Let them eat cake!

On the Chauvin side of the family, everyone seems to have been born in the last quarter of the calendar. On the Pilgrim side, it's the 2nd quarter that seems to catch just about everyone up in one tidy birthday bundle. To celebrate, I baked a delicious double layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and a chocolate buttercream frosting. This is the first time I have ever cooked up an entire cake and decorated it entirely from scratch. I didn't even use self-rising flour! I have to say I was very pleased with the results! Although, let me tell you it was not easy to juggle with a jealous baby. Olive got very bored indeed sitting on the counter watching me whip and mix.

I couldn't have done it if our friends Lena and Stanley had not come over on Friday to lend a hand. I owe Lena big and she might get lucky because my double layer cake was originally going to be a sky-high TRIPLE layer cake but Tom balked at the sight of it so I wrapped up the third layer and stowed it in the freezer. Perhaps I'll pipe a "Thank You" on top and drop it by... maybe. If I don't eat it first!

Sunday, we went to Lorina and Peter's for lunch. Olive got to see her cousins Lottie and James.


It was all very exciting and tiring.


Lottie had a whole cup of blueberries.

And did I mention that we had cake?
(Don't worry Chauvins...you'll get yours in October!)

Swings and Roundabouts

The bad news is that today Olive had to get her second set of jabs. It was awful. She cried so hard that she couldn't catch her breath and I saw the first ever real tears in her eyes. :(


The good news is we have a new favorite toy--our swing! Olive's feet just touch the ground and she loves it! Great for Thumping!!

Roll-over!

Today, while doing some top tummy time, Olive rolled over from her tummy to her back for the first time (a little bit inadvertently!) and look at how high she can hold her head up!!!


Well done -Happy Girl!!!

Father's Day

June 21st Tom celebrated is first FATHERS DAY! We had a picnic BBQ with Lorina and Tom's Pop's (John) Peter and look what Olive bought for her Papa, a fantastic inscribed Pewter tankard to commemorate the special day and enjoy a tasty real ale!

Cocktail Olive

June 8th Olive attended her first A-list party at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to celebrate Lulu Guinness's 20th Anniversary. She stole the show! Everyone commented on how beautiful she is and we got papped ha-ha!

More Catch-up...

A bit jetlagged but overjoyed, Olive's Meme and Pepe Chauvin came to meet her the first week of May.
We had a great week pottering about and admiring the little one who was looking a little thin on top... still cute as a button!

Pepe got his money shot and lots of nice cuddles.

Olive also favoured us with her first genuine smile. The trip was somewhat blighted by the fact that we all picked up some kind of stomach flu, which was good fun in a small two bed flat, not to mention juggling with nightfeeds and nappy changes. But we, nevertheless, had a terrific week and were very sad when it ended.

Now, Olive and I spend most days eating...

sleeping...

thumping...

playing with friends...

and doing tummy time.
I'll spare you the nappy changes.

We love the weekends...

Because we get to spend loads of time with Daddy. The best time!!

A bit of Catch-up...

Meet Olive.

She was born at 4:14am Sunday the 5th of April, 7lb 10oz. Our little Thumper!!!
I said that I'd start a blog once the baby was born but it's taken 3 months to figure out how and to find the energy. We have a lot of catch-up to do! I have no idea how to sum up the last 12 weeks but I'll include a few of our favorite shots and we'll take it from there.

This was Tom and I a year ago...

Then this happened...basketball!!!

Then this happened...


Tom: Well done Mum -your the bravest person I know!


And Papa gets his first cuddles on day 1 at Kingston hospital. They FINALLY released us Tuesday afternoon and we were desperate to get home to start our new life.


The new proud grandparents were waiting expectantly to welcome the newest Pilgrim to the brood.

This was taken just after our first bath, a slightly harrowing experience and the first time Olive really exercised her lungs (now she loves it! (bathing, not shouting!)).

40 winks! -look at all that hair!!


Her first ride in her trendy chariot!


Asleep on Mummy's tum just like a tree frog!

This picture was taken just after we paid a visit to the jaundice clinic at Kingston Hospital--notice the bandaid on Olive's hand. It was a horrible experience, more for Mummy than Thumper. Olive was born with a bit of jaundice, which is completely normal, but it did not clear up as quickly as the midwives would have liked so, as a precaution, they sent us in for tests. They took four vials of blood from my little girl's hand. She peacefully sucked my pinkie while I wept copiously and nearly fainted. Such a brave little girl!!

Obviously, all was well and her jaundice faded shortly after. It was also, incidentally, our first trip out in the sling and our first trip on public transportation.