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

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

An Arvo at the Pub...

Our little baldie spent a lovely Sunday afternoon at the pub with her mates Simon, Nattie, Howie and Barnie. She had a marvellous time being passed from pillar to post (lots of cuddling and smooching). I have become quite comfortable getting my knockers out in just about any setting. Naturally, after mummy has had a few quiet bevvies, Maddie reverts to the bottle to keep her going. She seemed to really love the pub... we can't work out who she inherited that from!

Maddie is getting stronger and more vocal every day. She happily lies on her mini mink (courtesy of her Granny Rozzi Roo) singing, chirping and chatting to herself. She makes us smile sooooo much and as her personality starts to peep out, it looks like she is going to be quite a character.

Love to all xxxx