: : : Here is the news for May : : :

Saturday 31st May
I have spent quite some time today lying on my tummy. It's been fun - I wasn't even sick, which was lucky for Dad because I was lying on his more than comfortable tummy. I also did quite a lot of rolling over. On one occasion I rolled from my tummy onto my back and almost all the way onto my tummy again. I can build up quite a bit of momentum if I want to.

It's very very hot at them moment and its making me very uncomfortable - some might call it bothered, others may call it "taking ages to go to sleep".

Friday 30th May
I've had a lovely day today - mostly because Peter has been very nice to me for a couple of days. There have been no hard pats for ages - only strokes and special toy gifts.

I did a bit of rolling over today too. It was after my bath when I was relatively unhindered by clothes. I'm still finding it difficult to get my spare arm free. This is hindering my crawling progress - which I'd really like to get started on.

Thursday 29th May
I have been rolling over a bit more today. I'm just practicing at the moment - I plan to use my new found skill the second Mum or Dad leaves me precariously balanced on the edge of anything. I know this won't ever happen but it's good to have a back up plan to keep them on their toes.

Mum and Dad have put together a new cot for me this evening. Peter objected a little bit as it used to be his cot, but I'm really getting too long and wide for my little cot.

Wednesday 28th May
Today I have mostly been shouting. I've done a bit of rolling over too, but mostly I have been shouting. I think that this fact combined with not ever wanting to be put down (ie - always wanting to be carried) has meant a few things: 1. Mum has been unable to catch the rabbit that as far as I am aware remains at large in our garden and 2. Mum hasn't been able to pick Peter up. He has been shouting too. This isn't really fair as he can shout much much louder than me.

Tuesday 27th May
IMPORTANT NEWS EVERYONE! I have rolled over for the first time ever. As is usual in these situations I did it while no one was watching. Peter has advised me that doing it this way adds to the mystery. One minute I was lying on my back and the next I was lying on my stomach. Seemingly effortlessly. Unfortunately Mum and Dad saw through my charade when I tried to do it again. It really is very hard work.

Monday 26th May
I have been to a party today and I don't mind saying that I'm sure that Mum and Dad would almost rather I was being held by someone who wasn't them. Ruth held me a lot, but there was some competition going on to be the one who held me the most. In the end it was Mum as I decided that I had to have at least two feeds. Even Dave held me, but he made me cry.

Sunday 25th May
I've been a bit grumpy and a bit shouty today. Oh - I behaved perfectly well during the morning when we went to the park (even though I wasn't allowed to go on the slide - as usual) - I was even very well behaved in the afternoon - it was just when it was bed time that I rebelled. I'm not sure whether it was just wind but I was a very loud little boy. Perhaps, Dad said, even louder than Peter was. Now that's a record right there.

Saturday 24th May
It's been a quiet day today. I spent a very cosy morning fast asleep in my pushchair and a quiet afternoon playing on my mat. I even sat in my chair and watching Peter chasing rabbits. I can tell you that he's going to have to be much quicker and much more coordinated if he's ever to stand a chance of catching one. I'm very good at holding things now - I can even pass things from one hand to the other one, and of course both hands can put stuff in my mouth. That's a whole trick of it's own.

Friday 23rd May
I've made a lot of fuss and noise over not very much today. I went to Bath place today, but it was raining and I was asleep for most of it (as usual). I expect that Peter had a nice time though.

Thursday 22nd May
There have been several people doing some shouting today and I have been one of them. There were certain things that were not aligned in exactly the right fashion - things were not.... right... so I made sure everyone knew that I wasn't happy - and by golly they took some notice I can tell you. Maybe I should be the one with the volume monitor on my news page. Maybe I'll get Dad to add one in.

Dad was out somewhere this evening so Mum gave me a lovely bath. I'm pleased to say that she knew exactly the right way to bath me. The water temperature was just how I like it and I had a good splash about. It looks as if some notice was paid to my shouting.

Wednesday 21st May
My favourite time for waking up in the morning is at around 5.30. Unfortunately it seems as if it is everyone elses LEAST favourite time of the day. I want to be up and starting all my important jobs. All Mum and Dad want to do is lie around and sleep. It takes a great deal of LOUD persuasion and time to get any movement out of anyone.

I wore my very first pair of dungarees today. I looked very smart - until I dribbled down the front anyway.

Tuesday 20th May
I have done a bit of shouting today, but not quite as much as yesterday. I've had a few hugs from Peter, who I'm pleased to say is becoming much better at judging the difference between a gentle hug and a bone crunching squeeze. He also now knows the difference between a stroke and a slap. I'm very grateful for this.

I'm getting quite good at holding stuff now. Dad gave me a plastic lettuce leaf to hold this evening and I enjoyed it's green colour and ridgy texture for a long long time. This gave Dad the opportunity to do a job or two.

Monday 19th May
Today I mostly shouted for a whole hour. Without stopping. I don't think that Mum was very pleased.

I am really trying very hard to roll over. I can get almost all the way over but it's just that very last little bit that I don't have the weight for. I think my centre of gravity is too low. I'll ask Mum to pour on more food.

It's good to have hands. I'm grabbing and tweaking things all the time. I've even been known to rub Dad's beard in the night. Occasionally I get a finger caught in his nose and he wakes up.

Sunday 18th May
As if being a 1/3rd yesterday wasn't enough, today I was baptized at the church. I SHOUTED all the way through the whole affair. First Mum had to carry me and then Dad had to carry me. The man poured about a gallon of water over my head and face (it was cold too) and that really set me off. When I was shouting really loudly the priest started talking much much faster so that he could finish quicker. I also had a little bit of a laugh at the baby wearing a cream satin gown. I thought he looked a bit silly. I, on the other hand looked radient in my antique gown. Mama sent me some little shoes to wear that she wore in 1931. Thankyou mama.

Saturday 17th May
I have got a new seat / toy thing. It's a lovely big round nest shaped bouncy ring that I can sit up in. There are several ways that I can use it too. There is the lounging position, the flopped position, the seated position and the fallen over to one side position. I guess that I'll get more used to it the more I sit in it - for now I'm just glad that Mum wedged me in with a couple of extra large pillows.

You may notice that today is the day that I am exactly 1/3 old.

Friday 16th May
I have been gravely insulted today. Peter keeps calling me "big head" and "no teeth". While these things are probably true, as I don't have any teeth and my head could be considered to be large in comparison with my body, It's still not nice to point these things out. I don't call him drool face do I? Maybe I would if I could talk, but I can't and I don't want to draw Peter's attention to that in case he calls me "no-word-face" or something similar.

Thursday 15th May
I had a bit of a shock today when Dad was standing in front of the mirror. It was the most amazing thing. I could see Dad in the mirror and he was holding a baby. IT WAS ME!!!!!! I looked at Dad again to make sure that he was still there and he was so I looked at me again to make sure that *I* was still there and there I was. I smiled at myself. I'm really quite a handsome little baby.

I've also had another go at rolling over. There's a process missing somewhere - I thought I had it all properly planned out, but as I'm still lying on my back I can only assume that I'm doing something wrong. I had a go at crawling too. From a distance it looks like I'm thrashing my arms and legs around wildly and gnawing on my special mat, but I'm really trying very hard.

Wednesday 14th May
I'm feeling much better today in *all* respects. I even seem to have shaken off my previous mystery illness. Sadly Either Mum or me has managed to pass it on to Peter. There's only Dad left who hasn't been ill. I'm going to dribble on him later to see what happens to him tomorrow.

I've been spending a bit of time lying on my special mat today - there are lots of lovely activities to do - rings to grab, whales to bat and so forth. I'm working on using the rattle to turn myself over.

Tuesday 13th May
Oh woe is me! Just as I was recovering from my recent ailments, Dad surprised me by coming home in the middle of the day and whisking me off in the car to the doctors. I was just beginning to wonder what the problem might be when the nurse stuck a needle in my leg. Just as I was reeling from that shock she stuck a needle in my other leg! Then when I was protesting in the strongest terms she dropped some foul tasting liquid in my mouth. OUTRAGE! Dad said it would all be ok in the end though so I stopped crying. I am unspeakably brave.

Monday 12th May
I am feeling much better today - there are still a few "side effects" but for the most part I'm better. I'm trying to keep my wellness secret from Peter so that I can get lots of strokes from him. Peter's strokes are much nicer than his pats. Mum has been giving me lots of sympathy too - I've let her carry me around for most of the day. I think she enjoys that.

I am quite close to being able to roll over. I think rolling over is going to come in handy for reaching the things that I always knock just out of my reach. Dad says I'm probably going to be better than Peter at rolling over due to my slender shape.

Sunday 11th May
I am sorry to report that I have some kind of illness. I've even got a temperature.That's how ill I am. I even showered Mum with a warm cascade of milk in the middle of the night. I can tell you that she was very surprised at first, but she soon recovered enough to fill me up again.

I been ill all day and although I had a bit of fresh air and a sleep during the day I still feel bad. Off to bed now.

Saturday 10th May
I have enjoyed a shopping trip this morning. As usual Peter ate all the grapes. I'm never allowed anything tasty. "only mingy" - that's what Peter says. I don't know who let him make all the rules.

I have been making great use of my hands today. I've been turning a whale over and playing with a few rattles. I also tried to roll over and grab a plate from Peter's tea set. Couldn't.. quite.. manage.. it.. need... more... turning... power!

Friday 9th May
I have discovered a special new trick now that I have got partial control of my hands. When Mum or Dad are changing my clothes I like to grip the inside of the sleeve about half way down. This makes it impossible for the clothes to be put on properly or removed properly. Everyone likes my trick.

Thursday 8th May
It's been a much nicer day today, although I have to say that I'm a little bit annoyed that I haven't had a single ice cream all day, when evidence shows that *certain* other people have been receiving ice cream in payment for good deeds. I expect that my time will come. For now I will make do with Mingy - and plenty of it. And very regularly.

Wednesday 7th May
I have had a very shouty day today, mostly so that I could compete with Peter, who was very very loud today. I didn't even know that such volumes could be reached. I shall be experimenting with this new knowledge as soon as I can.

Dad gave me one of my feet to play with today. I laughed a lot. they're very difficult to grab hold of because they are so wriggly.

Tuesday 6th May

I have been the lucky recipient of every toy that I own today. Peter was kind enough to root them all out of my toy box for me and put them on top of me. Mum was lucky to find me under all those rattles. Peter has been saying that I am big. I'm hoping that it's not because Mum and Dad say that he can't sit on me because I am small.

Monday 5th May

I have passed a quiet day trying to gain full control of my hands. I've been given some things to hold, most of which either squeak or rattle. All I'm trying to do to start with is hold on to the things for at least 1 minute. Once I get that sorted out I shall move onto the shaking part. For now I shall rely on lovely Mum to do the shaking for me.

Sunday 4th May

We went for a walk in the afternoon and saw some boats and a blues band which Peter seemed to enjoy but who only disturbed my sleep.

I was only allowed a very quick bath this evening. I think Dad was a little bit afraid because of an incident that occurred last night. He wasted no time in washing, drying and whipping a nappy on to me so fast that I thought I was wearing it tomorrow.

Saturday 3rd May

I have made an interesting discovery today - I have found that I can fit my whole hand inside my mouth. This doesn't really come in useful for anything as if I need to suck something then just my thumb will do, but still - MY WHOLE HAND EVERYONE! You just try it - it's not as easy as it sounds.

Friday 2nd May

I have been giggling a lot today. Especially when anyone makes funny noises at me. Dad makes a lot of funny noises. I'm not sure if he can actually make sensible sounds and words like Mum, but he's probably the champion of making funny noises. pop pop pop!.

Thursday 1st May

It's the start of a new month and I have been doing an extra amount of wriggling to celebrate. I've been trying to roll over but I think that my terribly sore throat has been foiling all of my best laid plans. Instead I have been making do with smiling a lot and eating plenty of delicious milk.

.o·•O0¨°¨0O•·o.