Unfortunately I can't find where Phil's saved all our recent photos. Everytime I sit down to blog, I look for them...but it's inevitably when he's at work and eden's in bed...so i still haven't found them. Videos I can find. I'm not sure what this one is exactly but it's labeled 'keyboard' so i imagine it's something to do with him playing on his keyboard!

I've suspected it for awhile, but today eden most definitely said 'mmnana' in response to my offering him banana!!!

And he's also started trying to build his block tower himself...except his motor skills aren't quite that good yet, so the blocks mostly end up next to each other. He gets so excited with himself though, and picks them up again and claps them wildly together before trying again!

Mainly what we do, however, is i sit on his futon and he brings books, climbs onto my lap...flicks through the pages, gets off and finds another book! (or brings back the same one). Over and over. Generally to find one page in the book before going on to the next one. In Sly Fox and Red Hen he loves the last page, where the fox gets splashed with hot water. He flicks the pages with great concentration till he gets to it!

Anyway. The house is a tip. I have jewelry to make and some design stuff for foxton to do.

And he turned 1. . .

Eden is 1! How on earth did that happen???? For his birthday we took him to a local pub which has a massive free play area until 3pm everyday...he had his first Tikka Masala! And then yesterday we threw a party for him. He dealt really well with all of the people, and really enjoyed everyone singing happy birthday. He clapped when they all finished. His grandma made him a hedgehog birthday cake which was scrumptious. Next year maybe he can even have a piece!

We've started experimenting with the lactose issue. He's regularly having margarine and yoghurt or fromage frais. I've not worked my way up to much actual milk but there haven't been any reactions. The only possible one is that his eczema is flaring up, but i'm under the impression that eczema flares in winter...

He's taking steps! It's like something suddenly clicked and he's decided to walk. So he is constantly walking around the furniture or with our hands... and taking steps here and there. last night it was 5! There were 2 tentative steps and then he carried on for 3 more as if he'd always been walking.

Anyway. I'll leave you with one of his very first photos....is this the same child???

the climber

(this was at the Safe Play Centre where Eden and his friends had a joint birthday party)

Well. Eden has discovered the joy of climbing. Climbing on and climbing over. He can now climb the stairs (which means a gate MUST go up cause our stairs are way too steep). He can climb on the futon with ease and now tries to climb up everything else.

His crawling has gotten much faster and he will sometimes now walk if you hold his hands.

He seems to have gotten noticeably taller all of the sudden so i think he's 'slimming' down a bit. his belly isn't quite as noticeable! The dungarees he's wearing today are for 2 year olds.

Eden saw Bernard playing his flutes and obviously wanted a go... he kept putting his mouth to the right place but couldn't make a noise. So Bernard went and got him a mini one to play with. It was very cute.

But i better go. He's playing with the fireguard that we haven't attached yet....disaster may strike at any moment!

he was grinning up at me pushing the pram...

Today eden's been like he was months ago. Woke up happy, played in his cot alone for awhile... ate happily... and when i tried to put him down for a nap, i gave him a cuddle first, and he leaned towards his cot to get in it!!!

who switched my child???

it's been great.

Adventures continue!

(eden meets helium balloons at Seth's Christening!!!!)

Hello hello. I have plenty of videos to upload but no idea where the video camera is. Fortunately phil did rescue it after losing it in a 2 foot deep ball pool on saturday (of all places!!!)... but since then I haven't seen it...and I need to use nap time wisely!

Eden is doing fabulously, mostly. He is really cheerful and funny. My gosh it's a fun age. His absolute favourite activity is to stand in the middle of the room and clap... going 'ha! ha! ha!'... He always claps if i say 'yay!' and then claps again if you clap in response... he also seems to think peekaboo is the funniest thing in the world. Now that we have him forward facing in the car (we couldn't afford to go down the rear-facing route in the end) we just have to turn our heads to see him and he giggles.

He has had a terrible tummy bug...and been extraordinarily clingy... but this morning I took him to the doctor to see about his cough, to find out that he has a double ear infection and that it looks extremely painful!!! This is probably why i get so little sleep! So we're under orders to keep him on baby painkillers (Calpol for those who know the lingo) and see how it goes. I have a prescription for antibiotics if it doesn't seem to get better by tomorrow. I'd prefer not to use them, but obviously if he needs them we'll go for it. It just seems that we over anti-biotic the world these days!!

I still don't know what we're getting him for his birthday. He recently acquired an old keyboard from his great, great-grandmother's estate... it is a lot like one our family had when i was younger. He is absolutely obsessed and if he sees it under the futon, i have no peace until it has been set up.

We've lost his 'baby shoes' but he's not ready for real shoes...so we're not entirely sure what to do. As it gets wetter and colder, he needs something! probably an entire water-proof suit as well! But i keep delaying these purchases till i feel more decisive.

anyway, here's a picture of eden on a swing!

Eden & His Super Suit

Well this photo is Eden wearing what we like to call his 'super suit' (think Mr Incredible & his old super suit which didn't quit fit....)

life is a bit crazy over here. Eden had a cold. I had what is suspected to have been swine flu. i'm looking after seth some days, but not for long (although a week longer than expected!). Phil's getting little bits of work...

Eden stands up unaided in the middle of the room constantly now. The longest time he'll stand is upwards of 30 seconds. Still not interested in walking. I put him in front of a walker at playgroup and he sat down and crawled away! He does like to climb - onto the futon in his room and over me... and still crawls with his bum in the air - not using his knees at all! Silly boy.

We've started playing our first proper game together. I build a tower out of blocks and he knocks it over with glee! It's really fun to have him intentionally interacting.

He is, unfortunately, also coming into a phase where I cannot be out of his sight. Well a certain list of people will replace me, but he cannot be alone. I read somewhere never to sneak out of the room, so I always tell him what I'm going to do and that i'll be back in a minute...and before i leave the room he is crying. By the time I reach the bathroom he is hysterical. It's not much fun. I'm trying to learn to bring him with me everywhere but that requires having everywhere clean enough....and also he often wants to be held if he's gotten upset by my leaving...oh well. this too shall pass!

He now has a keyboard... phil's great-grandmother left 2 behind, which meant they were both going to be sold or given away. It lives under his futon and comes out under supervision...but requires very little! last time he didn't look away from the keyboard for 20 minutes! and then kept bringing toys back to it so they could have a turn!!! he definitely loves all things musical!

Anyway, i've got both boys today...and they're currently asleep in prams. I better get a few things done or i'll regret it!

(eden in a shopping trolley)

It's Sunday night again. Eden's in bed. Phil and I are slowing down - i'm preparing myself for another day filled with eden & seth. They seem to be getting on a bit better, although the bashing may never end... they bash their toys and their parents, why wouldn't they bash each other?

Eden's mobility is increasing rapidly. He mostly likes to crawl on his hands and feet - with his bum high in the air...kind of like a crab really. He's slowly beginning to cruise around furniture but finds it easier to land on his bum and crawl where he wants to go.

His latest noise is a bit hard to describe. It involves his tongue. "blerberbler" doesn't really do it justice. He is VERY proud of himself for making it though.

He's lots of fun these days. A bit clingy (and cries when he sees certain people, such as uncle andrew!) and starting the occasional sulk/cry. I'm not sure what to do about that. He just will plop on the floor and cry really hard. If you distract him then he gets over it pretty quickly...well instantly really. Silly boy. There is so much he's not allowed to touch and do and can't do.. it must be frustrating.

here's a photo of a rare occurence - eden asleep in someone's arms!