Here's Nina with some of her recent favourite things, some raisons and her cat. Well Mummy's cat really. Nina has been borrowing cat recently. It's nice to have a picnic out on the carpet, but in case it suddenly starts raining bubbles...
...it's nice to be able to shelter in one's tent.
Nina got her first pair of proper shoes and wore them back from the shop. But all of the way she wanted to try them out properly.
Very soon Mummy took her out for her very first walk out to the park
Bee is a firm favourite
As is being tickled
My magnadoodle is a very good seat
Looking at bubbles is fun
I love playing with the egg timer
And reading my book
And having my book read to me
But all of that can tire me out
It's good hiding under the table
and the chairs
It's also a good spot to make a quick phone call
But have to make sure Daddy isn't hanging around worrying about the phone bill
After all of this playing out and about time I did some playing at home. It's got a bit colder so time for my jumper...
Sometimes everyone needs a rest
The box has had some repair work, but all of my friends are still there
Good to spend some time on the computer with Daddy
The bee that I was given by Nanny and Granddad in Somerset is a good replacement for that tractor
Back in my carseat for the last holiday of the year (maybe I won't fit in any more after this one)
This holiday was finally warm enough to get in the paddling pool, my cousin also had a little inflatable boat.
When we were there we found a park which had little tractors to drive on
And my Uncle Andy took some lovely pictures of me looking very thoughtful
All of that playing needs something nice to eat... Turns out summer brings mini milks
But all of that playing brings something else...
When Nina went to France, she caught Roseola.
Every time Mummy and Daddy had been to France Mummy wasn't that keen on using her French, until her little girl wasn't very well, when her fluent French came out.
The doctor knew exactly what it was, and he said we didn't need to do anything, but it looked pretty scary...
Eating at home is all very well
But I've been lucky enough to try eating out. Earlier this year I had to discover eating pasta!
Pretty easy in the end! Although it can be distracting when busses keep going past.
Nina sleeping (when she's 6 months old).
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Grumps and Ellie bought us a backpack so that we could go walking with Nina. At first we weren't sure if Nina would be ok up so high...
But we needn't have worried...
She was even taller than Mummy!
But who knew being so tall was so tiring?
Daddy tells me the song is about hot sausage and mustard. Or custard. Or something. But I like these things...
Yogurt
Carrots
Eating melon in the garden. I believe that is called Al Fresco.
Where's my dinner?? The service is slow around here!
Oh, never mind, I'll make it myself.
Watching Formula One with Daddy is fun... Well sort of...
This is the good bit, when I get to press ALL of the buttons!
Nowadays the people on the f1 website know that it's me typing and say hello to me.
My favourite shape of them all is my own head.
Nina's been trying lots of different foods recently. I was heading out to work the other day and Katherine said that she was going to try Nina on mushrooms. "Let me know how it goes", I said. I was curious, I like mushrooms, but Katherine doesn't.
I was sent these pictures...
She actually loved them, but Katherine took the picture just at the right moment to MAKE HER POINT!
But all this testing can be very tiring.
James is a very important police man, but when he tried to arrest me I think I held my own.
Happy to see you
Not just happy, but sometimes quite cheeky
And sometimes one is plotting moving into ones underground layer (รก la Doctor Evil)
And sometimes, one looks like one is getting quite grown up.
Bath time has always been one of my favourite times of the day (except at the beginning when it was new and weird).
This is me during one of the first attempts at a regular bath at 6 weeks.
And this is is me only 6 weeks later.
This is a video which you might not be able to see.
I'm confused - why are you not feeding me?
I'm tired - why am I not asleep?
I'm being cheeky - definitely related to Mummy and Daddy
Bouncing is pretty good. And generally pretty distracting. But then Daddy will tell one of his jokes, and I have to let him know what I think.
At the family party I met so many wonderful people, but I don't know if my dad's cousin is my second cousin or if they are something once removed. I must learn especially as these two lovely people are my Dad's cousin's daughters.
Maybe I'll just call them Daisy and Maya?
Every year Daddy's Mum's family have a big old party. I had a great time at my first one.
Grandpa Daley, Mummy and me
Dad's Cousin Holly and me
Dad's Cousin Kathryn and me
Me and Great Aunty Barbara
Me and Great Aunty Anne
Me and Great Uncle Graham
Nina has been having top up feeds since she left hospital. And that's something Daddy can do, but it's nice for everyone to get a bottle!
Actually in the last few days Nina hasn't been needing her top ups as much, so hopefully for her that phase has come to an end. Shame for Daddy though!
The towel doesn't go on you mummy!
We had a visit from Joe
and Matt
But this brought up a tricky question, will the friends of Mummy and Daddy be known as auntie and uncle too or is that just for relatives? We could have asked Joe but he seemed a bit distracted.
It was lovely to see them, and before he left, Cousin Theo helped mum and dad with the washing!
The other day we received a letter from a member of our Russian family, my Second cousin, Lera.
Katherine has a translation for those of you who don't speak Russian. Sasha is the Russian version of Alex, and is close to the Scottish Sandy.
Dear Katya and Sasha,Congratulations on the birth of your daughter Ninotchka.
Let her grow big, healthy, smart and makes her parents happy.
All the best to her,
Kisses,
Lera and all of your Russian Family
Search your feelings, you know it to be true
(This is a reference to Empire Strikes Back if you are feeling confused)
We received this letter from our family in Russia. See if you can work out what it says.
In Russia they have an interesting diminutive form for names. While in England, Katherine becomes Kat and Alexander becomes Alex, in Russian the names your family and friends call you can often be longer. With me it's Ninotchka.
My Daddy says, "are you hungry my little Ninotchka"?
Uncle Pete, Dad's brother, came to visit me today. He said he was going to check I was ok, but I don't think he's using that Stethoscope right.
He also wanted me to swear I would be an Arsenal fan. We will have to see about that!
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Great Granddad Oleg Andronov wanted to to have a baby girl called Nina, but he didn't get to have a girl, instead he had two boys George and Igor.
George had Michael, and Michael had Finley.
And Igor had Alexander and Peter.
All boys.
By this time the name Nina hadn't been mentioned for a long time. Sadly Oleg had died before Alexander was born.
Alexander and Katherine had wanted to give their child a Russian name and had kept things very quiet as to what it would be. A boys name had come to mind early, but the girls name was undecided. The name Nina suddenly came, just a week before Nina came herself.
It was only after the name was announced to everyone that George and Igor mentioned that Oleg had always wanted a baby girl called Nina.
Nina had her first visitor today Grandma Daley. She was very happy about the visit, and the cuddle. But after a while it was all a bit too exciting and it was time for more napping.
Born at 00:06 on the 19th June
5 pounds 4 ounces
Our wonderful baby daughter.