Got myself and Molly out of the house by 9am today!
It was Molly’s first day out since catching chicken pox and starting ‘cold-turkey’ potty training over a week ago.
At the swings we met a Portuguese Soprano called Ana Quintans here for a production, and Molly did her first outdoor-wee in her potette.
Skipped siesta to draw in Art room while Molly napped.
I’m working on a simple illustration of children for Clive, which is long overdue.
Molly helped me bake Samosas and a tofu pie in the afternoon which all got eaten.
Conor’s train was delayed but we both managed to eat our meals with Molly, if not quite with each other.
Bath time involved massive protests which is a bit mystifying.
Suitcases coming down from the attic tonight!

Our short haired pixie is now a long-haired diva.
There’s no end to her chatter and her questions.
In the gap between posts there’ve been losses (my nanna and my Bonnie-bun) and change.
We finally sold our city house and moved to the South East, where we’re surrounded by nature.
The move and nursing Bonnie took up every last drop of energy and sanity, and then everything stood still for a brief moment.
The pace of life here (and now) is different, and seems healthier.
I walk everywhere, (occasionally cycle) up and down hills while Conor gets a regular seat on a train and whizzes through town on his bike.
Molly wakes up to birdsong and admittedly the odd car, but walks or runs as far as her little legs will carry her with very little interference from traffic.
Clyde has seen the boundaries of his territory expand beyond his wildest dreams, though he still tries to get into places he shouldn’t be.
Its not all roses, but life is good.

Just back from our late summer holiday in Norfolk – by the coast in Mundesley. It didn’t matter that the weather was cool and mostly wet. The tranquility and beauty of the beach made up for it. Pottering around town, a trip on a steam engine, running on the beach and watching sunsets from the holiday house – ah, nice.

Today Molly noticed the uncanny similarity between mine and Conor’s childhood bears. Teddy Edward (Con’s, left) rarely leaves Molly’s cot. Godzooky (mine, right) got his name from Godzilla’s sidekick in the 70’s cartoon, and had been hiding in a box.

When she saw Godzooky downstairs her first reaction was “Oh No!  Teddy Edward!”.  (What’s he doing down here without my say so?!?) The names of her cot bears are Teddy Edward, Teddy Edwin, Teddy Edgar and Belinda (!?!). She has their identification down pat, or she did, until she met Godzooky.

“Teddy Edward? Teddy Edwin? Teddy Edgar?…”  Molly was floundering.

“Molly, dak jismu Godzooky.  Qisu Teddy Edward imma mhux Teddy Edward.  Jixxiehbu ghax kugini!”  (Molly, this is Godzooky.  He looks like Teddy Edward but he’s not. They’re cousins)

The explanation was accepted and Godzooky was welcomed into the fold.

Our daughter ate quinoa today!  Conor pointed out that we didn’t even know what quinoa was till we were already in our 30s.  So Molly eating forkfulls of the stuff and commenting “hmmm tasty!” is just a bit mad.

On the day that London was opening the Paralympic games, we were opening a parcel with Molly’s name on it:

“Look what the postman brought you Molly!”

She was very impressed!  For months she’s been enjoying the Leslie Patricelli book “On My Potty”, so when Conor asked her if she’d like her own potty, she answered:

“Hmmm… Yes. Maybe red one”

So here she is sitting on her red potty-throne (fully clothed!) for the first time! 20 minutes later:

“Mama, Bye-bye nappy!”

And then, as the book says:

“Tinkle, tinkle Toot! I did it!”

Ah, if only it could work like that every time!

Today we found out that Paul, one of Molly’s mentors, has been rushed to hospital with Appendicitis.  We all hope he gets better soon and makes a full recovery in time for the arrival of his own bundle of Joy in a few months time.

What a great idea of Conor’s to spend Sunday at Hamstead Heath. They have a paddling pool!  I was so glad we’d brought her swimming costume and towel as it was really nice, and non-slippy.  What’s more, there’s a gorgeous playground, sandpit, and a children’s “cave” in the highstreet bookshop!  Sure, we got rained on between activities, but its London – schizophrenic weather is all part of the package.

David, Becky and their lovely 9-month-old daughter, Isabelle, visited us on this scorching Saturday afternoon.

Molly’s Nanna and Richard visited so we made the most of the sunshine. Molly and her guests were treated to front row seats on the DLR and lots of walks around Greenwich.  They have an excellent playground there, and the view from the Observatory down over the city is really nice if you like city-scapes.  About two thirds of Greenwich park was closed to the public – the props were still being dismantled from the Equestrian thingamajig (used during the Olympics).  Still, we explored every inch of the remaining space and Molly got to check out some of the biggest “Tick-Tocks” she’s ever seen!