Things I have started doing in the last couple of months

*I am now WALKING and have even started to try and run a bit!

My first significant walk, according to Mummy’s Facebook post, was on the 19^th of April. I walked 3 steps from the radiator to Daddy’s globe, stopped casually to spin it 3 times and then carried on another 6 steps towards Mummy, before falling at her feet (like Daddy J) as the Gramps and Mummy all screamed for Daddy to come see. Since then, there’s been no stopping me!

I’ve got really confident by going to 'Snakes & Ladders', this amazing soft-play place with bouncy castle, ball pit, padded slides and padded climbing frames and sit-and-ride cars. I go with Noah mostly, but even brought Rose, one of my girlfriends with me for a play-date. I now happily storm round even the normal (unpadded) park, rejecting Mummy’s hand when she offers it. I can DO it, Mummy!

*Going up and down stairs all by myself, crawling up and 'crawling' (or flopping on my belly) backwards down, at some speed!

* Swimming...I’m getting quite good at holding onto the side of the pool now as well as going underwater.

*Programming the microwave. I put my bottles on to sterilise for an hour once! Luckily Daddy found them before they melted.

*Closing doors – all kitchen appliances, Mummy & Daddy’s bedroom door when I leave the room, and the front door when we are saying ‘bye’ to visitors (sometimes mid-byes!)

*Saying “Chsss” when you give me anything – Mummy thinks it’s because she gives me ‘cheese’ a lot as a snack and when she says ‘Cheese’ I think it means thank you. But it also sounds like ‘Cheers!’, so they’re not sure. Whatever, it’s caught on and the pareys have started saying it to each other too!

*I can now 'High five!’

*I play 'Peekaboo' behind the curtains (I've been doing that for months, tbh)

*Taking the washing out of the dryer and handing each item to Mummy. I even reach right in to get the last socks for her!

*Kisses – big open-mouth sloppy ones. Sometimes I try and stick my tongue in, but no one seems to like that much, especially Daddy – although it made Grandma squeal!

*Sitting still and not screaming and wriggling when Mummy clips my nails. Sometimes.

*Trying to use a fork and spoon to feed myself (messy, but I’m trying!)

*Tantrums. Throwing stuff, my head back, arching my back, faking tears sometimes...Mummy & Daddy ignore me most of the time though. Spoilsports.

*Stuffing my mouth very fast with small foods until my cheeks puff out like a fat hamster - especially with blueberries, prawns, cherry tomatoes and grapes. Again, a skill from Daddy.

*Freaking out with the feel of sand or grass between my toes. I'm afraid I lose all cool at that point and whimper like a girl to be picked up.

Aside from that. I have gone from cuddly helpless baby to a high-spirited and cheeky toddler in the blink of an eye and Mummy felt a bit tearful it happened so fast.

Don’t worry Mummy, I’ll still love you, even when I’m running away from you in the park!

My First Burpday

On April 15^th I turned 1 year old, which means I had a Burp Day. Not sure why it is called that as *every* day is a burp day to me – but it might have been due to the amount of food that Mummy made for my party!

The whole bash was themed around one of my favourite books from when I was a *real* baby; ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.

Mummy said it was probably the only time *she’d* get to pick the theme as next year I’d want something off the telly like Ben 10 or something, so she had lots of fun with the details. She made themed party invites (The Very First Birthday Bash”), themed the whole menu around everything the caterpillar ate (cupcakes, chocolate cakes, oranges, apples, plums, lollies, salami, sausages, slices of watermelon, plums, strawberries, ice-cream cones, Swiss cheese – Babybel – etc) and she even found a ‘big green leaf’ to serve some party nibbles off.

Can you spot some of the foods in the picture?

She also got a big beauuuutiful butterfly, just like in the book which floated above the guests, and she took a whole day off work to make me the BIGGEST Hungry Caterpillar cake I ever saw – YUM!

Here I am enjoying the cake whilst Grandad enjoys his wine...

We babies sang and danced to songs (some of which had the word Caterpillar in them, but most didn’t – but I’ll bet not many 1 year olds have The Cure on their playlist?). Mummy also added Daft Punk and 50 Cent to the list (well, he does sing “Go Shorty! It’s your Birthday!”), which is apparently also quite unusual for a baby but I loved it!!!

I got loads of presents - everyone was very kind to me :)

And I had my first ice cream!!! I liked it quite a lot, as you can see...

All in all a GRAPE BURP DAY!

Nursery times...

I know, I know, it’s been aaaages since I last blogged – and that’s because in that time, Mummy has started back doing some work, I started going to nursery too!

She gave up her proper job in January, because she hated it and decided to spend all her time with me, but then she worried about not having enough money to keep her asos habit going, so she decided to go ‘tree lancing’. I’m still not sure what that means, but it makes her happy and I get to spend time either with the Gramps (it’s great, we’ve got to know each other loads better) or at nursery for a couple of days a week.

Daddy usually drops me off and Mummy picks me up and we go to the park on the way home. Mummy doesn’t really know what I get up at nursery, but I can tell you that I have lots of fun flirting with all my carers – they always tell Mummy I’ve been a very good boy (I think my cheeky grin helps me get away with anything – I learned it from Daddy!). They also say I *love* my food - in fact Mummy hasn’t found a food I won’t eat yet - which again I get from Daddy. He moans now that he never gets Mummy's leftovers as I always get first dibs. Well, I'm the growing boy round here, Daddy!

But I digress. When she comes to pick me up, Mummy sometimes hangs back to watch me play unawares. She loves that moment when I finally look up and drop everything to come to her! Sometimes we go home with things I have made (not just dirty/wet clothes...). Mummy joked that the house would now be covered in ‘rubbish art’ (tsk!), but I know she secretly loves them, and Daddy even said they are better than anything he could produce. Which is probably why he doesn’t have *his* paintings on the fridge – ha!

I like to move it...MOVE IT!

HELLO! I’ve been getting increasingly mobile these last few months...and the ensuing mischief (pulling cables out of sockets, items out of cupboards and drawers, etc) has meant I've been bit too busy to blog of late!

I started moving properly across the room at 5.5 months - and of course, (as with rolling) I did it first when Mummy wasn't looking! Auntie PK and Mummy both went to the kitchen to get some tea, then Mummy went back to get biscuits, and Auntie PK asked as she returned...

"Has Luc started crawling yet?"

"Um, he's trying to, but not yet..."

"Well, when I came back he was face up against the skirting board!"

So my cover was blown! At first it was just commando-style shuffling on my elbows and tummy, then by 6.5 months I started to get on my hands and knees and rock to get momentum...and then I was crawling properly, if a little wobbly at first!

The first thing I crawled to was the Wii nunchucks, so Mummy has had to hide them (I *still* haven’t found them to this day – but OH I WILL...!)

The day I turned 7 months old, I managed to pull myself up to the coffee table to get the Sky+ remote...I *love* remote controls – and all gadgetry and wires - they taste so good! I push the coffee table round like a baby walker, and pull the drawers out to help myself to my toys. (Mummy is waiting for the day I start putting them back in again too, but isn't that what mummies and daddies are for???)

Since I discovered a whole new world outside the living room door, I've been positively whizzing round the house. I've love getting Mummy and Daddy, or even Auntie PK to chase after me...and I’m getting better at nipping through the legs of the dining table and chairs to escape them! Noah’s always trying to get me to crawl after him, but I beat him every time! Well I *am* three weeks older, don’tcha know?! I’m a BIG boy!

I've also been pulling at the wine and Champagne bottles (well, I *am* my parents' son...) so Mummy has started storing them neck inwards (although I'm learning what "No" means now and generally keep away) and crashing into furniture. Yes, there have been a few tears, but Daddy and Mummy believe in the 'School of Hard Knocks' and that I’ll learn fastest that way...

It’s true, if they don’t make a fuss of me, I rarely cry when I bump my head or fall over. Plus, I’ve now learnt that I can trap my fingers under the swivel bit of our telly unit, the doors and the kitchen drawers, and hit my head coming up too fast under the dining table – and I’ve pretty much learnt to avoid it happening most of the time, even when watching my favourite programme, Waybuloo, holding onto the TV unit - although Mummy noticed I get much clumsier when I get tired (don’t we all?)

I’ve also managed to start crawling up the stairs – a godsend for the Gramps as they don’t need to carry me upstairs any more (Grandpa B has a dodgy knee, Grandma B’s back hurts at the mo) and for Mummy who can now multitask and carry other stuff up as she follows me. I like playing chase on the stairs – I’m getting really quick! – and love them crawling up after me trying to catch me as I squeal!

But the thing I’m *most* proud of is that I’ve learnt to get off tables (I love climbing over and even *onto* the coffee table - usually to read a book or flick through Grazia or GQ – check me out here reading GQ and listening to Jazz on a lazy weekend morning! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqgslz8oZ-o ), beds, sofas and come down stairs *feet first*, which let me tell you, is infinitely better than my first attempts (head first – ouch!) and this always makes Mummy very proud as she has been teaching me "feet first" from whenever I started to roll.

I’m also a proper little water baby now – just about to complete stage 2 swimming and going to do stage 3! I love going “Splash splash splash!” in the water, especially when I go with Noah. We LOVE pretending to splash each other, whilst really we’re trying to see who can splash the other’s mummy more – ha!

I won’t be able to go with Noah any more as Mummy has started work and Auntie PK is about to start work and they will be working on different days. Mummy decided to quit her big job as she didn’t like it, to spend more time with me, but she’s doing a bit of ‘tree lancing’, which confuses me as she is normally very environmentally friendly, so I’m not sure why she’d want to fight some plants?! But she gets to put on make-up and pretty dresses again, (and then a dressing gown over the top whilst she feeds me breakfast!), and she says she has time to read her magazines now. But *I* never get to see Grazia now - tsk!

At the moment the Gramps are looking after me 3 days a week, but I have a feeling things are changing as Mummy keeps talking about “nursery” and saying how the crèche (which I go to when Mummy goes to the gym) is good practice? For nursery rhymes???

So now I’m on the move in so many ways – across the floor, over, under or on furniture, up and down stairs, in water and on land...on Daddy's shoulders (clubbing at www.babylovesdisco.co.uk the other week - I won a medal!), on Mummy's back, swinging in the park - see pic - oh and side-to-side! My favourite thing now is saying "no" by shaking my head emphatically, whenever Mummy asks me to eat more food, finish my milk or put 'that' down! She says I'm going to be a "will full" child. What *do* you mean, Mummy? I *am* full!!!

Mummy sighs that I am like a proper little boy more than a baby now, and growing up so quickly - but even she has to admit I get cuter and more fun every passing week - I mean, getting away with stuff with a cheeky grin has worked for Daddy all his life, and he's my HERO :)

Next stage – walking! At the moment, I can stand unaided for a few seconds, swaying slightly - but then I fall onto my bottom. Mummy reckons I’ll take my first step towards my birthday cake. With the (in)famous Pieroux love of cake, she might be right!

AND I turn ONE next month!!! I’ll no doubt tell you *all* about my party next time.

Unless nursery is any good!

Gotta go wreak some more havoc now - toddle-pip!

Merry Crispmas!

I *think* that's what everyone kept saying, anyway!

Just a quick post because we are already so late past Crispmas, but Mummy said it was my first one, so I should tell you about it.

Instead of a card with my face on, Mummy thought it'd be cool to get some special stamps made up by the Royal Mail with my face on.

Of course, being all clever and cute backfired somewhat as an awful lot of people completely missed that it was my muggins on their envelope and chucked me away - doh!

Still, for those who did spot me, they liked it!

And for those who didn't, here it is!

Anyway, as I am now pulling myself up and crawling madly round the house (following Mummy everywhere!), the pareys didn't get a tree until the week before Crispmas as they were scared I grab at the light cable and cause all manner of crashes or pull the baubles off. Tsk! They underestimate me. OK, so I patted a couple of the branches, just to see what they felt like, but I generally ignored it.

One morning though, we came down to lots of brightly coloured and shiny boxes of far more interest under the tree - wow! How did that happen?! Mummy and Daddy gave me some boxes and tore the paper off for me. They got me a load of great boxes with some stuff inside! Cool!

Then we all went to a hotel for a Crispmas meal, with these things called crackers, poppers and hats, and then we went to a room for a nap and then we opened more presents on our big kingsized bed (getting glitter everywhere!) slept some more and came home the next day!

Then Mummy started cooking as the Gramps B and Unca Ash were coming over. They had a lovely lunch whilst I was napping (I'd already had mine) and Unca Ash loved it so much he apparently had 4th helpings, even beating Daddy! Luckily he left enough for me to have some Crispmas dinner later that day and for a couple more meals - I've discovered I LOVE roasted Stone Bass (like Sea Bass), roasted parsnips, carrots, potatoes, mashed potato and swede and peas and onion gravy all mushed up - and so does Daddy, who kept sneaking a mouthful when he though Mummy and I weren't watching! NOM!

I got a cool baby walker off the Gramps B and a really great shelving unit to put all my books in off Unca Ash, plus lots of books and loads of other FAB presents off Mummy's family and friends. Somebody called 'Santa' (I think Mummy spelled her name wrong?) got me a baby mobile phone - but I'm not fooled, it looks nothing like Mummy and Daddy's iPhones! Mummy and Daddy also got me a baby laptop so I can stop smashing the keys and slamming the lid down whilst Mummy is typing on hers...(this plan only sometimes works...Mummy realised it's actually a toy for an 18+monther, so it might be a bit advanced for me at the mo)

The baby walker is great though, as it means I can get across the room even quicker - upright! - thereby creating more mess and send more things flying in less time. It makes loads of great comedy noises, that *still* haven't managed to send Mummy and Daddy crazy. Must try harder. :)

The rest of the festive season passed in a bit of a blur, visiting Daddy's friends Claire, Jase and toddler Ed (who kept trying to stop me having my laptop by SITTING on it and making me cry!) then to Chippenham to see Daddy's family (Granny P, cousin Laura and her boyfriend Luke, and cousin Katie and her boys, Declan, Fraser, Ralph and Albie - my nephews! - who are more used to other babies and shared all their toys with me...plus I got loads of cool pressies again) then Daddy's friends Martin, Sam and their kids Tom and Tegan who are always good fun - they loved my laptop too!

I also got a baby remote control (again so I supposedly don't go after the real ones...). It makes Sesame Street noises when you press the buttons! I got it in the post from my Auntie Shital and family in USA.

I'm not sure what it's all about, but I like this Crispmas lark - can we have it again next month, please Mummy?

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it...

Vogue...Vogue...Vogue...

Oh OK, Debenhams more like. Well, we've all got to start somewhere!

Yes people, I got my first ever modelling job!

You might remember I went for a casting for a pharmaceutical company a while back, but didn't get the drug-pushing job, then when we were on holiday we got a call from 'Mother & Baby' magazine (but Mummy said we were in Mauritius so we couldn't do it! Pah! Where's my private jet already!).

However, on our return we got a call for a Debenhams job, so the start of November saw us traipsing to a studio in Parson's Green for my big modelling debut :)

Mummy was excited as;

a) Debenhams is one of Grandma B's favourite shops, so she'd be able to see it as much as she likes, and

b) she thought it might be for the Christmas posters in-store, so she had visions of me wearing cute antlers on my head.

She reckons that even if it's the only shoot I ever get, I am bound to use the 'I've done a bit of modelling' line when I am growed up and trying to impress the ladies (tch, like I need to, Mummy!)

We're only doing it for a bit of fun and a change from the usual playgroup/mummy-baby type activities - any money will go into my own bank account - and, Mummy wryly noted, once her maternity pay ends in December, I may well be earning more than her!

Anyway, the agency told us to get there for 10.30am - slap bang in the middle of my usual nap time, so Mummy got me up super-early to start our routine earlier and she worked it out so I'd sleep on the tube and wake when we got there - clever Mummy! So far so good, I woke up all happy and refreshed as we got off the tube and we arrived there bang on time.

"Um..., yes, well we're running about 45 minutes late, so...go grab yourself some breakfast...", the lady who seemed to be organising things said.

Mummy wished they'd told us we could arrive later - there seemed to be a queue of older kids waiting for their turn to model before us, and then half an hour later 3 more babies turned up!

A further disappointment (for Mummy at least) was that there were no reindeer antlers apparent in the studio, as this shoot was actually to appear mid-February and will be instore (and perhaps online) for 12 weeks - so folks, do go and check me out in Debenhams next Spring!

Anyway, a 45-minute wait turned into 1 hour 15 minutes and I was starting to get a bit bored with my toys and the bits of toast and snacks I'd made soggy.

Mummy asked, "It's his feed time coming up at 12 - do you want to shoot him beforehand?"

"Um...we're not ready, go ahead and feed him if you need to!"

So Mummy fed me lunch, and...still no action. She eventually had to go and ask what was happening again, as I was now tired from getting up so early and needing a nap again!

"He's probably got another 10 mins, tops...", she warned.

One of the assistants rushed over with an outfit to dress me in - T-shirt, hoodie, jeans, socks and trainers - but I thought the T-shirt was really twee and babyish. After all the waiting, that was the final straw, so I decided to kick off there and then. (Supermodel tendencies? Moi?)

I screamed as Mummy took my clothes off, I hollered as she put that awful T-shirt on and I wailed as she put the jeans on. In the end, I was so upset, she stopped dressing me to try and calm me down with lots of cuddles and kisses.

The assistant came over again, hovering over Mummy nervously, most probably at the thought of baby snot and tears all over the merch, and tentatively suggested...

"Er, perhaps you should give us the outfit back...we'll use the other baby boy..."

Er - whaaaaat?!??

As Mummy took the T-shirt and jeans off again, I screamed even more at the indignity of having my big moment (and outfit) taken from me, so much so that Mummy couldn't even dress me in my own clothes and had to wrap me up in a big jacket and take me for a little walk to soothe me again. Mummy whispered that she felt terrible if I was upset, that if I didn't want to do it that was fine, that there was no pressure, that I was gorgeous to her and Daddy and that they loved me very much whatever I decided to do.

Well, that perked me up no end! I started smiling again, so she brought me back into the studio:

"He's calmer, but if you want to shoot him I suggest you do so now, as I really don't know how long we've got!"

The assistant handed her a green and white stripey sleepsuit for me to model, at which I started to cry again - I mean, now I was looking like a *total BABY*!

Mummy gave me a pep talk and said that if I hadn't behaved like a big baby and had worn the first - more growed-up - outfit, then I wouldn't be in the babygro now. She had a point. So after another little walk and little chat, I decided to suck it up and go for it.

The make-up artist spiked my hair up a bit, dried my eyes and snotty nose (I got off lightly, some of the other babies were blushered!), and then it was "ACTION!" No one actually said that, that's my 'poetic licence'... :)

Well, as Mummy later told Daddy, the most astonishing thing (apart from me writing my own blog, I mean) was how once the camera started clicking, I completely transformed my mood and acted up loads, striking different poses, twirling my hair, gurgling, grinning, showing off my teeth, flirting and laughing away... so it was a wrap (as us pros call it) in about 5 minutes!

Everyone was amazed at my performance and they all cheered and cuddled me when my shoot was over.

Mummy said it was like I was already properly showbiz - I might be traumatised in real life, but in front of the lens, the show must go on!

It was only as Mummy carried me away from the set that I started howling again...

Naomi! In your FACE!

PS Mummy did ask for the ladies and the agency to send a couple of pics through, but so far, sorry, nothing to show you :(. You might just have to check me out in-store!

Update: Feb 16/2/2011 - online...(OK so I woulda got the hero shot had I not cried)

and instore...(Daddy was so proud to spot me in Uxbridge!)

Mauritius, baby!

So October saw me going (a quarter) native, as I visited where Mummy was borned...Mauritius!

It was a family trip with Grandma and Grandpa B (he was borned there too) and Unca Ash, as well as Mummy, Daddy and me. And I had the biggest suitcase of them all - ha ha!!!

This was my first time EVER on an aeroplane - till now I've only really seen the ones hanging on my mobile, and I sometimes hear them flying in the air, but this time I actually GOT IN ONE!!! It was a lot bigger than my nursery 'planes, I'll tell you that for nothing.

Mummy and Daddy got to sit at the front because I got a 'bassinet' to sleep in which attached to the wall. Mummy peered in and told Daddy that if I growed any on holiday I might not be able to fit in it on the way back!

I was very good and cried once in the middle of the night. Understandable as there was a big queue of people waiting to go into my nappy-change room and staring at me when I woke up... I mean where was I?!?!? Who were they?!?! And what was Daddy doing sat there?! Waaaaaa!

Here is a pic of me the next morning, having my first taste of airline food (a bit of Mummy's bread roll)...it's evidently an experience!

Anyway, 12 hours later we touched-down (see, I'm a natural traveller, I got the lingo already) and were met by a lot of rellies...I can't remember all their names right now, but they were all very lovely and gave me lots of cuddles and kisses!

After Mummy, Daddy and Unca Ash had settled into Mummy's Unca Prem's and Auntie Madhur's holiday apartment (in Blue Bay), they were invited to her Unca Kamal's holiday home (where the Gramps were staying) for dinner. SO MANY PEOPLE! Great Uncas Prem, Kamal and Leckraz (Grandpa B's brothers), his sister, Great Auntie Sheila, and Great Auntie Lata plus her son (Mummy's cousin), Preet, who was great fun!

I have to say the whole 2-week holiday whizzed by in a whole host of family gatherings and parties, where everyone was very pleased to see me and Daddy - oh and Mummy too, because it had been a whole 10 years since she'd last been there!

I met some more of Mummy's cousins - Vinay (crazy Unca Rajnish's big bro and Great Unca Prem's son), his wife Helena (she was very pretty) and their daughter Tahina, where we all had a sleepover. We also went to visit another of Mummy's cousins Shalini (Sheila's daughter) and her hubby Pradeep and hung out with their kids Shahil and Sheena (they had an AMAZING huge house, it was so exciting, I couldn't get to sleep so I got to stay up late!).

We also visited some family friends, the Gujudhars (who own the race track in Mauritius and some horses), the Ramanjooloos and the Sonahs (Grandpa's college/school friends). They all gave me lovely presents; some cute clothes, a real gold coin, a handmade fluffy sheep and some Mauritian money :). We also met Grandpa's cousin Unca Dheeraj and Auntie Minakshi for a huge family Sunday lunch!

If you are confused reading all this...well, I was too. But I did love the round-the-clock attention and the constant hugs and kisses - I was never put down - which is a shame because I forgot to tell you I started crawling a week before we flew out, so I needed the practice! (Well, I was moving across the floor commando-style at least. Mummy and Daddy were caught out as they haven't baby-proofed our house yet...)

It was OK visiting people in the evenings because the 'rents brought my super-cool travel tent along (http://is.gd/i193y ). It pops up in seconds - if Daddy does it anyway! - is light as a feather and even zips right up to protect me from mosquitoes - which makes it almost as clever and compact as I am :)

Ooh, nearly forgot! I turned half a year old on holiday! Mummy and Daddy decided to save some beautifully-wrapped presents from Great Auntie Madhur to celebrate the occasion and Mummy led Daddy and Unca Ash in singing,

"Ha Birt, t' y', Ha Birt, t' y', Ha Birt, de, Lu, Ha Birt, t' y....'"

which is half the Happy Birthday song.

Honestly, sometimes I think my Mummy is the funniest lady in the whole wide world! Ahem.

I got a cute pram toy (see pic) and a dining set for when I can feed myself.

Talking of which, I am trying to feed myself already, but I'll get it all over me, the chair, the floor - everywhere! If Mummy missed cleaning up a tiny speck, we would come back home to an army of ants, which meant a massive squishing and mopping session before I was allowed near the floor! Mummy sighed that she spent more time cleaning on this holiday than she did at home...

Anyway, it's all worth it as I'm getting a real taste for the exotic, with new food highlights including jack fruit, pineapple, custard apple, mini bananas, paw paw (Mummy hates paw paw, says it tastes of feet. But she loves kissing my feet?!), watermelon...and, er, cream cheese! (Mummy started me gently on proteins now I'm 6 months old). I also discovered I love gnawing on baguette; tastier - and of course, messier - than any teething toy :)))

Here are my other holiday highlights...

Unca Preet drove us to see some of his favourite places - including a huge Indian temple and a beautiful rugged beach called Gris Gris that was his dad's favourite place too when he was alive (Great Unca Harish, another of Grandpa B's brother's). Here's me and Daddy in the bracing breeze at the clifftop!

As you can from Mummy's hair in the second pic - it was VERY windy!

Another day Daddy, Mummy, Unca Ash and I took a bus to go see the nearby town - I loved the old rickety Mauritian buses - loads of ladies to flirt with as they got on and off...exhausting work though!

In town the bus-station was beautifully-located on the beach, although the 'Beware of Falling Concrete' sign was a bit worrying as we'd been sat in the shade there before Mummy saw it!

And I loved our trip to Blue Bay beach near our apartment. Just the one trip though, as Mummy found it all a little stressful! Instead of the old days where (she said) she could just lie there reading a book, it ran like more like this:

1) Coat baby in sun cream, find shade, attempt to keep hat and sunglasses on a wriggly baby intent on pulling them off.
2) Put towel down, and wriggly baby on towel.
3) Try to stop him flipping over and attempt to crawl, therefore bunching towel underneath him and ending up with hands in sand. Fail.
4) Two person job: Daddy grabs baby's hands to stop baby eating or rubbing sand in face/eyes/hair, and Mummy grabs for wipes to try and get sand off. Fail on both counts.
5) Take baby to sea to try and wash sand off.
6) Dry baby on a corner of towel that is not covered in sand.
7) See step 1. Repeat until you give up and strap wet, sandy baby into pushchair to go home.

I did get to splash and swim about a bit in the sea when the 'rents went to wash me off. Mummy called it my "baptism in Mauritian waters"!

The Gramps turned up soon after, which gave Mummy and Daddy the chance to stroll down the beach, have a splash about and pretend they were on a romantic honeymoon for a few minutes, but in the end, they decided the next time they would go to a beach with me was when I was toddling and I could understand *not* to eat the sand!

Especially after Daddy found sand in my nappy the next day.

Told you I was getting a taste for the exotic ... :)