Little Social Butterfly...

Since our last update, little Maddie has had a smashing time enjoying play dates, entertaining lovely guests and getting out and about with friends. We are making the most of every day that we have together before I have to start work again in May.

We were lucky enough to have a visit from our beautiful friends Eoghen and Tara (from down under) for a couple of nights which was wonderful. They are expecting their first baby in July, so they had loads of practice cuddles with Maddie. She particularly enjoyed the mad rantings of Eoghen and his 'baby in space' game which had Maddie flying through the air defying gravity (there is nothing more wonderful than the sound of a baby giggling with delight)!

Maddie also had visits from Howie, Barnie and Hudson the dog on Friday night and Cindy and Steve on Saturday night. She adores it when her grown up friend pop in because they always bring her beautiful gifts and smother her with kisses!

We had a great lunch in Soho yesterday with our lovely friend Sarah Bird and my boss Ian Morton (who doesn't normally 'do babies' but seems to rather enjoy hanging out with Maddie).

Maddie moved into her 'big girls cot' in her own bedroom last week. She is sleeping through the night and loves her new found independence (see pic of her snoozing under the blankie that her God Father Benny knitted)!

She has also been enjoying lovely play dates with her friends from baby massage and the pushy mothers exercise class. Maddie insists that I take her to the pub on a Friday afternoon for a spot of lunch and a couple of glasses of rose after our pushy mothers class so that she can play with her friends... Dylan, Gia and Ianna. Friday has now officially become known as 'Rose Friday' in our mothers group! Start as you mean to go on Maddie...

Lots of love until next time xx

First Teeth, Nurseries, Visitors and a Field of Daffs

After a few of nights of uncharacteristic waking and tears, little Maddie welcomed us with a smile that revealed her first two teeth last Sunday morning! I started to sob when I realised that our little lady is growing up (Simes looked at me as though I was completely nuts)!

Maddie and I did the rounds checking out the nurseries of Maida Vale and we think we have found the perfect place for her to hang out for two days a week when I return to work in May. It's called St Stephens nursery and it is in a lovely old building and is staffed by really caring, sweet people. As soon as we walked in we got a warm feeling, which made it a little easier to get my head around the idea that someone other than Simes and I will be looking after our beautiful girl.

We also had loads of gorgeous visitors in the last couple of weeks including my dear old friend Niki, her lovely husband Simon and their gorgeous little boy Michael. A couple of my Fox UK friends, Emma and Lisa, also popped over for lunch with their beautiful baby girls, Scarlett and Isabella.

Maddie is becoming more of a character every day. She loves going for long walks in the park and thoroughly enjoys my commentary explaining every detail of the world around her (well... at this stage she has no choice but to listen to my constant mad rantings!). She particularly enjoyed the beautiful field of daffs that have sprung up in Regents Park (see pic).

Love to all xx

A Stroll in Hyde Park and an Aston Villa Beanie

Little Maddie has had a busy couple of weeks. She has been everywhere from the Portabello Markets in Notting Hill, to Soho Square to visit my work colleagues, to Hyde Park for a stroll in the spring sunshine. The poor little lass had to endure her 3rd session of immunisation needles this week... she was terribly brave (I think I cried more than she did!).

The blossoms and daffodils are making an appearance which means that spring has officially sprung (thank God... winter in London seems terribly long!).

Maddie is a healthy, happy, beautiful little soul and is growing as fast as her hair is falling out. Our little girl really is as bald as a badger and her cheeks are getting cubbier and cuter by the minute! I have tried to save the little lady from being dressed up in Aston Villa outfits, but her father insists that wearing claret and blue is simply part of being a Nicholls (take a look at the little beanie that Nanna Nicholls knitted). Oh well, she'll just have to develop a fabulous personality to compensate!

Love to you all xxx