Maddie Walks for Australia...

Well it has finally happened... the little Minx has found her feet. The lovely thing is that she chose to take her first steps on Australia Day. She has been threatening to walk for so long but we were beginning to think that she would bum-shuffle her way through life! We were so thrilled that Simes and I were both present for this momentous occasion. It wasn't very glamorous really... I was folding washing and Simon was on the sofa nursing a dreadful hang over when Maddie suddenly stood up and teetered towards me. Naturally, she was greeted with ridiculous squeals of delight and a huge round of applause from both of us, so 'teetering' has now become her favourite party trick.

Our second big headline is that we are heading home! I have been lucky enough to get a promotions job with 20th Century Fox in Sydney, so they are helping us transfer from London at the end of February. Simes and I have very mixed emotions about the move. We have been living in London for nearly four years and experienced the most life changing moments from travelling through Italy, Spain, France, Egypt, Jersey and the UK, to seeing some of the worlds best bands playing at phenomenal summer music festivals, to bringing our beautiful baby girl into the world and watching her grown into a little English toddler. We have met the most wonderful people and seen the most extraordinary things. It has been an amazing adventure and we feel SO terribly sad to leave our London friends who really have become like family. On the other hand, the thought of climbing off the plane with little Maddie tottering next to us and seeing her grandparents (who have longed to cuddle her for so long) and her loving uncles and gorgeous auntie Bianca fills me with love and joy. So many of our dear friends and family have married and given birth to their own special babies while we have been away and I can't wait to see everyone and catch up on all the goss over a glass of wine.

We have been making the most of London by catching up with friends and enjoying the beautiful crisp winter walks in the park. Maddie is just big enough to start enjoying the playground at our local park in Maida Vale, so I thought I would share some pics of her loving the swings and the slippery dip!

We have a busy few weeks ahead including a weekend away in the Cotswolds with friends and one last cheeky European weekend in Brussels. I am finishing work around the middle of February so that I have a week or so to pack up our life and make the most of this fabulous city before we head home to the glorious sunshine.

Here's to the next exciting chapter!

Lots and lots of love xxx

PS: Saw the Spice Girls live on stage last weekend. Bloody marvellous!

Happy New Year!

2008, here we come (sporting crippling hang overs!). We had a fab new years eve at Richard and Jane's house in Clapham. Little Maddie was lucky enough to enjoy her first shared bath with her little friend Lucas. They had an absolute blast. Once the babies were in bed the evening was filled with dear friends, a lovely dinner, a bit of cheesy dancing and much, much too much to drink.

Maddie has entered a super clingy phase. Ever since I returned to full time work, the little lady is beside herself every time I am out of her sight. She even sits at the toilet door howling until we are together again. We are keeping our cool about the situation and trying not to buy into her hysteria too much. I guess it is just another phase...

Our first day of 2008 was spent reading, cuddling, playing, dancing and just generally chilling out together. I love my little family and when I woke up this morning with a cracking head ache, I reminded myself that every minute with Simes and Maddie is incredibly precious and that I must remember not to take a single moment for granted.

Here's to a brilliant 2008 xx