Halloween

I'm stuffed from eating lots of Halloween sweets - I seem to have bought too much this year. We ran out last year so wanted to make sure that didnt happen again. It's raining a bit though so I assume that's keeping a few of them away.

We have had a few visitors, with the parents waiting patiently by the side of the road and gently reminding their children of manners and to say thank you!

Vera had a little Halloween party at nursery after a long walk to the woods. The nursery staff had described her as a dare devil to Mark, after she fearlessly climbed some logs. She was wearning a fairly discrete Trick or Treat top and a mini witches hat I picked up for 50p, but quite cute don't you think!

 Not a spot, but the remnants of face paint from nursery

Here's Mark's hand carved pumpkin, still lit

First party

The winter cold is upon us and the temperature dropped from about 15 to 5 on Saturday. We had a nice visit to the Shelford Deli on Saturday morning, a few moments reading the paper and having a nice cappuccino and Vera having a little Italian biscuit called "the kiss".

Saturday afternoon was full of cold rain, so we lit some candles, played and watched an afternoon movie.

 This morning we went to the Spotted Giraffe for Oliver's 3rd birthday party. It started at 10:30 with about an hour's play before we went upstairs for the children to get their sugar high. Vera had such a blast in the play area, diving in and out of the ball pool and going on the slide backwards and forwards. She's fearless.

She started off with peppers, carrots, cucumber, party sausages (what else!), raisins and sandwiches

 15 children all together and all the parents watching!

 Filip (whose b'day party Vera is going to in 2 week's time), Mats and 13-week old Amanda in the background

 Vera tasting ice cream and smarties. At this stage she was quite full so mainly played (and prayed by the looks of it!).

 Oliver's and Alistair's birthday cake, half vanilla and half chocolate. We got a small piece to take home with us as Vera was stuffed by this stage

 Playing

 Vera at home with her two party favours. Two rings which she loved wearing

Early evening walk and play

Titt Ut!

Vera had such a giggle tonight playing Titt Ut! (Peek-a-Boo). The game consisted of Vera laying down on the floor on some cushoions stating "mer" (more) and pointing on her back. We then had to cover her back and head with either a cushion or a blanket. Vera uncovers the blanket or cushion and happily shouts "Titut". The she hands us the cushion/blanket, lies down says "mer" and so it goes again. About 50 times!

I'm still feeling poorly, but none of this seem to have affected Vera, who triple-portioned her food again today and has been preparing Halloween decorations and going for walks looking at cranes and diggers. All with a big smile!

We received Vera's folder from the Piglet room, now that she sets out on the next step of her journey there. They have daily/weekly and monthly observations and this is from Vera's 14 month observation.

Happy, confident and content. Very sociable. Can't ask for more as a parent really!And oh, she's a chatter box. Wonder who she gets that from (just ask my colleagues :-) )

Vera balancing bran flakes for breakfast (#1). She has rice crispies the minute she gets to nursery.

Outside nursery yesterday morning

Quiet Sunday

A trip to Scotsdales to buy some flowers and for Vera to say hello to some animals: gerbils, parrots, fish, rabbits and mice.

We also checked out their amazing Christmas section and I even bought some decoration. Crazy I know, but tempting.

In the afternoon we met Ana, Mark and the bump in The Green Man in Trumpington for some food, drinks and catch up. Vera mas mainly still and pacified by olives, food, ice cream (rare treat) and Postman Pat, plus walks exploring the place.

Quite evening now, with my friend the sore throat and Downton Abbey

Saturday at the Botanics

We had a great Saturday morning in the Botanics with our NCT friends, everyone apart from James made it and Ken's sister from Taiwan kindly took the group photo.

http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Home.aspx

The whole gang: Nick, Alex, Lu, Karolina, Kuba, Hania, Ken, QuinQion (baby #2 due in 6 weeks), Philip, Al, Claire, Alice, Liz, Ben, me, Vera and Mark

Philip, Alex and Lu

Hania, QuinQuin, Vera

Vera watching the ducks (kvack-kvack)

Everyone saying hello to the ducks before lunch

Autumn leaves. Unfortunately the sun was hiding

It's been a quiet afternoon as I have a very sore throat and feel tired. Autumn taking its toll.

Tummy

I've been on a bit of a shopping spree for Vera. New leggings (lots of Next, Esprit etc from eBay at bargain prices) and some long sleeved tops etc from H&M.

Here she is from this morning wearing a french inspired number. I told her to pull it down to cover her tummy (magen in Swedish) so she pulled it up to properly show me and the camera her tummy!

Posing!

Vera is practicing her animal names and noises, in Swedish and English. Some days she pairs them correctly, other days it's a bit hit and miss! Another favourtite word is "mee" (mer in Swedish, more in English) when she wants more food. And "gack" (Swedish "tack", thank you in English).

She's been double portioning it at nursery and even triple portioning it at times. She's very active and they serve good, balanced food, so nothing to be concerned of, more fascinated really!

Everything has gone really well in the Roo room, lots of walks to look for the Gruffalo* and the Gruffalo's house in the forest
*http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gruffalo-Julia-Donaldson/dp/0333710932/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350500647&sr=1-1

She wanders in in the morning, washes her hands (until she gets bubbles on her hands!) and sits down for a second breakfast :-)

It's tiring though and she's been exhausted at 7:45 when it's time to go to bed and fallen asleep instantly. Bless. Long days for a little girl...

Vera has also been invited to her first party! The invitation came in the post this morning.
She also enjoyed having her photo taken this evening and was happily posing below! Not a baby anymore. A little girl.

Note the socks and shoes. The crocs are rarely off when Vera is awake!

Autumn leaves

A weekend with my wonderful family! Walks, cooking, music and quality time. The weekdays disappear in such a routine and rhythm that it's nice to take it easy at the weekend. We had a bit of a slow start yesterday, up before eight, but enjoyed a cooked breakfast and lots of coffee before we got going. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, but then I tell myself that we rush every weekday morning and Vera gets so much stimulation and so many people that sometimes it's just nice to lounge around in your jimjams, cuddle and enjoy each other's company.

The sun has been shining most of the weekend and today we went to Wandlebury Park (literally just up the road from us). Vera in wellies and purposefully striding along the paths! As it's an area popular with families and walkers, we bumped into lots of dogs, to Vera's sheer delight!

We went to Gog Magog for a coffee after the walk and Vera was very excited to see the turkeys (who unfortunately won't live past Christmas, but that's a story for another year and another time).


Vera and mamma

 Daddy, Vera and the wellies

 Autumn forest

 Beautiful leaves

 Vera saying hello to the turkeys

Eggs

Vera's latest craze (!) is boiled eggs. We have them for breakfast every morning and she nearly self combusts when she sees them. I have to hide the boiled eggs until she's eaten most of her cereal and milk, otherwise the cereal is forgotten about!

I dont't know how good it is for toddlers to eat so much egg, but I have googled it and seems to be a nutricious addition to the diet. To be honest, if she's happy to eat it, I'm happy to give it to her.

Here she is this morning devouring her boiled egg.
Today she's spending all day in the Roo room again and transitioning officially on Monday. The move is going very well according to the staff. Vera is not bothered at all, just walks around. To be honest, she's happy as long as she's stimulated and have people to interact with and people who are willing to read to her!

Contrasts

On Thursday after work, Soo Jit and Poh Hoon took me to Orchard Road, the main shopping area in Singapore. There are more shopping centres and designer shops than you have ever seen in your life!

We had dumplings in a cool restaurant and what was most enjoyable for me (apart from eating!) was to see all the chefs making the dumplings (think dim sum) by hand. each one is rolled out, filled and closed by hand, before being carefully steemed and served. Experts at work!

After dinner, we browsed in one of the shopping centres, I bought a few gifts, before it was time to head to the airport. The flight was ok. Just long. The best bit though, was arriving home and seeing Vera toddle towards me saying "mamma"!

Spent Friday at home, a few walks, emails and general taking it easy. Made pizza and had a relaxed evening before I collapsed at 10pm.

On Saturday we went to Saffron Walden, such a nice market town, we did a few errands and had coffee, before heading home and visiting the playground. It was a beautiful sunny day and Vera had lots of fun on the swings and opening and closing the gate to the playground.

 Vera in the cafe, being pacified with small pieces of a chocolate muffin and wearing her "boys"  hoodie. (Just annoyes me that just beacuse it's not pink, it's marketed as a Boys Hooded Jumper....)

Manning the gate

Enjoying the autumn sunshine, having a rest on the grass.

Summer rain

Last day here in Singapore and it's raining on and off and very humid. But a pleasant and warm rain, not like October rain back home!

We had a beautiful dinner last night at the Jasmine resturant here in Singapore, couresty of the CEO of one of our distributors. I lost count of the number of courses we had, but it included chili crab, pork, fish, prawns, other crab, lamb, chicken, more chicken, desserts and fruit, all served Chinese style at a round table. I also tried a fruit called Durian for the first time, known here as the King of Fruits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

It's a bit of a delicacy and you apparently either love it or hate it (think marmite or surstromming). It stinks! But actually tastes very nice.

All in all, very enjoyable, but so much to eat!

Mark and Vera worked from home yesterday and had a lovely day with visits to the playground.
When I got back from dinner, we had a skype session and I sang Imse Vimse Spindel and Vera attempted the accompanying actions thousands of miles away. Too sweet!

From my walk to work this morning

 The office

 Park