Getting stronger every day!

After weeks of tummy time just being Dexter flapping about like a seal with his face planted into the floor, his muscles are now getting stronger and our perseverance has finally paid off.....

Four Months Old

Four months...where on earth does the time go??!! (and the day has been spent pampering me, for today is my first Mother's Day as a mummy) Every day Dexter is looking less & less like the baby I brought home and more & more like a proper little boy :o) I just can't keep up with how quickly he grows...

Following Dexter's grizzly period last week, it seemed to disappear as quickly as it appeared. When you are used to your baby sleeping through the night & being quite independent it's a bit of a shock when this suddenly is undone.... but thankfully we have our old Dexter back and I'm looking forward to helping him learn all the new things he will now be capable of doing.

• After accomplishing his first roll a couple of weeks ago Dexter now loves to show off his new skill. His favourite time to practice is when he is undressed. Whenever his legs feel free he decides to make a break for it. It's lovely but needless to say it now makes nappy changing a bit of a challenge.

• Meal times are now to become family time. As he is able to sit up more comfortably, Dexter has started to join us at the dinner table. He doesn't eat anything yet, but we're hoping it will get him used to it for when we do start to introduce food. Hopefully he is just enjoying being involved for the time being.

• Dexter's coordination is coming along nicely and he is able to appreciate his toys a bit more now that he can reach out to grab them and actually keep hold of them (it's getting him to let go of things that's now the problem haha). This is his current favourite...

Every single day with Dexter is a new experience. I just love seeing him develop and I always wonder what he is going to do next....

The four month regression!

It's so common there's even a phrase for it: the four month regression. Apparently it's completely normal that Dexter is currently going through a grizzly phase, it's all part of his mental development.

What we are experiencing is one (of many to come) of the so called Wonder Weeks. Dexter's world as he knows it is currently being turned upside down in order to prepare his brain for the next stage of learning. Ok, so he's a bit clingy and grumpy during the day and he's having disturbed sleep at night, but who wouldn't be going through such an upheaval.

The good news is that once this storm has passed he will go back to being the baby we know & love but a more improved version as he will then be ready to learn so many new things and develop new skills.....something I'm very much looking forward to. Watch this space!!

On a roll...(sort of)

Tonight, Dexter made a breakthrough in the first stages to becoming more mobile....

We were on the floor together playing and for a few moments I got distracted (we were watching penguins on TV). When I looked back, Dexter had managed his very first roll!!!! or at least a half roll, from his back to his side :)

I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke so I rolled him back and laid next to him for encouragement. Once again, he managed to roll onto his side and face me.

I started yelling up the stairs "Shane, Shane come and look at this" thinking you know full well he won't do it for me now *rolls eyes* but yet again, he rolled onto his side and just laid there for a few moments before rolling himself back.

YAY! my big grown up boy, I'm so proud of him xx

Three Months Old

Another month has passed us by and today, our beautiful son has been out in the world and part of our family for 3 whole months!! Here are the latest developments:

• I am pleased to say that for the past month, Dexter has consistently slept through the night. Mummy & daddy are more than happy to get so much sleep and we're so proud of our little man for getting to this stage so quickly.

• As his muscles are getting stronger now, when pulled into a sitting position Dexter can keep himself upright and support his own weight (obviously with a little help). He much prefers being upright now so he can see everything, he's so nosey.

• Dexter seems to have well & truly found is voice now and he's not afraid to use it!! He loves to make noise and exercise his vocal chords these days, it's very cute... but he usually he decides to start when you reeeaaalllyy want to watch something on TV haha. He now also knows the difference between when he needs to cry to show he needs something and when to just SHOUT because he wants something. My clever little monkey :)

Over a month has passed since Dexter had his check-up at the doctors but a couple of days ago, finally, we got another weigh-in when the health visitor came round. We knew he was growing by the day as Dexter started wearing his 3-6 month clothing over 3 weeks ago now but we were more than pleased to find out that he now weighs 14lb 6.5oz!!!

My little boy is growing up so fast and as sad as it is that he is no longer my tiny newborn baby, each new milestone we are heading towards makes the future so exciting. I can't wait to see what comes next.... xx

Two Months Old

Today Dexter is 2 months old!! and every day he is changing & developing into a slightly more advanced little version of himself. He never ceases to amaze me. Here is what has been happening:

• In the days following that beaming smile that I was so ecstatic to see, came laughter. An absolutely wonderful sound and one I never get tired of hearing. In fact, he has become much more vocal in general and it's so sweet when he babbles & coos back at me when I talk to him.

• Discovering the world through his mouth seems to have begun as recently his fists and fingers are permanently being chewed. Before long he'll be able to grasp toys and I imagine they'll go straight in there too.

• Those super-strong legs that do so much kicking and wriggling can now support his weight (and based on him being 12lb 1oz at his check-up last week that's a lot of weight to support)

• Bath time is now held in the big boy bath & Dexter loves the water... it's when you take him out that he gets grumpy. I can't wait until we can start taking him swimming (I already have a little surfer swimsuit for him)

Dexter had his first set of injections yesterday and my little man was dead brave! He cried a little whilst it was happening but settled quickly once it was over, I'm so proud of him. I couldn't look and daddy had to hold him, I think mummy was more upset than Dexter was by the whole ordeal.

........Love you, baby boy!! xxx.....

Our first family Christmas

Christmas 2012:

Our first Christmas as a family

Well, the festive season has been and gone for another year and considering our 6 week old son had already been bought everything he would be needing, and more, for the foreseeable months, he still managed to accumulate a fair amount in the way of presents and cards (not to mention money!)

Thanks to our generous family and friends who sent gifts for Dexter, it was very much appreciated.

With Dexter still being so young he had absolutely no idea what was going on around him and what the significance of the day was, but we still enjoyed dressing him up and obviously the excitement of it all must have been very tiring hehe...

I can't wait until next year when he is a bit more aware of it all xx