The Life of Matthew

The other day Mormor was looking after me and this advert appeared on the television. Oh, it was such a great tune that I just couldn’t stop giggling and dancing. Yesterday Mummy and I had lunch at Mormor and Morfar’s and they said we should look for it on the Internet. We found it and played it and I just got so excited dancing about that I fell over! But I don’t mind, I just get right back up again. So here it is, hope you like the music as much as I do.

Mummy and Daddy like this one, though.

Until next time, bye bye

PS Don’t go thinking that Mormor doesn’t look after me properly and lets me watch television, because she doesn’t. Because we know that television is bad for me.

I can stand! I can stand!

I was just in the kitchen with Mummy because she was getting me a biscuit and I stood up all by myself. Without any help and without holding onto anything. Naturally Mummy’s applause brought Daddy down to see what all the fuss was about, so I did it again for him. Now I’ll do it again. But not for a biscuit - I am not a performing seal!

Until next time, bye bye.

I can use a spoon! I can feed myself! I am a big boy!

This morning I pushed away my soyghurt. Those of you who have been following my progress know that they are my favourites so if I were rejecting soyghurts something big must be happening. Fortunately Mummy is very clever and tried giving me the spoon so that I could feed myself. Well! How much fun was that! Dunking the spoon in the goo, lifting it up, putting it in my mouth. Of course a lot went on me and on the table so I wasn’t quite as full after breakfast as I usually am, but what a big step for me. We tried again at lunch and I did even better.

What a big boy I am.

Until next time, bye bye.

Mummy and I went to the doctor’s this week for my latest check-up. For the first time ever Daddy couldn’t come with us as he had to work but Mummy did okay on her own. I made sure I was extra well-behaved.

The doctor said that I am still nice and normal, although rather tall. Mummy told her (as she has told her many times before, that I am PART DANISH and we are a TALL PEOPLE). The doctor also thought it was very strange that I don’t have my main meal at lunch time and usually have meat for dinner, not lunch. Mummy says this is because people here have a different food culture and the doctor always forgets that we are foreigners.

At the moment I am 81cm tall and weigh 11.340kg.

Until next time, bye bye

PS Mummy says I am being economical with the truth again, like I was about my trip to the shoe shop. I was extra well-behaved in the waiting room, but the moment the doctor touched me I screamed like a banshee and didn’t stop screaming until we were out of the office and out of the building. I don’t like being poked and prodded. But no wonder I was tired when we got home!

It’s been a week now since I had my first birthday so I’m getting used to being a big boy. Mummy says I’m not a baby any more. Too bad, because I had a wonderful time as a baby, but I’m sure my next phase will be fun, too.

I had a lovely time at my birthday party and I want to thank everyone who came, as well as everyone who sent me presents and cards, texts and emails. It’s so nice to know that even though I’ve only been in the world for a year there are already so many people thinking about me and wishing me well.

For my party there was lots of yummy food that Mummy, Daddy, Mormor and Morfar had made. I let everyone else eat while I snoozed but I woke up in time for my birthday cake. Chocolate! Mummy had made it and it was delicious. We had to have two cakes because we were so many people. People were vying with each other to see who got to feed me and I felt very special. Daddy took me for a swim and I played in the pool with the other non-grown ups.

I’ve been having a wonderful week playing with all my new toys. I have some at home and some at Mormor and Morfar’s house for when Mormor looks after me. Lots of my new toys make noise and play music and I think that’s fun. I also got lots of toys with wheels and that’s even better. I love wheels!

When we got home that night I also took my first step! It was only with one leg but Mummy and Daddy cheered and clapped and I was really keen to keep trying this fun new skill, but unfortunately I got too excited and giggly and kept falling over.

It was also my first night as a weaned baby and Mummy says I’m doing really well. I’ve adjusted very easily and haven’t given her any trouble at all. Mummy had three sips of champagne to celebrate my birthday but then couldn’t have any more. Mummy hadn’t had a drink for twenty-one months because she’s been looking after me so well.

Now I’m going to play some more with my new toys.

Until next time, bye bye

Can you believe that tomorrow is my first birthday? I can’t, not at all. This year has gone so quickly, it seems like only yesterday I was put in Daddy’s arms for the first time while Mummy was strapped to the operating table, hungry and wanting chocolate.

I love being in the world; Mummy and Daddy have shown me that it is a warm, friendly and safe place where people take excellent care of me, give me lots of love and snuggles, and where every day brings a new adventure for me.

During my first year I have learned so many things. I can make sounds and noises and I can understand a lot of the sounds that Mummy and Daddy make. I know how to do my scary face, how to clap, how to tilt my head and look adorable, how to bang on the table and a whole myriad of other exciting things. I can sit up, crawl, stand on my own, take steps as long as I’ve got something to hold to, pull myself up, open doors, help Mummy and Daddy dress me, pick things up and either drop them or give them to someone. I eat solids and feed myself (although I can’t quite use cutlery yet, but it’s coming). Sometimes I feed Mummy and Daddy, they think it’s ever so sweet.

There are probably lots more things that I can do, but it’s so hard to keep track of everything since I’m changing and growing so quickly. With all the new things I’ve learned, it’s no wonder I’m tired!
I would say I’ve had a wonderful year and I know that Mummy and Daddy feel the same. We’re a family. Thank you to everyone whose been a part of my first year, family and friends. I hope that I will be seeing lots more of you all in the years to come!

Until next time, bye bye.

I think my first word is going to be, ‘No!’ That seems to be what I hear most these days. ‘No, Matthew!’ No banging on the windows, no climbing the stairs, no opening the cupboards, no going in the kitchen when people are cooking, no playing with the bin, no opening the dishwasher, no taking my hat off, no taking Daddy’s bananas, no eating the table, no no no no … It’s a hard life for an active, curious baby

Until next time, no no

Well! Have I had an exciting ten days! I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

There are so many new things to relate that I had to write them all down on our notice board so that I would remember them. (Mummy had to help me here as I can’t reach the notice board)!

Let’s begin with Things I Can Do:

Climbing the stairs:

I can climb the stairs! I know I’ve talked about this before, about how I could do it with Mummy’s help, but now I can do it on my own.

What happened was this: Mummy had gone upstairs to quickly ask Daddy something while I played downstairs when suddenly she heard a little voice say, ‘Mama mama’ (when I say this people think I want Mummy). And there I was, climbing up the stairs. I was already 6 - 7 steps up. Mummy was very good and didn’t scream or scare me, she just smiled, came down and stood behind me so I climb the rest of the way up with her help.

I’m a very fast mover and have been able to slip away from Mummy and Daddy again and start to climb the stairs, that time I got even further. Now there’s these barricade things to stop me going up, but I can go up and I will!

I can sit down:

Now this may not sound like anything but it’s a really big deal. It means that when I’m standing up and holding onto the furniture, Mummy, Daddy or the wall I can sit myself back down again. I don’t have to wait to be rescued.

I can drink from my sippy cup:

I am now able to manage my cup all by myself, although sometimes I still have problems tipping it high enough when there’s not much water in there. It’s easier when the cup’s full.

I can crawl:

I can do it! I can do it! I can crawl properly and oh boy am I fast. Just you watch me zooming around the room. Mummy and I have races and I win. When I see someone crawling towards me I laugh. Sometimes I make them chase me.

I can put things into other things:

Last time Mummy went to her favourite shop in the whole wide world (Ikea in case anyone was wondering) she brought me back little cups of different sizes that I can use to either build a tower or put inside each other. I used to just throw them around the room and follow them, but now I find it much more interesting to fit the little ones inside the big ones. And I also like putting my toys into a big plastic box and taking them out again.

Right, now let’s talk about funny things I have done.

Mormor has been trying to teach me to raise my arms above my head when she asks me how big I am. So last Sunday I thought it would be fun to do it at lunch. Now I have to do it all the time! It’s great fun though and adds to my repertoire of funny movements and faces.

I’ve played Peep Boo with Mummy by hiding behind the curtains when she said, ‘Where’s Matthew?’ and poking my head out again when she said, ‘There’s Matthew!’ Sometimes Mummy and Daddy hide behind the corner and then I have to crawl round to see them. That’s fun, too. If you take my toys away I’ll go hunting for them.

I’ve started hurrying towards the door whenever our doggy barks because I know it means that Daddy has come home from work.

I’ve also got to talk about all the new things I understand:

I know what it means when Mummy or Daddy tells me to ‘come here.’

I kind of know what ‘no’ means. It means don’t do anything fun!

My favourite dessert is a soy yoghurt (remember I had an intolerance to milk proteins) and Mummy calls them soyghurts. I know just what she means when she asks if I want one and I always smile and wave my arms about.

Speaking of my milk protein problem, I have now tried my first milk products. The first thing I tried was something called ice cream. Oh YUM! Give me more. That was delicious. Apparently it was Italian ice cream which is extra special. Yum yum yum. Can’t wait for more of that. I’ve also had a real youghurt and it was very nice, although I think I prefer my soyghurts. So far the milk hasn’t had any bad effect on me, and Mummy’s been slowing eating and drinking milk products again and so far, touch wood, I am all right.

Now for something exciting that happened this weekend. Oh, Matilda, maybe you shouldn’t read this part … I met three girls (older women apparently) and they made a huge fuss over me. We went swimming together and they helped feed me my lunch and kissed and cuddled me all afternoon. It was rather tiring and I needed naps and slept very well that night but they were all very sweet and I enjoyed all the attention.

At one point their Mummy asked me if I wanted an older woman and I shook my head just like that! Daddy says this means I have comic timing. But most importantly it was the first time I have really been around lots of other children and everyone was very impressed by how relaxed I was and how quickly I took to them all (especially to Elly Bear).

And finally; it’s my birthday next month so Mummy and Daddy took me to the local pet shop to see if I like any of the animals there as a birthday present. I saw dogs, horses, rhinos and elefants! I liked the elefants best of all and the picture with this post shows me laughing at the elefants that are behind me. Mummy said that it was the circus, not a pet shop and that Daddy was being naughty. Does this mean that I can’t have an elefant for my birthday?
Whew! That’s all for now.

Until next time, bye bye

I can clap! I can clap!

Oh wow! I’ve seen Mummy and Daddy doing this and they’ve tried to show me before but I never really got it until now.

This is so much fun. I’m going to celebrate by doing it some more!

Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap

Until next time, bye bye.

Oh wow! Oh gosh! Oh blooming heck!

I wish I knew how to swear because that was [some naughty word] brilliant!

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to be having a real bath on Sunday and that I was bit scared about it because it sounded so new.

When the time came I knew that something was up. Mummy and Daddy started moving all of my washing gear from the kitchen (where I normally have my Tummy Tub) to upstairs. Then, Daddy picked me up and carried me into the bathroom where I found the most wonderful, warm and spacious place to get wet and play in.

I gave it beans!

Talk about splash time!

Everything in a ten mile radius got wet. Except for Daddy; he hid behind the shower curtain. My Daddy’s clever.

Somewhere along the line I got soaped, washed and dried but to be honest I only remember the fun of having room to splash and play in.
Bring on the next bath time I say!

Until next time, bye bye.