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 ... :)

New places, new tastes...

Hi! A busy few weeks again - I don't sit around in my Bumbo (see pic) all day, you know!

So – my first holiday was ace. Mummy, Daddy and I took a road trip at the end of August/beginning September to explore for lions and tigers and...um, ok, family and friends, OK?!

We stopped off on our first day at Chippenham to see Auntie Jenny and Grandma P and I showed off my sitting-in-my-Bumbo skills whilst Mummy fed me baby porridge. (Daddy calls it ‘podge’ and Mummy’s started saying that too, so I will too from now on!)

Yes, I have started on solids, at 4.5 months as milk wasn’t filling me up enough already! Mummy started me on baby podge as she could take it with her on their holiday. The real stuff comes later!

Back to our hols though: after a quick break in Chippenham, we drove onto Falmouth a.k.a. the ends of the earth - or Auntie Barbara and Unca Rob’s gorgeous place by the sea. Mummy felt so inspired by the coastal scenery she actually went for a run every morning, but she didn’t take me – I had lies-in and cuddles with Daddy instead J.

We had a lovely chilled time there for 3 days – Auntie B looked after me one night so the ‘rents could have a ‘date night’ (whatever that is) but the highlight for me was going on a boat for the first time to a little village called St Mawes, where everyone cooed at me wearing my shades in the lovely sunshine (Oi! I’m meant to be looking cool, not cute!). The growed-ups stopped for a cream tea (I had a bottle) and then we took a wander along the beach, but Mummy said the sea was too cold for me and she wanted my first time in the sea to be in Mauritius (we’re going!)

After Falmouth, onto Bristol and lovely Auntie Nicky, who played with me lots and took some great photos of me (look very closely and you can see my first two TEETH peeking out!), then on to see Auntie Illona, an old friend of Mummy’s who she realised she hadn’t seen for 8 YEARS so it was a lovely reunion for her to see Illona, Ken and their children Ella (11), Scarlet (8) and new boy Leo (who was a bit older than me, about to turn 1). There were LOADS of toys to play with and the girls fussed over me lots so I had a lovely time in the biggest, most gorgeous house Mummy and Daddy said they’d ever seen!

Then back via Chippenham on our return where we stopped at Daddy’s friends’, Martin & Sam’s house. Their kids Tom and Tegan played with me loads too, and Tegan was so kind she even shared her cold with me..!

So over the next few days back I’m afraid I wasn’t very well: all snotty and poorly which was horrible for everyone because I couldn’t suck my thumb to sleep as it stopped me breathing, and then I’d start crying because I couldn’t breathe or sleep, and because Mummy kept trying to squirt medicine up my nose and medicine into my mouth and squeeze goo out of my nose AND rub gel on my gums as I was all teething-achey too. One morning I was screaming so much, Daddy *sucked* at my nose; and it made me feel SO much better, I stopped crying immediately! Although Daddy looked a bit ill himself afterwards and said something about ‘bad oysters’...

Of course then Daddy got my cold, then Auntie PK and Noah and finally Mummy who thought she’d got away with it. (I was saving her till last, of course).

So for over a week we didn’t really go anywhere as Mummy and I weren’t feeling great, and I didn’t feel like eating much so we stopped the podge for a bit as I wasn’t even finishing my milk feeds.

After that week though, Mummy got better and turned into a PUREEING DEMON! She has had to dwindle their own supplies to make way for all my frozen cubes of homemade apple, pear, carrot, parsnip, courgette and sweet potato puree, with, I’m promised, more to come! I apparently pull the funniest faces when she feeds me the apple puree (a bit tart for me) but my favourite so far has to be sweet potato. I’ve also tried mashed avocado and I like to chow down on pieces of pear.

I do like to try and feed myself so Mummy strips me to my nappy (she has discovered the hard way that carrot stains do NOT come out), sticks me in the Bumbo (which renders me pretty immobile) and covers me in a muslin (tied like a barber’s cape). Then she hands me a piece of fruit or a second spoon and I get some in my mouth and mush the rest up in my fingers and into my face, hair and finally my *feet*. SO MUCH FUN!

More fun: I had my first go on the swings this month - I’ve only been twice so far but I LOVE them! We went after Buggyfit; Mummy’s been going lots lately as we have a beach holiday coming up and she’ll have to wear a swimsuit. Daddy and I think she’s the most beeeeooootiful lady in the whole world ‘cos she’s my Mummy (I’ve started to give her BIG hugs and kisses by clamping my open, slobbery mouth onto her face to show her J), but she’s not happy about her ‘jelly’. Women, tch!

We’ve not been getting out for our long walks as much now the weather’s getting worse – we get stir-crazy in the house. Mummy did buy me some toys when we were both ill, but I spent the next 20 minutes playing with the paper bag they were carted home in!

She’s also started taking me to Mini P’s and Jumping Jellybeans (baby music and dance classes) for something new to do. I get to bang drums and shake maracas and there are loads of other babies and mummies to flirt with! It was lovely too as I got to see Solange and Monty again after their month in Portugal. Although I did notice he was WEARING MY SOCKS which was very confusing. I kept staring at his feet for ages. (Turns out his mummy asked MY Mummy where she got my cool socks that look like trainers and she bought some too – so I’m a style icon already!)

Talking of being a style icon – I got my first casting call for a modelling job! Mummy put me forward for an agency as everyone kept saying how cute I was; they took me on, and last Monday we went for our ‘go-see’ (as they call it in the biz) for a pharmaceutical company. Mummy said she couldn’t believe their baby boy was pushing drugs and Daddy laughed. I didn’t get the job though; even though they said I was “soooo cute” (and I flirted with all the ladies) they did also comment on what a wriggly baby I was. Mummy reckons I wouldn’t sit still enough and cost the shoot too much money! Oh well, Mummy said she loves me anyway, we had fun and I met a cutie who is going to be in the new TK Maxx campaign so I’m sort of hanging out with models already. (Shame he’s a boy, or that would sound a lot more impressive...)

What else? Socially: I had a couple of boys’ night in with Daddy when Mummy was out with old Telegraph mates for Mike’s leaving drinks and then with Auntie Chrissie to see MC Solaar. Daddy has started taking me for Sunday walks in the park and we hang out in Starbucks. He found me my first conker too – he seemed far more excited about it than I was – I’m not allowed to chew it, so I don’t see the point - but he assures me I’ll understand when I’m older.

I’ve also had a bit of qualidee lady-time: When Daddy went to Paris on business – Mummy invited his friend Auntie Cazza over for cuddles, Auntie Chrissie also came and looked after me a couple of times. She’d slept in and missed a train, and then a plane, so she figured she’d come over and spend time with her favourite boy – me! – and give Mummy and Daddy a break so they had TWO unexpected but lovely date nights – one to see Inception (Mummy said it was “a waste of a good babysitter”) and then for a posh meal for their 6-month wedding half-anniversary.

We also had Sunday lunch with Cazza and her hubby Geoff – I was a bit grizzly with my teeth and Daddy forgot my blanket (again) so he put his jacket over me and after my nap I was happy and VERY squealy again! We nearly had an incident when a glass lampshade was knocked by a man lifting a chair high up – it fell by mine and Mummy’s heads, but I'm not called Lucky Luc for nothing!

Mummy has also been ordering stuff for my nursery, finally! And is currently waiting for all that to arrive - it’s all going to be spotty and stripey in lots of colours – and she’s cracking on with my illustrated alphabet – she’s up to ‘N’ for ‘Narwhal’ (here’s a song about them that has stuck in her head ever since http://is.gd/fJ3jv) – an animal Daddy told her about, it’s like a whale with a unicorn’s horn. It sounds COOL, even though I don’t know what either of those look like either!

I also spent a load of quality time with the Gramps B this month, as Daddy took Mummy away for a couple of days for her birthday. During this time, I started to try and clap (to “If you’re happy and you know it...”)! Mummy, Daddy and the Gramps have all also heard me trying to speak proper words – I have made sounds that sound like “heyo”, “hey” and “ha” as greetings to get their attention. I also was the star of the show at Mummy’s "Surpiiise!" birthday party – I wore my new T-shirt which says “My Mum Rocks” and I got lots of cuddles again from all the guests before Auntie Clare took me to hers for a bit of shut-eye whilst the growed-ups carried on...

Anyway, I've got to go play now - my next big exciting post will no doubt be coming from the other side of the world when we go to MAURITIUS – my first time on a plane – woooooh! See you then J

A big month of firsts...

Hello again! This month I've been busy with some brilliantly exciting firsts...

My first festival: Ben & Jerry's Sundae (which, confusingly, runs on a Saturday too!). The Saturday was my favourite day ‘cos I had LOADS of Mummy's friends cooing over me, including aunties Vix and Nix (every baby dreams of being cuddled by twins, don't they?!) and Nat, aka 'Hot Nat' who pulled great faces at me. At risk of sounding old before my time, I have to say the bands all sounded the same to me. But that might be because the ‘rents kept putting my luminous green “ear defenders” on so I actually couldn’t hear a thing! Still, when I was perched on Daddy's shoulders, they got me loads of attention - people would "Awww" or mouth "Cute baby!" and point their cameras at me. All good practice for when I'm famous!

My first haircut: because Daddy said I was beginning to look “a bit mangy” (er, cheers, fuzzball!). I loved Eddie the hairdresser! He pulled lots of funny faces, then mummy fed me a bottle whilst he snipped away (“Don’t lose his Mohican!” she squealed as his scissors flew). I jumped a bit when the clippers went on, but I didn’t cry at all J. Mummy had snipped a bit of my hair beforehand to keep – not sure why as she’s got LOADs more hair then me!

My first business meeting! OK, I went with Mummy to meet all her colleagues. But I sat in on a meeting with Mummy’s big boss where she told him she was taking a year off to be with me – yay! To celebrate, we went downstairs, and I flirted with all the lovely ladies (especially Lindsay J) whilst Mummy caught up with everyone over pizza. The following week Mummy took me (along with Unca Ash) to meet mates Mike and Lou at her old workplace, The Telegraph. Mummy showed me off to her other ex-colleagues, and the five of us went to Chez Gerard (fancy!) and sank three bottles between us (two wine , one milk...). We’re such meeja lovies!

I saw loads of friends and family this month (most for the first time). Mummy’s Auntie’s Mira & Usha and their families (loads of presents!); Grandma and Grandpa B came down a couple of times; Daddy's niece Vicky; and we also went oop t’North to the Gramps where I met their friends: Margaret & Robbie (more toys!), Phil & Dot (a teddy!), Dawn & John (I LOVED Dawn - pictured - BEST cuddles ever!) and Elaine & John.

We also visited Mummy’s friends Nic and Rog and Daddy’s friends Pam & Rog! Pam kindly gave me a GINORMOUS box of bath products so I’d be “smelling sweet for years to come”. More like until I fill my next nappy – ha ha!

Oh and I went to my first fancy-dress party at Mummy's friend Jay's house. The theme was The Great Gatsby so I wore some new trousers with braces and my waistcoat. Very 1920s! Of course I had to get Mummy to dress up too...

In other news, Mummy went on her Buggyfit ladies night out and she got the other mummies to stay out VERY late in a wine bar way past their bedtime! One of her new friends from the evening, Emma, came back for tea and ‘hard-earned’ Jaffa Cakes after last week’s class (Mummy says Jaffa Cakes are virtually a health food with only 1g of fat and count towards her 5-a-day). Emma brought along her little boy Rory, 7 months, so I’ve got another playmate now – yay!

More new stuff: we did a Baby Massage course (Mummy massages me, I’m not learning to be a baby masseur, silly!). It's great! I just get to lie around whilst Mummy rubs me down and I get all relaxed and smiley. Some of the babies didn’t like it so much and cried loads. Couldn’t they tell this was my valuable “me time”?!

I’ve perfected the art of looking bemused at crying babies, all butter-wouldn’t-melt and what *are* they doing acting like *such* a baby, and their mummies sigh and “See? Luc’s a good boy! He’s not crying!” Ha! They don’t see me kicking off at bedtime, and are also blissfully unaware of the havoc I plan to create when I get moving...

Step one in my dastardly plan for world domination: ROLLING. I tried to hide my new-found skill from Mummy as the element of surprise is key: but then the Gramps saw me practising, then Daddy and even Auntie PK caught me at it - and they all told her, which somewhat blew my cover. She couldn’t believe everyone else had seen me roll before she had! So one day during Baby Massage, I decided to show her (and the other mums and babies) how to do it - and I’ve been rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ ever since! Mummy can’t leave me anywhere high up now as I roll onto my tummy during playtime, nappy-time and even bedtime. I can’t roll back yet though, which does somewhat destroy my cool when I get tired and have to cry to get picked up.

I’ve also been getting my legs toddle-ready by jumping about in my new Tigger bouncer – as he would sing “bouncy trouncy flouncy pouncy, fun-fun-fun-fun-fuuuuun!” (Sing along now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJFyz73MRcg)

And earlier this month I had my first ‘swim’ in Auntie PK’s pool. I loved splashing about in my swim pants (my tongue stuck out in excitement!) so much that Mummy has signed me up for classes in October!

Oh yeah! How could I forget?! My BIGGEST move yet was the one into my own room and big cot-bed. Mummy jokes that she’s not sure about if I’m sleeping better through the night now, but she certainly is!

Mummy’s also moved me onto ‘Hungry Baby’ formula which means I don’t wake up wanting feeding in the night. After my last weigh-in (over 16lbs now!) the health worker said that it wasn’t recommended and contributed to child obesity. Mummy pointed out that I was very active, she wasn’t over-feeding me and I’m not overweight – but she later told Daddy that she’d been made to feel like she was giving me the “equivalent of Maccy D’s”. After talking to other mummies, she’s annoyed that health workers make mums feel bad with their varied personal opinions, but she has gone back to normal formula for some feeds supplemented with my first solids – baby porridge – which even Mummy thinks is yummy!

So now I’m learning how to eat off a spoon. It’s great fun to shove my fingers into my full mouth and squidge porridge between my fingers, into my face, hair, all over my clothes and bib. I'm looking a bit confused in this pic as it was my first porridge feed, but I'm getting the hang of it now!

A whole new world of mess and tastes* awaits...
* (I mean apart from milk, Calpol and Bonjela now I’ve started teething)

Perhaps I’ll sample some of the local organic produce when I go on my first HOLIDAY next month..?

HUP two three four!

Another month, another round of adventures to fill you in on.

This month we have been GETTING FIT! Mummy said she is "tired of her jelly", so she's only gone and signed us up to TWO sets of classes a week...

Mondays are now 'Beeez Kneeez' (although Mummy does have to grit her teeth giving her money to anyone who intentionally spells incorrectly), run by Nicky, who is stick thin, has a bottom smaller than mine and sounds quite bossy ("You've got to be STRONG to be a Mummy...!"), but she makes Mummy ache for days after, which is apparently a good thing. In the first class I cried to try and get us out of the session, but Nicky just made us BOTH do the exercises, so Mummy had to do press-ups above me ("KISS the baby!"). Nicky has taken Mummy's measurements too; she is now scared to have a bit of chocolate, so I guess it's working...!

The second class is on a Wednesday, 'BuggyFit', with a lady called Jo. This one Mummy finds a lot more fun, running round the park with a load of other mummies, with us babies in the buggies. I generally have a snooze as I like being rocked during the runs, but if I do wake, it's at least a bit more interesting with the ever-changing views. Mummy's made a new friend at BuggyFit, Solange, who brings along Monty (3 weeks older than me) - they only live round the corner from us, so I've got a new playmate: yay! Jo is a lot more fun, and has organised a big night out for the mummies, so they can undo some of their hard work, which Mummy and Solange are already looking forward to!

Anyway, this blog isn't about Mummy. It's about ME!

I'm not losing any weight from all this exercise; in fact, I'm putting it on and growing even more! This month I got weighed again - 13lb 14oz at 12 weeks, so nearly a STONE - and 61cm long (although Mummy reckons I'm a bit taller and the nurse measured me wrongly). I was also a big brave boy when I got my second set of jabs. (Oh OK, I cried like a girl, but please don't tell anyone, it would ruin my cool dude persona.)

Socials: this month I saw Grandma and Grandad B again when they came to look after me when Mummy and Daddy went to their friends Jane and Tetteh's wedding. I really wanted to go, but Mummy said her too-pricey dress would look better without sick on it. Honestly!

Mummy's old college house-mate J.A. also came to visit from Oz. I LOVED her! We had lots of cuddle time and smiles and she bought me a fab wooden elephant photo frame, which will get pride of place in my room once I move into it.

Mummy and Daddy ordered my new cot-bed for my nursery as I am rapidly growing out of my Bednest in their room, but it arrived broken, so they are waiting for the replacement to arrive. So I get a reprieve for now before I have to sleep on my own! Mummy is, I think, secretly a bit pleased as she'll miss me when I'm gone - she's already feeling bad about cutting down breastfeeding for formula feeds, but it allows her to go out and have a few drinks too, plus I have Daddy's appetite (huge), so she couldn't keep up. But she feels a little sad her baby boy is growing up so quickly and doesn't need her quite as much as he did in those early days...SOPPY MUMMY! :)

Anyway, back to socials: we also spent a weekend at Uncle James and Auntie Colette's house for the World Cup final, where lots of people cooed over me and Daddy got too drunk...although he did manage before then to take some lovely pictures of me and Mummy - here's our favourite :)

In the week, Daddy & I took a road trip to 'Nam.. (er, Chippenham), just us boys, to hang out, drink beer, flirt with chicks, you know...um, well, yeah, we actually visited Granny P, Uncle J and Auntie Jen, OK?!

I also popped in with Mummy to see Auntie Vix where she was working for the day in the local Benefit. I flirted with the girls there and danced to their tunes, downed a bottle, threw up behind the counter...you know how us rock babies are...

The following weekend was JAM-PACKED! Friday, Daddy took a half-day and we went to Uncle Marcus' surprise wedding in Richmond to Shereen - everyone only had a week's notice and the invites were sent out on Facebook! (Marcus, some of you ladies may remember, was Mummy's naked butler at her Mummy Shower before I was borned.) Mummy had to spend a day rushing round like a loon to get me a waistcoat. In the end she found me one in Monsoon, which cost £18 - which she said was ridiculous for a scrap of fabric no bigger than a hanky (whatever that is) that I was only going to wear once and then grow out of. She considered putting it on right at the last minute, taking it off as soon as was possible and then putting the label back on and returning it, but I managed to scupper that plan by sicking up on it within a *nanosecond* of the pareys putting it on me *just* before they walked into the reception room before the service. So now Mummy has decided I am wearing it to EVERY occasion, party or other social gathering, to get her money's worth. (It looks quite rock'n'roll over my jeans and a T-shirt, actually.) It was a cool wedding and I was quite the centre of attention...um...apart from the bride and groom, that is. Here's me and Daddy looking very smart indeed:

And me, looking a bit miffed at the those two naughty people who kept taking attention away from moi!:

Next day, we went to Auntie Chrissie's house party - with my new waistcoat, of course :) She'd bought me a fab wooden xylophone for when I'm a bit older (can't wait to do Mummy and Daddy's heads when I learn to play it LOUDLY) and a wooden rattle, which has already become one of my favourite toys, although it's so cute Mummy said she might borrow it as a bangle. I spent a delightful day and evening being played with by, chatting to - and charming - Auntie C and her mates. I behaved like a proper party-animal - downing a couple of bottles, burping, being a bit sick and falling asleep on the sofa, before ending up passed out in a girl's bedroom upstairs (OK, it was Auntie C's room, but work with me here...). In the end, Mummy carried me home - still asleep - in the sling on the tube. Mummy and Daddy got a few funny looks taking a baby on the tube, late on a Saturday night, but hey, we're "la famille P" and that's just the way we roll!

Sunday, we went to Kew Gardens with Uncle Mike, Auntie Sophia and their daughter Antonia, 8 months. I slept through most of it as it was a very hot day (no waistcoat!), but Mummy showed me round a very interesting exhibition on some macro-photography of the flora and fauna in Kew and we had a GREAT time in the butterfly glasshouses, watching them all flitting about. I thought about catching them, but my hand-eye co-ordination isn't all that yet...

Having said that though, this month, I have discovered my hands (I've spent a lot of time staring at them and bringing them towards, then further away from, my face ve-e-ery slowly); started shoving my fists into my mouth; self-soothing (sucking my thumb instead of my dummy when I am chilling or sleeping) which Mummy finds unfeasably sweet; standing more on my legs (supported - but I prefer standing to lying down ANY day!); recognising and laughing to 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' and 'This Little Piggy'; giggling when Mummy blows raspberries on my tummy; getting into my bed-time routine with Daddy and listening to him read Winnie the Pooh on his iPhone... and sitting in my new Bumbo - a little armchair for babies from Auntie Jen - which has a desk so I look like a tiny newsreader! Mummy put my 'Very Hungry Caterpillar' board-book on there and I started to pat and turn the pages, so I looked like I was reading! Mummy was also amazed when she watched me sleeping one morning and I kept shaking with proper chuckles - she later said I sounded like Muttley out of the Wacky Races (whoever that is)!

I have also started shuffling along the floor on my arms (nearly crawling!) during Tummy Time, and...OMG, started to grab onto and then HOLD MY OWN BOTTLE when feeding, which Mummy got very excited about as she could put the washing on whilst I fed myself! I did drop it a few times, but she was there to help me, and I think we're getting there! I'll be getting the beers in before you know it, but for now I'm sticking to Aptimil Hungry Baby formula :)

I'm very excited as this weekend coming up I'll be going to my first festival at the Ben & Jerry's Sundae on Clapham Common. I've got my special ear-defenders (from Auntie Nicky) which make me look like a baby DJ (I'm sure they'll come in handy as Daddy sings along to Billy Bragg) and of course, I'll be donning my waistcoat again...

Will write about that next time - got to get my beauty-sleep - byeee! xxx

Little man goes large...

HELLO!!! I am now 10 weeks old - into double figures - and I've done LOADS in the last few weeks!

At 6 weeks, Mummy took me for my first doctor's appointment; I weighed 10lb 9oz (putting on 1/2lb per week!) and was 57cm tall, which Mummy was shocked to realise was more than a third her height already...

That week, I also had my first visit to the pub (The Albion) for Mummy's friend Rumb's birthday. I behaved like a proper bloke, downing bottles (um...of milk), checking out the ladies (well, having them coo over me) and going to the bar to get a round in (er, fine, Daddy carried me there, but I carried the bar tab card tucked into the back of my trousers, ok?). I was even sick later, like a proper big boy :)

Daddy said I was a "chic magnate". I *think* that's how it's spelled anyway...

The next day I met up with Unca A again. He cuddled me lots and bought me a great jumper with a hamster face on it. Can't wait to wear it this winter!

I also had another visit from Auntie P looking very glam in her work clothes especially compared to Mummy (she's always covered in sick!) and Mummy's friends, Nilam, GiGi and Daddy's friend Lisa popped over for coo-time this month too.

All the ladies in the house...!

At 8 weeks Mummy had to take me to the docs again for my first jabs. I think she was dreading them more than me, but she took the advice of another mum and gave me a dose of Calpol beforehand. I cried when I had the jabs but was asleep in her arms as she carried me out of the surgery. C to the A to the L to the POL! Yaaaaay!

Well, Calpol was possibly the only thing worth cheering for that week. I wore my 'Go England!' top (from Daddy, bien sur) and shorts for the first England match of the World Cup 2010. We met up with the NCT lot for pre-match drinks at another pub! (I am quite the big man, eh?). Daddy came away saying the dads were cooing over my Stokke pushchair - well, you know what us blokes are like with our wheels...

Marta, our NCT tutor was there too, meeting all the babies for the first time: me, my man Theodore ("Thor"/"T-Dog") and our ladies Sophia, Elin and Rose (Rose & I flirted the week before after Mummy spotted her checking out my stripey trousers. Her Mummy, Jen, got it on camera, but Rose's dad said no boys are coming near her till she's 30. Oh yeah, buddy? Watch me!). Anyway, Marta cuddled me for ages, fed me my bottle and I *think* fell in love with me a little bit as she didn't really want to hand me back, but then some of my buddies woke up so she had to cuddle them too!

We went on to watch the match at Daddy's friend Steve's house. That's the holy footy trinity above: me and Daddy and beer. Although as you can see from my face, we played a shocker!

At time of writing, I'm feeling a bit bad as I didn't wear it today for England v Germany which we watched at hers after Auntie P's birthday lunch (at the Albion again - I'm quite the regular!), and now look what's happened! Mummy said to Daddy to cheer up as England were never going to win the World Cup with that team anyway, and it was just putting us out of our misery quicker, but funnily enough that didn't go down to well with him. Women!

Next day was Roo's Holy Communion in Eastbourne. We took a trip down there for the day - it was a gorgeous day, I really didn't fancy spending it in a church. So I decided to kick off as soon as Mummy and Daddy took their pew; Daddy had to take me out, leaving Mummy on her own for the whole service - ha!

When it was over, Mummy found Daddy waiting outside with me snoozing peacefully in my car seat, so when Mummy's other friends Chris, Kate and 'Lainey saw me for the first time they all said how angelic I was ... ; p

More tactical crying: the following week, PK and Col came over with their baby. Noah and I decided to cry as everyone sat down for dinner: it was our master plan to get to watch a bit of the footy. Of course, our dads had to help us with our bottles, leaving Mummy and PK to share a bottle of plonk and have a natter over dinner. Everyone a winner then!

That reminds me, here's a funny pic from when we went to Auntie PK's the other day... I'm eyeing up Daddy's beer!

Mummy's friend from America, Auntie Kristen came to stay. I like her. She's veeery pretty and bought me some really cool clothes (a Small Paul T-shirt with the monkey in an Uncle Sam hat, another t-shirt with guitars on and some shorts) and works with kids, so I really enjoyed spending time with her, smiling a lot. I've learned how to smile back now, which pleases everyone no end, so I think I'll keep that up! Mummy and Kristen went for lunch and to "bring back Argentine memories", Mummy suggested sharing a bottle of wine! She'd got a bottle of milk already for me, so I didn't get the benefit though. Hmph.

Apart from smiling and 'talking', I've also learned to punch and kick my baby gym toys, check myself out for ages in the mirror (Mummy reckons a sign of things to come), wipe my own mouth (kind of by accident, but still, it impresses grown-ups), I've enjoyed watching Glastonbury on the telly (especially La Roux, for some reason) and just this week I've started playing with the 'Talking Carl' app on Mummy's iPhone!!! Carl makes funny noises when I hit or touch him on screen. So much fun! http://is.gd/d52je .

Daddy says I just really need an iPad now...

Talking of Daddy, it was his first Father's Day last weekend. Mummy had gone down with Grandma and Grandpa B to their holiday home in Lymington (a great view - we could see the Isle of Wight ferries coming and going all day!) the night before and Daddy came down to join us the next day (Sunday) for lunch.

As he was waking up without us I got Mummy to send him this picture of me doing Tummy Time (time spent on my tummy, to help me learn to crawl - duh!)...

When he got here, Mummy gave him my card (it said "even though my daddy burps & makes funny smells i love him") and an "I 'heart' Dad" t-shirt. It's a bit on the big side, but I reckon I'll still love my Daddy when I grow into it :)

See how I am already a master of getting Mummy to buy a present for the other person that really is for me?! Watch and learn, Daddy, watch and learn...

Anyway, Mummy has discovered that if she dresses me in clothes a bit too big for me, I look (as Auntie Kristen would say) 'super-cute' and just like a bad-boy rapper, so this is the look I'll be channelling this season...(perhaps not with the Daddy T-shirt, that's not very 'bad-boy' is it?!).

She's also bought me a camouflage bandana and Baby Banz sunglasses as well as some cool socks that look like trainers - and my first GIG tickets to Ben & Jerry's Sundae festival in July!

I also did my first trips on the buses and tube, first in my Baby Bjorn sling and then with my buggy. The buggy trips were with Auntie P, to - as my Mummy calls it -"Westsiiiiide" shopping centre. I wore my oversized 'rapper' outfit again on request from Auntie P when she saw it on Facebook. We didn't buy much, but had lunch at Balans (several ladies stopped to coo at me, comment on my hair and one even asked if she could steal me - no!) and Auntie P enjoyed pushing me round pretending to be my Mummy.

So in the last few weeks I've started to do some very grown-up things: gone to the pub (3 times!), watch England get a battering (I'm not counting), use public transport, get into festivals, flirt with ladies, hang out at a shopping mall and dress like a rapper.

The only thing I don't seem to like doing is going to bed in the evening, which is causing all manner of tantrums and frazzled parents at the mo (although I DID sleep through the night last night for the first time after a BBQ at our neighbours Auntie Clare & Unca Iain's).

Mummy reckons I'm just like my parents; a bit of a night owl and party-animal in the making.

You know what? She might just be right...

A busy first month

Hello! I haven't forgotten you! I'm just still reliant on Mummy typing this for me, and now Daddy's back at work, she's pretty much constantly at my beck and call - feeding, changing, amusing me or trying to get me to sleep, so she can hurriedly do other stuff before I wake up and it all starts again!

She's able to blog today as lovely neighbour Auntie Clare has got me this afternoon.

My social diary has been on fire this last few weeks. I'll tell you about the highlights...

1/5/10: Daddy's 40th party ! Over 40 friends and their kids (and us!) hid in the dining room and kitchen waiting for Daddy to come back from a birthday lunch with his friend Lisa (who was in on it) and everyone shouted "Surpiiiise!". Best bit was that I got lots of cuddles from all the ladies, (I only cried when I wanted my Mummy for feeding) and lots more presents than Daddy - heh heh! I pretended not to hear when Daddy said a rude word in shock when he walked in, but if I repeat it when I start talking, Mummy will know I heard it here first! All his friends tried to clamp their hands over their kids' ears, and Daddy was further embarrassed when he saw Grandma and Grandpa B there too.

5/5/10: Boys Night In - Daddy and me, home alone - aka "Mummy's first night out", with Auntie Chrissie. In her excitement to get out of the house wearing clothes that she didn't have to think about breastfeeding in, Mummy nearly didn't kiss me goodbye and Daddy had to call her back to do so!

I could tell you how it went, but Daddy's texts to Mummy tell a far funnier story:

19:16 "...And he sleeps. Your son is an angel once more although he had me wondering for a bit! Resisted the temptation to crack open the beer for me or the expressed milk for him so far! ...Enjoy your night. Xxxx"

20:52 "Hmm. Knew I spoke too soon. [He] Woke up 20 mins later starving and wouldn't go back down. Started yelling and rooting. Fed him at 8 and he guzzled both little bottles and was still rooting. Tried to settle him and he kicked off again so had to defrost the other bottle. While waiting for that he's cried himself to sleep! Fraught, but OK. Sorry I had to do the big bottle but I couldn't risk him getting too hungry :-(. ... He's now spark out on me and I daren't move in case he wakes up and it hasn't defrosted! We're all ok though. Not exactly gone to plan or schedule but we're surviving.... Hope your night is ace - make it worth going out for and enjoy the break! Love you millions! Xxx"

Mummy got that last text when she came out of the film at 9pm, and as Daddy said make it worthwhile, she showed the text to Auntie Chrissie, they laughed and she suggested 'a quick cocktail' before home...

Mummy then got this text when she left the cocktail bar, which made her laugh even harder!

21:49: Your son has my appetite. We have 1/4 of a bottle left! Now asleep on me again and I can't see the tv remote. D'oh! How you got anything done today amazes me. I have folded 4 sleepsuits and sent 2 text messages. That's it! If you can be home by 11.30ish and vaguely able to feed him even if it's neat alcohol I will be very very grateful! I reckon I can hold him at bay til then! Love you! Xxxx"

She called Daddy to say she was on her way and came home soon after to find a grown man on the sofa, pinned down by a tiny baby (ha!), too scared to move a muscle in case I woke and needed feeding!

She swooped in, found the remote control for Daddy, plugged his dying phone in, scooped me up and averted all panic within about 10 seconds of coming home. Mummy rocks!

Whilst she was feeding me, Daddy was finally able to eat the dinner Mummy had made for him before she went out, and they caught up on the evening's events. She told Daddy that Auntie Chrissie had offered to pay for the cocktails as Mummy is now a pov on her maternity benefit. However, Mummy said her Child Benefit had arrived that week and was the same as the price of the drinks, so she could get them with that. "Child Benefit Cosmopolitans, courtesy of Luc!" they giggled, as they 'clinked' their drinks...honestly, what are they like?!

This month I had LOTS of visits from friends and family:

Uncle J (Daddy's big brother) & his wife Auntie S: they said it was their first trip to London to visit Daddy since he had lived there (10 years!)

Neighbour Auntie Crin and her little girl who brought me a cool 'gro-bag' to sleep in

Scott & Leigh: I decided to cry throughout their visit, but Leigh still thought I was cute. Not sure if Scott did.

Auntie Nicky: who got me the coolest ear-defenders (to protect my ears during festivals and gigs) that make me look like a tiny DJ.

Jo: with a cool little hoodie outfit from the States

Auntie Soph & her son, Seb: with the COOLEST Small Paul (Paul Frank) booties, stripy trousers and a load of well-loved toys which Sebbie kindly and generously passed onto me.

Mummy's cousin P (again, because she's living in London now...yay!) and Auntie K, who got me a shape sorter toy and Dr Seuss books

Vix: who trekked over town between appointments to coo over little me!

Auntie Chrissie: for a pizza night in and cuddles :)

And we visited my new friend-to-be, Noah, newborn son of Mummy's friend PK. I'll hopefully get to play with him as we grow up, just as soon as we've worked out what 'playing' is.

I also got some cool outfits from my rellies in the States, a cute bunny from Mummy's friend, Auntie Lis & her daughter, my honorary big sis, 'Roo' in the post and a 'swaddle' which Uncle A got off my Amazon wishlist - it's called the 'Kiddopotamus' and it helps me sleep like magic. Mum calls me Burrito-baby when I'm in it. Grandpa B said it looked like a straightjacket and he wouldn't like it, but he isn't a baby - we need to feel secure and held. After a particularly sleepless night, Mummy almost cried with joy when she saw it work!

Photos to follow>>>(link)

Daddy also took some photos of me when I was one month old on 15 May. Check me out here, working the camera! People keep saying how much I've changed, how I look like a little man, or how I look like Daddy, how I've got Mummy's eyes, how much hair I have...etc. Mummy and Daddy are just amazed by how in love they are with me and wonder if all parents feel that theirs is the most gorgeous baby ever :)

16/5/10 Grandma & Grandpa B came to stay and help Mummy as Daddy went away for a week on business (nearly a fifth of my life, he noted sadly...). They were great, Grandpa did lots of jobs around the house and Grandma changed me and chatted with me lots *and* fed Mummy so Mummy could feed *me*! The Gramps were both doctors, so it did worry Mummy when they fussed over every spot and sniffle. In their 4 day visit, they discussed that I may have blocked tear ducts (needing an operation), conjunctivitis, measles, heat rash, a cold, colic, fever, and teething pains...!

In the end, Mummy got me some eye drops, teething rings 'just in case', is giving me a daily bath and I'm spending time in just a nappy and vest top to keep me cooler. And panic was averted again.

Did I say my Mummy rocks?!