Baby Update – Happy First Birthday Freddie!

Baby Update – Happy First Birthday Freddie!

Aww Happy First Birthday Freddie! You’ve been here a whole 12 months, a year. It’s whizzed by but it feels like you’ve always been here.

You’re our last baby

Our heaviest baby

My biggest bump

The one that made us wait the longest

Being baby number three we should know what we’re doing, but it seems that each and every baby throws our lives into turmoil until we find our ‘new normal’.

I had the perfect natural water birth that I wanted which was definitely ‘third time lucky’, and being a surprising 8lb 5oz so we just about squeezed him into the clothes we’d packed.

I’ve just gone back to work for a couple of days a week which I can’t lie, I struggle leaving him but the day goes quick and he’s pleased to see me when I’m back.

I think Freddie’s our most inquisitive. We had stair gates with the other two but never needed cupboard locks. Freddie loves nothing more than to be rummaging in a cupboard, switching the sky box or plugs on and off or yanking wires. You could give him all the toys in the world and he’d still make a beeline for things that he’s not allowed to touch.

New Stuff

• Spitting – what’s that all about. He’ll be crawling around the room and then just stops to spit on the floor before crawling on. So gross!
• Shhhh – he puts his finger up to his mouth to say ssshhhhh
• Climbing on the sofa
• Waving and saying bye or hiya
• Kissing – so cute
• Saying ‘what’s this’ or ‘what’s that’
• Terrorising the dog. The poor dog who has so much patience as Freddie climbs on his bed, pulls his fur or not so gently pats him
• Saying Belle in his own way – Bey

Teething

We had a bad couple of nights and a day where he was such a grumpy boy which is so unusual for him and then when I was fishing a bit of paper out of his mouth I found two back teeth, one on each side at the top which I think were the culprit. He goes off his food when he’s teething so I’ve been making him some ice lollies made with yoghurt and fruit to ease his gums.

Play

Freddie is such fun now. He loves to play and has cracked the stacking rings to a tee. He loves his shape sorter and gets frustrated when he can’t put the circle in the square hole. We have some toys upstairs and some downstairs which I rotate so that he’s excited to see some of the toys that he hasn’t played with for a while. We brought Isabelle’s wooden kitchen downstairs which was supposed to be temporary but Freddie really loves it so it’s stayed downstairs. It’s looking a bit worn so I’m going to jazz it up once the weather realises that it’s supposed to be summer.

Growth

I haven’t had Freddie weighed since he had his review but he’s started to fit into some of his 12 – 18 month clothes. He still has gorgeous chubby baby legs which I love to squish.

Weaning

Freddie’s still loving his food. He’s such a messy eater but enjoys all the new flavours and textures. His favourite fruit at the moment is melon and he seems to like pasta in any form. He likes to feed himself and is learning to use a spoon. However, I gave him a baby fork that I found in the drawer and he uses this really well so he’s been having that each mealtime at the moment.

Now he’s one it’s easier to give him the same as us minus salt etc which means I’m not having to cook separate meals, but there are lots more recipes that I want to try him with so it will be a bit of both.

Feeding

Yep we’re still breastfeeding and have no plans to stop at the moment. He’s happy, I’m happy so all is good.

Sleeping

His sleep had started to get better but recently it’s gone to pot again thanks to four back teeth on their way through. Fingers crossed this settles down again soon. I’m thinking of giving his cot a go. Chris has wanted this for a while but as we’re breastfeeding it’s been easier for me having him right there when he wakes up for a feed, plus he goes straight back to sleep.

I would like to get my evenings back though so it might be time to give it a go.

This year has gone so fast and we’ve loved it all. He’s brought so much mess, noise and hardwork but he’s the final piece in our jigsaw and worth all of it.