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Evie's First Birthday Bash...er...#1
Posted by Webby at April 30, 2005 08:50 PM | Comments (0)
Although many of the guests are conspicuous in their absence from these photographs, we began a week of birthday celebrations today by inviting a few relatives round to Gingatopia for Birthday Tea.
Present were Grandma and Grandad Hargreaves, Uncle Peter and Aunty Joan, Dawn, Derek and Jake. Typically, in my haste to photograph Evelyn, I forgot almost everyone else; I hope they can forgive me?
Earlier in the day, Kempy and Kempy jnr called round to wish Evelyn a happy birthday.
[Want] Dat! [One]
Posted by Webby at April 29, 2005 09:03 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn is definitely asking for things by pointing at them and demanding [quite urgently], "Dat!".
I'm sure that I'm not the only one to associate Evelyn's use of the word, 'That' with Andy's [Little Britain] "Want dat one!"...er...before any bright spark makes the reference, that is!
Sleeping Beaudee
Posted by Webby at April 29, 2005 12:03 PM | Comments (0)Fantastic...Evelyn had a sound nights sleep last night. We didn't hear a 'peep' out of her until she awoke at (admittedly) 06:30, but that's absolutely fine. Liddle Beaudee!
I'm off now to try and complete Operation Ground Force 2005!
Super Size? Me?
Posted by Webby at April 28, 2005 11:05 PM | Comments (0)I've just sat through Morgan Spulock's Super Size Me. Now, that's something I'm not going to forget in a hurry!
Another sleepless night
Posted by Webby at April 28, 2005 09:51 AM | Comments (0)Evelyn slept badly again last night, due to her chesty cough and apparent teething problems. Evie had us up at 00:15, 03:30 and 04:40, when Jilly decided to bring her in to sleep with us. Of course, we were firm with Evie, explaining that we weren't going to allow this to develop into a habit.
She seemed to understand!
A Terrible Nights Sleep...
Posted by Webby at April 26, 2005 09:47 PM | Comments (1)That's right, and we haven't even gone to bed yet!
As I may have mentioned earlier this week, Evelyn appears to be teething again as she is constantly drooling, and alot more than has become the norm. Our suspicions that Evie is teething have been confirmed tonight as Jilly and I have just spent almost half an hour trying to console Evelyn as she screamed at the top of her tiny lungs whilst - apparently - continuing to sleep. Our poor liddle princess was absolutely inconsolable as Jilly and I took it in turns to hold her. Eventually, Evie fell back to sleep in her mummy's arms.
According to Tasha at the nursery, while Evelyn as had a very playful day at the nursery, she was, "...a little bit sick after tea". Our liddle beaudee isn't very well, though she's asleep at the moment :)}
Unfortunately, I think Jilly and I can safely anticipate an interrupted nights sleep but, hey!, fingers crossed!
On a lighter note - and I'll let this be an end to the subject:
I'd just like to add the review of Evelyn's day at the nursery, very kindly provided by Tasha:
"Evie has played in the ball pool. She has also looked at lots of books. Evie has also took a few steps at nursery today. She has played with the walker. Evie was a little bit sick after tea."
As Evie has been feeling under the weather throughout the evening, there has been little opportunity for further walking.
Update - 27 April 2005, 19:32
Exactly as the computer predicted, Evelyn had Jilly and I up at 00:00 and 05:05 this morning. Obviously in some discomfort and very tearful, she didn't - I'm pleased to report - scream the house down. As it seemed the only way that we'd get her back to sleep, we brought Evie back to our bed, where she slept soundly until Jilly woke her at 07:45.
STOP THE CLOCK!
Posted by Webby at April 25, 2005 09:19 PM | Comments (0)Jilly, Evelyn, Kieran and I went to say 'hello' to Wendy Drury today, and to let her know that we're always available if she needs help with anything. We all chatted for quite a while, particularly Jilly and Wendy, and I'm sure the Drurysharks will be pleased to here that Wendy seemed to be in really good spirits, reminiscing about old times with the Gordon, Paul and James; all things considered, she seems to be doing really well.
As we were chatting, Kieran and Evelyn were playing together, with Evelyn doing loads of 'chattering' herself, when Evelyn stood up, hesitated for a second, and then took THREE steps towards her mum. Jilly screamed with delight, as Evelyn fell into her arms. Jilly and I were overwhelmed, while Evelyn reacted as though she'd been walking from her first day. She then went on to walk a series of three and/or four steps on at least six further occasions before we left Wendy. We estimated that Evelyn first walked her series of steps at around 16:45, making her 356 days, two and a quarter hours old, or a little over 50 weeks and six days old. And, don't forget, this record was set in front of an independant witness.
I'd just like to close this particular entry by adding...
"She shoots, she scores! Bing bang, stick it in! Thank you, and GOODNIGHT!"
TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK...
Posted by Webby at April 25, 2005 10:42 AM | Comments (1)
As we've already discussed, it's NOT a competiton. But, if it were a competition, Evelyn's latest 'walking' development would suggest that she was about to be declared,
'The Baby Who Walked First...Er...Between Dominic and Evelyn, That Is'.
Evelyn successfully 'walked' one step from the sofa to her pig-pen...er... play pen this morning. Of course, Jilly and I cheered but, in reality, Evie did little more then fall toward the pig-pen, and remain standing. Are we asking too much of the liddle tiger?
Of course, we can't include other beaudeeful babies - such as Eloise Bradbury, Sarah Judge and Imogen Drury - in the chase for this much sought after title, because:
Jean, Ben and Greggoire visit
Posted by Webby at April 24, 2005 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
As Evie's grandparents - Ben and Jean - will be on Gran Canaria as we celebrate the first anniversary of Evelyn's birth, Jean, Ben and Greggoire came to visit today, before they jet off in the morning. The sun shone so, inevitably, we were drawn outside; Ben and Jean anticipating the heat of their forthcoming holidays, and Greggoire desperately trying to remember the heat of his homeland...er...boo, hoo!
[Quite literally] One small step...
Posted by Webby at April 23, 2005 10:20 PM | Comments (1)Jilly, Evie, Kieran and I drove to Leeds to visit Jilly's grandparents today. While we were there, Evelyn stood up [unaided] and took one small step towards her mum, before falling to the floor.
Until Evelyn takes two [unsupported] steps, Jilly and I are reluctant to describe what Evie does as walking, though it can only be a matter of time now.
To beat Mst Harris' record of walking at one year and one week, Evelyn must walk within the next 18 days...er...not that it's a competition, or owt!
Groundforce 2005 [iii] - very nearly complete...
Posted by Webby at April 21, 2005 08:33 PM | Comments (3)
Tadaaahh! We've finally finished the installation of Evie's new lawn and [would you credit it?] Evie hates it. Almost immediately after getting home tonight, Jilly took Evelyn outside to see her new Summer playground. Of course, Evie immediately asked, "Whassat?"...the liddle cudie. Unfortunately, when Jilly stood Evie on the grass she, almost immediately, started crying! What's all that about then, eh?
A big thank you to Andrew and Jim [especially Jim, you understand Andrew?] for all their hard work. There's gonna be a BBQ in it for ya!
AND...I forgot, a massive "thank you" to Jim for the Flickr Pro majigger...er...without which the photoset above would have been impossible. Many thanks, Jim.
Ouch!
Posted by Webby at April 21, 2005 08:28 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn has developed a new habit of biting things and people when she becomes excited; Evie will become very giddy and lunge forward at anything or anyone and bite them, something Jilly has learned to her cost, recently, in the swimming pool.
Tonight, as Jilly and I took Evie upstairs to bed, I was sat on our bed, as Evie walked around it - using the sides for support. Jilly had gone into Evie's room to prepare her cot, leaving me to watch her. Evie navigated her way around the bed, and had made her way around my left knee so that she stood, rather shakily - between my knees. At this point, Jilly entered the room, calling Evie's name. Evidently, Evie thought that Jilly was playing and immediately became very giddy, lunging forward, her one hundred razor sharp teeth gleeming, as if to sink them into whatever she could find.
Fortunately, and with hitherto unseen cat-like reflexes, I anticipated what Evelyn was about to do and made a gentle grab for her shoulders, preventing her from lunging forward to my doom.
Jilly says that my expression was fantastic. Needless-to-say, unlike Jilly and Evelyn, I wasn't laughing. I dunno!
All's well...
Posted by Webby at April 19, 2005 09:59 PM | Comments (0)As Evelyn has shown no further signs of her apparent illness, and certainly none of the tell-tale signs of Chicken Pox, Evelyn returned to nursery today...HUZZAH!
Step aside Sir Edmund Hilary
Posted by Webby at April 19, 2005 09:16 PM | Comments (0)
No, Evelyn hasn't built a time travelling device and travelled backwards in time to 29 May 1953, when she then become the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest...er...but something equally thrilling.
Even though Evie isn't actually walking independently [without support, that is!] yet, she did climb the first of the stairs - entirely unaided - this evening, in an attempt to follow Jilly upstairs. She was a little shaky to start, but once she's successfully 'cocked' her right leg up, on to the stair, she had soon straightened it, and brought her other leg up too, so she could stand...quick as a flash, just like that! She was VERY proud of herself!
As she made her ascent up to the second stair, it dawned on me that this sort of wreckless behaviour shouldn't be encouraged in one unable to walk, and took her off the stairs.
Evelyn was...UNHAPPY, and immediately - and rather vocally - made her feelings known.
Quite a Fright
Posted by Webby at April 14, 2005 08:59 PM | Comments (4)Jilly rang me at 4:00PM today to tell me that the nursery had phoned to report that Evelyn was ill with a high temperature and has been sick. It turns out that several of the toddlers at the nursery have had Chicken Pox in the last week, so we immediately feared that Evie had become infected.
Evelyn was clearly very unhappy when I arrived at the nursery. She was bright red, very hot indeed, and still has a slight rash! As Jilly passed Evie to me, she was entirely silent - which is unlike her - and very 'clingy'! During the drive home [in torrential rain] Evelyn was silent and, when we got home, Evelyn simply lay in my arms and went straight to sleep.
We managed to get an appointment at the G.P.'s this evening, and we were told that Evelyn appears - at the moment - not to be 'poxy', but that the infection may well become apparent in the next few days.
More Visiting...er...an' ting!
Posted by Webby at April 10, 2005 08:33 PM | Comments (4)
In recognition of Evelyn's recent flatulatory achievements, Grandpa Annis presented her with a certificate today. Of course, it was all we could do to stop her from rising to make an acceptance speech! I think you'll agree, the certificate is highly amusing, and will take pride of place on Evie's wall with all her others.
In the bath, tonight, Evelyn rose to her feet as she started to blow a kiss to her mummy. Sat nearer to the bath than Jilly, I asked Evelyn for a kiss myself. Evelyn promptly 'puckered up', leaned closer to me and, as a massive smile spread across my face [naive fool!], Evelyn promptly belched square in my eyes!
And...tonight, for the first time since her teeth started to show, Jilly and I have been able to brush Evie's teeth without so much as a whimper, where normally she would scream the house down. She's a liddle beaudee, etc., etc., etc.
Lucky liddle...
Posted by Webby at April 9, 2005 06:19 PM | Comments (0)
In reply to the Wassocks post, 'Donkey?', Kieran's lucky nag was Hedgehunter...and the bloody thing came in after Kieran backed it [each way] at 10-1. Lucky liddle @$%#?!...
UPDATE: 14 April 2005
Kieran reports that he won £14.50 on his £1-each-way bet.Groundforce 2005 [ii]
Posted by Webby at April 9, 2005 06:15 PM | Comments (0)
As we'd returned early from our Lakeland trip, Jilly thought it daft to waste the time, so immediately drove me to continue removing the old garden, in readiness for what's rapidly becoming known as Evelyn's Lawn. Of course, I can't argue when Jilly refers to it like that!
Having now removed all but the smallest stones, I'm going to have to 'double dig' the garden [that is, soil, two spades deep, turned over...thank you, very much, Harris!] whilst replacing alot of the peebles and grit that we've already removed from the garden, in order to improve drainage...aaarrrgggghhhhh!
Grange-Over-Sands Holiday 2005
Posted by Webby at April 8, 2005 10:42 PM | Comments (0)
We booked this holiday, some time ago, as Jilly and I though it was about time we had a few days away, and thought it would be nice to spend them in the sunny Lake District. I'd like to say that we could never have predicted that it would rain constantly but, of course, this is the LAKE DISTRICT!
As it happens, the rain didn't spoil the break and we had a lovely time. Perhaps, we'll wait 'til Summer next time though!
- Monday 4th April 2005 - Outward Journey. We stopped at Kirkby Lonsdale - only half an hour from the Lakeside caravan - for some much needed lunch at The Snooty Fox. The food was good, and - of course - everybody loved Evelyn who was very well behaved indeed.
- Tuesday 5th April 2005 - Bowness and Windermere. As the weather wasn't exactly suitable even for the [wheelchair friendly] walks we had in mind for the holiday, our first day was spend pottering around Bowness and Windermere. On our walk, I managed to discover a butcher who was prepared to sell us four of his precious award winning pies. Apparently, the butcher was the proud recipient of the Best Pork Pie in the North West of England award, 2004! There's no denying the pies were good, but - and Kieran agrees with me on this - there are better pies available in Huddersfield!
- Wednesday 6th April 2005 - Persistant Precipitation / Aquarium of the Lakes. Jilly and I were awake from about 02:00 this morning as it was absolutely persisting it down last night, and didn't stop until early morning. While Evie has taken to moving into our new, temporary, home really well, she seems to be less than happy about the noise on the roof of the caravan, and the fact that the caravan rocked so much with the bloody wind!
- Thursday 7th April 2005 - Blackwell House, and then on home. With the weather being so very 'orrible, and Evelyn having to sleep with Jilly and I in a double bed - that's right, a double bed, on two occasions this week, Jilly and I decided to go home a day early. Consequently, we left this morning and called in at Blackwell House on the way home...Jilly was lovin' it!
- Friday 8th April 2005 - Bradfordreminisciepackage. As Jilly needed to get a new duplicate birth certificate for Kieran [he needs a new passport!], so that he might enjoy - for the second time - the delights of sunny Florida, USA, with his dad this summer, the Webster/Slevin clan descended upon glorious Dewsbury [AKA Ugly Town] today. We organised the duplicate birth certificate, shopped in Dewsbury's bustling outdoor second-hand market [should that be pre-owned market?] and even treated ourselves to a junk food lunch, before visiting two of the houses that Jilly grew up in as a child. Something that was obviously quite moving for Jilly. For the first time, I am now able to see the legendary hill down which Jilly careered on her bicycle [as a child] before crashing into their garden wall and being catapulted over it and down into the garden. Fantastic!
Jenna Drury rang us this afternoon, with some very sad family news; as the details are hardly suitable for a blog I won't write anymore. Sufficed to say, our thoughts are with the Drury family.
No Spoon, good!
Posted by Webby at April 3, 2005 10:26 PM | Comments (1)
As we are going away until Friday, I've been to the shops to buy in a few foody goodies for Evelyn. Unfortunately, the dinner puddings that I bought for her appeared, until today, not to meet her very high standards.
Fortunately, this evening, Evelyn decided that she'd give the organic pureed apple and apricot [perhaps a little young for her, but all they had in Sainsburies when I went!] a second chance, and absolutely wolfed it down...er...after an exhibition in how NOT to eat with a spoon. The liddle MONKEE!
Groundforce 2005
Posted by Webby at April 3, 2005 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
In the hope that we'd be able to set about creating the perfect lawn playing/sunbathing area for Evelyn/Jean - respectively - during the coming summer months, Jilly demanded that Kieran and I [with an initial - and quite literal - drag to our feet by Jim at Wassocks] began preparing the back garden for the installation of the new lawn when we come back from the lakes.
I believe, now, that Jilly understands that it is going to be a considerably bigger job than she could ever have imagined. Several trips to the council dump are definitely going to be in order...d'Oh!
I HATE gardening!
Grumpy Daddy Lion
Posted by Webby at April 3, 2005 09:51 PM | Comments (0)
Oh, I forgot... Auntie Katie, Cousin Hebe and John visited Evelyn and Jilly recently, as I worked, and left the Evelyn with the gift of a beautiful new cuddly toy. A cuddly toy which was soon to become known as Grumpy Daddy Lion. I believe the naming had something to do with the ginger 'mane', the liddle beady eyes, the grumpy mouth and the vast pot belly!
Many thanks to Kate, John and Hebe!
K...I...S...S...I...N...G... [again]
Posted by Webby at April 2, 2005 08:55 PM | Comments (2)Evelyn has started 'kissing'. The liddle beaudee doesn't exactly 'pucker up', but has started pursing her lips and making a kissing 'muhr' sound. When I was at work this morning, Jilly held the phone to Evelyn's ear for me to say 'hello' and, after asking, "Whoosat"? [she's a clever liddle kitten], she sent me a kiss me down the phone.
Inevitably, I started filling up at this point!
And...er...of course...this means I'm going to have to start insisting upon there being a chaperone with Evelyn every second she spends with Dominic. Oooohhhh, he's gonna break a few hearts, that boy...just so long as he doesn't count Evelyn's amongst them [ahem!]. Oh, 'ang on a minute...perhaps not?
Kids! Who'd 'ave 'em, eh? etc., etc., etc.
Hacked
Posted by Webby at April 1, 2005 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
