Sunday 18th September 2011 - Five Months Old

Another month down, and we're nearly at the halfway point of your first year!

This month has seen quite a few events and new firsts for you, so exciting times for all.  You attended your first ever night of greyhound racing, and of course you were oblivious to it all.  But it was in honour of the Streatham Redskins, so the usual hockey lot were there and you were cooed over for the entire night.

We also had your first attendance to a hockey game.  The Redskins played a charity match, and we took you along, and to be honest you were almost killed by a stray puck.  It missed you by inches while I was sitting feeding you, and your father has actually kept the puck.  Great souvenir of a wonderful memory. Ahem.

You had another round of immunisations, which was definitely the worst so far, as it involved three injections in your legs. Those that decided that it would be okay to treat a baby of your size like a pin cushion are frankly cruel, because you wouldn't catch your chicken of a mother turning up to have three injections in one day, so why should you? Obviously your nan took you in again, and I waited outside, but you really didn't cope well at all with them.  Your chubby little leg was tender to the touch, and you howled if we happened to catch it.  You slept really poorly that night, but that was about the worst of it, as you were back to your cheery self the next day.

We allso had your first ever sleepover, which was at Nan's. I had the girls over for a night in, and your dad went out with the boys, so you stayed overnight. It was touch and go as to whether I, not you, was going to make it through the night, but I did.  I was really anxious, whereas apparently you couldn't have cared less and was right as rain.  No extreme attachment or separation anxiety there then, at least on your side.  You've stayed over a further two times now, all with no problems, and yet you've also apparently developed a habit over there which me and your dad are none too pleased about, but more on that later...

On the 29th August, we set off on our first ever family holiday to Cornwall.  Driving down there took us just over five hours, but we pulled a crafty one and left while you were sleeping so you were out cold for a good three hours before you woke and needed feeding and changing.  We arrived at around 11am, and we weren't allowed access into our chalet until 4pm, but you were quite irritable after a while, so I used shall we say my persuasive voice, which I've no doubt you are aware of by noe, and we were let in early.  Grandad Mark, Aunt Chloe, and Uncle Mark, who were also on holidat in Cornwall at the time, but at another resort, came down to say hi, and then Nanny Jean, Grandad Ron, and cousins Becky and Vicky arrived, as they were coming along too but had got the train down.

It was a nice week, but the resort had provided you with the most pathetic looking cot ever, and bearing in mind the beast of a bed you have at home, you weren't very happy about the trade off. But I think all of the attention you had from everyone over the week made up for it.  We took you swimming for the first time too, and of course I was panicking from start to finish while you were as cool as a cucumber chilling in your inflatable ring.

When we got back from holiday we also stepped up the weaning, and you're now on three square meals a day plus your bottles. So far there's been nothing that you won't eat, which is impressive, as you've been given some real nasties that even your dad has turned his nose up at, like avocado.

This month that has just gone past has definitely been my most favourite so far.  Your personality is changing and developing so, much and you definitely make your opinions known about things.  We have so much fun together, from when you first wake up and I put you into bed with me, and you babbly away to me and try to chew my face.  Then when you do hilarious things like bounce away in your jumperoo even while sleeping.  I think I'm becoming more relaxed about you, especially when it comes to letting other people do things for you, and this has helped, because in making myself do everything I am putting myself under a lot of unneccessary pressure.  People actually want to do things for you, so I'm not palming you off by letting them.

New things that you've started doing vary widely.  You are on the cusp of sitting up by yourself. You have taken to licking anything that even remotely passes your mouth, from fingers, to clothes to paper.  We are collecting some video evidence for future embarrassment.  You've gone through quite a growth spurt, which means that it's beginningto get uncomfortable for you to sleep in your rocking chair when taking a nap.  This will inevitably ruin our lives, because it's the only effective way of getting you to sleep, so we have no idea how we''re going to achieve this after.

You're also definitely more aware of your surroundings, and you show this by going for my hair or the cats, whenever they are within reach.  You've begun to watch them as they move around the room, and grab for them if they are close enough. I pity the poor things once you're mobile.

Another example of your newfound curiosity was the feel up of Aunty Claire you had on her recent visit.  You noticed the two large ones on her chest, and wasn't afraid to get stuck in with getting to know them, which I think your dad was quite jealous of.

There's still a few things that we haven't managed to iron out yet, and they generally tend to fall under the category of BEDTIME. You're STILL not sleeping through the night, and to add to that, you sleep flat on your face, which your nappy can't handle, so every morning you are waking up saturated! To make matters worse, your grandmother claims that on the occasions that you've stayed at her house, you've done neither of these things. Personally, I think she's just not hearing your moans over Grandad's snoring.  Either way, if that carries on, you're moving in with her and will be welcome back when you're eighteen.

You're really getting to grips with moving.  Rolling over is a full qualification, and lifting your head to have a nose is becoming common. Due to your jumperoo, you've got some good strength in your legs, and when laying on your front, you get them into a very good crawling position.  The only problem you have is instead of using your arms, you are right now using your head.  This gives everyone a great view of your backside, but it's not going to get you very far son.

You're becoming more interactive too. You babble away to anyone who will listen, and if there isn't anyone, then an inanimate object will suffice.  You're also beginning to show responses such as excitement and shyness. And you definitely recognise your bottles, even from across the room.

It's been a great mnonth, and I think we're at the beginning of a big spurt of change for you.  You're on the cusp of doing so many things that are only going to make our days more fun, and make the sleep we get (you know, that thing you're supposed to do at night time) all the more important.  Great fun to come chunkybum!

Love Mum xxx