Busy Busy

Well its been a busy couple of weeks since we came home from holidays. I’ve been in great form as my ear hasn’t been hurting me and I’ve been enjoying hanging out with Mum and Dad. My cousin (first-cousin once removed) Matt came to visit from London. He was a great visitor who played with me lots and in return I gave him some of my great scrunch-up-my-nose smiles.

Also I got my first pair of shoes. I’m crawling lots, especially on my mat which isn't as slippy as the wooden floor and pulling myself up quite a lot and then slipping on the wooden floors so the shoes should give me a bit of grip. Let’s face it, they’re no Louboutins but a girl has to start somewhere. Also as you can see they don’t match all my outfits – I look a bit like ‘Ugly Betty’ (for those of you not familiar with Ugly Betty she wears highly patterned mismatching clothes) but there’s a recession so its one pair of shoes at a time for me (it’s a pity Mum doesn’t subscribe to that philosophy but I'm begining to understand that there's a different set of rules for adults and children). Mum thinks I might be teething cause I’m smacking my lips. However Mum thinks that I’ve been teething since Christmas and I still don't have any teeth so considering I'm 8 and a half months she’s bound to get the teething prediction right sooner or later.

This week is a big one for me as I’m starting in the crèche and mum goes back to work next week. Both Mum and I are pretty relaxed about it so fingers crossed it will all be fine. I was there for 2 hours today and was fine most of the time. I got a little upset at one point but that's just because it got very noisy and I'm not used to noise. But the lovely girls, Sarah and Tana, who will be looking after me took care of me and I was fine. There are 6 boys (Daragh, Dylan, Daniel, Charlie, John & I can't remember the other boys name) and Rebecca (my friend from up the road) in my room so no wonder it was a bit noisy. Anyway I'm a great hair-puller so I've no doubt that I'll be able to fit in and stand up for myself once I get settled.

Hello

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. We’ve been enjoying the last 6 weeks just hanging out doing the usual things that a 8 month old does – going for walks in the park, playgroups, baby yoga, swimming, clapping hands and crèche gym. I went to a music session in the National Concert Hall with Mum and Dad and we all had a great time playing with the baby instruments and singing.

I’ve been a little out of sorts the last few weeks. I haven’t been sleeping very well at night. Poor Mum and Dad have not been happy because they are both quite tired as they really aren’t used to night-time wakening and of course they were worried about me. Mum has been giving me Teetha and ice cubes for my teeth but I’ve tried to tell her that there’s nothing wrong with my gums. I had a bad cold last week and Mum brought me to the doctor just to be sure that it was nothing more serious. Anyway, it all came to a head on Saturday afternoon when Dad noticed lots of blood around my ear. Mum & Dad brought me to the weekend doctor and he told them I had a perforated eardrum. Much worse than it sounds but suffice to say I’m far better now. I’m in great form, sleeping better, moving around lots (nearly crawling) and bouncing like a mad thing. I don’t think it will be too long before some teeth put in an appearance.

The highlight of the last few weeks has been my latest holiday. I know it seems as if I’m always on holiday – blame Mum & Dad they’re holiday mad! We went on a Dunphy family excursion to Blanes on the Costa Blanca. We had a really early flight on the Saturday morning but luckily Mammó let me sleep on her on the plane (We were like the Griswalds on the 0640 from Dublin to Barcelona - all the Dunphys except Ross who was joining us from Malaga). We stayed in a lovely big house and everyone was really kind to me, especially my cousin Ríodhna . She loved getting up in the morning so she could play with me and she was always giving her ‘blankie’ to me, which I know means that she really loves me. Ella and Ríodhna were able to go out for dinner late some nights with all the adults but because I wasn't that well Mum & Dad wanted me in bed early so I missed out. However Mum and Dad did go out one night and Uncle Ross minded me. I was quiet as a mouse for him and only woke up when Mum & Dad got home.

We went to the beach, chilled out in the house, swam in the pool (well Ella swam lots but the water was a bit too cold for me given I haven’t been well), had barbeques, went on the swings and generally had a good time. So now the holiday is over Mum is on countdown - she's back to work at the end of the month. I'm quite excited because I'll be going to a creche 4 days a week. I've visited a few times and it seems really nice. I already know 2 of the other babies there - Rebecca who I do playgroup with and often go for a walk with on Thursday afternoons and Can whose Mum & Dad work with my Mum & Dad. I'm sure it will be a big change for all of us but its a new adventure for me so I just hope Mum won't be too upset to be leaving me. I'll keep up posted on my progress.