1st birthday

 He is 1 years old.  

Seems crazy that a year has gone by already. Doesn't not seem long along he was our tiny baby in premmy 4lb clothes. He is now 20lb and doing amazingly. He is running and climbing everywhere, starting to talk alot more and generally very happy and chatting, social boy. 

For his birthday celebrations we planned a party at a local village hall, where we invited friends and family to join us. We had hired a bouncy castle and softplay along with doing food and parcel the parcel games ourselves. It took alot of planning and collecting decorations, making party bags and getting food. We found someone to make him a cake which was the hardest bit due to how many allergies we had to consider. It had to be milk, but and coconut free for both our kids. With soya milk and no eggs due to Layton possible reactions to oats and eggs. Plus we had friends who were vegan. Then had to be gluten free for our best friends little girl. 

The actual day was so lovely. It started just us where we woke him up, got him dressed in his birthday outfit we had especially made. 

Then took him and ariyah downstairs where we had decorated and laid out his presents from us. He was amazing seeing it all and loved the balloons. He drive straight in his ball pit. He was a little unsure about what he had to do with presents so ariyah helped and showed him how to open them. We then had some breakfast before opening some more.

We had his party in the afternoon,  everyone enjoyed themselves. As we had 30+ people there from babies as young as 3 weeks to couple of months then all around laytons and ariyah age. A few who were 4/5 then older 7+8 year old cousins. Which meant we ensure we catered for everyone. friends come to help set up and clean and pack away at the end which was amazing could not of done it without their help.

Unfortunately I had been abit unwell leading up to his birthday and he was not himself eirther. He was teething and overwhelmed and very clingy to me. But he still managed to have a good time. 

He got lots of lovely gift and was very spoil and lucky to have so many people who love him. He was opening presents for like 3 days as we speak them out so he didn't get overwhelmed. 

We also had day with my dad where they came to give him presents and went out for a walk to local pub charity event. 

Over the last year of his life:  

A lot has happened over this year, he was born as COVID settled luckly meaning we have been able to take him to many groups and events that we were not able to do with ariyah. 

He has been able to make friends and build up social skills and relationships from a very early age which had really help his development. 

He been to three christening, two weddings, 5 birthday parties and other events and fun days, all in a year of life.

He is very cheeky and it's been amazing watching him grow, watching his personality form and the bond with ariyah develope. 

Key milestones: 

Smiled - only few weeks old 

Laughed fully - 

Sat unaided- at 4 months. 

Rolled- at 5 months 

Ate first foods Xmas dinner at 17 weeks. 

Stood up holding on -  

Walk aided at 6/7 months 

First steps 8 months

Stood up aid 9 months. 

Walked at 9 months 3 weeks. 

First word Hiya and bubba same as ariyah. 7 months ish. 

All round he is doing well, he had his 12 month check and is hitting all milstones he should be. He is doing very well. And has such a cheeky personality. All that trouble at the start of his life from COVID when pregnant so he stopped growing, to colic, allergies, tummy troubles is all worth it watching the little one he is growing up to be.

He so cuddly and loving. He loves people, babies and food. His favourite things are playing with dolls and balls. He loves to climb and run. He eats everything especially enjoys meat and roast dinners.  

We have sometimes that we are keeping and eye on that we have mentioned to the health visitor when we had his review regards his sensory needs as well. Which il touch up on in another post. 

11 months

 Almost a year old. 

I can not believe Layton is almost a year old. In just 2 days. This month has flown by well the whole year has. He was out tiny baby only 6lb in premmy clothes to now being a toddler running, climbing and talking. 

So this last month he just seems to have grown so much. As he started walking early he now steady on his feet, running and spinning around everywhere. He climbs everything!!! Ariyah was never really and climber but he is. He climb over the sofa arm and up into tables and chairs, he climbs units and book case. I think it because since he was young we gone to soft plays and encourage him to crawl, walk and climb around himself. He now goes up the softplay stair and down the slides himself by turning backwards coming on his tummy, feet first. With ariyah it was still lockdown so we weren't able to go to a softplay until she was 1. By then she was walking but didn't have that young encouragement to climb. He also has her to watch and copy now, she didn't have any older children to watch and learn from. 

He also goes to lots of toddler groups and is around older children who are all 2+. This means he has always watched and wanted to be like them. Say that we have friends with tiny babies and he loves them. He loves baby dolls at the moment to. He will feed them with a bottle, kiss and cuddle them. He put them in the toy prams and push it around. He also likes ariyahs babies and dressing up stuff. It's very cute as they will play and dress up together. 

He is very good at playing and will play alone, he likes the cleaning brooms toy set as well as his ride on train. He got into puzzle recently and enjoys putting blocks and into boxes. He loves ariayh play kitchen as will pretend to make us drinks or try feed us pretend food. Balls are another favourite as he always liked them, he will roll and kick them around the room. 

Unfortunately he was very poorly for a while few weeks back, where he caught a tummy bug so was vomiting. It was horrible as he choke on it, we had to stay awake holding him. He got a temperature and bad tummy ache too. He also then got a back chest and cough which he ended up with two trips to hospital for sickness and then his chest. They said he had long term bronchitis and maybe asthma so gave him inhalers to help. Which they did help alot so we continue giving him the inhaler now when he needs them. It was a hard two weeks as ariyah and ourselves where also sick. But lots of rest and staying in with cuddles on the sofa helped us all get better quickly. He was also teething and not really eating or drinking. It been very hot and I think it was all just to much for him. His sleep was effected too so we had so hard nights especially as ariyah not been sleeping eirther.

This month Layton also had his first proper birthday parties to go to as well as a christening where he became a god brother to our friends 3 month old. As we are his godfathers. Layton loves him and I can't wait to watch them grow up together. We have had a very busy summer holidays, with parties, softplay, play dates, baby groups, beach trips, swimming, seeing friends and family, parks, picnics and prides as well as other local events. 

In all in been a amazing month watching he get more confident walking, as well as now really talking. He now says lots of words. He points at things he wants or for us to label it so he knows what it's is. He trying to copy sounds and words as well and learning so fast. Words he can say: 

1. Dad/dada
2. Ari-ah(ariyah) 
3. Cat
4. Dog
5. The
6. Where
7. Milk
8. All done
9. Ball
10. Teddy
11. Balloon
12. That (and points) 
13. No
14. Yes/yeah 
15. Nana
16. Tar (thank you) 
17. Mine
18. 
    

Now he is better in himself and his teeth have calmed down, he seems to be eating and drinking milk better and sleeping again. He is getting back into a little routine. So roll on term time again when we can all get back into routine and our usual groups as think both kids missing it. Layton and ariyah have too arguing and she been abit heavy handed with him which makes him upset and then her upset. But she has so much going on and pit of routine completely. However he is getting frustrated as she is taking things off him or not letting him play, so I feel ones she back at nursery things will settle as he can get a break away and some 1:1 time which is does not get at the moment. Therefore ones she back t nursery both get time apart and 1:1 activities with us this will help the frustration. Although sure we got more arguments and fights to come.

We have a walker

 10 months and he is off.

So Layton has always been strong on this legs, he was standing and cruises round furniture for months. He would stand up before he could even crawl or sit unaided. 

We knew he would walk early like his sister but not sure we were ready for this. He was taking few steps between furniture or would walking holding one hand since 8 months. But ones he started crawling he knew he could get where he wanted faster. He was still yet to fully stand unaided but started trying to let go of things and walk/run but would then fall after a few steps. As he didn't have the balance yet. But at 9 months he was taking few more steps before lowering to crawl.

So on Tuesday 6th only 10 months and a week. He stood himself upright in the middle of the garden, and was then starting to let go of things and stand for longer amount of time. Then come Wednesday. I took him to a baby group where I stood him up to put bags away and he just walked off, just like that!! He then walked round the whole hour and hasn't not stopped since. It is like ones he got his balance to stand he was off.  Just in 2 days he went from taking steps to fully walking. 

Now at 11 months he nearly crawls, he walks and runs and climbs. He hardly falls now and if he does he jumps straight back up. He seems like a toddler already it's crazy how fast he went from not standing to walking, running and everything in just a few days. 

Since he started walking, he also climbs everything so we had to move the furniture around, take the side off his cot and put a bed guard up because he was starting to pull self up. Also he was banging against it and getting limbs stuck and therefore waking himself or us up in the night. He also follows instructions now like this way or come here or go get ball ect.... 

And he is talking loads. I will do more in his 11 month development post so keep reading and seeing what he been achieving. As well as adventure we been up to this summer. 

9 and 10 months.

 Layton is 10 months now. 

How did this happen I feel like I blink and he grows up. He had a huge grows spurt and leap in development. 

He is now crawling very fast, pulling up and walking round everything. He also standing up alone and standing more without holding on. He has taken multiple steps now so will not be long before he is fully walking around. Chasing his sister. 

Although he is a climber. He climbs the stairs, sofa and anything haha 😂. He will climb all around the park, up slides and go down them with minimal support too. He loves the freedom and hates when we help him. Very independent like Ariyah.  

Meanwhile is is also very cuddly. He loves kisses and cuddles and is so affectionate. He also loves babies at baby groups and will try kiss everyone. 

He has started talking now to and has a few regular words then a few we heard ones which we think he said like coping. 

Words he says. 

*Hi/Hiya/hello

*Bye bye

*Dad/dada

*No and Yes 

*Arie (ariyah)

*Rabbit

He also can make some animal noises, lion, elephant, dinosaur, monkey it is very cute. He roars alot at dinosaur toys. 

He now has 3 almost 4 teeth but they been bothering him alot this week. 

He is sleeping better as went though a week or so before his growth spurt and leap in speech where he was waking constantly, he was crawling and standing and banging against the cot all night. Waking himself and us. But luckly he gone back to settling well and only waking ones for milk it is getting later so hopefully give it longer he will be sleeping though the night. 

He is also a great eater and going longer between milks and eating more food now which is good. He gained weight now as for a while he wasn't gaining much as he dropped his milk and weren't eating a lot where he keep getting ill. He had colds and chest infection. But he back to eating, drink and his happy self.

Layton always been a good sleeper compared to Ariyah. We have the odd bad night but most of the time he has a bottle at 7pm and goes straight to sleep, then wakes for one bottle in the night before up at 5-6 sometimes even 8. We never had this as ariyah was and still is not a great sleeper. However Layton good sleeper and in routine of two naps a day. One only half an hour then a long one. He did go through rough week or so with constantly waking and standing up in the night. He was rolling onto his front but would bang against the side of the cot.

Still having tummy trouble and on movicol for 3+ months every day to help his pass his bowels. He hopefully soon they can see from bloods and stuff about what's  going on.

Overall he doing amazing is a happy baby and loves people other kids and attention. He seeks out lights and toys or objects that make noise or light up. He loves banging everything. He loves his sister ever tho she struggles with him touching her or shouting or even looking at her sometime but they have a very special bond and you can see the love between them in the special moments when she kiss or hug him or bring him something he wants or needs. 

He hit a huge milstones at 10 months so watch out for my next post.! 

8 months old

 Time fly's 

I can not believe Layton is 8 months, these last two months since I posted have gone so fast and so much has happened. With his growing and learning as well as us as a family. 

So update is truly needed, he had mainly first recently with adventure, and milestones. So will break it down again into sections. 

Sleep: he always been good with sleep in general, other then his colic stage as a baby, then whenever he had trouble with his tummy die to allergies. Which now we have seemed to have narrowed it down and cut things out he seems so much better. 

His had the odd hard night when teething, consipated or been out of routine. However now we have a good routine it seems to work. 

His daily routine/nap and bed. 

He get up mostly around 6-6:30. Then have breakfast at 7. Milk around half 8-9 and go back to sleep. Unless he hasn't had a bottle in the early hours he have bottle before breakfast, then just nap without milk. 

Then he sleep for around a hour - or two. He then be up from around 10 until 2 now which is good he gets a longer awake time in the day when we at be baby groups and out. 

If he didn't have milk to sleep he have it when he wakes if he did he have it later before lunch. He then has lunch around 11:30-12. He started getting grumpy if he hasn't had lunch by this point. 

Then he usually has milk around 2-2:30 to go back to sleep for after nap, this is average around 45 mins but can be half hour or over. But he usually awake by half 3. 

We then have dinner around half 4. Bath, story and bed around 6-6:30 where he have more milk. 

Feeding:

He has around 5 feeds a day. 

6oz mainly in morning then maybe two 5oz bottles in the day. Then a 7oz before bed then around midnight he have another 6-7oz. Which is around 30oz per day. However some days he have less as he gets distracted and doesn't drink much in the day. Others he have more in the night if he unsettled so really depends. But he got better with his milk as for a while he went off it when we started to wean soilds and he was not drinking enough, he was also very ill and teething. 

He has three lots of solids a day and some snacks. We do baby lead weaning as he choked on blended purree pouches but loved holding the spoon, so we gave him soild bits of soft boiled veg and fruits which is loved. He now eats mostly everything we eat, just chopped up abit.

We also hit 100 food tried by this point which I think is amazing, he so good at trying new foods and has also helped ariyah be less picky. 

Some of his favourite are: 

Brocoli

Meat- any meat

Cottage pie, 

Sausages casserole

Roast

Breadsticks and crackers.

He also has a sweet tooth and loves a treat, like custard and bit of dairy free Easter chocolate. 

Movements:

Again we have a very determined baby, just like his sister he is so eager to move. He was getting so frustrated trying to crawl, thus would just scream laying in his tummy flapping and kicking his legs. But he get so upset that he couldn't move then the minutes we went to help him he just pull himself to stand up. 

Like Ariyah he was standing and stepping and cruising before he crawled. He also was not much of a roller, which she never was eirther. Like he could roll and rolled at 5 months but just wanted to stand or sit all the time.

One thing he did do which ariayh never quite got and still can't is sit up from laying in his back, he would be able to be laid on his back and be able to roll to the side and sit himself up, ariyah never got this she would roll into her tummy and push back to her knees then bum to sit. (She still does this and hasn't got the tummy strength to just sit up). 

Now just before he turnt 8 months he started crawling, but still not very fast and still gets upset. He kind of drags himself with one arm and on ofe leg on the same side. But as soon as he near something or us he just stand up. He is more interested in walking. 

He been crusing and walking holding our hands since 6 months. He now cruises round the furniture or his toys easily and will walk with us holding one hand or just we just hold his waist. He so confident and tries to let go and walk alone 🤣. But then falls. He does stand with a while now and can  do one step in-between things. So I really do not think it be long. 

Why do we have such early walkers. We wanted him to stay smaller being our baby and our last however he has other ideas. Like Ariyah we tried to encourage him to crawl but he not interested. Think having a big sister constantly running around stealing toys he needs to get them back and chase her. Also where we go to toddler groups for ariyahs sake he around walkers or babies younger then him so he doesn't really see babies crawling. 

Communication:

He is such a happy babbly baby, well at least now we know about his allergies and cut things out. As he not in pain constantly now. He loves people and will smile and chat to everyone. At first he seemed shy and when out at baby groups he be very quiet then towards the end he start vocalising abit meanwhile he was so loud shouting at home. Where as now he seems to be less shy and he starting to babble and shout when we out too. 

He chats to ariyah and alway laughing at her, she got his first smile, laughs, words and now she saw him crawl fully first. 

His first proper word was hi to Ariyah. He can now say hi, Hiya, dada, daddy, yes, bubba, baabaa (for sheep) he shout wants seems like more and help. He is trying to sound out and copy words as a few times he sounds like he said things but was just ones. 

Milestones: 

He had many experiences and first, we been able to do alot that we weren't able to with ariyah due to being in lockdown with her. We makes sure we try and do as much as we can for both of now now we out of lockdown and covid is not as dangerous. 

He has been able to go swimming early and loves the pool, we go to the park, baby groups, farm. He experienced sand, swings, slide, soft play, swimming, farm, zoo, feeding ducks, funfair, flip out trampolines, messy play, sensory groups, parties, weddings, ect... going on trains and buses. Then just being out in the world. Which she missed out on at his ages sadly. 

Our next trips are to the beach, trans pride and hopefully a little hoilday. 

Other developmently milestones he reached are:

Sitting at 4 months

Rolling both ways 5 months

Two teeth so far, with two more coming

Pulling up and cruising

Crawling ish 🤣.

Warning and eating soilds. 

Playing peekaboo, or looking for hidden objects.

Moving toys or food between hands and hitting them together.

Responds to his name

Pinchers grips food, or small objects

Giving use something when asked,

Knocks down towers, trying to stack.

Still obessed with lights

Waves bye and hello. 

Puts rings on ring toy. 

Puts balls down ball dropper.

Tries to jump. 

Presses buttons on toys with intent. 

Shakes ratter, or bangs musical toys. 

Likes and dislikes

He loves people and being out, he loves food. He also enjoyed reading books especially touchy feely ones. He loves lights and sensory toys. 

He loves to just stand and bounce, also loves water. He slash in the bath it's very cute.

He is still cuddly and loves cuddles and kisses it's very cute. He even says awww. 

He also loves animals, he laughs and gets so excited when he sees the cats and stokes them so gently.

He doesn't like, being on his tummy. He also doesn't like getting dressed. He screams when we change him or get his dresses, as he restricted. He like Ariyah in that way likes to be free and able to do what he wants. Like he not a fan of the pram unless he is facing out so he can see. 

Overall he doing so well and getting so big. Can not believe he is nearing 1 and our tiny little baby is growing up. He now weights 17lb 8oz on the 25th percentile. While he is over the 90th for his hight. 

(Written in April 2022)

Weaning and allergies

 First trying food. 

So like with Ariyah we introduce food at 17 weeks, the day before he turnt 4 months as it was Christmas day so wanted to included him in the family dinner. We were avoiding dairy and coconut and starting for beg and fruits first

We gave him a rusk with his milk for breakfast only really two spoons full as he seemed to like it and he moved the food around his month trying to get a feel of chewing. Then at dinner he had blended boiled brocoli and carrot which he loved. 

As with ariyah we started with veg and blended/purree food. As he was young still however he seemed to be gagging alot due to trying to chew but the puree being swallowed before he realised, when we gave him a risk and a bite melt carrot sticks, or rice cakes to hold he was much better. Ariyah was the opposite and was not a baby lead weaning child. She was on puree for ages and still doesn't chew lol, she just stuffs everything in and swallows, we still have to cute her food small tbh. 

So this was new territory for us to do baby lead weaning with Layton. He loves holding the spoon and holding food to bit and chew. He was so much better with whole foods, like streamed brocoli or apple slices as he could chew until it melted small enough to swallow. Where is choked on puree, it was strange. 

Therefore at 5 months we have him thicker jars or purree like 7+ months ones as well as soft boiled fruit and veg, toast, pasta. He would have ready break for breakfast and banana. He also like yoghurt too. 

Foods he liked at this early weaning stage. 

• Banana
• Strawberry
• Brocoli
• Carrot
• Sweet potato
• Parnip
• Avacodo
• Yoghurt
• Mango
• Apple and pear

Did not like:

• Raspberry
• Califlour.  

Allergic reaction 

So recently a week before 6 months we tried him with scrambled egg, we were told to give him egg cooked first which he had alittle bit of Ariyah's Spanish dairy free cakes, he also had a bit of pancake only sucked it. However with the scrambled eggs he seemed to have a reaction. Therefore we are avoiding it for a while before we see the pediatrician again and get allergy tests done. 

His reaction was like when he had dairy and coconut in formula as a baby, before he got on this milk and was doing well. First he got weepy eyes, very watery and red and irritated. Then he got runny nose and wheezing. He was arching and pulling legs up again, screaming in pain like he had a stomach ach. He was very gassy and windy, farting and screaming. Like he did as a baby. He then got a rash about two days later. He also was in pain having bowel movements yet had watery muscy in his bowel movements again. Was also dark green and smelt. So we were back to how he was as a baby however now bigger, heavier and stronger where he threw himself arching backwards, he was only calmed held upwards with pressure on tummy and to walk up and down the room. He was sleepy and irritated. Doctor gave us antihistamines to give him twice a day which was helping bring the rash down. He also got what's called a strawberry tongue and heavy wheezing breathing. Cough and choking like it brought back reflux and colicy symptoms. It was a hard week where he was so unsettled didn't sleep and it took ages to get out his system.

Weirder thing is that since I have had Layton I have gone off eggs myself, they taste weird so havnt eaten them and they also make me feel sick. I've had upset bowels and other weird symptoms that I know thing is allergic reaction too. So I'm going to avoid egg myself with him and see what happens. 

At 6 months

We tried meat and fish, which he loved.

He loves food and so good now at picking it up and chewing. He has reached 60+ foods already. He does BWL and now at just 7 months he is on small food which he pincher grips up. He likes to feed himself with a preloaded spoon too. 

(Written in Feb 2022)

6 months development

 6 months, half a year already. 

This 6 months has gone so fast, I can not believe Layton is 6 months already. He growing so fast and getting so clever.

All he wants to do is sit and stand. He does not like laying down now, especially in the pram he wants to sit up and face the world. 

He is cruising and pulling up to stand when near us or the sofa however is so frustrated to crawl. It like half drags or worms like with his head but doesn't go far. He can spin himself round and pushes backwards to get things but mainly again to get us and stand up. He can however sit himself up pretty much from his back now, very strong core this boy has. He also can roll but not really a roller. Ariyah wasn't eirther just sat, crawled and walked well ran. So I'm sure he be the same. 

He is weaning now fully and doing well with should bwl food. I will do a post about the difference. But he loves his food however not a breakfast early morning eater. Nonetheless I'm not and never been a big breakfast fan. But is eating lunch and dinner now with bite melt snacks.