NCT Babies

Well here are the 6 friends from the NCT classes just about to turn one year old. All of them healthy and happy I'm glad to say. They all got together so that their Mums could have a cuppa and good old gossip.

Sarah and Raffi

Lisa and Oscar

Charlotte and Evie

Solene and Jerome

And Harriet and the other Lucy

Hot Wheels

Lucy's new car can be converted into walker mode. She is getting so good at it that it only takes her a few seconds to cross the living room. We will have to let her have a go outside where there is a bit more space at the weekend of the weather is better.

Lucy and Jerome

It looks like Sprock is having a staring competition with her little Gallic friend Jerome.

We don't know who won but they both had a loverly time together going round Kew Gardens.

Jonathan and the Goose

So a trip down south to see some family. Cousin Jonathan plays with Great Grandad Don while Lucy entertains Aunty Niki.

Grandad gets a turn with the Spoink.

Here are the two sisters with each others offspring.

And then the same with Nana Moo in as well.

Cheeky and Innocent

It is really funny that in the space of about a nano second Sprock can transition from such a cheeky monkey ...

... into this innocent looking angel. And then back again.

Standing can't be far away

Lucy now finds it very easy to stand with just one hand on something like the soft or Mummy as a support.

Occasionally if she is distacted she takes her supporting hand away and stands unsupported for a couple of seconds before she remembers her predicament and falls over. It can't be long before her confidence increaces and she starts standing for real.

Grab that Camera

Sprocket certainly knows what the camera is and if you get too close for a picture she will try and get her banana covered hands all over the lens.

She also likes trying to grab the strap that hangs on the side.

But with a bit of perceverance it is possible to catch her unawares.

Banana

It is very hard to have the decorum of a lady when you are trying to eat half a banana in one go! That's Lucy of course - not Mummy.

Ride 'em Cowboy

It's always nice to have a shoulder ride from Dad. Lucy certainly has no fear of height at the moment.

Barney's ongoing torment

Barney braces himself for another bout of Lucy Love. She adores him but isn't yet very good at distinguishing between a gentle stroke and a handful of fur.

Grandma and Grandad

Grandma and Grandad made the trip down south for Daddy's 40th birthday. Of course there was one little person that they really wanted to see.

Grandad play the old nose prod game that is always guaranteed to get a smile.

Funky Jumper

Elizabeth has knitted Lucy this beautiful and rather funky jumper.

She loves wearing it.

Women Drivers

Mummy has got Lucy her first car. Wisely she has gone with a green colour scheme to match Daddies new motor. However, in a controversial "blind leading the blind" move, Mummy has elected to teach the Sprock to drive.

Looks like she is getting the hang of it pretty well.

In this video you can see Mummy teaching Sprock to perform a 3 point turn.

Parklife

Mummy and the Sprock have gone down to play in the Park. It's a bit chilly so Lucy has her big green coat on.

She loves sitting on the swings.

And she is just getting big enough to have a go on the See Saw. Not with Daddy on the other end though. Then it would just be a See.

Sleeping Beauty

In the far mists of time when I was a little child it was considered appropriate to leave babies outside for a couple of hours everyday due to the efficacious properties of fresh air (and perhaps the parents desire to have some respite from the little nipper). This no longer seems to be the vogue - perhaps because of concerns about baby snatchers or because fresh air in cities comes with a less than healthy dose of smog. But since Daddy was outside re-felting the shed roof we though we would give it a try.

Lucy doesn't appear to be over vexed by it.

Goatee

Ever a slave to fashon, Lucy decides to try growing a Goatee beard like her Dad.

It might be more accurate to suggest that her apperciation of food is greatly enhanced by smeering it all over her face. It's hardly worth washing it off before her bedtime bath.

Doze

Lucy has a little doze on her Dad

Pink Horse

Whenever Lucy is visiting her little friend Holly she is always impressed because Holly has different toys to play with. Lucy loves playing on her Pink Horse.

Perhaps she is also hoping for a Lambretta when she is older?

Little Friends

No wonder Lucy is giggling. She has gone down to the park with some of her little friends (l to r) Oscar, Holly (in the rather fine Parker - she could have got a roll in Quadrophenia), Oliver and the Sprockmeister.

Next it was down to the river to throw bread at the ducks. Ellen is helping Holly whilst Wig is helping her two, Oscar and Olly. Frankly Oscar is the only one who is really putting his back into it. While Mummy is taking photos Lucy is relying on Jelly Bear for moral support.

First Step ...

Becoming a parent is a lesson in understanding motivation. Virtually everything a baby does is motivated by something - be it crawling to reach a desired toy or crying to gain attention. One of the greatest motivations in Lucy's world is her mission to catch and generally torment Barney the cat. The latest result of this being when Barney thought he had discovered the perfect place to hide or at least remain out of prodding range from the Sprock. Or so he thought.

Barney has started offering us money towards a stair gate.