. It will be fun finding out what she likes :)

I realised how long it has been since I wrote anything in here. So time for an update.

Asside from Eurovision, we've not been doing anything wildly exciting in the way of partying or adventures, but Izzy has been learning lots of new stuff. We have been swimming, started on solids and on Friday Izzy rolled over from her front to her back all by herself!

Swimming she hated the first time she went - we went to the swimming pool in Basingstoke on the bank holiday weekend, and I didn't have a swimming costume yet, so was by the edge of the pool with a towel while she went in with Daddy and Granny. It did not go down well at all! I took her again the following weekend in Winchester, which was far quieter, and then again in the week, and she loved it. We were going to all go today, but we didn't get around to it. Something to keep us busy tomorrow instead I think.

We started Izzy on a bit of baby rice at lunchtimes on Wednesday - she was a bit unsure at first, but is now grabbing the spoon and trying to feed herself, which is a good sign. Today Richard fed her, and they both enjoyed it so much I had to make her a bit more! We will give it a few more days, then introduce some vegetables at lunchtime and move the baby rice to the evening. I wanted to do baby lead weaning (where you pop baby in the high chair with a few bits in front of them, and baby helps themselves - working on the basis that baby grabs things to chew on anyway, so it may as well be food!) but you can't do that till baby is big enough to sit in high chair. Won't be long though before that will work. I'm thinking we might do that at lunchtime, so we can eat our lunch at the same time, then I can spoon her some pudding after she has finished playing with her food ;)

And rolling over happened on Friday, but poor girl now can't work out how she did it to do it again! I'm sure it will come back to her soon and before I know it she will be off ;) She doesn't like being on her front very much, so when she learns to roll over she lie however she wants.

Last night we had Dan, Lucy and Barry over and we watched Eurovision. And ate all the food in the world (but not all the food in our house... we have many leftovers). I voted for the Ukraine, but sadly not many other people did too :(

Yesterday was Cat's hen do (Cat being one of my cousins). Izzy and I reported at the Dundas Arms in Kintbury at 11:30 in the morning wearing pink and sparkles as directed, and had a yummy pub lunch. (Chippies and goats cheese for me, milk for baby) At 1pm we were given our regulation sparkly wigs, (bride to be, mother of the bride and MIL to be all had deelyboppers) and then it was off to the relaxing afternoon Leanne had prepared for us all - a trip on a proper old fashioned barge towed by a horse called Freddy.

It was a lovely relaxing afternoon - we had tea and cakes, chatted and took loads of photos. We had a few games too - we had all bought Cat a present in the form of a clue as to who the gift was from. She did very well and guessed them all (dummy from Izzy and a top with a ladybird on from me :) )

Both babies were really well behaved too. The other baby was Stanley - (a boy on a hen do!!!) he is only 6 weeks older than Izzy so couldn't very well be left behind. His first and only hen do, Izzys was the first of many.

After the boat trip we put everyone else on the train back to Newbury and we headed home. It was nearly bedtime for baby girl, so no night out on the tiles for us ;)

Today we tried to take Izzy swimming, but she didn't like it one bit! We will have to try again during the week when it is less busy I think. Can't do that till my swimming costume turns up though... that would scare the horses ;) In the meantime we will have a bath together in the big bath and see how that goes... splash splash splash!!!

Izzy shares her birthdy with Dave Grohl and LL Cool J
Richard shares his with Noddy Holder and the black prince
I share mine with Ross Noble and Jade Goody

I'm not sure who wins....

In other news, we've been to the dentist, and this afternoon we're off to baby massage part 3. I'm not sure if we're doing arms or head and back today... can't remember what she said. What glamarous lifestyles we lead ;) Yesterday was lots-of-housework-with-help-from-granny day, tomorrow will be visiting Granad/great grandad (depending on your point of view) and Leanne (my cousin) and the boys, Thursday is our normal galivanting about town day (ongs at the library, then either a picnic in the park or a sandwich in a cafe depending on the weather)... busy busy busy!

Just came back from the chinnese supermarket and was unloading the shopping when the bag broke. The bad with the litre of sweet chilli sauce in it. It smashed all other the landing floor. although thr landing is a communal area, and we pay for a caretaker who cleans it, I couldn't very well leave it like that, so I've had to spend 10 mins with a screaming hungry baby watching me pick up broken glass and mop up sticky sauce. I'm absolutely covered in the stuff - I'm going to smell of it for days. And the chilli sauce was the thing I was most looking forward to as well.

They did have 2 litre bottles, which I thought would have been a bit excessive, even for me, but seeing as they were plastic bottles I thing that would have been a better idea. We will have to go back tomorrow now!

Last few days have been growth-spurt-tastic. I spent about 48 hours with a baby narly premanently attatched to me. But it seems to be over. Last night I got very nearly 8 hours sleep! Not all in one go, but even so - 8 hours! I had some very odd dreams too, but I can't remember them all. One I was in a hotel crying because my bags had gone missing, but other than that no idea.

Seeing as I had museli at 6am when I was up then, is it still to early to eat easter eggs? ;)

Even with a hollow legged baby, we've still managed to do quite a bit this weekend. Friday and yesterday we went to Basingstoke, Ethan is up, so there were Wii tornaments and pub quiz games and whatnot. Saturday we just treated as a normal one, so got a few bits done in the morning and then Richard went off to do driving lessons/pub and me and Izzy sat on the sofa. We did try and nap, but those noisy people downstairs were having a disco again.

Today is more housework (when I can put Izzy down on her play mat ... are you sensing a reccuring theme yet ;) ) then off to the allotment. We have some plug plants to plant out - rocket, cabbage and 2 kinds of lettuces. I also want to get celery and peas seeded at some point today. And mint, as I've still not done that. We're off to my parents for lunch, then might see if we can borrow them to help with shifting furniture around if we are ready by that point. If not we can get ourselves ready, and get some help later in the week. We need to get Izzys room ready for her to sleep in damnit!

If you are going to park in town almost day don't park in the short stay car park, or it will cost you £15 to get out. Better still, get yourself organised in time to walk in - it's not as if you don't still have a stone to loose. Especially if one of the things you will be doing is eating cake!

...

Never mind. Lesson learnt and all that. We had fun while we were out - sang a few new songs at the singing session, had a good gossip with the post natal ladies and had a little walk inbetween too. Izzy is now 13lb 12oz, so by this time next week she will probably have hit the 1 stone mark. I thought she was getting heavy!

In other news, we had jehovas witnesses round this morning. One of them was one of my old teachers, but I didn't realise till later on WHICH old teacher - it was Mrs Holmes the Home Economics teacher. Which brought back a vivid memory of Peter Qualman sewing something to his trousers and her having to unpick him!

and in even more exciting news, we have even more kitchen finished - we now have a beautiful kitchen floor, thanks to Richards parents. We also now have the fridge and washing machine out of the living room and back in the kitchen and the washing machine plumbed in, so it's time for a catch up. I've done 2 loads today, and I'm going to do 1 more at least. We have 2 airers, lots of doors, and I'm sure I can put things on hangers and put them ~somewhere~ too!

Anyhow, I doubt anyone really cares about my housework, so I will leave it here... this would be a good toe for someone to suggest me another 5 things ;)

We're back from Leek now. We had a fab weekend with Granny, and she and Izzy were thrilled to meet each other :) We've also got her set up with a child trust fund, and eaten nice food, and seen more old piccies of when my Granny was little. Next time we will take the scanner up with us :)

Now back to normality. (or chaos anyway ;) )

We currently have takeaway on the go (veg chow mein and beancurd with ginger and spring onion. scrummy!) and then I might indulge in an early night. What a glamerous life I lead!

(I might have a catch up on my friends list, but let me know if I've missed anything important ;) )

Scottish Power have written me to tell me they are fixing my prices for another year. The only problem with this is that I know they have dropped their prices since they last fixed them for me. Cheeky sods.

A quick trip to uswitch tells me they are no longer the cheapest anyway, so now I'm with someone else (or will be when the details come through.) And I'm in credit on my account too, so at some point I will get a cheque back for the extra. Woohoo! I love uswitch.

Anyhow, off to homebase now to buy some mint seeds, seeing as I managed to kill the stuff I planted last year (I'm multi-tallented - it requires special training to kill off mint.) And then to the supermarket. Where I will only buy what is on the list, and will not buy any chocolate at all. Honest ;)

SPG the hamster is no more :( He has been on his way out for the last few days - we hadn't seen him come out of his nest, but when we checked on him he has still been breathing. But when we checked on him this morning he was gone :( He had a good innings for a hamster, but it is still sad to see him go. We will take him to my parents this evening and bury him by the pond.

In more cheerful news, we got the kitchen finished this weekend, except for 1 shelf and the cosmetic bits (plaster, wall/floor tiles, kick boards round the bottom of the cupboards, and new lights). I say we, but really it was Richard's parents. Although I did take the last cupboard out of the box and start building it before Izzy demanded my attention and Cate finished it off for me. And I made the tea!

Because we had weevils in the old food cupboard, we aren't putting any food that was in there back into the cupboards. We are having to do creative cooking to get it all eaten up as quick as possible, so it isn't cluttering up the place for too long. If I get really stuck I will give you a list of what we have to eat, and you can make suggestions of what we can do with it all! At the moment it is all in boxes in the spare room, but I want to get it out of there, and sort the room out so Izzy can sleep in there.

We have a busy week planned this week. This afternoon we're off to meet up with a friend in Chandlers ford, and go along with her to meet her post natal class friends. Then Wednesday we're going to see Grandad, thursday is singing songs at the library, and meeting up with MY post natal class friends, so that will take up most of the daytime, and Friday we're off to visit my Granny and introduce her to Izzy.

Somehow, inbetween all of that lot, I need to get the kitchen sorted as much as possible (barring the not-being-able-to-put-things-away issue above), get through a massive washing backlog (well, about 3 loads, plus whatever else we generate in the week) and get the rest of the house back into some kind of order. Actual order can wait till next week, but being part of the way there would be good.

Hello world. Time for an update again. Just got back from town and Izzy had fallen asleep in the buggy so I've left her there for the moment. Best type fast ;)

Last time I posted it was after our trip to A&E. I'm happy to report she is 100% fine and dandy. (she was a little bit grumpy the next day, but I expect she was a bit sore... all better now though :) ) Since then we have been to see her great grandad (it would have been my Granny's birthday, and a grinning baby was just the think to distract him from himself.), had a taster session on baby massage, visited the zoo and supervised the construction of our new kitchen.
( In which I go on about DIY quite a lot more than I was intending to )

Check engine light came on the car on Saturday too, so that is back in the garage today. ~cross fingers~ it will be cheaper than last time. Otherwise I will have a kidney up for sale. What is the going rate for kidneys these days?

Anyway, best get on. This cutlery isn't going to sort itself out on its own. Oh for Merlyn's Sword in the Stone obedient kitchen ware... that would make life a lot easier.

So... todays plans were derailed by a trip to casualty because I tripped over the hoover and dropped Izzy on her head :( She is fine, just a bit bruised (definitely no clothes that have to be pulled over her head for a few days!) and was pretty much ok by the time we got to the hospital. My hands were still shaking and she was grinning at the doctor ;)

Hopefuly we can avoid another trip for a while now we've got the first one over and done with. I have no delusions that we will never have to take her again, but hopefuly not until she is up and moving and starts injuring herself ;)