THREE PEAS IN WINTER

I love writing these little updates for myself, seeing what we got up to each season. I don’t keep a diary, so like a travel diary (as was) it’s a way of recording our adventures tangibly rather than just as a stack of photos on the computer!

Photo heavy as always… Christmas, snow, weaning and a holiday were always going to yield lots of cute snaps!! Enjoy!

December

At the start of the month, baby started sitting up by himself. The sigh of relief my back breathed was audible. Everything has been so much more enjoyable for us both ever since, he loves his baby classes all the more so for being able to sit!

We did all the Christmas things. Even getting our tree a week earlier and making a champagne cork wreath for the front door! Baby was asked to do a star turn in the village crib service… As Jesus! So we were Mary and Joseph! Basically, baby arrived, there’s no bigger part to play!!

We made Christmas complete for our parents this year. We spent Christmas Day with my parents at ours and then took a trip north to Cheshire to see Mr P’s. They truly adore our little man and it was nice to spend quality time with them all and have baby on good form. And the traffic played ball on our drive north, under four hours in both directions so only one stop needed thank goodness! As a result we were actually 2 hours early to visit my oldest friend on the way home!

Swimming went from strength to strength. In the last lesson of the year there weren’t any tears, not even when baby has his weekly submergence or was made to wear a Christmas hat in the pool!

We went on so many walks. There’s such choice not far from our back door. At weekends, but also the Christmas break was kind to us in length and weather this year. And, no photo, but we went out on a date night. Ok, so it was only for a few hours as I had to do baby’s dream feed. But, we left the house. Without. The. Baby. And we were all ok! Such a treat, and I rather think my parents enjoyed baby sitting too! Obviously we mainly talked about the baby!!

January

Baby P moved into his nursery and cot. Somehow I held it together and actually slept soundly too. I can see and hear him more clearly on the monitor than I could when he was in a crib next to the bed!

Weaning commenced! Messy and fun for all involved! Fair to say broccoli to begin with was the least favourite but with all tastes we had the standard game of charades. Suspicious of the spoon, suspicious of the pot, abject horror at the first few tastes… And then surprise surprise it becomes edible!

There were plenty more walks and more adventures.

Followed by chilly afternoons spent by the fire, baby spell bound and all of us warm and snuggly!

January rattled by. Very unusual as it never does at work!! We hit a major milestone too, he was six months old on the 19th! Time in general is flying by far too fast, thankfully the little boy he’s becoming fills us with joy and is a delight to be around.

Finally, in January, baby decided to roll. He did it once, really wasn’t that thrilled about the results, and went back to sitting. He’s very much a sitter and that is definitely how he is happiest! We get the occasional roll now, but mostly it’s not a priority! Tummy time is approached begrudgingly.

February

We had snow! And it was beautiful. The first morning we had very local snowfall at the end of the garden…

Baby once awake was dressed in a snow suit and plonked on it for a photo in case it was the only snow! Before his beloved porridge breakfast, he was very obliging! Fortunately plenty more fell and we had a lovely weekend of walks in it!

And from snow we went straight to sun in the desert. Quite the overnight temperature change! Our first long haul family holiday was a great success. Our hotel in Abu Dhabi was the right mix of fancy and family friendly.

We were also invited to a special photoshoot and this photo from it is particularly gorgeous. All four of my prints have arrived now and I am totally in love with the moments and expressions that have been caught.

Just to keep the random weather changes going… We had something of a heatwave in the UK! For three days I was in shorts and T-shirt, as was baby. And we were out in the garden trying to catch bees and butterflies and eat the grass! It felt like just reward for experiencing last summers heatwave 8 months pregnant! I am totally in love with bringing up baby in the country, I still pinch myself it’s happening!

His two first teeth, on the bottom, arrived. Thankfully fairly painlessly. He can chomp on his cucumber and watermelon far better now! There was definite developing of tastebuds in February, he loves his porridge and veg/fruit but has tried  mushed up meals as well now!

And of course more walks and adventures, we really are blessed where we live, especially on a sunny day.

Onto March. We haven’t seen the back of winter yet but let’s hope for a warm and sunny spring! I can’t wait for the bluebells.