Dear Leilani Baby,

Life is more dangerous now as you're on the move.  We came home from Mommy Group one Thursday and I put you down in the lounge whilst I was cooking dinner.  Everything went very quiet so I peeked to see what you were doing, and you were very slowly crawling across the room.  When you caught my eye I started to clap and you burst into tears!  For a while afterwards you'd cry or moan every time you tried to crawl…such an effort!  But you're getting better at it now.  You'd still much rather walk holding our fingers though, and you can now cruise around the furniture on your own, precariously.  Going to the Krazy Kidz soft play centre with Connor & Charlie seemed to go down well though.  You spent most of your time finding things to eat on the floor that other kids had dropped…

I was really looking forward to you learning to crawl, but now you can I look back fondly on the days when I could put you down and you'd still be there when I looked back 5 seconds later!

You're signing for milk really well now, and can sign food as well as the action for the 'wind the bobbin' up song.  Our baby signing classes started again after the summer break and you're still enjoying them a lot.  We still meet all your baby friends on a Thursday at the Biscuit Tin.  Everyone's growing up so quickly, it's scary to think you'll be one soon.  You're the oldest on there so the pressure's on me to set the standard for future birthday parties…I think I might just go out for cocktails.

You've got six teeth now and a bite like a naughty puppy.  You 'high five' with Poppa at every opportunity.  You love noodles.  You beam when you see Schleppy Bear.  You like to take your socks off and wave them wildly like celebratory flags.  Your favourite things on TV are Razzledazzle and Something Special, the Star Trek theme tune (The Next Generation, obviously) and Eddie the dog on Frasier.  You almost fell off the bed this month, but I managed to catch you.  You look very proud of yourself when you pull yourself up to stand against something.  I know it won't be long until you're whizzing around the house like a mad thing, and I will wonder how it's possible that you grew up so quickly.

I love you monkey cupcake.

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

You slept!  You finally did it…slept the whole night through!  Of course as soon as we started to feel it was normal you stopped again with first a viral infection and then teething, but at least we know you can do it now.

It's been another busy month of visiting friends and occasional sunny days and lots of rainy weather.  We've played in sandpits, swung on swings and have been swimming lots of times.  You have another 2 teeth coming through at the top (ouch!) and you're making lots more noises including ba ba ba and just recently da da da.  Still, you haven't called Poppa 'poppa' yet and there's no sign of any 'Mommy' for me.  But it's lovely hearing you babble away to yourself about Kitty and your books and just walking around the house.  Sometimes it seems like you know what we're saying and you're replying to us.  It'll be fun when you can do that properly.

You still aren't mobile on your own and need us to hold your fingers so you can walk.  I'm half looking forward /half dreading when you launch off on your own.  You like to kick things as you walk, or stop to pick up fluff/sticks/paper/anything on the floor.  I blame Poppa for this, encouraging you to play with dirt and bark in the garden.  I bought you some shoes for walking around outside but when I put them on you, you just looked at your feet and wouldn't move.  You'll have to wear some shoes one day Lani pie…

Your obsession with the green number on the TV continues, as does your need to have everything empty.  Wooden animals in the tin?  Take them all out!  Jigsaw all made up?  Take it all apart!  Mommy's put everything in the nappy bag for going out?  Empty it while she's putting her shoes on!  We've been trying to think of future careers for you where you empty things for a living…refuse collector maybe?

I love it when you laugh.  Sometimes you giggle, but other times you make this breathy laugh, almost like you're panting, and it's so funny and sweet.  I don't always know what's tickled your funny bone.  But I try to find new ways to make you laugh all the time.  You probably secretly think I'm a bit crazy.  I probably am.

I think you're so cute, baby girl.  Other people tell us you're cute but we never know whether to believe them in case it's just that thing, you know, when parents think their baby is cute even when it's really, really not.  At all.  But you are.  Definitely.  Probably the cutest baby in the world.

I love you bugaloo.

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

This past month it seems like you've grown and changed so much.  We've been busy with lots of things including visiting Nanna and Granddad up North with a stop in the journey both ways to see Great Nan.  You spent a lot of time playing with a packet of club biscuits at Nanna and Granddad's house, or dancing with Nanna, or banging cups and pots in the kitchen, and in the night you kept coming in to my bed with me to be cosy since your teeth hurt.  Poppa was away in India with work, so it was just us two.  Great Nan enjoyed seeing you too, and you made her laugh blowing raspberries very loudly! 

You have four teeth now, two at the top and two at the bottom.  When you bite it really hurts!  You made the sign for food one morning when Poppa got you up for breakfast but then got sidetracked on the computer and forgot to feed you!  You want to walk all the time now, holding onto our fingers (and breaking our backs…) I'm sure it won't be long until you're walking on your own now.  And you're trying really hard to feed yourself, sometimes managing to get the spoon into your mouth, though often getting it in your hair, up your nose and round your chin first.  You don't like to eat food that's gone mushy in your hand.  You'll throw it down and if I try to sneak it back you pick through until you find a new piece of toast or biscuit that's dry and not all soggy.  You like yoghurts now, and jelly, and anything that's on my plate usually tastes good to you.

You went swimming for the first time with your friends Eve and Peter.  You loved it, splashing around and laughing.  Nate came round to play with you one day and you scratched his cheek!  Claire and Baby Maia came to visit you all the way from Switzerland, and you happily shook all the dangly toys on your play mat to show Maia.  And I finally took you in to Norton Rose to meet my old work colleagues.  You were exceptionally smiley that day so they all thought you were very cute and a good girl.

Also, Poppa and I went to the cinema together for the first time since you were born!  Karin came to look after you for the afternoon so we could go.  It was so exciting for us to go out.  We love you very much, but it was wonderful to have a little break, especially since it was the new Harry Potter film we went to see.  And speaking of Harry Potter, the last book was published just the other day.  Poppa and I took it in turns to read it, and one day you had a couple of really long naps in the day so I managed to read a LOT which was bliss!  I hope you love reading as much as I do when you get bigger.  There are so many wonderful stories we can read together.

Poppa and I both turned 32 this month as well.  You gave me a trophy that says I'm the best Mommy in the world.  It made me cry a little.  I love being your Mommy, baby cupcake.  It's hard work some days, and I haven't slept longer than 6 hours in one go (and it's usually only 3 or 4) since you were born 9 months ago, but I know every day how incredibly blessed we are to have you in our lives.  Some days we just sit and look at each other, you and I, and copy each other's funny noises and make each other laugh.  Those days are the best.

I love you.

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

What a month!  We all went to New York this month to visit your Tai Tai Pau.  Travelling with a baby is exhausting!  But we had fun, and Tai Tai Pau was so pleased to meet you.  She had a whole dresser covered in your photographs already.  She said you were pretty and clever and strong.  You were a good girl for our trip, even though you were so tired.  So, a jet-setter like your Poppa already, and you're not even a year old yet!

To add to this excitement, you have teeth!  This month I felt 2 sharp little toothy-pegs come on the bottom gum in the middle.  It's nice having something to show for all the getting up you & I do in the night…

You've started baby signing lessons too.  You already make a sign for wee and poo that Poppa's been teaching you since you were born, you were always wanting to do them standing up on the mat, which got kind of messy, so this last week or so we've been putting you on the potty and you've been doing it like a big girl!  You look very cute, and very tiny, sitting on that little potty, patting your chubby little knees.

You seemed to enjoy the signing class anyway.  We sang lots of songs and played with some toys.  I also took you to Caversham Park this month one sunny day and you went on a swing on your own and I helped you on the slide and roundabout.  You enjoyed the swing very much, and watching the older children in the paddling pool.  Splash!

You've just learned to wave as well.  The first day you did it you went crazy waving at bed time, and sometimes in the night I'll be feeding you and you'll start waving!  You still make lots of funny noises…boo….shhhhh….wooo…..heh….bwear…..no sign of Mommy or Poppa yet, though one evening you did say 'Dad' and looked at Poppa, though I think it was a coincidence.

Stay strong and clever, my little pumpkin pie.

I love you.

Mommy

I feel like an old crone thinking how outrageous it is that you're getting big so quickly!  Over the dip and closer to one year old now.  Your sleep has been pretty terrible this month.  That cold last month set you back, then you had jabs, then you were teething…I have been very, very tired.  In the hardest moments I've just tried to enjoy the closeness with you, because I know you won't always want me to hold you & snuggle with you.

You're allowed to eat pretty much anything now.  Avocado is a particular favourite.  You stopped blowing your beaker like a trumpet and now take sips like a big girl, even holding it for yourself sometimes.  Daddy's been teaching you to make 'B' noises, and you also say 'who' and 'woo'.  Still no sign of ma ma ma or da da da though.

You like other babies.  You went round to play at Adam's house, having a tussle with him over who would play with what toy.  And you played with Nate at the mum's group meet up in town.  So many boyfriends already…don't tell your dad!

You sit up so nicely now, and love playing peekaboo.  We're still reading in the mornings, and you like splashing in the bath at night.  It's fun playing with you, peekaboo with your puppet books or singing games.  You especially like 'Old MacDonald'.  You're growing up so quickly now, my little Leilani baby.

I love you.

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

Happy half-year birthday little one, can you believe you’re six months old already?You just get cuter and cuter I think and you do make me laugh.This month has seen you learn to sit up on your own – hooray!You started to sleep a bit better, just getting up once in the night, but then you caught your first cold from me and the happy sleeps went out the window LNever mind!Having a cold was not much fun for anyone, but you were adorable with your little runny nose and watery eyes and ‘feel sorry for me’ cough…

You still enjoy reading in the mornings, and you have an old takeaway menu that you’ll sit and look at (and try to eat!) for ages!You like to stand on my knee still and jump jump jump like Tigger.Everyone at mum’s group is enchanted with you.I tried to get you to show them how you whistle (pursing your lips and blowing out your nose) but that particular craze of yours had already passed by then!Today you’re back to blowing raspberries with a great deal of effort put in to make them extra loud.

Eating is going ok still, and we’re trying to get you to use your beaker…it’s a bit hit and miss and you mainly pretend it’s a trumpet and blow into it!

It amazes me that it was only 6 months ago that we were in hospital together and you were, at this point, still in my tummy struggling to get out.Even when I’m so tired I can’t see straight I still love you, baby girl, and I’m looking forward to the next 6 months as I’m sure things are going to get even more interesting…

I love you Leilani-pie,

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

5 months old now, and finally we've let you have some of the real food you've been trying to get your hands on for so long!  Baby rice first, and now veggies.  It's going down very well, so hopefully you're going to be a good eater.  It's a messy business though, with food going all over you and all over me.

You had some more jabs this month, didn't even notice the first one go in, but you really screamed on the second one.  And it seems your memory has kicked in because now whenever we go back to the surgery for your weigh-ins each week you scream and scream once we get to the nurse's room.  Poor baby.

You're still not sleeping very well.  You've definitely got the idea about bedtime, and the routine of bath, milk & bed is working well.  But you wake up a lot in the night and need me.  I try not to mind missing my sleep, though sometimes if I can't fall asleep again afterwards I'm a bit grumpy the next day.  You're still a smiley baby though.  You like it when we jump up and down, or look at the baby in the mirror.  You like it when daddy makes monkey noises.  And in the mornings when you come in our bed and we read books to you, you smile and smile.  'Poppy Cat's Opposites' is a firm favourite…

We've met some nice babies at the mum's group, and hopefully we'll keep in touch so you can have some fun people to play with as you get bigger.

I love watching you grow and change, sweet Leilani, though at the same time I wish you could stay this little always.

I love you baby girl,

Mommy

Dear Leilani Baby,

Time flies by all too quickly.  This month we had the trip to Scotland for a family wedding (Lawrence and Judith).  It involved a 7 hour train journey from Reading to Edinburgh – I was very nervous before we set out, but you were as good as gold, smiling at people, looking out of the window.  And you were so good at the hotel as well, sleeping nicely in the travel cot – a model baby!  Everyone thought you were so cute.

I think you're beautiful.  I know you're my baby, and I'm supposed to think that, but I really do think you are.  Your eyes are so big and round and shiny, and when you smile I just melt inside.

You learned how to hold onto your foot on the train journey, and have been proudly leaning forwards when I sit you on my knee grasping your toes a lot.  You're still very noisy, shouting and blowing raspberries.

The new mum's group has started and hopefully we will make some friends there – they seem like nice people.  I think you're the best baby there, but I'm biased J

I love spending my time with you Lollypop baby, even when I'm so tired and feel grumpy just having a sing-song with you is very special, especially when I remember the time we spent waiting for you to arrive.

Keep growing up nicely, my sweet baby.

I love you.

Dear Leilani Baby,

You're growing so big already!  It's amazing to think that it's already been 3 months since you were brand new.  I just gave away some of your newborn clothes to some friends, Nigel & Poi who are due to have their baby any day now.  The little vests and suits looked so tiny.  When I'm feeding you I look at your little hands and see how much they've grown, how your tiny fingers are getting chubby now as you get bigger.

You had your first immunisations this month.  I think I ended up being more upset than you!  And we had one very bad day when you were crying and I was crying and we had to call Daddy to come home in the end to help out.  It was a shock as you're normally so sweet and contented.

You've been making more and more noises this month, gurgling away to yourself, especially when you're on your changing mat.  You like the transformer robot that's next to the mat – if we press his button he talks, saying educational things like 'Yahoo!  Let's fly to the rescue!'  Daddy is always making funny noises for you, like monkey noises.

You like Mr Cat, a red cat with rustling ears, a squeaky nose and rattles inside that Uncle Dennis bought you.  You also still love the mobile that Daddy made for you that hangs over your cot, and the musical doggy that Nanna and Granddad bought you that we call 'Pants' as he looks like he has pants on his head!  And yes, you sleep in your big girl cot bed now in your own room – we moved you in there just recently as you seemed to be too big for the moses basket, hitting your arms on the side.  You still don't sleep through the night, but you've been very good in the cot, didn't make a fuss about going in there and usually I sleep a bit better not waking up at every little squeak you make.

Bath times still seem to be your favourite part of the day, and we enjoy playing with your little squirty polar bear.  You don't like it when we try to give you formula (in a vain attempt to fill you up for the night) and just spit it out!  You're drooling a lot more nowadays, and seem more coordinated with your hands, able to hold onto things (clothes, toys) and you're just starting to reach to grab things. 

Ricky and Jane bought you a singing ladybird when you were born, and you like that a lot too – you're lying in your cot right now with the ladybird on your tummy, singing back to her as she sings you songs.  It's useful to give me 5 minutes sometimes to write something like this or send an email!  Mostly though we spend our days completely together, singing songs, walking around, sitting in different places in the house having chats about what's going on.  We often meet up with the lady nearby, Marketa, and her little baby Adam, and go for walks around the town, along the canal or to the shops.  I'm looking forward to doing this in some nicer weather this summer, at the moment we have to wrap up really warm and cosy as it's so cold!

Well, I had better rescue you from the ladybird as you're getting grumpy!  I love you, my precious little girl.

Mommy

My sweet Leilani,

Happy Christmas, little one!  I know you won't remember this Christmas when you're older, so I had better tell you about it…

First of all, you're growing ever more beautiful every day.  I see your daddy melt sometimes when he looks at you and you give him one of your big beaming smiles.  When you're awake your eyes are so big and round, so very alert and taking everything in.  We're certain you understand a lot of what we're saying, and this month you've been making baby talk back to us, which is lovely.

One day you said 'goo goo' and anyone would think you'd just recited a Shakespearean monologue from our reaction!  We were very proud parents J You're often very chatty when you're having your nappy changed, or else at midnight when we're tired and want to sleep but you fancy a bit of a natter before bed.

Daddy got his Wii this month, so most of the visitors to our house have been coming to see the wii rather than you, which doesn't impress you much!  But you've helped to play sometimes, and usually the visitors end up watching you because you're so cute.  You had your own party at the beginning of the month – your Chinese one month party with your Chinese family & friends.  You wore your pretty pink party dress and had a lovely time.  I think Ma-Mah enjoyed the party the most, and she wanted to hold you all the time because you're so pretty.

We've been going to see your health visitor every week, and we had our 6 week check with the doctor.  He was very taken with you, and wrote down the meaning of your name in your official medical notes because he liked it so much!  Everything is fine with both of us, so that's good.

We also met another new mommy who lives just a couple of streets away and went round there one afternoon for a chat.  She has a little boy, A, who you gave funny Paddington Bear stares at for a while before falling asleep whilst we chatted.

And then all of a sudden it was Christmas!  We went to Ma-Mah and Yeh Yeh's house for Christmas Day.  I was a bit worried about how you'd be for sleeping, but you were such a good girl, no crying and just going straight back to sleep in your basket after each feed & change.  I was very proud of you!  Daddy helped you open your presents on Christmas morning.  You really liked the Tigger that Uncle Den bought you.  Daddy had brought his Wii to show everyone and Yeh Yeh and Ma-Mah had a great time playing with it!  We had forgotten to pack your bath so you had to have a bath in the sink – it was a bit small and you kept pulling the plug out when you tried to kick and splash!

On Christmas Eve I played the piano for you and sang you a song.  Throughout the whole song you lay very still in daddy's arms, not moving at all and hardly even blinking, just listening.  I sing to you at home a lot, but usually without the piano.  I'm looking forward to when you can sit up, then you can help me to play!

On Boxing Day we went up to Nanna and Granddad's house and again you were a really good little girl.  Nanna has a pink baby bath she uses to collect her washing in, so we used that to give you a bath.  She had some little ducks too for you to play with.  You were very smiley with Nanna and Granddad, which was lovely – giving them big gummy grins all the time.  Nanna sang you lots of funny songs and jigged you about, and you had some sleeps on both of them, kicking your legs as you dreamed.  Whilst we were there we took you to meet Nanna's friend, Sian, and her mum and dad, Margaret and Brian.  Mommy and Daddy went with Brian to look round their house – it was like a treasure trove of strange collections of things, and we both loved looking at everything there was there whilst you had a cuddle from Sian.

Now we're back at home again, and tonight we're off to your very first wedding.  It's been a busy month.  Uncle Jonty said you'd grown a lot since he'd last seen you.  I suppose we don't notice so much when we see you every day.  I can hardly wait for when you start laughing, and I'm enjoying hearing your baby talk language develop.  Daddy plays a funny game with you where he pulls your arm down and makes a toot toot noise, like a train whistle.  It made you smile and smile the first time he did it.  And sometimes now we see you hold your arm up for him to do it again.  And when I've been changing your nappy sometimes it's sounded very much like you've been saying 'toot'.  I'm trying to get you to say Mommy before you say Daddy, but really we don't mind what you say…it will just be lovely to start having conversations with you where you can join in!

Everyone was saying that next Christmas will be lots of fun with you.  Daddy says he can't imagine you being anything other than a baby, and I know what he means.  We're looking forward to you being bigger, but we're enjoying you being such a beautiful little person right now.

I love you Leilani Baby.