When does Toddlerhood start?

This week Cora has started walking.  It has been six weeks since she took those first unsteady steps between two adults she trusts, but only six days since she started really walking.  There were weeks of nervous steps between people or furniture but this week she has decided she is happier on foot and has barely crawled since she made the decision.  She still looks a little wobbly, still falls over a lot, especially on uneven surfaces and she still looks immensely proud of every step she takes.

With eleven little white teeth filling Cora's mouth, her smile looks much older than her brothers at the same age.  Her hair is just about long enough to make little pigtails and she loves playing peekaboo.  From the outside Cora looks very much like a toddler.

When she curls up in my lap for milk, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly falls into a land of dreams, her chubby little hands resting delicately on my top, her legs tucked up so that she is fully encased in my arms, her chest rising and falling next to mine, she seems so small still, a baby.

At 13 months Cora isn't talking yet but she is definitely understanding more and more.  She is trying to master a spoon and fork with varying success and she is getting pretty good at climbing.  Sleep is still a challenge and she is far from sleeping 'through the night'. She eats food on her terms and breastfeeds regularly.  It feels like she swaps between being a baby and a toddler several times a day and I think we are now in that transitional phase.

Each of my babies have been so different at this same age, some definitely entering the world of toddlerhood, others were definitely still babies.  I think the baby / toddler divide is determined more by milestones than age, and I am sad that my last baby is leaving behind another stage, that I will never have a little baby of my own again.  I love this little toddler that she is becoming though, so determined, so funny, so inquisitive.  

Where do you think the divide between baby and toddler lies?

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18 months of Finn

Finn is now 18 months and it is just an amazing age.  There are things I love about every stage of course, but this one is so much fun.  This month he finally started walking and watching the concentration and pride on his face is just brilliant.  In all the photos I take of him walking he has a giant smile and that is because he really does walk around looking that happy!  He is leaving behind the baby stage and turning into a toddler.

At 18 months Finn only has a few words, but they include Cheeeeeeeese which he says as he picks up my phone and gives it his cheesiest smile.  You know you are a bloggers child when taking a selfie is the first thing you do! His lack of words he makes up for in his singing and he just loves to sing.  He is the most musical of my babies and you can tell what he is trying to sing from the tune and the hand actions.  When he isn't singing he loves to dance, always with a big smile of course.

At 18 months Finn is an amazing and caring big brother.  He couldn't love his little sister more, giving her cuddles and kisses all the time and stroking her hair.  I always pictured Finn as the baby of the family so I never imagined this was an adjustment he would have to make.  He has taken to it so smoothly and I couldn't be prouder.

At 18 months Finn has come so far from the fragile newborn that he was.  He was so tiny and ill for so long that I never dreamed that he would be so solid and strong at this age.  He weighs around 27lb, he wears age 12-18 clothing and his feet are size 4.  He is determined, he is starting to puzzle solve, he loves shape sorters and anything and everything with wheels.  He is desperate to be big like his brothers and looks so proud when he is included.  He knows that Cora is destined to be his playmate and he is impatient for her to grow up.  He knows how to make everyone smile and he is so very loved.

I can't believe this baby boy is already so big although it feels like longer than a year and a half ago that we were nervously wondering what his future would hold.  He is our little miracle, he is our beautiful baby boy.

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Dylan at 34 Months

34 months, toddler development, toddler diaries

Whilst I still write monthly about Archie, I have never documented Dylan in the same way.  I never managed weekly, monthly or even quarterly posts, but sporadically write about where he is at.  At 34 months, he is racing towards 3 and from September he will be considered a pre-schooler (which is a pretty scary fact!).  For now though, he is my baby boy, and at 2 years and 10 months he is leaving behind the toddler traits.

You would never guess to meet him that my baby boy is only two.  He has a confidence which doesn't come from me, and appears to not have a shy bone in his body.  He is inquisistive, curious and constantly wanting to know what is happenening (and what is for his next meal).  He stands tall at one metre and we have started buying clothes in age 4-5 to account for his size.  His feet have shot up to a nine and his shoes are discarded with little wear as he grows so fast.

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16 Months Old

16 months, toddler development, end of breastfeeding
Archie is no longer 'just turned one', and he seems to be racing towards the next chapter with speed.  There is no denying he has entered the toddler stage and he is challenging, cuddly, always up to mischief and has the cheekiest grin I have ever seen.

He is learning more words although the most over used is still water which he seems to ask for every twenty minutes.  He certainly knows how to communicate and if you don't want half his dinner all over the carpet then you grab his bowl as soon as you hear him saying 'all done'.  Unfortunately one of the only words he doesn't seem to really grasp is 'no' - in fact he may start thinking it is part of his name as we are often heard shouting 'Archie, NO!' as he prods his brother/turns the TV off/tries to climb into the oven/ throws books down the stairs.  After a calm first child, Archie is making up for it.

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My Funny Little Boy - April

Every single day this little guy makes me laugh with the funny things he says, and every now and again I remember to write one down.  Here are the latest collection:

{sat on the toilet in Cafe Nero}

Dylan: what's that mummy?

Mummy: It is an emergency cord.  If we get hurt or stuck and we need help then it lets people know

Dylan: Daddy said yesterday that we had no chocolate and that was an emergency, can I pull it?

Dylan: Have you got a baby in your tummy?

 Mummy: No!

Dylan: What IS it in there then?

(cheeky toddler!)

Grandma:  Dylan, do you need a hand?

Dylan: Yes please Grandma, I need that one over there on the left

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14 Months Old

This last month I have been thinking a lot about how I would describe Archie.  In so many ways he is still a baby and being so much smaller than his big brother this is emphasised even more.  A friend said recently that all the while you count their age in months they are a baby and in that case he definitely still is.  On the other hand, Archie is now walking, making an effort to speak and learning new skills all the time.  He is starting to show definite toddler traits from the way he shakes his head to let you know that he knows what he is doing is wrong (but he is going to do it anyway), to his determination to do everything his big brother can and more.

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A Little Boy

The last month has seen the introduction of some rather funky Jake and the Neverland Pirate pants, and we no longer have two in nappies.  Despite me wanting to wait until the summer, the little dude had other ideas and instigated potty training.  He has taken to it so well and I am really glad that I waited rather than pushed it as we spent one day indoors and then went on with our normal lives.

After only a few days, we realised he was dry at night as well, and whilst we haven't yet taken the plunge as we have holidays later this month, realistically nappies are now a thing of the past for my biggest little man.

Potty training not only signalises a step in the right direction, but the end of an era for Dylan.  Nappies were the last bit of babyhood that we have been holding onto, and at two and a half, Dylan has come so far from that beautiful newborn baby he once was that he is barely recognisable.

All those little things that differentiate babies from preschoolers have been left behind.  Milk and other drinks are now drunk from a cup rather than a breast, bottle or beaker, and we never went down the dummy road.  The cot became a bed, and the gro bag was replaced with a duvet.  Afternoon naps are becoming rare, and Dylan barely uses a buggy now, able to walk most places quite easily.

At two and a half, Dylan's speech is well ahead of his age, he is learning to read, he can count, he can understand so much, and he is barely even a toddler anymore, but a little boy, learning at every opportunity, growing before my very eyes.  He is becoming so aware of everything around him, his curiosity and questions helping him make sense of the big world, but still in that simplistic toddler way, where everything is good and pure.

With Potty training being sprung upon me without warning (two months ago he would not have sat on a potty, nevermind used it as a toilet!),  I feel almost nostalgic for the days when my little boy was more dependent, on me and on other people in general.  He is asserting his independence more every day, learning to dress himself, to take himself off to the toilet, to read his own stories.

Dylan is a tall boy, a confident boy and a loving boy, asking for cuddles and to have a snuggle on the sofa with me.  The new milestones have meant that he is choosing to be loving and choosing my comfort and that is one of the best things to come out of it.

Saying goodbye to nappies is more than just a simple goodbye though, it is my little man proving that he is ready for new challenges, for everything that is to come.  It will be time to drop him off at nursery in a few months and later this year I will be choosing schools for my two year old, as he will start at only just turned 4.  The end of nappies and the loss of those baby things means I will soon have a preschooler on my hands.

 No longer a baby, but a little boy.

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A Little Date with my Big Boy

It has been a year since Archie entered the world and turned our little family of three into a busy four.  For a whole year I have been a mother to two, splitting my time between the boys, finding activities that appeal to both a baby and a toddler, and enjoying the new family dynamic.

It has become clear though recently that Dylan needs some one on one time. He has entered a cuddly phase (which I am certainly not complaining about, but he needs to be involved in everything.  He is proving his independence in so many little ways, insisting that he can put on his pants and trousers every morning, needing to put his cup and bowl in the sink after breakfast.

At the same time as showing this new independence, he has become a mummy's boy, and I realised that in the year since Archie's arrival, I haven't spent time with Dylan on his own.  After 18 months of my undivided attention, he was suddenly given a baby brother and everything changed.  He has coped so well with this, but at two and a half he is such an amazing little boy, and last weekend I got to spend a few hours alone with him.  

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Two and a Half

It has been two and a half years since I held my first newborn baby in my arms and this busy toddler has come so far in such a short time.  At two and a half, Dylan is a unique little boy, with a smile that melts my heart, eyes that sparkle as he is having fun and a heart of gold.

At two and a half, Dylan is a chatterbox, stopping only to eat and sleep.  He talks all day long, narrating his life, asking questions and learning about his environment.  We haven't yet got the 'why' but I think we have every other question under the sun.  

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Me and My Shadow

A child's brain is an amazing place.  A pear can become an airplane, a stick in the park is a magic wand and you can fill yourself up on pretend coffee and cake.  Dylan has recently discovered his shadow and it makes late afternoon walks all the more fun when we have to constantly check that his shadow is following us.  

We wave at him, and we wave at Mummy and Archie's shadows too.  We walk round corners and behind trees to see if he is still there and we say goodbye when we finally make it home.  Every now and again then we look for him, with the obvious place being the least obvious place for Dylan to look.

His fascination knows no bounds and a trip to Canterbury at the weekends was all the more enjoyable as we followed our shadows down the high street, jumping, running and exploring how it moved.  

I have tried to explain the science, but at not yet two and a half, Dylan prefers the magic, his black shadow, who is always there to keep him company.

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Just a Little Boy

I expect a lot from Dylan, I expect him to eat well and to go to sleep nicely when I tell him it is bed time. to play nicely with his friends and his brother. To look out for Archie, to be polite to family, friends and strangers.  To say please and Thank you in the right places.  Not to wake me up until 8am.  To understand danger and not run out in the road.  

He is a chatterbox and as we chat, I take for granted that he understands me, that he can express what he wants and how he feels.  I look for him to tell me that he is tired, hungry, scared or sad.  When we talk, about everything and anything, I often forget that he is not yet two and a half, that he is still just a little boy.

Photo taken by Ask Sharina Kent

When we are at home, he is confident, he challenges me, he is curious and he wants to discuss everything.  He asks me what we are going to do today, at what time, with who.  He tells me what he wants to play, to read or to watch.  He sits alone with his puzzles, a determined look on his face as he tries to place the pieces together in a way that makes sense.  He lounges in the corner, narrating a book to the room, telling us what is on each page - unable to read the words, but more than capable of interpreting the pictures.  

We decide to go out, so he fetches his shoes and coat, and a jacket for Archie too, reminding me to pack some snacks in the nappy bag.  He lets me know whether he fancies a ride in the buggy or whether he would rather walk.  He holds my hand, or stays close to the buggy, checking for cars before we cross the road, pointing out shapes in the street, from the circle drain covers, to the long yellow lines, to the rectangle post boxes.

He is my little buddy as we giggle together and share a joke.

But then something will happen, a dog will bark too loudly, a stranger will talk to him that he isn't sure about, he will trip as he walks, and suddenly I see my little boy, not yet two and a half, still learning about the world around him, still gaining vocabulary daily and with so much beyond his understanding.

As we discuss the moon and I try to explain, on his insistence, why we can sometimes see a full moon and sometimes only a slither, and I get a look of confusion back, I have to remember that he is two years old, just a little boy.  

I find it hard sometimes, the contrast between the intelligent child that is learning to read and count, and the toddler that needs me so much still, whose falls can be mended with mummy kisses and who comes and finds me in the kitchen because he really needs a kiss and a cuddle.  The little boy who is more than capable of taking himself off to bed and tucking himself in, but who sucks his thumb and cuddles his ducky as he drifts off.  My big boy, and my baby.

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A New Dynamic

Up until quite recently, Archie has been a baby, Dylan a toddler.  They have loved each other, cared for each other and enjoyed having a brother to spend the days with.  Dylan was the active one, bringing toys to Archie, entertaining him, looking out for him.  Archie is now well and truly mobile, comfortably cruising the furniture and crawling on his hands and knees.  He is climbing the stairs, exploring every surface and toy and causing mischief at every opportunity! 

The dynamic has changed, it is no longer a one sided show, but the boys are learning to play together.  They sit with the same toy pressing buttons or moving the characters around.  They follow each other, they giggle together playing their own little games. Archie is becoming a toddler before my very eyes.

The dynamic is always changing and it won't be long before Archie is the dominant one.  His personality is cheekier, his will stronger and I foresee all kinds of fun as they grow up together.

There are two sides to these changes though, and of course Dylan still needs his space.  He has puzzles to do, lego to build and books to read without a little brother trying to chew the pieces.  He wants to spread out and get stuck in like he used to, but Archie has other ideas and this can cause some obvious friction between them. 

 I haven't yet come up with a solution for when they are both demanding of my time, and they still nap together in the afternoons leaving me no one on one time during the days.

Mostly though, the changes are exciting to watch.  Archie is learning to play, and Dylan to share.  They are entertaining each other, growing a friendship and I have more and more moments where I can sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and just watch them smiling and playing together.  I knew that having the boys so close together with only an 18 month gap would have its advantages as well as its challenges and seeing the boys together now both are so clear.

I feel like they have the best gift ever in having a sibling to share their childhood with, a constant companion and playmate but there are times I just want to split myself in two.  Mostly though, I am finding this stage exciting as we grow alongside one another as a family.

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Imagination

To see the world through the eyes of the toddler would be a magical thing. A land where everything is possible, and nothing is too strange.  Where the simplest game can provide hours of amusement, and pretending to make a cup of tea is entertaining in itself.  A land where sticks become magic wands, bibs can be pirate hats and ducks can roar.

As Dylan's language grows, so does his imagination and I could spend all day watching him and listening to his constant dialogue.  Somedays he lets me in, infact he doesn't stop talking long enough for me to process anything, but other days he is whispering, or singing quietly to himself as he plays, lost in his own world.  

He will suddenly declare a shape sorter to be his helmet as he pops on his motorbike and heads off to work. He will casually tell me that Archie is a pirate and that the tictoc crocodile is coming to eat him.  A cardboard box may become and airplane, a choo choo train or the pontipines house depending on his mood.  He will insist that we look for horses on a trip to the post office and I am never quite sure which toys will have to come with us on an outing.

Every trip out takes three times as long, as we marvel over the colours of leaves, point out numbers on doors or imagine we are various vehicles as we walk (or brum) along.  Everything is an adventure, anything can be treasure and every day is special.

Afternoons at the park usually involve Dylan going into his 'house' under the slide to cook me dinner and numerous puddings.  I am presented with pretend plates full of pretend omlette, potato and carrots (and some pizza if I am lucky), followed by pretend cake, strawberries and blueberries which he insists I eat with a spoon.  We drink more cups of tea than my bladder could manage, some of which containing rather strange extra ingredients.

Telling my little man that it is time for bed can often result in a question of whether 'pretend sleeping' would be ok.  His furry friends have to be in place, each toy having an important bedtime role, and a story book and cuddle only serve to ignite his imagination as he snoozes, for come morning his head is bursting with ideas.

Imagination is a wonderful, a beautiful thing.  Dylan sees the world how he wants to see it, a blank canvas waiting to be painted on with bright colours.  I love watching and listening to him playing, wondering what he will get up to next on his very own adventure.

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Dream Big, Little One

Every single day I am watching my little man grow, from a baby to a toddler and more recently into a little boy.  Dylan is now 25 months and he is desperate to learn, to understand and to communicate.  This weekend saw the next step in his journey as we said goodbye to his cot and hello to his bed.

Well really all we did is remove a side from his cot, but it still feels like such a big move.  We are starting to give him the independence that he is craving and making the transition from nursery to bedroom.  

Tonight will be the third night of our little man sleeping in his big bed and so far it is going so well.  I have put the old cot mattress on the floor covered in a blanket for when he inevitably falls out but he managed a three hour nap time staying put as well as most of the night time! 

He hasn't been bothered at all about the transition and has just taken it all in his stride, as he does with most things! My baby boy is growing up so fast and watching him accept this change so easily reminds me what an amazing little dude he is.

Dream big my little one

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The Very Best Age

I am finding myself falling in love with my two year old all over again.  2 seems to be such a magical age.  Of course it is not always fun or easy and we have our fair share of difficulties, but mostly it is just amazing.

My little man's cheeky personality shines through more and more each day and with his newly acquired language comes the ability to make us laugh more than ever.  He knows he is being funny, cheeky and silly and he loves to get a reaction.  I love the newborn cuddles, the baby days and those first wobbly steps but I am falling in love with the little boy that Dylan is becoming.

At 2 his imagination is really developing and he loves nothing more than playing make pretend.  He often goes pretend shopping (always for bananas) and watching him browse the side of the road trying to decide which invisible banana to pick is always amusing.  

In the absense of a doll, he will push Mickey mouse round in a pushchair for hours, stopping to change Mickey's nappy or feed him snacks and meals in the Bumbo.  Mickey mouse often pinches Archie's spot in the pushchair and I am told adamantly that Bubba must go in the sling as Mickey mouse needs to lie down and have a little sleep next to Dylan.

Everytime I leave the living room, I come back to find my beautiful two year old has scrambled up onto the sofa and is giggling away at being in Mummy's chair.  He wants me to crawl up to him and throw him over my shoulder and despite the same thing happening multiple times a day, it is always met with shrieks of excitement.

Dylan loves to sing and recites the entire Twinkle Twinkle Little Star nursery rhyme over and over throughout the day.  He sings the wheels on the bus, See saw, marjery Daw and happy birthday to you, with random shouts of crash thrown in too and will often sing songs to Archie to entertain him (although Archie is less of a fan of the crashes)

At 2, my little dude is learning his mind and what he wants.  He knows what he likes, and he knows how to get it and it is wonderful watching his communication come on.  Odd words together have now turned into full sentences and I am loving being able to have a little conversation with him now.

At 2, I am still his world, his source of information, stimulation and love.  He still needs me as only a small child can, yet he is gaining his independence and becoming his own person too.  

Despite the terrible side, 2 is starting out as a magical year and I know that as he grows, so will his imagination, his vocabulary and his ability to amaze us every single day.

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Learning to Walk (Again)

Being a boy isn't all about climbing trees and mud under your fingernails, but that is definitely part of the fun.  Dylan has been busy discovering his new found mobility; climbing, exploring and generally getting grubby.

Not being able to walk unaided means

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Wonderful Words

There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to explain what is wrong.  A lack of communication can cause no end of problems and life as a toddler is tougher than we give them credit for. So maybe they do get to ride around in comfy chariots, snack throughout the day and nap every afternoon.  Maybe they  do have a pair of adults running around after them making sure they have everything they need - it doesn't always mean they can let us know what they need.

Dylan's vocabulary is growing daily and he is always amazing me by using a word I had no idea he could say.     He is desperate to learn more about the world around him and is a little sponge, taking everything in.  With his new words, comes a better communication and I am learning more about him all the time

He becomes cheekier every day and he can let me know that something is broken, that he wants help, that he needs reassurance, that he is hurt and that he is tired. I still need to read his cues, but he helps me by vocalising his thoughts.  When we play, there is conversation.  Gone are the days of my voice filling the silence, Dylan chats away and sings along warming the room with his beautiful voice.

We still have a long way to go and with the increase in vocabulary we are also seeing an increase in frustration and tantrums as he still doesn't have the words to vocalise everything he wants to say.  Sometimes his pronunciation is not quite right and it takes me several guesses to correctly work out quite what he is on about.

Some of his mis-spronunciations make me giggle on a daily basis.  He often asks for a cheese and ham 'wosinge' rather than a sandwich and he loves to dance around to his 'shit-kick' as opposed to music.  As his speech improves some of those cute baby words are turning into real understandable ones though and I miss the cute variations that we once heard.

Every day he is learning, repeating and understanding more than ever before and his language is turning him from a baby into a little boy.  He has become more assertive, more determined and more interested in everything and he revels in learning about the world.  His words help me see it through fresh eyes as he wonders at a leaf falling from a tree or the animals he can see in the clouds.

With language comes power and Dylan is certainly learning his.

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Baking With A Toddler

A simple recipe for baking Rice Crispie Cakes with a toddler.  

Take one seemingly happy toddler, one rather content baby, some uneaten Easter eggs and a box of rice crispies.  

Strap the toddler in the high chair in the kitchen and pop baby in his bouncer on the kitchen floor.

Bring out the chocolate eggs and watch the excited smile take over toddler's face.  Help him break up the chocolate into small pieces and watch him smuggle as many of the pieces into his mouth as possible.

Suggest that we heat the chocolate in the microwave and watch the confused look take over from the smile.

Try and remove the bowl of chocolate pieces from his tight grip - use force if necessary.

Attempt to stop total meltdown and distressed cries of 'lock lot egggggggg' as you shut microwave door and fish out tissues for the tears pouring down toddler's face.  Put up with sixty seconds of tears and tantrums as the bowl of chocolate is out of his sight and worry that the neighbours will think you are torturing the poor boy.

Remove melted chocolate from the microwave and listen to sighs of relief as the tears instantly dry up.  Remember that you forgot to wash toddler's hands before you began as they are now immersed in melted chocolate.

Check quickly to make sure baby is still alive and content.

Pour rice crispies into the bowl and watch the chocolatey fingers explore.  Half of these will get eaten in the process so make sure you pour in too many.

Grab two wooden spoons and encourage toddler to mix.  Watch as he uses spoon to flick chocolatey crispie mixture all over previously clean kitchen, bash the glass bowl with it, brush his hair with it and generally do everything other than mix in the cereal.

Mix it up yourself trying not to hurt the little hands that are still shovelling chocolatey cereal into mouth at an astonishing rate.

When it is all mixed well, bring out the paper cases and show toddler how to fill the cases with mixture.  Watch as he attempts to do this with the spoon, his fingers and his mouth.

Fill up the paper cases yourself as you really fancy actually eating a cake at the end of the process, and the toddler's are starting to look a little worse for wear.

Bribe toddler with a spoon full of chocolatey rice crispies so that you can remove the finished cakes and place them in the fridge.  Notice that previously clean kitchen now looks like a cereal packet exploded in it's middle, with some chocolate casualties..

Clean up toddler, let him loose and attempt to save the baby from being fed crunched crispies from the floor by loving older brother.

Leave the room, lock the door and hope the bloke will clean up afterwards

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Trendy Toddler

Dylan is no longer a baby and with a little squish due any day now I know this is a fact that is about to be confirmed.  Sleepsuits are no longer a valid option (although we are holding onto a couple as he looks so cute in them) and he sleeps warm and cosy in proper pajamas like a big boy.

Dungarees are not made in his size, probably due to potty training so they are out the question and as he is now well and truly in the toddler range in every shop he is looking every bit the little boy! 

Unfortunately part of the parcel of being a fully fledged child rather than little baby is that he is not great at staying still, and photographing him is becoming increasingly difficult.  Mothercare sent us some lovely tops in the lead up to valentines day though and so I have tried my hardest!  As he is too young for dating, I get to be the one appreciating his gorgeous blue eyes and special sloppy kisses and so it is only fitting that he wears an I heart my mum slogan!

Making mummy a masterpiece

complete with the cheekiest smile!

Go, go, go mummy!

All three tops are in age 2-3 years and all are a nice snug fit on my growing boy!  I love the quality and design of Mothercare clothes and they last so well that you may see a certain Mr Squish wearing these same tops in the not too distant future!

Disclaimer:  I was sent three tops for Dylan from Mothercare for valentines day but all thoughts and opinion as well as photographs are of course my own.

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Christmas Magic

Whether we choose to embrace it or not, Christmas is a magical time.

The darker afternoons mean you can't fail to spot towns and cities lit up and the giant Christmas trees which adorn every high street and shopping centre are bright and glowing.  There are carol singers all over the place and our TV screens are full of those heartwarming adverts which remind us of family times and excited children.

I have grown up with my own family traditions and we are making new ones for Dylan.  This year he is excited every morning to open a new door on his advent calender and although he may be clueless as to what it symbolises, it won't be long until he is counting down the days in excited anticipation.

This week I took the little dude to a lovely local church which hosted a Christmas tree competition.  31 local organisations and groups each decorated their own tree, and the public are invited to come in and admire their work, vote for their favourite and leave a donation to charity whilst they are there.

We loved the church cleaner's effort as they had handmade all of their decorations.  The crackers were rolled up dusters and their shiny baubles were made from scouring pads.  The guides and play groups had drawings and crafty bits on theirs and Dylan and his friends loved racing from tree to tree admiring the lights and colours with lots of ooohs and aaahs.

On Friday, I took Dylan to Canterbury and we waited until the sun went down before exploring the Christmas market.  The smells and sounds were amazing but it was the lights that captivated us and we crouched down and pointed at the shapes and colours that lit up the sky.  He got to practice his new favourite word 'circle' and we spent some time just watching the world go by. 

 He may only be 16 months old but Christmas is already becoming a magical time of year for him, and with our tree going up this week, he will be able to enjoy the lights and colours from home as well.  We are attending a Christmas party at the Children's Centre where he gets to meet Father Christmas again and we have the perfect family day planned for the 25th, where we already know he will be the centre of attention.  I am looking forward to Christmas crafts and letters to Santa in the coming years but for now he are admiring the simple and free things that December has to offer.

How are your little ones enjoying this magical month?

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