Littlemummy.com

You make me proud each and every day. You complete us in a way we could never have imagined. I love you.

It felt about time to write you a litte update (you can read all the blog posts about you here). If mummy remembers to renew her blog URL hopefully you’ll have a chance to read this and all the other posts I’ve written for you.
You’re four now and starting school in about a month. You’re very excited and we’ve been very busy choosing your uniform. You’re very particular about everything picking things with frilly bits and butterfly embroidery. The shoes you’ve chosen are bright red! …

She’s looking out for herself these days

Erin: I’d like one of the kittens in the case like X at nursery
[Santa's bag's getting pretty full]
Me: Oh well, maybe you should save up your pennies…
Erin: Oooh yeah, how can I get pennies
[sensing an opportunity to teach lesson about the value of money..]
Me: Well you could do some jobs
Erin: [Gives a blank look]
Me: You know, like how Daddy does his job for pennies
Erin: [Excited] Oooh, maybe I can borrow some off him then!
Errr, that went well then

Only two days to go and Erin begins nursery. I’m trying not to sound too relieved, but I am. It’s been a long three years and we’ve had lots of fun and I’m glad that I did it (stayed at home)etc etc but I’m looking forward to a bit of freedom, the intensity of the school holidays has definitely worn me down a bit and I’m looking forward to the reprieve of having to provide endless activities and entertainment.
Her teachers came to visit this week introducing themselves and …

Erin loves dancing. I promised her last year that we’d start a dance class in the village along from us. Many months of her reminding her playgroup teachers (every day) that she still hadn’t been to dancing was seriously threatening my reputation as a decent mother, so I decided to give her a shot at highland dancing instead, the class is in our own village so no excuses about not having the car, it’s only a five minute walk.
I dug out the leotard with her name on it …

Stop press! Children grow up.
Ok, so not really a shock. Until. It happens. To you.

Or in this case me. I’ve spent the season we call Summer, but which actually represents a mild Winter, the mother of a toddler, or so I thought…it seems someone stole my toddler and left me a little girl in her place. A little girl that pretends to apply lipstick between cbeebies programmes, struggles to keep bangles on while carrying her ‘handbag’, a little girl that goes to her first ballet lesson tomorrow. …

Being away last weekend helped me see ‘my baby’ in a new light. Surrounded by family, she thrived on the new experiences presented to her. From playing the piano to feeding fish in the garden pond, from eating and playing with her four year old aunty to sharing a family meal on sunday. There were many new faces for her, many new experiences and to my surprise she took it all in her stride.
Erin’s always been very outgoing and confident, but now I’m seeing an independant streak, …

Erin had her feet measured and received her first pair of proper shoes today.

The picture shows the correct style except we chose white (am I mad?!). Clarks were really good, the fitting was professional and they even took her photo in the shoes and entered us into a contest for two years worth of free shoes, so I make that around 10 pairs!!
Note to self: Don’t buy shoes on days when you could only find the same style of sock, not the same colour, which results …