lathany

Yesterday the twins returned from their holiday of pampering.

Granny Jo was teaching them both to walk up the stairs in an attempt to reduce the amount of baby-lifting required. Beatrice, who is currently the more daring of the two, was happy to oblige from the start. Ryan needed a little more persuading, including seeing Bea do it a few times, before he decided it might be safe. However, on the last evening, Jo had finished walking Beatrice up the stairs, turned round, and found Ryan right behind her. He had decided that he didn't need to hold a hand to do it.

There were other stories as well - Beatrice helping to pack in Waitrose (Grandpa Ken had to hold the bags open for her), Beatrice's delight at finding an apple tree ("food, food everywhere !"), Beatrice falling out of the patio doorway and cutting her face in three places, Ryan picking up the telephone and saying "Ello !", Ryan's success in persuading my parents that he would only eat expensive Greek chocolate biscuits (actually praline biscuits) and both of them loving their new shoes.

Needless to say they came back looking very happy and rather rounder-faced than when they left.

Having got them back I finally stopped chickening out of arranging a "Mother and Toddler" group for them. The result ? They're on the waiting list of the two closest - both run at nearby schools. The woman who runs them reckoned that they should get in by Christmas and I feel happy that I have nothing more to do myself in the meantime.

And one final bit of news for anyone who hasn't heard - the arrival of Peter Joseph Tomkins at 01:56 on 4th October (Libra) weighing 8lb 1oz (3.67kg).