As it was Gabriella’s birthday, I took the day off so we could spend it together as a family.
Gabriella had a lie-in and got up around the time that Jessica had her morning nap. In the afternoon after Jessica had had her lunch, we went to Tilgate Park, which isn’t too far away, where they’ve got a Nature Centre. We have been before but the weather was so foul that day, that we weren’t able to wander round properly. Thankfully it was dry this time and Jessica was able to get out of the pushchair to see the animals properly.
Before we’d had chance to get Jessica out, two inquisitive turkeys came up to take a look. So brazen were they, that one tried to nab her Tummen rattle. As it’s attached to the pushchair, the bandit bird didn’t get very far with it. Before they came even closer, we decided that we should move on to look at the cockatiels.
Jessica showed as much interest in them as she does birds in our garden and was capitivated by the bright colours – at least I think that’s why she was looking at them for so long.
From there, we moved onto a pen with cockerels, hens and guinea pigs in. The nature centre is so obviously designed for children: the railing for the pen was the ideal height for Jessica to look over (and under!) and again she seemed really interested in the wee beasties.
Having looked at the hens etc for a while, Jessica decided that Daddy needed to go for a walk and shot off at fair old speed, dragging him along with her.
We soon found our way to some more pens, with larger animals.
Jessica showing her delight at seeing some goats, before moving onto look at a pig sty with Mummy.
By now it was getting near Jessica’s afternoon fed, so we all headed to the cafe where Gabriella took the following photo.
We headed home after we’d all had a drink as Jessica was starting to get tired: her current cold seems to drain her of energy. It was a lovely afternoon for all of us and very relaxed.
There’s been quite a few thing s that I’ve been meaning to write about for a while. Jessica’s getting more and more confident on her feet, sometimes she’ll even run short distances between things totally unsupported. When she does lead me on tours round the house, clutching one of my fingers, more for reassurance than support really, I’m finding that it’s easier on my back now she’s getting taller.
Last weekend, I witnessed something Gabriella has experienced a few times too. I’d brought a load of washing through out the machine and plonked them on the settee, ready to start hanging it. Jessica, on seeing the clothes, promptly came over to ‘help’. I use the term very loosely, as she is really insistent that clothes belong on the floor. She is really very determined, throwing them with great gusto and paid no attention to Daddy explaining that he really didn’t want the clothes on the floor. It was a battle, but eventually I managed to hang them to dry, using all sorts of distraction techniques.
A game that Jessica never seems to tire of is peek-a-boo. It doesn’t really matter what’s used to hide behind or who’s hiding. One of her favourites is round/behind her high chair. She also like hiding behind her bib and then appearing. Probably her favourite though is where I put a muslin over her head and one over my own: she shrieks with glee once she’s first pulled hers off then mine. It’s such a happy sound!
Ian.