In the bath

What would a photo session be without some of bath-time? Who's a little monkey then???

And here's the best of the crop... out having a coffee with Aunty Sarah, Uncle Mike, Aunty Hannah and Uncle Gareth while being babysat. What cool babysitters!!!

And finally, good-naturedly putting up with endless kisses from Mummy! It's a hard life huh?!

Getting into mischief

Mum and Dad were sitting down to lunch one day after unpacking most of the groceries. Rustle rustle rustle behind us... what's madam into? Hmmm, helping herself to lunch it would appear... least it's healthy!

Another day... "oh bum" from the kitchen... "what?" yells Mum, "turns out I"m not having rice bubbles for breakfast after all" says Dad. "he he he" says Ruby...

When we were both lying on the couch sick with coughs and colds, there was deafening silence from the direction of our child. We finally managed to raise a fevered head to see what was going on, to find that our daughter had become all self-sufficient and helped herself to my uneaten mandarin from my lunch box, and was digging and biting her way into it. Seeing as she'd started, we let her carry on, and she managed to peel and eat about half of it before losing interest.

Don't be alarmed - we do actually feed her most days. She just gets tired of waiting for us to prepare it sometimes!

If it's worth having, it's worth having on your head...

She's moved on from the 'carrying everything in my mouth' stage and has gleefully entered the 'putting everything on my head' phase.

Luckily, Daddy has a good selection of hats...

and when they're not available, there's always a nappy...

or an ice-cream container...

Our baby turns ONE!

Well we made it! We survived what everyone says is the hardest part (until she hits her teens, so people like to remind us...). So we had a little celebration and shared the day with our closest friends and family. It was wonderful to be able to share Ruby's fun with the people who have supported us in so many ways over the last year. Unfortunately, we were so busy chatting and laughing at our girl that we didn't get many photos taken. But here are the few that we did get!
Of course, all presents had to be taste tested...

and all books had to be thoroughly read before we could move onto the next one. There were a few books in the present mountain, so this took quite a while!Here she is in her new jacket and her new pants,

and sitting on her new duvet trying out her new cup. A little confusing given that there was no water in it, but it didn't stop her trying.

Fast asleep with her new piglet. This little chap gets cuddles almost as intense as the ones I get when I return from work - violent but great!

Ruby sitting in her new rug that Aunty Tracey crocheted for her, and playing peekaboo with the fleecy blanket from her Great-Nana.

Having some fun with Aunty Tracey.

And trying on Aunty Tracey's hat