She’s not spoilt. Really. Well, maybe just a bit.

I know, I know. It’s almost New Year’s Eve and I’m just writing about our daughter’s first Christmas experience now. The reason? Well, it has taken me several days to unwrap and unpack all of her presents. Our wheelie bin doesn’t know what’s hit it, what with all of the cardboard and bits of plastic that used to help to securely display her many new toys. Then there’s wrapping paper. Needless to say, it’s a time consuming business, especially considering not only that baby’s patience runs out after a while so I’ve had to constantly abandon my “wrapping up Christmas” activities (or unwrapping, as the case was) but also that I’ve tried to let her play with each and every new item as it has appeared, taking photos with each which I will be able to send to the relevant gift givers in appreciation of their contribution to her pile of loot… and what a pile it is.

As the photo indicates, she did rather well. Yes, her father and I were responsible for quite a lot, but we weren’t the only ones to blame. Her grandparents went pretty nuts too, but that was to be expected. Never mind the fact that we’re probably going to have to move to a new house just to give her a toy room. Perhaps not, but it’s going to be a tight squeeze in her bedroom from now on. She is the proud owner of, among other things, three dolls (from Mummy, Nanna and Great-Nanna) a Care Bear (thanks Grandpa), a Glow Worm (thanks Aunty Em), numerous stuffed toys (some which make noise, and some which thankfully stay silent), books, educational toys, toys just for the hell of it, and the clothes – my daughter is going to be the best dressed little girl around, I’m sure. Overall, she had a good day of course with minimal whinging as always, beautiful baby that she is. It has to be said though, that despite receiving so many gifts that I needed her father to stand on a chair to take an aerial shot (the only way an all-inclusive photo was going to be possible), like all good six month olds, she preferred to eat her wrapping paper.