2007 - The Year In Pictures

If you are reading this as an email subscriber, I hope that your head is not too bad this morning!

Happy New Year everyone!

First up...here's some photos from the last few days. The first is Dad helping me with some of the more technical aspects of the blog.


After that, I tried out my new camouflage outfit on the sofa...can you see me?


Here's me the other morning thinking about what to wear that day.


And finally in this part, here's me helping the big fellas sort out tidying up after making a big mess over Christmas.


Right. Now for my review of the year. I suppose the highlight was being born in September after kicking around in Mam for what seemed like forever.

I developed better taste in clothing as the days went by but did get rather attached to that blanket.


I slept a lot for the first few weeks even if the big fellas didn't.


By around the end of the first month I was able to whistle tunes that I'd heard on the radio.


I learned how to love bathtime.


I had lots of funny dreams. These are still happening. Last night a sleepy teddy told me that I could control the sea. I have decided to leave it exactly as it is for now, though.


I began to move around on my own but found it it wasn't as easy as it looks.


I met Santa for the first time and had a great first Christmas. All in all it's been a fab time.

Thanks to all of you for looking. All the best for 2008.


A xxx

It's Christmas!!!

What can I say? I had a brilliant time yesterday and hope you all did too.

Mam and Dad couldn't wait to open their presents but they had to wait until I had been changed and fed this year. I was really excited too as I had a pile of stuff from lots of you (thank you) but in an act of revenge, the big fellas made me have my photo taken before we could open any of our things.


They had told me that it was fancy dress in the house and that the theme was Santa's helpers but it turned out that i was the only one that had made the effort.


I had a great time playing with the lovely things I had. Cuddly toys were among my favourites but I also got clothes, books, christmas tree decorations, a mobile and even a high chair for when I'm a bit bigger. Woah! Sorry if I've forgotten anything. It was just amazing!


Then it was time for Christmas lunch. As expected, Mam and Dad could not eat all of the giant chicken they had cooked but, as I am learning about Christmas, this is normal. There is plenty left but you would not believe how much Dad managed to put away, nonetheless.


I think at this point Dad had made an attempt to look like Santa's helper but it was too late...I'd already taken first prize.


After that, it was time for a sleep...I don't think I was the only one.


The evening was lovely with all the twinkly lights and stuff. I also found out that Dad had put a special ring in Mam's stocking that means that they are going to get married next year. I think that was nice.


I've posted another short video on Youtube which you can see by clicking on the link below

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOMtOQYhcY

I'll be back soon but thanks again for all your emails, comments, presents and love.

Autumn x

The Fairytale of Blackmill

I am soooooooooo excited!

Just a very quick one today - I just wanted to wish all my readers a very happy Christmas.

Mam and Dad were very busy in the kitchen today getting stuff ready for tomorrow. I sat in my chair and pretended I was Santa in his sleigh. I didn't have lots of reindeer...just one orange giraffe.


The giant chicken took ages to sort out and it's not even been cooked yet. There's no way I'm going to be able to eat all that when it's finally ready. Maybe it will shrink. I don't know as I've never seen one before. Dad reckons it weighs more than me, though.


Once they'd finished messing around in the kitchen I settled down to enjoy a Christmas story on the telly.


And that's just about it apart from saying merry Christmas to you all. I'm going to try and get to sleep early tonight because Santa's coming and I don't want to miss out on my first Christmas. I've been good so I should do ok in the morning.

As you can see, I'm feeling sleepy already.


Merry Christmas!!!

A x x x

So This Is Christmas (almost)

Feeling merry yet, blogfans?

I am!

Mam and Dad said that they had finished their Christmas shopping yesterday but then remembered that they had forgotten something so we had to go back to the shops today. Apparently this is normal.

That said, the big fellas reckon that it has been easier this year in that, because of me, they can park by the door of the supermarket in a special parking space.

When we got home, I watched the football with Dad. The Arsenal won in the end but it was a bit tense when Sp*rs were awarded a penalty (that they missed).


After that I managed to relax a little bit


Manchester City didn't lose away from home, too, so it wasn't a bad day all round.

In order to celebrate, I posed in front of our Christmas tree with my Mam


Note that even our clock is getting into the spirit of things (something tells me that hat may make an appearance on my head in the next few days...Mam can't wait!)


After all that excitement I just crashed out...I'll try and post again before Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I just had to post again today 'cos I met the big fella. No not Dad...Father Christmas!

Yes - he managed to negotiate the roundabouts at Sarn and found his way to Blackmill just for me (and all the other babies at baby group).


I didn't faint...I was just tired from all the excitement and didn't sleep too great last night.

I did wake up eventually to tell Santa that I had been pretty good and that I didn't really want much this year - just a decent rugby side and some new clothes. I think he understood as he seemed to be wearing a Barbarians shirt under his outfit.


I also told him to get himself a new beard before Christmas and that he was rubbish at staring competitions.

Not long to go now folks. Mam and Dad are really looking forward to the food shop this weekend.


Autumn x x x

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Apparently)

I love Christmas. It's ace. OK - I've not had one before but I'm already very excited.

Can you guess who's stocking this is?


Brilliant. I don't care if it stays empty (I've checked it)...just brilliant!

I've been getting into the festive spirit by trying on some of my new "seasonal" gear. Thanks to Auntie Sarah. Every little helps!


I've also been good at getting ready to go out when Mam and Dad want to do some Christmas shopping. Here's me raring to go before Mam has even got her shoes on.


Regular readers will want to know if I've had any funny dreams this week. I have. This time around a large mouse came and told me that if I wore the same clothes as him, I'd go far.


That's about it for this week. I'll try and post a little more regularly over the holidays if I can (and I'm not too excited). Until next time, this is Kate Adie, somewhere very dangerous in a PLO scarf for the BBC.


A x

Perfect 10 (lb 7oz)

I'm going to keep it brief this week. Mostly because I haven't done much apart from feed. You'll see from the title of this blog how much I weighed last Thursday - I'd piled on about 13 oz in a week, my best effort yet.

Here's a picture of me just after a feed. Dad calls me Betty the Beer when I look like this because he says it looks like I've been on the booze (before anyone writes in...I haven't)


You can probably see how much I've grown if you compare this picture of me in my swing with earlier ones I've posted. I was probably asleep in the earlier ones too!


What a lump!

Bigger I may be but I'm not as big as my new friend, Millie, who I went to see last week. She invited me over for a wriggle and we had a top time.

I'll sign off this week with a picture sent in by one of my readers. Thank you to Alex at Valley and Vale for this photo of me doing a rubbish impression of Hannibal Lecter for Melissa, Alison and Mam when I popped in there the other week.

If you would like me to name drop your organisation in my blog, please send photos of me or money to the usual address. Autumn Online is read in many countries including the USA, England and Blaengarw.

T'ra

A x

Girl - You're Gonna Carry That Weight

Hey bloggers!

First up, Mam and Dad wanted me to post this picture. I haven't got a clue why as it looks blurry to me but they seem to think it's funny.

It's been a funny week. There's a little red book that Mel the Health gave Mam. At first I thought she was a Maoist but it turns out that all babies get them round here regardless of their political persuasion and, amongst other things, you can record my weight, height and how many times I have passed wind in 24 hours (just the one today). Anyway, my weight graph looked a bit like it had been drawn with a spirit level for the last week or so. Mam went into overdrive and I put on 4 oz in three days. I'm now 9lb 11 but I'm still tiny - 58cm long. Or 58cm high, depending on if I'm sitting up or not.


I have been giggling an awful lot over the last weekend. Mam and Dad think it's cute but they don't understand the nuances of baby speak. I mean, "That's nice - do it again!" sounds very much the same as "What's wrong with you? Can't you smell it? Change my nappy NOW!" to anyone over the age of 12 months or so.

I also find that as I get older, I get cheekier.

I went to Valley and Vale this week to see everyone there. Auntie Melissa looked different...I think she was sat in a different chair last time I went.


I have been getting into more and more of the clothes and other things that some of you have sent me though. I'm currently loving Gro-bags (other sleeping bags are available...no dodgy cash changing hands here) as it has got colder. I think this one may last me through the winter!

And finally...It seems I am not alone. If Dad holds me at a certain end of the room at a certain angle and in the right light, there is another little girl who looks a bit like me AND has the same CDs as Dad.


As if that wasn't enough, I have also discovered that she writes a blog too! I've checked it out so that you don't have to. It's not as good as my blog but if you are really curious, you can find it at

moc.topsgolb.odoabab.www

Just don't forget the original and best!

Thanks for looking...until next time.

Ax

Ouch!

I was doing really well this week. I was sleeping good, eating well and getting into lots of new clothes and then came a series of, well, not nice things.

On Wednesday I had to have my first immunisation jabs. Mam says it hurt her more than it hurt me but I seriously doubt it. After that I thought I'd get my own back by slipping back a couple of weeks in terms of sleep irregularity and crying fits. It seemed to work. I got a new outfit for going out in. It make me look like a bear. Grrrrrr.


Then I found out that despite eating a lot (and...errr..."ejecting" a lot) it seems I'm not putting on weight. Now, Mel the Health is not concerned with this as she says I look healthy and everything. What do you think?


I mean a girl's got to look after her figure, right? (That and practice pouting)


And THEN the Springboks dared beat us in our own back garden. Jeez!

Not all bad news though. Grandma Spain came over to see me again on Friday. At least she thinks I looked a bit bigger than the last time she saw me.


Maybe my lack of weight-gain is down to all the exercise I've been getting. Here's me doing my pre-crawl routine. Look at the power in my neck, guys!


Finally, I had a very odd dream in which a teddy riding an orange giraffe told me the secret of time travel. I can't publish it here though...he'd go mental...it is a secret, after all.


Until yesterday.

Autumn x