Ugboo

It's been probably well over half of Isaac's lifetime since I last wrote a blog entry, so thats not very good at all. He has probably developed quite a few new skills since last time, and he's certainly packed on a few more pounds. I think he is about 7.6kg.

We just got back from lunch with the baby gang, I met a few of the people that have just been names until now. Colwyn and Gavin were very agreeable people. Gavin is making a video diary of Duran Duran which sounded pretty fun. Following Duran Duran around the world witha video camera, hmmm thats hard work.

Anyway, Isaac showed off by grinning and giggling at everyone - out of the group he seems to be the most socially engaging. The others have their skills of course but Isaac just beams at people all the time (as long as he is in the mood). He also sat in one of the high-chairs that they have at Cafe Amsterdam and ate a bit more baby rice!! Then after lunch Clare changed him, after which he did an enormous poo and I went to change him again.

We had a babysitter last night, and got nice and drunk at Kate's (from Kate and Pep) birthday. Was nice to get out and leave the tinker at home for once.

Now I have to read about investment funds, as we have a financial advisor, i mean, Wideboy, coming round on Monday night to tell us some interesting stuff and dodge questions.

I forgot to list Isaac's injuries today so far: Banged head on floor while sitting with Clare on rug; got his leg caught bent back under me whilst sat at lunch; got his leg stuck through the bars of his cot just now. He is officially 'in the wars' for the first time.

3 more weeks have gone by

well yes, 3 more weeks have gone by. We went to France for a week with Kate and Pep and little Oscar (18 months) - had a really lovely time. It was a bit of a taste of what is to come - he is very high energy and demanding, but also a very sweet, lovely little boy. I can't imagine Isaac actually running around and talking though.

Developmentally, he learned to suck his thumb last week. He was exploring his mouth with his fingers, and I guess he must have realised his thumb was rather tasty. The only problem is he splays all his other fingers and keeps poking himself in the eye! He is also getting stronger and sits up better (with support). We bought him a highchair at the weekend and he can sit in that well for 5 mins or so. He also sits and plays with his play cube if I have him wedged between my knees - he is beginning to learn about balance I think. He also rolled over for the first time last week. He did it accidentally, as I had showed him how if he lies on his side he can reach his toys with both hands, so he started doing that and then suddenly flopped on to his belly - and then cried as he hates 'tummy time'! He hasn't done it since.

We tried to give him a bottle when we were in France, as I wanted a couple of nights of uninterupted sleep. We discovered that some time in the last 2 months he has decided he doesn't like bottles :( We have tried to give him one every day since, first of formula and now of breast milk, but he just played about with it and cried until 2 days ago when he drunk 60ml from Jamie holding it. But then yesterday he refused again, and tonight he took 30ml from me but it took 30 mins! I hope we can convert him soon as I can't really go out now. And I am thinking of going back to work quite soon too.

3 months 8 days

A lot has happened since the last entry. We went to the UK for 2 weeks to take Isaac to meet all his relatives - it was really lovely though a bit tiring. He has now met everybody except the great aunts and uncles (and he has even met two of those) which isn't bad for a 3 month old who lives abroad.

Anyway, he has also developed a lot in the last month. He is sitting chatting to me right now in fact. He has a lot more sounds and understands the concept of communication now I think. He also smiles a lot and giggles and chuckles, which is heart-melting.

It is now Wednesday. Isaac is absolutely desperate to sit up this week - he pulls on everything, and if you hold his fingers he pulls up to sitting and even to standing really easily now. He is also pushing up better on his front and seems a bit more happy on his belly. I have been teaching him to roll over but he doesn't really get it yet. He laughs when I push him over though!

He is also copying what I say more. He said 'boo' yesterday after I had repeated it too him several (hundred) times, and he also did a kind of brrmmm noise, with lots of bubbles involved!

He seems generally much more coordinated and deliberate in his actions - grabbing things and manipulating them easily. He finds pressing buttons hard still, but I am not sure if he has quite connected the buttons with the noises they make yet so that might be why. He has an 'activity cube' that his great aunt barbara (seems funny to call her that!!) gave him and he can spin the 'barrel' thing deliberately and easily. We are still working on the other 5 sides!

Oh, one thing that I want to note from holiday, is that when we were queuing for passport control in England the car was stationery for ages, and Isaac hates his car seat so he started screaming. We put on his nursery rhyme cd that he listens to every day at home, and within 10 seconds he was quiet. You can of course never tell if they are actually taking in something like that, but evidently he was and he finds it soothing. No wonder he is usually so good in the mornings!

don't play with your flab

we are on holiday in england - that seems like a strange concept in itself! We are down in Weymouth at the moment with Jamie's parents, and have had a lovely few days visiting his grandparents and also my dad and Sarah in Bournemouth, and having a BBQ in the garden etc. Weather has been great - very sunny and warm, and Isaac has been enjoying looking at the leaves and the blue sky and green of the grass - he seems to be fascinated by gardens.

Jamie and I went out for a meal this evening and Miranda and Chris babysat Isaac. When we got back we found him up and feeding from a bottle of expressed milk - he usually doesn't eat in the night til 3 or 4 am, and this was 11pm. hmmm - playing up already! Anyway, he is back in bed now and seems to be sleeping alright.

We wanted to write down a particular theory / observation that we concocted this evening about Isaac - only we had too much to drink and now we can't remember it. maybe tomorrow.

It is great to have a child, even if it has left me with an extra stone of flab - and Jamie seems to have extra flab too even though he only observed the process!!!

He seems like he is quite sensitive to people's faces and emotions - like he knows if someone is genuinely interested in him or not.

Jeans!

isaac in his first pair of jeans!

And that will be Clare's boobs behind. Lucky boy.

Note to self (Clare)

My menstrual cycle has resumed normal operation. Splendid. 10 weeks, 6 days since D-Day.

grabber

Just a quick note that Isaac is really grabbing well at things now - if you give him a toy he grasps it with both hands and clasps it to his chest or starts to explore it a bit. Kate has lent us a few new toys and he was really getting to grips with them.

He is also playing with his 'speeltuin' although he isn't really looking at it when he hits the buttons, so I guess it is all rather random still. He is also smiling and giggling more, and looks at me even when someone else is holding him (even when he is with jamie sometimes!).

He has also taking to waking up suddenly from daytime naps and screaming as if he has just been stung by a bee. Not sure what that is all about. But he has been sleeping really well at night for about 2 weeks now too - he sleeps from 7.30pm to between 6.30 and 7.30am, waking only once between 2 and 3am for food. Long may it last..

Clare finally had her baby today after being sent home from the hospital rather than being induced last week. She was induced instead on Monday morning 8am and gave birth at 2.30 this morning (wednesday) to her son, Luka Alexander. 4.3kg and another boy - that means everyone in my yoga class - Julia (Joop), Jelena (Bruno), Tara (Finn), Clare (Luka) and me - all had boys! Weird.