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.