We took Harry to a christening last Sunday and what should have been a relatively calm experience turned into one of the most hectic half hours I’ve had in a long while.
Harry was pretty well behaved when the service got under way, largely because he was munching his way through a packet of Quavers – Melissa’s cunning plan to keep him quiet.
Unfortunately, the Quavers were soon demolished and, after spending five minutes trying to wrestle the hymn book out of my hand, Harry decided it was time to go for a wander.
Of course he had his reins on, so I was pulled along behind him. The vicar had said at the outset he didn’t mind children walking around during the service and had helpfully arranged an area complete with crayons, mini bouncy castle, toys and books.
That kept Harry occupied for all of ten minutes before he became destructive and started pulling all the books off the shelves.
While I was frantically trying to tidy up behind him, Harry seized the opportunity to escape and explore the church properly.
I’m not sure what the congregation made of me sprinting after Harry during communion – but I didn’t have any choice.
After managing to catch up with him, I finally found something that kept him quiet – the organ and organist.
So for the final ten minutes of the service, I had to stand next to the organ while Harry pointed and shouted with excitement every time a note was played.
Melissa found it all very funny – and I admit I was a bit flustered by the time the service finished. She doesn’t know it yet, but Melissa’s definitely on duty the next time we go to a christening.
Friday 24 September 2010
Monday 20 September 2010
Haircuts and swimming lessons
Last week was a momentous week for Harry (even if he doesn’t know it) – he had his first haircut and his first swimming lesson.
The haircut was, to be honest, long overdue. Although Harry doesn’t have a thick head of hair (he gets that off me), he’s been getting increasingly ‘tufty’ in recent weeks. Some days, his hair would stand on end all day, giving him the impression of being permanently terrified.
Melissa had cut it herself a couple of times to get the worst of it under control but things were nevertheless starting to get a bit out of hand.
Thankfully, that’s now a thing of the past.
Unfortunately I was in work so I couldn’t take him to the hairdressers but it all seemed to go surprisingly smoothly.
And having his hair cut has suddenly made Harry look a lot more grown up, which is a somehow a little bit sad – he’s no longer a baby, but a little boy.
Anyway, the way his hair’s growing he’ll need another haircut in a couple of weeks’ time so I’ll hopefully get the chance to take him.
The other first this week was his swimming lesson at Waterworld in Wrexham. I managed to pop along to watch it in my lunch hour, and spent the whole half-hour with a big grin on my face.
Watching Harry (and Melissa of course) performing the various exercises was fascinating. Best of all, though, Harry was obviously enjoying himself even if he was a bit reluctant to let the little rubber duck go when the teacher asked for it to be returned.
He behaved really well throughout the lesson though and I returned to work feeling ten foot tall.
Harry might be growing up but he still makes me feel like the proudest dad around.
The haircut was, to be honest, long overdue. Although Harry doesn’t have a thick head of hair (he gets that off me), he’s been getting increasingly ‘tufty’ in recent weeks. Some days, his hair would stand on end all day, giving him the impression of being permanently terrified.
Melissa had cut it herself a couple of times to get the worst of it under control but things were nevertheless starting to get a bit out of hand.
Thankfully, that’s now a thing of the past.
Unfortunately I was in work so I couldn’t take him to the hairdressers but it all seemed to go surprisingly smoothly.
And having his hair cut has suddenly made Harry look a lot more grown up, which is a somehow a little bit sad – he’s no longer a baby, but a little boy.
Anyway, the way his hair’s growing he’ll need another haircut in a couple of weeks’ time so I’ll hopefully get the chance to take him.
The other first this week was his swimming lesson at Waterworld in Wrexham. I managed to pop along to watch it in my lunch hour, and spent the whole half-hour with a big grin on my face.
Watching Harry (and Melissa of course) performing the various exercises was fascinating. Best of all, though, Harry was obviously enjoying himself even if he was a bit reluctant to let the little rubber duck go when the teacher asked for it to be returned.
He behaved really well throughout the lesson though and I returned to work feeling ten foot tall.
Harry might be growing up but he still makes me feel like the proudest dad around.
Monday 13 September 2010
Hungry ducks...
I’ve mentioned before that Harry has a good appetite. Although we went through an awkward stage just after Christmas when he had tonsillitis, getting him to eat a balanced diet has never really been a problem.
He’ll even eat his greens. The other day we went to a garden party and Harry, despite having already eaten lunch, wanted an egg and cress sandwich. However, before eating the sandwich he opened it up and started picking out the cress and munching away on it. Only when he’d finished all the cress did he eat the rest of the sandwich.
Harry has definitely got his mum’s sweet tooth, though. At the same garden party he demolished a chocolate brownie in seconds; milk chocolate buttons are also the most effective means of encouraging Harry to cooperate.
But I think Harry’s love of food might be going a bit too far. We took him to feed the ducks the other day but Harry spent most of the time eating the bread rather than throwing it to the ducks. Thank goodness I didn’t take stale bread.
To be fair to Harry, he did give some bread away but not until he’d eaten one and a half crusts. Honestly, sometimes his appetite amazes me.
When it comes to food, the most difficult aspect is trying to stay out of the firing line at meal times.
Harry is feeding himself most of the time now but it can get a little messy when he decides to whirl the spoon around his head. Believe me, it’s no good getting changed into smart clothes before feeding Harry – nine times out of ten you end up with debris all over you. As for the kitchen floor, it requires constant cleaning – I’m just grateful we’ve got tiles rather than carpet.
He’ll even eat his greens. The other day we went to a garden party and Harry, despite having already eaten lunch, wanted an egg and cress sandwich. However, before eating the sandwich he opened it up and started picking out the cress and munching away on it. Only when he’d finished all the cress did he eat the rest of the sandwich.
Harry has definitely got his mum’s sweet tooth, though. At the same garden party he demolished a chocolate brownie in seconds; milk chocolate buttons are also the most effective means of encouraging Harry to cooperate.
But I think Harry’s love of food might be going a bit too far. We took him to feed the ducks the other day but Harry spent most of the time eating the bread rather than throwing it to the ducks. Thank goodness I didn’t take stale bread.
To be fair to Harry, he did give some bread away but not until he’d eaten one and a half crusts. Honestly, sometimes his appetite amazes me.
When it comes to food, the most difficult aspect is trying to stay out of the firing line at meal times.
Harry is feeding himself most of the time now but it can get a little messy when he decides to whirl the spoon around his head. Believe me, it’s no good getting changed into smart clothes before feeding Harry – nine times out of ten you end up with debris all over you. As for the kitchen floor, it requires constant cleaning – I’m just grateful we’ve got tiles rather than carpet.
Talking time
Harry is starting to understand a lot more about speech and is now using words and sounds to communicate with us.
For instance, when he wakes up in a morning, he will ask for his juice; when he wants to watch his favourite television programme, Noddy, he will tell you.
Harry’s also good at following instructions (when he wants to, that is). If you ask him to pass you something, he will go and fetch it for you. Or if you ask him what sound a train makes, he makes a ‘toot toot’ noise.
According to my very limited research, the next six months will see his talking increase rapidly. One article I read said that between 18 months and two years, toddlers can learn up to 50 words a day, which means I’m going to have to start watching what I say.
As I’ve said before, Harry’s full of energy and he’s not afraid to explore his surroundings. The downside of all this activity, however, is that he does tend to get into a few bumps and scrapes – literally.
The other day, he tried to pick up a rather large picture frame that I’d carelessly left on our bedroom floor. Before I could grab him, he’d managed to scratch his eye, drawing blood and prompting an understandable crying fit.
But all this extra activity is having one desirable side-effect – he’s absolutely shattered by the end of the day.
Last week we broke a new record – Harry slept from quarter to seven at night until ten past eight the following morning. Even then, we had to wake him up because Melissa had to go to work.
And although sleeping until eight is still quite unusual, he’s certainly better than ever at night now. The knock-on effect is that Melissa and I are also sleeping much better – it’s remarkable how much sharper you feel having that extra hour and a half in bed.
I just hope I haven’t tempted fate.
For instance, when he wakes up in a morning, he will ask for his juice; when he wants to watch his favourite television programme, Noddy, he will tell you.
Harry’s also good at following instructions (when he wants to, that is). If you ask him to pass you something, he will go and fetch it for you. Or if you ask him what sound a train makes, he makes a ‘toot toot’ noise.
According to my very limited research, the next six months will see his talking increase rapidly. One article I read said that between 18 months and two years, toddlers can learn up to 50 words a day, which means I’m going to have to start watching what I say.
As I’ve said before, Harry’s full of energy and he’s not afraid to explore his surroundings. The downside of all this activity, however, is that he does tend to get into a few bumps and scrapes – literally.
The other day, he tried to pick up a rather large picture frame that I’d carelessly left on our bedroom floor. Before I could grab him, he’d managed to scratch his eye, drawing blood and prompting an understandable crying fit.
But all this extra activity is having one desirable side-effect – he’s absolutely shattered by the end of the day.
Last week we broke a new record – Harry slept from quarter to seven at night until ten past eight the following morning. Even then, we had to wake him up because Melissa had to go to work.
And although sleeping until eight is still quite unusual, he’s certainly better than ever at night now. The knock-on effect is that Melissa and I are also sleeping much better – it’s remarkable how much sharper you feel having that extra hour and a half in bed.
I just hope I haven’t tempted fate.
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