No longer a baby and now a toddler!

It's been a very exciting few weeks in our household! 

Firstly, we had the thrilling delight of watching The Boo take her first steps! We were at Nanny and Grandad's when it happened a couple of weeks ago. She was leaning on the TV unit and turned and just stood up still. She moved one foot to balance herself so we watched, holding our breath, wondering if she would take a step - and then The Boo took about five or six confident steps across the room before sitting down and looking back at us with the biggest, widest and proudest grin on her face! It was amazing! We cheered and clapped as she laughed! Our baby was walking!! 

Each day she has walked more and more and thrives off encouragement. Her balance has improved too and she can bend to pick up toys and straighten up again. Sometimes The Boo tries to walk too quickly and stumbles, but is up again in a flash and back on her way. 

The Boo understands so much more now and can follow simple instructions like "go and get the spoon for mummy" or "pick up your doll". However, the one command she seems to have trouble understanding is "no". This one seems to be inaudible for some reason. Especially when she is grabbing handfuls of soil out of my house plant tubs and attempting to eat it!

The other exciting news is that The Boo is now one year old! One year! Already! It may have passed in the blink of an eye, but I can honestly say that it has been the best of my life. I feel so blessed to have The Boo. I never dreamed that being a mum could be so rewarding and would bring so much love and joy into our lives. I look into her eyes as she smiles at me and I am totally filled with happiness. Oh, the emotions that come with being a parent are so overwhelming and fantastic. I love it. I love her! There are no words to describe how much! 

We had a small party for The Boo on Saturday afternoon with a couple of close friends and their children. We had a very traditional party with sandwiches, crisps and jelly and icecream and played 'pass the parcel'. It was good fun. We had a rainbow theme and I baked her a sponge cake, smothered it in buttercream and decorated it with Smarties. It looked pretty good if I do say so myself and it tasted good too thankfully. The Boo enjoyed receiving presents but seemed to enjoy trying to eat the wrapping paper more! She took her nap after the guests left in the afternoon and then the second load of guests arrived in the evening for drinks and pizza. So many people were huddled in our kitchen! It was great to get all our friends together and have a catch up.

Her actual birthday was on Tuesday. We gave The Boo our presents and then my husband and I took our parents and The Boo out for a carvery lunch. She slept soundly the whole time in her car seat, next to my chair. I was secretly pleased about this as it meant I didn't have to share any of my roast potatoes with her and I got to eat my food whilst it was still hot! The Boo's Aunties and Uncles and a friend came over after work for even more cuddles and presents!

The Boo is no longer a baby and is now a toddler and we are entering a new chapter of parenthood. I can't wait to find out what she will learn to do next!

Faster by the day

The Boo is soundly sleeping. She looks so comfortable and relaxed and I can't stop looking at her! I really want to go over, cover her rosy cheeks with kisses and cuddle her, but I must resist that urge and let her rest. She must be worn out as she's really on the move now. The Boo has totally mastered crawling and is getting faster by the day! If she's on the floor, you can't take your eyes off her for a moment or else she'll be out of the room before you know it. I'm certainly worn out following her! The Boo loves to be on her feet though. Whether she's stood still or holding your hands and walking, if she's upright she's grinning and laughing.

She's had a lovely week, including a wonderfully long crawl exploring the local park. We met up with my best friend and her three sons for a picnic and had a wonderful afternoon. The sun shone brightly, we ate and drank, the boys climbed trees and attempted to make a camp and The Boo thoroughly enjoyed all the attention. Each of the boys wanted to play with her or crawl along beside her and they argued over who was next to hold her! We sent them off on a scavenger hunt with a list of things to collect so we could give The Boo some quiet time and to hear ourselves talk! 

Nanny (my mother-in-law) has moved in with us, so we've been getting used to having another person about the house. The Boo is very lucky to have all her grandparents and aunties so close by and I like that she spends lots of time with them. I can't imagine not seeing them all for months at a time. I think I'd fall apart. 

Food The Boo has tried over last week: mild chicken curry, nectarines, grapes, pesto pasta, digestive biscuit, tuna, peas (she liked them all).

Total teeth: 4 (another top one is out)!!

Her first kiss!

The Boo had some visitors last week. My Uncle and Aunt came over for an afternoon and were very surprised at how much she had changed since they last saw her in May. Joining them was one of my cousins. We worked out that we hadn't seen each other since a particular party in 1996! She was very happy to meet The Boo and had lots of cuddles with her. We also scoffed a lot of cake, courtesy of Nanny!

Next to visit was our friend Julie. She popped in to have a nose around the house and then we strolled to the pub with The Boo, Daddy and Auntie Linda. The Boo has become quite a regular at this pub! We had a lovely dinner and a good catch up.

Finally my good friend Sarah and her adorable son Miller came over to see us. This woman is an inspiration to me. The last two years of her life have been agonising, heartbreaking and awful and yet she greeted me with that big, beautiful wide smile of hers and she has a positivity about her that absolutely amazes me. She has been through hell and she somehow has the strength to be cheerful. She is honest and speaks very frankly about her life and that's all part of her charm. Watching her interact with her son is a joy to behold and she truly is a wonderful mother. I love her dearly. She also gives the best cuddles - the kind you can't help but sink into, feeling safe! Mmmm. 

 

The Boo also attracted the attention of a very sweet four year old boy! We were out shopping when he came running over to the pram yelling "Mummy, look at this lovely little girl"! He immediately stroked her head ever so softly before smiling up at me and then he leaned in and kissed her! Her first kiss from a boy who is not classed as family! I chatted with him and his Mummy for a little while and The Boo got another two kisses from him before we said our goodbyes. He was so careful and gentle with her, love him. The Boo's reaction? She didn't bat an eyelid!

New food that The Boo has tried over the last week or so;

Sausage stew (loved)

Mango (liked)

Scrambles eggs with mashed baked beans (didn't like, but ate with a grimace!)

Diluted pressed apple juice (loved)

Bit of Milky Bar (no reaction) 

Cauliflower (liked)

Bit of Victoria Sponge cake (loved)

Contents of chicken pie (loved)

Vegetable quiche (liked)

Things she has tried to consume but has been firmly prevented;

Coffee

Cardboard

Tissue

Houseplant leaves and dirt

Beer

Sweet wrapper

My hair