new shoes...finally

Success at last! Finally (after 3 previous failed attempts in Edinburgh shoe shops) I managed to find some shoes which Grace liked and agreed to wear. She has been going through a 'chav trainer' phase recently and Grace and her mum have been clashing big time when it comes to getting dressed in the morning.

At age 4, I just cannot accept that I already have to give up all influence and control over how my daughter dresses. Unfortunately for me, she is just as much of a control freak and knows exactly which buttons to press to get me to totally lose my rag. So, of late, my previously well dressed little girl has been wandering about in pink & white trainers, jogging bottoms, a cinderella tiara and wild hair. This has resulted in hot tempers and many tears every morning.

Today, however, John Lewis came up trumps - Grace marched in and saw these bright pink, patent shoes and decided that she just had to have these 'the same as Emily'. Gone was the usual painful shyness as she declared single mindedly 'I want these' to the shop assistant - she didn't even want to see anything else. I gently explained that they might not have her size (usually the case) but she was having none of it. Mercifully, they DID have her size and she insisted on wearing them out of the shop - Hallelluiah!!! We shall see how long it lasts - in the meantime, we just need to wear sunglasses every time she wears her very bright, shiny new shoes.

On the issue of little feet, Joseph has also been making big progress on the walking front. Finally, I think it's fair to say that he is walking, and he is extremely chuffed with his performance. He has come on a lot in the last few weeks, and is turning out to be a cheeky little chappie. His favourite trick at the moment is throwing food down the side of his highchair, whilst looking directly at us as if to say 'what are you going to do about this?' He also is an expert at pinching Grace - gets a reaction every time..........