Food Feeding Leo is getting easier and easier as he gets more adept at feeding himself, and eats greater amounts of 'normal' food. It's great when we go out to eat now, as we can pretty much always find something on the menu for him to try and so don't have to take a packed meal for him (although of course we never leave the house without the emergency stash of raisins, fruit and crackers in case whinge suppressants are needed). So far, in cafes he has put away poached egg on toast, home-made baked beans on toast, california roll (not bothered about the seaweed but ate the rice and tuna happily enough), a sausage roll... the only thing he's really turned his nose up at so far was cheese omelette. Favourite foods include peaches/nectarines (they've just come into season here, and small ripe ones are perfect for little hands), hummus, tzatziki, falafel, fish fingers, roast chicken, peas, peanut butter sandwiches... he is much happier eating with his fingers, and can use a spoon himself although it's pretty messy and takes ages.
Mobility He can now walk a good few metres when he wants to, with a big grin on his face. Ben thinks he moves like a zombie off House of the Dead! He loves climbing: onto chairs and then lounging on them; onto the coffee table and sitting up there like King Kong. He zips around the house with his trolleys, which he can steer (one of them is pretty heavy too), and also climbs into them wanting to be pushed around. Swings are yesterday's news now, and he is into slides in a big way. He doesn't need / want help but launches himself down on his front, sometimes head first and sometimes feet first.
Expressing himself Main methods of expressing himself are pointing and babbling in a strange elvish-welsh dialect (complete with 'll'). He still uses sounds rather than words but can communicate very effectively and specifically what he wants - a drink, his cloth, his dummy, to go out of the door, more food etc. We are being blown away by just how much speech he understands, he shows us something new pretty much every day at present. He knows and responds appropriately to: Would you like a drink? Bathtime! (toddles off to the bathroom). Where's your head / hair / nose / foot (points, pats or grabs relevant body part), close the door, brush your hair, brush Mummy's hair, get the drum/ ball/ balloon/cloth/bib... He also has started to have the occasional little tanty when he's tired and things aren't going his way... it is all we can do not to laugh as the little drama queen throws himself face-first to the ground and puts his face in his little hands.
Favourite books and toys He chooses his own bedtime story now by pointing at the book he wants - if you try and foist your own choice on him he just turns round and points at the bookcase to get the book he wants, which at the moment is invariably either Dear Zoo or Farm 123. These are both lift-the-flap books by Rod Campbell, and he knows where all the flaps are and goes unerringly straight to them the minute the page is turned. Toywise, he is into stacking in a big way, so is loving his set of nesting cups which he will happily play alone with for ages (but needs someone to hold his tower steady if he wants to build it really high). He likes to hammer things, scarily hard, and as already mentioned he loves pushing his trolley around. He has a good overarm throw which is perfect for throwing not only balls but unwanted food. This weekend he produced his first works of art which I have the pleasure of exhibiting below.
Untitled, Leo Board 2006 (mixed media on paper)
Swirls and dots, Leo Board 2006 (Crayola My First Crayons on paper)
looking very pleased with himself, and then repeated the feat for his Daddy who came rushing in to see what all the yelling was about. He coudn't be persuaded to do it again for the video camera, and instead retired to his cot, exhausted but triumphant, for a celebratory nap. Hopefully he will consent to be filmed soon and we will post some video here. Yay!
