Goldilocks and the three pigs

CAN YOU READ ME A STORY? *yes, which one?* I WANT GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE PIGS!

Cakes or grapes?

Do you want some grapes? YEAH YEAH YEAH....NO....YOU SAID CAKES :o(

you won't get any presents

Shouted from upstairs MUM...IF YOU HEAR BELLS YOU WON'T GET ANY PRESENTS!....MUM....CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU WON'T GET ANY PRESENTS!

Not a pudding

*do you want pudding?* YES *do you want a kiwi? THAT'S NOT A PUDDING.

Oh dear what can the matter be?

OH DEAR WHAT MATTER IS? TWO LADIES STUCK IN THE TOILET

Getting a brother or sister

I'M GOING TO GET MY BROTHER OR SISTER
*you don't have one*
I'M GOING TO HAVE 1 IN A MINUTE
*where are you getting it from?*
THE MUSEUM

Mummy on the TV

*watching Mummy on Midlands Today dressed in 1940's clothes and makeup...8 times in a row* SHE'S GOT FUNNY HAIR!

Going on holiday

*Packing her rucksack with all her toys* I AM GOING ON HOLIDAY WITH SOMEONE ELSE!

Shoomi purring?

Have you trumped? NO! IT WAS SHOOMI PURRING.

Shoomi goes to school

I WANT TO TAKE SHOOMI TO SCHOOL TO SHOW HER MY SCHOOL

Why is the world so cruel? I realise just how special Tilly is.

I've just phoned Marie Claire to catch up and find out how her pregnancy was going. OOOf. She got told at her 20 week scan that there was an abnormality and after a series of scans and tests she has been told that her baby may not survive. The baby is a fighter and has continued to grow but the risk still stays and they've been warned that it will have serious developmental problems. I can't believe how well she seemed to cope with it, so brave. It must be awful to go through that. It has totally put all my moans and groans into perspective. My heart goes out to Marie Claire and Akira for the next few weeks, months and years. I cannot imagine how they are feeling. Having a baby brings such joy and happiness and all you wish for is for it to be safe and well. To have to go through with the rest of the pregnancy knowing that it may not even survive let alone be healthy must be heart-wrenching.

I feel shit too. I've not spoken to her in a while and there I was phoning her up all bubbly and excited and she had to break the news to me. I must do more, be in contact with more friends more regularly. I feel rubbish I've not been there for her, not that there is much that I can do but listen. It is hard too, she asked me about my birth and of course hers will be so different anyway with all the added anxieties. She asked about Tilly and I felt almost embarrassed to say she was well.

Every day when I look at Tilly, my heart aches with love and care for her. I get emotional at the end of every night when I kiss her goodnight and tell her I love her and she snuggles down and says she loves me back. I love her understanding, her humour and even her delicate sensitivities when watching Disney films. I love her shouting 'Mumma, where you are?' every time I leave the room. I love her 'finger thing' that only she and I can do, to bend our fingers back and make little goggles the wrong way around to everyone else. I love her snuggles and the smell of her hair, her beautifully formed teeth, her smile and the little wrinkles that appear on the top of her nose. I love her sense of style, the fact that even at the age of 2 1/2 she can colour coordinate her clothes and somehow can make herself even more fashionable that what I'd chosen for her. I love how she likes listening to songs but still can't get the words in the right order and says they are too easy for her (but meaning hard). I love baking with her, the way she knows all the ingredients and waits patiently until the end before asking 'Can I lick it now?' I just love her.
She really is my everything and I will do everything I can to make sure she is OK. I know that I am lucky to have her and tonight has just made that doubly so. We are so lucky to not only have a child but to have a healthy, happy one.

My love and best wishes goes to Marie Claire, Akira and their families for what they will have to cope with in the future.

Palpitations

I've been getting so stressed with work. This trip to Dresden is so exciting but as it has been on the cards for so long it has also meant that the anxieties have had plenty of time to build up. Anxieties for the project itself but more importantly leaving Tilly and Richard. I know they'll be fine really but I can't help but worry. I get her up and ready in the mornings until Richard is ready to go and when I come home, I get her bathed, dressed and into bed with stories. In the night, if she wakes I am straight there. Yesterday morning I went downstairs to watch the Chilean miners being rescued, so when she woke up and trundled into our room I wasn't there. She started almost screaming, Richard went up and she cried and wouldn't stop until I was there to give her a cuddle. It is this change of routine that I'm worried about. I want to be there. Not to mention Richard being so stressed with work, I know he doesn't really want me to go away and leave him to cope on his own. With all this and the pressure of organising the trip (in German), not having a translator, hotels, cars or money sorted then I have been more than a little stressed. On Tuesday I was having pains across my chest, twinges and feeling short of breath. Today I booked an appointment with the Dr to rule anything more sinister than panic attacks out, thank goodness I'm OK. I wish I'd done it a lot sooner. I've been worrying about going away, leaving Tilly, flying for a while, it all came to a head yesterday when I got into work, Ness came to talk to me and I broke down.

I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to me or Richard. I love Tilly so much and I just want to see her grow up. I want to be there for her just like my mum has always been there for me. I can't express how much I feel this. Since she was born I've had sleepless nights worrying about her future. Will she be healthy? Will she be happy? Will we see her grow up with possibly children of her own? It almost brings me to tears every time and sometimes even does too. Anyway, that is enough of my paranoia and anxieties. I'm fine to go to Dresden and I won't half hug her tight when I come back.

P.S. I've made Tilly a CD with me reading her eight favourite bedtime stories, so even though I won't be here I can still sort of do bedtime.

A day in Brum with Niamhy Noodles

We arranged to meet Donna and Niamh at the station to go on the train into Brum to see Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy release some balloons for the start of their tour run.

The lady at the kiosk in the station said how cute Tilly was. She did look very cute, she had her dress (that I made her on), her Charlie and Lola coat and her hair in bunches. Very cute indeed. Always makes me so proud when strangers comment on her good behaviour or cuteness.

We had a fun train journey in, Tilly and Niamh commenting on the way, spotting sheep, cars etc. We stopped just outside the station near a tunnel and it was so funny listening to the girls talk to each other.
T: "TUNNNELLLLL . *looks at Niamh*. . "we going in there"
N: "no we not. It's dark"
T: "we are though"
N: "no, we not"
T: *Shrieks with excitement as she looks at the entrance of the tunnel "OOOH TRAAAAAINNNN"

We got up to the square and there was a very poor turnout and a desperate PR man or promo manager running towards us, pleaing for us to be in the photoshoot. He asked how we found out (through my work) and he said that no papers were coming so he had to do himself. We walked over to the one other mum near the balloons. We watched him accosting other mums with young children. I couldn't help but burst out laughing when one lady, when she was told Igglepiggle was coming out asked if he'd be in costume! I mean honestly. She looked quite respectable, maybe she was having an off day.
It wasn't long before IgglePiggle and Upsy Daisy came out. One mum (the first one there) alarmingly started jumping and screaming like she'd just spotted a boy band. Again, I couldn't help but laugh. The girls were amazed. The balloons were let off and hilariously IgglePiggle's rather large head got caught in the netting. sadly by the time my camera phone loaded they had managed to set him free.
We went up to Igglepiggle and shook his hand, Upsy Daisy beckoned us over and Tilly shook hers too. I was so proud of Tilly not to be too scared. She wouldn't have her picture taken with them though, I think she needed to keep them in sight.

Had a lovely day around Birmingham with the girls and another trip on the train back home. Tilly really does love her best friend Niamhy Noodles.

Lovely Daddy?

Daddy: Am I lovely? Do you love me? NO! Am I not lovely? NO! MUMMYS LOVELY!...*sad Daddy* DON'T BE SAD

Worms push things in the garden

What is that thing we used to push things in the garden? ERRR *giving clue* wh wh it begins with wh....WORM!!!

Haircut

I booked myself for a hair cut today and thought that it would be a good time to get Tilly's done too. After yesterday being so well behaved, I thought today may be the same. But the appointment was in the afternoon, combined with being taken quickly into the hair washing room and lots of people fussing over her, Tilly clammed up. She started to cry a bit and got really clingy. I ended up with her clinging round my neck whilst they were washing my hair. She wouldn't lift her head up and it made it very uncomfortable.

Thankfully, I'd brought a small packet of chocolate buttons to eat on my knee while they cut my hair. She was then very good, gooning at herself in the mirror throughout.

Emma cut Matilda's hair too. As she made the first snip, she got her colleague to get an envelope and they dropped it straight in for us to keep. It was only a tiny trim around the back. She did say that Tilly was not likely to keep her curls, which has made me quite sad. I wouldn't want to put her through having my frizzy mess but I do want her to have a few curls, they are so cute. As for the hair colour, she also thinks that she may end up being a little darker than she is but is not likely to go black. Richard isn't convinced. Only time will tell.

We went to the Big Tower (IKEA) for a drink.

Bribery at the W.I

I had been asked to speak at Earlsdon's W.I meeting about Beyond the Blitz. I knew I'd be there for over an hour and obviously with it being on a Thursday had to take Tilly with me.

I'd told Tilly about where we were going, that I had to talk to ladies and that she had to be well behaved. Only yesterday, Nicki was saying that many people's bad food habits come from bribes as children, if you are good, you can have sweets etc. So I bribed her with a trip to the park.

I took crayons, a puzzle book, a drink, raisins and crossed my fingers.

There were about 30 women there. This is the same group that wanted young mums but didn't want them to bring their children, so I was a little anxious that Tilly would misbehave.

We went and decamped in the corner and for nearly an hour, Tilly sat quietly on the floor, close to my leg, colouring in and doing her puzzles. Every so often she'd look up and smile. At one point she started to sing, which although sweet was not great timing (CD of the Blitz stories was being played). I put my finger to my lips and she stopped instantly.

In the end I was there an hour and half. Tilly was a little angel and I was extremely proud.

The chair of the W.I asked how old she was and commented how well behaved she was. They were quite shocked when they heard she was only 2 and a half. As soon as we came out, Tilly asked if we could go to the park.

I love my little girl. It is days like today when she makes me sooo proud.

Swimmmmmminnng

I'm amazed at Tilly's memory. We drove into Coventry and she can identify buildings with their function. Telling me where my work was, the swimming pool, the bells (Cathedral) and even the Herbert.

Today we went swimming. It was fantastic fun. Almost had to drag her out after and hour and 15 minutes. She went on the big slide about 45 times. I am still surprised, she'll go on it at all, if I'm honest I don't think I would! Even though she doesn't like getting water on her face in the bath, she doesn't seem at all bothered by it at the swimming pool. Which is good. She can also climb out of the pool by herself.

It was great fun. She was fascinated by the other little children, particularly girls of the same age in the pool. Peer pressure is a wonderful thing. Things that she wouldn't do first, she's see them do it and instantly want to copy.

We did however have a big bang, she was running and just as I was telling her to stop, she slipped backwards and went thud on the floor. My heart stopped and I felt sick. Thankfully she was OK, I think it was more of a shock. It also made her pay more attention to instructions.

The best thing about swimming is that she is totally knackered and needed a big sleep in the afternoon.

Big girls going to school

Look big girls going to school, would you like to go to school like them? NO Why? THEY HAVEN'T GOT A MUMMY OR DADDY WITH THEM

Oi Spare Bedroooommm

Where's Shoomi?
IN THE SPARE BEDROOM.
Call her then.
*shouts* OY SPARE BEDROOM!

Could she be a journalist?

Today we went to Bradford & visited the Bradford Film and TV Museum.

It was great fun. Watching Tilly's face as she appeared alongside the Tellytubbies was just wonderful. She started jumping and clapping. Just such a beautiful moment, almost magical.

She also had a go at reading the news. . .



Afterwards we went to see Arif, which was lovely. After we left, we said we had to get back to see Nicolas. Tilly said, "no, we already seen Nicolas."
Was great to see Nicolas too. Tilly quietly coloured in and had her tea. She made me really proud because she didn't misbehave. It is amazing how important it is for me for her not to be bad when people who don't have children are around.

Phoning Shoomi

*Picking up Mummy's phone*
I WANT TO PHONE SHOOMI
What would you say?
ARE YOU OK?

Beesgusding

THAT'S BEEN ON THE FLOOR, IT'S BEESGUSDING

Going outside. . .no shoes

I GOING OUTSIDE. I GOT NO SHOES ON. I GOT FEET THOUGH.

I lick my feet

*on seeing Shoomi lick her bum and then her paws* I NOT LICK MY BUM...I LICK MY FEET

I not grubby yet

*It's time for a bath*
NO IT'S NOT TIME FOR BATH AT THE MOMENT
*Why not?*
I NOT GRUBBY YET!

Big girl like Daddy

I LITTLE DADDY! Do you want to be a big girl like Mummy? NO I WANT TO BE A BIG GIRL LIKE DADDY.

Daddy's big nose

Have you got big hands? NO THEY TINY TINY Are Daddy's hands tiny? NO THEY BIG BIGGER Is Daddy's nose tiny? NOOOO IT'S BIG BIGGER!

I am a big girl now . . .

Off to Leeds for the Garforth Arts Festival. Keeping Tilly entertained in the car, she wanted to put on some make up . .




Garforth Arts Festival had their party in the park including Get Cape, Wear Cape Fly and Seth Lakeman.
Was a good weekend. Tilly seemed to enjoy the concert. She got a very cute little hair band from one of the stalls.

No tail

SHOOMI HAS A BLACK TAIL *do you have a tail Tilly?* NO I GOT A BUM!

Baking Jam Tarts with Dee Dee

http://www.youtube.com/user/TillyPooPants?feature=mhee#p/a/u/4/tcYG52IfOfM

let them eat cake . . .

Although it was my birthday, I had to make the cake. Tilly was of course, more than willing to help. . .




While we were waiting for the cake to cook, Matilda was doing this . . .

Shoomi talking

Does Shoomi talk to you Tilly?
YES
What does she say?
MIAOW!!!
#cuteandfactuallycorrect

Fridge called Becca

Baking with Mummy :
Shall we get an egg out?
*YES*
where do we get egg from
*THIS*
what's it called?
*BECCA*
no that's a photo on the FRIDGE

Potty training

Tilly's nursery have been sticking her on the potty since she was 6 months old. As a result, for months she has been able to know when she needs a poo. The Friday of the week before her birthday, Mandy told us to bring in knickers and spare clothes next week as she'd start to be potty trained. I knew it was coming, nursery prides itself on them being out of nappies by around 2, and so now was the time. I bought plenty of knickers and prepared myself for cleaning more clothes than I already do.

I packed her bag with several pairs of knickers and spare trousers, skirts and tights and sent her off to nursery. Day 1: two accidents. Day 2: one accident and by Day 3 she was all clear. I was so proud but thought it could have been a fluke. Mandy said she thought that she'd probably have got it quickly as she really doesn't like having accidents as she gets too upset. Day 4, all clear again and day 5! Wow. but now the hard part, us doing it with her over the weekend. On Saturday I put her knickers on and showed her where the potties were, one upstairs and one down.

I was in the dining room and Richard was in the kitchen cleaning. Tilly had gone quiet, I went to check. I found her in the front room on her potty, she'd taken her knickers off, lifted her skirt up and was having a poo. That was yesterday morning and she has done brilliantly, I keep finding her looking for her potty and taking her knickers down and every time she has been right. Wow again. I am so proud of her.

Bunchytails

*would you like bunches or a ponytail today?* BUNCHYTAILS!

FAWQB

*spelt out on the fridge very determindly* FAWQB...I think we can all take something from that today

Cold tummy mummy

*after drinking her juice very quickly Tilly raises her t-shirt points to tummy* COLD tummy mummy tummy COLD

No knockers on

*when asked if she didn't have a nappy on while wandering round the house* YEAH no knockers.

Tilda music

my mobile rang, ringtone is 'Slip of a Girl'...Tilly stopped and said 'TILDA'S music'...she's right since @DukeSpecial dedicated it to her!

I got gloves

*walking round the house chasing @shoomicat with her new Winter outfit on* HELLO, I got gloves.

Things Tilly Says - Jan 10 2010

*walking round the house chasing Shoomicat with her new Winter outfit on*

"HELLO, I got gloves"

Favourite things . . .

Looking in on Tilly sleeping before bed is one of my most favourite things. She looks so peaceful, so gorgeous and I can almost feel my heart melting. I always knew I'd love her but I never realised I'd feel as much as I do.

Kissing Daddy

Treasure Hunt

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 from Richard Harrison on Vimeo.

Things Tilly Says - 1st Jan 2010

*on the changing mat after Daddy has given her a bath*

"MUMMY!! we need mulk!"