Yesterday Natalya and I went to the local harness racing club day with friends. Natalya loves to watch the horses. She had a great day especially when her name was drawn out of the childrens raffle for first prize- a bicyle that she wont be able to reach the pedals on until she is about 6. She is now 14 months old.

It was quite hot and I had taken her trousers off for a bit to keep her comfortable. When they called out her name I just grabbed her and her jeans and ran down to the announcers area. I had to ask them to wait a minute while I put her jeans back on before her photo was taken.

I held her on the bike seat and she reached forward to hold the handles - pleased as Punch.  The guy from Healthways - the sponsor shook her hand for the photo. I hope I can get a copy of it, it will be a real classic.

My friends had to bring the bike home in their car for us. Haydon was at home and Natalya was very keen to be wheeled around on it when they got it out of the car.

I still can't believe she won a bike!

Yesterday it was a black spider on Natalya's nappy out of the clean washing basket.

Today it was a red back spider on her towel out of the linen cupboard.

I saw it just after I had layed her on the towel so I quickly killed it with my bare hand. Luckily I didn't get bitten. Guess it is an example of a mother protecting her child.

Spiders I warned you yesterday stay away from my daughter and her things!

I just got one of my daughters peapod nappies out of the clean washing basket to put on her and found a large black spider. I am not sure if it had a red spot on its back as I was too busy squashing it.

I like spiders but not potentially poisonous ones on my daughters clothes. Be warned spiders- if I find you on my daughters toys or clothes you will be killed immediately.

Yes I know spiders can't read but I feel better now after blogging about it!

The last few days Natalya has been scowling and frowning at people. This evening at dinner my brother Chris complained that she was giving him the 'evils'. She is 14 months old. Is this just a stage most kids go through? I hope so and I hope the wind doesn't change direction!

Great article

http://www.afrol.com/articles/16592

Here is a link to the article

http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20082002-16922.html

Natalya is nearly 14 months old and up until today I have heard any negative comments for feeding her in public. Today she was sitting in the supermarket trolley and we were in the dairy aisle when she signed that she wanted to be fed. I didn't feel like taking her out of the trolley - It can be a real fight to get her back in so I just lent in and adjusted my top so that she could feed. I then started pushing the trolley to the next aisle while she was still feeding. As I turned into the next aisle I heard from what appeared to be a mother and her 20 something year old daughter
"Did you see that?
and the very loud reply
"THATS DISGUSTING"

I didn't bother going back to discuss the matter. Then I ended up in the same checkout aisle as them. They gave me dirty looks and I just smiled.

I wonder if they would have said anything or even thought anything if I had pulled out a bottle and given it to my daughter.

I just found this really great piece that uses an analogy about wheel chairs to discuss this sensitive issue. I think the analogy works really well, what do you think?

and peeing on the floor

aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I really shouldn't have bragged when she used to pee in the potty

I just found this news item about a bride chasing down a drunk driver who hit the bridal car. Can't you just picture a bride sprinting down the street in her wedding dress?