Diary of a father - Year 2002
Collected here are the ramblings of a father during those few moments of peace in an otherwise hectic and very enjoyable life as our son travels into his second year!
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Month 15
Hey this walking thing is easy so why not run! Ah, can't quite get the hang of the stopping thing - ouch! The accidents are more frequent as he over reaches himself but progress continues.
Month 14
Walking! Rarely resorts to crawling now. He is feeding himself by hand, occasionally by spoon or fork. His menu is mostly organic and home made concoctions.
Month 13
First steps are taken. The bruises are starting to arrive as he fails to complete certain manoeuvres. He is making moves to feeding himself. His menu is very similar to ours, most meals - this does require some compromise on our behalf but it's all healthy stuff!
2002
The cake cutting at his first birthday party!
His first party was a joyous affair enjoyed by both family and friends, and neighbours. It was a good job that the weather held as the kids were then able to enjoy the garden to the relief of the adults. The house struggles to cope with the preence of a dozen kids and their parents and grandparents. No everyone could stay for the whole affair but it was nice to see so much of the family together in one place at one time! Add a few friends and you know you are stretching things!
Months 7-12...
Month 12
David can now stack five blocks on top of each other - pure luck how many he gets as there is very little attempt at balancing them. He has moments of standing on his own, brief moments of about 8 seconds but it is a start.
Month 11
David can now stand up with the aid of tables etc.. He also walked across the room with his walker today (16th. August). He is eating on his own - though it's a real mess! He takes a few minutes to climb the stairs. Food is getting more adult like. He is very much into copying the adults around him, including eating their food - often literally their food! He gets cocky at times when standing, one handed you know! This leads to moments where he forgets, withdraws that remaining support and falls against some hard item of furniture - ouch! He seems to be saying some words. We reckon we can make out 'ta', 'yes' and 'hello'. He is waving and enjoying Teletubbies. He dances along to tunes he likes. What next we ask?
Month 10
Those heady days of him sleeping through the night have left us behind. The poor soul has more teeth coming through and bad nights mean a parent ends up sleeping with him on the floor after plying him with 'soothing' medicines. As his teeth aren't the only mobile things. Initially he started to shuffle about on his bottom. Shortly after that he master crawling backwards, that is until he bumped into a hard thing. At this juncture he often cries out and waits to be moved to somewhere more agreeable. By the end of July he has mastered crawling forward and now there is no limit on his movements around the house. All of a sudden we have to be doubly vigilant and the spectre of stair gates loom!
Month 9
He leaves the country for a short visit to Disneyland. He traveled well but slept badly in the hotel, probably the unfamiliar surroundings. He is un-phased by the foreign languages around him and the large crowds. We have his sister with us and concentrate on the gentler rides. We have to ask the hotel to provide a cot despite asking for this at the travel agents. Even on the cot's arrival there are no appropriate blankets. A thoughtful mother has brought some. Even sleeping in the same room the other three of us can stay up a bit longer. Breakfast is great and the bus drivers helpful. All in all a great trip.
Back in Blighty there are more teeth up top coming through, will soon have a proper bite mark.
Month 8
This month he has learnt to shake his wiggly giggler. He is getting quite stable sitting down. A couple more teeth are battling their way through. His hair at the back is finally coming along. He seems to recognize him self in the mirror and has for a while has turned towards someone saying his name.
He's not sleeping during the day - well hardly, has maybe a couple of twenty minute naps.
Month 7
He can roll over onto his front. And now he has his own teeth! All two of them, lower front. The pain he felt, he dutifully shared with the rest of us by disturbing our nights - poor chap. Apart from his teeth he regularly goes through the night from 8pm to 7am! Tooth pains mean between 1 and three breaks, and at worst Mother has to sleep with him in her arms.
The first six months...
His first staring contest
Week 26
Poor kid has pink eye. He can almost sit up on his own now! Though not for long.
Week 25
Really going for it big time in the semi-solids!
Week 24
Losing interest in his milk! Much better at staying upright.
Week 23
He is really taking to his new solid diet.
Week 22
Sweet potato is such a delight to the young palate.
Week 21
This week it is back to normal.
Week 20
He's slowly getting back to normal amounts of food.
Week 19
We hit trouble in the shape of tummy bugs all round!
Week 18
He is enjoying his baths and continuing the solid food (well sloppy) trial. Baby rice and milk.
Week 17
Amazing he slept for 11 hours straight for several nights!!!! Of course it didn't last but it was nice and hey it will arrive regularly some day. This weekend we started him on the baby rice. Three mouthfuls in and two out. Next day more success.
Months 2 to 4...
Week 16
This week his mother is ill but he still had to go to child minder to give her some rest time. By Wednesday Mother is back at school. David is sleeping better and more frequently longer.
Week 15
Well this week we have the joy of introducing David to the child minder! First morning went fine. He is still a hungry child - wondering if this maybe related to his early days of not getting enough or just a natural survival thing? Anyway he did well. Mother back teaching.
Week 14
Well he is regularly into his baby speak and you'd swear he was talking on occasions (there speaks a parent). Moved onto trying SMA White - for hungrier babies for the occasional feed. He is bringing his wind up much easier or not at all; the latter happening during the night. He enjoys playing with some of his toys now though he is particular about which he has first thing - usually the quieter ones. Must be a slow riser in the mornings - family trait.
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