Sunny Sunday

I have been living in the UK for almost ten years and if there is one thing I have learned about this Country is that when the sun is shining you go out and make the most of it! So, when we woke up and saw that it was very sunny out and the sky was clear and blue, we quickly got dressed and headed out. Emilia loves going out and so do we. We took a little stroll to the the Tower Bridge park which was full of people sunbathing and kids playing and running around. Then, we crossed the bridge and went to St. Katharine Docks, another favourite spot of ours. It is so peaceful there, we simply love it. Come on Summer, we are ready for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A typical Saturday

I love weekends. After a full week of work and errands, it is so nice to relax and enjoy some family time. It's great to have Rob around and we both love having fun with baby Emilia. And now that the weather is starting to be a bit nicer, there will be more outdoor activities to enjoy all together! Can't wait.

So, for today, Rob and I had planned to go to Borough Market, one of our favourite spots in the local area. We wanted to get some fresh fruit and meat, as well as fresh lavender to put all around the flat; lavender smells so nice and keeps moths away! We also bought some pink roses for the main room; the flat looks so nice now, what a big difference flowers can make. 

It was a lovely day so, as expected, the market was packed and there were loads of prams around. We enjoyed wandering around the stalls, smelling all the different foods, and admiring all the colours of fresh vegetables, fruit, and flowers. I simply love that market, it's so energetic and vibrant.

Otherwise, once back home, it was a pretty casual day and we hung out at home the rest of the afternoon trying to entertain Emilia with different activities.

First of all, there was some stretching going on. Socks don't stay on for long, and somehow feet are very delicious!

 

After stretching, there was the usual jumping. 

Then, it was time to rest the body and challenge the brain. Remember the books that my mum bought last time she was here? Well, today we started having a look at one of them: Learning to tie. Of course it is way too early for Emilia to be able to tie a shoe lace but she seemed curious and she certainly tried in her own way, even by using her mouth! It was fun.

 

 

 

 

 

And then it was time to play with the cubes. By far, Emilia's favourite pastime of the moment is to throw everything from the top of her highchair. She makes a mess but it is so much fun to watch her while she grabs a cube (or whatever else she has around), examines it, closes her eyes and then throws it away. She loves hearing the noise that the object makes when touching the floor. 

 

 

Spending an entire day with a baby can be exhausted but it is so rewarding. Emilia needs to be entertained, she wants to be challenged, she wants to discover and do something new all the time, and this can be a bit tiring at times. However, it is refreshing and reinvigorating to see the world with her eyes, with her curiosity and with her amusement. Seeing her grow day by day is simply fascinating, and we are only at the very beginning of this journey!

Development Review

This morning Emilia had her development review. The doctor checked all sorts of things and everything seems to be going very well. Emilia now weighs a whopping 8.83kg (almost 9kg!) and is 73cm long. Staying consistent with her growth, she is 75 percentile. They checked her ability to grab things and pass them from one hand to the other, her eyes, her posture, and several other small things. At first, Emilia was a bit upset, in all fairness, the doctor had interrupted her morning nap, but then she was very curious of what was going on around her and looked around and interacted with the doctor. As a prize for being a good girl, she received a nice fabric folder full of baby books! What a nice touch that was. We will explore some of them tonight.

Also, the doctor gave us a couple of leaflets to read, one of which was about introducing drinking cups to Emilia. I actually did buy one a little while ago but never really gave it to baby. However, when we got home, I gave Emilia some water to drink and she showed us how good she is at grabbing the milk bottle by herself, even without handles...and, let me add, even with just one hand! Cute. 

Our little baby is growing fast!

P.S. The doctor complimented Emilia's eyes, so we asked her if she could tell us what colour she thinks they are, as we are struggling to identify it. And she said the same thing: a mixture of grey, green, and blue. Now, what will the poor child write on her ID cards???!

Afternoon Tea Series: Mari Vanna

Today was the day of our fourth Afternoon Tea and I have to say, I was very excited for this one. 

This month I chose the very beautiful Mari Vanna. I read about this place in many magazines and blogs and had been wanting to go for quite some time. Originally, I thought it was only open for lunch and dinner but when I realised they also offered Afternoon Tea, I knew I had to book a table with the girls. Set in the heart of Knightsbridge, just seconds away from Hyde Park and the posh streets of Sloane Square and Brompton Road, Mari Vanna is a wonderful Russian restaurant. I suppose the word that describes it best is opulence. Once you enter the main door, you know you are in for a treat. Think minimalism to its extreme opposite and you have Mari Vanna: Russian furniture, doilies and knick knacks are everywhere and this richness in the interior design is what makes this place special.

The food was also lovely and quite different from a traditional English Afternoon Tea: fish, caviar and a cocktail were all on the menu. I particularly enjoyed the salmon pancakes. The cakes and the fresh fruit were also rather nice.

 

 

 I liked how tea was served in old silver and glass cups.

 

The restaurant is on three levels and it really feels to be at granny's home. Even the toilets were gorgeous and I had to take a couple of pictures in there! My grandmum would have loved all the white linen and doilies. I'll have to take her here next time she is in town! 

We had an amazing time and I know I will be back...perhaps for dinner next time!

I am Italian, and I love pasta!

When it comes to food, there is nothing that Emilia doesn't really like, however, she is developing a proper passion for pasta. Inspired by my friend Eleonora, today I cooked pasta (stelline) and broccoli for Emilia and she absolutely loved it. I made a big portion thinking that I could eat some myself too...but I was totally wrong. Emilia devoured the whole thing and even picked the bits that fell into her bib. Nothing goes to waste in this house. God bless you, my little baby! 

 

 

 

 

My new look

Yesterday evening I had a very much needed haircut and I know some of you are curious to see my new look. So, here it is:

 

The haircut was overdue. The hair was very (TOO!) long, dry and damaged. On top of that, I always had to tie it in a ponytail to escape Emilia's hands. Yes, my blonde locks are gone, but it will grow back!

My first Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers who follow my blog. First of all, I wish a very happy day to my own mother, without a doubt, the best mum I could have ever wished for. I hope to be at least half as good as my mother, and that would already be an amazing achievement. Mum, you are my real model, thank you for all your love and everything you have taught me; my life wouldn't be the same without you. I value the new role I am in and love being a mummy to sweet baby Emilia. And then, of course, happy Mother's Day to all my beautiful girlfriends who make the role of being a mother easy, cool and refreshing every day. You are just the best. And special wishes to all the mothers to be, you are in for a great ride; yes, it's hard at times, but there is nothing better in the whole world! 

My day started with Emilia waking me up with a sweet card in her hands; she was holding that card with such a cheeky smile on her face, it really seemed that she knew what she was doing. In the card Emilia listed all the reasons why she is thankful to have me as a mum. Every day I tell her that now I look after her but one day she will have to take care of me, perhaps even change my diaper (I hope not, but you never know what comes with seniority!) and then I will be grateful to have her with me. It's the circle of life. I also got beautiful flowers, Peppa Pig cookies and four of my favourite magazines to read on this relaxing Sunday. What a lovely day I had. I can't wait to celebrate more Mother's days and I'll work hard to be the best mum Emilia could wish for! Being a mother is the most challenging, yet most rewarding job in the world and I am in for the challenge and the joy.

Mini Me

Today, Emilia and I enjoyed a nice long stroll and even met daddy for a coffee. I dressed myself up first and then Emilia, and without realising it, I chose two very similar outfits: pink trousers and a blue polka dots top. Doesn't she look like a mini me? Only, way better!

 

 

Favourite Activities

Without a doubt, Emilia's favourite activity is EATING! The girl is the happiest when she eats, that's for sure. That being said, she also loves strolling in the area, playing with the computer (You Tube videos are a must in our daily routine. And we have now moved from lullabies to teenager songs! Emilia's favourite video is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus), as well as reading. These are all daily activities that keep Emilia entertained and happy. 

I can't wait to be a bit more crafty, a few months more and then we will be able to bake cookies, colour books, make jewellery...and oh so many more things!