Moving

If you are a follower of Eleanor then you will need to go to this blog from now on.

I will no longer be updating this site.

See you,

John-Paul

Party Two

Eleanor's friends came over for Party Number Two on Sunday. The exclusive guest list included: Alexandra, Tom, Athena, Peter, Nina, Harry, Natasha, and Kyra. Jake was unable to attend as he had a previous engagement in Christchurch.

Tom and Eleanor are arch-friends at creche; playing together until they end up wrestling each other to the ground.

Alexandra is two days younger than Eleanor. She makes rather a nice photo.

Athena selected her party dress herself.

Party One

Family came on Saturday to celebrate Eleanor's second birthday.

Eleanor had a fine old time receiving a fetching outfit and bag, a pink ukelele, Igglepiggle and a kaleidoscope.



From Mum and Dad she got a set of puzzles, a mirror with her name on it (only took Dad one year to paint and glue that present together), and some clothes.








Eleanor has reached the stage where she appreciates the present itself more than the wrapping paper, which is a pleasing stage for the people who brought her the presents.

Eleanor retains her interest in cakes.

Happy Birthday

Eleanor had a good day today. She went to creche in the morning and had a cake there with her friends. She was a bit overwhelmed and didn't sing along to Happy Birthday or blow out the candles, but it sounds like it was nice.

At home we gave her a little bit of cake. She sang Happy Birthday with us and blew out the candles. It was very sweet. I suppose that she didn't make a wish. I'll make one for her: a long and happy life with love and not too much sadness.

Is that dress getting smaller?

It is Eleanor's second birthday today. I will write about that later (her big parties are going to be on the weekend). It's difficult to notice your child is getting older. On her first birthday Eleanor debuted this pretty dress.

She was wearing it again last week.

Chinese

In order to teach Eleanor about being frustrated we took her to a Chinese restaurant ordered her some delcious food and gave her chop sticks.

After spending a few minutes chasing food around the plate Eleanor remembered she had hands.

Riversdale

We went to the beach for the weekend. Peter and Eleanor ran gamely across the hard flat sand toward the sea, and the sea ran at them. Once a wave flops over there is that surge of water that flows out swiftly across the sand. If you walk away from it when it is sucking back it is quite disorientating. Once the water had rushed up under Peter and Eleanor's feet they described a quick arc and began their rapid jolting run back towards land. Peter fell over into the soggy sand and howled, Eleanor kept her feet, stopped, and noting Peter's displeasure began to cry too. Back on dry sand they played in a hole. Peter tossing himself into it chest first, Eleanor more circumspectly flopping onto her bottom.

The place we stayed was very nice: a flash bach. There were stylish knick-knacks that had to be removed to safe heights, and a battery of remote controls that needed to be shifted to higher ground. The toilet facilities were slightly inadequate for those of us who like a bath. Eleanor was untroubled by using the wash basin, but I am not as limber as I once was and found it difficult to lever myself in and out while maintaining dignity. Eleanor didn't say anything but I could tell she wanted to laugh.

It rained on the last day so Nina read Eleanor a book. This developed into a photo shoot. Nina has mastered the art of looking at the camera AND organising her face; Eleanor is still inconsistent. Our child rearing and pruning guide says this is quite normal but if the child has not mastered this skill by the age of three along with a fierce walk for the catwalk there may be something wrong with the child and perhaps they can only be considered for the dismal occupations of architect, doctor or CEO.