Saturday the 21st February was a lovely, sunny day, so we all went properly out in the garden for the first time this year. We put Conrad in his first pair of wellies (blue ones with dinosaurs that he’s inherited from his sister), which he wore briefly on that fantastic, snowy day at the beginning of the month, but only to stand in – this time he was walking around, holding on to my hands, of course, stumbling every so often, slightly stepping out of his boots and on to them at times, but very keen. A plastic football, originally red but faded, which had been left in the garden over winter, attracted his interest almost immediately. As it was slightly deflated, he could easily pick it up with one hand – and put it in his mouth… (There are no prizes for guessing what Conrad’s favourite activity in the garden will be in the summer – I can already picture all the soil, various types of leaves, pebbles, etc., that we’ll have to fish out of his mouth…!)
On Sunday 22nd February, Conard’s farmor, farfar and auntie Wendy came over for afternoon tea for Jessica’s birthday. As always, it was nice to have some family around to play with the kids, who were in a brilliant mood (but then they are most of the time anyway). Conrad was itching to get on his feet and run around though, of course, when everyone else were sitting around chatting, watching his sister opening presents or having birthday cake.
Now Conrad goes on a swing too every morning we go over to the playground in the park. Before I even get a chance to fetch him out of the pushchair, his sister goes ‘Da-da’ (her word for Conrad) and points to the swing next to her. Then they both giggle away as take turns pushing them (or Ian Jessica and me Conrad if it’s at the weekend), Conrad not quite so high – he sits much more upright than he did first time, and holds on to the bar in front, but I think I’ll wait swinging him really high until he’s a little bit more confident holding on.
Jessica insists on her brother going on the slide every time after she’s gone on it – it makes her giggle to see him slide, though Conrad still seems fairly indifferent about that one. And she wants him to go opposite her on the see-saw too, though that one has to be kept for weekends when Ian’s around, as Jessica needs holding on to too.
Gabriella