A Gorgeous Wedding and Maddie's First Swim!

We had the most wonderful holiday in Jersey. Maddie saw the sea for the first time and she also had her first swim which she absolutely adored! As soon as her feet touched the water she started paddling like a little puppy and giggled and splashed the afternoon away.

Cherie and Brendan's wedding was such a special day and Maddie had a ball getting to know her beautiful God Mother and Brendan's lovely family. She particularly fell for Brendan's little nieces, Jessica and Meagan. Maddie was like a new toy for them and every time they came near her she was beside herself with excitement (as you can see from the smile on her little face in the picture of her and the girls). Cherie looked absolutely breath taking and it was obvious how amazingly strong their love is for each other. It was wonderful to see her so happy.

Maddie was beautifully behaved throughout the entire holiday, including the flights. Even though we completely messed with her routine, she managed to keep her cool and charm everyone she met. We are so incredibly lucky to have such a chilled out little lady.

Lots of love xx

First Kisses and Planning a Holiday!

Little Maddie learnt one of lifes most important skills this week... she learnt to kiss! There is nothing more beautiful than feeling her plant a big wet smacker on your cheek. I don't think I have ever felt so filled with love in my entire life!

We caught up with our lovely friends Rick and Vic and their beautiful little man Stanley, who is about six weeks younger than Maddie. It was the first time she had met Stanley and she took quite a shine to him and his dad. Stanley was lucky enough to benefit from Maddie's new found kissing skills.

We are heading off on our first official family holiday on Wednesday. We are flying to Jersey for a very special wedding. My beautiful friend Cherie (Maddie's God Mother) and her handsome chap, Brendan, are tying the knot.

Maddies first flight, a lovely wedding, catching up with amazing friends and visiting the sea side... very exciting! Will post some photos when we return.

Lots of love xx

Fags are banned... we're off to the pub!

Another busy week of working and catching up with friends! Maddie and I hooked up with our lovely friend Victoria and her handsome new fiance, David (a "spunk" from Coffs Harbour) on Saturday. The new smoking ban finally kicked in today (no smoking in pubs or restaurants), so naturally we decided to celebrate with a lovely Sunday pub lunch in Marylebone with our "London Family" - Simon, Nattie, Howie and Barney. When you are on the other side of the world from your real family, friends become more important than ever. We thank our lucky stars every day that we have this motley crew in our lives (and I don't mean the 80's glam rock band!). From the second we get together the laughter starts (mostly laughing at Barney!). They drown little Maddie in love and cuddles when they see her. She is usually exhausted after spending an afternoon with them! Don't know what we'd do without them.

I can't believe that I am turning 35 on Tuesday.... I am officially in my mid thirties! I suppose I could get in a state about getting older, but frankly I cant remember ever being so happy. I am so grateful for everything I have in my life. As they say... it's just a number.

Lots of love xxx

First Festival, a Trip to NYC and More Teeth!

So much has happened since our last blog update. Maddie has now sprouted seven teeth and we can see number eight pushing its way through. Not a bad effort for a young lass of only 7 1/2 months!

I left my beautiful husband and little girl for a four day work trip to New York. I cried all the way to the airport, but once I landed in the Big Apple I decided that it was ridiculous to spend the whole time feeling guilty, so I booked a ticket to see the Broadway stage show of Xanadu with my boss and got into the spirit of things (I clutched my pearls and sang along to every word!). Enjoyed a couple of beautiful dinners and caught up with a lovely family friend, Paul Austin. It was such a treat to see him.

Simes and I took Maddie to her first music festival in Hyde Park yesterday. It was so much fun. We all boogied to amazing sets by The Feeling and Crowded House. We were lucky enough to have VIP tickets which made life a little easier. Maddie stopped traffic in her little ear protectors and if we had a £ for every person that stopped to take a photo of her, we would have done very well for ourselves! Even the camera crew shooting the festival came over to put her up on the big screen. We had such a blast and cant wait to take her to her next festival in August.

Maddie has really found her voice and is constantly babbling 'mumma', 'dadda', 'bubba' and a range of other baby words. She really does love a chat (not sure where she got that from!).

London is a pretty amazing place to be in summer and we are making the most of every day. Sometimes, when I think about our little family it makes me so happy I burst into tears. I am the luckiest woman in the world to have such a gorgeous husband and a delicious little girl - I don't want to take them for granted for even a second.

Lots of love until next time xxx

Six Teeth and a Nasty Flu!

Imagine getting six teeth before you are even 7 months old! Well, that's what our little Maddie has gone and done. The last few weeks have been a bit of a trial for the little minx. They have featured a nasty flu (picked up from nursery), a runny tummy, sticky eyes, four new teeth and some good old fashioned screaming sessions in the middle of the night (lengthy cuddles required). The good news is, the little white suckers are now through the gums and the tears are behind us (for now). Everyone is amazed by her toothy smile. Seems she is a bit of an early developer in the pearly white department.

Maddie has become a petri dish of infections since starting at nursery and unfortunately, Simes and I seem to pick up every bug that she brings home with her. From what everyone tells me, it is good for her to get a couple of colds in the first six months to help build her immune system. The poor little poppet had never had so much as a sniffle before she started there, so it has been a bit of a shock to the system. Fortunately, she's a brave little lady and seems to get over things relatively quickly. It's her parents that are being crippled by the experience!

It's cool to be back at work and even though I miss her desperately when we are apart, I love her even more intensely when I get home and see her beautiful face. She is growing up so quickly and can now sit up all by herself. Her little pins are also getting stronger by the day... before we know it she will be running the London marathon. She is a little cracker!

Love and best wishes to all xx

Still Bald & Happier Than Ever!

Sorry it has been such a long time between updates. Had a few technical difficulties... but all sorted now.

So much has happened in little Maddie's life lately, I'm not quite sure where to start. Here are some of the headlines...

1. Started at Nursery

I went back to work and Maddie started at nursery. I was completely hysterical and cried all the way to work (I think everyone on the Number 6 bus thought that I was having a nervous breakdown)... she has settled in marvellously and has already made loads of friends. I am pretty sure that we can make this work / life balance thing work.

2. Learned to Sit Up

Maddie can now sit up all by herself and stand up when she holds on to something. It's only a matter of time before she starts crawling and walking (God help us!)

3. Had a Visit from Uncle Mikey

We had a wonderful week with Uncle Mikey when he came to stay in London after his holiday in Hong Kong. It was the first time that he and Maddie had met and I am happy to report that it was love at first sight for both of them. It was an instant bond with smiles being exchanged at every glance.

4. Tucked into Solid Food

As you can see from the pics, Maddie cant get enough of her fruit and veggies. I have been pureeing like a mad woman and with a diet of fabulous organic fruit and veggies, she is relishing all the new flavours and textures.

5. "Picniced" for England!

Maddie has made the most of the glorious summer sun by enjoying picnics in some of London's most beautiful parks including... Queens Park, Hyde Park, Regents Park, Primrose Hill and Paddington Recreation Ground in Maida Vale. Such a social butterfly!

She seems to become more and more heavenly every day. As her personality blossoms, it's clear that she is going to be one of life's great characters. She loves a chat and starts chirping from the moment she opens her eyes in the morning... not sure where she gets that from!

We count our blessings every day and still cant believe that we have such a beautiful little girl in our lives.

Hope all is well and lots of love to all xxx

A Taste of Real Food... Plus a Celebrity Spot!

With our little lady officially turning 22 weeks on Tuesday, I thought it was time to give her a taste of something other than milk. So far she has tasted baby rice (which tasted like wall paper glue to me but she seemed OK with it!) and banana (which was a huge hit). A lovely friend from one of my work agencies gave us a book by Annabel Karmel which is filled with beautiful tasty recipes for babies and toddlers, so our blender is about to go into overdrive pureeing everything from apples to carrots and beyond. The plan is to feed her only home made, organic goodies to give her the best possible start in life (we'll see how long I can resist the jars from the supermarket!). The only downside to feeding her solids are the slightly 'fruity' nappies that follow!

Maddie had her first official celebrity spot last Sunday (well her second celebrity spot if you count Lilly Allen at the Notting Hill Markets). Simes, Maddie and I were taking a leisurely Sunday stroll through Primrose Hill and Simes was lecturing me about the fact that I no longer dress in a very glamorous way and that he would love to see me in something other than jeans and ugg boots, when we noticed a very glamorous mummy walking towards us pushing her beautifully dressed baby girl... it was none other than Gerry Halliwell with little 'Bluebell Madonna'. Simes and Maddie weren't overly impressed, but I was quite a spice girls fans once upon a time so I got quite a thrill! Zigga zay aaahh!

As usual we have been out and about enjoying the sunshine and catching up with friends. My wonderful brother Michael is coming to stay with us for a few days after Easter. I can't wait to see him and Maddie is beside herself with excitement about meeting him.

Here are the latest pics of the little minx.

Easter kisses to all xxx