Sunshine, birthdays & swimming...

Hollies old man smile!

This week, as usual, has been jam packed- but also lots of fun! We are LOVING the sunshine! Luke has been able to come home for lunch a few days this week which is a rare occasion, but a great treat when it happens! (I just wonder whether the neighbours think I'm having it off with the Postman or whether they realise Luke IS the postman!!! Although, sadly not for our area!) 

There is nothing better than sitting outside with the sun shining down & a nice breeze blowing! I have found sunbathing harder than usual with Hollie in tow now, as obviously she needs shade & I NEED sunshine! (I am wearing a coral bridesmaid dress in 3 weeks time, coral does NOT go well with pastie!!!!) I have learnt to strategically place us so Hollie is in the shade & I can lie next to her poking out into the sun! Only thing is, as the sun moves, we have to too! Which means I can't fall asleep in case the sun moves & cooks Hollie too! (I also have this weird irrational fear as it is a communal garden that if I fell asleep somebody would sneak along & steal Hollie! Please tell me I'm not the only one who worries about weird things like that!) 

Turns out though, Hollie loves being outside (albeit in the shade!) as much as me! BONUS! She gurgles & coos away to the trees & her hands & even throws in a VERY loud squeal! (Luke tells me she's already learnt to be abnormally loud already so she can be heard over me!!!!) She also seems to have a taste for suncream! I lather her up in the factor 50 variety trying to apply it as fast as possible- it is the spray kind so I spray & rub all in the swiftest motion I can- but Hollie is in there like a hawk- she sees the suncream, the tongue pokes out & then she will pull whatever body part she can till it reaches her pokey out tongue & licks her suncreamed body dry!!!! Then, as I pull whatever part of her has ended up in her mouth away she see this as an offering of my sun cream covered hands for her to taste & licks away at them too!!!! I am hoping that although the suncream will never count towards our 5 a day- that its not too bad for her!!! I guess only time will tell!!!!

Hollie with the Postman!

 This week we also celebrated Mumma Rosas birthday! (Lukes Mum!) I was in charge of the birthday cake that was giving me lots of stress as I couldn't get it to rise!!! (Thankyou to all those who helped with tips!) In the end it went down well! Luke & Dad added what can only be described as a firework to it which made it look extra funky!!! Here is my finished product:

Sans firework!

Once the boys had 'manned it up'!

Lots of other fun things happened this week; the lovely Vicky & her husband came over in the 30oC heat & we took some bridal shots of her! (She was a YW when I first moved into Watford Stake & we became good friends on camp when her & a couple of the other older girls came & talked all about boys with Luke & I!!! Fun times!) Needless to say I have loved her ever since (how could you not!) & it was great to see her & her lovely husband Luke! (Great name too hey!) I love I was able to serve in Young Womens with the girls while I was still so young- I think Young Womens is the BEST calling you can have & at 19 I still felt like one of the girls so made lots of friends with the girls & other leaders alike :o) Anyway- I'm going off track!

Today we got to go SWIMMING again! Yay! Last time we went Hollie fell asleep on me! She was just so relaxed she just snuggled up & nodded off! She was in SUCH a deep sleep she started snoring! It was a proper little purring sound, TOO cute! Today we tried to time it so that she'd been fed & napped WAY before swimming time; it WORKED! Yay! 

She still wasn't exactly wildly awake- she gets way too relaxed & really loves a good snuggle but today- she fell in LOVE!!! Haha! First of all she was flirting away with the lifeguard (she did NOT pick that up from me! Promise!) Giggling & smiling- then when he pulled funny faces back at her she'd hide away, it was brilliant for her- a little awkward for Luke & I trying to decide whether or not to make small talk with the teenage boy pulling faces at our firstborn, but all fun! Then, just as we thought she'd had enough, we bumped into the family who where opposite us on our maternity ward! They are such a lovely Polish family & they were so happy we ended up chatting for ages- all the while Hollie was fascinated in their little boy Jacob & flirting away AGAIN! They were giggling at each other & stroking each others faces! It was like love at first sight- the cutest thing I've ever seen! I don't think I've said "ahhhhhh" & "oh Luke, LOOK!" so much since Hollie was a newborn! I was really worried Hollie would claw Jacobs eyes out as that's what she tries to do to most people while 'investigating' their faces, but she was surprisingly gentle! I wonder whether babies have an intrinsic knowledge of how to be gentle with other babies as when Hollie was a newborn our friends baby Jared, at only 8/9 months old, of his own accord lent over Hollie & gave her the most gentle tender kiss I've ever seen! It's like he just knew

 

Tomorrow we are excited for MORE sunshine, a BBQ at the gorgeous Knipes (our first one of the year! Luke is chomping at the bit Hanna!!!!) AND one of my lovely besties Leanne & hubby Joe coming over for the afternoon too! Could it get any better?! Not really! 

Happy Saturday (",)