The Dobsons Do Devon

We were delighted to have most of the Dobson family from Lancashire staying with us over half term. Zachary especially enjoyed all of the extra attention. He loves walking and was extremely pleased to be taken out to walk everywhere, especially along lots of walls which is his current favourite thing to do.

Walking along the school wall near our house with Grandma Jeanette

A visit to the Quay for a wall walk with Grandad Harry

Here we are at the Donkey Sanctuary. Zachary enjoyed the donkeys (although he was surprised when they suddenly made a loud eeyore!), but he found some other highlights too...

Those walls need a walking on!

The hedge maze at the Sanctuary - walking around us in circles

It was squirrel day at Escot and Zachary couldn't resist sneaking a quick kissy with this unsuspecting red squirrel:

Nice and wet

Here's Zachary watching the falconry display at Escot. He enjoyed watching the eagle swooping to within inches of his head.

Owls are Zachary's favourite

A lovely trip to Sidmouth in the sun with fantastic views of the cliffs...

Zachary wouldn't stay still for this one

The grandparents got together for a meet-up and a delicious Devonshire Cream Tea.

Cuddles with Uncle Bar

Bumble joined us for a trip to Newton Abbot and the House of Marbles where the marble runs are fantastic.

"Daddy, can you make me one of these?"

A trip to Bicton Park was a delight for Zachary and he spent a long time in the soft play area, mainly throwing all of the balls out of it.

Through the tunnel

Zachary loved riding on the miniature train, especially watching the wood chipper as we passed by.

Daddy gets over excited about the wood chipper

On the last day we visited Totnes Castle and had a wander around the lovely town.

Climbing the 72 steps with Grandad Harry

At the top; Grandma Jeanette was the most scared

The view from the top of the Castle

Zachary was sad to see them go; now he'll have to amuse himself by pulling things out of the cupboards again...

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.