Progress

Ashley has been making steady progress and a check up with the Pediatrician confirmed that Ashley's development is on track. Ashley will remain on his medicine for the next year at least with a review at 2 years of age. This also means that he can't have any other form of pure dairy except for his formula, small amounts of cheese and baby dairy desserts. The formula is specially made for toddlers so he will not miss out on any essential vitamins or minerals.

With another tooth making an appearance (and a cold) Ashley has been turned off his regular food, although he will eat what I call 'junk food' (not in the traditional sense), like weetbix, homemade cheese scones, hot cross buns, toddler finger biscuits and rice cakes. The community nurse isn't concerned though as long as he has his required fruit, veggies and meat over the week. I have noticed though that Ashley likes his food either really smooth or whole foods but not chunk or lumpy blended food. It's good in a way but I get scared that the whole foods are too advanced while the smooth food is making him lazy.

Over the last few weeks Ashley has learnt how to suck a lollipop, hold his own spoon with a little help and loves to stand next to dad and dig his handkerchief from his pocket. If there is nothing in Dad's pocket he will still have a peek.

Happy Birthday to my Gorgeous Lil Boy!

OK, I have been pretty slack when it comes to updating my blog as of late, so now is catch-up time!

I can't believe how time has flown by. My lil boy is 1 already. It is truly amazing how much growing and developing he has done in 12 months. No more is he this screaming, red faced, defenceless newborn but rather a (semi) independent lil boy who knows what he wants and how to get it.

To celebrate Ashley's birthday I invited his Godparents to join the family for dinner and of course pressies and cake. Once everyone had arrived we sat down to open pressies. Ashley wasn't his normal happy self today but we managed to still get some good photos. Nana cooked delicious Chinese and Ashley got to eat chicken and corn soup for the first time. For dessert we all tucked into the birthday cake, which was baked by Nana and decorated by me. I also made Ashley a smash cake. For those of you who don't know what this is, it is a small cake (that matches the main cake) that is specifically made for the baby to play with and destroy.

All I Want for Christmas…

…are my two front teeth! OK, most of you probably know that although we could see the white of Ashley’s teeth for some time now and on and off swelling there has been no sign of any breakthroughs…until Boxing Day!!! YAY!!! Finally!!!

Ashley’s First Christmas

Christmas 2010 was the best Christmas I remember in a long time. Ashley was just over 10 months old and even though he didn’t know what the day was about, towards the end of the day he got the hang of opening pressies and posing for photos. To start the day we got up at 6am (so we could eat breakfast before church). While waiting for Ashley’s meds to work we opened a few pressies, one from Auntie Beth (a cute book with a real light up lantern) and a giraffe and ball musical sit down/stand up toy from me for Ashley and a mini hair straightener from Ashley to me (thanks Auntie Beth for getting this pressie).

Since it was forecast to be another stinker of a day Mum, Ashley and I made our way to church early in the morning to beat the heat. We sat up the back on the wall so that Ashley’s pram wouldn’t be in the way. Ashley was well behaved. Of course he wanted to chat and didn’t want to sit still but that was to be expected. Mum and I took turns in standing outside the door with him and he was fine.

After mass we went back to Mum and Dad’s so that we could open more pressies. Ashley got a walker and a story telling Winnie the Pooh from Mum and Dad as well as rolling animals, animal balls, blow up ball and clanking keys. After all the mornings excitement Ashley had some lunch and went for a sleep. I went home to have a little snooze too.

After Fee finished work she came around to Mum and Dad’s for dinner and she brought over Ashley’s pressie from Koshy and herself. Koshy wasn’t here (he went home to spend Christmas with his family) so Auntie Fee got the job of putting together the 3-in-1 bike. Ashley waited patiently and was thrilled with the results! Mum will now take him outside under the patio when the weather is cool and he likes to be pushed around with his feet up on the handle bars.

While Mum was finishing off cooking on the BBQ I filled Ashley’s final Christmas pressie…a 2 piece Thomas the Tank shell from Auntie Namu. One half of the shell is at our place and the other at Mum and Dad’s. After filling it with cool water and throwing in the bath toys I put Ashley in the water to cool off and have a bit of a splash. As usual he had a ball and was too busy playing to pose for photos, so this is the best we could get.

Ashley is Welcomed into God’s House

On the hot summer day (35 degrees) of December 12, 2010 Ashley was Baptised at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Rockingham. It was a beautiful day and family and friends came to share in the celebration. Ashley’s Christening gown was kindly brought over from Uncle Richard, and was from his Auntie Marges in Singapore. It was handmade by the Catholic nuns, fit perfectly and was absolutely gorgeous. Mum and I did all of the cooking and Beth & Fee helped by decorating, serving food and drinks and providing and setting up the tables and chairs.

It was definately worth staying up all night to perfect the cake. It was a joint effort. Mum baked the cake and I decorated it. I must admit I was pretty proud of myself since this was the first time I have decorated with royal icing and piping gels. After receiving plenty of praise for the decorating of the candle I am seriously considering offering my services for making sacrament candles in the future. Some of the candles I saw on the internet were $35 and up. It took me about 1 hour and less than $10 to make the candle for Ashley. Plus I was able to create the design that I wanted.

Ashley was so well behaved (except when we had to stop the ceremony to clean up because Ashley spewed) and considering the heat we all did remarkably well. Ashley received such beautiful pressies from his Uncles and Aunties and I now that all the end of the year/ new year celebrations are over I can send out thank – you cards.

Ashley and his Godmothers...

Ashley and Stripey – This unique looking animal was a Christening gift from Matt. I originally thought that it would scare Ashley but after tentatively offering it to him, he grab it with both hands and wouldn’t let go. Now Ashley won’t sleep without clutching Stripey.

Time to Take a Look Back on the Last Few Months…

The last few months have been pretty hectic. Ashley has completed his first 10 swimming lessons. The lessons are more about water awareness at this stage and although he was a bit apprehensive to begin with, the last few weeks of lessons saw him kicking, splashing and being dunked under water like a pro! Ashley also made friends with Olivia. Together they enjoyed trying to hold hands and splashing each other. Check out these pics of Auntie Namu and Ashley at one of the lessons.

Now that the warmer weather is here I have laid down the foam alphabet squares so that Ashley can practise his rolling and crawling. In the last few weeks Ashley has started commando crawling (on his belly). Although Ashley has plenty of toys to play with, he likes to play with the colourful foam boarders the best.

What’s Been Happening?

Well, time is really getting away from me. Ashley turned 8 months yesterday and so much has happened over the last month or so. Most of the time I have been busy running around buying things for Ashley or doing his washing and cooking. I want to cook as much food for him as possible and although it is time consuming it is worth it. Let me catch you up…

Aunty Fee went to South Australia and brought back a cold! OK, so it’s not contagious and very cute, so all is forgiven. Ashley loves to bat it around while on his tummy or just swing it around by the tag.

Finally settled a date for Ashley’s Christening and sent out ‘save the date’ magnets.

Had Uncles visiting from Singapore. They were here for about a week and Ashley enjoyed all the excitement, attention and his first ride on the train from Rockingham to Perth.

With summer fast approaching I bought Ashley his first pair of sunglasses – these cute blue Baby Banz. He doesn’t mind wearing them most of the time except when he is really tired. But they look so adorable!

Ashley spends most of the day babbling, from about 2am – 10pm with sleeps in between. He is so happy and social and will talk to pretty much anyone and anything...

and I am sure there has been much more. I’ll get back to you…