A Very Big Heart

Two weekends ago saw a big family walk taking place, it was filled with parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, great aunts, and uncles. It was a cold day at the end of January, and although the sun was shining down on us, it didn’t detract from the overall chill that spun it’s cold breath over everything it touched. Leo had been excited about his walk, and he started off full of energy, running, darting and jumping along his merry way. Of course it wasn’t long before the abundance of energy had deserted him.

Leo walked up the steepest muddiest hill I have ever come across, and he handled it much better than I. We were slipping and sliding trying to find our footing, but each attempt was thwarted by mud, but Leo kept on climbing…Despite eventually going full front into the mud, covering his lovely snow suit and his hands in sticky, squelchy mud. Of course this was quickly rectified, and soon I was sporting leggings with those very muddy hand prints all down them, but thankfully Leo was smiling again.

It was around this time as our ascent continued, that Leo looked behind him and saw his Granny struggling to get up the hill. Granny suffers with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the walk hadn’t really been tailored for her, or a 3 year old for that matter, but still they both soldiered on. Leo saw his Granny trying her hardest to get up the hill, he saw her slipping and sliding and he looked worried for her. In a split second Leo had turned on his heels and started marching back down the hill to his Granny, it was then that Leo took her by the hand and began to pull her up the hill. He was helping her, trying to make sure she was ok, because he was worried she might fall over and hurt herself.

Granny looked very pleased with her little Grandson that day, I would even say rather proud. She thought that Luke or I had put Leo up to it, but in matter of fact it was as much a surprise to us as it was to her, and it was all done completely off Leo’s own back and merit. When I asked Leo about it later he said ‘I scared Grandma fall. I help her up’. I gave him the biggest hug for being such a thoughtful little boy, but that’s Leo all over. He’s observant and caring, so of course he was going to go out of his way to try and help his Granny.

It was only last week that Leo and I were sat watching a film together in the lounge, when he took his blanket and draped it over me, tucking me in with him while we snuggled together. ‘You not cold now Mummy’ he said once we were all tucked in. Then Leo noticed that my feet were coming out the end of the blanket ‘You got cold feet Mummy!’ he said, and he pulled a pillow out from under him to place over my feet. Then just to make sure I really wasn’t cold, he piled pillow after pillow onto my feet to ensure they were warm.

Leo has such a big heart and is just so loving, watching him sharing his kindness with the people he loves and encounters is such a magical sight. It means that I have done something right along the way, and he really is a credit to me.

My beautiful, caring little man <3

My 3 year old

My baby has grown up so much recently. At 3 years old he is headstrong and independent but still reliant on me in certain ways. I am learning to give him more space as he plays, and enjoying the new adventure that comes with having a pre-schooler. 

Leo is kind and caring and a complete worrier. He worries no end about me and likes to make sure that I am ok. I have no idea where this side of him has originated but it shows through occasionally. For instance when we were away in Cornwall last month, Leo worried that I was going to fall in the sea. I had given him absolutely no reason to think that I may tumble in, not to mention that I was on the other side of the barrier, but he worried none the less. Today on a walk around a local attraction that houses life size Dinosaurs, Leo worried yet again,this time that I may get gobbled up. When my shoe fell off while on the swings... He worried. My beautiful little man has so much empathy, and when it comes down to it he is so incredibly caring.

Books are a big love of Leo's and at this moment in time he has two firm favourites. The 3 Little Pigs and The 3 Billy Goats Gruff. These tales are not the watered down version from today, but the original Ladybird stories from my childhood. Leo loves the troll and the wolf and enjoys me putting on the gruff voices to play them. Although having said that I must have got quite into the role of the wolf the other evening... As Leo quickly covered my mouth and said 'NO MUMMY!'. I suddenly realised that the scary voice I had put on was not really bedtime story material. Then of course I couldn't quite control the fits of giggles that I found myself in for the rest of the story..

At 3 years old Leo is coming on all of the time. I can see it from what he says to how he takes in the world around him. He is now potty trained during the day, and has been before his 3rd Birthday. The only aspect we need to improve on now, if convincing Leo that he can do a number 2 on the potty. He comes out with things I didn't even know he knew, and this again highlights what a little sponge he is. Although at 3 Leo's speech is not at the same level as many of his class mates, he is getting there. I have put him forward for speech therapy just to give him a helping hand, but I am not worried in the slightest. In the months since he started nursery I have seen a vast improvement and they have noticed it too. 

I shot this video on his 3rd Birthday, and Leo was more than happy to answer the questions I asked him. In his own way of course..

A Week Into Potty Training

Here we are 1 week and 3 days into potty training, and we have had some fantastic moments and some not so great moments. Over all though Leo has been doing fantastic. The accidents that he has been having, I know are more on the lazy part and cannot really be classed as 'accidents' as they are deliberate. Leo will have a stubborn moment where he knows he needs a wee or a poo, and point blank refuses to use the potty. Or... He will disappear out of the lounge and into the play room, only to return moments later declaring 'Mummy!! POO!' and I discover that sure enough... You have avoided the potty.. again. 

The 'accident's' seem to happen more in the morning, and as the day goes on Leo get's better and better. In fact as the week has progressed the accidents have become less and less. Monday saw Leo going to nursery in pants for the very first time. We left the nappy at home and I sent Leo off in his Planes pants, of course being in such an active environment with lots of other children all playing hard... Accidents were expected, and nursery did such a great job asking him if he needed to go, and changing him when he got to carried away! 

Although we get through a few pants a day, we have pretty much cast nappies aside during the daytime. Naps are a give in and we put Leo in a nappy to sleep, and of course when bedtime swings around, nappies are still essential. Leo is now loving wearing pants and will happily pick a pair out when asked, we have come such a long way in such a short space of time, considering 2 weeks ago he wouldn't even contemplate wearing a pair!

The other day we popped out to the shops, I wondered if I should risk pants or put a nappy on him. I changed my mind multiple times before deciding to go with the pants. I got Leo to use the potty before we left and I was conscious that we would be some time. He did so, so well all the time we were out. All in all we were out around an hour and Leo stayed dry the entire time, I asked him if he needed to go and he replied 'no'. We got home and I had just got him out of the car, we were just moments to getting in the house and to the potty, when it crept up on him. Leo looked so sad, and his lip wobbled as he plodded into the house. I stripped him down and told him just how well he had done. He had been dry and been such a good boy, and he deserved a sticker for being so clever. This made Leo feel better, and with a new pair of pants we were back on track again.

We seem to have nailed the wee's on the potty for the most part now, but poo's are still proving interesting. Each poo until today has not made it into the potty, he has just not shown any interest about getting to the potty in time. But last night he watched a video with a little boy who had just done his very first poo in his potty. He heard how excited the little boy and his Mummy were, and this excited him. He marched right over to his potty and told me he was going to do a poo right there and then. This didn't happen but he has obviously kept this thought in his mind, as today I got a text while I was at work. Granny had text me to tell me that Leo had just done his very first poo on the potty!

Leo had done so completely of his own accord, Granny was sat in the lounge and the potty was out in the hall. Leo ran into Granny saying 'Mum! Poo in potty!' and when Granny came out to look, she realised he had indeed! 

Of course lot's of praise was given, and 2 shiny new stickers were added to Leo's bulging sticker chart. 

We are into out second week of potty training and I think we have made a great start. The days are rolling by and each day Leo is getting more confident. 

Potty training certainly is a new adventure!

35 Months Old

We entered the month of May with a 34 month old and leave it with a 35 month old. A 2 year old who is now a mere month away from turning 3! It is hard to believe that this time next month will be your birthday. You will be 3 years old, and it’s amazing to see how the time has made you the little boy you are today.

It has been a whirlwind of a month little man, and one that has seen two very big changes. At the end of last month we discovered that we have to move house, and the last 4 weeks have seen me frantically trying to find us a new home. You came along with your expert insights to view houses with me, and were of course a tremendous help.

The second big change is a sad one, on the 21^st May we said goodbye to your Great Grampy. Grampy had been poorly and flew away to the skies to keep an extra special eye on you. You didn't understand what this meant, but we wanted to explain as best we could. You were such a good little boy when Mummy had to comfort Daddy, and you knew that something had happened. On any normal occasion you would not approve of Mummy and Daddy cuddling, but you seemed to realise that this time was different. 

May saw us taking you for your eye and hearing test, and of course passing both of them. It saw us re-introducing potty training on Sunday 25^th May rather unexpectedly  and we decided to run with it. You decided that you were happy to wear pants after months and months of telling me that you wouldn't, and although you were having daily accidents you were doing so well.

You were loving the sticker chart that we had brought in as an incentive for you. It was this chart that was giving you the motivation to use the potty, in fact there were occasions where you were trying to use the potty just so you could claim your next sticker!

You had now been at nursery for 4 months, and any reservations you had about going originally had now been wiped out. You were loving your time at school, you were so excited about going and didn’t even want to come home at the end of the sessions! Granny had to chase you around when you decided you weren't going to be coming home!

We had even been given the forms for your nursery funding. I sat and pondered when I should put you in and for how long. I decided that Monday’s and Tuesday’s would be morning sessions and that you would do all day on Wednesday. I opted to give you Thursday off so that we had a day to go out and do things together. Friday I put you in for an afternoon session. I think you are going to love having more nursery time, and it will definitely do you the world of good on your year before starting school.

Earlier this month we had your first school photos, it was on a Thursday. A day you don’t have nursery, so we popped in and had your photos taken. I really didn’t think you were going to co-operate, but you surprised me and let the lady blow bubbles and make you smile. I had to move you into each position as you didn’t want to be overly helpful but I am confident the pictures will be absolutely perfect.

At 35 months you are absolutely loving story books, and we love nothing more than cuddling up in your bed and reading the books of your choice. You like to hear the same books each night, and you always ask for  the ‘bear book’. When we read your In The Night Garden Book you make all of the right noises in all of the right places. You know it from cover to cover.

As always I have noticed you using more and more language, I have finally got you saying ‘train’, but you still slip in the word ‘choo’ when talking about your favourite method of transport. I have always known that you knew the word really, and could say it if you really wanted to, but as always you have taken your good sweet time. You like to keep me on my toes.

A memorable moment was when you were having a water fight with Chris and Alice. You were loving splashing them with the water. You were running around and giggling relentlessly. You kept on repeating ‘I shoot Alice! I shoot Chris!’ and when they decided that they had enough, your smile was replaced with a sad face. Your head looked to the floor and you cried ‘I shoot Alice… I shoot Chris’ all the while just wanting a cuddle.

Over the weekend Daddy and I took you to watch Postman Pat at the cinema. You were so excited and had watched the trailer on my phone time and time again. This wasn’t your first trip to the cinema though, we had taken you not long after you turned 2 to watch Disney’s Planes, and more recently The Lego Movie.

This was the first time we had gone to one of the bigger cinemas out of town, and it’s a completely different experience. We walked in and got our tickets, you instantly spied the popcorn and we decided to treat you (and ourselves).

I am absolutely loving the age you are at now, you are so well behaved. I have seen older children really playing up in the cinema and then I look at you, and you are being fabulous!

This next month will be even busier than May. June see’s us packing up the house into boxes, heading away to the seaside for a few days and planning your birthday!

It’s hard to comprehend that 3 years have almost come to pass, but here we are going into your 36 month. Absolutely madness.

But here we go…

34 Months Old

With another month notched onto the hands of time, you are now a sassy 34 month old. Toddlerhood is the name of the game and you have the rules all figured out.

Your 34^th month has seen you settle into nursery completely, on your last session before Easter you had trotted off before I could even kiss you goodbye. You didn’t even notice me slip away, as you were playing so contently. In comparison to earlier weeks this was a breakthrough, and I hoped that the 2 weeks off wouldn’t jeopardise the progress that we had made.

We had a bit of feedback from nursery…Not that I would actually call it constructive feedback. It was more of a very apparent observation. Things I already knew about you. What I was hoping for was to hear how you socialised with your fellow nursery friends, what you got up to during the hours that you were with them. We do have an upcoming parents evening at the end of June so I will be able to have a proper sit down the with nursery leaders, but I will be asking for further feedback before then.

When I come to pick you up you are always sat beautifully with all of the other children on the carpet. You have to stay sat there until they call your name, and when they do call your name you know that I am here to collect you. You run at me and give me the biggest cuddle. I always love coming to collect you from nursery for this very reason!

They have been spoiling you rotten on the last couple of occasions and have been bringing out cupcakes. Lots of the children are having birthdays, so you have been reaping in the goodies! Granddad asked you where his cake was the other day, and the reply you gave him actually shocked me! I have absolutely no idea where you have picked this up.. My only thoughts are that it is nursery! Your reply was no other than ‘in my bum!’. Granddad and I both shot each other a look, and asked each other if we had just heard the same thing… Which we had!

With all of the birthdays going on at school, lot’s of your friends are now turning 3. So all of a sudden you are no longer two, as you are utterly convinced you are 3. In fact whenever I tell you how old you are… You tell me that you are 3!

In terms of naps you are still having your daily afternoon nap, when we are not out and about during this time! Given the opportunity though and you are more than happy to take a snooze for an hour or so. You are still loving your car bed, and from the moment you go to bed at night, until you get up in the morning you stay put. These days when you awake in the morning and you know Mummy and Daddy are still sleeping, you will quietly get up and sneak through to find us. The first thing you will do is give me a great big kiss on the lips before climbing into bed beside me. I can’t pin point exactly when you started doing this, but my morning usually starts with a big kiss from you!

At 34 months old you are still a complete and utter Mummy’s boy. When I pick you up from Granny’s you want to go to ‘Mummy’s house’. You want me to snuggle up with on the sofa to watch your new Frozen DVD, and you want me to tuck you in at night to read you a bedtime story. At bed time we are currently working our way through the collection of Harry’s Bucketful of Dinosaurs, which you are loving. I have been altering Harry’s name to Leo, which seems to be going down a treat with you!

Dinosaurs are fast becoming another love of yours, and if I am honest it makes a great change to Lightning McQueen and Planes! I have been sitting and watching you play with your growing collection of cars, planes and trains. It is wonderful watching you act out different scenarios and having a real game of make believe. What puts a real big smile on my face was watching you rein act the part of Planes where Dusty fly’s through the train tunnel. You make all of the right noises in all of the right places, and it is clear to see just how into the game you are!

Your talking is coming on no end all of the time, you are switching out words that you used to say for certain things and in their place using the real words. Lightning McQueen was always a word that you wouldn’t say but now say it as clear as day. All of a sudden this month you decided that you could say it, and that was it! You always had your own names for your Aunty Alice and Uncle Chris, Aiya and Cha. But even though they will always be Aiya and Cha, you do call them by their real names, and you are even calling Alice, Ali now!

You are getting to grips with all of your colours and can tell me exactly what colour my car is when asked. You know that Granny’s car is Black and that both Daddy and Granddad have White cars.  When we are out and about, I ask you what colour the vehicles we pass are, and you will answer as we go.

You surprised me the other day when we heard the familiar music of the ice-cream truck, by telling me exactly what it was. I had no idea that you even knew about the existence of ice cream trucks, and can’t help wondering how you do know. You just giggle and tell me all about the ice-cream! How you know is still a mystery to me…But I can hazard a guess that it is something to do with your Aunt and Uncle!

The other weekend we picked up a second hand climbing frame for you, something for you to use in the garden at home. It was a bargain at £50 and we knew that you were going to absolutely LOVE it. So once Daddy worked out how it all went back together, you were free to climb all over it. You took to it straight away and wanted to see Jack from next door. You wanted to talk to him and show him your climbing frame!

These days as soon as we pull the car up outside the house you are wanting to see Jack. You tell me ‘I see Jack!’ over and over until I open the back door and you escape into the garden!

A big step forward in your 34^th month was using the potty for the first time! After having the potty out for over a year, you decided now was the time to use it. We are still taking baby steps and potty training is not yet in full force… But we are getting there. Now I just need to convince you that pants are not the devils work!

So little man we are moving into your 35^th month. One month closer to your 3^rd birthday!

Where oh where is the time going?

You Amaze Me

It is so easy to get lost in those blue eyes of yours, the way they sparkle, the way that they shine. 

Watching your facial expressions as you move through the world, the way you study a Butterfly land on a leaf and that look of amazement dashes across your face. The compassion and worry in your voice when you saw a dead hedgehog in the road, the way your little voice quivered when you told me 'hedgehog hurt. hedgehog died'. The way you accept the most simple of explanations, and that the hedgehog has gone to sleep for one last time and is now happy way up there in the sky. 

Nothing tops watching you growing up, teaching you about the ways of the world. The good, the not so good and at times the things I wish I never have to tell you about. You are at an age now where you are wanting to know so much, but still learning and not fully comprehending. Still completely innocent. 

When you do something wrong you look for reassurance in me, you run up and kiss me over and over. That's your apology because 9 times out of 10 your feeling to stubborn to use your words for that one particular punch line. You run out and about in the garden, you scoot up and down Granny's drive, and boy have you got fast. You pick daisy's on your travels and bring them back to me. You say 'for you Mummy!' and present me with a bunch that you picked just moments before. You truly sweep me off my feet!

You have the most infectious giggle, and it is a sound that don't go a single day without hearing. You find adventure in everything that you do, and your giggle rang louder the day you sat on my lap as we drove up Granny's long drive way! You laughed even harder when you managed to grab control of the steering and we almost bumped the pillars on the driveway! That would have been an interesting conversation to have with the grandparents little man.

All of a sudden you have completely slotted back into Nursery, and go off with no tears at all. In fact you are so excited by the time we get there, that you ignore the line of people waiting to go inside and run straight past them, under peoples legs until you are inside! There are no goodbyes for Mummy, and I you are completely happy until I turn back up three hours later. 

Each day you are learning something new, saying something new or surprising me in some way. You make my heart melt and I beam with pride. We are on the count down to your 3rd birthday now, and another year has almost come full circle. It amazes me what each year instills in the both of us, and although you started the year as a toddler, we will be leaving it as a 3 year old. A little boy who will be in his very last year before school. A little boy who will be going on many more adventures, and making me even prouder. 

Watching you grow up is the most amazing thing, and I love sitting on the front row, watching, listening and living life with you.

The First Day at Nursery

Monday 20th January saw Leo heading out on an entirely new adventure. An adventure that he would be experiencing alone for the first time without me stood firmly by his side.

It was his very first day at nursery school.

After visiting the nursery only just over a week ago, we quickly got him enrolled as soon as we were offered a place. Leo had loved the initial visits so much that he hadn't wanted to leave, so today when Leo awoke in such high spirits and excitement to be able to return to nursery, I knew he was going to have a great time.

We got ready in record time and Leo even co-operated in putting his socks on, handing me his actual feet instead of his hands as he usually does for a giggle.

I got as much breakfast inside of Leo as I could and had already prepared his Thomas rucksack with everything that he would need the night before. 

We hopped in the car and my happy little man talked of nothing but school the entire way there. Arriving in the car park we couldn't go anywhere until Leo had his rucksack firmly on his shoulders, and then he was ready for anything, including his first day of nursery.

Leo held my hand tentatively as we waited for the school gates to open, and when they did we walked proudly across the playground and up to the nursery. There on the board outside were all of the children's names that would be in attendance at Leo's very first session, everybody else's had a little photograph of themselves on, Leo's simply had his name on this occasion, but we found it and went to stick it on his coat peg.

Together Leo and I hung up his coat and his Thomas bag, only taking out the fruit snack we had brought with us to place in the fruit bowl. Then the door to the nursery opened and we were welcomed in, and that is when Leo simply ran inside and took himself off among the toys and the other children.

I knew there and then that my happy go lucky toddler was going to be more than happy on his new adventure. And very soon he would have a vast set of new friends, he was never going to be going it alone. 

Plus there were so many different toy trains for Leo to find...

The 3 hours passed quickly, and very soon I was back picking him up again. I stood at the doorway and peered through. I could see Leo sat quietly at one of the tables with a helper. They were building blocks together and Leo looked blissfully content and of course ready for a nap.

I stood there until Leo spotted me, and that was when he began to cry. He was ready to come home with me. 3 hours was the perfect amount of time for Leo. I walked over to him and gave him a big cuddle and told him that it was time to come home now. Leo happily let me scoop him up in my arms and carry him out.

I was talking with the nursery helpers and they were all so pleased with how his first session had gone, he had played completely happily from 9:00am when I dropped him off right through to 11:00am when he suddenly realised that I had gone. I had even given him a cuddle and said goodbye before I went and he had been absolutely fine. I am guessing it was around 11:00am that he began to get tired. The nursery staff were great in comforting him and giving him cuddles, and by the time I arrived at 12:00pm he was absolutely fine.

They said that he got involved in everything, played and socialized, especially loving the play house and kitchen. I bet he has been making lot's of pretend cups of tea for everybody today! 

Today's just the beginning of Leo's latest adventure, and I know that he is going to suddenly blossom before my eyes over the next couple of months.

Not long after getting home... He wanted to go back to school!

I think next week is going to be highly coveted by my 2 and a half year old.

And you know what? The little boy who up until recently has taken his bottle of milk and comfort blanket absolutely everywhere... Today left them both at home and started a whole new adventure without them.

29 Months Old

29 months have whizzed right by and today I stand looking at you, my very almost 2 and a half year old. How this came to be I am still fathoming in my mind. It does only seem like yesterday that we were celebrating your 2^nd birthday… But that is now 6 whole months ago already.

That is one of the many lessons that I have learnt since becoming a parent, time has a habit of running away with itself and before you know it you are left scratching your head and wondering where all that time has gone.

29 months on you are becoming wiser and more vocal with each passing day. You know exactly what I am talking about even if you do decide to turn your cheek and pretend you didn’t hear me. But we both know that you did and that you are just being a cheeky little rascal.

I expect nothing less, boy of mine!

I have noticed that this month you are saying and attempting to say a lot more than you once were. You listen to the conversations that I am having with people around you, and then you throw a few choice words out as to what you have just heard. For me this month my favourite thing that you have learnt to say is ‘that’s cool!’. You decided to start saying it while we were out with Granny and you heard me say it towards an item I was looking at in a shop. Then you were there saying it too!

You then even went on to shout ‘Buzz’ and had me instantly trying to find the source of your Buzz interest, only for me to lay eyes on a Toy Story pencil case and exclaim ‘Oh yeah!’. In the next breath (and apparently high pitched tone) you copied my words and the exact tone I had used. You have a habit of taking the mickey out of Mumma, which we both found absolutely hilarious.

While we were visiting at Granny’s recently you over heard Aiya having a typical pre-teen moment. It must have been something to do with her ‘borrowing’ Granny’s laptop again and not returning it, as Granny didn’t look too impressed… and Aiya certainly didn’t sound impressed! *Que pre-teen stamping around* As Aiya stomped off to get the laptop for Granny she muttered ‘ I’ll get your computer Mum!’ So what did you do Leo? Of course you stomped off too in Aiya’s wake and muttered ‘I’ll get your computer Mum’. There was no mistaking it. That is exactly what you said!

This month I watched my fussy little eater stare down at the sweetcorn on his spoon. I watched closely in a way that you couldn't see me watching you, as I could see that you were getting brave enough to try the sweetcorn. You have had it plenty of times before but you pick and choose when you will eat it... The spoon grew closer to your mouth until you actually put it inside and exclaimed 'Mmm!'

Lets hope you continue to try things eh Mr.

At 29 months you loved to use Mumma as your personal climbing frame, not to mention the great trampoline you turn me into… Guess what I put on your Christmas list to Santa this year! Your affectionate and still a completely blue eyed Mumma’s boy, sometimes I am all you really want and no one else will do. I think this sometimes winds Daddy up, but I know there will come a day where you and Daddy will be off doing boy’s things, so right now I am truly revelling in being the very centre of your world.

You seem to be going through a phase where you have to have me completely to yourself. If I so much as glance in another child’s direction you let me know your thoughts about this… Then you will show your dismay further by refusing to come for a cuddle. Of course if I have to give another child a cuddle and your mood is not in it’s usual sparkling state… then that makes the situation a little more stressful on all accounts.. But it is all made ok again by a snuggle.

You are at an age now where you tell your 1 year old cousin the ways of the world. If he does something you know that he shouldn’t be doing, you tell him in a very matter of factly way! You point your finger and raise it towards him and shout ‘NO JOSH’, prompting him to look at you and present his pearly whites in the form of a very cheeky smile.

You still go to bed like a dream and right now are still in your cot, but we are looking into getting you a new big boy bed in the New Year. I think that you are ready and we are so pleased with just how well you sleep that we think you are at the right age to make the transition.

29 months has already come and gone, you have grown and developed in ways that I could only imagine when holding my newborn baby in my arms for that very first time. But with each day that goes by, every week that turns into a month I glow with pride that little bit more.

Bringing you up and watching you turn into such a cleaver and caring little boy (temper tantrums aside…) has really been a dream come true. And even when you are as flat as a pancake on the floor, kicking your arms and legs up and down like you do… or when you decide to make a run for it when I least expect it… You are still the most amazing little boy in the whole wide world.

28 Months Old

Another month has come and gone, and all of a sudden you seem to be coming out with more and more words.

I have never worried about your vocabulary as I knew you were absorbing everything and understood what I was telling you, but you just didn't wish to jump straight into talking straight away. Along with everything else you have ever done, you have taken it all in your own pace, and I as always have let you go at your own pace.

But recently you were repeating lot's more that you were hearing and putting more words together in what you wanted to say. Just yesterday you said 'Aiya, Cha, School'. Which translated meant 'Alice, Chris, School', and you were very right. Then of course you said 'Okayly dokaly' after you heard me saying it to Daddy.

Not forgetting a very important first word you used recently. The very first time you said 'Sorry' and made us all very proud... As sorry is one word that you point blank refused to say, but knew exactly what it meant. Cheeky monkey.

In fact you have been stepping your whole cheeky monkey act up in the last month. If I tell you off, you look at me with your big blue eyes. Smirk and then declare 'haha'. Having said that though you certainly know when I am serious and then there is no monkey business!

We were out and about in the car today, and all of a sudden the interior light flashed on... Being low on petrol I did fear the worst (not that being low on petrol would turn on the interior light...) We soon realised that you Leo... Yes you! Had opened up your car door as we were going around the roundabout. Never before have you really shown much interest in playing with the doors, which is probably why we don't have child locks on their (We will going forward!). I think you scared yourself as your door swung open though Mr, so maybe that is lesson enough. Suffice to say you were told why you shouldn't play with car doors while we are moving.

At 28 months old (and 20 days) you are still napping once a day, and seem to still heavily rely on that nap too. I can't see you dropping it anytime soon, as I have seen you on days where for some reason or another you haven't been able to have your dutiful sleep out. I forsee naps being on the cards for a while to come (High fives!)

You still have no desire to use the potty despite having the know how. I think it is a comfort thing for you as you know exactly when you need/want to go. You just don't want to sit down on the potty and nothing but your nappy is good enough. You never have any accidents when you run around the house in your birthday suit, so I know that you will get there in your own time. Like you do with everything else.

This month seems to have been the month where you have developed a very special camera face. Every time a camera is pointed in your general direction, you pull this face.

This Leo, is your cheeky smile. You perform it when asked to 'give us a cheeky smile' and the majority of the time that the camera comes out to play. Getting your weekly photos this month has proved trying and taken a while!

As always you are still holding that special blanket of yours closely, and I think he will be around for the long haul. Of course hand in  hand with your blanket, the milk bottle isn't far behind. I don't really know how and when we will be removing said bottle from you... But I am sure that will soon be the task at hand. 

We have started watching a few new movies in the last month, one of which being Toy Story and the others being Christmas films. Arthur Christmas and the Polar Express are two new favourites that I am now having to watch again and again. 

You are getting so excited about Christmas (this may be my fault) and whenever you see fairy lights you automatically associate them with 'Christmas'. I am so looking forward to this festive season with you, this year is the start of the magic for all of us. 

Lady GaGa

Saturday night Leo and I were cuddled up on the sofa with the television on as background noise. 

We were laughing and joking, having a snuggle up just before bedtime.

Leo suddenly stopped what he was doing, 

and he looked up at the television.

The new Katy Perry advert has just come on and he was eyeing her with wide eyes,

just like Daddy does.

Then out of no where Leo pointed and said 'Ga Ga'.

I sat dumbfounded. 

How on earth did my 2 year old know about Lady GaGa!?

He may have been mistaken by Katy Perry...

But he knew about GaGa.

So to test the waters and see if it was coincidence...

Maybe even a fluke?

I showed Leo Lady GaGa's Just Dance video.

Instantly Leo said... 

'Mumma! GaGa!'

A quick phone call to Leo's Granny and a word with his Aunty Aiya soon 

highlighted that he has been dancing around her bedroom to Lady GaGa!

Highlighting the fact that Leo did indeed know all about pop princess Lady GaGa.

Highlighting just how influential our little sponges are,

and how sooner or later they will know everything we know and more.

Now that is a scary thought.

These Autumn Days

The leaves that were only a vibrant Green a few short weeks ago, have mellowed and crisped taking on their golden coluring for Autumn. Slowly the golden leaves have relinquished their hold on the tree and floated down to the woodland below. 

Autumn has rolled around again.

Leo loves any excuse to get out and about, and now he is at the perfect age to do just that. I walked him down to the local nature reserve today, a place I used to play as a child. I would be running around there in my welly's rain or shine, and as the reserve backs on to my parents house, I was given the freedom that any young child desires.

My time was spent building dens up high in trees, or among the clearing of a bush and even now those memories are clear in my mind. Once upon a time I was a ample tree climber, a tom boy through and through. On occasion I had to be hosed down with a hose pipe in the middle of winter due to falling in a few mud baths on my adventures... I re-call a less than impressed Mother not letting me come back into the house until every shred of mud had been washed away.

Suffice to say it was a little cold...

With Leo proudly sporting his wellington boots we opened up the garden gate and peered into the now overgrown nature reserve. The paths I had once walked were grown over with relentless nettles and the entire space I had once known like the back of my hand looked like a completely different world. Leo walked around triumphantly, and gladly let me pick him up and run down that rather steep hill that I had once done with ease. Today I was a little skeptical as to whether it was a good idea or not, but luckily even in wedge boots I managed to pull it off.

Leo saw no fear at all and giggled the whole way down, the bumpier the better.

Leo proudly held my hand as we walked around the nature reserve, and smiled as he found that Autumn had not yet diminished all of the Blackberries. Stealthily Leo took ample supplies from the Blackberry bush, and streaked the berries around his lips leaving that dark mustache as a tell tale sign that he had been munching them. His main mission after this was to hunt down the remaining Blackberries that were hanging around the place.

Although the old pond where I used to catch Newts and Tadpoles has long since dried up and grown over, some of the trees I used to climb have got old and blown over in the wind, there are still some land marks of my childhood around the place. A tree I occasionally used to climb is still standing tall, and as I showed my curious 2 year old, he seemed incredibly excited to have a climb for himself. He tried his darnedest but admittedly did take a few tumbles, but he got into the crook he had aimed for eventually. 

A very triumphant moment for him and a very proud Mummy moment for me!

Feeling a little bit of my childhood returning to me, in my wedge heels I climbed up past Leo balancing my iPhone in the sides of my jeggings, and hanging my big camera on a branch...All the while willing myself not to fall. When I perched myself a few branches higher than Leo, he wanted me to lift him up with me... I took this as my time to act my age and not my shoe size and climbed back down to his level.

I forsee future tree climbing experiences in our future...

After our very lovely stroll around the Autumn woodland, my mind pondered how we were going to get back up the hill again. The slippy, muddy hill that may prove a little difficult if Leo decided he wished for me to carry him. But my little champ climbed all the way back up with complete ease.

What a superstar!

Here is Leo's Autumn Adventure in the woods.
The very first of many..

  

The Perfect Catch

Life is all about firsts, and these first few years of Leo's life has been first for many things. 

Each day Leo does something else that makes me so incredibly proud, and sometimes things you don't expect them to do for the longest time.. they just happen right before your eyes.

I can remember the day Leo started walking as though it was just yesterday, he caught me completely off guard and just took to those feet of his. He literally just got up and walked, within hours he was trying to play football. 

Running before you can really walk springs to mind...

But then that is just Leo all over, he always has been hands on and wants to be involved in everything that goes on. 

But tonight he caught me off guard once again.

Tonight Leo caught a ball that was thrown to him!

For the VERY first time!

I was in the kitchen at Granny's house when I heard a round of applause. I ran in to see what my little man had achieved and was greeted with lots of proud faces. Granny explained that Leo had successfully caught a ball that had been thrown in his direction.

My mind pondered the fact it could have been a fluke, but Leo successfully went on to catch the ball time and time again. Of course he had his moments where he wasn't so successful (Just like his Mumma...) but at 27 months old, I think this is a fantastic achievement.

You will notice in the video that Leo is wearing his shiny Red Wellington Boots.. He wears them everywhere at present as they are his all time favourite foot wear...

I think it is safe to say that Leo is going to be a keen sportsman as he grows, and this is one more super achievement to add to his bulging list of achievements.

What age did your little one catch a ball for the first time?

In Your Own Sweet Time

I have said before how Leo still seems a lot younger, more baby like than other toddlers his age. He still seems to need me in ways that other children have surpassed, and this is something that I am clutching to for as long as he will let me.

Leo is one of those toddlers who says things, but he definitely seems to have his own little language going on. For instance... Lightning McQueen is known as 'Da da da' but regardless of it sounding nothing like the actual name, I always know what he is babbling on about. It is a consistent word he uses to describe the lovable red car off of Disney's Cars. For the longest time anything that Leo considered was hot, was known as 'Oosh', and although he still uses this word, he has added 'hot' and 'fire' into his vocabulary.

A week or so ago I noticed that Leo had stopped saying 'Yeah' and replaced it with 'Yes'. It was just a sudden switch for every answer that he replied to. The way he pronounces it is just so endearing, so lovely to hear.

Among all of the words that everyone would understand, there are still quite a few words that Leo seems to make up as he goes along, but for the most part we have a perfect understanding. 

We haven't really had any counting or 'ABC's' coming out of his mouth just yet, but I am always counting and discussing colours with him. In fact one of Leo's favourite things to count are the wheels on the car, but instead of saying 'Four' he says 'more'.

 Apparently my persistence is paying off though... Yesterday Leo was lay cuddled up in my lap when all of a sudden he looked me in the eyes and said 'Mumma, Blanket TWO!' 

Leo was telling me that he has two comfort blankets, and he is absolutely right. Leo does have two blankets, one of two blankets that he takes everywhere we go. 

So now when I ask 'Leo, how many blankets do you have?' he replies very clearly, and very matter of factly 'Two'.

Leo has demonstrated an understanding for such a long time, and even though he is not as developed in the vocabulary department as some 2 year olds, he is taking everything in. He is putting the pieces of the puzzle together and I am hearing more and more new words coming out of his mouth as the days pass. 

Patience is a virtue and I have all the patience in the world when it comes to teaching my little guy. He will do everything, but just like his Mumma, he will do it in his own good sweet time.