1

He is 1 today, my little Boo. A full year has passed since his arrival and, despite the roller coaster ups and downs which parenthood brings with it, it really has been best year of my life.

Milo is so full of possibility, he's engaging and interested in everything going on around him. He has such a wonderful range of laughs, all signify a different happy emotion. It would be hard to select a favourite, but the low hushed Mutley type giggle he lets out when he gets hold of something he knows he shouldn't have is pretty close.

He is full of determination, and sometimes it seems he'd stop at nothing to do or get what he wants, climbing to reach the living room blind chords for a good old pull (I fail to see where the fun is in this myself, but he LOVES it), frequent stunt man antics off the sofa and bed and a good dig around in the dirt whenever the opportunity presents. Since he first started to crawl, it seems he was able to climb the stairs too.

Best of all is the love that someone so small, with so much still to learn, is able to give. Not only to me and his daddy, but also to his grandmothers, with whom he is fortunately able to spend lots of time with and his granddad Johnny.

I feel extremely lucky to have been given this happy little boy to nurture and care for. I hope I'm up to the job Boo.

Happy birthday Milo X

40

What a truly lovely time I've had turning 40.

A new fancy camera.

Copies of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Hunting of the Snark (illustrated by Tove Jansson).

Lunch at St John Restaurant with my two boys, mum, dad, brother and his gorgeous family.

Tomorrow, lunch at Pizza East with friends.

Yesterday, time with the little man and Deerylou, including the obligatory a trip to Maltby Street.

Story

I couldn't help feeling sad at the loss of Story Deli from the Truman Brewery... it opened when P and I lived close by, and in those days we were regular visitors. Happily, today I stumbled across the newly opened Storybox, which is located in the old Scooter Shop on Sclater Street, E1. A much more fitting premises, to my mind, which suits the Story aesthetic perfectly.

Welcome back! You make a wonderful cup of coffee.

RE at Liberty

Yesterday I made a, now infrequent, visit to my favourite London store, Liberty, and was delighted to find that, for a limited time, RE have a lovely satellite shop on the 4th Floor. I treated myself to a rather nice Fairtrade woven plastic baskets from Guatemala.

Mother's Day

I'm very happy at the end of my very first Mother's Day. I hadn't really thought too much about the day, but I did feel an unexpected sense of pride while we were out and about with Milo today.

I missed seeing my own mum today though... Happy Mother's Day mum. Love you lots X

Madras scarf

Thank you Plümo, for sending me your new catalogue and offering 15% discount. I have made good use of it this afternoon and treated myself to this very nice looking Madras scarf.

Lucky me.

6 Months

Today our little man is 6 months old. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that he has been in our lives all this time...

It has been an unbelievable pleasure to see Milo grow and blossom from a teeny tiny newborn into a very active, vocal, amusing and genuinely loving baby boy, whose smile makes my heart jump with joy every time and who, thankfully, is now three times his birth weight!

Happy half year Boo, we love you so much. X

Paying for coffee, Bermondsey Street style