Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Just a few days away from Christmas, and it's snowing! Toby saw snow for the first time, dressed in his winter coat and wellies. His little hand stretching out to try and catch the flakes, half horrified (so cold!) and half amazed by it all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we may yet have a white Christmas.

Fun in the sun

It's hot hot hot here....which is bad news. Too hot for sleeping, too hot for playing outside, and Toby has decided it's too hot to eat......But in the early evening, we've been playing together on the roof terrace. Toby is in heaven, digging his fingers into the dirt, exploring, crawling everywhere.

Cute things, annoying things

Toby gets cuter and cuter everyday, and sometimes more annoying everyday too......

Annoying things:
Refusing to eat anything that comes from a spoon. He won't even open his mouth to try. His little hand goes up into a STOP! sign, and he grunts in a very forceful way. If you try to force the issue, his grunts get louder, more high pitched and then the hair flicking begins. It's hard to describe the hair flicking...you'd have to see it to understand, but its infuriating.

Refusal to be put down on the floor sitting. He goes rigid, arching his back and then weeps in a heart melting kind of way, his little hands clutching at me in desperation.

Finding me saying NO! the funniest thing ever...I think he does naughty things just so I'll shout NO at him, and then he falls about laughing. So irritating!

Cute things:
In fact, maybe the cutest thing I have ever seen.
We went to the Botanical gardens yesterday because it was such a hot day. Toby likes to explore the grass and the dirt. But he doesn't like his feet touching the grass, so he crawls on the grass in his usual fashion, but with his feet hovering in the air. It's one of the funniest sights. I ended up putting some shoes on him so he could explore more freely, and he was off, everywhere. After a while he started getting naughty, trying to eat stones. After countless times saying No! (to much amusement, as described above) I bought him back to our picnic blanket and took his shoes off. It achieved the desired affect immediately, he no longer wanted to crawl away on the grass. But he became desperate to try and put his shoes back on, himself. He tried so hard, holding his foot with one hand, and trying to squeeze the shoe on with the other, again and again, but with no luck. Such concentration on his face. He then switched to trying to give the shoes to me, and offering his foot - he was so, so desperate. I gave in in the end, how could I resist?

Bending his knees. It has taken him so long to realise he has knees, that when he first started bending them, to move from standing to sitting, I used to shower him with praise and encouragement. Now when he does it, he claps and cheers himself. Even if there is no one around to witness it. It is one of the sweetest things to see.


Spoon feeding himself.
Oh so messy, verges on the annoying....but also kind of fun.

My little lamb

This photo was taken a few days ago, I couldn't resist taking a picture of Toby in his lamb suit, with his crazy hair. My very own little lamb.
He has been a little angel all weekend (though saying this will jinx me for the rest of the week, I know..) He has slept through for the past 2 nights (for the first time in over a week) and he seems to be starting to eat food again, after me panicking that he was wasting away. And going to bed at 7pm with no fuss and no tears.
It must be all the talking he is doing, it must be wearing him out. His new word of the week is "cracker". He shouted it out last Monday when we were in the newsagents - "Mama! Cracker!" I couldn't believe my ears, the word was crystal clear. I promptly gave him a cracker, and he was mighty pleased with himself. He has being saying the word a lot ever since, and getting a piece of cracker every time. Though I noticed today that he was using the word to try and get other things
he wants - such as my latte, Luis's blackberry, the car keys - as if the word "cracker" means 'please give that to me NOW', as there is a definite hint of an order in the way he says the word. Not really very lamb like behaviour.

My gorgeous boy

He's cheeky, he's funny, he's a dribbling mess.....

My little helper

Toby was helping me with the photography today, holding the lens cap for me....


He's 'talking' more than ever at the moment, he pretends to talk on the telephone and holds it up properly to his ear. And he spent most of the afternoon talking non-stop to me, just wish he was speaking English so I could actually understand him.....
He has also been calling me Daddy all day. Whenever I correct him, "No Toby, I'm Mama", he wrinkles his nose and laughs at me. Then he shouts out "Dada!" again, and when I turn to look at him, exasperated, he cracks up with laughter. The only time he ever says Mama, is as a last resort, when he has tried every other trick in the book and he has still not been rescued from his cot. Then he shouts it out loudly, knowing it will pull on my heart strings and I'll go rushing in immediately, delighted. What a cheeky little man he is.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to my blog, 1 year and one day old!

A weekend away

We had a really relaxing weekend at the farm. It rained all weekend, but we didn't care. It gave us even more of an excuse to do absolutely nothing. (Apart from eating and drinking...quite a lot of it too)

Uh-oh

Uh-oh is his latest thing, and he loves to (purposefully) drop things on the floor and then exclaim, uh-oh! I can't get enough of him doing it.


But uh-oh is what I felt like saying, when I realised how hard it is to take a passport photo of a baby.
They have to be facing straight on, eyes looking straight at the camera, and mouth closed, trying to get this combination all at once is impossible. It made me realise that Toby rarely closes his mouth, and can't seem to not smile when there's a camera around. I resorted to letting him play with scissors (ssshhh, don't tell anyone, but it was the only way I could get him to sit still, he has been desperate to play with scissors for so long, it was like a dream come true for him) and I eventually got the shot. Phew!

Our game

Ever since I can remember, Toby and I have played our own little game together, of putting things on our heads. The point of the game is to balance something ridiculous that doesn't belong on a head, on your head, for as long as possible. Then laugh and try and catch it as it falls off. You know the kind of things, knitted cupcakes, bananas, Tupperware boxes, all perfect for playing the game. I'm not sure how or why I started it, but Toby finds it hilarious every time. He often initiates the game himself these days, which I find completely adorable.

This photo was taken at one such time. I was trying to get him to do something else (for some Thank you cards) and he was being completely uncooperative, and started grabbing fabric off the floor and putting it on his head, laughing. Desperate for me to play along with him. Needless to say, I gave up the photo shoot, and we played our favourite game together, with fabric scraps, cotton reels, and pincushions, with much raucous laughter.

Giving up on housework

I have been trying to do some housework today. Impossible. That is the only word for it, when you have an energetic one year old trying to get into as much mischief as possible. Climbing onto the coffee table (now he has learnt how to do it, there's no stopping him..) and attempting to throw himself off head first like a lemming. Opening the shower door, then slamming it shut because he likes the noise it makes. Opening the shower door and then climbing in, so he can be like Daddy. (He loves to watch Luis shower in the mornings) Opening all of my shoe boxes and distributing the contents all over the place...the faster I tidied up, the faster Toby seemed to work at destroying things. Furious, after his fifth attempt at climbing into the shower, I put him in his cot. Then his screaming began. I stormed back into his room, ready to tell him off, and was greeted by this.....


standing up in his cot, silenced by my entry into the room, how could I be angry with him?

And as he gave me his desperate, I really just want to be picked up and hugged look, how could I not?


So I've given up housework for the day, and given in to playing with Toby.

New things

Toby seems to be changing so fast these days. Everyday he seems to do something new.
Today, there were a few new things. First of all, I realised he now understands the word "smell". He was looking at the sugar animals that had been on top of his cake, totally fascinated by them. I told him he should smell them because they smelt so delicious and sweet, and just like that he lifted one them up towards his nose. Shocked, I repeated the command, and again he lifted it to his nose for a smell. I have kept on asking all afternoon with different objects, just in case it was a fluke, but every time, he does the same thing. Its not like I use the word that much. Whenever we are out at the market, I get him to smell the different fruits, and once in a shop that sold French soaps I kept trying to get him to smell them just to see his reaction. Its funny the words that they pick up.

(Talking with Bluey the dog, he just loves that toy!)

The other new thing is he has learnt today, is to climb onto the coffee table. And once he did it, he can't seem to stop. I think its going to drive me crazy! We were trying to eat our dinner, and there is Toby sitting in the middle of the table, trying to grab at everything. It's so much quicker for him climbing onto the table than having to walk all the way around it, with his stiff little legs.(Getting up to no good, on his way to play with daddy's precious stereo...)

He has also started to walk whilst holding onto his little wooden brick trolley. He walked quite a way yesterday, his legs rigid, like wooden posts. He still doesn't seem to realise he has knees, all his movement comes from his hips as he staggers along. He looks so delicious though, a big smile beaming on his face, so proud of himself.

(Opening gifts from Egypt - he was particularly fascinated with that bag!)

Toby's birthday festivites are continuing. The balloons ar e still up in the living room, Toby just loves looking at them, and playing with them. And a parcel arrived a few days ago now, from our friends in Egypt, which Toby loved opening. And inside, were some gorgeous clothes.

(At the Chilean festival)

And at the weekend, we also went along to the Chilean festival. Toby was a bit frightened at first because of all the loud music, but he eventually seemed to get into the swing of things. Me and Luis ate far too much food, and so did Toby (but just baby food...oh and bread, and more bread, I think he could eat bread all day long)

(A face full of bread...)

My Beautiful Baby Boy

It is only when I see Toby with other babies, that I realise how quiet and gentle he is. Very far indeed from the monster that I call him.
We went to his playgroup yesterday, and he clung to me the whole time like a baby koala. Hands firmly around my neck, his legs curled around my waist. And there was no chance of putting him down to play with the others. The lip wobble would start, and he would outright refuse to sit, his body rigid. So I gave up trying. He sat as quiet as a mouse in my lap, eating cream cheese and ham sandwiches (he is also super neat when he eats sandwiches I notice, for a baby), his hands playing with my scarf, looking up at me, smiling and trying to get me laughing.
We went for a coffee afterwards to the cafe next door. There were 3 babies, and only 2 highchairs, so Toby sat next to me on the bench seat. He just sat there, as still and quiet as can be, eating some stewed apple. No bib required. His little hand touching my back the whole time, occasionally he would try and climb onto my lap, but mostly he just sat there, like a little man. He waved and smiled to the lady who owns the cafe, and any other lady he saw. And desperately tried to get the attention of a couple of business men in suits, who were too busy talking to smile back at him. While the other babies banged the table, threw food and screamed, he was just sitting next to me like a little angel. My beautiful baby boy.

Spring

Spring is definitely here. And it's lovely. The air is warmer than it has been for a while, the sun pokes its head out occasionally, and when it does it is just beautifully warm, instead of being scorching hot. The wind smells of cut grass, and the days are getting longer.


We went out for a walk yesterday. We were so exhausted from the party, but we needed some fresh air. We walked through the city and along the Yarra. Toby was excited by the wind, and the birds, and the water. I got him out of his pram and let him crawl on the grass, and I realised with horror, that he is one year old, and this is the first time he had ever felt grass. Poor little city boy! (He has of course, be on grass before. But when he was really small, not really that aware, and he was lying on a blanket) He was also fascinated by the wind blowing through the leaves on the oak trees lining the walking path. His little hands were stretching upwards, desperate to touch the green leaves.

Toby's 1st Birthday Party, in pictures...

Handmade invitations


Homemade flags and party hats


Circus themed decorations

A birthday cake

A birthday boy

Red Velvet cupcakes, with clown decorations

A cheeky monkey....

... And another cheeky monkey!

Lots and lots of fabulous presents...

A guitar just like his Daddy's,

And his most favourite of the day, a ride on truck.

Happy Birthday!

Toby turned one on Wednesday. My little baby is growing up.



He woke early, and opened his presents while still in his pyjamas. He was so excited! Though he didn't tear at the paper, he was very gentle and carefully helped me open them for him.


The first present opened, was from Granny and Grandpa in England. A beautiful wooden dog, with his very own kennel. He is so perfect!

He also got some beautiful clothes from his Aunty and Uncle in England, that came with their very own suitcase. Some musical instruments.....



a soft toy dog that he just loves



and we gave him a ride on bumble bee. He squealed with delight as he opened it, but he is now terrified of it, and every time I try to put him on it he cries and tries to curl his legs up to get away.
After present opening, he had a bath, which must be one of his all time favourite activities. I made the bath extra warm, so he could spend a long time in there. And we had fun splashing around together and getting soaked.


In the afternoon we had tea and cake with his Grandma, and then out for an early dinner, just the three of us. Toby refused to eat his baby food while we were out, he wanted to be all grown up. So he ended up having a dinner of mashed potato, gravy and chips, all from our plates. Very grown up.

And here he is, exactly one year earlier, when he was just minutes old.....



And what a year it has been. Sometimes so hard, often so tired, but (nearly) always amazing, as we have watched him grow.