: : : Here is the news for January : : :

Friday 31st January
I'm a bit sad today. My face is hurting like anything - I definitely think there is going to be trouble in the teeth department fairly soon.

I played a lovely game with Dad when I went out shopping with him in the afternoon - I took my shoes off all over town and tried to get rid of them so that Dad wouldn't notice. I think my giggling may have given my secret shoe removing shenanigans away though - although I did manage to hide my shoe under the potatoes in Tescos.

Thursday 30th January
I have had a really busy day. First Dad took me to have my very first haircut in a haircutting shop - this was made even more exciting because there was a blizzard when we were going. I was very good and didn't move around very much. I did give the lady a few well practiced dark looks, but I laughed in the end when she used the hoover on my hair. I said "hoove" a lot too. I look very smart.

I helped Dad do a bit of shopping too. We bought a camera for him in a very nice shop. You can all look forward to seeing lots more hi quality pictures of Andrew and I on the pictures page. There has been no stopping him today. snap snap snap.

In the afternoon I went to visit Sol at his house. Dad said that we were going to go and play with Sol, but if you ask me it looked more like an excuse for Dad to sit around, have a cup of coffee with Sol's Dad Ben and have a bit of a chat. I was left mostly to my own devices. For this reason I took my shoes off and put marbles in my mouth. That soon got Dad's attention. "No, we don't eat marbles.. blah blah blah.. If we put marbles in our mouths then we might choke blah blah blah...". Of course we don't eat marbles. We do put them in our mouths to get attention though.

Wedesday 29th January
I've been a bit sad and miserable today, so I won't darken this hallowed Internet portal with my doom and gloom for too long. I have been practicing my "Dark Look™" for most of the day. To give a dark look you have to first angle your head slightly downwards, look to either the left or the right and as much up as you can manage at the same time. A frown goes a long way too.

It's my teeth again. What more can I say - I've had a long long break from face ache, but now it's back again. Dad says that I only have 4 more teeth left to go and that then they will eventually all start to fall out. What's the point I ask. None is the answer.

I did get a lovely book from Liz, Matt, Been and Pam - Its all about a smartly dressed giant who can sing (Dad does the singing quite well). It will be appearing on my shop page shortly as It is already one of my favourites.

Tuesday 28th January
There is still a bit of illness around, I'm glad I haven't given it to Andrew, but some of it has gone somewhere. There's less coughing and goo, which can only be a good thing. I'm still a bit wobbly though. I did say "pear" today though.

Mum and Dad took me to the mother and baby group today and we had a lovely time showing off Andrew. Having both parents there did mean that we drank twice as many drinks and I'm sure Dad ate Mum's biscuit. I had lots of exercise running around in circles and I even joined in with the singing games today.

Jamie and Clare came to see us this evening and It's them I blame for me getting so wet. They should never have told me to squeeze the wet sponge out when I was clutching it to my chest. While everyone gave Andrew a bath I helped by trying to drink the top to toe wash and generally being a little monkey. I'm getting very good at that kind of thing. I've developed a special cheeky twinkle in my eye to give Dad a little bit of warning that something is about to happen.

Monday 27th January
I'm still ill today and I'm having no fun. I'm very floppy and wobbly and I keep falling over. The whole day has been a catalogue of disasters. Apart from when I had to go to the doctors with Dad - I perked right up then and got up to all kinds of mischief. When we went in to see the doctor I was trying to get out of the door but Dad blocked my way with a few chairs. Simpleton - I crawled underneath them and soon had the door open. Dad caught me though so I had to satisfy myself with peeling the black tape off the doctors fish tank.

Apparently there's nothing wrong with me that the Doctor can fix, so It looks like I'm a malingerer. My teeth are very sore though and I'm still chewing my fingers. I'm not sure which are more sore - fingers or teeth.

I received a fabulous digger book as a present today - It was from Ryan. He knows my taste for heavy machinery very well. I got Dad and Mum to read it to me a lot today. My favourite picture is the big digger AND the fire engine - I had a crack at saying fire engine but the words got a bit mangled on the way out of my mouth.

I know I promised that I wouldn't mention wee again, but I'm going to make an exception n this case. Dad took my nappy off after my nap yesterday and commented on the weight. I've just found out that he weighed it for a joke. Apparently it weighed a whole pound. That's 1lb in old money. Quite impressive I think you'll agree. While we're on the subject I'll just mention that I have been going for a wee before my bath every night for ages now.

Sunday 26th January
I still have an achey face with sore teeth. Mum and Dad have taken the unprecedented step of allowing me to have my dummy outside of the bed. This is mainly to stop me gnawing on my fingers which have become very sore now. I have a little blister on one of my fingers which I occasionally show to Dd while making my sad face.

Dad has bought me the best present ever - (but only because it was reduced) - Its a special Sainsburys Train set (Fully compatible with it's much more expensive version). There's lots of pieces - curvy ones and straight ones, and two little trains. I've been playing with it a lot this afternoon. Dad was packing it away while I was going to bed, but I can't help but think that I heard the tell tale sounds of the click clack of train on tracks.

I said "give" today. A very useful word. Hopefully I will learn to say please too.

Saturday 25th January
I have had a rubbish day - It's taken Mum and Dad absolutely ages to work out that my teeth and ears are hurting. Dad noticed that my fingers have gone red at the end. That's because I've been biting them a lot today. I was glad to have a bit of medicine anyhow.

The day wasn't a complete disaster, I did a bit of brick stackery today - I had planned to build an exact replica of the summer palace of the roman emperor Tiberius. When I worked it out I didn't have enough round bricks, so I settled for a great big tower. Dad helped a bit and then we knocked it over.

I did my alphabet puzzle today too - I know ALL the letters by name and I can do the puzzle fairly quickly too if I'm concentrating. No one knows where the X has gone though. I keep pointing at it and shaking my head. Dad looked everywhere for it and he couldn't find it. He's obviously looked everywhere except where it is. Maybe he'll look there tomorrow.

Friday 24th January
It's official: Squirrels now top my all time top ten park animals. I have been watching them in the park with Dad. We saw 5 whole squirrels chasing each other around a tree. I tried hard to jump up to catch them but unfortunately I lack their agility, poise and balance. Also I don't have tree climbing claws.

There was a milk related incident today - Dad gave me a cup of milk in the kitchen and I walked into the lounge. When I came back into the kitchen I gave him an empty milk cup. He was impressed by my speedy milk drinking. What he didn't know until hours later was that I had hidden the full milk cup and given him one that I finished it earlier. The switcheroo - classic and the oldest trick in the book.

I had some lovely visitors today who all brought me presents. The best present ever was from Isobel and Joseph. They gave me a lovely book about diggers. I would like to take this opportunity to recommend it to all my friends. I made Dad read it to me 4 or 5 times. Thank you very much Isobel and Joseph. It's the best book ever.

Thursday 23rd January
I did my brother check first thing this morning - I've found that if I get that first job done then it leaves me free to sort out all my other stuff. He was a little bit upset in the afternoon so I gave him my tractor. He was sitting in his car seat so the tractor only just fitted. I think he was grateful - he doesn't talk very much.

I went to the mother and baby group with Dad again today, and then we went to play with Ben. Ben and I played with his bricks for a while and then we played his piano. We're really rather good. I did the Bass bits and he did the tune.

Dad took me for a walk in the park after my nap. It's been ages since I saw the ducks there. This time I pointed at each one of them and said "Quack - Beak". Just telling Dad - I didn't know if he knew that Bird noses were called beaks.

I've said lots of words today - "CD", "Quick", "Moon", "Mind Out" and "Daddy Wee". Daddy wee has probably got the most laughs out of everything that I've said. I shall be repeating the joke at the earliest opportunity.

Wednesday 22nd January
Dad still hasn't gone back to work so I went to another mother and baby group with him today. He was very popular - all the other mothers asked him lots of questions about Andrew which he answered very proudly. Some of the children asked me questions too, although those questions were more of the "Can I ride the bike that you're sitting on?" or "have you finished with that toast?" variety.

I went into town with Dad and we had to do lots of jobs and running around. Dad took me to GAP to buy me some sale socks and I spilt my quavers on the floor. There were so many jobs to do that I fell asleep in my pushchair which is highly irregular.

I'm missing Mum quite a bit, she is so busy with Andrew and is having to spend lots of time having a nice lie down with him. Dad is lots of fun but he's not Mum. Still - she put Andrew to bed and came down and played with me for ages in the afternoon. Dad took me to see Ben today - Ben was going to come and see us but Mum was asleep so we went there as a kind of a surprise. Ben let me play with his bricks and his shape sorter. Dad had a cup of tea and sat with his back to the door so that I couldn't get out. He did this on purpose. He is starting to see through my clever ruses.

Tuesday 21st January
I was very pleased to see Andrew this morning - I had my milk on the bed at the same time as he was having his and made sure he was comfortable. I was allowed to look after him in the afternoon - I put my hands on either side of his head and looked right at him. For ages.

Dad took me to another Mother and Baby group today - It's nice to have him there - but the real clue is in the title - MOTHER AND BABY. Maybe one day he'll cotton on. He did play with me lots though - mostly we played with the train tracks. Some of the other children stole some of our track - but we didn't mind too much. Dad got one of the bits that the train had already been over and put it down in front of the train. Genius.

I answered the phone in a shop today. I thought it might have been Mama so I said Moo. It wasn't Mama.

We've had some more visitors - we had Simon and Gaye and Toni, Andrew (My favourite Cousin of all) and Jenny. They had brought some presents for me! I've had so many presents since Andrew arrived - I wonder if the two events are connected in some way. My present was a lovely tea set including food! I made sure that Cousin Andrew got most of it. I was, for a brief time, his devoted servant.

Monday 20th January
I still have a brother this morning - it looks as if Andrew will be staying - I'm very glad about that - he's very interesting. I even helped Mum change his nappy today - I spread out a blanket for him to lie on and helped with the cotton wool.

Dad took me to the baby group today - it was very funny - a Man at the baby group? The like has never been seen before. I painted Dad a picture while he ate biscuits in the next door room. Dad forgot my picture and my changing bag and had to go back for them. How embarrassing. Least said soonest mended.

I had a lovely cuddle with Andrew today - I sat on the sofa with Dad and he let me hold Andrew (Dad helped a little bit) I performed my basic 5 point baby check - nose, ears, mouth, no teeth and top of the head. Each one has to be done 4 or 5 times a day, or whenever the opportunity presents itself. A quick stroke is enough to fulfill the checking requirements.

Max and Aleks have been round to visit this evening. There were even presents! I had a lovely puzzle and Andrew had a smelly frog. I have smelly dog and Andrew has smelly frog. Max and Aleks are champions of rhyming toy related purchases. I went to bed very late and I didn't even have a bath - I hope I'll be able to have one tomorrow as I have peanut butter in my hair.

Sunday 19th January
I have another very busy day. Not as busy as yesterday - that was the busiest day ever, as I have already mentioned. Apparently Mum is coming home soon - I can't wait, I've missed her lots - although Grandma has been lots of fun too. I've been playing lots of games in the mornings with Grandma - she is very good at books, bricks and diggers. The three most important types of toys. This morning I had Room on the Broom and brick puzzles. Lovely.

Grandma took me shopping and we left Dad to go and pick Mum up. They remembered to bring my little brother too. He is quite interesting - I checked out his little nose and little ears and his tiny fingers. They all seem in good order. After my nap (and his nap) we all sat on the bed and had some milk - I've noticed that Andrew has a different delivery method than I do. Still - each to their own. He gets lots of nice cuddles with Mum - I've given her a nice hug too. Mum says that I am the best big boy because I was so lovely to Andrew when he came home. Good work me!

Dad took me out to see Max and Aleks in the afternoon and I played a computer game and nearly got to eat a match. I had a little bit of cake instead - that was much nicer, although I couldn't help but notice that Dad's piece of cake was much much bigger than mine.

I'm off to bed and Andrew seems to still be allowed to stay up. I'm not sure if that is quite the correct way that things should be done - I'll have to check the rules with Mum tomorrow.

Saturday 18th January
I have had the busiest day ever. It surpasses all other previous busy days and crushes them to dust. Dad took me to the hospital this morning - I let him have a little lie in - I was very excited because we were going to go and see Mum. I have missed her a lot. I wasn't expecting to see a baby when we got there - I know Dad and Mum had both told me about a baby but I don't think I really believed them. I checked him out, pressed his nose and touched his eyelids and ears and then checked his poppers. He seems ok to me, although he didn't really say very much. I suspect that he won't be much fun until he's a little older, but as soon as I show him the ropes he'll be ok. It was lovely to see Mum, she is going to come home tomorrow sometime - I can't wait. Dad says he might dress me up in a tiny little suit and let me serve food and drinks. I'm not sure he's serious though.

There was another surprise later on in the afternoon - my cousins Sam and Daisy came to visit us in the afternoon. Vic went to see Mum with Grandma and I stayed at home with Dad and Stape and Sam and Daisy. I didn't even have my afternoon nap - I was so excited. We played lots of lovely games all afternoon - I think we drove Dad a little bit mad. I was completely exhausted by the time I got to have my bath. I fell asleep straight away. I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew again tomorrow. He is after all my little brother and I need to look after him properly.

Friday 17th January
I'm up early for some reason. Mum and dad seem to be getting ready to go out and surprise! Grandma is downstairs. I hope there's some grandparent related fun to be had today!

Mum and Dad have both gone out - the've told me that they are going to the hospital. I am staying with grandma. There haven't been too many safety related incidences today - all my usual safety needs have been fulfilled. Fridges, CD cupboards and cookers - someone has been coaching Grandma in the ways of me.

I went to my usual Baby group today, but I went with Grandma. Everyone was very nice to us and for some reason they were all congratulating us for something or other.

Apparently I have a BROTHER! like Sol and some of my other friends. No one tells me anything - I'm always the last to know all kinds of things. Dad eventually came home to put me to bed and he showed me a picture of a baby. I didn't pay it too much attention, but I'm looking forward to meeting him tomorrow.

Thursday 16th January
I'm sorry to report that my cold has made a reappearance. There will be a need to use my new "Tissue" word now. I hope there a few boxes in reserve. I'm very tired as I made the error of being woken up by a nightmare at 5.15 this morning. Dad was there very quickly so top marks for him. He did put me back to bed though and I wasn't quite ready. Mum sat with me for ages - so toppest marks for her. I did eventually let Dad put me back in my own bed after ten minutes of jumping around in theirs. I considered it a fair exchange.

New words today have included "Sticker". I'm very keen on stickers. Dad thinks its hilarious to put a sticker on one of my fingers and laugh as try to get it off. I usually get it stuck to at least 5 or 6 other fingers before I manage to get it stuck on something else that isn't me.

I was grumpy for the rest of the day. It seemed like the thing to do. Hopefully Dad is going to forget to change the barometer (as usual).

Wednesday 15th January
I finished my milk very quickly this morning as there was only half a cup left from the night. I decided that the best person to go and get some more for me would be Dad as he was the one who was actually up. Mum was having some trouble getting into a vertical position, and anyway Dad was near the stairs. I gave him my cup, said "Milk get" and pointed down the stairs. He actually went too. Almost straight away, although he did look rather incredulous.

There's even more words today - "Man", "Tissue" and "Tickle". Being able to say "Tickle" means that I can now request tickles from Dad as and when I need them, rather than Dad having to guess - he possibly does it at random to take me by surprise - I don't know. Anyhow - I asked him for a few test tickles this evening and they all went rather well. Certainly they were most satisfactory from my point of view and Dad seems to enjoy himself as well.

There's not long now until I find out what my new brother looks like. He'd better be fun or there will be questions asked. Mum and Dad have been talking for ages about visiting times. I've been pretending not to take any notice but I've soaked it all up. I shall be visiting between 10.00 and 11.00 on Saturday. I can't wait. But I guess I'll have to.

Tuesday 14th January
I've said some interesting things today and here they are: "Toaster", "Door Shut" and "Milk get". I particularly like the sound of "Milk get". It's a nice thing to chant as I march around the kitchen while Dad is tiptoeing around outside in his socks while he's picking up the milk.

There was a terrible incident today with beegirl. She fell out of the pushchair, into a puddle and under the wheel of the pushchair. Mum managed to rescue her and popped her into the top of the pushchair. When we got home Mum revealed the full extent of the damage to Beegirl - she was completely black all over her face. Mum put her straight into the washing machine and I howled in anguish for twenty minutes or even longer. I lose track of time when i'm howling. Luckily she was clean when she came out of the wash, but I've a feeling it was a close call. I'll be sure to hold onto her much more tightly in the future. It was, after all, all my fault. I may not have learnt my lesson though. We'll have to see.

Monday 13th January
I made Mum stand in the rain for ages today while I was looking at the nice digger that was near the creche. I can't tell you how long we stood there but Mum was bored of it by the time we left. The Creche was great fun today, Mum doesn't even know what we did today. I haven't told her either, those facts are a secret.

In wee related news I did two wees in the toilet today, again, just before my bath. I've lost none of the enthusiasm that I had for it yesterday either. I'm even looking forward to tomorrow's bath time. Hopefully I'll get the chance for another go then. I won't be going on about this weeing thing much more, just rest assured I'll keep you updated on any major developments. I don't think anyone wants a blow by blow account of my toileting habits.

There's a new rule for the throwing toys out of the cot game, if anyone falls out (small bear, smelly dog etc) then they get a hug and a kiss and a sock rubbed in their face. I think you'll agree it's a pretty good rule, and one which can only serve in enhancing the game.

Sunday 12th January
I have reached new and dizzy heights with my brick shape sorting toy. I can now sort not only rows in one colour, but rows from smallest to biggest. When I have done a small to big row I usually like to make the international hand signal for "sloping bricks". This hand signal consists of a diagonal waving move, with a small patting motion at the lower end of the diagonal.

I have been learning to get funky today. Dad took me into a shop where they were playing some music called "James Brown". I didn't know it was possible to move that many parts of my body at one time to the funky funky beat. Not only did it make me feel like getting up and out of my pushchair, it made me feel like getting right down.

I have done the best thing ever today - I had a wee in the toilet. It was just before my bath and I was so pleased and excited about it that I had to have another wee when I got into the bath. I even got a round of applause from Mum and Dad - something that neither Mum or Dad get when they go to the toilet. I think I shall be going to the toilet more often now.

Saturday 11th January
Today has been a very special day, Firstly, Ryan is 3 today, and secondly, I have at last made my debut on the party scene. And what a party it was. It had everything that a really good party should have. There were lots of my friends there and Ryan's Mum and Dad had made a whole load of lovely food. I ate mostly crisps and sweets and chocolate biscuits. There was a huge cake with three candles on, and we sang a special birthday song for Ryan. Ryan was very kind and let everyone play with all his favourite toys for ages. I even had a special box of sweets, cake and toys to take home.

I wore my new digger top as Ryan and I share a love of construction vehicles, and I wore my new shoes but they weren't sticky enough to protect me from the icy and slippery pavements between my house and Ryan's. Eventually Dad had to carry me because I kept falling over. He nearly had to carry Mum too.

Dad took me out shopping in the afternoon. It was freezing so I had to wear my lovely new fur lined coat AND my hat. Dad unfolded the sleeves so that my hands were nice and warm inside the coat sleeves. It did mean that my hands were of absolutely no use to me though. It did make it very difficult to eat my cow biscuit.

There is a lot of tidying, rearranging and putting things in boxes going on today, a lot of toys are being sorted out and some are even going up into the loft. I'm never allowed up into the loft no matter how many times I try and climb up the ladder. I expect there is something really special up there. Perhaps it's a giant golden digger inlaid with Faberge eggs.

Friday 10th January
There was a baby group today at St. Mary's church and I had a lovely time, I did cause a little bit of trouble when Mum took me to the changing room to change my nappy and I turned the light off so that I could say "Dark". Unfortunately it was very dark and Mum didn't even know where the light switch was.

I've got some new shoes. They are newer than my old new shoes as I only got them today. My feet have grown to a size 5g. That's one bigger than my feet were last time. They shoe shop people even took a picture of me in my new shoes which I expect will make it to the pictures page at some point.

Dad has been measuring me today so that he knows how high to put up some new shelves - I suppose he wants to make sure that I can't reach up to them. I am 2 foot 9 inches high and I have a maximum height reach of 3 foot 2 inches.

Thursday 9th January
There have been a lot of words today. I have said "Beak" (penguins beak - and ducks), "Milk" and "Water" - both very useful words and lastly "Comb". I can sort of use the comb on my hair, but it usually tends to be a tapping thing that I do with it rather than an actual combing thing. At this rate I will know just about every words that there is by this time next month.

Mum took me to bump and bounce today, we had to go to a whole lot of other boring non baby related places first though. I went on my usual set of slidey steps in the far corner of the ball pool. I'm not very keen on going on the other things - I'm quite happy with the business of going up and down the steps. Mum is very kind and stands in the corner with me just to keep her eye on me.

Every time Dad comes home recently I have to shout "Daddy-guh" for at least half an hour. This evening I shouted it for nearly 45 minutes. Sometimes I accompany the shouting with a bit of marching around the room and sometimes I accompany it with cheeky grins and a bit of pointing. Dad says I am a cheeky monkey. I make monkey noises.

Wednesday 8th January
Dad has made a lovely new shop for me today. It means that I can recommend all my very favourite books, cds and toys (in association with amazon) so that, if they like, my friends can buy them. There's a link for the shop at the top of this page. See where it says "shop"? That's where it is. The old shop is now called merchandise and still contains all the quality babyblog products that you would expect.

I went to the first baby group of the year today. It was nice to see my old favourite slide and see-saw again. My friend Sol was there and apparently we played very nicely. Then we all had to do the hokey-cokey. I'm never really sure about that particular dance. I usually do it sitting on Mum's bump.

It is snowing again. I had been promised a look and by the time my bath was finished I was getting a bit frantic. Dad let me stand on his window sill after my bath so that I could see it. To be honest it was a bit of a let down - it just looks like a load of white stuff. Lets hope it settles on the ground so that I can have a proper look at it tomorrow when the sun is out. Dad loves the snow. Mum isn't so keen.

I'm off to browse in my shop now.

Tuesday 7th January
Dad let me wear his socks this morning - They nearly come up to the top of my legs, so they look a little bit odd. Dad was laughing because my pyjama's were bunching up around my knees. He said I looked like a tiny weeny 18th century fopp.

I got caught with my hands in the cookie tin this morning. Quite literally. Dad was washing up and I was sitting on the chair next to the table. I just though I'd have a little investigate in the tin and Dad turned round. My hands were actually just inside the tin. I stayed absolutely still. I didn't even look at him. He laughed at me and went back to the washing up. The next time he turned round I was eating a cookie and then it was I who did the laughing.

We saw Josh and Ryan's Mum today and she gave me a beautiful present. It's a lovely book called "My New Baby". It doesn't have any words - only pictures, but it seems to be the story of a little boy - who's name, according Mum AND Dad (On seperate occasions and without prompting) seems to be Peter. Now THAT is a coincidence. Mum and Dad have both read it to me several times. In the story the little boy (Peter) helps his Mum and Dad to look after another little baby all day, and then when the baby has gone to bed Mum and Dad read the little boy a story. The whole thing seems a little bit unlikely.

Monday 6th January
I told Mum that I needed my nappy changed today. She was very pleased and proud of me. I informed Mum of the current state of my underwear by pointing at my pants and nodding. Later on in the day I learned to say "poo". I'm not sure if this is a subject which I wish to be discussed at any great length in this particular place so I'll leave it at that. Although I have to say that this will give me more nappy related jokes to play on Dad when we're out.

I've got a new name for Mama - It's Mum-buh. This is clearly different from Mum-Bee (Mum). I said it today when I was pointing at the cow on the biscuit I was eating at the time. Mama likes cows a lot you see and I always make my cow noise at her down the phone when she requests it. I'm devoted to making cow noises at Mama.

I'm also devoted to blaming any breaches of security on Dad. If the fridge is left unlocked or there are cds loose or the Stereo cupboard is open or if the Stair gate has been left unlocked, then I always shout "DADDY!!". It's usually his fault - if only because he's always the one that rushes to correct the error.

Sunday 5th January
I've resolved not to change out of my pyjama's today. It's too cold and I'm too ill to risk wearing clothes in case that means that I have to go outside. After yesterday's freezing walk, I've decided that I won't go outside until it's sunny. Or at least until there's a baby group of some kind to go to.

I said "seagull" and "see" today. Both useful words. I gave seagull a "seagirl" type pronunciation - a bit like beegirl. I also gave it an extra "guh" at the end just in case. "Sea-guh-guh" - you can never have enough "guh"'s at the end of words.

I'm feeling a little bit better this afternoon - (still in my pyjama's - although they are a brand new clean pair). I'm still a bit clingy and cuddly - It's one of those days where I'm not sure whether I want to build towers or let Dad do it and smash them down. It's a funny sort of mood. Dad has put up some shelves in the front room so that I can have somewhere to put my toys and books. I had some fun arranging the books. I was very insistent that my digger had pride of place on it's own on the top shelf. That place is reserved for special toys only.

Saturday 4th January
I'm afraid there's not much to tell today - I'm even illerer than yesterday - I wouldn't have thought that it was possible but it is true.

The best thing about today was that there was some snow outside. I haven't seen snow before (as far as I'm aware) and It looked like funny stuff to me. I looked at it from inside and then later on when we went for a walk I looked at it from outside. Dad let me hold some. I wasn't expecting it to be cold so I put it down. I didn't enjoy my walk very much because it was so cold. I had to go home with Mum because my face was getting chilly.

A new bed has arrived in the house. We have borrowed it from Ben. It is too small for me so I expect it's for the new baby. It's a lovely looking cot - very comfortable. I tried it but my feet stuck out of the end and got a bit stuck.

Friday 3rd January
I've been very floppy today - a bit like a boy with no bones and a bit like a boy with 8 sticky arms. I haven't let Mum put me down all day. I even ate my lunch - (which I didn't even eat) - while I was sitting on Mum's bump. I've been stroking my throat and hitting my ears to indicate the areas of my poor sick body feel the worst. I had lots of medicine, which made me feel a bit better. There is goo too.

I've said a few new words today - "Butter" and "Medicine". I'm sure they will come in useful at some time. Medicine will be especially useful - I'd rather have medicine than butter. Although I did lick all the butter off my biscuit at tea time. Hmmmm butter.

In other news the birth of my brother has been rescheduled to the 17th of January. The 16th of January just wasn't very convenient for us so Mum rang the hospital. They were very helpful. That's two weeks today!

Thursday 2nd January
What can I tell you? Illness is still around and I am feeling rather gooey. There's coughs and dribbles everywhere. Other people beware - I am infectious.

Dad had to go back to work today so he was gone for all the time that he is supposed to play with me. Mum had to play with me instead, I think I may have tired her out a little bit. She took me for a walk in the park and that accursed plant jumped out at me again. I won't even walk anywhere near it these days. I'm hoping that the next time we go to the park that Dad will knock it right over so that it need never trouble small people ever again.

I had a funny nap time today - I fell asleep at my lunch time and woke up not long afterwards. I think it's to do with being ill. Mum says I'll feel better tomorrow. I hope she does too - she still has a terrible cough. The new baby is getting a really bumpy ride. Still it's not long before he is due to pop out.

Wednesday 1st January
I'm even iller today. I've got a nasty cough I can tell you. Dad took me for a walk today - it was raining. Marvelous. I trod in a massive big puddle and the water got into my shoes. Dad had to rescue me from the middle of the water.

There have been more words today - I said "big" because one of my cars wouldn't fit on my click clack track and I said "toast" too. Words are cool. I can at least partially explain myself now. I going to get Dad to start a new words page - something with graphs and stuff would be nice.

I've been helping Dad do the numbers puzzle. I put the puzzle pieces next to their holes and then I let him fit them in. He sometimes needs a little encouragement to get them in right - I have to take hold of his hand and pull it to the piece. A growl can encourage him further. Between us we get it done quite quickly. Number 8 is my favourite of all the numbers - well - out of the top ten numbers anyway.

.o·•O0¨°¨0O•·o.