First proper food

We started Gwen with some banana yesterday, she had the same today. I wouldn't say she knew what she was doing but some of it went in! Lovely foody fun

Gwen rolling back to front

This started the other day, seemingly from nowhere, she started arching her back and looking back over her head and I wondered what on earth she was doing, then I realised she was trying to turn and it was a matter of hours before she did it. She's getting much better at it already and in this video she does it super fast. She was on her back when I grabbed the phone to record and was already half way when I hit record!

Celine and Laures visit and other pics

Only a first draft as there are more pictures/words to come I'm sure. I'm watching the opening ceremony of the olympics too, so I might get distracted.

It was blimmin fantastic to see the girls again, I cried as I saw them at the train station, (I'm still blaming the baby hormones but I do cry pretty easily!)

Some of the lovely colourful flowers in the garden 

 Our new BBQ - the first of many bbq's we've managed to have 4 in the last 2 weeks! Taking advantage of the weather

The start of the new fence - 

Gwen in her PJ's. she looks angelic but in fact a few seconds before I took this there was a huge raspberry sound and she had leaked out of the nappy. 

Us girls and the kids Charlotte and Rafael on pirate day

Day at Zoo with the troops and Chris

Gwen and her new friend Charlotte

Raffy holding Chris' helmet

Gwen sad after they had left!

Day at Shoalstone with the girls and Chris and Raffi (the others were down at ladybird beach)

Gwen fascinated by Raffi 

First Giggling video

Apart from the odd individual giggle sound, Gwen hasn't done much giggling. Until the 19th June 2 days before she was 5 months old. I found quite by accident that by doing an odd growly voice started her off. It's quite a scary voice in some ways but obviously not to her! 

Gwens new clothes

today I went to torquay to get Gwendo a few summery things, she sucks on dresses and the bottom edge of tops so the idea was to get some romper suits (if thats what you call them?) there was a sale on at mothercare so got a few things there and also went to m& s (1 more item) and also boots (which is a big one) I ended up buying a summer hat, a future swimmimg costume for £2 and some dresses cos they were pretty. 

Gwen is modelling some of her outits for you

Next update on Gwens eyes

We had an appointment at the hospital, we had to wait an hour from our appointment time and Gwen fell asleep on Chris shoulder.  When we eventually got seen, it wasn't really that encouraging. Chris wasn't too impressed with our doctor, he was a locum and firstly apologised for the delay explaining that the morning session over ran and always does so why they had booked us in first thing in afternoon was wrong of them he said. We had to get some drops put in her eyes to dilate her pupils and a nurse had to do this in a different room so he saw a different patient and we were told to wait for 20 minutes for the drops to work. After this she started to grizzle in the waiting room so I took her for a feed in the toilet, (there were so many old people in the waiting room I didn't fancy breastfeeding in there.) When we went back in I think he was mainly checking inside her eyes to see if they were healthy and nothing nasty going on in there - which there wasn't. He did a funny test, whizzing hr around to see if she aligned her eyes or something. He said she didn't seem to be able to turn her eyes outwards, and the left seemed a bit worse, these symptoms are those of a rare eye disorder called Duanes syndrome. He asked if we had any questions, I asked if her eyes would ever straighten? He seemed a bit blase in saying 'no' but I'm not sure quite what he was talking about at times. He said about her seeing a paediatric opthamologist next (in a month?) and they might say different to him and about her being measured for glasses???? Really at her age???
We'll see what happens next

4 months pictures

On one of our many visits to Nannas. Here is Gwen trying out the top part of her high chair which has been donated by sister Charlie. She sat up fairly well but i'm not sure she's that sturdy in it yet.  Yu can see Tilly also ignoring her, Tilly has recently one a dog competition up in Evercreech, just a local fete type thin, She won the 'dog most want to take home' category. Iris walked Tilly around, Daisy took Barney but he puled a lot and didn't win anything. (I'm told she was very disappointed in Barney) 

 Mum and dad new wood burning fireplace can be seen in the background.

Today (and yesterday) we went to Aunty Wendys to help paint the bedroom for her. It was mum and  me mainly and Wendy did a grand job of baby sitting. She is a natural with babies, she had 3 herself, has numerous grandchildren and she also fostered babies too.  Here is one of the many times she rocked Gwen to sleep! She had a good snooze on her Great Aunty Wendys shoulder!

Gwens cheeky smile was making Wendy laugh and  that in turn made Gwen smile so it was a jolly time with the two of them entertaining each other for hours! 

One of her lovely smiles

After Wendys was finished we stopped off at the tyre place to see Chris and he had a cuddle with Gwen as she was a bit hungry and  grizzly. 

Here's our grown up little baby, she seems to be making so many leaps in development lately. It's great to see her becoming her own little person. She's definitely not a new born anymore. 

More swimming and grabbing feet pics

Her cute little cheeky smile. 

Swimming with Dad, in Ellies swim pants. 

Head down, checking out her nails

Some serious feet touching (as in serious face) wearing her vertbaudet outfit, and a jaunty little muslin neckerchief, to catch the dribble.  The trousers remind me of MC hammer pants. 

A visit from Hayley and Isla Rose.

Hayley used to work with me at the theatre, and it turns out when I told her I was expecting Gwen, she was also expecting but didn't know it for a few more days/weeks. Well her lovely lady Isla is here now and we got together yesterday.  Gwen is 19 weeks and Isla is 8 weeks.

Here are some little pics,  Gwen is giant baby in comparison to dinky Isla! 

All that's missing is the guitars!

Both fixated on Eddie the elephant tunes. 

Gwen looks like a right chunky monkey! 

Little cutie Isla Rose

We took a trip up to Berry head, (this a day which had rain forecast, I needed sunglasses!)

The girls snoozing.

 The lovely coastal views from the fort

A lovely day all round, and really nice to get to know Hayley even better. xx