Time flies and already Poppy is over three months old and like any good project it is time for the quarterly review. Rather than monotonously list and recount progress so far I have decided to describe some observations that should paint a picture of her character.

Generally we think Poppy could be described as quite a happy bunny. She giggles and laughs, grins the biggest gummy grins imaginable and does not often really bawl. She "whiffles" which is a sort of puffing and giggling while waggling all four limbs around, particularly when she lays under Ollie the Octopus. She grabs with both hands now, pulling most things towards her mouth. She chews Magic's (a dragon) ear and beams at Petal, her pink teddy, sleeps with her little rabbit (Polly) and, given a chance, a muslin square which she likes to be tickled round her mouth. She also "grimples" and we say she is "grimpling" which is a cross between grizzling and whining and being partly a Grimwood. She usually does it when she's not sure what to do, having been fed, had some time to play and isn't ready to sleep either.

Size wise I cannot believe how big she is already. She is gaining weight almost by the book, if anything slightly faster than the average growth curve suggests. She is looking rather chubby and her head gets lost into her neck with double chins, causing what is known in my family as "The Old King Cole" effect. Her hair is lightening a bit, which makes it look like she is receding but it is quite thick on top. She has no teeth as yet (thank-goodness) and our only little worry is over the dryness of her skin. Behind her knees, ears and elbows it looks suspiciously like eczema and she scratches at it, but we will consult the next doctor we see over that.

One of the funniest things she does is screw up her eyes, turn down the corners of her mouth and begin to cry - all because Chris has sneezed! We guess it is the sudden noise, though she doesn't do it if I sneeze, so maybe she thinks her daddy is exploding, which would be a bit scary I suppose.
Conversations with Poppy have certainly developed in recent weeks and it is almost as if she takes turns to chat. She coos and squeeks, ooooohs and aaaahhhs and I am sure I have heard her say "Mam" but it was only an experimental noise. Living in the Netherlands she is also beginning to make throaty gurggle sounds, essential to pronounce some of the words here!

Poppy was a bit slow on the uptake of lying on her tummy and lifting her head, like mini press-ups, but she has got the hang of it now. At least she doesn't cry anymore on her tummy. She also loves to have flying lessons. Chris holds her up in the air, hands around her chest and she flies! All good fun until she throws up all over him!

Out and about Poppy likes to be facing outwards in her carrier and though she does sometimes sleep she is often wide-awake watching everything go by and reaping smiles from other passers by. In shops she seems particularly popular and is frequently spoken to in other languages. A girl in a greengrocer actually seemed to know her name, greeting her with a "Hullo Poppy". It turns out that in the Netherlands a word that sounds like "Poppy" means doll!

Nicknames Poppy has received so far include; Popsicle, Ploppy, Poopy, Fartymungous, Little Toad, Rat Bag and Windy Pop. We'll let you figure out why!