Kindness and gifts

This week I've had a few surprise gifts, not least of all a bag of lovely knitted cardigans and waistcoats from a friend of mummy's at the baby group. She gave them to us while we were listening to the baby weaning talk at the surestart centre. It sounds like I'm not going to be getting any food until I'm at least 6 months old as advised by the World Health Organisation, which is fine by me because I prefer mummy's milk to mushed up carrot any day of the week!

Modelling my new waistcoat (in the 60s via clever editing!)

After the weaning talk, we went to the White Swan centre to sing our nursery songs. Good times were had, and this week I even made some sounds along with the singing (in tune of course).
When we got back, we found another present in the post - a lovely special card from Chloe with our names on the front and everything! She said she read our blog so BIG SHOUT TO CHLOE!! WE LOVE YOU!! XXX

Why walk when you have a car? Stupid mum.

Wednesday was baby massage, but as it was tummys and I needed a feed, I sat it out until the legs part. It's such a hard life being a baby! Then as part of my health spa day, mummy took me on a walk up to Sainsburys. As you can see by the photo, I wasn't exactly in favour but I did eventually succumb to sleep on the way up there after some distress calls half way.

Daddy took some great footage of me and mummy having a sing song in the evening but for some reason it's not uploading right now so we'll have to try another day.
Carys and Steve came to tea on Wednesday and they played boring Conservative grown up scrabble while I watched and learned. I had a few great eight letter words but no one could understand what I was saying sadly.

Festival della Pizza Lunedi

Ciao tutti!!

Today started early as Mummy and I had to drive daddy to work (long story which involved daddy trying to jump over a barbed wire fence in the dark at work!).

After that, I had a play with some new toys and books mummy had bought for me and which I like very much. I got rather excited and found that they really helped with my hand eye coordination, especially the crackly noise they make when I touch them.

Me showing off my legs for everyone

In the afternoon we went to see the other babies at the mother and baby group. We played lots of games like a big piece of material over all the babies as a peekaboo game. I didn't like it much but I didn't cry like the other babies (wimps!). I decided to pretend I wanted a feed to get out of having to play for too long at that and rejoined the fun for the nursery rhymes. We sang 'It's raining it's pouring' at mummy's request, because it was.

Pepperoni and olive pizza - Che Buono!

After playgroup, mum and I went to Morrisons for some ingredients for tea, and when we came back we made pizza dough (or mum did while I slept). I oversaw the toppings later on from the superior position of my sling facing outwards for the first time. Daddy seemed to like talking to me eye to eye and we worked through topping the pizza together.

Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb

In the car wash

In preparation for our journey to see grandma and grandad, on Friday me and Mummy tidied the house. Mummy got me super excited playing a game of waving clothes in front of my eyes as she folded while I sat in my baby bouncer. Later when the housework was done, we went one step further and visited the car wash for the first time since I was born! Can you see me in the mirror?

When we got to Ossett on Friday night, we bought Daddy some new tracksuit bottoms because mummy had forgotten to pack them after putting them in the dryer. After that, we all went to Grandma and Grandad's for some tea. On Saturday I went shopping with mummy and grandma to Dewsbury. Back at home I opened the presents Doris next door had given me as well as Grandma's friend Angela - I got some new clothes as well as a new toy which I absolutely love as it has a song as well as lots of colours and patterns and crunchy ears. Later, we saw the whole Sewell clan - Jamie, Sue, Ellie, Eb and Luke, plus Colette and Simon (we'll let him be an honorary Sewell). I woke up just as dinner was served (my favourite trick!!) so Grandma carried me round while mummy ate dinner for a change. After lots of cuddles from everyone as well as lots of baby talk and playing with my new toy I slept very well at night!

Seen this somewhere before?

On Sunday we got up to lots of fun. My mate Luke came over and we visited the Hepworth museum in Wakefield. Luke gave me a push from the car park to the door:

On the way in, Luke was excited to be able to see the water between the 
wooden slats of the bridge.

How a baby beats art every time

It's a great place because there are lots of interesting sculptures. I particularly liked the room with the big pictures of patterns like wallpaper and I had a good stare at these. If I'm honest, I think I attracted more attention than the art in most rooms. Especially when I got fed up of art and started crying!

Rolling the felt

Things got even Moore fun (great art pun!) downstairs in the activity room where Luke made a piece of felt based on one of the works of art. It took some time so I used this window of opportunity to down some milk in the indoor picnic area. The ladies in the art room were very nice to Luke and helped out with showing him how to do it. They also made a fuss of me (but I'm used to having fans).

Luke's felt art is really pretty and he is taking it home to show his mummy and teacher.

Rhubarb fans in the hub of the Rhubarb triangle

As if that wasn't enough fun, Sunday was also the day of the world famous (sort of) Rhubarb festival in Wakefield. There was lots to do, like circus tricks when Luke showed us all how to throw the diablo, as well as gingerbread decorating. Luke decorated a gingerbread pig but was so hungry that it got eaten before the icing had time to dry! 

Three cheers for Rhubarb!

Out and About

Me and mummy have been busy doing something every day this week!


Monday's child is fair of face

On Monday I felt very active and didn't give mummy a minute's peace. I just felt like I needed to be held all the time. When daddy got home I did a huge poo for him. I squirted everywhere and they had to bath me TWICE to get rid of it all!! Daddy looked after me in the evening and talked to me to give mum's arms a rest. I eventually fell asleep at about 11pm!

I think you'll agree though that I'm still fair of face!

 Tuesday's child is full of grace

Mummy decided that it was the house that made me so fractious so Tuesday was full of activities. In the morning we took a walk around Killingworth lake to feed the swans. We also popped into the sports centre to find out about my future swimming career.
In the afternoon we went to a new singalong rhymes group at the library in the White Swan Centre. I really liked it there and watched all the little boys and girls singing. It was so good that it sent me to sleep!
While tea was in the oven, we popped to weight watchers. All the old ladies crossed my palm with silver (it's a Newcastle tradition) and everyone had a hold including Joanne mum's leader so that mummy didn't weigh extra with me in her arms!
Wednesday's child is full of Woe (Woe is ME!)

Wednesday started with woe when I had to get my first Polio/Tetanus/Diptheria vaccination. Mummy held me down while the nurse stabbed me on both sides of my leg. It wasn't very nice at all but I was a brave boy. The downside was that it made me super sleepy so I basically slept through the rest of the events. I did briefly wake up for baby massage (my first session) which I did enjoy a lot.
That afternoon we went to meet Carolyn, mummy's friend, for a coffee at a pub in Cramlington called the Bay Horse. It will be great for when I'm older as it has a massive soft play area. I continued my sleep. I was very sad in the evening but went to sleep after some stroking.
The Postman also brought a nice surprise today - another letter from my cousin Luke. Me and mummy wrote back to him the next day so I hope the letter gets there quickly.
Thursday's child has far to go...
We did a little bit of shopping today but the furthest I really went was up and down the stairs helping mummy to clean the house! We found a new game waving a ribbon in front of my eyes (or a belt while the washing is getting folded) and it made me laugh a lot. Mummy practiced the baby massage on me and it felt great! I was so relaxed while she stroked my legs with my nappy off that I did a poo!

Weekend of Words

Hello everyone!

Yummy dessert! Bannoffee pie!

This weekend after I went for a walk to the veggie man with daddy, we drove out to Rothbury to meet Steve and Carys who had gone to look at a puppy they are thinking of buying and might be coming to visit our house too. We were going to go for a walk but as I was asleep and it was very cold we just went for some lunch in the nearby pub. I was very good and listened to the grown ups and practiced my smiles on them all.

Two gorgeous guys

Hello all!! Well today I have marked down a few milestones!

First I'd like to share my first video capturing the 'Goo Goo' sounds I've been making for a while now - as well as the best smiles!

What a looker!

As well as smiles and goos, I've also learnt how to hit the toys above my play mat and I'm even bashing the mirror on the side now so the hand control thing is coming on nicely. I also did the first real giggle today, although I was asleep at the time - it must have been a very good dream!

Today I went into Cramlington with mummy to meet up with her friend Claire for a coffee. Claire's daughter Erin came along too and she brought her baby dolly in her own pram and well all walked together through the shopping centre, causing a bit of a road block but we didn't really care!!

Tonight was Friday night so daddy and I had a play on the bed - daddy styled my hair and generally got me excited. He also took some nice photos of me with my new spikey hairstyle!

Mum took this one of me in the day looking generally chilled out and relaxed. It's great being a baby :-)

Me and Papa enjoying a chat

Valentines Day - Pizza, Bubbly and baby!

My first Valentines Day!

Here I am napping with the comforting sound of the washing machine in the background! Thank you Nonna for my cool babygro! Super cosy!

Mummy and Daddy enjoyed Valentine's day with me. When Daddy got home he had a kiss for me and a lovely orchid plant for mummy.

Meanwhile mummy and I had been busy making a cake for daddy! It smelled nice but my gums don't let me munch cake just yet.

Weigh ins and weekends

I've been really busy this week so haven't had time to get my thoughts down.

Mummy took me to the baby weigh in on Wednesday where I found I'm now 9ib 8oz. I was fast asleep when I got there so didn't like being stripped naked much. Saying that, the little girl next to me seemed to like it even less!

I went to Grandma and Grandad's for the weekend while Daddy visited Nonno and Nonna in Italy as he was working there on the Monday. We played lots of games although Grandma got me so wired and excited on the Friday that it took me an hour and a half in a darkened room to calm down! Here I am looking cool in the dungarees Carys and Steve bought me (thanks guys):

 

On the Sunday I met Chloe, Hayley and Chloe's mum. We had some drinks and cuddles and then had some Sunday lunch.

 On Monday we headed home and in the evening Daddy was back so I begrudgingly let him kiss me hello although I was too sleepy to really enjoy it!

Appointments

Weightwatchers day and it didn't go well for mummy. Best to play it quiet on that one I find! After our group therapy, I went for my first Chiropractic appointment with mummy's friend Hester and got adjusted. My spine was pretty good because I was born naturally,  but Hester very gently adjusted me as she noticed what mummy already had - that I tended to favour looking towards my right hand side. We're going to keep an eye on it and see if it improves now I've been made more flexible!

Tonight is fajita night for mummy and daddy so I might have a nap now to make sure I can be awake for that - wouldn't want mummy to miss me at dinner as I know she loves eating one-handed! ;-)

My sixth week

As always, I've been busy this week. Yesterday I went to my first mother and baby meeting and made a few new friends. I wasn't the most companionable one there though as when mum tried to give me some 'tummy time' to strengthen my neck muscles, I just fell asleep on the play mat!

While we were there, I made a little present for daddy (see below). He really liked it but couldn't believe how big my foot was.

After the baby group mummy took me shopping. By the time we got half way round I was starving so I thought I'd let her know that by screaming pretty loudly (especially when people walked past the trolley). I cried my first real tears today because by the time we got home for my feed I was famished. That serves mum right, she won't make that mistake twice!

Mummy and daddy received some really nice flowers from P&G to say 'happy new baby'. I would have preferred something for me but there you go...

Easy like Sunday morning

Today I got up bright and early as usual but instead of having to put up with boring old mummy, I was also joined by Grandma and Colette! We all had breakfast together before mummy and grandma started to show an unhealthy interest in my nappy.






Later, Ellie, Ebbie and Luke came down to see me, and mummy and daddy took us all to the park for a  play in the snow. As you can see it was very chilly but I wrapped up warm and had a nap in my pram.

Sadly we then had to go home but what a fun week we've had! Next stop Italy with my new passport to meet my other Nonno, Nonna and cousins at Easter!

Staying at Grandma and Grandad's

This week I went to stay at my Grandma and Grandad's for a few days. We've been really busy as Auntie Sue and Uncle Jamie were going to Madeira on holiday with Uncle Jamie's work. On Wednesday, Ellie, Ebbie and Luke my cousins came round to Grandma and Grandad's where we played lots of games.

On Thursday, we went to Ikea where I had a sleep while mummy walked me round and the grown ups ate a very nice cooked breakfast for a £1! Then we went to me cousins' house and created some chaos there as well. I was wide awake and joining in. While the girls went to Girl Guides, my mate Luke and I had a bath together. Luke got all my stuff ready and even sang me humpty dumpty. He also held my arms down while mummy changed me nappy which I wasn't so keen on!!

On Friday I had a super sleepy day and spent the whole day in and out of naps!! Grandma and Auntie Colette went to a Kina Grannis gig so Grandpa, Mummy and I had a nap and played. That night was also the first time I managed to touch mummy's face ad control my hand to wake her up. Mummy was very surprised and proud and she gave me a feed as a reward.

Today is Saturday and we've had another fun one. In the morning I practiced me charming smile on Grandma who seems to appreciate it, more so than mummy who I woke up at 5.15am and didn't seem as much fun at that time. I went to Sainsbury with mummy, Grandma and Colette. Grandma bought me a new babygrow which I will model in future blogs. Auntie Colette has been getting me excited with funny faces and I have been saying 'goo goo' to lots of people and they're so impressed! Sometimes concentrating on talking gets me a bit stressed out so mummy takes me for breathers away from the Sewell hot house!

Daddy came this afternoon and played piano to me. I watched his hands and tried to learn but until I have got control of my hands I'll have to be content to watch and listen.