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My Second Year

I decided to get with the times and write myself an internet blog - diaries are so last year, don't you think?! So welcome to my blog for 2007!

Sorry it has taken so long to get going, but my able typing assistant was busy in December producing my first DVD, then he just got too carried away with parties, holidays and well, I might have kept mummy and daddy a bit busy as well.

The trouble with growing up so fast is that just as you get used to something, it all changes again. So I had my first visit to room 4 at the nursery. Mummy will park my bum there in the new year. I quite liked it but I'll keep quiet about that for now...

The other problem with growing up is all these extra teeth I keep getting. Don't know how many more I really need, and I could do without the sleepless nights, but numbers 3 and 4 will come in handy with those chocolate biscuits because then I can take even bigger bites!

The year 2006 would not have been complete without another holiday, but a 12 hour flight after lots of fog causing delays wasn't much fun. I knew I'd get spoiled by everyone in Thailand, so mummy and daddy just had to put up with me screaming all the way there.

Then the holiday was over again, and there was just the small matter of jetlag to deal with. Easy peasy, I slept forever on the first night back, to mummy and daddy's delight. But by Monday more teeth decided to make an appearance and all I could do was scream all night. Well, for about a week, actually, though strangely I was fine whilst at nursery... (and annoyingly, I don't have anything to show for it yet!)

I keep trying to walk, and whenever I launch myself mummy or daddy will catch me (well, most of the time ☺). But I'm such an expert at "walking the walls" that I rarely need to take my life into my own hands. And then there's always mummy and daddy to take me wherever I want to go!

Note that 2007 is not, contrary to popular belief, the year of the pig, but actually the year that starts with me trying out all the diseases that are going round at nursery. I used to think a really snotty nose was bad, but you should try 'slap cheek'. The fever made me sweat like a pig, so maybe the Chinese were right after all.  After a week I finally got rid of it, but with cruel efficiency I caught chicken pox in less than a day back at nursery. I didn't know chickens were covered in red spots, but I'll let you know when I stop looking like one.

Part 2...

It took me nearly two weeks to fight off the last of those red spots, and I've still got the scars to prove it. But no sooner had I gone back to nursery when I caught a really bad case of Monday-itus which lasted several days. And that's saying nothing of my permanently snotty nose, but luckily I've got sleeves on both arms to deal with that! Now that I've also managed to get a lot of cold sores in my mouth I really hope that I'm done for this year with weird diseases!

As you know, I was never that bothered about crawling. So I spent quite some time on two feet launching myself in the general direction of where I wanted to go, relying on mummy and daddy to catch me.

Catch me if you can...  ☺

But I had been wondering how everyone else managed to stay upright until one day I just did it. How cool is that! Now I can go where I want, walk away when I'm bored, move my toys around all over the house, and play with the washing machine when I feel like it! There's no stopping me now; If I see daddy is in the study, I just go in and press all the buttons on the printer. If mummy's in the kitchen, there's loads of cupboard doors that are just begging to be opened. Actually, mummy doesn't have to be in the kitchen for that game.

In March it was Emily's birthday party and there was loads of food. I like food. Especially cake, so I had lots of that! I think Martina was worried about me amongst all these really big 2 year olds, but I had a great time stealing their toys and knocking them over! I also loved Emily's slide and playhouse in the garden, so I have to have one of those too.

Mummy and Daddy will probably have told you that I talk like Bill and Ben, the flowerpot men. But I've come a long way in making my demands known, and I've learnt to say a few words as well. I've put a few of my favourite words on-line for you to hear (ignore daddy who kept interrupting me!) - just click here! I know I can ramble for England, so here is a translation (with daddy's words in brackets):

In March we went up to Harrogate to see a wedding. I got all dressed up but I wasn't allowed to run around in the church, unlike Sam who was dive-bombing the kneeling cushions at the alter! Then I stayed with Grandma and Gramps where I provided the entertainment for the evening. Even though mummy had a 'bit' of a hangover, I woke her up extra early the next day because it was mother's day.

The wedding ...	Games to play during lunch ...
Go on Sam, give us a kiss!	Dad, let go of my food!	Ok, best of five then...	Cheers Mummy! Can I try yours?

After a weekend of excesses it was back to nursery again. I think they were surprised to see me on the Monday. Can't think why.

	I knew that we had a mountaineering holiday in the Peak District coming up, so I decided to get some early practice in. You see, you have to make sure that you get a comfortable ride, and that your helper is up to the job. Otherwise it is just no fun.
Do you serve raisins on this walk?	Wake me up when we get there. Yeah, me too.	Oops,  did I spoil your picture dad?	How come they're allowed to eat the grass?

Apart from the bit where I fell asleep, I saw lots of sheep, hills around Dove Dale and a big castle. I wasn't very keen on my hotel bed so in the evenings Mummy and Daddy rocked me to sleep in my push chair before going off to the bar. All that fresh air did wear me out a bit.

Disaster! I can't get into the box!	Oops, did I do something wrong????	Spider, don't you dare come any closer!

But before I knew it though we had to drive all the way home again.

Just messin' around
I'm now in my next size shoes...	Who are you calling a Muppet?	Do you want to see my disappearing sand trick?

The weather has been great in April and May, so I'm getting to play outside a lot. Of course, I tried to give daddy a hand with all the gardening work too...

Time for some gardening!
I've got me some wellies, so let's go!	Ok, I just pull everything out, right?	This is fun dad, but it's not helping...	Now don't tell me you didn't read the manual for this thing!?

I still manage to surprise mummy and daddy with my sleeping habits, sometimes I'm pooped by 7pm, other times I want to stay up to watch the 10 o'clock news. But I normally sleep through the night now, except when I wake up and I'm dying for a drink. It's now 9.35pm and I'm almost finished playing with my toys. Just another 5 minutes, ok?

Part 3...

Next thing I know it's Daddy's 40th birthday - how old is that! I can't imagine ever being that old. Still, it was a good party and its a good excuse to stay up really late. But even I had to admit defeat when I couldn't keep my eyes open for the photo. The solution of course is to start all my parties much earlier in the day. Maybe 2pm would be good, then I can eat all the food before everyone arrives.

You also get lots of presents when you have a party. So I will definitely have lots of parties. But Daddy was given a big bin for keeping wriggly worms in, so I'd have to tell my friends that I don't need any more worms.

It's worm time!
But what if you get a monster worm and he doesn't fit in?	This newspaper, are they going to read it or eat it?	Wriggly worms...Urgggh!

 

		Grandma and Gramps came to stay for a weekend, though when I said bye-bye to mummy and daddy on the Friday I wasn't expecting them to stay away until Sunday! But I kept Grandma and Gramps very busy so they weren't bored at all. I showed them round the garden and where the park was so they could watch me go on the slide. I had to go down the slide quite a few times of course! Looking after my grandparents is really quite easy, so I hope I get to do it again sometime!
Just watch me, I'll show you how its done	Faster, faster!

The many faces of Isla
Mummy let me play with her sunglasses till I broke them...	...so I found these goggles to play with instead!	Think I might have overdone it on the Botox

I don't remember much about last summer (it's scary how time flies - I'll be two years old soon and I've already forgotten what I did last year! ☺), but I do know it is always raining now. When the sun does shine my favourite outdoor toys are the bubble machine, then the lawnmower, then the sandpit (or maybe it's the other way around, I can't decide), then my paddling pool and finally my trampoline. My most favourite toy is the slide in the park, narrowly beating some of the things I'm not allowed to play with. Like mummy's floor mop.

 

	The weekends have been very busy, and after celebrating fathers day we went to see Emily's new little sister, Jasmine. She's so small! I saw her again the next weekend when we went to Whipsnade zoo, but it was raining so much that all the animals had run for cover and disappeared. The ones behind bars didn't look very happy either.  But Emily gave me her blue whale to play with so I was as happy as the pigs rolling in mud.
I should get paid for this! ☺		How can you possibly be the largest whale in the world!?

Well, July was my party month.

Caitlin's birthday party was first up, and it was a good thing that I was already the queen of slides because this playground had the biggest slide I've ever seen! Susie had to help me climb up (again and again and again ☺) so we could race down as fast as I could say "more"! (By the way, I used to say 'more' which always worked just fine, but now all of sudden I have to say 'more please' or it doesn't work - go figure. But I'll keep saying just 'more' because it is fun watching mummy and daddy saying please all the time.)		At another party I bounced around in a big castle and drove in a race car though it only ever went round  in circles and this train kept following me.
			No, I need to take a bigger run at it!

Then I had my biggest party yet in a church! Well, strictly speaking the party started afterwards in the back garden but I had a great time running around the church with Susie until the priest caught me and blessed me with cold water. I'll get him back next time! Everyone had come to see me, and the party started in the afternoon as it should.

It's party time. Again!
Are you going to scream first or shall I?	This partying is thirsty work!	I can do what I like today! Yippee!	Now where did I leave my beer?

I have to say that knowing a few more words can come in very handy sometimes:

• Whenever I feel like it I can just say "more milk", "more pazta", "more cheeze", and "more pleze".
• But I also know the words for "hepcop" (daddy says helicopter), "airplane", "updown" (which works both ways!),
• "aardbei" which is Dutch for strawberry and I can even count them because it is one, too, tee, four, six, eight.
• To get dressed all I need is my "sox", "schuz", "coat" and my "backpack" but I forget what a "nappy" does
• For school I have my "duck" but I have to leave "bear" and "baby" at home
• At lunch I always ask for "more hamm" and I love raw "peeper"
• When I get home to do some drawing I say "Mummy sit there" or "Daddy sit there" as the mood takes me
• My favourite friends are "SAM" and "Suzie"
• Though when I read my favourite story of the "Gruff-lo" I get strange looks when I say "Foks" or "fogh" (frog)
• I already know where I keep my "hair", "eyes", "ears", "belli" and "towz" but I can't pronounce the rest
• Of course I know that "bubbles" go "POP!" and "balloons" go "BANG!", I mean, who doesn't?
• and when things go a bit pear shaped I just say "Oh Dear!"

I might also know the meaning of a lot of other things that I'm told I can't do, and when it is bath time and bedtime, but I'm not going to admit to that now am I!

Our worms have all gone on a permanent holiday. I've been checking them every week but after the last time, when they were all trying to escape, they've either gone into hiding or done a runner. Maybe they didn't like the food. Or maybe it was something I said. I did call them 'wums' last time.

It's summer time. Finally!
Cheeeeze!	Ok, get the roof off and let's go!	And here we have the go-faster GTX3000...	No, I am not going to bed!	Giddy-up Daddy!

Despite all my antics I was a really good girl for my babysitter when mummy and daddy went out for their 5 year wedding anniversary, and I even managed a repeat performance when they went out again to another party! Now I'm really looking forward to a well deserved holiday in Scotland! I'll try and remember all the things I get up to...

Part 4...

I just love holidays! Especially when you fall asleep in the car and next thing you know you've arrived in Edinburgh! Well, I did wake up briefly in Harrogate so I could give Grandma, Gramps and Sam a kiss and a cuddle.

It's holiday time. Yippee!
Come on Sam, give me a cuddle!		You should have seen it, my fish was this big!
	No, I don't want to look up...

I had a great time in Edinburgh. I saw the castle and lots of amazing fish at sea world, before we drove on to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. It was a good thing that I woke up just in time for the ferry because it turns out that ferries are great for running around on.

Our trip to Rothesay
On an island somewhere in Scotland...		Ok, deep breath, then blow!
	...to boldly go where no duck has gone before...

There were miles of beaches and an unlimited supply of seashells. Checking them all one by one turned out to be quite a big job and unfortunately mummy couldn't carry them all, so I was told to leave a few of them behind. We also went round Rothesay and the castle before Dot, Brian, Lorna, Kirsty and Andrew came to stay the weekend. I had a great time playing with their dogs Angus and Tess, but Andrew became my pal.

Let the entertainment begin...
Hey daddy, you're not tired are you!?		Ehhh, Andrew, why is it going the other way?	Oh dear. Who moved the pavement!
	Skateboarding. How hard can it be?!

I made sure Andrew came with me wherever we went, checking that Lorna and Kirsty were not too far away. Don't know where mummy and daddy were, but I think they went out for dinner one evening. With so many playmates around I was absolutely not tired at 8pm, 9pm or 10pm. And I was definitely not sleepy at 11pm. But by midnight everyone else had gone to bed so I decided to save some energy for the next day.

Let the entertainment continue...!
Maybe it will be more fun if I just eat the bubble machine...	Hey mummy, can we take one of the seals home?	Look! I can climb mountains too!	Oh, it's a hard life ☺

We spent a day at Mount Stewart, visited a big beach and played games till I dropped. We also went to another beach where we saw lots of seals. No wonder they were sitting on the rocks sunbathing, the water was really cold!

After running around on the ferry again we went to stay with Dot for a few days, and visited great Grandma in Girvan. She gave me a really nice white bear so I'm calling it my polar bear.

Oh, I am into learning colours now, but I pretend that everything is blue. My favourite second guess is pink. It's a good thing daddy's car is blue or I might have made an embarrassing mistake. I have figured out what is yellow and green but it would be much more exciting if there were blue bananas and pink apples!

There is now a whole entourage of cuddly toys that I simply cannot be without. First there was bear, then baby Louise and duck, and now polar bear. I can barely manage to carry them all at once!

After the holiday it seems like bedtime is getting earlier and earlier, but I have been trying out a cunning plan. When daddy says it's time to put my pyjamas on that's my cue to put the plan into action. The first thing to do of course is to completely deny that it could possibly be my bedtime. 'No Daddy, stop!'. But if that falls on deaf ears, I scream for bear. So we go on a hunt for bear, and I definitely can't remember where I last left him. Once found, I can't possibly go upstairs without duck, polar bear and baby. But I can't go upstairs with them either, as daddy tells me to hold on to the stairs. So I go up one step at a time, really slowly, because I have to check that daddy is still carrying my entourage. On the second step I always discover a spider, so small that daddy has trouble seeing it. But I point it out anyway. On the third step, the pussycats lying on the banister come into view, and I have to stop and have a play. I found the fourth step to be really good for sitting on, but by now daddy is moaning and telling me to "go go go", so I don't sit down for too long. I take 2 steps to show willing, but then I spot a hair and feel compelled to point it out. (It's actually a bit of the carpet, so this trick works every time!). I know daddy wants me to go to sleep, so I put my head down on the next step up. It doesn't normally take long after that for me to get carried the rest of the way, but this part of the plan has bought me at least 5 minutes!

Once in the bedroom I can usually stretch things out a bit more. I'll drink my milk really slowly whilst they read me a story, that way I'm not yet finished when the story ends. If I have any energy left I'll point frantically to the stairs in the hope of watching some late night TV. But in the end I can't keep my eyes open, so I give in and roll over in bed. Unless of course either bear, baby, duck or polar bear somehow failed to join me. Oh, and did I mention my favourite blanket? Now where's my blanket!?

PART 5...

It has taken a while to write this update, but I was busy putting the final touches to my new video, Isla's Second Year, and then there was my trip to Holland and a whole load of parties. My diary was just maxed out!

Now, where were we? Oh yes. I know all my bedtime stories off by heart, so when it's my third story and daddy tries to skip any pages I immediately jump up and make him go back. And there's always time for one more story after the last one...

When I do finally manage to get into my bed, it seems I've started living a second life in my sleep. (well, there just aren't enough hours in the day, even when I don't sleep at nursery!). All sorts of things seem to happen when I sleep and sometimes I end up having a bit of a moan. But I woke up screaming when baby James stole my wellies! I was relieved when daddy told me they were still downstairs, but there was no way I was going back into my own bed. Whenever I wake up at night now I insist on getting into mummy's bed, though somehow I always end up back in mine in the morning. Then it takes me ages to get some attention, but I've discovered that if I scream about having hurt my finger it doesn't take so long. Sometimes I say I've hit my head for extra effect but my best excuse yet was when I said I hurt my belly button!

In November we went to Holland. I was given a pair of clogs by Gerry which are great for tap dancing. Then I had a great time in the aquarium and I saw the beach in Scheveningen, but it was a bit too cold for building sandcastles. The next day we went for dinner in Utrecht and I saw Robin!, so we had a great time hiding under the table and running around the restaurant.

My trip to Holland...
I promise not to scream on the airplane.	Hey, these straws don't work!	Excuse me whilst I phone home...	Who said I talk too much!?	I'm not sure this is allowed, but what the heck...

All too soon it was time to head back home, but I had my birthday parties to look forward to. When you're two it is only right that you should have 2 parties! I was given a big kitchen and lots of cups, saucers and cutlery, as well as an apron. Now I'm forever having to make daddy cups of tea but I put the cup in the microwave because that's quicker.

One day I had a very naughty toe because it was hurting me. So we had to go to the doctors instead of nursery but it was good fun because there were loads of interesting books to look at and I got some cream to make it better. Now whenever anything happens (like having sharp nails) my first suggestion is always to go to the doctors, but if mummy or daddy can kiss it better then that's ok too.

As I'm learning more and more things, I thought I'd come up with some new phrases of my own:-

I also like puzzles. My one to ten book has two Toucans, so when I saw one on TV and Daddy asked me what that was I said "It's a Onecan!".

For Christmas we went up to Harrogate to see Sam (and Grandma, Gramps, and everybody else too of course!).

It's Christmas time!
I wish I could see where I was going...	Anybody want to hear my new sonata?	Shhh, don't tell anyone we're eating all the chocolate from the tree!	Gramps, I can see you're struggling. Let me help...

I had to go with Daddy to the dentist after Christmas but I was a very brave girl. I got a bit freaked out when the chair starting moving but I didn't scream at all. Not even when Daddy was on the chair with a noisy drill in his mouth! At the end I got a sticker but it didn't taste very nice at all. Then I told the whole story to everyone at nursery. Twice. Or was that three times?! I can't remember. Maybe it was more than that.

See My Photo Blog for 2008 when it is ready!