tenth month

(once again, mummy has been ridiculously busy and exhausted so has not had the chance to write this sooner :( )

the tenth month has seen many changes and the eleventh month even more so (but more of that in a couple of weeks!!). I know I've said it before, but my darling boy is a fully-fledged boy now and not a baby at all (apart from when mummy puts him in sleepsuits sometimes :). He really is going through a growth-spurt in all meanings of the phrase and changes both physically and mentally every day.

so, the tenth month has contained the following New Things:-

* eating - Harrington still loves eating. Muchly. And trying new things. However, he seems to have definitely developed tastes and much prefers some things to others. Bread is the main source of yumminess, in any form (toast, sandwich, breadstick) as well as cake, chocolatl (as mummy calls it but that she tries to give it to him as little as possible - thanks Easter!), nabanas, muesli (proper stuff now, with real 'bits' in and not all mushy), Dairylea (the squishy one) but no other cheese, fromage frais and the vegetable concoctions (and now proper meals) that mummy makes. Minski is no longer loved as much (apart from at the moment - but that will be a separate post) and the teatime bottle is almost obsolete (mummy sneaks it into the muesli - ha!). Water is getting increasingly popular but only if it is drunk out of the Doidy Cup or the squidgy Evian bottle (what can I say? The boy has taste ;) and he can often be found trying to drink out of any cup that is about, regardless of what is or was in it (although he still can't figure out how to suck through a straw.

* sleeping - The Toadmeister has now got himself to two snoozes per day as well as the long one overnight. In fact, they are even almost timed to perfection (from about 8am to 10am and then from about 12pm to 2pm) which is a good thing in some ways as mummy can plan things, but also means she has to stay in the house until at least 2pm which can be frustrating. For if he is taken out in the ToadMobile before the second snooze happens, it puts him all out of kilter and will then snooze on the return home which tends to be rather near his bedtime. But, we can't worry about such things for he is getting the sleep he needs and he did it all on his own - mummy's cleverest boy.

* moving - gone are the days when Sir Moose-a-lot would happily lay on the floor and biff the creatures hanging overhead. The boy seriously NEVER stays still anymore and scoots himself around by either rolling, pulling himself along on something or propelling himself with his Toady Toes. So, this means that mummy can no longer leave him for even a second or take her eye off him for the same amount of time. He can move in the blink of an eye and has fallen off the bed several times since he started this.

crawling is something we're still not sure how to do although he can sometimes get himself into the correct position but finds that he is not sure what to do next, freaking out if you try and show him (for he is an independent toad!). He can take pretty much all of his weight on his legs now when standing but will not stand on his own and certainly can't push himself up from sitting down unless he is sitting with his legs dangling off a table and pushes up on mummy's knees. In which case, he can! Very occasionally, he will sit up from laying down but normally only when he is laying on mummy's bed - he has tried it on the changing table - which is petrifying - but can't quite figure it out.

* playing - certain Old Favourites are still at large, such as the stacking cups and keys, but the musical ball is not played with nearly as much anymore. Books are the most favourite thing although he prefers to take control of turning the pages, feeling the textures and lifting the flaps. In fact, a book is the only thing that he will play with when he's not happy. As well as look in a mirror and talk to his reflection, or rather shriek at it! The pussycats are still loved by him and he is very intrigued by the Roomba (hoover-type device). In fact, when he is sitting on his changing table and looking out of the window, he can spy the pussycats from very far away and chunters to them. They still only tolerate him and tend to flee the room if he enters but occasionally let him stroke them. Only occasionally, mind.

anything that can be grabbed is fair game to play with, it would seem. And if it can plummet to the floor, so much the better, apparently. Mummy can assure you, she NEVER tires of this. In opposite world. Remote controls and mummy's phones are still the best and the toadling can now turn the freeview box off in mere seconds. Bless.

Harry and mummy continue to get closer and closer whilst learning lots about eachother. If mummy cries, he wipes her tears away, if he is eating, offers her food and also his dummy. He is learning more and more sounds and tries to imitate both speech/sounds and actions. The Best Thing is that he now blows kisses which is stunning :)

I very much cannot believe that he is nearly a Whole Year Old. I have been reminiscing a lot recently as this time last year, maternity leave had just begun as well as the nesting and the serious waiting for The Arrival! Life has changed greatly but definitely and completely in a fabulous way and for the better and mummy certainly would NOT change it for the world. Love him muchly :)