Monday, October 27, 2008

On request...

... a cute photo of Little Planet!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Weekend list

Yesterday, my mother-in-law looked after Little Planet, so M and I went into central London and...
Back at home we...
  • Began treating Little Planet with infant Gaviscon as she now, at 4.5 months, and for the first time, has silent reflux
  • Gave her her first taste of solids - Organix wholegrain baby rice - it will take some time but we were pleased she didn't instantly refuse either the food or the spoon
This afternoon, my mother-in-law and I went into central London and...
  • Saw the sadly bitty and bland movie Brideshead Revisited at the Curzon Mayfair while...
  • M stayed at home, looked after Little Planet and, while she slept, cooked roast lamb, roasted pumpkin and cauliflower with caraway seeds for dinner on our return
  • He also baked an apple strudel which we will eat for our dessert. Thanks M!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Home and away

My husband M has stayed at home in London and looked after 4.5 month old Little Planet on Saturday, Sunday and today, while I am visiting my parents in East Anglia. He has taken her out shopping to the local fishmonger's, butcher's, baker's and to our local farmers' market. He has taken her out to the park. He has taken her to visit her auntie. He has generally enjoyed showing her off (she draws alot of comments from strangers when we're out and about and he is a proud daddy).

Meanwhile, I have spent the three days looking after my mother who is recovering from a knee operation. I have cooked her lamb and spinach curry with Bengali five spices, and a chorizo and chickpea stew. I have helped her out with some paperwork and shopping. But I have also lounged around alot, eating junk, reading magazines and the weekend papers from cover to cover, listening to music really loud, and sleeping in late each day until 9.30 or 10am. I feel like a teenager again!

I am missing M and Little Planet - our weekends a trois are treasured. But the break in routine is lovely. And of course, seeing my mum and dad.

I would have brought Little P with me, but she is going through a very fussy feeding stage at the moment making it difficult to feed her outside her known environment and without distractions. She may have mild reflux and/or may be ready for solids. We shall see how it goes this week and may have to give her infant Gaviscon and/or introduce some baby rice to her diet. I can't wait to introduce her to solids.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Choice pieces...

... from the past week.
  • Dancing to the Sugababes videos on TV with Little Planet in my arms
  • Eating M's risotto with rosemary and borlotti beans
  • Being riveted by the John Adams series on TV
  • Enjoying the return of Heroes
  • Dressing Little Planet in jeans, beanie hats and NYC sweats (photo below)
  • Lounging around reading the papers as Little Planet naps and it pours with rain outside
  • Playing David Bowie and Tom Waits CDs to Little Planet, exposing her to superlative classics such as Ziggy Stardust and Rain Dogs
  • Devouring beef stews and lamb curries on chilly nights
  • Getting our garden shed erected
  • Getting our kitchen spotlights fixed
  • Enduring Little Planet's extremely fussy feeding and hoping it's just a phase
  • Celebrating Little Planet's 4th month birthday
  • Cracking hazelnuts and almonds and walnuts
  • Taking Little Planet to her very first art show - Gerhard Richter's 4900 Colours: Version II at the Serpentine (photo above). She loved all the colours!
  • Taking her for a stroll around Hyde Park in the glorious sunshine
  • Taking her shopping with us at Whole Foods Market in Kensington
  • Finishing Ann Packer's engaging The Dive From Clausen's Pier and Jonathan Raban's disappointing Surveillance; beginning Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells
  • Relishing my time away from the baby - for example, a walk alone to the local shops, or watching the astounding and harrowing Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'aime at the cinema in Covent Garden alone, or eating sushi alone at Tokyo Diner in Soho