A Baby No More {Flashback Friday}

Over a month ago now we decided that we had to take the plunge and move Lucas into his big boy bed and new room. I was already feeling guilty that he was being moved into the smaller room as with twins on the way we will need his original room for them. Fortunately, we hadn't decorated his old room so we were able to make his new bedroom like a proper child's bedroom; all colourful and exciting. I promise I will get a post up about this while it still looks like a newly decorated room! We thought we might as well make the change to a big bed well before the babies arrived so he would be settled and happy with a new bedtime routine. 

He seemed quite interested to see his new bed being put together and we chose a date when we would move him in. I was so convinced that he would be up as soon as we put him down, that he would be running up and down the landing or awake playing. We relocated his favourite books and teddies and did the whole bedtime routine in his new room. Come that night I felt terrible and I can't even explain why! I didn't want to leave him in the bed; he looked so little. He was actually really happy going into his bed but it took him a while to figure out where to lie and what to do with the duvet. It was his confused expression as we said night night and shut the door that got to me; I wanted to go back in and sit with him but I knew there is no way he'd sleep while I was in the room. We both stood outside his room looking at each other in silence but eventually decided to sit downstairs. We sat, not speaking, no television on, just waiting for any sign that he was up or had fallen out of bed but there nothing, not a peep. We couldn't believe it, I was itching to go up and check on him but I didn't want to disturb him. I checked before we went to bed and eagerly dashed into his room in the morning to get him up. He was quite happy and I felt so relieved. 

That week we had a few disturbances early on in the evening. I went in one night and thought I'd just sit with him until he drifted off but instead he started chatting to me about the car stickers and bouncing on the bed. I realised that tactic wasn't going to work with Lucas so I told him it was time to sleep, kissed him goodnight again and left. To my utter surprise he stayed in bed and went to sleep. Some evenings we could hear him chattering but he always managed to get himself off to sleep. I still felt anxious at bedtime for at least two weeks and I would have loved for everything to stay the same but it can't, he is growing up and soon he will be a big brother. I am so proud of how well he has coped with the transition and now he has a lovely little space to call his own.

Turning Two {Flashback Friday}

Two weeks ago today my little boy had his second birthday. We'd decided to keep it fairly low key this year and just had some family and friends visit on they day with some fun days out before and after. As we weren't giving him a big party we had a day out to Chester Zoo a few days before just the three of us. It was lovely to spend a day out together and Lucas loved looking at the animals (although he did spend most of his time climbing rocks and stroking the floor!) We went round all the favourites; elephants, penguins, bears, monkeys, lions but Lucas seemed to prefer the flamingos to everything else. 

On his birthday we had a lazy morning in our pyjamas while he opened all his presents. This can take some time; everything he opens needs to be given the proper attention and be played with before we can move on. Grandma, Grandad and cousins visited for lunch and Nanny and some friends visited for tea. There was plenty of cake but we soon realised that Lucas hates people singing Happy Birthday; even the arrival of his Postman Pat birthday cake couldn't stop him being grumpy. Second lot of visitors we didn't sing and that seemed to be ok, hopefully he'll have grown out of it by next year! 

That weekend we visited Great Nana and more family and had a picnic out at the woods and some ice cream down by the river. A perfect way to celebrate our boy turning two!

24 Funny Things You Do (That I Love)

Dear Lucas

Today you turn two; I never want to forget you at this age so here are 24 Funny Things That You Do (That I Love):

• You dance (spin round) to any kind of music that you hear. It can be something on TV, music from the iPod, Daddy playing the guitar or just one of us singing.
• I love how you raise your eyebrows to try and keep your eyes open when you are trying to stay awake.
• That you love books and you will sit quietly with a book on your own or bring them to us to read. Reading books with you was something I dreamt of while I was pregnant and I love to cuddle up every night at bedtime and read a story you have chosen.
• The way you hold your cheek out when we say 'kisses.' At bedtime you have started to pat my back when I say 'I love you'. I am taking this as 'I love you too Mummy'.
• You talk to your toys when you play and make them talk to each other. 
• You love your family.
• Your chuckle when something makes you laugh is so carefree and infectious.
• Your love of hats, any hat will do but they are particularly special when they are either Mummy or Daddy's.
• The animal noises that you come out with when we read together; I particularly like your snapping crocodile.
• You love to play outside and get dirty; you have no hesitation in getting mud everywhere!
• I love your gorgeous hair, at the moment it is an amazing multi-coloured blonde but I suspect you will go darker as you get older.
• That you add several sets of eyes and mouths to your Mr Potato Head and get quite cross when we try to put it right.
• You ask to be lifted up when I say you can choose a film to put on and it is always either Toy Story or Puss in Boots. 
• That you will play with our hair when we give you your bottle. Whether it is me or Daddy you will grab a fistful of hair. If it's Daddy you will sometimes just got for his beard but if it is me you will tickle it across you face while you drink.
• You won't share cake
• You have started to make us cups of tea from your little kitchen and we have to sit and drink them; several cups that you re-fill. Sometimes we are given it from a spoon too.
• You always try to put on other people's shoes, sometimes over your own shoes if they are big enough!
• You are so stubborn and so independent and even when it drives me to despair I still love it. It is great that you will go and play happily without needing me with you, you don't even look back when we go to your playgroup but you always know you can find me if you want me.
• You call our cat Weegoo (her name is Rio).
• When you are enjoying your food you make yummy noises and rub your tummy.
• When we say babies you point to my belly and if we show you the scans photos you will say 'babeee' I don't think you understand what is coming but hopefully it will prepare you for meeting your two little baby brothers.
• You remember games that we have played and we have to recreate them. You will drag out your box of playmobil grab my hand and then point to the floor and say 'there' for me to sit down. Daddy gets the same treatment with the train set.
• You will eat any fruit under the sun, we have yet to find one that you don't enjoy. I love that I can fill your plate with fruit and you will gobble it all up
• I love that you are mine and you make me smile every single day. We are so proud to say that your are our little boy, undoubtedly cheeky but charming and loveable in every way.

Happy Birthday Lucas

All My Love

Mummy

x

The Funny Things You Do {23 Months}

Dear Lucas

This month has been so full of ups and downs and your mood swings are keeping us on our toes! I think because Daddy is off for the summer you are trying to test the waters with him. One moment you can be laughing and the next you are throwing yourself on the floor; all part of you growing up and learning but nevertheless a bit stressful for all of us.

On the other hand we have had some lovely moments this last month. You are coming out with so many new words each day and it is so special to be able to see you master this new skill. You recognise friends and family when you see them, call their names (in your own way) and run to be lifted up for a cuddle. 

My dear boy, you love cake! A boy after my own heart you will sidle up to anyone who has cake, suddenly becoming their shadow as you wait for a taste. Grandma asked you to pass a butterfly cake to Grandad; you very nearly passed him the one you already had in you hand then thought better of it and went to get a new one for him to make sure you didn't have to give up your cake! You look your most angelic when you are waiting for a morsel of cake and everyone has to give in and share their piece.

You have such a cheeky little smile and I love nothing more than to hear you giggle. Some of the funniest things set you off into hysterics, like your cuddly mouse pretending to colour in. I can't get over how much these things seem to tickle you but I love to watch you chuckle. 

Your latest trick is to make us all get into our big bed before your bath and pretend to sleep. You get in first then pat either side of you and say 'there' for me and Daddy to get in.  We all have to get under the covers and snuggle before you jump up and bounce all over us. These little things I want to remember forever. 

At the end of this month you will be two and we are making some big changes in your little world. You are getting ready to go into a big bed in a new room and we are starting to see you as a little boy. We learnt that you will become a big brother to two little boys and when they arrive I suppose you will seem older still. I think you will love having two little playmates and you always seem to enjoy being around other children. You are my first little baby boy and you have taught me how to be a Mummy so even when I worry about the changes ahead I know we will be a happy family.

All my love

Mummy

x

Lost For Words

Something amazing must have happened last night. This morning Lucas woke up and suddenly started speaking; he has been saying more words than I have ever heard! He has tried to copy so many words that we have said to him today and I have no idea where it has all come from. Lucas will be two at the end of this month and he has been considered a 'late developer' with his speech. I've been holding off on speaking to the Health Visitor about speech therapy as I've had so many assurances from other Mums where their own children, especially boys, have developed 'late' with their speech.

If I'm honest I have been worried; he seems to have said several words for so long but then didn't add much new vocabulary from month to month. A couple of people have thought he was much younger than his age which I suspect was because he didn't talk. Well, he does talk, constantly in fact, but in his own chatter. Even when people assure you that it will come you can't help but worry that he will be held back. 

Then, quite literally overnight, he has come on leaps and bounds. He pottered around the kitchen with me this morning and started to say what was on his own play kitchen; spoon, tea, tomato (or tom). Upstairs he sat on our bed and chattered away about wearing socks and going to sleep, saying night and then 'I see car' while he points out the window. Me and James looked at each other in disbelief while telling Lucas how proud we are of him. The absolute best thing about it all is that he knows; he knows he is starting to speak and I can see it all over his face when he looks at us after he has tried to say a new word. He has a massive grin as he looks to each of us in turn waiting for the praise he knows is coming. 

It's suddenly seems to have clicked that he has to talk! He already understands most of what we say and now he is finally ready to communicate back to us. I can't tell you how proud I feel when I see the joy on his face as he tries to copy us. The words aren't always very clear and maybe only recognisable to me and James but the fact that he has been trying were he has previously had no interest is just amazing. Even more amazing that it has happened so quickly, out of nowhere and it makes us smile every time we think about it. I'm hoping that tomorrow we wake up to more of the same and our smiling little boy is still happy to chatter.

The Funny Things You Do {22 Months}

Dear Lucas

Everyone has been saying to me this month that you seem to be turning into a little boy before their very eyes. You've shot up again and you are able to communicate to us all a little bit more; added to this your naturally cheeky personalty which shines through more and more everyday and all of a sudden there are almost no signs left of the little baby I brought back from the hospital.

With your second birthday fast approaching I can see how quickly you are growing up. You seem to have changed more this month and along with these changes we are getting endless tantrums as I suppose we are nearing the 'terrible twos'. I could never say they are terrible but they are certainly testing us. 

You have been enjoying playing in the garden in our lovely summery weather. However, you like nothing more than to go out barefoot and play in the soil! When Daddy comes in from work you take him into the garden to show him the flowers and I can hear you both chattering about the colours and the bees and butterflies you can spot. 

You can be such a daredevil with certain things and then very hesitant with others. You are so keen to escape my grasp when we are walking, particularly at the park when you are desperate to go exploring. Although if you spot a dog you are straight back to me to hold my hand as we walk past. 

One big thing that has changed this month is that we have found out that you will be a big brother to not one but two babies. I wonder if you have picked up on some of our shock, joy and anxiety; when we first found out, the first few days after you seemed unsettled. I hope that you will be able to understand a little that we will be adding two new babies to our family. I know you will be an amazing big brother but I also know that it will mean some big adjustments for you and I will always worry about that. We will do everything we can to make it easy for you and I can't wait to see you grow to become a proud older brother. One thing I know will never change is our love for you; you will never be short of love and although I'm sure our house will rarely be peaceful it will always be full of affection.

All my love

Mummy

x

The Funny Things You Do {21 months}

Dear Lucas

What a roller coaster my life has become since you made me a Mummy! Last month seemed to be particularity tough as you were asserting your authority but this month has been a joy. I think it has helped that we had Daddy at home for two whole weeks and you both had so much fun together. I love to see the two of you together; you are usually screeching and wrestling but occasionally you are snuggled up watching Postman Pat. Daddy is the most fun because he can throw you up in the air and blow raspberries on your tummy, both send you into fits of giggles.

You are so desperately trying to talk to us and always chatter away when you are playing. I can see that sometimes you are so frustrated as we can't understand what you want to tell us and I can't wait for the day that we can chat away to each other. Once you get going I know that you will never be quiet! You are now starting to say the names of people when they visit; Grandma and Grandad, Nanny, Nana and your cousin (I am still eagerly awaiting a 'Mama'). When you see someone you recognise you have an excited little dance that you do before you run off for them to chase you.

You are still loving to read but have become more particular about what we read. Some bedtime books get rejected and we have to go through several before you find one that you are happy with. I love to find you holed up in the corner of you room with a book, quietly looking through the pages.

You are still my little outdoors boy and you are so independent (maybe too independent) whenever you see some open space. You seem to have no fear when we are outside, you want to climb, play in the dirt, run down the hills and you always make a beeline for the biggest slide in the playground. I am looking forward to exploring with you this summer but I spend most of my time running after you trying to keep up.

As I spend every day with you I don't always notice the little changes but when I come to write this at the end of each month I see how much has actually changed. You are growing up quick and I am starting to think about you becoming an older boy and going to nursery and even school! It's hard for me to imagine a time when I don't spend all day with you, when I don't see you learning to do all these new things and taking in the expanding world around you. For now I am just enjoying being your Mummy; you make me smile each and every day and that is pretty special.

All My Love

Mummy

x