When I got up yesterday morning I knew something funny was going on. Firstly, I had a bath in the morning and normally I have one at night. Mummy said I had to be extra clean and smart. Secondly, I didn't get dressed straightaway. Mummy said she didn't want me to get dirty! As if! Thirdly, daddy was wearing his suit but he wasn't going to work. Fourthly, Jess brushed my hair about 10 times.
Mummy and daddy had got me a new dress which was white and very pretty. I also had some knickers to cover up my nappy! There was also a hat but I wasn't so keen on that. Apart from anything it messed up my hair and Jess had just brushed it (again!). Then we got into the car and daddy drove us to church. Jess ran off to go and ring the bells and then I spotted Auntie Helen and Uncle Jim and my Uncle David, Auntie Angela with Thomas and Charlotte. That was a bit weird as they don't normally come to our church. I wondered what was going on.
Anyway we got into church and saw lots more people and then Olivia came over and said hello to me. We sat at the front which was another unusual thing as we normally sit at the back! My Auntie Nicky (who isn't really my auntie but I like to pretend she is!) arrived and then Uncle Andy and Auntie Claire with Mollie and Baby Grace. They sat at the front with daddy, mummy and I. When Jess had finished ringing her bells she sat with us too.
The service started and Olivia said something about me which was quite nice. I sat with daddy for a while then his arms started aching so I sat with mummy too.
After a while Olivia asked us to stand up round a bowl. It was quite pretty and I liked looking at it. Olivia asked mummy and daddy what my name was. That was strange because she knows me very well! They said it was Amelia Grace - normally that's what I'm called when I'm being a pickle! Olivia said some words and then she asked Jess to help her pour some water from a really big jug into the bowl. Jess was good at helping! Then I went and had a cuddle with Olivia and she poured some water over my head! That was good fun but I was a bit worried that Jess would be cross about my hair getting messed up! I tried to wriggle and get INTO the bowl as I thought that would be good to splash in but Olivia held me tightly! Then Olivia made a cross on my head and Mummy and daddy and Jess and Auntie Nicky and Auntie Claire and Uncle Andy all dipped their fingers into the water and made a cross on my head too. It all felt very special.
Next, Auntie Nicky lit a candle for me and then everybody in the church gave me a big clap! Daddy took me for a walk round the church and lots of people wanted to see me! A little bit later I had some milk and fell asleep for a little while. After the end of the service I woke up and some people took some photos of me and my family and I had lots of cuddles with people.
Then we got back into the car and went to a golf course where we had a little party! I had lots more cuddles and somebody had made a special cake with my name on. I had a little piece of it and it was very nice!
When we got home I went for a long sleep as I was very tired. Mummy and daddy were right - it was a very busy day!
Eventually we stopped and I got into the pushchair. We were going on a boat trip! Jo (who was officially looking after me for the week) took me onto the boat and we set off! We went on a nice ride round near Brighton and the girls kept me entertained by singing my favourite songs about boa constrictors and pirates!
After breakfast I got dressed into my GB top and my denim dress (apparently it used to be Jess's!) for Church Parade. I went for a walk with Tracey so I could have a little sleep. It was a nice walk but there were too many interesting things to look at so we had to do the walk again so I could go to sleep. I was a good girl in church for Tracey - mummy was playing her guitar!
After lunch I played with some toys mummy found while everybody got their beds sorted. I was sleeping in a room with mummy, Auntie Jenny, Auntie Tracey, Sue and Janice. Jess was sleeping in a rooms with some other big girls. Then we went to say hello to the beach and we had an ice cream (I shared mummy's) and I played with some stones on the beach. When we got back to church we played some games so we got to know each other. I found it hard to remember everyone's names but I tried hard! I called everybody "Ba"!
