Happy New Year!

Dear girls,

Well 2010 has been a lovely year. Started well with our gorgeous E, and the arrival of our beautiful little P in April really completed our little family.

I can't quite believe the pair of you are as old as you are (or indeed that it's New Year's Eve!). E is 3 years and almost 3 months, and P is 8 months old. Two gorgeous wee girls. Still very alike and still the absolute best of friends. E often tells us that P is her "best best ever friend".....long may it continue.

I don't make new year's resolutions as I would always break them, but I hope 2011 is a fabulous year for our family. I'm writing this sat at home with not even a sniff of alcohol as I have awful laryngitis and feel awful, so 2011 can only get better!

Love you loads girls....can't wait to write to you more in 2011,

Love always,

Mummy x

(Un)requited love?!

Dear E,

Recently we've been giggling about love. I tell you that I love you and you tell me I don't. I hope you know I do though. You also like to tell me, "I don't like your kisses!" in a very strong tone.....at which I cover your face in tiny kisses which makes you giggle a lot. At least right now you're always laughing/smiling when you wipe my kisses away....I hope that never changes.

Last night you girls had got ready for bed and you were tootling off with Daddy to brush your teeth and read stories. I was sat on my bed ready to feed P and put her down in her cot. I always ask Daddy to turn the light off, and one of you closes the door. So the door closed, and the light went off...then suddenly the door re-opened and your smiling face popped round and said (quite unprompted), "I love you right up to the moon and back!". You disappeared as fast as you had come, but it made me smile (and well up slightly!!).

Then another moment I should write about (just so you see that Daddy can be romantic occasionally)......Today in Tesco the lady on the checkout was commenting on our two beautiful girls, and I was saying you are both total Daddy's girls, and no-one loves me. Daddy said straight out, "I love you." Bless him!

Love you - and I always will, and you're not to forget that,

Mummy x

I should of known!

Dear E,

So it seems you are always right. I mean, I notice you're right a lot of the time, but actually I'm beginning to think that aged 3 you do know everything.

One thing I've always giggled about is your slight misunderstanding of the word Eureka. It's the name of a Children's museum in Halifax which we love. But whenever we talk about going to Eureka, you call it 'My Reka'. I guess it's logical (if you say it all out loud!), but it does make me giggle. You just won't have it any other way.

But then yesterday I took a trip there with P. I am sorry for not taking you, but you were in nursery and I knew you wouldn't really want to miss that....plus I am a bad mum! Well, with that admission out of the way, I shall continue.....P and I got the train from Todmorden to Halifax as Eureka is right next to the station. As we pulled into Halifax station, I looked over and on the window was this huge poster :

I think the other people on the train thought I was mad for laughing out loud, but it just shows....you are always right!

(With thanks to the lovely Kerry for the photo...if you look carefully you can see the reflection of me and baby P in the window!!)

Yours ignorantly,

Mummy x

Holidays and other whitterings

Dear beautiful girls,

We recently went on a fabulous holiday. We're not into massive crazy foreign travel, or long lazy beach holidays, but we do love getting away. The latest adventure was to Pembrokeshire in South Wales. We often holiday in North Wales which is lovely, but none of us had ever ventured further south.

Some lovely friends recommended Bluestone and we thought we'd take a chance on them....and how right they were! It was truly lovely. Gorgeous cottage in a gorgeous part of the world. You both loved it.

Free swimming was a bonus. P had never swum before, and E not since before you were one. Well both of you took to it like...well...like ducks to water! P was happy floating around and being bounced in the water, and E started nervously, but was soon swimming happily (with arm bands of course) on your own. Jumping in, and being dunked under the water soon followed, all met with whoops of joy and huge smiles. How fabulous!

We were lucky to share our time there with two lots of friends - each with similar aged children to you so E was very entertained. We copied the one set and signed up for an evening called 'Silent World' - a chance to meet snakes, spiders, and similar creatures. An interesting talk from a guy who obviously loved his beasties, and then a chance to handle some! Daddy enjoyed cuddling the constrictor, and we all giggled at a friend who screamed like a girl when his friendly snake gave him rather a close cuddle! I was cuddling P who was struggling a little with the evening drawing in and was less entertained than the rest of us, but having seen Daddy holding the snakes, E got interested. Our friend (the wife of the girly screamer!) was holding a small orange snake, and you slowly walked over to it and looked more closely. First invitations to touch it were declined, but later you decided that you were more interested. Eventually, you were holding the wee snake all on your own, and really interested by it! I have never known you be so up close with animals!! Well done brave girl!

Much fun was had on holiday and we all came home happy...but after a fun-filled week, I can't say we were relaxed. However, we have booked to go again! So next October we'll be back!

So what else is new since I last wrote? Well P, you have taken to solids like a pro! You're loving eating....anything and everything! You're much happier with a spoon than E was, and equally happy feeding yourself. Blowing raspberries into your yoghurt has been discovered as a fun past time already! And you'll even eat my cooking, which is more than E did at your age, so thanks!

Apart from that, loads of fun is had. P is growing up fast and just gorgeous. So chilled out and happy. E is growing up faster and is hilarious! You both make me smile so much, and I feel very very blessed.

Oh and I hope you'll always be as close as you are now. I am told repeatedly that P is E's best friend. Long may it continue my lovely girls.

Love always,
Mummy xxx

Weaning...

Dear P,

Today you are 25 weeks and 4 days old. So time for food, solid food. We kicked E out of her highchair (promoting her to a grown up chair, that is!), chopped up an old shower curtain to protect the floor, bought new bibs, cups and spoons and off we went! You sat happily in the high chair, and munched on some boiled carrot. Fab!

I think you enjoyed it. You certainly held your little chubby hand out for more. I also gave you a rice cake - that was tasty too I think. The idea of pureed apple on a spoon didn't go down so well. Your little face changed when you tasted that, but we'll keep trying.

The move to solids is a bittersweet one for me. I have exclusively breastfed you for 25 weeks and 3 days. That's a long time. Ok so part of me would like my body back, but mostly I have loved it. You took to it straight away, and have never had any problem feeding. I know you're getting enough as you're a big baby - 18lb 8oz at the last weigh in. You've been mostly tracking above the 91st centile in the official red book, which means that less than 9% of babies your age are bigger than you!

I love breastfeeding.

I've been very lucky and had two little girls who have known what to do and have just got on with it. I've met lots of people who have struggled, and been badly let down and misinformed. I've trained as a breast feeding peer supporter (partly with you in utero and partly with you around!) and would love to help just one person to carry on breastfeeding. Equally, I support anyone who chooses to bottle feed. I'd support anyone in their choices....as long as they are informed. It's personal choice, and I could witter about the benefits of breastmilk (for they are many and proven), but I just wish people were better educated. Anyway, mustn't rant.......

So, I fed your big sister till she was 2 years old, and who knows how long I'll continue with you. I'm certainly not ready to stop yet. But food has to come into your diet sometime, and today was that day.

So I'm guessing you'll start to feed from me less. That may not be good. I think the only way I can get away with the amount of cake I eat is because I give my extra calories to you. Feeding an 18lb baby was certainly a good excuse in my head! But I'm kinda addicted to cake (I may have blogged about this before...) and I'm not sure how to give it up!

Anyway, I bet you'll enjoy cake! And chocolate.....not that I'll share mine! Be warned - Mummy doesn't share cake! But for now, it's all new for you...I wonder what new tastes tomorrow will bring....

Love,
Your cake-obsessed Mummy x

There's no such thing as a ....!

Dear E,

Today is your 3rd birthday! Happy Birthday gorgeous girl!

So we had a birthday day out yesterday. Went to Blackpool to the Sea Life Centre. You were quite taken with the fish and sharks...and the wee soft play centre at the end. Much fun. After a nice lunch in Debenhams we went to Coral Island...basically slot machine city! I've never really played on slot machines. Well there was a 10p machine in the bowling alley which I've used, but that was all really. You enjoyed those - and won a little bit too! We also found a ride for you to go on which you loved, and then started winning tickets. Lots of fun games....some more for us than for you, but I think it's safe to say you enjoyed yourself. The day was finished nicely with a Pizza Hut and the obligatory tantrum from the overtired birthday girl!!

Today is your birthday. We got you up to a round of 'Happy Birthday!' and you went off to Men's Breakfast at church with Daddy. I was busy finishing the cakes and present wrapping. You opened your presents when you got back - the highlights being a scooter and a blue guitar...which you played like a rock star!

Then this afternoon was party time. A Gruffalo theme - well, the cake was a Gruffalo. I had spent hours creating a Gruffalo...I hope you liked him! He certainly seemed to go down well with people there. We also had a bouncy castle. You were very excited. You bounced a lot! And I mean more than Tigger...if that's possible.

After the party we came home and opened presents. I think for you the unwrapping is still more exciting that what is inside! Although, having been interested in each present briefly before moving on to the next one to unwrap, you did go back through them all after they were all opened and looked again. I don't think you wanted to go to bed.

Lying next to you in your fairy bed after reading stories (The Gruffalo, and The Gruffalo's Child...obviously!), I remembered where i was three years ago. It was about that time that things started to go a bit wrong in labour, and we started thinking about a C-Section. Scary times. But it was all worth it. I loved you the moment I saw you, and you really are the best thing I ever did...well, now half the best thing I ever did - you have to share that one with your sister.

I hope three is going to be a good age. We never had much terrible-ness about two, so I hope three doesn't herald that start of that! On one hand you're so grown up, we can talk about anything and you seem to be able to do more new things every day, but on the other hand, you're still my baby. You still need cuddles when you're upset, you still need help doing lots of things...and baby girl, I'll always be here when you need me.

Love you more each day. Looking forward to the next leg on our journey together,
Mummy x

Feeling left out

Dear P,

It seems lately I've mostly blogged to and/or about your big sister. Being the youngest is tough. E will always do stuff first, memorably, and without you. But you're always there. Always gorgeous.

You're still the image of your sister at this age, but definitely your own person. She was chilled, you're even more so. Such a happy wee thing. Loads of smiles, giggles and peacefulness.

Your pukiness has lessened - I don't think it was dairy related! But you do still catch me unawares...usually when in a back carry in the sling, or just as we're about to go out! You've also mastered the art of the explodapoo! A talent not every baby possesses I'm sure!! It came in very handy on our recent camping trip. Days were sunny, nights were cold. You and I shared a sleeping bag - and you wore a million layers as well. I don't think you ever felt the cold, but just to be sure, you pooed. Covering yourself from neck to ankles. Every night. Being a mum is so glamorous!

So there we are. I found something to write to you. A post about your bodily emissions! Sorry Baby girl. I love you little one,
Mummy x

Wedding bells...

Dear E,

You've been a bridesmaid twice now, and you're not even three. Here's hoping "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" isn't true for you. Mind you that would save me from having to write Daddy's speech....!

Anyway, recently at a family wedding, we were driving from the church to the reception when your little voice piped up from the back. The conversation went a little like this :

E : When's our wedding?
M : We're not having a wedding.
E : When I'm big can we have one?
M : When you're big, if you find a nice man that you love, you can have a wedding darling.
E : I choose Daddy to be a man. I love Daddy.

Cue conversation about Daddy being already married to Mummy and you can't marry him, but how lovely it is that you love him. All went quiet for a while, we started a different conversation in the front, and then your little voice piped up again :
"I want a lady when I'm bigger....not a man."

We did giggle. All we want is for you to be happy little bear.

Love,
Mummy x

A sad day.

Dear girls,

You probably won't remember yesterday, but it was a sad day. Our lovely big black cat, Chewy, was found dead. Run over on the busy road outside. We're very sad. He was about 6 years old, a rescue cat. The biggest, craziest, sweetest cat you could wish for. He was named Chewy as he made a noise like a Wookie on the first night we had him. Chewbacca....Chewy.

He caught all kinds of animals - voles, shrews, mice, birds, rats and even squirrels. Very generous, and always laid out on the dining room floor. Thanks Chew! I know it's cos he loved us, but it was horrid to get up in the morning and find a dead beastie there!

He also ate anything and everything. Nothing was safe in the kitchen unless shut in a cupboard,and it seems the neighbours' kitchens weren't safe either! He often came home with chunks of cheese, or pork chops, or similar....I've never worked out where he stole it from!

P, you won't remember our gorgeous boy, but E might. You made me laugh, little E, when we told you about his passing. I tried to use it as a bit of a road safety lesson, so after we'd ascertained that he'd gone crash bang with a car and he was hurt, you wanted to know if he'd gone in an ambulance to hospital. We explained that cats didn't go to hospital, and told you'd he'd gone to Heaven and wouldn't be coming back. You asked how he'd got to Heaven and who had taken him from our house.....I thought fast, and told you that if you go to Heaven, you just go - no-one takes you. So you made me smile by saying, "I hope he went on the pavement, Mummy."

Rest in peace Chewy cat. Go chase squirrels to your heart's content. We all miss you, especially your fiercest adversary, Monkey.

Imagination and predictions

Dear E,

Your imagination is really whirring at the moment. You love to pretend to go shopping, or to the bank or post office. You pack your bag, find your keys and phone and off you go. Sometimes we have to come with you, other times we're told to stay at home and wait for you. It's lovely to watch...and amusing to see what foibles of Mummy and Daddy you imitate.

We also play "Whatcha doin'?" a lot. A simple game, often played in the car. I'm driving us home from nursery and you ask, "Mummy, whatcha doin'?". I then have to come up with crazy things like 'riding a horse', 'cooking sausages' or 'having a nap'. You enjoy giggling at me and telling me other ideas for what I might be doing.

You also love to tell us what is going to happen. So currently your favourite thing to tell me about is that you're moving to a new house. It's a blue house (obviously, as blue is your favourite colour....bright blue that is, you don't like dark blue!) and it's very nice apparently. We're all coming to live with you there too which is kind.

I did get excited briefly, as I thought maybe you could predict the future. I was enjoying the dream with you of a new house, with rooms for all of us. It also had a big garden apparently, with lots of toys (and believe me darling, if I could get you a house with a big garden and lots of toys, I would!).

But then I thought about your last great prediction.....the baby! From the moment we told you I was pregnant, you were convinced the baby would be a boy. There was no doubt in your mind. You wouldn't accept my gentle nudgings that there was a possibility it would be a girl. Admittedly, we knew then that your predictions weren't 100% perfect as there was no way we were calling the baby Five, which was your chosen name for it! But I did start to believe that I was carrying a boy as you were so convinced. When Phoebe popped out (gosh, I make that sound easy!!), I was so surprised that she was a girl. You took it all in your stride of course and the baby brother Five has never been mentioned again!

So maybe your predictions aren't so great. I'll not hold out too much hope for the new house then!!

Love Mummy x

Bookworm

Dear E,

Coming from a family of book lovers, you didn't have much chance. For your first Christmas, at only 12 weeks old, a lot of presents were books, and this has continued. Fortunately, reading is something you adore.

Aged "nearly 3", some of our favourites include :

*Anything by Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo is a favourite and Daddy loves Stick Man, but you and I both adore Room on the Broom. Julia's southernness is a small issue, as I just can't bring myself to rhyme 'scarf' with 'giraffe', and various other combinations, but the rhyming text and amusing storylines keep us entertained time after time. We also know most of them by heart. I remember Daddy and I telling The Gruffalo in a pub during a rainy camping trip last summer, and you are able to join in with most of the stories too!

* Meg & Mog stories. You love the original Meg & Mog mainly because it contains a character called Tess and it makes you giggle. We also all love Meg, Mog & Og....ok, it's because we get to do the sluuuuurp! But it is fun!

* Dr. Seuss. Fox in Socks is a particular favourite...but only of yours. It's such a tongue twister and drives me up the wall...especially if I'm tired, but I know you love it, especially the tweetle beetles. You also like Green Eggs and Ham which is entertaining, and one day might encourage you to try new foods! Interestingly, I don't think I've ever read Cat in the Hat Comes Back to you though!

* Lastly comes my favourite. Our favourite. Our special Mummy and E book. Always chosen on particularly tired nights. The beautiful Guess How Much I Love You. I adore this book. I love that you do the actions of Little Nutbrown Hare as he tries to describe to Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him. (Are they both male? I have no idea how it is written but they are both male in my head...which is odd really!) I now always tell you at bedtime that I love you "right up to the moon and back", but I guess really I love you further than that. Can't even begin to describe how much. I guess for now, "to the moon and back" will do.

Love and literary devotion,
Mummy x

It truly must be love

Dear P,

My name's Mummy, and I'm a chocoholic.

There should be groups to go to for help with this. It's an addiction, and it has hold of me very tightly. It's the reason I'm not thin...or fit. One day I might work on both of those.

However, you're a pukey wee thing at 15 weeks old, and it was suggested by a friend that you may have a dairy intolerance. Dairy? I thought....I don't eat that much dairy. Hmmmm I didn't think about the chocolate issue.

But I am trying. Daddy bought me a load of dark chocolate, I discovered soya milk hot chocolate, and I'm doing my best. I even scoured the dairy free menu for TGI Friday's for lunch today. I won't say I don't miss it, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't give it all up for anyone else, but it'll be interesting. I can't decide whether or not it's working. I haven't had that warm wet feeling of regurgitated milk running down my cleavage for a few days...but then I'm more careful where I sit you these days.

Maybe it'll work. Less puking would be good....but I'm not sure how long I want to be without decent chocolate!! Still, it shows you how much I love you.

Much love,
Mummy x

Questions and answers

Dear E,

Sometimes Mummy just doesn't know why.

That's all.

Love,
Mummy x

Out of the mouths of babes...

Dear E,

You make me laugh. A lot. You're always rabbiting on and often it's hilarious. Occasionally it's embarrassing though...and I suspect that won't end any time soon.

Recently, you've been going through a phase of telling people what animal they are. Daddy is a monkey (obviously!) - always has been and always will be. I'm a lion, and I quite like that. You were doing it at nursery the other day, and Sarah was (as she has taught you!) "cool". She likes that. You're scrumptious, she's cool. Fair enough. I don't think she got an animal - cool is enough for anyone.

Anyway, she asked what Charlotte was (you love Charlotte....as do I, she did some of her nursery nurse training in my Year 1 class when I was pregnant with you and she was fab!). Charlotte was a lion- quite a compliment. So, on to Tracy. Your reply came without needing much thinking about....."Tracy's a cow," you said, with a smile.

It's a good job she knew how to take that!

Love you cheeky bear,
Mummy x

Little Miss Chatterbox......in duplicate!

Dear P,

Speech development is an amazing thing. From the gurgles that you give us now (aged less than 3 months) to adult speech and comprehension is a long journey. Both Grandma and Nanna often ask you, "What are you telling me?", as though you really are telling a story. Your little round face does get very animated as you smile and gurgle. I wonder if you do know something you're trying to tell us.

Only today you were crying when we had picked E up from nursery. E was most concerned, but I told her it was because you were hungry. I knew that you were due a feed as I had woken you to go collect your big sister. I told her that you were trying to tell us that you wanted your tea, but you didn't have the words. I wonder if that was what you were thinking. Have you worked out what that rumbly feeling in your tumbly really means? Are you telling me off, chatting with me, or genuinely hurting? I wish I knew.

I can't wait for the Dadada, bababa and eventually Mama sounds to come from you. Will you get a word in edgeways (or even sideways or anyways, as Roger Hargreaves would say!) with your big sister around? Who knows. I'm looking forward to finding out though!
Love Mummy x


Dear E,

You're a chatterbox. There's no two ways about it...you just never shut up. I guess I should be grateful you don't talk in your sleep really! I don't know where you get it from, but you do like to talk! An old advert for BT used to say, "It's good to talk" and you have discovered this early.

I remember writing a list of your words - the Baby Centre monthly email was telling me you should have 50 odd words, but your list was in the hundreds. And it just keeps growing.

Your pronunciation is pretty clear, and most people can understand most things you say. I remember a few months ago Daddy was showing off to Grandpa with things you could say. The conversation went a bit like this :
Daddy : E, can you say 'discombobulate'?
E : (Perfectly) Discombobulate.
Daddy : Can you say 'dehumidifier'?
E : (Perfectly) Dehumidifier.
Grandad : (Cheekily) Can you say 'supercalifragilisticexpealidocious'?
E : (With perfect timing and teenage disdain!) No!

It really was very funny! A little while later, Auntie Claire taught you to say supercalifragilisticexpealidocious. It was in two stages and split into syllables, but it was impressive. Then on holiday with Grandpa, I got you to say it to him. He was very impressed and told you that you were so clever you could have a sweetie! That made your day, so you chewed carefully, swallowed the sweet and then promptly said it again........"Can I have another sweetie, Grandpa?" came the request! He tried so hard not to laugh as he told you that it didn't just work like that! Two weeks on, and if it gets mentioned, you still try saying it in case you get another treat!

There aren't many things you say wrong. Elephant is said as ephelant but you're even growing out of that now at 33 months. The only one that really confuses you is fear. "That dog's scared of me, Mummy" you tell me often. Bless you for being scared, and bless you more for getting it back to front. Very endearing!!

I love chatting to you now, even though "What are you doing, Mummy?" repeated ad infinitum is irritating!!! Half an hour in the car on the way back from Grandma and Grandpa's, or nursery, is enough to just about finish me off, but you're entertaining. Always make me smile.

Love you little one,
Mummy x

Spot the difference

Dear girls,

So who's who? Just been looking at photos and found these two where you look similar. You are very very similar thus far. At 10 weeks, P is the image of your older sister....though a wee bit bigger (size to be confirmed at weigh in tomorrow!).

On holiday this week, a waitress looked at you both, looked again, and then commented on how alike you are. I don't see the similarity now. Not sure why. I guess because to me E is a grown up wee thing, and P is just a teeny baby. But I know how much P looks like E did as a tiny. I guess this is the next apology (think it's #3...already!). I just know I'll be one of those mothers who is asking, "Which of you is it in this picture?" when you're older. At the moment I can tell by the style of my glasses if I'm in the pic. And in one of the ones posted above, I could see a laptop in the corner of one of them. I know that's an old laptop, so that picture must be E. My deduction skills are fab....but I'm hoping they last me till I'm old and grey!

I sit now and wonder what you will look like in a year, two years, ten years. Will you still look similar? Will P's dark baby hair become the golden locks that E has now? Will you both go darker as you get older as I did? What colour will your eyes become? Will you both like the same things?

I'm nothing like Uncle Paul. I don't think people would even put us as related if they saw us in a line up. We're not that similar in personality or likes/dislikes either. Daddy and Auntie Claire look alike, though Uncle Andrew looks different (though Grandpa commented that younger photos of Daddy look like Uncle Andrew!). It's bizarre.

Who will you end up looking like? At the moment you're both very like me. Especially P with your gorgeously chubby baby thighs. "Gorgeously chubby" is not, of course, how I describe my thighs,....though maybe I shall take it on! Which character traits will you have of mine? Which from Daddy? Who knows. I know I can't wait to find out.

x

(Smoke and) Mirrors

Dear P,

Today I put you on the playmat while I went to make tea. You were very chilled out and played happily while I put a stew in the oven for Daddy and I to eat later.

You were looking at your reflection in the wee mirror. I do hope you were thinking how beautiful you are. You are beautiful. You look just like your big sister did as a tiny baby, only a little bigger! It got me thinking though. I wonder how many hours you'll spend looking in mirrors. With two girls in the house, will Daddy and I ever get in the bathroom in ten years time?

And when you look in that mirror, now or in the future, my wish for you is that you'll see the beautiful girl that I see. I see so many young people with image issues, and I don't want that for you. I pray that you'll see the wonderful person you are, crafted by God, knitted together in my womb, and born into this world.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"

Love, Mummy x

An apology (possibly the first of many) about names

Two children. Two gorgeous children. Two children each with a lovely (IMHO) name. Both names biblical, each with a cheekily "It's in the Bible" middle name. Two very different names. Both strong, important women in the Bible - albeit with very different roles, backgrounds and amount of words allocated to them.

Both difficult to spell it seems, judging by the number of people who spell them wrong on letters and cards, etc. I didn't mean to do that. I guess maybe that's apology #1. As a teacher of young children, and a person with an apparently hard to spell name, you'd think I'd have given you names that you won't spend the rest of your lives spelling out. Sorry girls.

Apology #2 is that I call you the wrong name. To be fair, I usually get E right. You're child number one. You've had the name for 2 1/2 years. Unless I'm calling you Trouble, or Blondie, or Gorgeous Girl, (or in Tall Daddy's case, Shortie!) you're usually named right. P on the other hand, usually gets called by your sister's name. So little P, I'm sorry. I'm trying hard. However, I feel this could be another moment I'm turning into my Mum. At least I don't have a sister....it means I won't try her name before yours. And to be fair, at least being called another girl's name is better than a boy's name as in Grandma's case, as she usually tries my Aunt's name, then my brother's, before she tried my own.

I'll do my best. I'll try to remember the gorgeous name we gave you. The name I fought hard for, and Daddy let me choose for you as he had chosen your sister's name. Sorry, P.

To my beautiful girls....

Girls, this blog I write to you. As I write this, E is 2years 8 months, and P is 8 1/2 weeks old. Today I read a friend's blog (she has a true writing talent) and she had written a very moving letter to her wee son and it made me cry. Made me think how lovely it would be to write to the pair of you right here and now to tell you how I feel about you. Moments I will never get back.

So here I am. Sitting in our wee lounge, P on my knee, E at nursery. And today I want to tell you how much I love you both. Two wee identical girls. Two parts of my heart.

God bless you both x