The first year in a babies life is the most important. She learns so much in this short time scale. Baby already knows it's own mummy's voice even before she is born. She soon learns to focus and gradually control where her head is supposed to be. Crying is a favourite pastime - but this cry can mean so much, tired, hungry, dirty bum, ill or even boredom. Much of the first year is spent asleep (baby not you!!) Gradually, baby will have more control over limbs - she will be able to kick and push things. Rolling is the next one - once she starts, she is halfway out the door. Crawling soon follows roughly at the same time as sitting up. It's only a matter of time before she is pulling herself up on the furniture. Walking follows although some children keep crawling or even "bumshuffling"!! My two walked at ten months. That's us nearly at the end of first year hasn't time flown by??

Plan the day so that it won't drag. It may be extremely hard for you, but try to get out as often as possible. This was hard for me as we live in a flat two floors up! But after practise and planning - trips out can become easier. What I would do, is leave immediately after lunch and be back for dinner. This way the kids were at their happiest. Again planning is essential. Always have a packed changing bag by the door. Try to have everything you need for an outing in the one place (I am a scatter brain therefore everything was most definatley not in the same place!! this made going out a long process) The best idea is to get the kids ready before yourself - then if there are any accidents, you don't have to find a new set of clothes for yourself! If you have a car, life will be some much easier for you! (We didn't have one) You can have the car seats already in position and just simply wheel the kids out to the car in the pram and you are on your way! If you don't have a car, you have to push a pram everywhere. Public transport is not negotiable - my advice - don't even try it - you'll end up killing someone! Taxi's, very hard and dangerous to hold two babies in the back of a car! Buses - if you find one that has a low step, wide door and tonnes of empty space inside your in luck - but you've probably been standing there for hours and it's now time to go home! Plan which shops you need to go into and how easy it will be to get in with your double pram!