Christmas in Singapore

Thursday 18th December 2008

This week has been another quiet week as I am still feeling unwell. I started with a fever again last Thursday and I am just about feeling better now. So, me and mummy have been keeping away from other babies so that I do not pass the lurgy on and so that I am better ready for the 14 hour flight this evening!! This has meant no swimming, no music, no playgroups and no coffee for mummy!!

The main event of the week was on Sunday when we had our Singapore christmas. The weather was lovely and warm which is not like Christmas, but it was a bit rainy, which apparently is normal. I had quite a few presents under the tree, which Santa had delivered early for me, although it was a slow process as I had to open one and go back to bed for a sleep as I was not well. The first present I opened had come all the way from Auntie Noelle in England and was a dressing gown for when I get out of the pool so I am snuggly and warm - although mummy has packed it to go to the UK as she says I will need it there. I also got presents from both of my grandparents - a walk on/ride on toy from the northern ones, which I helped daddy put together as you can see in the pictures and a ball popper from the southern ones, which is hilarious as it means mummy has to run around the lounge chasing balls, whilst I sit and point!! I got some other presents from mummy and daddy as well, but I will fill you in on them as I start playing with them - I have been to unwell to play properly this week.

The other main event was on Tuesday and a visit to the doctors (again). The verdict is a sore throat and ears and explains why I have not been eating. The lovely doctor said that I am allowed jelly and ice cream to make me feel better though - yummy!! We also bumped into Isobel there, who was having her jabs before flying off to the US for Christmas - so that was nice to catch up before we left.

Anyway, we fly off this evening. I am feeling better thanks to my magic medicine and am hoping to sleep for the whole flight!! Bring on the woolly jumpers and see you all soon,

Eleanor xx

Christmas and bank holidays

Thursday 11th December 2008

We had a long bank holiday weekend which was nice. We went out to buy a Christmas Tree and decorated it at the weekend, mummy and daddy placed it on a box so that I cannot get at it, but I have shown no interest in it whatsoever - although when the presents started appearing that was a different matter - all that crinkly paper!! Mummy also bought me a snow globe which is fun and Great Grandma and Grandad sent me a bauble which we have placed on the tree.

We added to our Christmas fun by heading up to Orchard Road and seeing all of the lights, the theme is a sweetie wonderland, it was very pretty. On Monday we headed out to Sentosa, a small island south of Singapore mainland. We went out on the train and came home on the cable cars which was fun. We went to Silosa beach for lunch and then headed to Underwater World to see the fishes - it was however a typical bank holiday and rained all day, mummy and daddy were even concerned that I might need to put a jumper on!!

On Tuesday I went to Charlottes birthday party which was fun, and we played with lots of toys whilst the mummies drank tea!! Then on Wednesday we went round to Ava's for tea and toys, which was good fun too, she has a pussy cat so I was practicing being gentle for when I see Snaggle at Christmas. In the afternoon we went swimming again, although I did not enjoy it very much as mummy discovered this morning when I woke up and was unwell again. I am trying my hardest to be better before we head back to the UK but in the meantime am getting lots of mummy and daddy cuddles to make me feel better.

I have learnt a few skills this week as well. I managed last week to sit up in my cot by myself which shocked mummy when she walked in, however I managed to shock daddy more by standing up when he walked in to get me after my nap!!!

Anyway must dash, time for tea and my bath

Speak soon

Els x

Edited to add - this weeks pictures are me doing my blog(!), at Charlotte's house, me and mummy on the tram at Sentosa and me and daddy hanging out in Orchard Road looking at the pretty lights.

Feeling sorry for myself (and mummy)

Thursday 4th December 2008

Hi All,

Well a bit of a bad week this week. The week began okay as daddy returned from his travels on Friday. But baby signs was cancelled on Sat as Joyce was ill, so we went out and finally bought some furniture for our balcony. Sunday daddy played football over at Turf City, so me and mummy had a very long leisurely lunch at Horse City (next door). However, this is where the problem began as I got into trouble with mummy for refusing to go to sleep at all all day!!!

Then on Monday, I went back to bed before breakfast which is unusual, then after breakfast and then again before lunch and mummy finally worked out that I was poorly when she got me out of bed and realised I had a temperature and was warm enough to heat the whole of the UK in the snowy weather!! Daddy came home from work to collect his suitcase before heading off to China and between the pair of them they attempted to take my temperature - ha ha very funny, I was not happy at all about them trying to stick things in my ear! They finally worked out it was 38.8, which is hotter than normal - poor me!! My temperature remained until weds morning, but I am still not really well and am far more clingy than normal and believe it or not I am off my food!!!! Except for weetabix, banana and yoghurt, which i am just about managing to munch down.

It does mean though that I have missed my last music class of the term, a play morning at one of the other babies houses (who lives in Seaview so it was quite handy), my swimming lesson and a Christmas Party. We did sneak out for a quick coffee with Hannah and Charlotte though - otherwise I think mummy might have gone mental!!!

Daddy returned home from his travels today though, so missed most of me being ill, although he did keep ringing mummy to check on me and it is a bank holiday this weekend, so I get to spend more time with my daddy - yippee!!! Hopefully, I will be back to normal soon as I have my first birthday party to go to next week - chocolate and cake, mmm think I can feel another illness coming on, watch this space.....

Ellie xx

PS This weeks photos are of 1)me practicing being a worm, 2)in the coffee shop, 3)opening my advent calender (mummy said I was too poorly to eat the chocolates, so she helped me out!!) and 4)trying to work out how to hang the baubles on the Christmas Tree!!

Pebble Bay, photos and terror!

Thursday 27th November 2008

We had a fun start to the week as we headed over to Pebble Bay (another Condo on the East Coast) to see Jinny. She had lots of lovely cake for mummy and lots of noisy pans and spoons for me. Ranesh had a big signed England shirt on the wall and this was my favourite thing in the room, i was amazed by it (but don't tell daddy!!) Then we walked over the bridge to the Indoor Stadium where Kylie is playing on Monday - how exciting!! We had to rush home for dinner though as mummy and daddy were going out with Sandy (from Hong Kong) and I had a babysitter again. It was the same lady as last time which was nice and I met her before I went to bed this time and was a very good girl and stayed sleeping all night!!

On Sunday we had some professional photos taken which was good fun. I got to play with the Christmas tree and some presents which I loved (especially the rectangular box in coloured stripy paper!!) It was very hard deciding which pictures to have but we got a nice one of the 3 of us, one of me and daddy playing, one of me pulling mummy's hair and some of me on my own. They are all very good!! Then on Sunday night daddy flew off to Seoul and is currently in Hong Kong as I write this. So it has been me and mummy on our own this week.

We had a nice time at Kindermusik on Monday and i was less grumpy at my swimming lesson this week. I still was not over excited by it all, but I did two swims down to the bottom of the pool and 2 swims to mummy. It has rained less this week as well, so the class after us got to swim too!!

Me and mummy have been swimming a couple of times in our pool and we went for a walk down to the beach as well which was nice. Today we went to a playgym to meet the twins, it was not as exciting as I hoped as there were lots of big kids in the gym bit so we stayed on the mats outside playing with the balls, although it did encourage me to start crawling a little bit more conventionally than the commando crawling I am still doing.

Mummy says that I have turned into a terror this week - not sure what she means, I think I have just become more inquisitive!! Everything is fair game for me to play with and mummy is amazed at the things I manage to reach from the confines of my pushchair or when she has put me somewhere "safe" how quickly I can move to investigate things. I have learnt to turn the lights on, open the dvd drawers and cupboard where the sky box is, pull my books of the bookshelf - although I keep trying to pull myself up on it and am not quite there yet and as soon as I hear the fridge door open I am there like a bullet!!!

This weeks pictures show me practicing for the photo shoot, reading in bed, the mess I make and reading my Christmas cards!! 

Take care and see you all soon,

Big kisses 

Eleanor xx

Getting around and growing bigger!!

Thursday 20th November 2008

The week started off with a visit to daddy at work on Friday - just to check that he is working hard and then mummy and I had coffee (well milk) near his work. I had loads of fun as I stood on the comfy chairs and leant against the rail and stood waving at everybody as they went past, lots of people waved back and stopped for a chat - hours of fun. Not sure who I get the need to be centre of attention from?!!

We had a quiet weekend as daddy was busy studying for his exams, so me and mummy entertained ourselves and then came home to test daddy!! We did pop out to the shops though in our search for summer clothes, nice recipes and garden furniture and we had lunch at the German sausage shop!!!

I missed baby signs this week, but we did get to go to music and swimming class. music was good fun, and we did some walking, climbing and jumping to the music which was fun. Swimming was not so good, i started crying as soon as we got there and only did 2 little swims as i was too tired to play properly - David nicknamed me Little Miss Grumpy this week:-(

The reason I was so tired was that on Tuesday we had our East Coast playgroup again, Mia was there and Ava and two new babies which was really nice and we were there for ages playing and chatting (mummy got her money's worth from her cup of coffee!!!)

I now have 5 teeth (mummy says I am lopsided) 3 at the top and 2 at the bottom. I really have not enjoyed the top teeth arriving and obviously have another one on the way to even it out, so am not happy at the minute. Although I am having more fun eating now I have more teeth so I suppose there is a plus side.

I am still commando-crawling my way around (as the photos show) but I have managed to get myself onto all fours, i then just figure as it is easier to move on my belly I may as well fall down and belly shuffle forwards!!

Finally I had my developmental check this week. The lady said that I was doing very well and tested my reflexes and joints (she was impressed with how flexible i was - really not sure where i get that one from at all) and thinks i should start pilates!!! She also measured me and weighed me. I am 78cms tall and 23lbs (10.56kg). This puts me at the top of the charts for weight and off the scale for my height!!! As mummy keeps saying it is all the sunshine and rain here that makes me grow!!!!  So all is good with me -yeah!!!

Love and kisses to all and see you in 4 weeks

Eleanor xx

Teeth, food and Penguins

Thursday 13th November 2008

We had baby signs again this weekend which was good - we were sleeping!! Afterwards we went to look around cars and have a lovely lunch at Boat Quay. Sunday we had a nice chilling out day around the house which was fun. Daddy was very impressed that I have now made friends with Gertrude as the pictures at the top show.

I am still busy drooling everywhere and biting on things, mummy tried to get a picture of my teeth, but only managed to get the bottom two, whilst I was busy making a mess eating my breadstick. I am really enjoying my food and getting better all the time at chewing lumps - I have had pizza potatoes this week (they were okay but not as exciting as they sound), but otherwise having a healthy diet of meat and veg - yummy. I am enjoying some of my finger food now - especially my baby crisps - mummy shouted at me tonight as i put one in whole and then tried adding the second one straight away! Hee hee. I am also managing to feed myself - kind of!! I help mummy with my desserts now - mummy does 3 spoons and i do the fourth one and 9/10 times i get it in my mouth (with a bit of mess on the way in). 

I am getting too independent though mummy says as this morning when we were eating breakfast mummy stopped feeding me to have a mouthful of her cereal and when she turned back to me i had taken the spoon out of the bowl and already put it in my mouth!! I can also brush my own teeth now. And I have the Fallas security gene - when anyone leaves I watch them go down the corridor, close the door behind them, try to turn the lock and then check the spy hole to make sure they have gone!!!

We met up with Charlotte again this week which was nice, she was busy teething too, so we compared notes!! We also made it to swimming, we had not been for ages and we were lucky as the thunder struck just as we were singing our last song! I also managed this week to kick whilst i was swimming underwater to mummy - yeah for me!!!

Oh well that was this week I think. Will let you know what we get up to next week - I am slowly learning more and more about Santa Claus and I have now seen loads of Christmas Trees (even in people's houses - in November?!), although to be honest not sure what all the fuss is about. Oh exciting news though, mummy and I went to Ikea this week too - it is a really big one with a huge restaurant and a big play area - now that is exciting!!!!

Kisses for now

Eleanor xx

PS We have also been busy making plans - we have booked our flights to the UK, train tickets to Yorkshire and flights to Hong Kong - all very exciting, so we will see you all very soon, wherever you may be!!!!

Signing, singing and witches!!

Thursday 6th November 2008

We have had a quieter week this week, which has been quite nice. We have had halloween and as the picture at the top shows I dressed up as a witch - I am casting a spell in the picture. Mummy could not find me a hat that was small enough for my head, but the dress was very nice (thank you Caitlin).

We started our baby signs class at the weekend and mummy and daddy have been trying their best to teach me the signs for milk, eat, drink, all done and bib. They are doing quite well, but i am choosing to ignore them for the time being - they will only got over excited when they think that I am trying to sign to them. Also when i wave it is similar to the sign for milk, so it is all getting very confusing and we have only done one week!!!

We made it to mass again on Sunday, although we nearly could not get in, it was that busy that the car park was so full we could not get the pushchair through!! It was nice to have a bit of singing though, as well as my music class and singing whilst I wait for the bath to run in the shower attachment I think that i am quite musical (not sure where that skill comes from!)

The other pictures at the top are of me chilling out on my playmat with my fave book at the minute and wrecking my playmat in one of my more destructive moments?!! I think I am about to get a couple more teeth (to add to the 4 I already have) as I am biting on everything I can find (although i am being good and not biting mummy unless I am desperate) and sticking my tongue out all the time!!

Other than that things have been quiet - we have had lots of rain and huge thunderstorms this week, so we have only been swimming once and our class was cancelled on weds. We did music on Monday though which was good fun as we got the huge xylophones out to play on. 

Anyway will say bye for now and will speak to you all next week

Love Ellie xx

PS Hope that you had a nice birthday Grandad and are not missing all those naughty boys and girls now that you have retired xx

Coffee, swimming and more coffee!!!

Thursday 30th October 2008

Hi All,

A very busy week in the McGovern household. We had a busy day on Friday doing a big supermarket shop - mummy was cooking a stuffed lamb dish as we had a friend staying over. So on Saturday morning I woke up to say hello to Jo - who I knew in Hong Kong (and is mentioned in an earlier blog, if you were paying attention, as she bought me George!!!) Anyway, mummy went off to get her haircut and me, daddy and Jo went for coffee and then we all went out to Dempsey Hill for some brunch. Daddy went off to play football in the Citibank Olympics - he won a silver medal and also played in the frisbee final, Jo headed off to the airport and me and mummy went home to chill and pig out on the choccies that Jo bought us (thankyou Jo!!)

It was a bank holiday weekend in Singapore because it is Deepavali (Diwali as we would say), so we had a long weekend with daddy which was nice. We went to Turf City on Sunday to see the farm animals, but we went to the wrong bit so ended up looking at cars instead!! Then on Monday we headed out to Vivo City with thoughts about heading off to Sentosa Island and seeing some fishes - but we ended up being attracted by the bright lights of the shops and did not make it out of the shopping centre. We went to a Brazilian restaurant for lunch though - which was all you can eat meat - mummy and daddy enjoyed it, but they tried feeding me my lunch of Cauliflower Cheese and carrot - in a place called Carnivore (!!) needless to say I refused to eat anything (except for my yoghurt which i never refuse!)

Speaking of meat, I have had two beef dishes this week, both of which were lovely. My beef hot pot was lumpy and i ate it with no complaints and i even managed bolognaise with pasta (i have refused pasta before) so mummy is very happy.

We missed our music class this week as it was a bank holiday, but mummy has been playing the songs to me at home. On Tuesday we headed out to the River to meet Hannah and Charlotte. They are from the UK and Charlotte is 11 months old, but she was born very early and should actually be a day younger than me. We are both very similar in the things we are learning to do, so it was nice to play, chat and compare notes!! On Wednesday we had swimming which was really good fun, me and David went swimming to the bottom of the pool to pick up sticks, I did a bit of choking when i got back to mummy as i think i got too excited and drank some of the water, but everyone was very impressed that I managed that on my 4th lesson. Then today we went out with some more babies - Ava and Oscar who are both 4 months old and Mia who we have met before who is a few weeks younger than me. It was quite nice being the oldest (as most of the classes i go to i am the youngest) although mummy said that it means i have to be on my best behaviour as I am setting an example!!!

This weeks photo's are of me dressed up as Tigger in the outfit that Anna and Mark bought for me. Me in my new swimsuit getting ready to go swimming - it is an O'Neills one with the proper pull cord at the back - surfer chick!! The last one is of me and daddy on Bank Holiday Monday playing with my new toy - am not sure that daddy was all that interested in it!!

Hope you are still all enjoying hearing about everything I am getting up to in Singapore and that it is not getting too cold for you all "back home".

Sunshiney smiles to all

Eleanor xx

Teeth

Thursday 23rd October 2008

We have had another busy week. We met up with more Hong Kong people on Saturday night, we headed out to Robertson Walk to meet Lou who daddy used to play football with and his wife and daughter. It was a really nice evening and we did not get home until 10.30 - I was very good all night, mummy and daddy thought that I might go to sleep in my pram, but no chance, i was having too much fun!! We also went swimming at the weekend which is always fun and I enjoyed splashing around in the pool.

I have tried some more food this week. Daddy made me some beef and it was really scrummy think that it might be my favourite food so far. I also had a pea and courgette soup, which looks very disgusting but tastes really nice. I also had some really nice bread when we were out for dinner, mummy keeps giving me bread and i keep saying no - but the nice bread in the restaurant i really loved - think that i might have expensive tastes!!

My two front teeth have just about arrived, we can see them in my mouth and they are nearly the whole way through. I have started brushing my teeth this week as well, I watched daddy on Sunday and then copied him (although mummy helped me). I have nice banana and strawberry flavour toothpaste and i think daddy was a bit jealous!!

I am still busy singing and swimming, both of which I am really enjoying. Mummy is really improving her drumming skills, I just keep laughing at her and eating the sticks, but when I am bored of eating I do join in. I am enjoying the bouncy ball/horseriding bit now as well. My swimming is improving as well, although I am not kicking yet, I am going deeper under water now and David actually let me go this week so that i "swam" towards mummy!!

Enjoy this weeks pictures. They are of me playing peekaboo, me brushing my teeth and me getting ready to go out for a walk - with my factor 50 sun lotion on, sunhat, muslin covering me and hood up - no chance of that nasty sun getting me!!

take care and big kisses to all

Eleanor xx

Daddy

Thursday 16th October

Daddy returned from his travels at the weekend which was lovely. It was so nice to see him again and I have spent the whole week following him around and saying dada-dada constantly, much to mummy's annoyance.

On Monday we had some more visitors, Rhydian and Elizabeth came to stay for a couple of days. They arrived after I had gone to bed and I was a bit shocked when I was eating my weetabix quite happily and a big ginger welsh man suddenly appeared!!! However, he did make me laugh and played with all of my toys (mummy checked my toy bucket before he left to make sure they were all still there!!) The picture at the top shows me with Rhydian and Elizabeth before they flew off to KL and Borneo to see the orangutans.

I have been busy with singing and swimming again. We started a new music topic this week and the group seem really nice, Maurice (my German friend is still in the same group which is nice) We played with bouncy balls, triangles and drums - I liked the noise of the triangle but enjoyed eating the beater more!! Swimming was really good fun as well - I went fully under the water this week with David holding me and I was really good and enjoyed most of the class.

Unfortunately my teeth are really hurting at the minute and I have ended up crying during my lunch and dinner as I am hungry and love my food, but it hurts my teeth so I do not know what to do!! I have also been causing problems for mummy as i managed to change the computer screen to zoom so the screen kept moving around and then i ripped a key off the keypad - ooops!! I also managed to send a text to daddy without mummy knowing - think i might have picked up a techno-gene from somewhere.

Well that was this week I think. Hope you enjoy the pictures

Ellie xx

Singing and swimming

Thursday 9th October 2008

We have had a slightly busier week this week. As well as the usual coffee and malls, we have started a couple of new classes.

On Monday afternoon we started Kindermusik class. This was really good fun as we sang songs and played with different instruments, we used maracas (like giant lollipops and i enjoyed eating them) and drums with mallets (again big sticks with lollipop ends) and we also bounced in time to the music on a bouncy ball. We hid under the parachute at the end and our mummies had to come and find us. I made friend with a german boy - he is slightly bigger than me and kept walking up to me and making me giggle - we kept hugging each other (but don't tell daddy!!) We start a new topic next Monday, called Rhythm of the Day, so there will be lots of new songs to sing.

We have also started Aquaducks on Wednesday. I love being in the swimming pool and it was nice to meet some other babies in the pool as well who are the same age as me. I am the youngest in the class of 5, but i think i did quite well. I was splashing with Hannah in the pool, she has just turned one, but we are the same height as each other!!! The instructor is really nice, he is called Dave, (mummy says he looks like Wentworth Miller!!) and he played some fun games with us, we went on a speedboat (float) and played Humpty Dumpty by jumping off the side of the pool into the water!! Some of the bigger babies, swam (very briefly) under the water to their mummies, but i just whizzed through the water to mummy, for now!!!

Other news. I am now facing forwards in my pushchair, as mummy was fed up of me twisting round the whole time when i was facing her. I have now had minestrone soup, which I love lots and lots, shepherds pie (without the shepherds which i am not that keen on yet) and chicken and vegetable gratin, which i really love.

I am still chewing on everything in sight and biting mummy all the time, but there is still no sign of those elusive front two teeth. Fingers crossed they will arrive soon as my mouth is really sore - my frozen teething rings are definitely my favourite toy at the moment.

Anyway, will say bye for now. Daddy is home on Saturday, so I am sure he will update you in the next blog on how grown up I am now!!

love to all

Eleanor xxx

Fast cars and beaches

Thursday 2nd October

Mummy and I have been visiting more shopping malls in an attempt to find things and keep in the nice cool air con this week. Although we have been good and have not spent too much of daddy's hard earned money whilst he is away. Largely because all the shops are now getting their winter clothes in - winter in Singapore?! 30 degrees - anyone for tights and woolly jumpers!!

Anyway, we had the Grand Prix this weekend. We listened from the balcony but could not hear any of the cars. We did however meet up with Rob and Vicky from Hong Kong who were in town for the GP. It was lovely to catch up and I have attached a photo of our afternoon coffee session.

It has rained this week in the late afternoons which has stopped us from making it out into the pool - we managed friday and that was it. However we did make it down to the beach today to meet up with Jadie and baby Mia. Mia is only 3 weeks younger than me and one of my friends from HK who has moved out to Singapore as well. It was lovely to catch up and I had my first experience of sand - not quite sure what all the fuss is about and yes Uncle Jonathan I agree, it is just annoying when it all gets stuck between your toes!!

Mummy has been busy cooking this week, so I have tried corn chowder, vegetable broth and macaroni cheese. I have also had some bread and butter, but was not that keen on it and spat it out. Apple yoghurt has also been added to my list of puddings. I love my food and mummy is a bit worried about how quickly I gobble it all down - she usually cannot get the food on the spoon before I am sitting with my mouth open awaiting the next lot!! (unless it is something nasty she is trying to feed me - like pasta and veg - yuck!!)

Well, will say bye bye for now.

Speak to you all next week

kisses

El x

How clever!!

Clearly from the stick figure images it is obvious I have inherited mummy's drawing ability. In case you are wondering Max is the teddy bear dog daddy bought for me and yes he is the same size as me!!! I am a bit unsure about Daddy's clothing - he appears to be wearing shorts - the Singapore office is much more chilled out than London in terms of clothing, but think this might be going too far!!!

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Penguins and dogs

Thursday 25th September 2008

It is still nice and warm in Singapore which is good as it is giving me lots of opportunity to play in the pool, which I am really enjoying. On the downside it does mean mummy plastering me in Factor 50 sun lotion before we go out everyday and much to mummy's displeasure my legs are still browner than hers!!!

Daddy jetted off to the UK and Greece on Sunday night, but before he left we had a nice weekend playing in the apartment and pool. We went shopping and bought a bounce-back Penguin called Gertrude which I am very scared of and cry when i see it, hopefully by the time daddy gets back we will have made friends. Daddy did also get me (and mummy) some flowers and a doggy bear called Max who is lovely, he is big and fluffy and I enjoy stroking his nose, he also has big floppy ears like Jasper dog, although mummy says Max is better behaved.

After weeks (months?!) of refusing to nap regularly during the day, mummy finally took action with me this week after I fell asleep in my soup. I am now trying to have a morning nap and afternoon nap in my cot and am getting better at it - I have now managed it twice and am much happier by dinner time as a result. Especially when mummy serves her yummy leek and potato soup. She did however try giving me green veg and pasta the other day which was disgusting - mummy made it the night before and had some herself (which she did not think was nice) and then served it to me for lunch - yuck!! I am now enjoying my fish that daddy made for me though and thought the leek and courgette soup was good (once mummy made it thicker) even though it did send me to sleep.

We have been for lunch and coffee and cake this week with the non-RBS WAG's and baby Anya (who is not really a baby as she is a year older than me). We have also met some twins who are the same age as me, so I am looking forward to meeting up with them soon for a play and crawling session.

Other than that it has been a quiet week of practicing sitting without falling over and getting faster and faster with my belly shuffles, I made it all the way under the dining room table this week from my playmat. I have also been practicing standing up and can now stand holding onto the coffee table for 3 seconds before i start leaning and mummy has to straighten me up again!!!

This week sees the Grand Prix in Singapore and mummy has some new recipes up her sleeve for me, starting with Chicken Risotto, so I will update you next week with how I get on (already I am looking forward to the Chef returning from Europe, can my little tummy cope with 2 more weeks of mummy's cooking???!!!)

Lots of love

Ellie x

Chilling out (or trying to in this heat!)

Thursday 18th May

I am having lots of fun learning new skills everyday. I am sitting up well, but still need a bit of practice. I am also wriggling my way in all kinds of directions - I am very speedy and moving around on my tummy in big circles and can now propel myself forwards using my legs and arms but end up on my tummy at the end of each move. So kind of getting the idea of crawling just need to concentrate on keeping my tummy off the floor - this might be an issue with all of the food that I am eating though.

I am starting to enjoy the fish that daddy cooked for me at the weekend - was not sure to start with and am enjoying my soup for tea that mummy made for me. I have managed to eat my first baby size rice cake as well, but other than that am filling up nicely on chicken and lamb, porridge, weetabix, fruit and yoghurts.

I am trying to burn the calories though by going swimming lots and lots. The pool at the apartments is lovely and we go for a dip at the end of most days to cool down after spending the day in the heat. Other than swimming we have still been busy sorting out our house and trying to find our way around Singapore.

The other big news of the week is that finally we have teeth!!! My bottom two have appeared as small but very sharp white bumps. It is very strange but they definitely have their uses. Although I have bit mummy a couple of times - oops!! Daddy is sensibly keeping his fingers away from my mouth.

I am also enjoying being out and about as everybody wants to speak to me. We are getting known in the local coffee shops and keep meeting other babies and children who really make me giggle!! It is a bit strange walking down the street and having people yelling "baby baby" at you,  but so far everyone seems to love me and people are very helpful with mummy when she is lugging everything around with her!!

Oh well hope you like the pictures - the web gallery is broken at the minute, but hopefully it will be working soon and you can see better what we are getting up to.

Take care and be in touch again soon

Eleanor xx

Our new home

Thursday 11th September

Yippee - we have moved into our new home. It has been a very busy weekend where we worked out where things were going and what boxes all of my toys were in, but it is starting to feel like home. We also managed to get the internet and  cable, so hopefully my blogs should be more up to date now. Although mummy has been writing them down in her notebook each week - I know I am clever and can type but writing is a little beyond me at the minute!!

We have spent the week investigating the local area and have made ourselves known in the local supermarket and coffee shops! We also tested out the swimming pool in the apartment, it is huge and great fun. I splashed lots and lots and ever since have been soaking mummy every bath time as I keep forgetting we are not in the pool.

I am getting hugely better at sitting up now. Mummy bought me some soft floor mats, so that I can sit on the floor and play safely and comfortably and I am really enjoying it, although I still prefer standing all the time. The picture at the top shows me on my playmat.

I am still really enjoying my food, as the other picture shows and love playing in my high chair, especially with my yoghurt pots and empty bowls. I keep trying to play with the full bowls but mummy won't let me!

It is lovely to be back in my proper cot and I am sleeping much better now, although not perfectly as my teeth are trying to appear and they are hurting me. I am being very brave though and keep trying to forget.

Well had better say bye for now, take care

Love Ellie xx