I’ve been writing this blog every other Friday since the week after you were born and we’ve now finally reached the one year mark, minus a day (officially your birthday is tomorrow and I’m going to write an extra blog about your actual birthday).
What a year it’s been, I can’t quite believe it’s even been that long. A whole year of you in our lives! Such an impression you’ve made upon us it’s so I can’t remember you not being here. Everyday you amaze me, everyday you fill my heart with joy, love, pride and worry and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are my all, my everything and I am so grateful to have been blessed with you.
Unfortunately this last fortnight has been filled with illnesses for you so we haven’t done much but stay indoors, away from other people. I’ve tried to make up for your lack of groups by doing messy play and making sensory bottles.
Unfortunately we missed your first birthday party too, that of Coral’s which was such a great shame.
We did have a reprieve on Sunday 16th where you had fully recovered from your first virus and attended the christening of Grayson. It really was such a lovely occasion and I’m so honoured that we were invited to celebrate his special day. We attended the church service at St Olaf’s, Poughill and I’m proud to say you behaved impeccably, even the lady behind us remarked at the end how fabulously you behaved, I was so proud of you in that moment. Afterwards we had a reception at Tommy Jacks where there were bubbles, food, friends and laughter. A really fabulous day. It went a bit pear shaped in the evening though when you had another health wobble which resulted in more drama (see below).
Health
Where to start. You started this fortnight with the most dramatic day which resulted in us calling 999 at lunchtime after you spiked a temperature, started screaming inconsolably and then started projectile vomiting. The paramedic who attended was fantastic and I’ll be eternally grateful to him for being so calm and understanding with these two panicked, overwrought new parents facing their first crisis. Thankfully you didn’t need to be taken to hospital as, although clearly unwell, you weren’t ‘that’ unwell. He observed you for about an hour and referred us to the out of hours doctor up at Stratton Hospital who checked you over again and diagnosed an ear infection. He prescribed some antibiotics but left it to our discretion as to whether to administer them or not. We decided to wait and see how you were for a couple of days before doing this. As it happens we did the right thing. By Sunday night you were developing pinprick spots all over your hands, arms and legs and with the knowledge of Hand, Foot and Mouth (HFAM) disease doing the rounds we began to wonder whether you had contracted this. On Monday morning small blisters were beginning to form on your hands and feet and a few spots around your mouth. A trip to the doctors confirmed you did, indeed have Hand, Foot and Mouth. Quarantined.
Having got over this trauma you decided the following Sunday would be a good time for a repeat performance, filling our bed, this time. Bless your heart you’ve been through the wringer this fortnight. This time we phoned 111 but they decided, in their infinite wisdom, to call out the ambulance as they didn’t like that you were semi responsive. Again you had a raging temperature and they waited until they spoke to a doctor before deciding what to do. As it turns out he was happy you had just caught another bug whilst your immune system was low during HFAM.
Teeth
On the 17th your right upper lateral incisor pushed through! Just what you need when you’re so poorly.
Firsts
On the 8th we had to make our first 999 call for you.
On the 15th you stood totally unsupported all of your own volition. You held it for at least a minute before you realised. Clever boy.
On the 16th it was your first Christening and church service when we were invited to celebrate Grayson’s special day.
Muscle Development & Coordination
Standing: You are free standing quite a lot now.
Walking: You love nothing better than walking holding onto one of our hands and look like you’re so chuffed.
Coordination: Your fascination with your shape sorter has led to putting things in things, posting things and dropping things. This has resulted in many lost items and items being located in the most bizarre of places. You love dropping things down the back of the cat tower and is usually our first point of call when trying to locate the phone/remote/bunch of keys/water bottle.
I cut holes and slots in an empty box to help encourage this skill and has made me try develop your fine motor skills by getting the pasta and bottles out.
Speech: We’ve decided that Yaya is actually Dada and you have been saying this to get Daddy’s attention quite a bit. This resulted in Daddy’s tears!
Sleep
No change here. We still have an initial 5-6 hour stint when you’re settled by about 1830 followed by wake ups every 2-3 hours. When you were poorly we regressed to every hour or two wake ups from settling which was quite understandable. You are still having 2 naps during the day.
Growth
At one year old you:
Weigh: 21Ib 9.5oz
Length: 75cm
You have lost 2oz since you were last weighed but you’ve barely eaten this last fortnight so the HVs aren’t worried. You remain in the 50th centile for weight and the 25th for length.
Feeding
You haven’t really eaten a great deal this fortnight what with HFAM and then your nasty cold so you’ve been pretty much totally boob fed.
New Tastes: Branston Pickle, Lentil Soup
boardbaby 