Daisy Suzanne Allen
Born Sunday 6th March 2011
2½ to 3 years old
Her life: Birth ♥ Week 1 ♥ Weeks 2-3 ♥ Weeks 4-7 ♥ Weeks 8-13 ♥ Weeks 14-22 ♥ 5-7 months ♥ 7-8 months ♥ 8-10 months ♥ 1st Christmas ♥ 10-12 months ♥ 1st birthday party ♥ 12-15 months ♥ 15-18 months ♥ 18-21 months ♥ 21-24 months ♥ 2nd birthday ♥ 2-2½ years ♥ 2½-3 years ♥ 3rd birthday ♥ 3-3¼ years ♥ 3¼-3½ years ♥ 3½-3¾ years ♥ 3¾-4 years ♥ 4th birthday
In summary: Index ♥ From birth to four years old ♥ Four years old onwards
Special features: Daisy translator ♥ Daisy cookery ♥ Daisy phrases ♥ Golden Bear
Given that I have spent recent times frantically catching up with a few months worth of Daisy photos, it's time for a bit of reflection. Our little girl has really developed over the year - in fact, she is now insistent on being a "big girl, not a baby" (or a little girl), so that's us told.
Her speech has been the most keenly observed feature of this development. In early June, possibly due to increased interaction inevitably from a family trip away (in this case, to Haddington and Aberfeldy), her vocabulary was revamped. Unintelligible (to all but a few) phrases and words were recast as something much more resembling their actual selves. Sentences began to form. It was quite a change - like she had been saving it all up. She still struggles with composite consonant sounds (for example, "spiky" is "piky") but otherwise things became much clearer.
The key aspect of this seemed to be her sudden willingness to repeat what we were saying. That opened up avenues (as well as forcing us to be more careful what we were uttering). This also allowed her imagination to run riot. Her mini Hello Kitty figurines were given character(s) as well as (funnily enough) many of the phrases that Lynne and I were known to say, with sometimes hilarious consequences.
One of my favourites was from when she was in the cot and I had gone into her bedroom to rouse her from sleep. "Leave me in peace" was the response I got. Of course, more words meant more scope for arguments or negotiation. A regular tactic involved something along the lines of "two more Peppa Pigs, and then I go to bed, okay?", with emphasis on the very last syllable for extra comedy value.
Meanwhile, she continued during 2013 to attend the Kids Allowed nursery in Cheadle Hulme for two mornings a week, which had clearly resulted in greater confidence and independence, not to mention bossiness. This latter trait was highlighted by her initial lack of acceptance of having a baby brother on the way. "No, it's a girl" was her response.
So, a week after Daisy turned two and a half (in September 2013), here we have her all bright-eyed if not bushy-tailed with a Union Jack dog (no idea where it came from - well, the other room, but you know what I mean).
To announce Lynne's pregnancy to the Allens, I organised a tapas evening in mid-September (strangely, I don't have any photos of the food - guess I was too busy cooking). In the back garden, a focussed Daisy watched Uncle Matt show her how to do a puzzle.
As Daisy tired, she sought solace in Uncle Matt's lap. Aunty Katie hopefully posed in the background (perhaps chuffed at Daisy's "My Auntie Rocks" T-shirt).
Fast forward to the end of September, having arrived back from Menorca, and it's pretty much the last decent crop of fruit and vegetables that we have just harvested - a couple of cucumbers, lots of tomatoes and some chillies. It's clear from her face here that Daisy had been pilfering some of the tomatoes in her little house.
Next weekend, Daisy and I set to work in the kitchen to make some chocolate fairy cakes. To cater (ahem) for the cake-making, I have set up a Daisy cookery page.
Well, I said it was the last of the crop. Obviously, I meant the last of the vine-based fruit and vegetables. Clearly there's always the ones buried in the ground. A selection of King Edward and Maris Piper potatoes easily filled this mischievous young lady's pink wheelbarrow.
To complete the fun-filled weekend, Daisy and I (Lynne was suffering from pregnancy nausea so couldn't make it) headed over to Aunty Katie's (and Uncle Jordan's) new house, where Daisy was insistent on playing with all the keys (a recipe for disaster).
Nana Sue set off for a walk round the block with Daisy, who dutifully held her hand.
After what seemed like an age later, they returned.
Another weekend, another cookery session. Daisy's grandparents were down, but Lynne and Avis had headed out shopping in Stockport, while Sky Sports News had Graham hypnotised. So I cooked cheese scones and lime & coconut macaroons with Daisy. More can be seen on the Daisy cookery page.
Daisy occasionally likes to snuggle into our bed in order to avoid going into her cot or having a bath or basically anything like that. For some reason, she figured the best way of perpetuating not going to bed here was to be with her dolly, pretending to be on the phone while, er, asleep.
Bathtime can be a mixed affair. For a while, she didn't want to get in. Then, she loved getting in but wouldn't want to get out (we had to empty the bath of water just to get somewhere). Mostly she hated getting out but was appeased when being dried and dressed, sometimes by song, sometimes by hide and seek - whatever worked. At one point, I invented a game called Incoming Water, which was a bit like the ITV hit show Gladiator, but only in the sense that Daisy was one of the contestants who went on my first whistle (although I didn't actually have a whistle). It basically involves me pouring a jug of water from a height into plastic cups held by Daisy. If she fills up the two cups she is declared the winner. Simple, but occasionally Daisy mystifies her Granddad by requesting a game of Incoming Water. But only we know the rules. (Well, you do now.) Some good crazy hair action going on here.
Daisy's artwork goes from strength to strength (honestly). She can now draw something resembling people. This was a picture she did of Nana Sue and Aunty Katie, as I'm sure you would have said had I not told you. Not sure who is who, though.
Daisy's training programme for helping out with the new baby (due at the end of March, so that probably means April) continues apace. This is the set-up we sometimes adopt for Daisy - perched on the inflatable chair with her own little table. It enables her to watch TV so is only really used when she's not 100%.
In early November, Daisy was eager to show off her chef's skills to Nana Sue and Aunty Katie. This time - chocolate cornflake cakes. See here for more.
Daisy had recently developed a keenness (one might say an obsession - or certainly Lynne might, as she has had to play it with her on many occasions) for Play-Doh. We were only too glad to introduce someone else (here, Aunty Katie) to the fray. (It's not the comfiest, sitting on the hard floor.)
As inevitably as night follows day (unless, er, you're at the poles), so Daisy gets tired after the excitement of an Allen family visitation. The girls snuggle under Lynne's (pesky) blanket.
Ten-pin bowling action in the hallway. Either it's going to be a crazy strike or the front door's gonna get put through. One or the other. But not both. And her hair's a bit wild too.
A photo to make Paul Brunger jealous as he embarks upon a long secondment to the Netherlands, here we have Daisy posing with Vicky whilst playing Play-Doh. You also have the treat of one of James Giles' socks. Not pictured: Katy Giles.
The next weekend saw a trip to the Quakers' meeting house in Sale (no, I'm not entirely sure either - I think it's because it had some decent party space) amidst a crazy storm for Jude's 2nd birthday. Early on, Daisy and Jude commandeered the play table, although partly because we were some of the first to arrive. (We thought at one point that we had a frankly ridiculous amount of food between us, although it was still plenty - Wes's catering choices never disappoint.)
A friend of (one of) the Jones family (I think) had crafted this stunning cake in the form of a Minion from Despicable Me, with cupcakes in the form of Minion faces. (Daisy objected to having the one with a single eye, if I remember correctly.)
Here is one of those cupcakes being demolished as Jude legs it, too quick for the camera.
Daisy loves a good bowl of tomato soup, although it's not clear whether that is based on consuming it or smearing it all over her face. She has abandoned high chairs now. For a while, she sat on a booster seat (pictured here) whilst strapped in, but it didn't last long before she sat on the chair with no assistance. That does mean, however, that she is free to get off and on (although we used the threat of the booster seat being re-introduced to try to control this).
Due to the number of large trees behind our garden, autumn means one thing: leaves. (We moan but sadly some of them may be cut down due to property developments.) Daisy was keen to help me here (so keen that she was a bit of a blur), collecting the leaves using a dustpan and brush.
Daisy is generally quite a tidy eater, but a moustache of custard can inevitably develop (it can happen to the best of us).
Partly to shield some unsightly patches on the kitchen wall, an impressive portfolio of Daisy's artwork has developed. The faint drawing in the middle was her first real work, at the age of 14 months, followed by the more vigorous drawing at the top right (where, at the age of 15 months, her grip of the crayons was much strengthened). Most of the rest are from nursery and for which she may have had some assistance, although the two most recent additions (those at the bottom), feature flattering portraits of family members and were all her own work.
This is the kind of mid-November blanket-based snuggling obsession that I must put up with.
To help her expand upon her drawing skills, we have a permanent drawing feature in the kitchen, on which her creative output knows no bounds (helped by the ability to keep pulling the roll of paper down for additional blank canvas). There's a chalkboard on the other side, and Daisy's desire to depict is countered by her order and cleanliness as she cleans off the chalk not long after sketching it on the board.
One of her latest favourite lunches is a combination of cheese and crackers (inspired by Wallace & Gromit, although it's mature Cheddar not Wensleydale), chopped mini tomatoes and slices of cucumber. All washed down with a cup of apple juice.
On the advent of December, we headed over to Matt and Nic's place near Oldham. Inevitably we took some pads and crayons for a joint art project. It's not that cold but a slippered Nic hovers by the radiator. Matt prepared some homemade corned beef hash and home-baked bread for lunch - yum.
There's nothing like a good, honest chat over a plate of satsuma (or tangerine - does anyone really know the difference?).
All the action in the Oldham air (we had spent a bit of the time checking out the nearby sheep and generally running around the sloped garden), Daisy was sufficiently knackered to fall asleep during the journey home.
Daisy shows a keenness for her new cat mask. I don't think I've seen her wear it since, though. (Not 'til Christmas, in fact.)
This will probably feature in a separate, er, feature, but here is Daisy's new bedroom, carpeted and wallpapered (just on one wall, feature wall fans). Daisy has contrived to make near endless fun by naming all the colours in the repeating stripe pattern.
The next weekend, it very clearly has Christmas vibes. Pre-Daisy, we had gotten to the stage of a 'shrug the shoulders and ok let's get a tree at cut-price with a few days to go'. The magic had gone. Whilst the magic has yet to fully return, it's embers are being stoked by Daisy's eagerness. We have already, by now, explained to Daisy the patience required for Advent calendar usage (after day 1, she immediately wanted to open day 9). Now it is the turn for the Christmas tree. To the loft, for decorations!
Oh look, here is a hat! Surely this would look better on me than on the tree?
And a reindeer! This isn't going on the tree (mainly because it can't), but will remain in and around the lounge in fear of death (by accidental trampling) for weeks to come.
And here it is in all its splendour. I say that, but it looks a bit like I haven't spread the (plastic) branches very well on one side. I've gone straight for the Santa figurehead, but Lynne soon had the lights on before I could bauble this bad boy up.
Despite the Christmas music playing and the prospect of decorating a tree, it seems Daisy thought it a sombre affair, although this was doubtless due to the heavy cold which had descended upon her and left her energy levels susceptible to wild crashes.
Oh lordy, and that is it. It seems just a minute ago I was telling you about summer. And now, as I write this, it is nearly (ish) Christmas. Now begone, I have other things to attend to.
For Christmassy things, see here. But for non-Christmassy December-based photos, please do continue reading. The day after putting up the tree, Daisy hung around at the front, where the slightly spooky-looking creeping plant crept steadily up the wall.
Another weekend closer to Christmas Day and it's time to play in the back garden 'cos it's dry. Daisy was now happy to wear her coat, wellies and hat, although she hadn't quite mastered putting it on straight.
Seeing her dad tend to the garden (well, the vegetable patch), she was keen to follow suit, here watering the plants.
Approaching Christmas Day, Daisy started to use the toilet (with a child's seat), although the use of this remains temperamental, since she can use the potty by herself and she does like her independence. I thought I would get that in.
Anyway, here is a good shot illustrating Daisy's organised characterisation. I think they might all be queuing here.
I got back from work one evening and Daisy had made quite an extravagant construction out of lego.
The Heaton Moor mums and their kids (and some of the dads) got together at Let Loose in Hazel Grove for a Christmas party. After a lot of running around and bits of falling, and before the dancing, it was time for the scran.
Daisy was fascinated by the stick the ball in the chute and wait for it to drop down in a mildly unpredictable manner game.
The main soft play area was a bit too much for Daisy (it was quite demanding for a two-year old - I had to help her round some of it), so we spent some time in the junior soft play. Daisy was happy to play with the little cars.
Unbelievably, we've still not reached Christmas yet, but I'm off work for a while now so Daisy is very happy and we celebrate by playing Peppa Pig snakes and ladders, which I think was a present from Uncle Matt for her second birthday.
Back out in the garden for some hopscotch action where Daisy enjoys putting the numbers in the correct places and then hopping, y'know, along the numbers.
The excitement of Christmas Eve does not quite spilleth over in this simply smiling sweetly while learning about letters photo.
We fast forward now to New Year's Eve, with Daisy looking very grown up while playing with her new favourite toy, the InnoTab 3 (I must confess to having missed the first two), a present from her Aunty Louise.
Looking less grown up here, on the first day of 2014, with another case of evasion at bedtime. She has grabbed a shower cap, her Kitty, Bunny and new toy Penguin (a Christmas present from us, I think), and shuffled into her favourite little cubby hole, in between her cot and chest of drawers.
On the first weekend of 2014, we headed over to Pointon, to the Hines' house. Daisy snuggles into Uncle Matt, much to the amusement of Lynne and Nic.
Daisy reaches undiscovered heights, touching the ceiling with the help of Uncle Jim.
Looking the other way in the living room, Daisy's game was to form a human bridge for little Matty to crawl through. No, I don't know either, but it was funny nevertheless.
And later that day it was time for Daisy to move to her new room (the re-decorated office/dump room - I need to get round to updating the Denby Lane pages at some point), including switching from a cot to a bed. Always a bit of a gamble, but she settled in reasonably well, albeit enjoying her new freedom by getting out quite often.
The next day was time to organise a tea party between Minnie and Mickey (giving it another go after a recent prolonged estrangement), Miffy and, er, a red panda.
Not sure I need a caption for this one.
Spinning forwards a couple of weeks and the thought that springs to mind is that it doesn't feel that long ago when I wasn't even allowed to sit directly on the (then new) sofa in my jeans, and now Daisy is allowed to make jam tarts, of all things, ACTUALLY IN THE LOUNGE. How times have changed. As with her other cooking, Daisy shows some dexterity in filling the tarts.
All that jam tart making has sapped the energies of the girls. I'm not sure what they are watching on Nana Sue's tablet. Doesn't really matter.
And now she's painting on the table! (Only with water, though.)
Zipping through another week (we're at the end of January, if you're interested), for a triple-header birthday party in Heaton Moor (at the scout hall). The entertainer has a magic box with which to, um, entertain them all. Daisy was a bit moody when she got there, but soon got in to the spirit.
Here are the three, slightly awkward, birthday children: Eva, Harry and Elliot. Cheer up, you've got loads of presents to open! Is 3 the new middle age?
More mimicking her father in the garden, as Daisy helps me sweep up the leaves.
Early February sees Aunty Katie come over (with Nana Sue and Uncle Jordan), spending a bit of time reading Daisy a book in her room.
With a baby boy on the way (ETA approx 7 weeks), it was time to sort through Daisy's old clothes to deem which were suitable for a boy due to their pinkness.
A mid-February painting session in the kitchen. I had imaginatively painted Daisy's name, but Daisy had been more creative in her expression.
Avis was round this weekend (but was out shopping in the morning, I think), and Daisy's falling energy levels meant she sought out a snuggle from her grandmother.
As spring neared, we popped to B&Q to pick up seeds for the sewing season. A packet of tomato seeds is a little big for Daisy's coat pocket.
Despite it only being mid-February, heated propagators were our secret to growing seedlings from seeds. Daisy, as ever, was very keen to join in.
A solution to the age-old problem of getting soapy water in the eyes during hair rinsing.
After a fortnight in the heated propagators (well, perhaps a week for some of them), the seedlings are showing good signs of growing. I have hopefully taught Daisy by this point that you need to be very gentle with seedlings...
Next up, the vegetable patch needs digging over, and Daisy was only too happy to help.
The weekend before Daisy's third birthday, we treated her to a trip to the cinema. We watched Peabody and Sherman in 3D (Daisy mostly keeping her 3D glasses on), managing this time to stay until the end (an attempt to watch Planes at Christmas led to us leaving halfway through). Afterwards, we went to the arcade hall, part of the bowling alley entertainment centre thing. She was keen to play on a Mario Kart style racer, with me on the pedals, but her insistence on steering with no assistance led to her driving into the wall often. Naturally, our generosity bit us back as Daisy did not want to leave. You can't win, eh.
With the birthday celebrations later that week inevitably featuring many family members and friends, we decided to go for a quite meal at the nearby Italian, Donatello's, with just the three of us. Despite having a big bowl of ice cream, Daisy could not resist helping herself to my cake, although she did offer some small pieces of strawberry ice cream in return.
I worked from home for the late afternoon two days before Daisy's birthday, and worked while watching Daisy's painting skills up-close.
It was also Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, so naturally Daisy was in charge of making the batter. She did a pretty good job.
She did less of a good job eating the pancake. She had a ham and cheese pancake, but baulked at having all the chocolate-filled one (with cream). Lynne was ready to pounce as soon as she gave up.
And, as quickly as that, she was three. How time flies, etc. Her third birthday is covered here. Or back to the Secret Portal.