Bathtime

So, what's new in Gabriel's world? Sometimes it seems like nothing changes, I suppose because we spend all our time with him that we don't notice the gradual things and it feels like there isn't much to write about.

But he's doing well. He had a hearing test, which diagnosed glue ear and possible hearing problems because of that. He has seen the speech and language therapist who has confirmed he has quite delayed speech, but was also overwhelmed at how well he tries to communicate and how keen he is to learn. So hopefully this won't hold him back at all. His talking is coming along and he is gaining words almost daily. A lot of what he says is fairly hard to understand (unless you are me) but he is definitely getting there.

He is also due to start nursery in September. I can't quite believe how fast the time has gone. I had been putting off getting him a place due to the fact that he was not potty trained and because I worried endlessly about how he would communicate with such poor speech.

Well, the first of those issues has been successfully overcome. He is reliably dry in the day, and mostly at night too. He has a slight tendency to completely undress when he goes to the toilet, but nursery have been warned about that!

The latter? Well we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully in a busy nursery, surrounded by other children his speech and language will come on even more. I am sure in 6 months time I will be wanting my non-talking toddler back again!

We're enjoying our garden a lot this year too. It may be messy and strewn with toys/kitchen implements/rabbits... but we're enjoying it nonetheless.

And what's nicer after a hard day playing in the garden than a nice bath?

Chicken pox

At last he has succumbed! mwahahaha

In general I don't want or like my children to be poorly, even though it's the only time I get cuddled willingly. But the dreaded pox is another matter entirely. It's horrible, and more dangerous as an adult, and so I have been keen for all 3 of them to get it as children. We exposed Gabriel to it last year when a friend's 2 little ones had it, but he managed to get away without it.

I knew it was doing the rounds in our area recently, but unfortunately hadn't managed to bring him into direct contact with someone who had it. Or so I thought! It would appear that there are in fact benefits to doing lots of child-oriented activities during the Easter Holidays!

Last Thursday when I was changing his nappy I noticed 3 big blistery spots. I knew it was chicken pox immediately. By that evening they were spreading up his body and by the weekend he had a nice sprinkling all over.

Thankfully he hasn't seemed to suffer too much. He hasn't scratched any (yet!) and apart from some drowsy afternoons and a bit extra waking up at night he seems to have coped with it remarkably well. He is no longer contagious now, which means we can get out and about... until Asa comes out in spots that is!!!

Gabriel Edward

Well, little Gabriel is growing up fast. He still doesn't say much, which can be frustrating at times (for all concerned), but he generally gets his messages across. Well, when all you ever want is more treats from your snack pot then yelling "POT" across the kitchen at Mummy kind of works.

We have only had one other incidence of joining 2 words so far, and those were "bad" and "baby", which is probably fairly appropriate.

Gabriel adores his baby brother, and they are just so sweet together. He plays peekaboo with him, tickles him, tries to give him his dummy or bottle of milk (Gabriel is very, very good at sharing) and is generally quite lovely. Asa has prompted another new word though, which is "away", because no matter how much you love your baby brother they can still be a bad baby sometimes and keep eating your puzzle!

The school run is fairly fraught these days as Gabriel is absolutely desperate to go and join Linus in the classroom, he thinks it looks like a lot of fun, if only we didn't have 2 and a half years to wait. But watch this space for nursery updates!

We've had a lot of fun lately with painting and drawing, which Gabriel really enjoys doing. He also enjoys using scissors. We do less of that.

Gabriel enjoying some hand-painting in the kitchen

way too much cute!

Christmas 2009

So, he isn't so good with the talking (but he knows what's going-on) but that didn't stop Gabriel having a lovely Christmas.

He liked the whole fetching presents thing, and rather liked the opening presents thing as well (a bit too much as the following picture shows).

That was, of course, Gabriel 'helping' his little brother Asa with one of his presents.

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Two words

Gabriel has been inspired to speak two words!

I bring you..... "Fish ...... Man"

'Fish Man' - in case you're wondering is 'The Missing Link' from Monsters vs. Aliens, which they had just finished watching on DVD.

Thank you Dreamworks, Mr Letterman, Mr Vernon and especially Mr Will Arnett - voice of 'Fish Man'.