Let's go for a little walk

The baby took his first solo steps today. He was standing holding on to the kiddies table in the playroom and I was sitting on the floor, when suddenly he took about four very fast and fantastically wobbly steps towards me with the biggest smile on his face.  The amazing thing was that both myself and my partner were there to witness it and he was so proud of himself. In fact, we could not then stop him repeating the experience. We spent some time with him walking back and forth between us and then he took to standing up wherever he could and setting off at top speed until he toppled forward after a few steps.

I just had to write it here.  I wanted to use this blog to write about the experiences and milestones in my children's lives, but other events always seem to take over and I don't get a chance to write.

I have missed the baby's first black eye and loads of fantastic things that my toddler has said as his speech develops.  In fact he's growing up so quickly, its terrifying...

Soldier, soldier

"They're the two sirs."
"Sorry, two what?"
"Two sirs."
"Two sirs?"
"Yes, two sirs. Like the chief. Sirs...and he's a sir, and he's a sir, and him, and him, and him..."

Some of the things children say are just fantastic.

Remember, remember...

The baby has started crawling properly. Up until now he has had his own special way of 'snipering' around, but in the past few days he has taken to crawling on his hands and knees...until he gets fed up and reverts to his own style. He is also cruising around the toys and furniture and using anything he can push to help him walk...although again in his own style...on his toes, without bending his knees. As with most young toddlers, he is fascinated by the stairs and it is a full-time job keeping him away from them (...must fit that stairgate this weekend) and he is such a cheeky monkey that when he does start walking, the workload will no doubt increase exponentially!

We moved six weeks ago and all went well. The children settled in very quickly and my eldest son is so much happier here. There is loads of space to run around, ducks at the end of the road, countryside all around, and to top it all we have bought him bunk beds. He is so proud.

Both children are now going to nursery, although we have to call it school for the 'big boy'. It has proved extremely traumatic settling the baby, but after four weeks we are slowly starting to get somewhere (I think!). I am a firm believer in the benefits that nursery gives to children in terms of their social development, but there is something to be said for starting them early. My first son went from six months and settled quickly and never looked back, the baby would far rather spend every waking moment with me...which is absolutely wonderful and the feeling is entirely mutual, but probably not beneficial in the long term. So we will persist...