Story Time

Who needs a sofa when a chair can sit three so comfortably?

Is someone happy?

Oh yes! Ana enjoyed her walk tonight, and dawdling home - stopping to sit on this bench, watching a kitten, and a number of other distractions.

Another family portrait...

This one was taken above the floodplain this evening... Lara thought it was pretty cool...

Family photo!

Here is our newly expanded family, though the photo is lacking Tim's forehead and Rose's chin... it's hard to get 4 people in a photo when one of you is taking it!!!

Sleeping in a warm sunbeam

This morning Rose had a sleep in the warmth of a passing sunbeam (before it rained). Peaceful, cosy and content!

Ana ADORES her baby sister!

Ana is delighted with her new baby, she keeps running over to her shouting "baby sister, baby sister! Hold, hold, kiss!". These hugs and kisses, however, are generally very boisterous (as are most things Ana does). She does rather grab and squash Rose, but thankfully Rose has so far withstood all this affection and come through unscathed. We hope they will grow up to be the best of friends : )

The homecoming

Here is our little Rose in the same snowsuit as her sister came home in, another little star for our family : )

Proud Daddy again!

Tim and Rose very shortly after her arrival, aren't they cute?!

Rose Amia Joy Farewell

Rose Amia Joy Farewell, our second child, was born just after midday on Tuesday the 21st October, 2008.

Key Stats:
Weight: 6lb, 7oz
Length: 52 cm
Arrival time: 12:08 PM

The Rose is one of our favourite flowers, both for its glorious natural beauty and scent.
Amia, which means 'beloved' (and is almost certainly dervived from latin for 'friend') is what Ana kept calling her sister.
And Joy was given to us in a number of ways.

It is our hope and prayer that Rose will be a true friend, and that she will be always full of Joy.

The craving of the century

Let's just say Lara kept the Nutella company in business over the course of her pregnancy.

If you're ever in need of a quick dessert, take one banana, lather it in Nutella and eat, mmmmmm.... Then if you really need some more sugar, take a spoon (a big one) and dig deep.

Ana the robot and the last photo of 'the bump'

We got a new bin, Ana got a new robot costume!! Tim cut face and arm holes in it and Ana had a wonderful time running round the house in it : )

This is also the last photo we have of Rose as a bump - the one we'd planned to take closer to the delivery date never quite made it, as Rose decided it was time to come, whatever the midwives had said!

"Oh dear, all dirty!"

These were the precious words of our daughter heralding the fact that she had fallen over in a very deep and muddy puddle.

She was down on the floodplain having a great time with Daddy when he called to ask me if I wanted to join them. In the background, I could clearly hear her demise into the recieving puddle.

Here is a picture of her covered in mud. The trousers were once pink. The boots were once full of air instead of water, and prior to being covered in dirt, the grin was once not quite so wide!

Cooking the dinner, stirring the pot...

... time for a taste if it isn't too hot!

Ana emulates her parents' curious culinary creations in her own little kitchen. A bit of this, a bit of that, and suddenly "soup" is ready. But be careful, it's "bit hot", so you need to "blow, blow!".

She did start off her cooking with Mummy's best Le Creuset pots (courtesy of Daddy who thought they were unbreakable), until she found them, and replaced them with some lovely (old) metal ones instead...

And the soup has never been the same since...

Mummy's Shoes

Ana ADORES shoes.

It must be genetic.

Spotty shoes, slippers, boots and, of course, Mummy's shoes; yes, Mummy's shoes are wonderful!

You know those rainy afternoons when you just HAVE to get out of the house? We've found a trip to the shoe shop is a splendid excursion. Recently we haven't had to buy new shoes, (Daddy sighs with relief!) but trying them on, and having one's feet measured is certainly worth the trip.

The Geese are Flying

Autumn really was setting in this morning.
The air was crisp, the geese were flying and the leaves beginning to turn and fall.

Early Morning Walk on the Floodplain

Early this morning Ana and I (Tim) went for a cold October walk on the floodplain by our house. Ana wanted to go through this gate, but Daddy said "no". We went through the open gate to the right instead.

A veritable lesson in flora and fauna followed, with sightings of swans, sheep eating grass, dogs, geese, and other wonders.

And still back in time for breakfast (well, second breakfast!)

Our jammy little girl

Ana has developed a distinct liking for Tim's wild blueberry jam (no sugar, just grape juice to sweeten if you were worried!). The problem with this jam is in the eating of it, or rather the smushing of it all over her face, hands, clothes, table... it even gets in her hair!

Its getting rather chilly!

After a summer sojourn in the cupboard, the Alpaca Hat was rediscovered (much to Ana's delight) in preparation for the snow, ice, fog, rain and sleet of the coming months. And it still fits (very snugly).

Um, Tim, open your eyes....

So, we're not quite sure what happened here... Tim was actually taking this photo... You wouldn't have thought that he could take himself by surprise!

We'll blame the London smoggy air which made my allergies AWFUL (except of course, when we were in the posh restaurant being served yummy food by amazing waiters with passable fake french accents...)

Oh, this is on one of those new bridges crossing the Thames after our trip on the London Eye - possibly our last outing before the new baby arrives!