The Diary of Isla Louise Herczog : May 2006

To keep up appearances I behaved like a little angel when we went to meet the Yoga mums and babies at the Botanic Gardens. No one believes mummy when she tells them I can scream for England! (But I managed to get my regular practice in at 3.30am, and kept daddy awake from 5.30am.)

Today was a scorcher, so I got to wear my summer clothes. Luckily we went for a swim in the afternoon. Now, don't get me wrong, I kinda like it, but I'm still not sure how mummy can float on water without holding on to something? I have to hold onto mummy and I sometimes get a dunking!

After a lot of activity and packing bags, I realised that it was Sam's 1'st birthday and we were off to Harrogate! After a stopover at Grandma's & Gramps we went to Kerry's. I did think about playing with Sam's new toys (and I want one of those toy quad bikes when I'm older!) but the chair was just too comfortable! I also got lots of cuddles from everyone, including Great Gran. But after all that lounging about I wanted to play when mummy and daddy wanted their dinner, and you just can't do both. Playing always wins!

I was having a lazy morning, just checking the TV guide when Gramps decided to take Poppy and me for a walk. In the afternoon we went back to Kerry's to play with Sam, but it was back at Grandma's that I did my one off, not to be repeated, belly roll from back to front. It's no use Daddy running for the camera when it's a one off, not to be repeated belly roll!

Today was Sam's Christening, who got wet outside and inside the church! I never had the chance to scream, as it was over whilst I was still chewing on the order of service. Then back for a party at Kerry's, where I spent most of my time in the kitchen.

On Monday it was back to the usual routine of laundry, Tesco's and tidying up. But we did manage to meet up with Naomi and visit the garden centre, though in the cafe I wasn't allowed any tea and scones. And when you can't have what you want, well, hmmm...

On Wednesday we went to see the nurse in the morning, where mummy got jabbed by big needles instead of me, for a change. Then I got some more books from the library and returned the ones that were no good. In the evening mummy had a lot of visitors for book club, so I had to scream a bit louder to make myself heard.

Another action packed day, with Yoga in the morning (I had a go at cuddling Levin today), lunch in the sun and some laps in the swimming pool. But this time mummy dunked me right under and I was not amused! Later on I was tired but wouldn't sleep, then after my bath I wanted to sleep but couldn't because mummy kept singing, dancing and wiggling my legs around. But all became clear when suddenly Oma arrived! I really wanted to stay up late but when Oma gave me my milk bottle I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

On the Friday Oma went shopping and we met up for lunch in town. For the record, I was as good as gold all day! (well, until about 6pm, just when Daddy got the BBQ going).

After a slow start, we went for a walk at Wandlebury. I got to sit facing forward in my pushchair, and everyone just followed on behind me. After a nice picnic we headed back home, just in time for the rain the start. I was getting quite hungry myself, and as if by magic, Mummy, Daddy and Oma then fed me my first solid food.

Then we played until it was time to go to Browns restaurant for dinner. I woke up a few times, but it was so busy that I kept myself entertained with all the people passing by. I think Mummy, Daddy and Oma had a good time too.

On Sunday I demonstrated to Oma how to use the bouncer, with a few twirls thrown in as well. But then it was time for Oma to go home again, so I had lots of cuddles before she went. Mummy fed me some more baby rice for lunch, though I ended up wearing some of it.

Yet more baby rice for lunch! But today I combined eating with blowing raspberries, so it wasn't just me wearing it! Of course we had to make our regular Monday pilgrimage to Tesco's, so it's a good thing I like being pushed around in the trolley. On Tuesday mummy bought a lot of pots for 'weaning' - if that's for the baby rice, then keep it coming!

It was Daddy's thirty-something birthday today, so I decided to get up especially early. Then we all went to the cinema to see Mission Impossible 3, where I distracted Mummy for a while with a rendition of Nappy Impossible. After lunch we bought some walking shoes for daddy and stopped for some coffee and cakes. In the evening I had to do a double take when I noticed someone else was feeding me! Then I realised that mummy and daddy had gone out for dinner and Charlie & Heather were holding the fort. But all was quiet on the western front that evening....

After another go at Yoga and swimming yesterday, today mummy took me to work. We also went to Baby Crotchets, a singing group (or was it a scream-a-long?), followed by a trip to Cheeky Monkeys, where we went together on the slide and everything!

Saturday was a really rainy day, so I stayed in and let mummy and daddy do some chores. I also got my first taste of carrot today, which made my clothes go all orange. I didn't like it too much anyway, so I blew some bubbles to show them what I thought of it all.

By the way, I now 65cm tall! I'm not growing so fast at the moment, so I might have to revise my 6metre target.

Got myself a new set of wheels today. A Maclaren Formula 1 push chair in go faster brown with a dead posh furry foot muff. I shall have to wave at people as I race past them. But my main new trick for today was sitting upright, though it still needs perfecting a bit. Every time I lean over to grab my toys I bump into the floor.

Mummy spent Tuesday morning mashing up some sweet potato, which I ate for lunch. Yum Yum! Did a bit of shopping in the afternoon, but I had a grumpy mood for the rest of the day. Mummy says I'm teething - well, at least I'm not grumpy for nothing eh!


I know there's a hole in there somewhere...	Look mummy, no hands!	Hey, this is water! Where's my milk?!

I managed to sleep from 11pm till 4am, so I was well rested for a bit of playtime. Mummy and Daddy didn't seem too interested though, and by 5.30am I was getting a bit tired myself. Mummy then took me to the cinema with Stacey and William, but as I wasn't too bothered about the film I kept mummy busy. Later I got myself weighed and I'm now 15lb 11oz (7.11kg). The solid food must be to blame for that. I even tried parsnip today but wasn't entirely quiet when mummy went out for the night.

At our Yoga session on Thursday I kept trying to sit up but mummy kept trying to get me to lie down, but I already know how to do that! Then I had a really good splash at the swimming pool and the teacher made me swim like a dolphin which was really cool except for the water my face. I had another go at splashing everything when I had my bath later in the evening.

We all went down to Hertford to meet mummy's friend Rowan from America, who is Naomi's sister. I was on my best behaviour and when we got back Grandma & Gramps arrived! I wasn't on my best behaviour when they tried to eat their take away though, so I had to go straight to bed.

On Sunday I played with my cool new crocodile from Grandma and sat outside whilst everyone had a barbeque. I'm getting much better at sitting up, but then I am 6 months old today!

After breakfast Grandma & Gramps had to go again, and mummy went back to bed! (I might have had something to do with that). But we did make it into town and the nursery for some garden plants. I also got my first taste of apple which started off ok but I wasn't so sure at the end.

Another 4am start and later I was told to finish my apple, but luckily I got sweet potato for lunch. Much nicer.

On Wednesday we visited Karen, Susie & Caitlin for lunch. The girls were fighting over cuddling me, but then I got tired and screamed the house down. Mummy had to leave in the end but 10 seconds into the journey I gave up screaming and just fell asleep. I did my first solid #2 today (hé hé). Then I was grumpy from 5pm but all was well when daddy came home....

Solid Food Encounters of the first kind...

Ok, you can let go of the spoon now...	Yum, Yum, baby rice, baby!	I'm saving the bit on my nose for later ☺	Hey, that's not baby rice! Oh well, if you insist...