Textbook, schmextbook

I'm going to blame the lack of blogging on work. Not necessarily the quantity of work, but the fact that I've been writing my first report in my new-ish job role. Since it's the first report I wanted it to be right, clearly, and it's been pretty much dominating my working hours, which is a pity since I now have another big deadline which has crept up and which I only managed to start work on today. More slog tomorrow and Friday I think, but this evening I submitted the first draft of the report, and it feels gooooooood!

It's not the world's biggest report, at a mere 15,000 words, but after reading, thinking and writing all day, it's very difficult to pick up the laptop in the evening and carry on writing. Particularly since I've had 8.30pm calls on several evenings since it's difficult to find a time to interview people based in the US if your working day finishes at 3pm UK time. I suppose I could have photo-blogged, which isn't cheating, honest. But I simply left the laptop upstairs most evenings, and vegged on the couch. Not very productive. I haven't even finished the patchwork cushion cover I started for Isabel ages ago. Must do that.

But now I'm back, I hope, so here are the highlights of the last few weeks:

• Isabel lost her two bottom front teeth in quick succession. One came out while she was asleep, causing me to panic that she might have inhaled it. Clearly she didn't - I'd have blogged that, after all!
• Emily's a mean, lean, crawling machine. She's a proper crawler, unlike Isabel who only crawled on one knee. It looked very odd, and I now realise it means that all of the trousers she wore at the time, and which Emily now has, are worn out on one knee only. Sorry about that, Emsy. She's not put on much weight though, and is still under 15lb. We had an appointment with the nutritionist (or was she a dietician? and what's the difference anyway?) so everything Emily eats is now examined closely for calorific value, and if it's not high enough we dip it in cream or fry it in butter. And then make sure she's eaten plenty of chocolate and cheese. Lucky thing!
• Isabel's been on Easter holidays this week and last, and this week has spent 3 days at Supercamps, a local activity day camp. She's loved it, thank goodness, since she'll be there for a couple of weeks in the summer as well. Funnily enough, she met a girl there who she was at nursery with, and loathed her. This girl was her nemesis, and her name lives on in our household. But Isabel got on well with her at Supercamps, and came home asking if this girl could come round one day for tea! Over my dead body.....
• Husbandio has gone back to work, and once Isabel's back at school then we'll be back in a normal routine. That also means Emsy has started nursery properly - she did 3 days this week, from about 9am to between 4pm and 5pm. Long day for a wee one, but she's done fine - she'd rather be at home, but that report would never have got written then would it?
• And my news is.... I've finished my report! What a sad reflection it is that this is the most exciting thing I can think of.

I'll try to write more often but can't promise anything. Since I'm on a roll tonight though, perhaps I'll draft tomorrow's post and save it!