12mths - Not a baby anymore

Dear William

This month has been a little more full/busier than normal what with preparation of your birthday party and me going back to work in an office on a casual basis one day a week and paper work for Ezy Kids Parties and the odd party/function. But a lot of the busyness was the preparation for your BIG 1st birthday party; more about that latter.

This month’s first milestone was you drinking and tipping your sippy cup without assistance. While it may seem like an odd milestone to mention it’s been great as you indicate when you’re thirsty by pointing at it or if it’s in reach you’ve been helping yourself. While you have mastered the sippy style drink cups/bottles you’re a little confused by the straw style ones as to why you don’t get anything out of them when you tip and suck.

While it’s not a favourite game of yours you have started to enjoy the odd game of peek-a-boo. One particular night I threw the towel over your head while I was dressing you and you quickly pulled it down and when I said BOO, you pulled it up again and we contained this until the game became boring. It was rather cute especially when your eye lashes were still wet and you were looking all cute and clean.

As I mentioned before I went back to work in an office this month! While we have been noticing your reaction to separation it was defiantly noticed this month. First day of leaving you at home for a full day, you must have known something was up as I said good bye to you and your Dad (while you were eating breakfast) your face started to turn from a satisfied look to a look of sheer terror followed closely by many tears. Apparently the crying and tears didn’t last long as you were distracted by food. But on my return oh boy was I showered with hugs. A week and a half later (the 3rd time I left you all day) at 9:30 I received a call from your Dad reporting in that you had for the first time said MUM MUM MUM. Oh how my heart quickly sank, but I didn’t let it worry me as I knew I would soon be hearing it for myself. Sure enough not long after I arrived home that night I opened the fridge door to start preparing dinner for you; only to hear MUM MUM MUM, such music to my ears. While I’ve only worked 3 whole days so far we have found that what will be 1-2 days a week will work really well and be good for all concerned. Most times I will work Friday and either your Dad you’re his parents will look after you. Not a lot will be accomplished this day but my mind is at ease knowing that you will be well looked after and you will form special bonds with all.

The week that we decided to join you up with a talent agent (model/TV/movie roles) I took you to have your first hair cut. While your hair is slowly getting longer and thicker it was starting it look a little dishevelled especially in the mornings. So before we went into see the agent I took you for a quick little trim around the ears just to give you a cleaner look. While it wasn’t a fantastic cut (you kept moving to look at what the hairdresser was doing) it defiantly gave way to your facial features taking centre stage.

Ever since you started with the Native American noises I decided to make you a tepee that I’ve wanted to make ever since I first saw one at our friends place many years ago. This quickly turned into the idea to make it for your birthday which was fast approaching! So for one-two months I have been Googling patterns and pictures, sourcing/buying fabric, measuring, cutting and sewing. Ahhh but more about the tepee and your birthday celebrations, in the next post.

Practising doing a Native American noise

By the end of the month you have lost your appetite for almost everything other than Vita Brixs, toast/bread and fresh/dried fruit. Originally I thought it had to do with the gastro bug you picked up but as the week/month closed and 2-3 weeks latter your still not eating much of anything else I suspect it has to do more with the teeth that seem to be troubling you. With your 5th tooth cutting trough as the month rolled by and others close behind I suspect that this appetite you have will continue for a few more weeks yet.

Eatting fruit - who me? I'm not eatting anything

As much as I’ve been looking forward to taking you to the aquarium for your birthday the day came upon me with a little apprehension. We started the day off with milk in bed as you arose a little earlier than normal and somewhat grumpy (teeth I suspect). When you had finished milk and a quick little nap (1-1.5hrs latter) you sat up and then laid on top of me and gave me a hug and kiss. You may or may not have meant any of it BUT it made my morning and defiantly made me feel special and it felt like you thanked me for the past year. Once you had breakfast we joined some of our friends for coffee/breakfast (Jess, Priya, Mel, Sarah, Theresa, Eli, Andrea and Griffin) before moving onto the aquarium with Mel and Sarah. The penguins were defiantly the highlight of the visit with the big fish (sharks/stingrays), big bright fish and jelly fish a close second. The day finished with your Dad and me singing happy birthday to you at 6:11pm with tears in my eyes.

Reaction to seeing the penguins

Below are some things we got up to this month.
• 49 weeks – Drinking from a sippy cup by yourself and play peek-a-boo.
• 49.5 weeks – Cut 3rd Tooth
• 50.5 weeks – Family trip to the footy
• 51 weeks – Cut 4th Tooth , 1st hair cut and signed up to a model/film etc agent.
1st time I left you for a whole day
• 12mths – Started saying Mum and cut 5th tooth.
We made it my sweet little boy! Your now one and not a baby any more, oh but don’t worry you will always be my baby boy no matter how old you are. Love you more today than yesterday and I promise to love you more and more each and every day.

Last photos as a 11mth old

Last photos as a 11mth old - chasing me while I'm trying to take photos

Last photos as a 11mth old

As you are now past the ‘baby’ months this will be my last monthly post. Posts will now move onto something less or more frequent as we enjoy special moments or I have something that I would like to share with you (that I hope one day you will read).

Happy Birthday William may the year ahead be filled much more joy and happiness than you have already given me.

11mths - Walking and Falling

Dear William

When you were younger nearly every week you accomplished something new, while your still accomplishing new and wonderful things they are further apart and it’s more personality traits that we are seeing on a weekly basis (come to think of it maybe it’s almost daily). I’ve never been one for keeping a journal so when I decided that I really wanted to keep one for you to look back on, I’ve been making more of effort, however including LP’s Journey it’s been over a 1½ now and considering past journals (in my teens) only ever lasted about a month I have to say I’m doing well. But saying this I’ve noticed more and more I’m just enjoying the moments and forgetting to document them. But just so you know, it’s not a reflection on how much I love you. In fact, if it’s possible I love you more as I’m not documenting everything and just living in the moment and enjoying it with you.

This month I was busy with 3 weeks of freelance work so it made the month fly by. While you slept I worked and when you were up you helped me do house work followed by having lots of fun playing. For a few months now you have loved to play with the vacuum cords and pipes. Now that your more mobile you love to follow the vacuum around and when I’ve put the vacuum down you take over and start pushing it around; it makes me smile every time. And it was the sweetest thing when out of no were you just started handing me the washing from the basket. You don’t really wait for me to take the 1st item before grabbing the next but it’s very sweet of you to help and it makes me chuckle as you hold your hand up say ta and do it all over again. While at the start of the month you didn’t want to let me out of your site, by the end of the month your happier to play by yourself for ½ hour or so before you want to be by my side helping or just watching what I’m doing.

For some time now when you were crying/whinging or making loud noises at inappropriate times or for no reason I would pat your mouth so you would make an Indian noise or should I say Native American noise. I would then do it to myself so you would see it as a game. At the start of this month you started to copy me, even moving my hand from your mouth to mine so we would take it in turns. You love this game and we often play Indian’s or we will catch you playing by yourself.

You have developed a rather cute and quite an amusing habit where you shake your little head from side to side, a little like your saying no but it’s more amorous and you have an open mouth with very cheeky eyes. The first time you did it was at playgroup and you had all of us in stitches. You have continued to do it throughout the month at different times throughout the day, quite often at meal time when your being cheeky but also when you’re having fun playing or showing off. Speaking about showing off; from day one you have been able to turn heads with your smile and bright shining blue eyes. These days you might grab people’s attention with your smile or eyes but it’s your happy personally that pulls them in and then your performance that makes them laugh. Not only have you mastered flirting you have also been caught kissing girls. You normally just kiss one (Bella-Rose) but you have also given Sarah-Iris a few as well. I would like to worn you know, while your young it’s cute but when you’re older I won’t allow it.

Giving Bella-Rose a BIG kiss

Your very good at pulling yourself up now on to almost everything, and everything that is in arms reach becomes a item to practise your throwing, which is becoming better by the day. One day you sent your Dad absolutely mad; unknowingly you picked up his wallet and threw it into your ball pit. When your Dad went to get it so he could go out, you sent him mad looking for it. Never the less when I now say things like you need put things where they belong or don’t leave things out just so they are convenient he doesn’t retort anymore.

Once you started pulling yourself up I started helping you learn how to walk with your lion (walk and ride toy). It didn’t take you long to take your first steps followed by you being able to pull yourself up onto it. I often see you cheat by just walking on your knees, which is amusing to watch. I often see you pushing things along on your knees with a great big smile on your face or you chatting to yourself. It’s such a joy to see you so happy. Within a week or so of using the lion to walk you started to furniture walk and with all the standing and walking you soon started having some tumbles and falls. Most have been nothing more than a bruise but we have had a scratch to the corner of your eye (so close and so lucky) and a bitten/grazed (with blood) inner lip. And as your still learning and experiencing the joys of your legs I’m sure there will be plenty more tumbles and falls (now and for the next 15 years or so). And just before the month is out you stood by yourself momentarily, so I’m now getting ready for the walking to begin (which I’m looking forward to, as much as people are saying enjoy the time while you’re not walking).

Walking at the Grandparents with a walk and ride

While you may not be saying Mum yet (or Dad, directed at Dad), we can defiantly say your language is developing. You love to talk on the phone; and when you’re being a bit of a grump I know that calling Dad will change your mood and you will bubble away at the phone, most of the times it’s very loud and it’s hard to get a word in edge wise. We are quite sure that you understand a number of words as you seem to indicate or say them at the correct time.
• Woof (when you see or hear a dog)
• Bird (you point or look towards the bird)
• Duck and maybe also quack (pointing to or me holding the bath ducks)
• Eddie and Tat (both directed at our cat)
• Bye with a wave (not every time we are saying goodbye but you’re getting better)

Your appetite increased this month. Early in the month you began to want morning and afternoon snacks which was closely followed by wanting more an breakfast. Also once I upped your Vita Brits from 2 to 3 you seemed to be a lot happier and less needy in the morning. Afternoons are still a little trying at times and even after a bowl full of grapes you still appear to be unsatisfied. Sometimes it’s just a matter of distraction while other times an early dinner is called for.

Afternoon tea with friends (favourite snack - grapes)

The front top teeth have been getting closer and closer but we are still waiting. And while you’re still wanting breast milk I’m happy for them to stay at bay for a little longer. Just wish your little bottom would stop blistering every other day. The list of new foods is getting shorter by the month, Really must try you with peanuts but as you don’t really like to eat bread that much I haven’t bothered. New foods included;
• Dew Melon
• Hot Cross Bun
• Unsweated Easter Chocolate

Yes this was the chocolate

Below are some things we got up to this month.
• 45 weeks – Walking with the Lion.
• 46 weeks – Furniture Walking.
• 46.5 weeks – Saying Woof and Eddie
• 47 weeks – Due to you enjoying music we began Mini Maestros.

• 48 weeks – Saying bye and waving
• 48.5 weeks – Saying duck/quack.

Nandaly Streaker

Playing ball with Eddie

Having fun at Bella-Rose's dress-up birthday party

Happy 11mth Birthday Little Curser
Oh my ...... your almost 1.
Everyone says it; but where did the time go and were you really that small.

10mths - No more Mr Independent

Dear William

Every month there is a new milestone that stands out above the rest, this month it was your first and second tooth. Unlike some of your other milestones this one was one that I have been waiting for ................. let’s just say a few months or more. The signs were there 2 weeks prior to the first tooth cutting. You went from only eating foods that were laced with apple or apple juice or mixed with yogurt to refusing everything but VitaBrits. You also added lots of screaming in your sleep with one night screaming so much that we both got up in the middle of the night to give you lots of attention and hugs. The week that the tooth finally cut through was also the same week that my little Mr Independent hung off me like a little monkey (you even had a baboon like bum). Okay you weren’t that bad, but you were defiantly clingy and didn’t like me walking out of your sight and wanted to be at arm’s reach from me. When your 2nd tooth cut everything was far less traumatic, your bottom started going red 1-2 days before and you only wanted VitaBrits for one or two meals (other than breakfast).

This month your Dad celebrated his 40th Birthday. As I busily made perpetrations for the big day I discovered, that while you may have looked like my father and grandfather when you were a newborn you are fast turning into a spitting image of your father. Photos revel that as a baby not only do you share your dad’s facial features you also sure your dad’s stocky build. On the day of the party you had so much fun, being passed around and even when you were clearly very tired you still had a great big smile on your face (6hrs without sleep and having to wake you from two day sleeps; what a star).
We had some issues this year with the house being flooded so this month we have had the plumbers over to fix pipes and to improve drainage. You were very interested in what they were up to, not letting them out of your sight and were very content in watching them for ½hour or more.

While there has been no more real development in your language, you do seem to direct your ‘tat’ to the cat. Your baby bubble brings smiles to our faces and has a melting effect on your Dad’s heart when you’re in your cot bubbling away to your dog (your bubble consists mainly of dadadadada). It has also become louder to say the least, which your Dad says you get from me as I’m far from quiet (which I think is a good thing). When I speak to your Dad or Grandparents on the phone I will always put them on load speaker for them to hear you, but most of the time you just stare at the phone; but by the end of the month you started to grunt at the phone which makes your Gran (Dad’s Mum laugh). And by the end of the month you clap your hands when I start to sing Bar Bar Black Sheep (the only song that gets this reaction).

You have started to wave this month, most times it’s not at the correct times but neither the less it’s very cute. You have two waves, one with the whole hand/arm and the other by closing your fingers/hand. By the end of the month you seam favour the finger/hand wave. Your high fiving is back and most times you will do it on queue. And while all of this is cute I have to say the most exciting motor skill development is that you started to pull yourself up onto your feet this month. It started in your cot, the 2nd time that I came into get you out you had pulled yourself up but too far from the cot rails and had ended up in a ‘r’ shape with the top of your head resting on the rails. You were anything but happy but it looked so funny. With the added strength you’re your legs you are getting better and better at walking while I hang onto your hands or underarms. One particular day you had a little more spring in your step as we walked down the hall chasing the cat. There were so much spring that you found enough energy to walk back up the hall when he tried to get away from you.

Once the first tooth cut through your appetite increased and no longer did I have to lace your food with apple or juice. Not only did this make meal time easier for me but I also stopped worrying about you only eating sweet foods. With your teeth coming through you began to be much happier eating foods that weren’t mash, which has also been a concern of mine. Even so I still have to process your food, especially your meats. This month your new foods included
• Vegemite Sandwich
• Whole Grapes
• Oranges (you did try once before only a little, your know eating a whole orange per sitting)
• Toddler Fruit bars
• Rice biscuits
• Toddler Muesli bars
• Prima – not a food but your able to drink through the straw

Below are some things we got up to this month.
• 9mths – started to smile and laugh when you fart at meal time after I say ‘William, not at the dinner table’
• 40.5 weeks – Up half the night; turns out it was due to your first tooth being on its way.
• 41 weeks – Giggling when your being cheeky and crawling away (normally down the hall)
• 41.5 weeks – Pulled up to yourself up to your feet
• 42 weeks – Became clingy, drunk your first prima, cut your 1st tooth.
• 43 weeks – First 13.5 hours sleep over night (the beginning of 12hrs of sleep each night).
• 43.5 weeks – Waving.
• 44 weeks – First Clap (happened as I was changing your nappy; very cute). Cut your 2nd tooth

Very Happy with the Vegemite sandwich

Loving bath time

Fun in the park

Balls balls and more balls, oh how much fun.

Yes we know you love your baths

Not so sure about the calf after it sucked your hand

Happy 10mth Birthday Little Monkey

9mths - William where are you???

Dear William

While you’re still commando crawling it doesn’t slow you down or stop you getting up and over obstacles. We had dinner at Auntie Lucy’s and Uncle Gerard’s place early in the month and you had no problem crawling up the half step into their kitchen; the attraction was the bin and a coke bottle which amused you for a while (the bottle that is). I’ve also had you crawl up and over my legs and crawl off my stomach after a hug on the floor. I quite often also have a shadow as I walk around the house, however you are often distracted by the bag cupboard in the kitchen, bathroom, your toys on the floor of your bedroom and your number one love; dad’s office full of paperwork on the floor (he will learn to leave the door shut soon). One day I left you in the lounge room to hang a few cloths out, I popped back in to check on you as I couldn’t hear you playing with any toys. You had crawled off but I couldn’t find you in any of your normal places. When I was up one end of the house I heard a little squeak up the other end but when I got there you weren’t there, then I heard it again. Turns out I had run right past you; you had crawled into the book nook alongside some boxes and couldn’t get out. You have crawled on your hands and knees a number of times now, with the first time being at your grandparents (dad’s parents) on their carpet floor. However you still find it a lot easier to commando as its hard work on the slippery floor boards of our home.

Dad was on babysitting duty again as Jess and I went to see Michael Buble. Ahh finally you are happy to go to bed for Dad. Not only did you go to bed easily, you had some milk and you went to bed around the same time you go to bed for me. You’re a good little boy.

You have moved on from saying aba and onto tat which we think you picked up from us saying cat, however you don’t say it a lot. Your favourite word is still dada and your fast picking up other little sounds which you say when I’m singing songs. Your favourite song use to be Bar Bar Black Sheep, but just lately I notice less smiles when I sing this and more with I’m singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, plus you make a few of your own sounds when I sing it.

We have really noticed that you love music, and over the last few months you move or should I say bounce to it more and more. There are certain adds on the television that really set you off, it’s rather cute. So we will look at taking you to a music program over winter; something for us to get us out and about when it’s colder.

You have developed some funny little habits which you mainly do when your tied like put your little hand up behind your ear and pull your hand back, sometimes you even grab your ear or rub it. You have also stared to pull your hair that sits behind your ear; the hair there is now the longest and sits out afterwards, especially when you have sticky food hands. Your latest little habit is nodding your head once or twice (a deep nod) a bit like a cocky. When you first started doing it, it looked like you were agreeing with what we were saying or other times like you were embarrassed/shy about what we were saying, oh how cute it is.

Between you not sleeping well at night and not eating well I had to do some thinking and trying a few things to sort the issues out as you started to wake up more than once a night (not good for either of us). So I cut out your mid morning and afternoon milk and sometimes your lunch milk us well. You then quickly found your appetite at meal times and you also started to sleep through the night. Oh what a relief. However I now have the problem of you not eating foods that are lumpy and quite often I have to even sweeten the soft food with apple juice to get you to eat it, it’s concerning me a little but will persist and see how things go. This month your new foods included
• Eggplant (started with lumpy now only mashed)
• Polenta mixed with pumpkin and apple juice
• Tuna with cheese sauce and broccoli
• Rhubarb with apple
• Blancmange with fruit
• Grapes (bit hit and miss, and I have to either peel them or bite them in half)
• Eggs (mixed in custard etc)
• Creamed Rice
You have also tried eating a eucalyptus leaf, you clearly didn’t like it as I found you coughing it up/out. It left your breath a bit like a koala’s I’m guessing and your voice a little squeaky for a few days (mainly when your cried or protested)

We also found a new family car; so my old car that Dad was driving has been moved on and he has his car back while we drive the new car. It’s a 2WD Rav4, it is lovely to drive and a lot more space for your things as well as groceries and luggage when we go up to Nan and Pa’s. Your loving the extra height, as it means you can see out the front window and see what is going on outside a little more. It’s also a lot easier getting you in and out of the car.

Good bye Carolla, you did me well

Hello bright and shinny

We celebrated Priya’s Birthday this month, it seems like only yesterday that we welcomed her into the world and were awaiting your arrival. Her birthday outing was to the Bundoora Farm, I think you enjoyed the playground more than the animals. You defiantly didn’t enjoy the goat, you thought he was funny to start with as he tried to get his head out the gate palings, but when he got his head out and started to try the horns you started to get a little upset.

Below are some things we got up to this month.
• 8mths – started following me around the house & climbed up/over obstacles.
• 37 weeks – Crawled on all 4’s, had your 2nd modelling job (for Britax, photos realised in August), started nodding and began to sit yourself up.
• 38.5 weeks – started to sleep through again.
• 39 weeks – Started to pull yourself up on your knees, ate a leaf, can hold yourself on your legs with a little help with balance and weight.
• 39.5 weeks – Went to your first live gig - Uncle Gerard playing a solo acoustic set at Honey Bar

You love bath time

Happy 9mth Birthday bug-a-lug

8mths - William; no don't eat the cord

Dear William

The fun and games began this month as you began to crawl (3 days after I put the gate up). To start with you found it a little over rated and didn’t move all that much. But by the end of the month, keeping you in one spot became a difficult task as you also learnt how to get onto all fours from the seating position. As we begin to baby proof the house Eddie kept his eyes on you and ears open. Early in the month Eddie didn’t know about the crawling and how interesting he was to a little baby boy; you took off at top speed when you saw him and before Eddie knew it you had his tail. Oh how your Dad and I laughed. Apart from Eddie; cords, feet and shoes are your fetish and it doesn’t take long for you to make a bee line for them every time.


Dad was on babysitting duty again early in the month while I went to dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday and once again you refused to drink your milk or go to bed when your suppose to. I came home about 1am and was advised that you had crashed at 11:40pm. At some stage we do hope that this improves (maybe I just need to go out more so Dad has more practise).

Self settling or is it called controlled crying, either way we had to put this into force this month. While you managed one night to settle yourself without me having to get up to you, I’ve never managed to enforce it to get you to go to sleep. I had tried a number of times but there had always a reason for you crying; wind or dirty nappy normally. However after a couple of days were you would only sleep in my arms, I had to introduce some tough love. I tried to introduce it on a day that your Dad was home but he couldn’t cope with your cry, so I tried again the following day. First time you cried for 50mins and since then normally up to about 30mins at the most if your over tried. Your Dad still can’t handle it but he now doesn’t ask me is it time to give in.

The waving and high fiving came to a stop as quickly as it came (lasted about 2 weeks), as well as mum when you cry. They have been replaced with aba (apparently Arabic for Dad) and very recently dada (on the way home from Sarah’s Christening), your lovely babble makes us smile and very happy. And now that your saying dada it gives your Dad an extra little bounce in his step. You have also put a few different sounds together which makes it sound like your saying birthday and hello.

You started swimming classes this month. While this is your special time with Dad I had to take you the first time as we were flooded the night before, and your Dad had to stay behind to keep cleaning. You seemed to enjoy yourself for most of it and it appeared that the kick board was your favourite. You also had your first injury; you grazed your toe on the edge of the pool.

You haven’t been eating as well this month as the last few, but you haven’t been feeling over well the last few weeks. A couple of weeks ago you picked up a tummy bug or something as your bottom was red raw for two days and dirty nappies kept going from soft to firm for about a week. You then followed this up with a cold. This month your new foods included
• Banana Pudding
• Custard
• Roast Lunch (I gave you a little of my Sunday lunch with your Grandparents)
• Stew
• Plum

Below are some things we got up to this month.
• 7mths – started crawling.
• 32 weeks – turned your car seat around.
• 33 weeks – you settled yourself for the first time.
• 34 weeks – attended our first mum and bubs movie session, you started swimming classes, you had your first modelling job featured on a web site and you started getting down from a sitting position.


Happy 8mth Birthday sweetie