Look who's 1!

Happy Birthday Paige -- what a difference a year makes!

What's wrong with this picture...

Got this catalogue from our local bookstore the other day, with friendly holiday greeting on the back -- shown below. Look closely (or maybe not so closely) -- what's wrong with this message?

Oh dear. As someone who's sent proof-read brochures still containing an error, to newspaper editors across the country no less, I can sympathise... but I do wonder -- did they discover the error and think 'well, we've already spent on the printing, can't waste them', and hope no one would notice? Or do they still have no idea? Until someone's grandmother points it out after the fact, as mine did so many years ago...

9 courses -- but only room for about 6

Last night Ashley surprised me with 5-year-living-together-anniversary dinner out, complete with friendly neighbourhood babysitter (thanks Amber!)

And the surprise venue was a newish Kew restaurant called A Taste of McClements which, as the name suggests, has a tasting-menu style approach. Although I think they will make substitutions (the waiter asked us if everything on the menu looked ok), the basic plan is take what you get on the night. Our 9-course, 17-dish meal included foie gras (twice, in 2 different formats), game, tuna, lamb, pigs' trotters (presuming they came from multiple pigs), bouillabaise (also in 2 formats: one the typical soup; one just, well, chunks of fish), something called a chicken quenelle in a roquefort sauce, lobster, crab, scallops, chocolate cake, violet ice cream... Not so good for the vegetarian or kosher diet. Or anything but the see-food diet...

And how was it? Aside from a bit overwhelming, not bad. I was a little apprehensive before going, because while I'd wanted to try it out, I'd also read a not particularly appealing review (one of the nicer things they said was that everything was overly salty... at least that meant some flavour). The chef had clearly read that review -- most of the food was pleasantly not overly seasoned -- and there were some interesting combinations. I especially liked that unheard-of-before quenelle (yup, a delicate dumpling), and also the herb-encrusted lamb (accompanied by delicious dauphinoise potatoes, my fave). Unfortunately, however, the portions kept getting bigger and bigger as the meal went on. I wouldn't normally complain about getting an entire lamb chop with a meal... however after the 6 previous courses, it was a bit much. The tiny amuse-bouche and half-inch quenelle that started our dinner were misleading, to say the least -- I thought for sure I'd finish the entire thing, but had to throw in the towel pre-dessert, as interesting as they sounded.

A dining experience, to be sure, though I think it's one of those once-is-enough kind of places. And  with only 14 diners on a Saturday night, we may only have a limited time to experience it in any case. So I'm definitely glad we did - though wish I wasn't hungry again the next day!

A little indulgence

So I fiiiiiinally used my baby-shower-gift spa voucher, treating myself to a lovely pedicure morning at Cupcake, a cute spa / cafe / yummy mummy hotspot in Putney (thanks Carmen). The place is specifically geared to mums (and mums-to-be), so they even have a daycare -- but I left Paige home for this one. Public transport on your own is enough to impact that restful post-treatment feeling; wrestling Paige onto the train would not have helped!

The greatest (and most interesting, or at least interesting to anyone who's had a few pedicures) thing, was the pedicure was done lying down! (me, I mean, not the therapist). And it was on a super comfortable warm waterbed (but not too sloshy) table. It was so relaxing I almost fell asleep.

On the downside... pedicures in autumn only work if you have several hours to let the paint dry -- or you're willing to brave the cold in flip-flops. Which I'm definitely not. So the 85% of the pedicure that was not polishing was definitely worth it -- the painting not so much. Ah well -- still a fantastic morning...

C'mon Team Feme

(well, c'mon Team Female didn't really rhyme...)

In any case, Mom, Kara, and my legion of other female followers... get clicking here on the Trivial Pursuit Experiment, and bring victory to the women of the world -- we've got until 9 December to keep those horrid boys from winning -- and holding it over our heads forever. (Ashley still hasn't forgotten his Scrabble success of 2 Christmasses ago...)

New day, new skills!

No fancy toys for Paige, no, no. Paige is a perfect example of our new make-do economy, using ordinary household objects in place of those new-fangled pricy store-bought items. Yessir... rattles & drums? Nah, empty water bottles and tissue boxes. Shiny new walker? No way mom, the laundry basket will do nicely!

Better late than never

Finally -- I've got proof that Paige did indeed take swimming lessons! Hmm... Paige did not exactly take to the water like the proverbial duck, or even her not-so-proverbial Poppy. But give her time -- we could still have a Michaela Phelpette on our hands (less the illegal substance smoking of course). Of course, we're rooting for international tennis prodigy / supermodel (more bucks to support her needy parents), but hey, it'll be her choice. (as long as she chooses the right thing, mind you...).

Eight weeks and counting

Gotta say I'm impressed with 1st Class Celebrations' mailing list planning... never heard of the company before, and what lands on my doorstep only 8 weeks before Paige's birthday? (her first, for those of you who haven't been keeping track)

None other than the company's '1st Birthday Book: filled with everything to make your baby's 1st birthday extra special.' I never knew you could buy so much STUFF for a baby who has absolutely no idea how this day is different from any other. Unfortunately as my child isn't named Alisha, Amelia, or Melika, it doesn't look like any of the personalised things are for us. They do show a t-shirt saying 'I'm Princess Lucy and I am 1' -- so hey, someone in our family can benefit.

Seriously, though -- who is a 1st birthday really for? Certainly not the baby. If we just acknowledge it's for the parents from the outset, then can we do away with pink princess balloons and juice and go for a tasteful flower arrangement and full-bodied shiraz? 

She sits, she stands!

I really wish I had an infrared camera last night. Paige has suddenly become the sitting and standing queen, and her crib is an especially helpful environment.  Usually she goes to sleep almost instantaneously at night, but last night we had a bit of a mare, as she spilled milk all over, so I had to change her clothes just as she was nodding off. I *hoped* it wouldn't wake her too much -but no luck. She fussed and cried for a good 20 minutes after putting her back down. It was nothing too strenuous, however, so we just let her be, and eventually she was quiet.

However -- when I went in to check on her (and this is where that camera would've come in handy) -- she'd fallen asleep sitting up leaning against the bars, poor thing! She must've pulled herself up, but then was too tired (or just not interested) to get herself back down again... wonder if this will be a nightly occurrence! At least the travel cot doesn't have bars, so will be much harder to pull up in. I hope...

Dino-adventure

Yesterday saw me break routine and actually go out somewhere with Paige in the middle of the day. Amazing. And we even ventured onto public transport again without promise of assistance -- double amazing.

Our Thursday adventure was an outing to the Natural History Museum with friend Liz and her two kids, 4 and 1. The adventure was made even more adventurous by the fact neither of us had working mobiles... so we had to plan *in advance* where we'd meet... and then be there *at that time*. Or wait.

Funnily enough, both of us were indeed at the right place at the right time -- and yet we STILL missed each other. Luckily after about 15 minutes of hanging and wandering inside and out the main entrance, we did connect. Phew.

The main beneficiary of our outing was Amelia, the 4-year-old, who's a real dino-phile. I'm not sure how much Paige took in, but she seemed to have a smiley day, and even napped a bit after lunch, so I think more adventures are in store. We only saw the dinosaurs at the museum -- there's only so much museum-going two moms + 3 small children can do -- but it was impressive. Much nicer than I'd remembered, and a scarily realistic animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex thrown in for fun. (well, I say realistic -- it's not like anyone's ever *seen* a T-Rex, all I've got to go on is Jurassic Park and Walking with Dinosaurs...)

As for me, the most exciting part of the day came on the ride home -- when on the tube Paige started playing 'peekaboo' with the museum map. I'd been holding it in front of my face, and pulling it away, and then gave it to her to hold for a little while. I fully expected it to go straight into her mouth... but instead she just held it, turning it over and back a few times. I then noticed she started putting it in front of her face, and then pulled it above her head -- just like peekaboo. Yay Paige!! If only I'd had a video. And of course she's not repeated it since... Ah well -- more tricks to come, I'm sure...

Look Mom!

In the past couple of weeks, Paige has been getting increasingly mobile -- to the point where I can only leave her a few minutes, otherwise who knows where she might end up. For example, yesterday I was in the kitchen, and I left her sitting quietly on her playmat, babbling to herself. I'd look in every minute or two, and she'd still be in essentially the same place. Until... I looked once more, and she'd managed to roll 5 - 6 feet away, to tangle herself under the chair.

My guess is she aimed for the chair for another new favourite game -- pulling herself up to stand. She's allllmost got it, but not quite, unless the conditions are just right. Like in her crib -- the top rail and side bars, along with overall stability make it a perfect pull-me-up. I'm a bit scared at the number of things around this flat that are less than stable, however. We definitely need to do some child-proofing, and soon!

[but no, Mom, you won't need stair gates for our visit; she's not that quick -- yet!]

What is wrong with this picture?

 

Ok, look again. Look closely. Now check the date the sale happens, with the date the e-mail was sent to me.

Yep, thanks NFL UK -- way to build an audience. Not that I necessarily would've gone -- but as I'm not the time traveller's wife, nor a time traveller myself, receiving this e-mail nearly 24 hours late, meant I'm definitely not going to be able to purchase tickets.

Happy 9 months Paige

When do you stop quoting months for a child's age? Is it at about 2 years? I know plenty of people who say their child is '21 months', '19 months', etc... but not a lot of '27 months'. I can't seem to remember when I stopped with the weeks calculation -- maybe about 5 - 6 months. Saying she's '37 weeks' just sounds a bit odd.

Her most recent achievement is the faceplant. She's trying soooo hard to crawl but is just. not. quite. there.  She starts from a sitting position, leans incredibly far forward until she's perched on both hands, one knee, and the other leg splayed out to the side. Slowly, slowly, with great determination, she manages to pull that other leg in, and for a split second she's balanced on hands and knees. Unfortunately, this is where it all starts to go wrong... after wobbling in this position for a few seconds, she decides to make her move. Which is often both hands launching forward at the same time as her back legs slide flat. Which equals face plant. Which also equals frustrated Paige... I know I shouldn't laugh - but her determination is so cute.  I wish I had a video of it, but of course the second I get the camera out it's too late!

Will she be crawling properly by the time we get to Vermont in only THREE WEEKS??

Tea and races

Busy busy weekend for a change -- venturing into central London both Saturday and Sunday, amazing.

Saturday was a girlie afternoon outing -- helping friend Carmen indulge in some 'me' (well, 'us') time before the arrival of Carmenette later this month. Five of us descended on the Langham's Palm Court to enjoy an afternoon tea of deliciously wicked cakes and devilishly delectable sandwiches (salmon, cucumber, roast beef... hold the crusts, natch). And don't forget about the scones, and the Palm Court's special cupcakes. Er, and some tea to drink as well -- though a bit superflous really. Groan... And yet I was still able to eat dinner later that night. Fancy that.

An unexpected treat of the day was spying on what looked to be a gorgeous and glamorous wedding -- the cermony was held in All Soul's Church across the road from the hotel, and the reception in the hotel's Grand Ballroom, so we were able to see the whole fantastically dressed party make their way through the lobby. The bride had a lovely, close fitting ivory lace gown, and the bridesmaids were in dusty rose. In addition, a group of about 8 - 10 older women were in vibrant fuschia and gold raw silk African dress, lending an even more joyous air to the occasion. Ah... I love weddings!

Sunday was an altogether healthier affair, as I took place in my first post-Paige running event: the Adidas 5k Women's Challenge in Hyde Park. I've done this race almost every year since it started in 1998, so it's got plenty of sentimental import for me. And this year was no different, with the special treat of both husband and baby at the finish line. I actually got a bit choked up nearing the end, thinking of Paige waiting, and hoping to do her proud (not of course that she had a clue what was going on.) That -- and thinking of Ashley's encouragement as well -- spurred me to sprint when I saw the finish line, meaning I completed the race in 30:09. Not my best time, but pretty close. And considering my limited training, and the hordes of walkers who'd started in the wrong wave I had to pass, I was pretty happy.

Unfortunately, I was concentrating so hard on those last few hundred metres, I never saw aforementioned husband and baby... but knowing they were there was (almost) good enough. And there's always next year!

Still growing

Took Paige for her 8 - 10 month 'developmental' check up today. Although they'll weigh your baby at any time (well, any time the well baby clinic is open, so any of 3 1/2 hours of the week), they'll only measure said baby at prescribed intervals: 6 - 8 weeks, 8 - 10 months, and, er, I think 2 1/2 years. Other than that you're on your own.

I also thought they were supposed to check developmental milestones, but really didn't know what to expect. And after the weigh-in (19 1/2 pounds -- 75th percentile), and measure-in (72.5cm -- 98th!), all the Health Visitor did was ask 'So, how's she doing'? Well, she looks fine to me, but isn't that part of your job Ms H V to tell me how she's doing? What do I know, she's the only baby I have; I've got relatively little to compare her to!

To be fair, she did ask a few other questions: 'Is she standing with help, is she rolling, (er, do you mean off the bed? yep, she passed that milestone a while back!), is she saying da-da-da-da, ba-ba-ba-ba (yes on the da, no on the ba... does that make her a half-wit?)... but that was about it for the 'check-up'.

Ah well, as long as she keeps up the giggles I'm not worried!

Separated by a common language

Once again, I am surpised at the differences between the American and English languages. So close, and yet... Case in point: What would you call this:
If you're American, I'm thinking you'll guess crib. Nope. Over here it's a cot. Or technically a cot-bed, which I think is marginally larger than a cot, and can convert into a bed. Isn't a cot a bed, you ask? Y'know, those narrow things you sleep on at camp? Er, I guess not.

For some reason, a crib is only the smaller version you put a newborn in. Not to be confused with the reaaally small one, which would be called a Moses basket, which some newborns get instead. Eek.

What I really don't understand is how in a few hundred years our language has diverged in such random spots. Presumably little babies of English emigrants to America slept in something -- and it was called the same thing on both sides of the pond. And yet at some stage, when production and naming of said items were being standardised (the industrial era?), the English decided on crib to cot, and Americans said hey, crib's enough for us. Unless it's a small rocking one, in which case we'll use cradle. Which, as far as I can tell, isn't in regular use in the UK.

Augh!! See -- I will be raising a bilingual child!

Happy 2/3 Birthday Paige!

Yep, 2/3 of the year gone, slowly creeping towards that all exciting 1st Birthday... I must say, that as each successive month becomes a smaller percentage of her life to date, the developmental changes get a little less frequent. As such, fewer new things since the last partial birthday update... but what she can do, she can do better! (no you can't, yes I can, no you can't, yes I can, yes I can, yes I caaaaaaaaaaan!)

Like - sitting up... Paige is pretty sturdy, but I'm still not quite ready to leave her sitting without some sort of back up, be it my leg, a pillow, etc. And she shows relatively little inclination for figuring how to sit up herself -- not sure when that will happen.

And teeth... same old, same old -- lots of drooling, as usual, but nothing visible. Yet. Like mother, like daughter I guess!

Crawling? Er, no. Talking? Nothing recognisable. Food -- yep, lots, but nothing new. Enough to bring her to 19 pounds, so despite all that appears to come out, some of it must be sticking.

We did reach a milestone this weekend, however... we've finally turned the pram around. Sigh. I know it's good for her to see more of the big wild world -- but I already miss smiling and chatting at her (because I wouldn't say I'm chatting *with* her yet) as we stroll.

Saturday Outing

Had a lovely weekend, starting with an afternoon off on Saturday while Ashley looked after the little princess. After a somewhat rainy lunch in a nevertheless super-crowded Borough Market, Nadia (Ashley's colleague Gerhard's wife) and I headed to the Menier Chocolate Factory. No longer making delectable sweet treats, it's now a cosy theatre and restaurant.

Playing at the moment is a fun revue, Forbidden Broadway which skewers current -- and not so current! -- musicals left and right. Among my favourites was the big pre-intermission number, '10 Years More', about the ever-running Les Mis; another was 'Gotta Have a Puppet', covering Avenue Q, the Lion King, and, er, one more show that has puppet-type gimmicks.

The parodies flew thick & fast, from 'Andrew Lloyd, TV Star' (Jesus Christ, Superstar tune, all the rest covered as well) and 'It's All Camp' (Hairspray, Legally Blond, Priscilla'); Wicked, Chicago, and even Annie got it as well.

Funnily enough, one of the women in the 4-person cast reeeeally reminded me of Bernadette Peters, but when they did an homage to Sondheim (Sunday in the Park, Into the Woods, and, er, another), it was the other actress who specifically said 'I'm Bernadette Peters'. Ah well.

Fortunately even if I haven't seen all of the shows they covered, I knew enough to get most of the jokes. Though will have to check out what 'Spring Awakening' is all about... seems to be quite scandalous, as it was compared to Equus and Hair in terms of pushing things on stage! (Though checking out the link, it appears to have closed -- wonder how long it will last in FB then?)

Wild Child

Pretty interesting article by Michael Chabon in The New York Review of Books a few weeks ago: The Wilderness of Childhood. Relatively oft-repeated lament, that our children are growing up much more protected than in the good ol' days, with parental fear replacing common sense, despite the fact that stranger-danger has remained fairly consistent (and low) for decades.

And it's true -- I rarely if ever see children walking to school without a parent, or playing on the Green out front without adult supervision. So different from my day (oh, cast my mind back into the eons ago) where I got myself to school from age 5 (right mom?) whether by foot or bus. And I certainly remember riding my bike all over (admittedly small) Durham, NH, especially to the library and swimming pool.

Those were my adventures, as Chabon characterises those adult-less forays. But what I found most thought-provoking about his article is not so much the fact children are more protected these days, but how it might affect literature of the future. As so much story telling is based around adventures and journeys, what happens when the writers of tomorrow have no experience of adventuring themselves today?

As a parent, now, though... how much adventuring will I let Paige do? I'd like to think I'll be laid back about her wanders... but imagine that's unlikely to be the case as I watch her every (eventual) step.

Weekend adventures

This Sunday, with Ashley's cousin Deb and kids, we ventured into London via a less frequently used method of transport these days -- boating down the River Thames. Less frequently used, because it takes 50% longer, only makes 2 - 3 trips / day, and costs about 3 times as much. But the trade-off is a gentle journey and a different perspective on London -- never a bad thing.

We went as far as Westminster (well, we would've gone further, but that's where the boat stops), Elbows out for protection, we somehow made it through the massive crowds near the London Eye, Aquarium, and Dali Museum (huh? I always wonder what that's doing in London...) to one of my favourite spots -- the Southbank Centre.

As part of its latest exhibition -- "Walking in my mind" -- the Hayward Gallery on Southbank has decorated the nearby trees with polka-dot wraps. And passers-by have decorated the trees. We were encouraged to do so ourselves by a little girl signing her name... and so we did. And then I saw the next sign... oh well - at least we weren't the first.

As far as legal interactive art goes, we also participated in the Southbank Summer Snapshot booth -- so now Paige, Ashley & I are recorded for all eternity. Or at least as long as Flickr survives...