Idris is 11 months!

 I can't quite believe that my baby boy is eleven months old as of yesterday! He is such an amazing, happy little thing (apart from the tantrum he threw tonight when Daddy left for work!). He is 'such a boy' - if ever a case study was needed to prove nature over nurture then Idris is it. He has access to way more choice than my girls did at his age as I now child mind so have lots of resources to suit all sorts of children. Despite the choices, he wants to be outdoors all the time, preferably hitting, kicking, throwing or generally brutalising whatever he can find..... he has mastered the step to get out and cries if we shut the door!

 He loves pens - and has worked out that the tops come off..... if I give him a bottle, he will spend a little time posting them in and tipping them out.... posting is quite popular right now, as is putting things in and out of boxes and baskets.... Please note the gorgeous dungarees made by the talented seamstress that is my Mum - aren't they adorable?

 He quickly picks up anything new we show him and often has his 'concentrating face' on while he masters it - he is currently concentrating on trying to pull a pair of castanets apart out of the music basket - problem is, give him a few months and I think he'll manage it.... he is babbling away to himself as he does so. He started with bah and dah, then about six weeks ago move up to nah and lah and this week chatters away to us in a lovely little conversational voice and looks at us in an enquiring way as if to ask 'did you get that?' He knows some words - booby (I know, I know - this happened by accident but he does love his breast milk!), Daddy, Poppy (the dog) and ball, more if you add in gesture but he knows these ones in any context!

 This is his birthday swing hung under the covered patio - my parents thought he should have it early and he really enjoys it! He enjoys it as least as much as his favourite food - strawberries - I'm not sure if I dare take him fruit picking this summer - we might get thrown out for eating too many strawberries before we can pay!

He started to walk about six weeks ago, a few steps but three weeks ago really took to it and potters around the place now with very few wobbles! He was fascinated by the rain and I didn't want to disturb him to put his rain suit on - bath time is very satisfying these days as I watch my grubby happy boy become pink and fluffy. He never wears shoes, I'm sure he will have hobbit feet at this rate but it's good for him to have them free and he seems to enjoy the sensations on his feet.

Now on to Idris's biggest love - balls - any ball, any size, any material, just as long as it's a ball - it really amuses me that we take a ball everywhere we go for him! He kicks a big one round the patio, throws a tennis ball for the dog, bowls a wooden one down the hall..... and my oh my he has a powerful overarm for such a little guy! Dewi provided him with his first rugby ball this week, no Welsh boy can live without one apparently - I'm not so sure he's that convinced by it's odd bounce and lack of rolling ability but we'll see!!

We are so enjoying our little bumble bug - he is bold and adventurous and a real tough cookie, he would rather fall asleep under the apple tree than cuddled in my arms, but loves singing 'two little dickie birds' together at bed time, has a wicked sense of humour and an innocent 'who me?' gaze followed by a cheeky grin when caught quietly up to mischief -  we are so glad to have you brightening our lives!!!