This was the week that Puff turned one year old. We’ve had plenty of time to prepare for the idea that he is a one-year-old now, and – as if to reinforce how much he’s grown, he had the chance to meet the newborn baby J this week.
Mum had a free afternoon, and so made a trip down to Grind, where he sat happily in the window, just above where he’d been sleeping in the capsule a year before.
He’s getting pretty good at opening presents, although we generally need to tear the wrapping paper a little bit so he can get started.
When moving around now, he’s still happiest crawling to get from one place to another, but increasingly we’re seeing that he wants to get down on the ground and start exploring. When he’s in exploring mode, he starts to investigate climbing on things. Mostly he’ll climb on familiar people, but sometimes, he’ll try and climb on trusted objects.
For his actual birthday, Mum brought him into the city so we could have a family lunch together. After some Thai food (for Mum and Dad) and rice crackers with almond butter and with avocado, and assorted fruit (for Puff), we went across the way for hot chocolate (for Mum and Dad), and then took some family photos. This one came out the best.
Puff then went to visit Aunty Chan, and was very spoilt when he received another present to open from another friend.
It’s worth noting that we’ve worked out how to avoid having him cry when he is first placed on the change-mat in the mornings. The answer? Give him some soft toys to play with: it has transformed his mood (and we’ve managed – so far – to keep them from interfering in the nappy-changing process).
Lastly, Puff had his 12-month immunisations this week. This time, there are three needles. One in each arm, and one in the leg. They start with the leg and arm on one side of the body, then flip around and approach the other arm. It’s hard work holding him still, knowing that it’s not pleasant, but it’s better than leaving him alone for someone else to do it. As far as I know, he won’t remember at all – I don’t remember my immunisations from that far back – but I think it’s still worth making it as easy as possible for him. We took him out for a late breakfast after the immunisations, as practice for when he’s old enough to remember the event.