I watched Annie (aged 5 months and a bit) discover her hands earlier. A look of intense concentration overcame her visage as she first looked at her hand from one angle then moved it then looked at it from another angle and moved it. I could be wrong but I think I witnessed something quite significant. A moment where she became aware of the flappy pink things that have invariably been in her field of view for these last five months are actually hers and are actually something she can control. She slowly opened and closed her little mits whilst staring intently at them trying to control the movements. Since then she’s been fascinated with her new discovery.

She’s also been fascinated by food and the act of eating this last week. In France, she started doing this thing where she would throw her whole being at food that was being consumed if you were holding her. Utterly transfixed, especially if it smells nice and looks stimulating – eg – a cornetto. She’d hold her arms out wide and lunge at it – all a quiver. Most amusing. We’ve never seen this before with our others, as we weaned them at 4 months. Since then the NHS guidance has changed to 6 months and we are sticking to it (ish.. We did let her try a tiny bit of ice cream, and she’s had a couple of grains of rice and a half pea). We are noticing though, the pure instinct for wanting food. An interesting behaviour to observe. By 6 months though, I think she will have developed a much better understanding of what her hands are and what she can do with them : spread mushy food all over her sticky beak, that’s what, and offer some to the dog, no doubt.

Speaking of dog, another ace thing that’s happened today – and I’ve decided its the best thing about coming home from an overseas holiday is – picking Elsie dog up from the kennels. She almost jumped into my arms! Very excited. Round and round in circles, banged her head on a parked car, didn’t notice, rand round in more very pleased to see me circles then asked to be let in the car where she plonked down with an almost audible ‘ahhhh’. Sounds like she’s had a great time though. She’s been at “Pooch Palace” in Glasshouses, Pately Bridge. They have a good off lead policy there which I like – a lot of places don’t or can’t because they don’t have the space but this place seems like as much a holiday for the dogs as the owners. She made some great new friends and seemed happy as Larry, as am I to have her back. We had a lovely walk beside (and I her case, in) The River Nidd to celebrate.