Joyeux anniversaire Eloïse!

On Saturday we celebrated Eloïse’s 1st birthday.

Lots of food, sugar, kids and paint… It was a messy, noisy and enjoyable day.

I had spent a few days previously trying to work out how to make and use fondant icing for the cake and I think I can be happy with my very first attempt.
Well I was, until Camilla remarked that my red snake looked more like a pink worm - or a pink turd.

Driver Leo and Driver Finn taking Thomas for a ride under Controller Eloïse’s supervision.

 

 

 

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At the last birthday party, we had a bouncy castle, which allowed the parents to lay back and relax while the kids were releasing their energy into a confined environment.
Unfortunately for some of the parents, the bouncy castle this year was nowhere near as attractive as a white walled-playhouse with tubes of paint and felt pens placed right next to it.

 

 

 

The results of the playhouse painting.
One was expected, the other was undesired.

 

 

 

 

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Cake time!
We got a moment’s peace and quiet while all the kids were dutifully chewing away.

 

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Loki also participated in the festivities - helping Neil eat his cake and generally getting in the mood.

Eloïse seemed to enjoy the crowd and the attention - and the food. She hasn’t quite got the hang of presents just yet, but I’m sure it’ll come by Christmas. She was confidently crawling around and babbling away. She’s very tactile, so I’ve discovered that touch and feel books are great to retain her attention during story time.

I know I said that I wouldn’t do it any more, but I can’t help… Here are some milestones for 12 m.o. babies:

• Drinks from cup: Check. Also drinks from straw cups. And throws them onto the floor.
• Imitate activities. Check. Though not as quietly observant as Nico and more hands on, she’s picking some things up pretty quick.
• Plays ball. Check. With Nico. But also tries to eat the balloon.
• Waves bye-bye. Check. Even says it, which is sure to melt the person’s heart when they first hear it.
• Indicates wants. Ohhh yes. Not clearly, and certainly not very politely, but pretty loudly and immediately.
• Scribbles. What??? I wasn’t even aware that I should be giving her something long and inky to potentially choke on, draw on her arms and faces with, or damage our poor carpet with. Any new thing that is given to Eloïse will end up slobbered, chewed and sucked on. I don’t think the pen/pencil will stand a chance to be put to proper use.
• Puts block in cup. Check. Papa got her a neat little shape sorter through which she’s trying to work her way. Of course it’s that much harder when your big brother takes over.
• Says 3 words. Hmmmm…. Mama and Papa make two words. Aaarrghhhhhh I am sure means ‘Please would you give me back my toy’ in a language. Just need to figure out which.
• Walks. Nope. She’s just starting mastering the crawling. I still need to take her to the specialist to check whether she’s got Developmental Hip Dysplasia, which would explain why she’s favouring one leg over the other.
• Stoop and recover. Yes, will make use of gravity to place her bum on the floor between her feet, from a standing position.
• Stand alone. Yes. For all of 2 seconds. Then will use the above skill to gracefully stop standing. When she fails and ends up absorbing the fall with her forehead, I’ll be quickly picking her up from the floor while wondering whether I’ll have CYFS on my doorstep the following day.

Nico is 3 years and 3 months old.