oh and...

here's a video i took earlier in the week:

his room

So it's dawned on me that I've never posted photos of eden's room... and no one really goes in there (besides us, obviously). So here are some. The first one is pretty dark, but you get the picture!

I've always felt really strongly that order is important for little ones. Sadly, when we went through the patch of him being a sobbing wreck by 6pm, we stopped being so strict with tidying up at the end of the day. Things were thrown into general tubs and shoved to the side. So today eden went to grandma's, and I cleaned it all. His reaction on his return was very positive...Before his nap we sat and played with a puzzle that's pieces had been hidden under the futon for a month or so. It is important. Let's hope we can do a better job at keeping it organised (and start on the rest of the house!)

Eden is getting more mobile, more vocal and more responsive every day, it seems. He needs so much more exercise and all day is dragging me to the door to go outside and play. He loves the decking that's behind the chapel because the steps are perfect sitting height for him and they're manageable (with a little effort) to climb up and down after his balls that he's constantly throwing up there & immediately kicking off.

I do have to 'enforce' quiet time sometimes, because now that he's down to one nap, he can get quite strung out when he's not quite ready to sleep. That either is him in his cot with toys or sat in his highchair in front of veggie tales (on the laptop). Sometimes we'll sit together on the couch and watch something...but usually i find he needs to be on his own.

Hope everyone is well.

look familiar?

Eden is wearing a sweater that was made for me when i was a bit older than he is. I was convinced it wouldn't fit but it was the closest to me when i needed to give him another layer. I love it on him and am SO glad that the weather is turning the way it is, as it's perfect for this time of year.

Eden loves going to his great-grandparents farm and walking with the hens. Just because it's cute, i'll put the link here too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RHaEy9KwTA&feature=autofb

happy spring!

brmmm brmmmmh

it's very handy to have farm owning great-grandparents when you're obsessed with tractors & animals...

as soon as we drove in, you could hear a tractor at work (although faintly) and eden was saying 'brmm brmm' over and over and over again. he wasn't happy till we went over to see the tractors... and then kept trying to go back. Fortunately the person (some relation of some sort) whose tractors they were invited eden to get in one.

Then there were hens to see.. he even makes a hen noise now!

And a football to kick about - his first proper word is ball! (unless you count 'mamamamamamama' 'daddiddiddii' and 'yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh').

spring has sprung!!!!!

Finally! Spring is here! If we were outside right now (which we aren't, merely because eden is sleeping) we wouldn't even be in coats - just thick hoodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness. The days are longer, the temperatures are rising and the sun is out (at least for now).

Although eden still loves to play outside with his ball, he has realised that it's more fun if we play too (before he just wanted to chase his ball around). Because the back area is sloped, the ball can get a bit of speed to it, so if I run after it, he giggles and follows along... and giggles as we 'kick' the ball back and forth ... His kicks are often him simply running into the ball, but it still counts.

Today we were at a playgroup we don't often make it too (it's in longridge)... but he spent the ENTIRE time on ride on tractors. There were some that he could easily get on and off, but he preferred the ones he was too small for. Obviously. So I spent most of my time pushing him around. He loved it. That playgroup is a toy library, so you can borrow the toys...so I may borrow a tractor in a few weeks.

the little mr.

I finally can access the photo I took of his first painting. He did it on canvas board, because I figured the first was definitely one to keep. It's currently sitting on our mantle in the dining room, but will eventually find its way into a frame.

He is getting more clever and more cheeky with every passing day. Since staying at his grandparents on the weekend he has decided to give up on naps. Everytime he is about to do something he shouldn't, he turns to make sure we're watching, grins and does it. Like bashing our mirror (particularly with toys... i wouldn't mind, but it might break!) or the paper lamp, or opening our fridge....those kinds of things. His grin just gets cheekier. And cuter.

He is also starting to understand more - I can ask him to pass me something, and if he thinks that's acceptable, he will. And I told him that we had to bring his ball in...which he ignored, till he realised that I had his other toys and we were really going to leave the ball, so he went and brought it to me. And he moos with the best of them (although his moo often has a b instead of an m).

He also wants to spend ALL of his time outside. On nice days I'm fully supportive of this, but on wet, rainy cold days like today...having to get him into his rain suit, plus everything else... and then stand out in the cold whilst he chases a ball around... well that's for a limited time only I'm afraid. I can't wait for the summer (if we get one!) so I can take a camping chair out, and a book and let him play to his heart's content. Today I got out the old baby bath and we would put the ball in, then get in himself...then throw the ball out, get out and chase the ball...and do it all over again!

Anyway. I think he's FINALLY gone to sleep. So I better get tidying.

The weather this week has been AMAZING. Eden & I can't get enough of outside. Yesterday involved a 6 mile round trip to the farm for lunch. All our days are involving as much fresh air and sunshine as possible. This was his first time in that adorable wool hoodie. It's not generally warm enough yet, but that day was. And on his hands are actually slippers, but his mittens were in the car at phil's work!!!

His 3rd molar has appeared much quicker than the last two, but is still effecting him greatly. Stupid teeth!!!

He is requiring a lot more interaction in his play now. For ages he wanted you in the room, but not involved. Now he prefers me to sit in the middle of the room and be involved and left at his choosing. This morning we spent a long time playing with a box one of his toys came in - cardboard with one clear film side... He got so excited that he could put things in, including his hand, AND STILL SEE IT!!!

He is getting bored quite quickly as well. He thrives when we're out and about and doing new things. This is slightly difficult on a tiny budget and no car when you live in a small village, but I'm working on it!