Y3 - 130/365: There is the Love!

I have one of the most loving little boys in the world! Just this afternoon I noticed him lugging his Mickey Mouse out of his Peeka Pod only to lie him on the floor and cuddle him and say, "Awwwe." I then asked him to give Mickey a kiss and sure enough he leaned in and sweetly bit him on the nose, hehe.

We're still working on kisses.

Y3 - 129/365: And Another One

Another "milestone" ticked off the list, that is. Tonight, with Mommy as his spotter, Ryan ascended the stairs for the first time!!

We had just returned home from Em & Daz's and decided that because of the time he would just have a bath and head straight to bed. So, after a bit of a play downstairs with his castle with Daddy while Mommy prepared things upstairs, we all went up together.

Myst was initially used as bait, er, I mean encouragement to get him to go up. And although he won't have free or unsupervised access to the steps, we'd rather him be comfortable with the safe/proper way of using them.

By the time he had gotten halfway I begged Matt to go grab my camera.

Thankfully he got it just in time for me to snap these few photos and a very proud little boy at the peak! Naturally we weren't far behind with huge grins on our faces. Go, little man!!

He managed the small step up to the bathroom then on his own and ran over to the tub, looking back at us as if to say, "Come on, you two...it's bath time! Get my toothbrush ready and let's get this show on the road!"

I love it!

I must also point out that as of this weekend, I have learned of yet another friend who is expecting this year and to say I'm elated for them is an understatement!! 

In the past seven weeks, in fact, two people I know have had their babies...one being my cousin and his wife -- their first, a gorgeous little angel called Emma. Then I learned of a long-time friend and her husband, a high school friend and her hubby...and then her sister is having her fourth. Then, while catching up on a blog I learned of a college friend and her third on the way...and now another couple, one a fellow OU alum as well, have just announced they are expecting as well!! That's SEVEN soon-to-be (or just new) mommies and daddies and I think it's the most wonderful thing ever!!

Enough to make one broody again, that's for sure!!

I feel like I want to shout from the rooftops how wonderful this feels, to be a parent. How much they will love every moment, even with the lack of sleep, the bodily fluids they will witness, and the uncertainty sometimes of knowing whether or not they're doing it right...it's so, SO incredibly worth it!

A huge congratulations to all the new mommies and daddies out there as well as the parents-to-be. Embrace your little blessings and take in and savour every moment. I think this all the time and I will say it over and over, especially for the first-timers...this is the BEST feeling you will feel EVER and no amount of love you have felt for anyone or anything can top the love you will feel for your children!

Enjoy them!! x

Y3 - 128/365: Gnomeo?

Over the past week or so, Ryan has been obsessed with trying to put on his knit hat all by himself. This is a complete 180 from what he usually does, which is attempt to rip it from off his head as soon as it's placed there. But not now...he grabs two ends and stretches the fabric as far as it will go until Daddy or Mommy give in and help him out. Then, once it's on it stays there -- for a little bit, anyway.

Matt kept saying he looked like a little gnome!

He's good about clothes, really. He will hold out his feet for socks and hold out his hands for mitts, and then during nap time he occasionally will remove his PJ bottoms in his cot.

Now I really want to get him a boy doll that has clothes that can be put on or removed. One who's clothes use buttons, Velcro or zips so he can get used to operating how to get dressed and undressed on his own.

I just may cry the first time he puts on his own shoes!

Y3 - 127/365: So Grown Up!

I look at my "little" boy sometimes and wonder how it is that he manages to look so grown up?! He swiped my mobile this afternoon to play with the Toddler Lock, which he LOVES, and just standing there he was standing so still and he was so focused he didn't seem like my kid!

I suppose it's good that I have my camera and daily photos to reference back on, but is it too much to ask for this little guy to just slow down a bit because I can hardly remember what he was like now as a newborn! Soon he won't be quite so little.

Y3 - 126/365: Round and Round We Go

It turned out to be a pretty decent afternoon today, so after a tasty lunch of Dairylea cheese sandwiches and a banana we set off for the park. Initially I wanted to check out a park in Cradley Heath, which would have required us to take the train, but considering the time, we opted for "our local."

I'm not a huge fan of Brittania Park. It's a decent size and pretty clean, so no complaints there, but aside from the swings, there isn't much an early-walking toddler can do. So, once he had a go on the swings I just followed him around the gated 'smaller children' area as he shuffled his legs to get himself to the mini-roundabout...then to the slide...over to the bench...the swings...and back (repeat).

Of course, he's having an absolute ball, squeaking and squawking the whole time, but I do wish there was a bit more to offer.

Back "home" (in America) I would have taken him to Homestead Park. This place is full of little tunnels and such for kids to run through and little contraptions were you can load up a handful of pebbles to shimmy it to a higher level. I wish the UK had an equivalent to a Homestead Park.

After we got home, it didn't take Ryan long to find his favourite toy at the moment. This thing keeps him occupied for ages now!

Y3 - 125/365: Who Can You Trust?

It's official. Our 13-month-old is wealthier than his own parents! We finally got around to opening s stakeholder account for Ryan's £250 Child Trust Fund voucher -- just one day before the expiry. We've been meaning to do it for quite some time, but things always seemed to come up and it was simply forgotten. But today was the day and we managed to do it all online after a disappointing visit to Britannia Bank & Building Society this afternoon.

We initially planned to open the account with Britannia, however, we were informed by an employee that they only offered cash, or savings, accounts and we wanted something with a bit more than a lousy few pence interest. Apparently many banks and building societies are doing away with their stakeholder accounts since the change with the new government to do away with the vouchers entirely. They went from a £250 voucher at birth and another £250 voucher paid out when the child reached 7 years to now a £50 voucher at birth and nothing further. Ultimately they will go to offering nothing at all, so we're just trying to make what use we can out of this so Ryan will have a bit built up when he turns 18.

I'm just glad we found anything at all after sifting through the long list of potential accounts/banks available.

And do you think that all our faffing about made any difference to this little guy? Nope...no difference at all!!

Y3 - 124/365: Garden Play

We decided to venture into the garden as the sun was setting to have a little go at some football. The grass was a bit slippery, however, so Ryan spent a lot of his time at first like this.

We did have a chance to kick the ball around some, too. He LOVES his football!

He found it a challenge navigating the slopey areas of the garden though.

Once we were headed back inside he stopped to look at the different pebbles. I had to stop him at one point though because he was about to try and taste one.

Only my child!