20 months old

Noooo is the word of the moment, pronounced in a very proper English accent 90% of the time, with the odd "na" if he can't be arsed. This is his answer to most questions, including some occasions when he means yes. He is starting to say "yeh" but usually says "da/ga" with an upward inflection for yes. He also says "hot" and "cow" and has added moos to his repertoire of impressions, together with the electronic beep of the microwave ("aaaaaah" at exactly the right pitch), and also the warning bleep of train doors closing! He's also starting to say Leeeoooo, and "want dat" but apart from nooooo, the most oft-heard word continues to be "buh-bye" - this is said (with a wave) to objects & people as he leaves a room (or they do) , trains or trams passing, book pages being turned, animals or trains on the TV screen, people on the phone.... you get the picture.

Leo is a funky boy-about-town in his new wheels - an orange Phil & Teds E3, with the big-bro-to-be perched up on a toddler seat above the cocoon where his little sister will snuggle/grizzle/sleep hopefully. We got it on Monday and he seems quite at home in it already, will happily climb in all by himself if he wants to give you a subtle hint that he'd like to go out.

Fave toys this month are his toy buggy (thanks Nana) which has been on a couple of outings to the local shops, as well as being razzed up and down the hall at high speeds, his San Francisco tram that Daddy bought back from the USA and gets rolled along the furniture / parents' legs many times a day, and of course his lovely wooden garage that Nana & Grandad bought him for Christmas while they were out here. He's also loved having a Little Tikes Cosy Coupe from the Toy Library for the last couple of weeks and can often be found reversing around the decking, although I think he mostly enjoys getting in and out, sometimes through the door and sometimes Dukes of Hazzard- style through the driver's window.

He is a whizz with cutlery and pretty much feeds himself (although sometimes needs a bit of assistance with slippery things like baked beans just to avoid them going in his lap). This is great as it means I can do things while he's eating, like make our dinner. (I'm going to have SUCH a massive shock to the system in 6 weeks time). Still on 2 naps a day (so I can have one in the afternoon too if I'm feeling particulary huge, pregnant and knackered), although as he quite often sleeps until 8am, he doesn't always get a chance to have his morning nap if we're going out somewhere, but can last until lunchtime if he needs to. He continues to be completely gorgeous, very funny (great sense of humour) and affectionate. As well as us, he now kisses and cuddles his friend Will and holds his hand too. What a cutie.

Seeing who can make the best brrrm-brrrm noises with Grandad


Stop it I like it!

Evelyn Glennie watch out

Getting arty at playgroup

O to 60 in 5 seconds

The new wheels. Small turning circle, one-handed steering, room for a lickle sister underneath.

On the train with Daddy

No reason, just thought I'd park him there...

Look at my big red bus

Spelling N-A-N-A maybe?

Watching the gulls on Phillip Island

Nice spot for a sit down...

... except sitting down isn't as fun as running around - right, where to next?

Me and my yellow ball

"Buh-bye!"

Belated February update

Here's a rather-overdue update showing what Lovely Leo (now a full nineteen months old) got up to in February. Enjoy!

Helping Mummy and Daddy make a house out of a box. He loves to post things through a letterbox that Daddy cut in the side.

He is really into cars now and loves steering wheels. He loves to sit in those little rides you get in shopping centres and play with the controls, but isn't bothered about them being on, just likes to pretend to steer them and push the buttons.

Throwing. Along with cars, balls are Leo's favourite toys. He can throw and kick surprisingly far and accurately. He even managed to knock a visitor's coffee into their lap with a well-aimed ball from the other side of the room. Luckily he has a 20-month old, so far from being offended, he a) saw the funny side and b) was impressed with Leo's overarm!

Leo in full flight - seen here one of his favourite combinations: running and slopes. This one's at Melbourne Aquarium. He rarely walks when running will do!

He is an affectionate boy, especially to his beloved Daddy who always gets a cuddle and kiss on his arrival home from work; if Leo is still awake he will run all the way down the hall to meet his Daddy and give him a big hug. Is there anything better to come home to?

Very into his animals although we're still working on being GENTLE with them. Has a whole repertoire of animals he knows names of including roos, elephants, bears, cows, cockatoos, kookaburras, koalas, wombats, tasmanian devils, penguins, lorikeets, emus, goats etc. Does animal noises for dog, cat, cow, pig and bounces for kangaroos and horses.

yum yum, a peach he picked himself when we visited a pyo fruit farm last month (also below).

Enjoying morning tea at playgroup. I know it's a little blurry but can you see just how much banana he's got stuffed in his mouth? Leo loves playgroup and playing with little mates there. His friend Maya was at our house last week and Leo took her hand and they danced to 'Muffin Man' together, it was the cutest thing ever!

Corn on the cob is a current favourite - he makes a pretty good job of it despite only having 2 incisors on his bottom jaw - when are those other 2 going to turn up?

Still loves strawberries and yogurt.

Saying bye-bye to a plane that's just passed overhead. He says "Buh-bye" in a beautifully polite little voice, although quite often it's after the person has gone!

eeek - coming face to face with a Huntsman. He wasn't overkeen. But then who would be?

Puzzling over 9 across.

In his summer togs and looking a little 80s with that hat on...

"Leo, where's your baby sister?" We thought this was very very clever until Ben tried saying it to him, and Leo promptly lifted up his Daddy's t-shirt and pointed there! He clearly thinks that baby sisters grow in everyone's tummies!Very into climbing at the mo. Including on people and furniture. He has now worked out that if he wants to get up to a surface he can't reach, he just needs to drag a chair over there and then he can get up and have his fun with whatever forbidden things are up there! Cheeky lickle monkey.