An outfit for the sling

The sling is hot and sweaty in this weather, so something cool was necessary

Around the house, bare is fine, but out and about she needs her legs covered and everything else cool. This is based on a pinafore in 'all year round' but bodged without pattern. I'm gonna make more with a more generous crotch.

Pretty baby!

I bought enough fabric to make myself a matchy skirt but its too sheer :(

Beautiful!

Happiness = painting with children

I love painting with Dan sooo much. Painting isn't, however, one of his activities of choice so I felt a bit bad when, after declaring several times that he could not decide what to do and implying that the responsibility for this fell to me, I declared in response that we would paint. There were initially of course the usual groans...mostly I think because painting can all too easily be about the perception of the picture you end up with, rather than the joy of creation. I know I can be guilty of this when doing creative things with Dan, but school has a big influence of childrens' approach to art too. So I love seeing pictures like the top one here which is one of several similar ones he painted for Abi to look at. We stuck a couple up in her corner of the kitchen where she often gets bunged at breakfast time so we don't trip over her.

Hopefully she will enjoy having some shapes and colours to look at now.

We painted a few more too which I've stuck over the crib and I would have taken a photo of but she is in there right now. Dan loved thinking about how she will be looking at these pictures, and he loved using the watercolour pencils and paints in a free way.

I didn't try to take a photo of Dan painting, much as I would have loved to, as he was so absorbed (and to be honest, so was I!) but here is a sneaky one from yesterday's jam tart baking session
and a (possibly) better picture of abi in her sling - I usually make sure she is more symmetrical than that if we were going out!

Hiding

My children are hiding! Daniel is a bit shy about having his photo taken today, although I think that's more to do with the fun of running away shrieking than any self-confidence issues! He seemed to enjoy playing up for the camera when I took pictures of him running away!

Abi has been hiding her face in the depths of our green sofa, so that I could take a lovely photo of her bottom. When browsing slings yesterday I decided that tights were in order as her legs will dangle in the new one. And also some slippers. And when I saw these tights with hearts on the bottom...yes they are a bit naff, but also very very sweet.

And here is a dodgy picture of me with Abi in the new sling. She is there right now. She has been there whilst Dan and I made wholewheat pastry for a broccoli quiche (we are having a mostly vegetarian week, the outlaws will be proud!)

Playing with toys

Abi is nearly 6 weeks old now, and as she starts to smile, she leaves behind that first true newborn stage. She seems to be entering a new level of consciousness, interacting more with her environment and showing a lot of awareness of those around her. She loves it when her brother goes by and sometimes get cross when he goes. Here are some pictures of her playing last week, after which she promptly fell asleep. Its very tiring looking and listening and wondering why your arm keeps flinging up at that pretty bright red thing.

See Abi's pretty lamb? It is very nice, usually living in her crib. It is incredibly soft and has a kind, sleepy face.

Here is something I sewed Abi while she was napping.

It is an idea from a book of homemade toy ideas ben and I have been browsing. Bad photo but I think the idea is that a cloth-bodied doll is nicer for young hands and can be chewed etc, and that the blank expression enables open-ended play. The ones in the book had natural wool fleece hair (choking hazard) or were bald (and therefore odd looking) so I made mine some felt hair. Ben said it is a helmet and started playing silly games with it, so he had to read the page which says we must always treat the dolly with full respect as if it is our baby's baby, so that she can see this example and know we take her games seriously. Maybe its a bit early to worry about that yet, but I didn't like the way Ben was treating Abi's doll...

A Boot Fair - hurrah!

A sunny day and a boot fair, within cycling distance! I wish I'd managed a better picture but Dan cycles too fast even for maximum zoom! You can see what a lovely sunny day it was.

At the Boot fair Dan found a mighty fine skateboard. Sometimes secondhand things are more fun, and it is less of a big deal when it turns out that (like Ma hinted!) skateboarding might be trickier than it looks!

We had sweets and candyfloss, which was very nice.

Abi did not pay any attention whatsoever, as she enjoys her sling too much. This afternoon she has been inclined to persistent wind, but I think the sling has got her off to slumberland again now.

Milk Spots

No wonder this baby is getting a few milk spots. A bit like some sort of drug addict whose affliction is apparent from the state of their skin, the evidence of Abi's fondness for her two favourite things is clear. The health said they are reassuring as they show she is getting plenty of calories from breastmilk (apparently the calories are relevant to the milk spots) and enjoying all the close contact - to the extent that she gets all clammy and exacerbates the spots. She does not care. I like this photo a lot, as I don't look as odd in it as I usually do in photos. Maybe its something to do with it being black and white. And I look as happy as I feel.

Soon I must post a picture of Dan on his bike, which he has learnt to ride without stabilisers. This is very impressive and exciting. I can't wait to go on a proper bike ride with him sometime. It is half term for a week now (which I didn't realise til he emerged from school with his PE kit for washing today), so there should be plenty of cycling/strolling along the old railway line as long as this lovely weather holds.