Video Post #23: A Puzzling Trip to the Park

Sleeping Rough

Zachary will sleep anywhere and everywhere in the day time (except his cot...), but still isn't sleeping particularly well at night. Here are a few of the places he likes to sleep...

Sleeping in Uncle Dan's arms. Uncle Dan loves to sleep in random places too!

Zachary always sleeps better next to Mummy

In the car is his favourite place to sleep

Grandma Jeanette and Grandad Harry have a really soft, warm rug

Out and about it all gets too much and he needs a nap

Video Post #22: Fun with some over-friendly horses

We are delighted to have most of the Dobson family visiting us in Cardiff this week. We've been enjoying the good weather and have been out and about enjoying the sights of South Wales. Here we are at Gelligaer Roman Fort with some lovely horses:

A Big Boy

Zachary is growing up fast! Here are a few recent changes we've had to make...

A new wardrobe

We've had to change his entire wardrobe several times now and have whole bags of clothes that no longer fit him. Thankfully we've been blessed with bigger clothes for him from friends and relatives, so he still has a good few items to grow into.

Zachary's big boy 'cricket' outfit

A new car seat

His head started hitting the top of his previous backward-facing baby car seat, so it was out with the old and in with the new - a forward-facing sitting up seat for big boys! It also converts into a booster seat for when he gets even bigger which is very handy. He loves being able to look out of the windows more easily.

All strapped in and ready to go

More fun at the supermarket

Zachary can now go in the toddler seats at the supermarket. As long as he's not too tired or hungry, he'll happily sit in the trolley, looking around at the colourful items and interesting people.

Ready to be wheeled along

A bigger baby carrier

The front baby carrier was not only getting back breaking, but it was also becoming more and more of a squeeze to fit Zachary into it (and even harder to get him out again). So, a kind friend has lent us a back carrier which includes a handy rucksack with plenty of space for a picnic and some spare changing items. We tried it out for the first time this week (Daddy is off work for half term), taking a wander around Forest Farm in Cardiff to enjoy the old canal and we were delighted to see a kingfisher from one of the bird watching huts.

What a luxury to be carried around everywhere you go!

Zachary blows a raspberry at the camera(wo)man

Video Post #21: Mirror, Mirror, on the wall...

Fun with Friends

We've had a busy week, enjoying the company of various friends. Zachary was especially pleased that he could have lots of attention and some different people to play with. Firstly, it was lovely to have Tim and Catherine from church (Bethel Baptist) over for a meal and a good chat:

Zachary enjoys a manly cuddle with Tim

Then, on a beautifully sunny day, we had a wander with Vickrum and Phobe around Roath lake, topped off with a delicious lunch at their house in Lakeside (Zachary had some 'delicious' mashed swede - well, he seemed to think so anyway...). Unfortunately Mummy forgot to bring the sunshade for the walk and Zachary wasn't happy facing the sun, so we ended up carrying him around the sunny side of the lake.

Stopping for a rare photo with Mummy (and Auntie Vickrum)

Zachary looks out over the lake, hoping for a swim

At the weekend, we had a fantastic time and delicious food at Josh and Rachel's house (see Wednesday's video if you haven't already). Rachel is an old friend from way back in our teenage years at Devon Christian Youth Camps and now has a 4 month old baby called Ivy.

Zachary checks around to see if anyone's watching before he steals Ivy's toy

Midweek, we had a girly (plus one boy) evening watching Miranda (a Mirandate!). Mummy isn't the biggest fan of Miranda, but her friends are trying to convert her. Zachary found it a little overwhelming to have so much attention all at once from the girls, and being very tired, he wasn't in the best of moods. Once settled, he slept well in Auntie Phobe's room.

Vickrum, Beth and Sarah attempt to cheer Zachary up

"I just can't take it anymore!"

Zachary was pleased to see a lot of Auntie Vickrum this week. She popped in and helped Zachary eat his tea on Thursday. 

Tasty porridge!

We are all looking forward to next week, as Daddy will be off work for half term. Weather permitting, we hope to go on a few pretty walks around Cardiff.

Video Post #20: Zachary and Ivy

We had a lovely time (and delicious lunch) at the weekend when we visited Josh, Rachel and their 4 month old baby Ivy who live in Llandaff. Here's a video of Zachary 'playing' with (poor) little Ivy...

Swimming and eating!

Zachary had his first trip to a swimming pool this week at The Village Hotel open weekend. It was great to have Vickrum, Beckrum, Bev and Caleb along for the trip too, especially as they looked after Zachary for a bit to allow Mummy and Daddy to enjoy the sauna and jacuzzi - lovely! Zachary's mood at the swimming pool seemed to be a combination of mild enjoyment and indifference, but at least he didn't mind it; he did enjoy eating one of the floats though. He stayed in for about 40 minutes, by which point he was so tired he was nearly dozing off and we took him out.  

Here are a few photos of Zachary preparing for his first swim...

Practising in the bath - he loves splashing

I'm going to be a super (smug) swimmer!

All ready in his swimsuit, looking at his 'I love swimming' book

We enjoyed a delicious meal in the hotel pub afterwards and Zachary had some puréed sweet potato (it's a lot easier to feed him purées when we're out), fed to him by Auntie Bev and Auntie Vickrum and he managed to eat quite a bit.

Feeding times in general are going very well- Zachary is always very enthusiastic about it, grabbing the food as soon as it's put in front of him. His favourite at the moment is broccoli, probably because it's something he can grab onto and keep a hold of, pulling off the tiny pieces into his mouth; the downside is it goes everywhere! He's usually in a good mood when he eats, unless he's particularly tired; when he's tired he constantly rubs his ear with his hand, which doesn't go too well if he has broccoli in it! 

Devouring the broccoli

At tea time, we've been giving Zachary some breast milk porridge in the hope that it might help him sleep through the night. So far, we've seen a little improvement, but not as much as we'd hoped.

Porridge for tea; Daddy likes it too!