Elsie

One of the decisions Lauren and I made early on after having Elsie, was that we weren't going to post pictures of her online. I've felt that there is a tendency to overshare on social media, and the problem with the internet is once a picture is up, it's hard to take down.

But of course, the downside is that given so much of social media is image-based, there is a rather large Elsie-sized hole what we share. So this blog is an attempt to rectify that, and dote on her in text form!

This year’s been a big year for her. She’s started school, turned 5, learnt to ride a bike, moved house, started learning her timestables (the ones count right?), started to spell and read small words, and got closer to being able to swim. One forgets how busy it is to be small.

She is as cheeky as ever, often when given instructions she will give them due consideration before offering her preferred alternative plan. She is also developing a strong sense of herself. She returned home from school with a book she had written (an A4 page folded to resemble a book, with a front cover and scribbles inside), on the front of the book her name was written in large writing not once, but twice. When I enquired as to why she had repeated her name, she was quite clear that this was correct: “I’m the author AND illustrator daddy!”

She loves music. Yes, it’s mainly Disney based, but she regularly asks to listen to Sara Cox’s half wower so there’s that. (I have a strange obsession with Radio 2). She draws the line at folk music though, “This is grown-up music isn’t it daddy?”

As of yesterday she has lost two baby teeth. It’s been a busy few days, with the Christmas elf getting into mischief over night and now the tooth fairy visiting too. She’s now the perfect age for all this magic!

This year she’s started Rainbows and Ninjas (precursor to Krav Maga), I have visions of the two disciplines coming together whereby folk are sold biscuits and crafts and short-changers are pursued with extreme prejudice. She’s already earnt her “Cinema Badge” and a white belt, naturally I’m very proud.

“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth…”