Wednesday 18th April 2012 - Twelve months old

Woohoo buddy! Twelve months, one whole year! What an achievement! And what a month it has been too. Jam packed for most of it.

Olly and Aunty Donna

This month we have had some day trips, including up to Central London to visit Aunty Donna and Uncle Perry for lunch while they were at work. We visited Godstone Farm again, this time with Aunty Donna, and I definitely think that it is becoming one of my favourite places, so expect that to become a firm staple of the summer! We have spent a few days with Aunty Chloe and Uncle Perry too, visiting a park and having a kick around, and exploring an indoor play centre.  I think it's safe to say that on the latter occasion there is a fair chance that they enjoyed it more than you, but it did involve physical exertion, of which we know that you are averse.  We also had a spurt of lovely weather at the beginning of this month, so we took advantage and lazed around in the garden.  This meant that I had a valid reason to open some of your birthday presents early (he he) and we had a whizz through playing in your new ball pool, swing, slide and water table! We also visited Hyde Park with Aunty Cesca, and I attempted to introduce you to the art of paddling.  It went down like a lead balloon, and I swiftly learnt you and cold water do not like to mix, not even up to your ankles. We also visited the Horniman Museum, which contrary to what its name might suggest, is actually a pleasant little cultural museum near to our home.  Again Aunty Donna accompanied us, and you seemed to have a good time, especially when your father fed you to a lion statue. Hmm.



Horniman Museum

Manor House Gardens

Olly and Uncle Perry

Olly and Uncle Perry

Ladywell Park

Hyde Park with Aunty Cesca

Godstone Farm

You also started your swimming lessons this month. We have enrolled you on a course that will last until just before our holiday, and the aim is to get you well acquainted with water so that you'll enjoy the holiday as much as possible.  I haven't attended any of the lessons, because I know that if I saw that you were perhaps not enjoying one of them as much as I would like, I would be likely to wade in and take you off your father and slap him upside the head for making you continue.  So it was thought best that I avoid it, at least until you're really comfortable with it.  Apparently you are doing really well, and are showing improvement every week.  Go chunky! Looks like you might be swimming before you walk, but then that doesn't surprise me.  You'll definitely do things your way, which just goes to show you're more like me than we thought.



Swimming with Dad

Shopping in Bromley with Nanny & Aunty Sarah

Kidspace with Aunty Chloe

 We've had some firsts this month too.  You have had your first touch of grass, and eaten your first crayon.  I had thought that perhaps it would be nice to introduce you to some light arts and crafts, but apparently you aren't quite ready for that yet.  Crayons are not to be eaten Olly, no matter how much you wrestle me for it when I try to take it off of you.  You've also taken to insisting on feeding yourself, be it by holding the spoon with me as we lead it to your mouth, or by giving you finger foods and you going for it by yourself.  You're also quite good at offering your food to share at times too, although if you are anything like me, that will soon stop, as we don't share food, get your frigging own!

We also had your first Easter, which we spent around Nanny Jean's house, and I let you go wild with the whole chocolate egg thing. This was partly because it was only fair seeing as I feed you nothing but healthy stuff every other day (everyone needs a break), and also because we were at Nan's house, so she could do the tidying up at the end of it.  You had a field day, and ate almost a whole egg in one sitting.  You definitely take advantage when you can! I got to witness you standing on your own for the first time too this month, on Tuesday 10th April.  Admittedly it was for four seconds, but everyone has to start somewhere hey?

Easter Eating

Getting the job done

I also had a little achievement of my own this month - I passed my driving test! After the nagging and constant whining of your father and others that I had to get my license, I silenced them all and did it! Needless to say, that this leads me to hope that there will be many adventures over the summer, and we shall be exploring as much as possible.  Perhaps your father was right with this one idea, but we shall never let him know that I admit that.

Your noises are becoming louder and much more frequent, and you are always babbling away about something or other.  You have some serious hand gestures to accompany them too, and these will sometimes both by displayed even while you're sleeping.  You have a lot to say specifically on one topic too, namely the rubber duck that you have in your bath.  It would appear that you have become quite attached to this little fellow, and we even sometimes have to bring him out of the bath in order to get you out too.  Duck is definitely a favourite word these days.  Everything is either a duck or a cat.  But we have also mastered the words Daddy, Mummy and Nanny properly now, and you even say mummy every so often without me begging for it.  I would like to say well done, but to be honest it's about bloody time.

Of course, there was one event which has dominated the month and we did it mister.  We've celebrated your first birthday with no major hitches or trips, and we have much to celebrate in the form of you.



Just some of Olly's birthday stash!



Sea Life Aquarium

Birthday Breakfast

Birthday boy

Sea Life Aquarium

I'm probably going to bring out many cliches over the next few paragraphs, but I am afraid it cannot be helped.  You hear people say that you don't really know what love is until you have a child, and I have found that to be wholly truthful.  Before you came along, of course there were times in my life when I thought I loved somebody, past boyfriends and such. But then you came along, and everything that happened before you faded into the recesses of my memory.  I absolutely adore you, and everything about you.  I have nothing but you in my mind when I wake up, and you are the last thing I look at when I go to sleep, in the form of your baby monitor that is still studiously placed on my bedside table.  When I'm not with you, it still feels a little bit wrong, and when I am with you, you can misbehave beyond my wildest dreams, to push me to my last nerve, and in a mere second do something that erases all memory of any bad thing that you were doing before.  You have me wrapped round your little finger kiddo, and to be honest, I'm not complaining.  And that to me, sounds a lot like love, which I definitely have never felt before.

Your personality is growing bigger and better by the day.  You are so affectionate and kind to people, you love attention from anybody, big or small.  When you see other little ones, you get all excited and want to share and play as much as possible.  When you see your favourite people, you can't help but go wild with excitement, shrieking and laughing, and I know that really makes a day for those people.  Your affection has really grown over the last couple of months, and some of my favourite moments are when you wake from your afternoon nap, not quite ready to get up just yet, and instead you snooze on me while we lay on the sofa. All is good with the world right then.  Your kisses are delightful, a full open mouthed affair, and now that you pull my head in to plant a smacker whenever you want one it's even more sweet. We have our little lie down in the morning, when I get you out of your cot after being greeted with the biggest grin and put you in bed with me, and we play and cuddle and you lie there stroking my face and sucking your thumb.



Happy birthday singing



Olly and Grandad Mark



Nanny, Grandad and Olly



Best present ever!

Your wonderful birthday cake



Party day!

Olly and Uncle Harvey




If I had been asked three years ago, whether I thought that the past year would have been the way it was I would never have dreamt of it.  I never thought that I wanted to be a mum, and a lot of that had stemmed from my childhood, and knowing that I would never want to be like mine.  She has made a lot of mistakes over the last 25 years, and that is why I took the decision to not involve her in our lives.  But now that you are here, I love every minute of it.  I just want to be the best mum that I possibly can for you, and any time that anyone gives me a compliment about you, I just burst with pride.  I like to think that I have a small part to play in that, but I am aware of the fact that by yourself you are just generally awesome.  I will always be your mum Oliver, and I will always be there and look after you and love you no matter what.  I promise you that.

So my sweet boy, to sum up, I just want to tell you that it has been a total pleasure having you come along and turn my world upside down.  There isn't a day that goes by when I don't look at you and feel like no matter what, I've got a very special person to be proud of and strive to be the best for.  Happy birthday baby, here's to 100 more.

All of my love,

Mum

xxx