pomes

"Hi Mammy!"
"Hi Baby!"
"No baby. Itsa 'Nea!"

I have received some copies of my book from the printers and can sell them on - prices in pounds sterling including postage and packing are £5.00 within the UK and £5.50 in the rest of Europe. I could in theory send to the USA but there's no point. Prices for other continents available on application.

I have what I can only describe as a very limited number of copies (5), but I can almost certainly deliver them faster than lulu can. People in the USA are better off ordering from Lulu. I make more money that way, too :)

The poems included in the collection are these.

[Crossposted from ailbhe]

Someone has received a copy of before baby walks, the first printed collection of some of my poems, and says that it's "lovely and delightful!" so I am now offering it for sale to anyone who would like a copy. The first reader pointed out a typo, which has been fixed, and some issues with the cover, which haven't, because I can't work out how.

I still haven't received a copy myself, but I trust the judgement of the person who has. And I'm dead jealous, of course. And excited beyond belief.

I hope everyone else who has already ordered copies likes them, typo and all. Thanks, folks.

Nine months old today, at 17:14 UK time! At the Biscuit Tin Cafe, in the play area, the bead toy she used to reach up to is now below her shoulder height. Tables she used to crawl around under, she now pulls hot cups of tea from. Old dangers, like surfaces more than 6" high, are trivial playthings now, and the world is full of new dangers - colouring pencils with pointy pointy ends, sharp pieces of paper, other children's leftover salty crisps, and so on.

Everywhere we go, she makes friends. People frequently comment on how pretty she is, how bonny, how attractive, how smiley. My continuing mantra of "Every mother thinks their baby is best" is fading, gradually benig replaced by the more forceful "they say these things about all babies, she's not really that different, you just think so because you're her mother."

We were waiting for a bus with her auntie this morning, at about 8 am, and the ticket inspector came and pulled faces at her, and tickled her cheek, and talked about his grandson. then we went for coffee and four women at a nearby table smiled and grinned to make her smile. Then we came here, to the Biscuit Tin Cafe, and the usual horde of admirers assembled. Yesterday and Friday, too, her auntie continually commented on how many friends she makes everywhere.

It has been a good nine months. In four days, she'll be longe rout than in, and we ilke her this way.

Mango is almost as yummy as banana! In fact, if I have it again, I may decide it's just as yummy as banana!

Carrots are better than broccoli and potato, but it's all pretty good. I wonder why they gave me parsnip only once? I liked that too. I think they'll give in soon and give me as much grown-up food as I want, because I get more enthusiastic every time.

Today I had my teeth brushed. Mammy was a little paranoid about the fact that I have two teeth and had a fruity mango-squish dessert. It wasn't too bad - there's no proof that toothpaste was involved at all, but she says there was. It made an interesting interruption to the bath.

My feet have outgrown shoes that were too big less than a month ago. Mammy's cross and proud at the same time. It's very funny.

Just wait until I learn to swear in context.

But this weekend I learned to play a game. I grin at Mammy, and drop my face onto the bed. When she says Byebye! because she can't see me, I raise my head and grin at her, which makes her say "Hello!" Then we both grin and giggle and I do it again. And again. And again.

This doesn't work as well on a hard restaurant table. Luckily, milk cures all ills.

Yesterday I made Mammy play "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," and I didn't tell her until afterwards that she was playing with her back to the window, the curtains open, and the lights on. Now anyone who wants to knows her hip measurement. Bendy Mammy!

Today I am four months old. Yesterday a tooth I've been whinging about poked its way out of my gum, so I'm happier now. The day before that, we went to the park and I played on the swings. Mammy is too wide for them and Daddy is too tall, so they took turns.

I've seen a lot of people since I was 3 months old. I went to Ireland where I saw Nana, Auntie Niamh, Auntie Orla, lots of Mammy's friends, Great-Aunt Deirdre and Great-Aunt Maire. I met two toddlers, who were both very nice to me, and went on trains, planes, boats, buses, cars and minibuses. I haven't been on a bicycle, a hovercraft, a tram, a hydrofoil or a rickshaw (unless buggies count?) or a palanquin or a helicopter.

My favourite game is "Scaring Mammy". A good way to do this is to develop a new skill, use it once, and then never use it again. I've rolled over and over until I was underneath the gas fire, stood up holding onto the fireguard, propelled myself forwards while prone (she didn't see this so she doesn't know how I did it - Nac Mac Feegles, perhaps?).

They keep trying to fob me off with teaspoonsful of food. I saw them! They mashed up loads of nummy food and measured off a level teaspoonful of each one to freeze. But I'll get there - the louder I get, the less reluctant they are to give me solids too early, so I figure by the time I canbreak glass with my voice alone I'll be on roast venison. Bananas are yum, carrots are ok, and potatoes are yuk.

Today, Daddy introduced me to the baby in the bathroom mirror. I've already met the baby in the dining room mirror, who is quite nice and friendly, but the baby in the bathroom mirror was so exciting that I had to look away momentarily lest I became overwrought. When I was in no further danger of exploding with delight, I looked back, in case the baby had gone away again. It hadn't! It grinned at me, so I grinned back. Whee!

I'm 11 weeks old now. Mirrors are probably the best thing going after standing up. Ah, and nipples, of course. And baths. And going out in the pushchair.

I help Daddy cook, and wash dishes. I'm particularly good at cooking because of my early-cultivated interest in food. I can sleep through washing up in a very talented way. When he's working, I help Daddy read email and debug DNS issues. I don't like disposable nappies because they dry me out a little more than is comfortable; I'm pretty sure skin isn't supposed to crackle.

Yesterday I had to outscream a powertool in order to be heard; it wasn't very nice. And I got mildly bitten by insects, but I have no immune reaction so I didn't swell up much. Walking on grass is fun, and so is falling down onto my nose.