Bryony - Six Months Old

Happy Half Birthday Bryony!

Absolutely the quickest six months of my life. She has swept me through 2011 so quickly because she's just so, well, ... easy. My always-happy beautiful piece of perfection! (I am completely in love in case you couldn't tell). She's weighing in at 15lbs 10oz and well on her way to much more now that we've introduced these:

Yep, that's sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, pears and the like, all pureed into cute little jars. Just like her older sister, we've yet to find one that she doesn't greedily suck down faster than you can refill the spoon. I am really enjoying this next stage and she is too (wouldn't you be if all you'd ever known was breastmilk and formula eight times a day?!)

So, at six months old, I am indeed sad that the infancy chapter is complete but also excited to see what the second half of her first year brings. Bring on the crawling, babbling, belly-laughing ... teething even?!

The Lovely Bones

I said last year that I would post every time I finished a book just to see how many I got through in the year. I started off strong, but then lost my summer to my busy job, and my pregnancy, and only managed one book from June to October or something. I think the total count for the year 2010 was six books. Not very impressive. And, sadly, I haven't kicked 2011 off to the best start either since I only just finished my first book of the year and it's already May! I will blame having a young baby; can I get away with that?! My work has definitely slowed down but my personal alarm clock, Miss Bryony, has not. I am determined to read more than six books for this year, if I can, and will continue to cut crappy TV shows out of my life to achieve it. Wish me luck!

So, book number one was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Another book that was a big hit a few years ago and I'm only just getting around to. And I'll be honest here and admit that I've had it checked out of the library since December. I just kept renewing and renewing it and never started actually reading it. I thought it was a heavier read than it was so I kept postponing it for that elusive day when I could sit and concentrate. Silly. I should have given it a shot so much earlier because it was a pleasant easy read (and because I never get quiet days to sit and concentrate, ha). I liked it. Liked it but not loved it. I got a lot out of the suburban picture and the family relationships. And it kept me gripped enough to finish it pretty quickly which means I must have liked it. And that's all I needed out of this book - just to get the reading ball rolling again. On to number two ...

Aunty Lesley & Uncle Barry's Visit

Aunty Lesley & Uncle Barry came to stay with mum & dad for a few weeks. We saw plenty of them:

Aunty Lesley bought the girls matching dresses

daddy even matched in blue

breakfast at "nannagrandads" (Abby calls them one word)

Beeeaaauuuuutiful Bryony

first swim of the year

Bryony with Uncle Barry

such a hard life for this four year old

first taste of banana

Mothers Day

Two videos for this Mothers Day, one from each of my daughters:

Then, because there are hardly ever pictures of me with both girls, some good ones from baby Joey's Christening a few weekends ago:

nanna and Bryony