I have struggled for something to write about over the last week, and that alongside some coding practice has meant I’ve not updated the blog at all which is a shame as there seemed to be some momentum building. While searching for inspiration, and after exhausting many potential post titles that just felt like writing for the sake of writing I realised that the inspiration was right there in front of me – The Lizzy Face! So I thought I would write about some of my favourite Lizzyisms.
Careless Whisper
Lizzy Face is a chatty little soul, and she enjoys having a conversation with anyone who will engage with her. I have a lot of fun wandering into rooms and declaring “ba ba, dada dada brrrap” which is often met with a curious look and a response of “nananananana ba ban a” which is great fun. But much sweeter than that is when she whispers to herself, the soft gentle murmur of an innocent little soul having lovely time content in her own world. Lizzy Face will often sit and chatter to herself, just gently thinking out loud and enjoying her own company. She is clearly happy, feels safe and doesn’t want for anything. It is one of the nicest sounds you can hear from your baby.
Clap Your Hands
Lizzy learned to clap her hands a few weeks ago. She has been clapping her feet together since she was about 3 months so I was never worried about her co-ordination, she just didn’t seem very bothered about her hands. That’s all changed now and we can say to her, out of the blue “clap your hands” and after a wry smile and a consideration of this request, she will usually oblige with the biggest of smiles. Fantastic. Even funnier than that is when she looks at you, thinks about it and then laughs and shakes her head – a response which clearly translates to “oh come on Muppet, I can’t go round clapping my hands ALL day I’ve got bouncing to do”. I am extending the clap your hands to the high five, and it’s going well although I’m not sure she understands the point.
Lizzy Face is a chatty little soul, and she enjoys having a conversation with anyone who will engage with her. I have a lot of fun wandering into rooms and declaring “ba ba, dada dada brrrap” which is often met with a curious look and a response of “nananananana ba ban a” which is great fun. But much sweeter than that is when she whispers to herself, the soft gentle murmur of an innocent little soul having lovely time content in her own world. Lizzy Face will often sit and chatter to herself, just gently thinking out loud and enjoying her own company. She is clearly happy, feels safe and doesn’t want for anything. It is one of the nicest sounds you can hear from your baby.
Clap Your Hands
Lizzy learned to clap her hands a few weeks ago. She has been clapping her feet together since she was about 3 months so I was never worried about her co-ordination, she just didn’t seem very bothered about her hands. That’s all changed now and we can say to her, out of the blue “clap your hands” and after a wry smile and a consideration of this request, she will usually oblige with the biggest of smiles. Fantastic. Even funnier than that is when she looks at you, thinks about it and then laughs and shakes her head – a response which clearly translates to “oh come on Muppet, I can’t go round clapping my hands ALL day I’ve got bouncing to do”. I am extending the clap your hands to the high five, and it’s going well although I’m not sure she understands the point.
The Nosey Parker
Lizzy Face is a nosey parker for sure. No matter where we are, at home or out and about Lizzy wants to know everything that is going on. It is very entertaining to see her follow someone with her gaze as they walk out of a room and then lean over to try and see round the door with a curious look on her face which gives away the cogs churning as she tries to work out where they’ve gone and why. She has fully fledged fo-mo, but I'd rather a curious kelly than a danny dullard and day of the week.
The Welcome Home
The ultimate in parenting reward. Each evening as I get home from work when she hears the door she looks up, she waits – was that the Daddy Face? I can hear Fergotron asking her who she can hear, so I whistle or knock on the walls. The excitement starts to build and then when I pop my head round the door I am greeted by a dawning smile, flappy arms and sparkly eyes which convey unfathomable joy at my arrival. This often results in me being covered in dinner as I give her a kiss and say hello. The Fergotron has been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of this since her return to work. It doesn’t quite make up for the emptiness and the inevitable guilt of leaving Lizzy at nursery – but it goes a long way.
Lizzy Face is a nosey parker for sure. No matter where we are, at home or out and about Lizzy wants to know everything that is going on. It is very entertaining to see her follow someone with her gaze as they walk out of a room and then lean over to try and see round the door with a curious look on her face which gives away the cogs churning as she tries to work out where they’ve gone and why. She has fully fledged fo-mo, but I'd rather a curious kelly than a danny dullard and day of the week.
The Welcome Home
The ultimate in parenting reward. Each evening as I get home from work when she hears the door she looks up, she waits – was that the Daddy Face? I can hear Fergotron asking her who she can hear, so I whistle or knock on the walls. The excitement starts to build and then when I pop my head round the door I am greeted by a dawning smile, flappy arms and sparkly eyes which convey unfathomable joy at my arrival. This often results in me being covered in dinner as I give her a kiss and say hello. The Fergotron has been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of this since her return to work. It doesn’t quite make up for the emptiness and the inevitable guilt of leaving Lizzy at nursery – but it goes a long way.
Daddy Daughter Days
I had one of these yesterday. Not the whole day, but a good chunk. Fergotron went to do some work at the allotment while Lizzy and I went to homebase and bought some wood to construct a bespoke shelf. We hang out, we chat, she has a good time and jibber jabbers to me. We play silly games and I try to eat her knees or her belly and we walk about in the Bjorn doing things around the house. Sometimes while she’s in the Bjorn Lizzy will twist round and look up at me, grab my face and pull down towards her to give me a kiss and a cuddle – just to check I’m there, and to let me know she is having a good time. Daddy daughter days are not very frequent as me and Fergotron don’t spend enough time together so we try not to spend our weekends apart - but when we have them we love them. I’m confident to speak for Lizzy in this regard.
Daddy Mummy Time
Of course we love the Lizzy Face, we live for her, we put her first every time and want to spend our entire time with her. But sometimes we also need a break. We haven’t been very good at this over the last 9 months – as I believe I have alluded to if not explicitly mentioned. But we have had a few. We went out for dinner last Friday night to celebrate the return to work and chapter 1 of the nursery saga. It was great. We left Lizzy Face in the capable hands of Ally Pally our friend from the NCT (and I suppose now just our friend; without need for qualification) and we had a boozy dinner. We got back just before midnight (I know right, what a bunch of dirty stop outs but also real lameos haha) and we spoke to each other like people, not parents. Although every moment with Lizzy is not brilliant (the last 48 hours have been on and off amazing and unbearable as her top teeth are breaking through) I couldn’t imagine my life without her. But as in all relationships, a little break is a great reminder of why you like each other. Like that song by Pink.
Yes I listen to angry girl rock. And I enjoy it too.
I had one of these yesterday. Not the whole day, but a good chunk. Fergotron went to do some work at the allotment while Lizzy and I went to homebase and bought some wood to construct a bespoke shelf. We hang out, we chat, she has a good time and jibber jabbers to me. We play silly games and I try to eat her knees or her belly and we walk about in the Bjorn doing things around the house. Sometimes while she’s in the Bjorn Lizzy will twist round and look up at me, grab my face and pull down towards her to give me a kiss and a cuddle – just to check I’m there, and to let me know she is having a good time. Daddy daughter days are not very frequent as me and Fergotron don’t spend enough time together so we try not to spend our weekends apart - but when we have them we love them. I’m confident to speak for Lizzy in this regard.
Daddy Mummy Time
Of course we love the Lizzy Face, we live for her, we put her first every time and want to spend our entire time with her. But sometimes we also need a break. We haven’t been very good at this over the last 9 months – as I believe I have alluded to if not explicitly mentioned. But we have had a few. We went out for dinner last Friday night to celebrate the return to work and chapter 1 of the nursery saga. It was great. We left Lizzy Face in the capable hands of Ally Pally our friend from the NCT (and I suppose now just our friend; without need for qualification) and we had a boozy dinner. We got back just before midnight (I know right, what a bunch of dirty stop outs but also real lameos haha) and we spoke to each other like people, not parents. Although every moment with Lizzy is not brilliant (the last 48 hours have been on and off amazing and unbearable as her top teeth are breaking through) I couldn’t imagine my life without her. But as in all relationships, a little break is a great reminder of why you like each other. Like that song by Pink.
Yes I listen to angry girl rock. And I enjoy it too.