Toys

Mainly because of the generosity of our friends and family, lucky Lucy has got loads of toys to play with. Some are educational but others are just cool.

Of course being a kid, Lucy knows that the best toys are Mummy and Daddy. Especially when Daddy lets her sit on him. Like a furry bouncy castle.

Do I detect a bit of the cheeky monkeys in the Sprockmeister today?

That's Handy

Lucy is getting much better at using her hands. Rather than randomly flailing about she can now look at something and then grab it. Obviously she still does a fair amount of flailing, but she is getting better.

Here she is playing with a rabbit that Grandad got her from Kew Gardens because he thought it was funny. Lucy obviously agrees.

And Mummy is still trying to teach her to play filthy jazz.

What has Mummy done!?

Mummy has been looking after Lucy at home for nearly three months now. Of course I know that Ali has been teaching her to play a bit of music but what else do they get up to? It turns out Mummy has been teaching her to read celebrity Gossip mags!

She can't get enough of Posh Spice, Jennifer Aniston and Nichole Kidman. Just like her gossip loving Mother.

Gah! Now she's demanding Heat magazine. Notice that you don't see Muji Rabbit in these pictures. He wouldn't approve.

Lucy in da Hood

Little Lucy is just about to go into the village shopping with Mummy but it is a bit cold. Since she has now grown out of her bear suit she has to wear her hooded coat which is still a little bit big for her.

Filthy Jazz

It looks like Mummy is trying to nip Lucy's new Rock 'n' Roll attitude in the bud by polluting her tender little musical sensibilities with filthy jazz instruments. Witness the use of maracas!

And what is this? Jangly bells? Wait till your father gets home. He won't have Jazz in the house.

Admittedly Lucy does appear to love making music with her Mummy. So maybe Daddy will let it go for the time being and get her a Fender Telecaster when she gets a bit older.

Daddy takes Sprock shopping

Because of Mummy's birthday tomorrow, Daddy and Sprock decided to go shopping for a present (and not just in Sainsbury's despite the photo!). It seems Lucy likes shopping about as much as Daddy does. Somehow I suspect this might change when she gets a bit older.

And those feet aren't getting any smaller.

Attitude

Oh no! This rock and roll attitude has grabbed Lucy hard. "La la laaaa. Where's my milk!"

"Did I ask your opinion on my singing?"

Rock!

Aunty Lorna has shifted up a gear with her cute t-shirt purchases. Witness the magesty of Lucy's new Rock shirt.

And I do believe this could be her first effort to play air guitar. Rock on little baby.

Little and Large

Aunty Lorna got Lucy this fab t-shirt. We hope it turns out to be ironic because she is a little angel rather than predictive.

This is Lucy's friend Jerome. Amazingly he is 3 weeks younger than her even though he looks twice the size. He is certainly a little boy who likes his milk and there is nothing wrong with that.

Take these two fellas. Barney the stripy hippopotamus and Boo the scrawny piece of black string are in fact twin brothers despite a huge difference in size.

Who are you looking at?

Billy Pig

Lucy's Aunty Pink has been a fan of pigs for a long time. Regular readers of Lucy's web log will no doubt have seen her pig friends. Whilst they are lovely, they are a bit large for a little baby. In fact one of them is called Big Pig. So we thought it might be an idea to get Lucy a baby sized pig. He is called Billy Pig.

As you can see, Lucy thinks Billy Pig is great. She can't wait to introduce Billy Pig to Muji Rabbit. And of cause to Aunty Pink's menagerie of Mickey, Mockey and Big Pig.

But there is really only one way to see if a new friend will be a real friend. Into the mouth Billy Pig goes. Friends for life.

Down on the river

We went over to Stew and Pinks this evening for a BBQ. Stew is a brilliant if slightly unconventional chef and the food was excellent. Lucy's eyesight is getting better all the time but she ignores the fantastic views over the Thames to stare at her Uncle Stewbie. Can't blame her for that. All babies love Stew.

Stew and Pink are just back from a holiday in Catalonia. Amongst other generous presents they got Sprock a new hat. To be honest she doesn't look very impressed.

Ah! Now you're talking. Clearly the hat needed to be augmented by a pair of matching sandals. If you are reading this from Clark's Shoes then we know they are a bit too big. But she had to try them on.

Having seen the hat and sandals, here is the dress that completes the ensemble that Stew and Pink have generously got Lucy.

Aunty Pink smiles at Lucy. Lucy smiles at Aunty Pink. Ahww.

At some point in the future Lucy will ask Mummy and Daddy about this picture. Pink, Lucy and Big Pig wearing her hat. Let's worry about it then.

Helicopters and Girls

It has been common for the last few decades to assume that baby girls wear pink and boys wear blue. This has not always been the case. The Victorians used to put their boys in dresses: "Boys wore frocks with pleated skirts, or tunics and blouses over pleated skirts, until the age of three or four.". Fortunately Lucy comes from a more enlightened age so she can proudly wear her blue helicopter growbag. She obviously likes it.

Father's Day

I don't normally go a bunch on Father's Day. I don't see why Clinton Cards should dictate when I send my Dad a bunch of flowers. But strangely my views may be about to change given that this is my first Father's Day as a Dad. And my heart did melt when I saw what little Lucy had done for me.

Rather than selling her soul to The Man she had made her own card using loads of pictures of me and her together. She had also managed to make a ceramic mug and picture frame with her foot prints on.

After Lucy had handed over my presents, Ali revealed that she had helped Lucy out and that using great subterfuge they had gone to the ceramics workshop in Kew without me realising. Cunning Mummy. Clever Lucy.

Take over bid

I can't help noticing as I glance over Lucy's shoulder that for such a little fella she is taking up a large proportion of our house over with her baby accoutrements.

But she is cute enough to get away with it.

Muji Rabbit cops an earful

Lucy has never had a dummy (pacifier). It's not that we are against it, it's just not something that has seemed necessary up till now. Or so we thought until we found her giving Muji Rabbits ear a good sucking.

It's a good job these two are such firm friends. Many other rabbits would object!

The Wetlands Centre

It's amazing what you find out when you have a kid. Ali and her friends from the NCT classes discovered that there is a special Mums and babies fitness class run at The Wetland Centre where Mums can vigorously push their prams around the beautiful nature whilst avoiding as many ducks as possible.

Here you can get an idea what a nice environment it is to exercise in. Here are all the ladies with their sprouts in rockers having a good stretch and a few situps before the big push.

Ali and the Sprockmeister, Sarah and Raffi, Lisa and Oscar and Charlotte and Evie.

Of course being pushed is very energetic as well so Sprock and Oscar have a breather.

Nana pops over to see Sprock

Nana smiles at Lucy

Lucy is slightly less respectful to Nana!

Lucy plays outside on a Sunny Sunday

Mummy has her Sunday Lunch outside in the lovely sunshine. Notice the glass of white wine with a pint of milk chaser. Racy.

Lucy is impressed by how her Miffy umbrella can keep the worst of the Suns rays of her bonce.

Lucy checks that Muji Rabbit is also being protected from the Sun. Stripey rabbits don't like to get too hot.

Lucy reads a book with her Mum. She doesn't seem too interested, probably wishes it was Miffy.

Lucy plays on her mat

This is the second play mat that Lucy has had because Barney the cat stole her last one. The new one has a giant Hippo on it and little toy hippos that she can play with.

Muji Rabbit likes to play on the mat with Lucy as well.

Lucy has a grin

Our friend Solene took this picture when the babies from out NCT group were all together. How cute does Lucy look? I should point out that we met up with all our friends from the NCT class this evening - and all the sprouts are adorable.