Zachary's 100th Post!

Zachary loves dressing up and had a wonderful trip to the museum to try on a new outfit. He then ran around the balcony repeatedly to show off his royal clothes, charming a group of school children who playfully bowed down to him.

Zachary has grand aspirations

Admiring himself in the mirror

Zachary has been out and about in Exeter, enjoying time with friends and taking lots of walks in the rain. Last weekend we had a lovely lunch with Lucy and Rob from church and Zachary had fun playing with Zoe:

Zoe loves giving hugs; Zachary's not so sure about receiving!

Story time with Lucy

We had a wonderful afternoon stroll along the Exeter Quay in the sun (mostly) and met lots of swans up close.

Swans tried to peck the bread out of Zachary's hand

They walked for nearly two hours around the Quay

On a more delightful note, Zachary left a little present in the bath for Daddy the other day...

A second later, Zachary reaches to pick up the strange brown lump

He loves to blame Daddy for everything, so when we asked him who did the poo, he said it was Daddy!

Zachary's afternoon fun

Recently, Zachary has altered his naptime to around lunchtime, so we have been out and about enjoying the afternoons following several late lunches. Here's what we got up to yesterday...

Zachary helped Mummy do some planting in the garden (the first time we've touched the garden since we moved). Zachary loves copying everything we do so he enjoyed holding a trowel and helping with the digging.

He wants to be like Grandad Harry when he grows up

Digging away

Unfortunately Zachary had a little accident and somehow ended up face-down in the mud. Here he is, trying to taste the mud while Mummy ran for a wipe.

Mmm, just like chocolate!

Then Zachary wanted to go for a walk (his current favourite thing to do), so we headed down the hill. The first things we always reach are the recycling bins and Zachary can't resist pointing out the warning sign of a man falling after climbing on the bins.

That's what happens when you climb on things, Zachary!

There is a children's playground very close to our house and we go there regularly. Unfortunately, most of the equipment is for older children, but Zachary enjoys watching the other children running up and down after school. Zachary can put one foot in front of the other in a straight line to walk on the balance beam (with Mummy's support) and he also loves jumping between the stepping stones.

The balance beam

Here's Zachary sitting on a hanging tyre, but he wasn't too sure.

The chain is clearly the most interesting thing to look at

Zachary has a thing about gates - he always has to be the one to open/close themn and it's always difficult to get him to move on and leave the gate behind!

Opening the gate to leave (or perhaps not)

We usually see at least 3 buses when we go out and Zachary is still enthralled with them. Heading into the town centre is always a delight for him, as there are buses all around him.

We headed home and whenever we get back, Zachary always loves to help put things away. He'll bring Mummy's slippers and put her shoes back on the shoe rack. He'll put hats/gloves away, turn the light off in the understairs cupboard and close the door (he can't quite manage to hang coats yet - he just needs a bit more height!). 

Zachary headed to the lounge to get his toys out and have a game in his ball pool.

I don't think he realised it's not quite on the floor properly

Zachary's Progress at 18 Months

Zachary will be 18 months tomorrow and it's amazing how he's changed over that time. 

Zachary can:

• Walk very quickly, especially if he knows you're chasing him

•  Understand most of what you say. He demonstrates this by responding to commands such as: close/open the door, give an item to someone, bring the remote, turn the light off/on, put his toys away, give someone a kiss etc. He answers 'yes' when you ask him if he wants various things such as a drink, food, to go outside/upstairs, a cuddle or a certain toy. He can point on demand to the following: his head, his hair, his eyes, mouth, teeth, knees, shoes, socks, feet, trousers, jumper, a bed, a mirror, door, window, floor, ceiling, TV, remote, Mummy, Daddy, Bumble, his drink/food, his bookshelf and a few other things.

•  Talk using single words. He can say the following words with meaning: Mum, Dad, cheese, juice, row (as in row, row, row your boat), yes, there, this, ball, yum.

• Join in with songs, doing the actions. His favourites are row, row, row your boat (which he can request himself and lets out a very animated scream when he sees a crocodile) and wind the bobbin up.

Zachary likes:

•  'Helping' with the things Mummy and Daddy are doing

• Throwing things down the toilet

• Tipping his drink upside down to empty it onto the carpet

• Running around with no clothes on, playing his belly like a drum

• Hiding behind curtains and in cupboards, then jumping out to surprise passers-by

Zachary hides inside Mummy's pantry cupboard

• Wearing sunglasses

• Flicking light switches on and off

• Animals, especially dogs, of which we tend to see a lot

Playing with Daddy in a home-made den

• Eating - his current favourites are satsumas and blueberries. He usually polishes off most of the food on his plate.

Enjoying his grapes

• Reading - he has a box full of books which he loves to get out, particularly enjoying the ones with flaps. He has a bedtime story with Daddy every night which is one of his favourite parts of the day.

Zachary likes to turn the pages a little faster than Daddy does

•  Going outside - he loves walking and automatically holds onto your hand or the buggy

Off to splash in puddles with Grandma and Grandad

• Buses - our house is on a bus route and Zachary loves watching the buses drive past. He also enjoys trips to see the buses with his Grandparents in Leyland.

• Bath time - Zachary could play for hours in the bath if he had the chance. He loves his bath toys and always cries when you get him out.

One of Zachary's last times in the baby bath

• Brushing his teeth - he likes the taste

• Balls - he loves to throw them and has been enjoying the ball pool that he got for Christmas.

• Emptying drawers and cupboards - especially Mummy's drawers in the kitchen.

He throws all of the balls out of his ball pool, then puts them all back in again

Zachary hates:

• Wearing hats - he pulls them off at the earliest opportunity

Zachary removes his hat

• Mummy or Daddy leaving - he cries when Daddy leaves for work, or if Mummy drops him off at Bumble's.

• Being told not to touch something he's interested in 

• Loud noises - particularly Henry the Hoover 

Zachary is still sleeping badly, waking approximately every 2 1/2 hours (he has had some better nights where he's only woken a few times, but recently has been worse), but we're well adjusted to it. He has breast milk at night before bed. He goes to three toddler groups a week which he loves and he usually has an afternoon nap each day. Zachary now has 10 teeth, including 2 upper molars.

Christmas...2!

It was Zachary's second Christmas (hasn't time flown!) and we all had a fantastic time with family and friends. Here are a few highlights of the Christmas period.

Decorating our new house - It was lovely to be able to make our new lounge look Christmassy and Zachary had fun trying to pull baubles from the tree.

Cosmeston Christmas - It was that time of year again and Zachary had a fantastic day with his favourite Cardiff girls. We were thrilled to hear the news that Auntie Beckrum is expecting a baby - Zachary will enjoy having another little one to play with at next year's Cosmeston Christmas (under close supervision!)

Present opening fun with Auntie Phobe

Playing with 5 little ducks, made by Auntie Beckrum

Our own little 'Dobson' Christmas - We had a little Christmas day before Christmas, as just the three of us. We had a lovely roast dinner and an afternoon stroll to the Exeter Christmas Market.

Our first Christmas meal in our new dining room

Fun at the Christmas Market

Christmas at the Lewarne's - A few days before Christmas we got together for a lovely buffet and presents at Bumble and Grandad's house.

Zachary had some lovely gifts from Bumble and Grandad, including a paddling/ball pool and Harold the helicopter

Christmas dancing with Bumble

Christmas with the Dobsons - We had a wonderful time spending Christmas day and the surrounding week with Grandma Jeanette, Grandad Harry, Uncle Bar, Uncle Humphrey, Auntie Amanda and Auntie Marilla.

Santa's little Elf is ready to help open the presents

Zachary loves seeing the buses with Grandad Harry

Zachary wants a different kind of bath

New Year's in Cardiff - We stayed with the lovely Mr and Mrs Lacy-Brown and enjoyed a few parties and days out, including a trip to Caerphilly in which we walked past the Castle and ended at the only Wimpy in Wales.

Fancy Dress at New Year's - what we wanted to be when we grew up

Auntie Bev and Zachary plan a siege

First Christmas in our family home

We had our own little Christmas yesterday (unfortunately we are all ill at the moment but we enjoyed it nonetheless). Here's a video of Zachary opening and playing with his presents. 

Zachary's Progress and Preparing our new house

We've completed the purchase of our new house in Stoke Hill, Exeter and have spent the last few weeks doing it up a little before moving in. Zachary hasn't seen much of the house yet, as we've made every effort to keep him away from the wallpaper, paint and new carpet - his Grandma Bumble has been looking after him. 

Scraping the walls

 

Zachary jumps on a roll of carpet

We've now finished the painting and have lovely new looking bedrooms, just needing a few finishing touches of curtains and lampshades. The plan is to move in during the middle of the coming week, so it's back to the familiarity of shifting boxes, lifting furniture and unpacking. It's satisfying to know that this time it's more permanent. 

Daddy uncovers a hidden fireplace

Wallpaper gone and ready to paint

Zachary's new room is now turquoise

Zachary has developed a lot in the last few weeks. His understanding of our speech is excellent and he can now answer 'yes' when you ask him something and shakes his head for 'no'. His favourite song is row row row your boat which he requests by saying 'row row' and he moves backwards and forwards in a rowing action, as well as lifting his arms and screaming 'ahh!' after the crocodile comes.

Grown up little boy

Zachary always wants to go outside, especially if he sees a door opening and he has a little tantrum (stamping his feet, waving his arms and crying loudly) if he doesn't get to go out. He is now walking extremely well and is very stable (and quick!) on his feet.

He eats well, although he can be a little fussy with savoury food (particularly veg), especially if he sees something else he'd prefer. He loves sweet things and is a real fruit monster - if nothing else, he'll always eat fruit.

Zachary still loves books, especially those with flaps (although lots of the flaps have been pulled off) and enjoys toys that make a noise. Peek a boo is still one of his favourites and he loves wearing sunglasses.

The South-East, the North-West and Wales

This October half term has involved a lot of travelling. We travelled to London and stayed with Bev and Caleb for the first weekend. We were delighted to be able to celebrate with Pete and Josie on their wedding day. Daddy was an usher and Zachary had a great time running up and down, following the bigger children.

Playing in the creche room

Chasing Elijah

Feeding a younger baby a pen lid

The happy couple looking beautiful

We then travelled to the opposite end of the country, to Lancashire, to visit Swith's parents and some of his siblings.

Playing the piano with Uncle

We enjoyed a visit to a Victorian underground reservoir which is soon to close to build houses.

Wandering around the empty reservoir

It was pretty busy, as everyone rushed in to see what it was like

Zachary tried out his new wellington boots and splash suit from Grandma Jeanette and Grandad Harry. He loved walking along, holding hands with Grandad Harry and standing in the middle of a very large puddle, kicking his feet to make a big splash.

A fun but slow walk

The inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre

Eating porridge with Grandma Jeanette

We all had a lovely time visiting Zachary's Great Aunt Eileen and Great Uncle Mike. He was given a lovely gift of a new outfit and some soft crocheted blankets. 

Zachary models his new hat and jumper; unfortunately he was sick all over it on the way home

Then after a long delay-ridden trip, we finally made it to Cardiff to visit friends, party and see fireworks.

Zachary is thrilled by the fireworks