One step, two step...

I cannot express how proud I am of my son right now. I am so excited to be able to say that we have just witnessed Dexter take his first steps all by himself!

He has been able to stand unsupported for a while now but today he attempted for the first time to make a break for it and managed several wobbly steps before he lost his balance :)

Santa, I was a very good boy all year (honest!)

Being only 6 weeks old at the time, Dexter was completely oblivious to Christmas last year. I think he slept through most of it, and it was mummy and daddy who had to open all his presents.But this year was different!

For the first time ever, this year all gifts were wrapped and left out of sight instead of going straight under the tree. The look on his little face on Christmas morning coming down to the view of presents, presents and more presents was amazing! He'd already nailed the art of ripping off wrapping paper on his birthday last month so he was totally ready for the challenge :) 

After a tiring morning being spoiled it was time for a nap. We wanted to make sure he was well rested before we all got dolled up to head out for Christmas dinner with the family. We wondered if it was brave or just stupid of us to think it would be a good idea to take a 1 year old out in public to eat a 3-course dinner. But he loved it, was soooo well behaved and probably devoured the most out of all of us haha

He slept like a log that night and caught up on all his beauty sleep ready for another busy day ahead. On Boxing day we were invited to spend the day with Dexter's favourite cousin, Chloe and the family. He enjoyed having someone to play with and as they don't get to see him very often, auntie Kelly & uncle Craig seemed to enjoy having him round for the day. He certainly made himself at home!

My first painting for mummy & daddy

My Christmas Tree

Created in Dexter's first settle session at nursery 05.12.13

The Birthday Party

Only being a year old, of course Dexter had no idea what Sunday 10th November 2013 was going to hold in store.... so much so that he decided to have a lie in! But when he did finally stir I went downstairs ahead to capture his reaction.

 Present opening took up so much of our morning. You cannot rush a one year old haha

He seemed to like what we got him...

Then after a much needed nap (present opening is tiring, you know!) we got the birthday boy dressed up in his party clothes and ready to face his public.

The day went really well and this lucky little boy received lots of fab gifts and cards!! The three of us want to say a massive thank you everyone who came and made our little man's first birthday a special day to remember xx

One Year Old!!

Well, what can I say? It doesn't seem two minutes since the day that my little man entered this world and yet so much has happened that it almost seems like a lifetime ago at the same time. But here we are, 1 year on... and what an amazing year it has been. Dexter has brought so much joy to our lives over the past 12 months and we struggle to remember what life was like before he came along!

Dexter over the the past 12 months

It's unbelievable how much he has changed, in every aspect. He has grown so big and strong, developed new skills and a fantastic personality but most of all his appearance has altered so much so that he is almost unrecognisable to the baby I brought home :) although he was totally gorgeous the day he was born and this is one thing that has never changed.

(Is it sad that it makes me cry watching this...?)

Mummy & daddy love you loads baby bear!! Happy 1st birthday xxxxxxxxxxxx

Lights! Camera! Action!

Having a portrait done has been an idea we've had for a while now, but we wanted to wait until Dexter was a little bit older and more active as we felt that we would get a better result in the end. So a couple of weeks ago we took Dexter for a photo shoot at Capture Portraits in Sowerby Bridge.

And what a lovely experience it was... it took Dexter only a few minutes to get past being shy in a strange place and in the company of a strange person and once he was off, boy was he off! Half an hour of 3 adults (the photographer, Shane and myself) crawling around a studio floor trying to keep up with 1 small boy must have been quite a sight and I think me & Shane found it more tiring than Dexter did haha

But it was lots of fun and the end result was definitely worth it....

 These are just a few of the selection, but there were so many brilliant shots to choose from on the day. We struggled to just pick one or two and ended up coming away 13!

Eleven Months Old

Just where has 11 months gone? Every day Dexter seems to somehow look different, like he's changed, or gotten older... which of course he has, but he literally does just grow overnight! and is now comfortably wearing clothes of 1-1 1/2 years.

The most change this past month has been with regards to personality. Over the last few weeks Dexter has become so affectionate giving the cutest cuddles every morning when we get him out of bed, snuggling up to us to watch TV... he is just so lovely to be around at the moment.

Dexter can cruise the furniture like lightening these days, however we still seem a way off those first steps without holding on. Maybe not as far off as we think though. Although there have been no attempts at walking unaided, Dexter is getting braver and quite often let's go when he is up on his feet and can stand well balanced with no help at all! Big boy!

Despite our best efforts to encourage another word into Dexter's vocabulary, we have still had no luck getting that all important dada yet. Or hiya. But he waves lots now (when he feels like it, anyway).

I'm already getting so excited for next month now, planning and preparing! Blimey, it will his birthday before we know it... we've even made a start on buying some presents. Although I'm sure Dexter would be thrilled with just the boxes and wrapping paper :)

Dexter @ 11 months

Ten Months Old

My beautiful son turns 10 months old today and is so grown up!

Following a routine visit from our Health Visitor a few weeks ago we were extremely happy to be told that Dexter is not only on track, but actually ahead of where they would expect him to be at this age. And as he continues to steadily gain weight we had him measured for the first time too... I can no longer call my little munchkin a little munchkin anymore. Not now that I know he is 2ft 6in tall !!!!!!

Dexter has come on leaps and bounds with his mobility this past month. After mustering the strength to pull himself up on to his knees last month, shortly after came standing... and since he cracked it he's only happiest when he can be on his feet!

First time pulling himself to his feet.... oooh he is a bit wobbly

And seeing as he was getting plenty of practice, it wasn't long after mastering standing up that Dexter began cruising the furniture.

He is such a fast little mover now, I just know that once he dares to let go he will be able to outrun me, yikes! haha I can't believe how fast things are changing and I love celebrating each new milestone my little man reaches.

Dexter @ 10 months old

My first shoes

Today, we took a little trip to Clark's to buy Dexter his first pair of proper shoes (well, cruisers)! He was so well behaved whilst the lady measured his feet and poked around to make sure his toes were in the right place. And from the smile on his face we think he liked them :)

 Dexter Fleming's first shoes, size 3½F

Nine Months Old

Today, Dexter turns 9 months old and it seems as if so much has happened over the last month. In addition to getting my first mama a few days ago, my little guy is becoming quite the explorer....that's right, we now have a crawler on our hands. And with this new found freedom and desire to 'investigate' absolutely everything, saying you need eyes in the back of your head is an understatement.

Dexter is also getting so much better at manoeuvring and in the last few weeks has not only figured out how to get from a crawling position to a sitting position but now he can also pull himself upright on to his knees. Next step, on to his feet & then he'll be off!!

Lastly, on our previous monthly update we informed you all that Dexter had teeth numbers 5 & 6 making their way through... it became apparent a week or so later that teeth numbers 7 & 8 were also pushing through the surface!! No wonder my little man has been a bit grumpy for a few weeks, he must be in so much pain :( But oh my god, how cute is that smile going to look with a full set of front teeth :D 

Dexter @ 9 months

Dexter is such an independent little character now with a clear mind of his own - although this is not always a good thing, he can be so defiant sometimes lol but I am so proud to say he is mine! xx

My First Word

So today, I got what I had been waiting for. What all mummies wait for. Baby's first word.

And it just melted my heart to hear that first word was mama xx

Dinner time: self-service

The sense of pride you feel when you witness your child feed himself an entire meal, plus dessert and a drink for the first time is something only a parent would understand :)

First let's tackle this ravioli... it's a bit slippery...

Drink? Yes, please daddy!

Oooohhh, strawberries!! Don't mind if I do.

And the fact that after dusting down Dexter & the high chair this was the only mess on the floor, he obviously did a sterling job of getting the majority of it in his mouth. Clever boy! :D

Every day I'm shuffling....

Eight Months Old

Today my handsome chappy is eight months old and becoming less 'baby' and more 'little boy' each day. It's amazing how grown up he is becoming and how fast he is changing.

• Dexter has been very vocal for months but this past few weeks his babbling has really stepped up a notch with plenty of mamamama and dadadada sounds coming out. He can be such a little chatterbox sometimes, it's adorable. I'm looking forward to getting that first definitive mama now :)

• Teething has been on the agenda again this month and Dexter now has both of his front top teeth poking through plus the ones at either side of those are also starting to make their appearance. He seems to be dealing with it all really well though, he's a little tough nut!

• The final milestone we're on the verge of cracking is crawling!! Dexter is extremely, mobile spinning round on his tummy and rolling across every square inch of our living room floor, but every day we're getting closer to him making the next leap. He get's onto his hands & knees... bum in air... bounces up & down to gather momentum... then just ends up pushing himself backwards. But it's only a matter of time before it clicks and he'll be off....

Every time he learns something new it's so exciting and yet slightly saddening too. He is becoming so independent so quickly, it makes me very proud but at the same time I would love to keep him my baby forever!

Dexter at 8 months old

Dexter goes to the seaside!

Daddy took some time off work this week so we could spend it together as a family and what better way to spend the time than taking Dexter on his first proper road trip.... to the seaside!!!

 

Seven Months Old

Why is it when you have children that time seems to just speed up?! Seven months old... wow!!

Although Dexter has been able to sit upright for weeks now it was staying upright that was the problem. Damn those wobbles that make falling over inevitable! But now, after plenty of practice, he can confidently support himself :) even with no hands so those little fingers are free to explore.

Now that Dexter can roll in both directions, turn himself around (and his hands are into everything!!) there is just no keeping him still. It's risky business leaving him unattended these days, you never know whereabouts he will be when you return. Let the baby-proofing commence, haha!

Dexter has been coming along a treat with self-feeding at meal times. He's making more selections for himself from his tray, getting loads better at aiming for his mouth and even managing to work out how to get to those pesky bits of food that are hidden inside his clenched fist rather than just dropping them on the floor :) His coordination has improved so much, he seems so grown up watching him at the dinner table.

And in final news it would seem that our little man is in the process of getting some top teeth to go with those bottom ones! There's no tooth visible yet but it won't be long before it breaks the surface we think xx