46 Months Old

46 months, just under 4 years. It's a long time, so much can change. So much does change. Little man you have come such a long way, learnt so much and dazzled us beyond belief. Whenever you open your mouth to give us that magical insight into your world, I am so proud. Your using your words, getting your point of view across, and boy do you have a lot to say for yourself these days!

As you got down from dinner the other night you announced 'I to full and fat now Mummy'. Catching me completely off guard. Through the laughter I didn't even think to check your plate to make sure you had actually eaten what you were supposed to. You cite your days of the week, and the first time you did it I almost fell of my chair! Your counting, your colours and your vocabulary is just exploding, all at once like the finale of a extraordinary fireworks display. 

These last few months seem to have seen something click within you, like a new found confidence has blossomed all of a sudden. You are now admittedly a parrot. You copy everything and anything, and hearing your version of Hippopotamus is just the icing on the cake, and not forgetting you coming out with 'be my guest gorgeous' when I asked if I could sit down next to you!

We visited Hatton Country World at the back end of last week, and everyone commented on just how talkative you were, It was so lovely to hear after so many people have told me the complete opposite over the past year and a half. They were right, you really did have a lot to say, and you kept on saying it too! We went over to watch the bird display and the demonstrator told you what a know it all you were, it did make me giggle! If only your speech therapist could see you now eh!

You even got the opportunity to hold an owl, now this really did make your day. I didn't think you would do it, but this alone is yet another example of how you are changing and growing.

In fact this month you have come out with all sorts! Here are a few snippets of our ever growing conversations. 

Leo: 'It's not bedtime yet Mummy, it's still morning outside! Look! Look! Morning!'

Leo; 'I not going to bed yet' 

Me: 'Oh yes you are Mr! I don't care if it's still light outside, it's bedtime Mr Moon!'

Leo: Fine! I'm going to eat my tooth!'

We pass someone with Purple hair only for Leo to express himself very loudly...'Her hair is Purple! I hate it! It's weird!'

My all time favourite question... 'Mummy...Where do you wee from! Your bum!?'

Leo 'I hate Josh's white hair! I love my brown hair!'

Your sudden confidence hasn't gone un-noticed, even nursery have picked up on it! Your development has jumped right up to where it should be, just like I said it would! Way to prove them all wrong little man, I always believed in you and now the rather incredible nursery report shows what I knew all along! I guess that is why I haven't worried about you not wanting to use the toilet for a number two.. You have always waited until bedtime when you know I can't do anything about it! Then last week, completely un-prompted and completely out of the blue, you sat on the toilet and just did it. We were all so proud, and you relished just how positive it all was. Then the next night you did it again, and again! We may have cracked it, but if not then it's just a case of when! 

You are now really looking forward to school, and I cannot believe that it's a mere 12 weeks or so away. Where on earth has the time gone!? This time next month I will have a 4 year old on my hands, and that quite honestly seems ridiculous. You cannot be that old. You just can't! Whether I want to accept it or not though, it's all happening. Your growing up on me and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. You know what though? Even if I could, I wouldn't, every day I get to know you that little bit more, discover something new about you, and we have some amazing times that we can only enjoy together because you are getting older.

The day we spent scooting as a family only highlighted this further. You took the Storm 90 Y Slider out to the park, and took to the new way of propelling yourself forward like a duck to water. You take everything that life throws at you in your stride, you smile and keep moving forward. I love waking up to that look of pure innocence on your face when you wake up early and sneak into my room for snuggles. You lay so quietly next to me, just watching me sleep. Then you want nothing more than to snuggle and enjoy Cookie Crisp in bed!  

This time next month I expect that I will still be up in the kitchen, doing my best to bake up your fourth birthday cake. You have put demands in for Mario Kart, and I have already got lot's of ideas! 

For now though we are in complete holiday preparation. We are embarking on our very first family holiday as a 3. We are off to Tunisia next Wedneday (3rd June) for the week. You cannot wait to dig a hole on the beach with me, and of course bury Daddy!

Until next month little man...

Happy Adventures..

44 Months Old

A month can change so many things, and the more I watch you Leo, the more I realise how much you have grown and developed. All of a sudden you are reciting the days of the week to me, and I have to admit that the first time you did it you caught me completely off guard. I had no idea that you knew how to do this! I felt a warm wave wash over me, I was so proud of you and happy that you were absorbing new life lessons that you were going to need come September.

You were talking non stop (I mean…Non stop!) and coming out with so many new things. It was just the other evening at dinner that you told me to ‘Stop nagging me Mummy!’ and in that second I forgot completely what I was telling you not to do, and just laughed. You…My 3 year old…Had just told me, your Mum to stop nagging you. There was something ironic about that that really did tickle me.

Your sense of humour is always something that I have adored about you and with your speech coming on so quickly now, it has been fascinating to hear you coming out with your own little jokes in an attempt to wind me up. It was just this evening that you decided to attempt using the potty for a number 2, it's still something you really don't want to do, and usually wait for your bedtime nappy to go on to do your business.. But I persuaded you tonight. You sat there for ages, and I sat with you. You did a bit, but you got frustrated and told me 'It's stuck, it's gone to sleep' and then you said 'Oh no! More wee come out! Stupid wee wee!' and then you got pretty rivaled because you just couldn't go, and that wee of your's had a mind of it's own!

You tell tall stories and let your imagination run away with you, and that is just beautiful to behold. At bedtime we always, always sit and have a cuddle with a story, a long cuddle where you lie on my arm and snuggle in tight. It’s my favourite time of the day, and despite what mood you were in when you came up to bed, angry, sad or excited, you always wind down to the perfect snuggle mood and we share a special half hour just you and I. Daddy tells us that we drag bedtime out and that you have me wrapped right around your little finger, and he’s probably right, but that time is so precious, and I steal it when the opportunity presents itself.

The other evening when we lay there we were talking about big school, you don’t seem totally sold on leaving nursery and starting your new school quite yet, and I explained that it was all part of growing up. Somehow the conversation managed to go from school… to the tooth fairy and how sometime in the next few years, your baby teeth would start to come out to be replaced with your grown up teeth. You sounded particularly interested in this and began to tell me how you currently had baby teeth and that I had grown up teeth. I told you that the baby teeth that come out will be taken away by the tooth fairy, and that you have to place the tooth under your pillow at night so that she can fly in and collect it for her tooth palace. Your face said it all, you were amazed, you told me that the tooth fairy was Tinkerbell and that she could come and play trains with you in your room and that she could then stay and sleep on your bed.

Your kind nature is something that everyone is commenting on at the moment, it’s like your old before your time. A complete gentleman. While I am lay in bed with you, you turned to me and said ‘Mummy, you lie on my arm now?’ and with that you are asking if you can cuddle me! You my boy are going to be a real heartbreaker one day!

We were out for lunch one day last week (In Subway of course!) and as usual you reserve the table while I line up to get our cheeky lunch. I could hear you chatting away to an elderly lady and asking her all sorts of questions, and she looked really pleased that you wanted to talk to her. When I came back to the table with your lunch, the lady turned to me and told me what a well behaved little boy you were. She said you were completely gorgeous! It is the most amazing feeling when a stranger comments on how well you behave and how lovely you are, because these are things I already know, but it is so amazing to hear someone else see those same qualities in you that I do. Then when the lady got up to leave, you rushed over to the doorway and swung the door open for her to leave, completely on your own accord. You stood there until she had left the building and the returned to finish off your lunch.

My little gentleman.

Of course with all of your many qualities it has to be noted that you have been a bit of a grumpy bum this month. I think nursery is really tiring you out at present, but of course at least that means I have no problem getting you to bed in an evening! You have been so excited about your birthday creeping up, it seems a little mad that come the end of June I am going to have a 4 year old on my hands! We have been discussing what you would like to do, and whether you would like a birthday party this year. Which of course you do! You seem to have settled on a Thomas theme for your 4^th birthday, which means I am going to have to get lots of cake practice in if you expect a Thomas cake this year!

I have been looking at venues and even found the perfect bouncy castle for your big day, so the next couple of months are going to be requiring some serious party planning! Because obviously we will be inviting all of your nursery friends!

So we have had yet another busy month, filled with days out and lots of quality family time. And we are now on the run up to your big day and of course finding out if you have got into our chosen school for you in April! Time is seriously flying and I don’t like it one bit, but we are having a great time and I couldn’t be happier about the little boy your turning into.

Until next month little man…

Pre-School Jabs

On the 28^th January it was time to take Leo for his next set of jabs, his pre-school jabs. I knew the time had been creeping up on us, and having postponed them twice before they called up the day prior to advise us of a cancellation for the next day, and invited us to bring Leo in.

I tried my hardest to explain to Leo that he was going to the doctors for some special medicine to stop him getting poorly. I told him that they would put it into his arms and it may hurt for a minute or so, but that he would be absolutely fine and that I would be there the entire time. This didn’t seem to phase him and off we set for the doctors surgery. Leo had brought his Nintendo DS along and he sat patiently in the waiting room having a race on Mario Kart until his name was called and we were beckoned inside.

The nurse performing the immunisations that day was absolutely lovely, she put us both right at ease. She got down to Leo’s level and explained to him very simply what she was going to do. ‘Now you’re a big boy Leo and will be starting school soon, I need to give you some big boy medicine to help stop you from getting poorly. Is that ok with you?’ Leo who was still engrossed in his Mario Kart game looked up and said yes, and then carried on with what he was doing, completely oblivious to what was about to happen. The nurse turned to me and explained which immunisations Leo would be receiving, asked me to read through the paperwork and sign my consent.

I held onto Leo tightly, placed his game console on the desk beside us and held his arms. We explained to him what was going to happen and that it would all be over very soon, but I guess explaining imminusations is a bit of a grey area because you certainly don’t want to scare them. Leo was still until the first injection went into his left arm, and then the screaming started. Maybe it was the shock of what had happened? Maybe it was the horror that Mummy had gone along with it? Or the overall hurt that he had just experienced. He buried his head in my chest and I was just trying to concentrate on keeping him still. I explained that there was one more that needed to go into his Right arm, and then that would be it, all over and done. Of course now he knew what was coming, he wasn’t exactly accommodating to the idea, so holding him very tightly I assisted the nurse as she put the final vaccination into my beautiful boy.

Leo’s cries rang out, he was a right state. I held him tightly and he kept on repeating ‘Lady hurt me!’ over and over again. The nurse then presented Leo with a certificate of bravery and some stickers for being such a good boy. This did help quiet him down and it wasn’t long before I had my smiley little man back again.

Leo keeps telling me now ‘No more injections Mummy, no doctors. The lady hurt me!’ – God help me the next time I need to take him to the doctors… But for now I have explained that there won’t be any more injections until he is much bigger.

Strangely though these set of injections which I had actually been dreading, weren’t as bad as I first thought. I had convinced myself that they would be awful because of Leo being that much older, but the reality was that yes he got upset, but he got over it all very quickly too, and it meant that we got a cuddly day on the sofa together watching movies and enjoying snuggles. 

Outside the box

‘We have to turn our attention to Leo starting school’ said the speech therapist, I looked her straight in the eyes and said ‘That’s all that I have been thinking about. I just want to make sure that the support is in place should he need it.’ She glances at her sheet of paper with Leo’s notes and then says ‘I would like to recommend the pre-school forum, it’s not something you would personally need to attend, it’s basically where a number of health professional’s discuss a number of children who may benefit from extra support in school. How would you feel about that?’ I nodded and said ‘I am willing to do anything that will help Leo, so of course by all means’. ‘Great, well here is a leaflet explaining the forum in some more detail for you.’ Leo runs up and drops a toy car onto the table and the speech therapist observes him carefully. A number of questions follow… ‘Does Leo usually do as he’s told? Does he understand instruction? How does he play with other children? Is he learning at nursery? Is he well behaved?’

My answers seemed to fall on deaf ears, just as they always do in the company of our speech therapist when it comes to getting a word in edge ways... Leo has a perfect comprehension and understands everything that is asked of him. He does however have many excuses in the line-up if the instructions are something that he doesn’t want to do. I told them about how beautifully Leo had played with his friends on a recent weekend away, how they didn’t just play alongside one another, but actually played. I told them how he is always coming home and talking about what they have done at nursery that day, naming the children and that yes, he is learning! The speech therapist turned to the nursery leader, more interested in her response and everything I had said crashed and burned into a deep dark void. The session that she could have spent one to one with Leo and seen for herself exactly how much his speech had come along was lost to idle chit chat. With that she said ‘Thanks for coming in Laura’, and that drew, what I can only assume was our final speech therapy session to a close.

Leaving the meeting I began thinking about all the hoops that they want pre-school children jumping through before they are even 4 years old. I feel like it is one big circus act and until Leo walks that tight rope well-rehearsed enough to put on the show of his life, nothing is going to be good enough for any of them. With nurseries now being in line with Ofsted and the Early years Foundation, they have had to conform with their learning systems and uphold a certain standard, which of course means that the children have to get in line with what is being asked of them so that the standard’s don’t drop. The kids have to conform and make sure they are stood inside that box, because if they are out of it then you can expect to find yourself in meetings about your child’s development over the duration of your child’s nursery stint.

Leo is his own person, he loves to play with cars, trains and get outside in the fresh air. He doesn't like being taken away from his free play to sit in a circle with the other’s and sing nursery rhymes, but he does like singing along with chart music on the radio. Leo chats my ears off at home and asks ‘what are we doing today Mummy?’ but at school he seems to be shy and keeps himself to himself. Leo loves to cuddle up on the sofa at the end of the day with his blanket and his juice, and adores a bedtime story. He has the sweetest nature and biggest heart, he’s never any trouble at nursery and they all say how well behaved he is. If another child takes something off Leo he just stares at them in dis-belief, he doesn’t snatch it back, or lash out. He just looks hurt. So my beautiful Leo may be stood outside the box, and he may refuse to conform, but why should my 3 year old conform to anyone’s premeditated expectations? He has his entire life to be graded and tested, but right now he is a pre-schooler, and the only thing he should be conforming to is having a good time and learning through play.

It has been said by the nursery and the speech therapist, that it does seem to be that Leo just doesn’t want to conform. But there is a big difference between not wanting to, and not being able to, and if Leo wanted to he could. Just like his Mummy he is head strong and stubborn. If he doesn’t want to do something then there is an excuse at the ready and a pair of stubborn feet to dig into the ground. Apparently Leo and I are more alike than I ever did realise.

In my first year at school I didn’t conform either, I couldn’t read for that first year through either being let to fall through the cracks or laziness on my part. My parents actually moved my school through the worry that I wasn’t being taught everything I needed to know, and within weeks at being at the new school I was reading like I had always known how. I can actually remember learning to read, I remember the first time it just clicked in my head and the book I was reading ‘Winnie the Pooh and the blustery day’.

There is so much pressure on children to conform these days, but I couldn't be prouder of how far Leo has come along, in his own way at his very own pace. Learning cannot be forced, and it will happen in its own time, when they are ready. One day Leo will have to conform, just like I did. But I don’t feel that time is now,  he’s still so young, and while I know that he is absolutely fine, and coming along in his own time, I will make sure he has all the aids in case he needs them, but I will not let anyone make me worry about him, because I know him better than anyone and Leo is a bright, articulate little boy, who will do everything when he is good and ready.

That tight rope will just have to wait.

41 Months Old

Winter set in and in the blink of an eye Jack Frost had sprinkled his first dusting and you had turned 41 months old. This month has seen you becoming more cheeky, humorous and dare I say it…? More grown up.

Your vocabulary has been coming on and the depths of conversations we can have has been really interesting, and it makes me so proud to hear you really making an effort with your words. This month you have been telling me all sorts.

The one where I won’t put the roof down on the Mini.

Leo: ‘Mummy put the roof down’

Me: ‘Leo it’s far too cold to have the roof down today. It’s freezing outside!’

Leo ‘It’s not freezing Mummy!’

Me: ‘Oh yes it is Leo!’

Leo ‘Oh no it’s not Mummy! You naughty! I call Santa!’

The one where you cancel Christmas for the waitress in Frankie & Benny’s!

Waitress: ‘You make sure you eat all of your dinner up and then we can look at the puddings!’

Leo ‘No Christmas for you! No Santa come your house! No Christmas dinner!’

The one where you think I owe an apology.

Leo: You be nice me Mummy!’

Me: ‘I am being nice to you Leo.’

Leo: You hurt me! You say sorry!’.

We have been carrying on with the speech therapy and working closely with nursery, and I think it is safe to say that we are all seeing you develop. Your such a kind natured little boy, you care about how others are feeling and you always apologise if you accidently hurt someone. I was watching you with Josh just a few weeks ago, and something happened that resulted in Josh crying. I didn’t see exactly what but you took it upon yourself to say ‘Sorry Josh, I give you a kiss’. And that is exactly what you did, you gave him a cuddle and a kiss that was so  lovely to behold. Once upon a time you were the little boy who refused to say sorry point blank, but these days you are just so loving and affectionate.

November has seen you getting increasingly excited about Christmas, and it really is the first year that you have a proper understanding of what is going on. You can see everyone around you building up for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the Christmas lights appearing and capturing your complete attention. You talk about Santa and what you want for Christmas and even know that on Christmas Eve, the man in Red is going to deliver your gifts by sleigh and enter the house by means of the chimney! You have very quickly worked out that the weeks ahead are going to be full of magic and wonder, and at almost 3 and a half, you are in awe of everything.

You even had your very first Costa Hot Chocolate... and Loved it! The next day you put in your demands for a Costa and a Subway!

You are spying adverts on the TV and avidly watching them, and when the advert wraps you tell me ‘I want that! Santa bring it!’. I have had to explain that Santa can’t bring you absolutely everything that you want for Christmas, but he will do his best to make you smile.

A big development for us this month is that you are finally starting to ask questions. This has been one of the language developments we have been waiting for, and now you ask me ‘What’s that?’ about absolutely everything. You have the wording to help you ask what you want to ask, and you take in my answers and store them for next time. Your memory never ceases to amaze me, you can remember things that I thought you would have long forgotten. Down the road from our house each year a man puts up a rather larger Christmas Tree decoration in his front garden. Last year you were so impressed by it and you missed it for months after he had taken it down, and now that it is back up again you have told me ‘not in loft now, out of box!’ and remembered the entire conversation I had with you about what happens to Christmas once everything is finished, and you even remembered the tree.

You are still loving nursery, even if you have decided you don’t like forest school for the moment. When I asked you what you did while the other children were at forest school you told me ‘I have hot chocolate and biscuits!’ – I guess that is why you would prefer to skip forest school!

Naptimes are slowly dwindling but you still get so incredibly tired and grouchy in a afternoon, we have taken to having a sit down and cuddle together and maybe watching a film (currently Christmas films!), but with school creeping ever closer I know that we need to try and leave the naps behind so that you are ready to start school with your peers in 9 months’ time.

You are still doing very well with the toilet and have very few wet accidents, but we are still trying to combat the number 2 issue. You have done 2 on the toilet now, but it’s hit and miss. You hold out for bedtime when you have a nappy and do it within the first 5 minutes of wearing your nappy. I have tried getting you to go before putting your nappy on, I have even resorted to bribery… But somehow we are going to have to get you there. We both know you can do it, and I am sure it’s a confidence issue. But in the New Year we will be trying to tackle nights, which will mean there will be no more nappies!

As we prepare for Christmas I know that your 42^nd month is going to be filled with cheer and magic. There is so much to look forward to and as we embrace the festivities together, I know we are in for a wonderful time.

40 Months Old

40 months have come and gone since your arrival, 3 whole years and 5 months that have brought smiles, adventure and mischief. In 40 months you have transformed from a small helpless baby into an independent, happy little boy. A boy who is determined, wise, stubborn, charismatic and cheeky, a clever little man who wants to know more about the big old world around him. A boy who loves trains without a shadow of a doubt, and will chat to no end about anything and everything to do with them.

This month we submitted your application to school, and this action alone seems absolutely bonkers. I cannot get my head around the fact that come September you will be starting school, in my mind this milestone should still be years away and not a mere 10 months. I wonder how you will feel at such a big change? I know that when you do start you are just going to seem even more grown up, and life really will never be the same. Starting school means you will become more independent than I have ever known, you will have new friends and activities. Where has the last 40 months gone!?

October saw a rather large milestone for you, and you finally (deliberately) did a number 2 on the toilet! Yes I had to bribe you, yes it involved purchasing another train and yes you haven’t done it again since… But you tried and succeeded! It was all your decision as well little man, you decided to days after we had a conversation about the treat you would get if you used the toilet. You got up and told me you needed to go, we held hands as you lead me to the bath room and then you just got on with it. I couldn't quite believe it and I was so proud of you, you may have noticed the round of applause and the excited cheers you received!

As soon as you had done your business though you wanted your prize for being so grown up, and I promised that we would go later that day to pick it up. Time ran away with us and for one reason or another I didn’t make it to Tesco with you. That evening I put you to bed and told you I would pick it up on the way home so that you could have it first thing the next day. Only my mind went completely blank, and when I arrived home to find that you were still awake I felt so incredibly guilty. So at 9:30pm I put on your warmest PJ’s and slippers, strapped you into the car and took you to get your just desserts. You were so excited and the adventure was so totally worth it, you went to bed one happy little man, and couldn’t wait to wake up to play trains the next day! And I of course kept my promise!

You have been coming out with more sentences and been making a real effort, even your nursery key worker has commented on how chatty you have been. What made me giggle was when you brushed past me the other day and said ‘scuse me Mummy, I need a wee’ and took yourself off to the bath room.  You spent half term week telling me ‘school closed’ and I think you really enjoyed the weeks rest. Yet when it was time to go back you were so excited, I seem to remember lots of excited ‘YAY YAY YAY’ filling my ears.

You have been chatting lots about Christmas and have firmly decided that you would like a Nintendo DS as your main present. Now whenever Christmas does come up in conversation you tell me that Santa will be bringing you one down the chimney. Not to mention your comments about just how many presents you will have under the tree, somewhere in the region of ‘Lots and lots and lots!’ if I recall correctly.

It’s hard to believe that 40 months ago back in June 2011 you had only just graced us with your presence, and now 40 months on it is hard to in vision a time before you, a life before you. A life without you. This time of year always puts me in a reflective mood, and it was on the 5^th November 2010, that I first discovered you were coming along. It was scary, unexpected and amazing all at the same time… And now here we are about to take on a new month and many new challenges.

Back to Nursery

On the 5^th September Leo went back to play school for his very first funded session. In the weeks of Summer that quickly passed us by, Leo seemed to blossom before our very eyes. He began to string more and more sentences together, and he made such an effort to use his words. We used to Summer as a spring board and got out and about to really make the most of the weather and each other’s company. I had a feeling that the nursery would also see a huge improvement in just how far Leo had come over the Summer holidays, and I hoped that I wasn't alone in these thoughts.

With Leo’s funding now in place for his final pre-school year before starting reception next year, I prepared his school bag the same way I always did. I packed a spare change of clothes, some fruit and his juice cup. I woke Leo up from his slumber and a very excited child replaced the sleeping child who had been fast asleep only moments before. Leo was so excited to be going back to nursery again and when I dropped him off on the Friday for his first session, he didn't even say goodbye before he ran off to join his class mates.

When the time came to pick Leo up from school, I arrived and peeked in through the window. The entire class was sat together on the carpet talking, and when I got to the front of the line, they called for Leo to come over ready to go home. The nursery leaders each had some incredibly positive remarks about how they had found Leo’s first day back at school. One said ‘Hasn't he grown up over the Summer!?’ another said ‘I have noticed a huge improvement in his speech!’ and another said ‘I am understanding so much more of what he says!’. I was so pleased, Leo has been taking his time but been improving all the time, and now I feel like we are finally bridging the gap that has stopped him getting his point of view across.

Wednesday 10th September marked Leo’s very first full day at nursery,  we prepared Leo’s school bag and even made up his lunch box ready for that very first session. Leo was even more excited at the prospect of taking lunch along with him, that once he had his Planes Lunch box in hand he insisted on having his Ham and Cheese Sandwich for breakfast. So to save his lunch we had to make him up a second sandwich that he could enjoy at that precise moment in time.

Granny dropped Leo off for a 9am start, and then that was the last we saw of Leo until 3pm that same day. It is the longest Leo has ever been out of our care and it was a surreal moment to arrive home from work for lunch, to not have Leo at home. Leo had gone off as happy as always and found his name badge out of all of the other names and proudly stuck it on his hook. Leo then spent the day at nursery for the very first time.

Leo has come on so much since that very first nursery session back in January, he is more confident and willing to give new things a try. I find it incredibly hard to believe that this time next year, my baby boy will be in reception and 4 years old. Time really has got a wicked sense of humor to say the least, but it is not relenting. Time is speeding by and shaping my little man as it goes, each day he does something new and surprises me in a whole new way.

I am so pleased at how well Leo has just slipped back into nursery life, and just accepted that now he is older he gets to go more. I have put Leo into nursery on a Monday, Tuesday morning. He attends Wednesday all day and then has Thursday off to spend an entire day doing things with me, and then goes back in refreshed for Friday’s afternoon session.

I wanted Leo to do one full day so that when he does begin reception next year it won’t be such a shock to the system. I now that as this year progresses he is going to continue to grow up, and when next September does roll around, he will be more than ready to take on big school with all of his peers.

Leo Visit's Land's End

At the end of August the entire family packed up there bags and traveled to the Cornwall for a weeks break. Our week was spent in a holiday cottage at Sennen Cove, one of the last little villages in Cornwall before you reach Land's End. 

Leo had been so excited in the weeks running up to the week away, dreams of days spent at the beach and day trips out and about filled his head, and for the most part of the 6 hour drive he was surprisingly well behaved.. If you could ignore the constant 'I want to go to the beach' the entire time..

Our first full day was spent down by the beach, and the walk to the coast was actually a little further than any of us could of anticipated. Having had the car so full of everybody's bags, we had had to sacrifice the pushchair for this trip, which meant that Leo used the line 'But my feet hurt' more than we would care to remember..And it also meant that Leo was carried in each instance that he decided to sit down and refuse to walk another step.

The walk to the coast saw us walking through fields and avoiding cow pats, it saw kissing gates and stiles, all new experiences for my beautiful little man. When we eventually arrived at the beach, the walk seemed very much worth it, and those tired little legs that Leo had been plaguing Leo only moments before had been forgotten as soon as he had seen the sea.

Leo didn't care that there was a chill in the air, and within moments of arriving at the beach he was running in and out of the waves having the absolute time of his life.

With the beach out of Leo's system for a day or so at least we decided to visit the Cornwall Seal Sanctuary. This is a place I have visited a few times over the years, the last time when I was still at school. It must have been well over 10 years since our last visit, and now here I was bringing Leo along for his first visit. 

It was a rainy day and we arrived in our wellies and coats ready for a soaking, and as we arrived the rain went away and we began to peal off the layers as the sun tried to break through. Leo lead the way around the sanctuary and marveled at the Seals and Sea lions as he went.

All was going well until Leo had a little accident, and by accident I mean deliberately wet himself. Of course as Leo has been so good with his potty training, of late I haven't been taking spare clothes with me on each outing. So I had to quickly strip him off and dress him in the rain poncho.. Suffice to say he looked rather comical running around in very little...

We took the obligatory walk to Land's End and had a look around the attraction. Leo gave me many a heart attack as he wondered around and I saw just how little barrier enforcement that there was between the land and the shoreline below the cliffs!

Towards the end of our week away we visited St Michaels Mount, and Leo did especially well climbing the majority of the way to the top. I had casually slipped in that it was Mike The Knights house, and we may just see him if we took a trip to the top. Unfortunately Mike was away on a mission during our visit, but Leo had the best time climbing the steps and pretending to shoot the cannons.


You can see from the below image the walk that was on our hands, and with two toddlers kicking sand in their wake, we knew it was going to take a while. To visit St Michael's Mount you either walk to it while the tide is out, or take a boat. Leo was all for taking the boat, but we visited during a time when the tide was out, and followed the cobbled path all the way up.

Leo climbed steps and did amazingly well on his latest adventure, and only wanted carrying when the steps turned into slippery slopes and he couldn't quite keep his footing in his size 10 wellies, that were still that little bit too big for him.

With true British weather on our side, it was inevitable that we would encounter some rain. And when I say some rain, I mean that the skies opened up on us and didn't relent until we couldn't be any wetter than we were. At first Leo thought it was amazing, he ran, splashed in puddles and had a fantastic time, until of course it wasn't fun any more. We walked as fast as we could back down the tidal cobbles, but it was too late. We were all completely and utterly soaked, cold and feeling a little worse for wear.

There were so many memorable moments to our a week away, it saw Leo having a fantastic time and he seemed to just grow before our eyes. The week gave him lot's of opportunities to use his words and by the time we got back he seemed to have come on in leaps and bounds.

A particular highlight of the week had to be Leo's pronunciation of chicken chunks... Apparently chunks is a word that could be completely misinterpreted as a rather naughty word that he most certainly doesn't know. But having said that, I couldn't help crying with laughter when Leo strolled back into the kitchen after refusing to eat his chicken chunks and chips... and demanded to know 'Where are my Chicken Chunks!?' - Little did he know that naughty Mummy had gobbled them all up...

Now here we are in September, the schools have gone back and the Summer is soon to be a distant memory. But what lovely memories we have created.

38 Months Old

On the 27th of August 2014 you turned 38 months old. 

3 Years and 2 months old.

All of a sudden your personality is blooming.

You’re funny, cheeky and mischievous.

You’re lovable, cuddly and you’re a wind up!

The wind up side of you is coming out to play daily these days, ever since your 3^rd birthday rolled around it has become much more apparent. You have worked out what to say and the actions that complement them, and your away.

It was just the other day that I told you not to do something for one reason or another, only to be met with your reply of ‘I funny!’. Of course at the time I didn't think your actions were funny, but just hearing you state that you were indeed funny, proceeded to put a smile smack bang on my face.

So now whenever you do something that you potentially shouldn't, you tell me that your funny. In fact when anyone does something that they shouldn't, you tell me that they are funny too. Your cousin Josh decided to try his luck at running away, followed closely by his Mummy, and then by us. We really were a sight chasing Josh laden up with bags, and of course you in my arms while you had a moment of refusing to walk for the umpteenth time. When we eventually caught him, you looked at me and grinned from ear to ear, then you told me ‘Josh runaway! Josh funny!’.

Then of course your cheekiness expands further, you are now mimicking people. A few weeks back we paid a visit to the seaside, and we popped into the pub for a meal. A man walked in shouting loudly, so you looked and me and said ‘man’ and proceeded to make the strange sounds that he had made moments before… In fact recently you managed to really wind up your Aunty Alice. Alice had been playing with you and getting you over excited, of course she then got tired of playing… Whereas you wanted to keep going. You continued to climb all over her, and eventually she got so annoyed that she threw a complete hissy fit. You looked in my general direction to weigh up whether or not you were in trouble, and when you realised Alice was just having a moment, you re-in acted it for everyone in the lounge. You laughed and smiled even more when you saw how funny everyone thought you were, except for Alice of course!

This last week we have spent away in Cornwall at Land's End, you have spent so much time at the beach and you have eaten far to many fish and chips. You have loved being around your extended family and have been making the most of being the very center of attention. Just in the last week alone I have seen even more improvement in your speech, and you are stringing more and more sentences together.

You have even caught on that my name is 'Laura', and given half the chance you love to remind me that you know. 

One part of the holiday you were really looking forward to, was the possibility of going out on another boat ride. We were sat discussing the different boat options together when you told me that you didn't want to go on a big boat. I asked you why, and your response was that it would sink. Having only watched Frozen with you again that day, it suddenly clicked that you thought big boats would sink like on the film, and clearly justified your reasoning for wanting a smaller boat.

A rather big development at 38 months was that you would now actually let us sit you on the toilet. Up until now you would only use the potty, but after Alice managed to bribe you with chocolatey goodness, you haven't looked back. This has made taking you out and about so much easier as we non longer have to worry about taking a potty with us. One aspect we are still working on is getting you to co-operate with number 2's... But we aren't rushing and are tackling it in the same leisurely manner we do everything else.

The end of the summer holidays is here and you are now in your final year before starting school. This week see's you returning to nursery where you will be going Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I know that when you go back this week your nursery teachers are going to see such a big change in you. I have finally managed to eliminate the word 'Choo' from your vocabulary, and instead you say 'train' without thinking about it. I cannot wait to hear their feedback on you, I just know they are going to be pleased! 

As we go into your 39th month I still find is incredibly scary at just how fast time is flying by. Each day I feel that little bit prouder, even on the days where you push all of my buttons. You are such a clever little guy and I know that I cannot wait to continue watching you blossom.