Such a BAD Person

Oh my goodness, it's been far, far, far too long since I've last done this. I don't really feel in the mood right now either, but after reading some friends blogs I thought I would at least get a little something down for the New Year.

Three months left of life as we know it!!! The baby (who appears to have a winky in the scan photos) is due on the 30th of March. I can't quite believe I'm into my third trimester now and that I'm off on mat leave next month (Feb 18th I think is my last day). I still keep thinking I'm not that pregnant and I feel a fraud for wearing maternity clothes or insisting on sitting down when I'm tired!! Having one already really does mean you can't focus on just yourself for 10 months like I did the last time. I think it kind of makes it more enjoyable too, less time to worry about everything little thing your body is going through!!!

Imogen's such a big girl now! She really does make us laugh constantly- so a little me!! I don't know if that's good or not, but at least it does mean I can relate to much of what she goes through. She looks more like daddy I think but personality is all mine. It will be very interesting to see who the new little guy will be like! She loves books and sadly the telly!! At the moment she has to have one book in her bed at the end when she goes to sleep. I don't know why- she doesn't read it, though maybe she does take a look in the morning. There are so many other things I could write about but I would imagine they won't seem that interesting to anyone else and lots of it you kind of have to be there for!! You must all come visit so you can see how wonderful she is in person and bring your kids because they all look wonderful too!!!

Henry's gone now. We gave him to the Lab Rescue Trust about three or four months ago now as it was just too much for me in a flat with a dog who had to be walked three times a day. I was in the first stages of pregnancy and I just knew that I couldn't do it when I was nine months pregnant, dragging a nearly three year old behind us. He is very missed but I know he's happy in his new home with garden and a new mummy and daddy who love to go on walks. He can be the centre of their world, like he used to be for us, pre-Imogen (was there ever such a time? I can't imagine it now!!).

I think for now that's all I can stomach, enjoy the random shots from the year just gone and I promise I will try to be more regular in 2010 when I'm off work!!

2nd Birthdays and Potties!!!

Wow, lots has been going on in the last few days.  It was Immy's birthday on the 16th and we had an absolutely lovely day.  We went with; Joe's mum and step dad, his sister, my Aunt and Uncle from Canada and Joan, my dad's cousin, who helped me out when I first moved to England- to the National Aquarium in Plymouth for the day.  We had a good look at all the fish, had a little wander around the Barbican and then back to Joe's mum for birthday cake- made by me!  It was really nice to share the day with family, especially such a strong contingent of Norton's.  It made a nice change for me to have some of my family there.  Imogen was thoroughly spoilt rotten.  She's had loads of new clothes, a doll house, play hoover, pushchair for her babies and my parents will be getting her tricycle as well.  All this and she still has £50 to spend on stuff (mummy thinks storage solutions might make some sense).  

I've been off work all week on holiday and doing DIY like there's no tomorrow.  I've ripped up rugs, been to the tip, done charity shop runs, painted, carpet cleaned, sanded, baked and just generally done what feels like everything.  The place does look a lot better though the carpets certainly needed to be deep cleaned.  I still have more painting to do, but for the next few days it's me and Imogen (she's been at nursery the last four days) so I will be limited as to what I can do, though she often surprises me how good she can be when I am busy doing stuff.  

Now, onto the potty (not literally)!!!  She's been showing quite a few signs lately that she's been ready for the potty and at nursery more and more she's been going on the potty there and asking to go so I broke down and bought some big girl pants yesterday!!  Today was 'P' day and it went really well.  She had only three accidents at nursery but went on the potty lots!!  When she came home she happily got on her potty when I noticed she was starting to squirm and she did a wee for me too!!!!  I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow though ready to clean up lots of wet clothes so we'll see how we go.  She does seem to get the whole thing, though I don't think there's been any number 2s so we shall see how that goes when the time comes.  I can't believe how my little girl is growing up!!

Enjoy the photos from her big day (birthday that is).  

Cockington

Imogen and I went to Cockington today with a friend from work for a nice little walk.  We didn't take Henry but Julia brought her dog (very well behaved and loved by Imogen [poor thing, didn't stand a chance]) and we have a lovely time.  Here's some photos from the day.  I can't believe how grown up my nearly two year old is getting.  If she has the choice to walk or sit in her chair it's always walk now.  As well her independant streak is really coming out, of course at all the worst times but I guess there's no time limit on learning about the world.

iMac and iPhone

As soon as the iMac was ordered we both managed to convince ourselves that we had to have iPhones as well and I have to say best crazy decision I've ever made.  I will NEVER go back to PCs.  You know how most Mac users always seem like wankers and think their computers are the bees knees, it's cause they really are.  This computer does everything and it's SOOOOOOO easy to get it to do it.  Not once have either Joe or I been angry, cried or anything and the iPhone is just as easy.  I can't rave about this computer enough.  Anyway, before I completely turn into one of those wankers who go and on about their stupid computers I'd best change to subject to my other favourite subject at the moment, Imogen.

She's been doing very well lately.  She really is getting to be such a big girl.  No more carrying up the steps (thank GOD, she's a big girl) even though we sometimes have tears and there needs to be gentle prodding it gets better all the time.  She's also really communicating now and if my parents could see it I"m sure they'd be laughing their heads off.  I made their lives a misery for year (who's kidding who, I still do) constantly talking and it appears pay back comes in the form of my daughter.  If she's not 'talking' to me she's singing or making some kind of noise.  It is nice to see her so happy though!

I don't have so many photos recently but here's a couple that I've rustled up.

Best Friends

Imogen's been talking about Henry quite a lot lately at nursery so they asked me to take some pictures of him so she could show the other kids.  Here are the results.  They do get on quite well these days and it isn't often that Henry gets cheesed off with her.  When he steals her food though she does get a little annoyed with him!!!

St Ives

Someone likes wearing her hat whenever she can

Smelling the tulips at the Eden Project

On the beach outside of the Tate

My very 'cool' family

This is an example of the road in St Ives, though this is quite bit stretch. Where's she's sitting is where you drive!!

I'm the worst at this. Sorry everybody, I will try harder I promise. Anyhoooo, the usual's been happening all year so far, work, nursery etc. We have decided to put Imogen into a new nursery which is affiliated with a private school in Paignton which according to a few of my customers is a great school as their kids have gone there. We went to see it last week and really were impressed. Mainly we want her there now because we really want her to go there when she starts primary school and if we start her at the nursery she's got an in when she's primary school age. It's going to cost a little more than we've been paying but we'd really rather her not have to associate with the majority of the kids in town and if we have to pay for it we both think it's worth it. She'll start this summer for their summer 'Buzz Club' as they call it. Because it's associated with the school everything is based on terms and they have half term holidays and everything. It will help Joe and I get back into the school mindset that we both left behind so many years ago. And the best bit, the uniform is to die for. It's so cute, the girls even get to wear a little boater in the summer!!! Anyway, I'm pleased with the choice we've made and it's so close to home - no hills on the way there or back!!!

Last weekend we decided to have little holiday as we hadn't really been anywhere for the longest time. We picked St Ives, a fantastic place on the North Cornish coast that's rather famous for it's artists etc. There's a Tate Gallery there as well. I'll attach some pictures so you can see what a beautiful place it is and we lucked out with the weather as well. The only thing I have against the place is that it really is a typical small English town and the roads are teeny tiny. It was quite funny, well in hindsight, we walked around the town shopping in the afternoon and both said boy we would hate to have to drive through here. No places for cars and pedestrians at the same time but you just have to find room. Anyway, about an hour later we got hopelessly lost on the way to the hotel and had to drive through the centre of town a few times. Imagine a small back alley with cobbles and shops on either side and people everywhere, oh and other cars coming at you in the other direction. English driving is an experience I tell you. Anyway, when Imogen wasn't having a spaz as we are now firmly in the terrible twos we had quite a good time. It really is a lovely place.

That's about it for the big news at the moment. Enjoy the photos and I'll try to write again sooner than I left it this time.

Happy Christmas and New Year!!!

It's been so long since I've posted, I'm so sorry. I guess it's the usual excuse of Christmas, but truthfully I just can't be asked so much of the time. At work we have more computer technology at our fingertips than ever before, which is great for work but not so great for me wanting to come home and sit at the computer for another few hours or some days, even another few minutes. Anyway, enough of the excuses, hope everyone had a really great Christmas and that the New Year has started with a bang for everyone. I have to say, 2008 was probably one of the hardest years of my life so far so I'm very much looking forward to the new year ahead.

Imogen continues to get cuter and cuter. She's so funny and so much like both Joe and I. Whenever she does something naughty or annoying you think to yourself why is she like this, then opps!! you realise it's exactly what you were like when you were a kid (or how you felt last week). She's getting so much more independent now, which is great, but also a little depressing sometimes. She's been out walking with us when we take Henry for a walk and she does very well leading the way. She adores other dogs and has to stop and wave and say hello to all the dogs we come across. She is so much fun I just hope she stays this cute forever.

Henry has a new friend. One of my colleagues at work has become a friend of mine( Justine), she's Irish (isn't that grand!!! he, he, he) and loves dogs. Sadly she lost hers a few weeks ago and since then Henry has spent the night a couple of times to keep her company. I think Imogen is the only one who misses him when he goes, it's so nice not to have to worry about two of them. We went out on the moors last Sunday with Henry and Imogen and had a wonderful time. Fortunately for me she likes walks and stuff too. Joe will only go when he's in the mood, which seems to only happen a couple of times a year. I've posted a photo from that day.

I don't think there's anything else really exciting to blog about. Life just keeps moving on here in Paignton. Imogen loves nursery, Mummy is enjoying work and Daddy barely works now that it's winter. Christmas was lovely, as you can imagine Imogen was spoiled as usual and thanks to Justine Henry had a nice Christmas too. Enjoy some of the latest pictures!!!