One boy and his dog...

...took Charlie Bear for a walk around the boating Lake.

It was a little miserable today, weather-wise, so I got to experience the joys of cabin fever three times over.

Laura went out early with Ollie to fetch a second box of hair dye whilst Lewis watched a little Star Wars and Charlie slept. With everyone out I thought I'd make the most of the unusual quiet time and attack my own hair (grey seems to have set in since having the little man).

The colour is a little darker than my natural colour so I cracked open a second box and 'ombréd' the ends, using that kit that's all over the tv adverts. You just brush the lightening mixture on and prey your hair doesn't melt away. It was looking very blond as it developed but thankfully when I washed it out the result is a more golden brown from my chin down.

When Laura got back, the rain came down so we put together a carpet picnic in the living room. Ollie absolutely adored the humus! He was using anything - pitta, sandwiches, the banana oat sticks I made- as a spoon to get as much humus into his mouth as possible! He's hilarious. His favourite word is Mummy and he never stops saying it! That and 'pop' because he's discovered the yumminess of lollipops! He never wants to sit down and is incredibly independent. He's always running around and happily entertains himself (as long as mummy is nearby).

After lunch Laura took him up for a nap and sneakily got in bed with him. The sun had come out so I suggested to Lewis that the rest of us take a walk. Of course, the minute Charlie was in his pushchair, the dog on his harness and lead and Lewis all ready to go the rain comes back with a vengeance. After all that I wasn't staying in so we bundled into the car instead. Lewis was telling me how the booster seat means he's allowed to sit in the front but I'm a mean Auntie!

We drove to the top of the palace but the rain hadn't let up so I did a very large loop 'around the block' and thankfully the delay tactic worked. By the time we pulled up by the park the weather had cleared so Charlie, Boo, Lewis and I went for a walk around the lake. Lewis insisted on pushing the pushchair whilst I had the dog.

If I ever moan about being stopped due to having a baby again, just remind me of today! I couldn't walk 5 paces before someone wanted to stroke the dog or ask me a question about it! It was actually getting on my nerves by the time we made it to the park so Lewis could play on the swings etc. I had my mantra down pat though: Yes it's a puppy. He's a toy poodle/ chihuahua cross. He's 16 weeks old. No I don't think he'll grow much bigger. Yes he's very cute. Yes the kids love him. No he's not aggressive (?).

Thankfully Laura rang to ask where abouts we were so she could join us. We met them just as poor boo was being accosted by another group of strangers offering food. No wonder some little dogs are nervous! I was pleased when I saw Boo wasn't 'a shaker' but maybe it's less nature and more nurture as a reaction to constantly being stroked by randoms!