Saying Goodbye and Good luck!

So, that's it. Uncle Kyle has left to go and live with Auntie Nicki in Dubai. We had an emotional goodbye yesterday. You looked so worried for a split second when everyone was getting upset, but then you were more concerned with the Ipad. It's good, in a way, that you don't really understand what's going on because it would probably make it that bit harder for everyone.

For reference, things I have learnt about Dubai in the last few weeks:
- It is not a country, but an Emirate which makes up the United Arab Emirates (I am ashamed I didn't know this as a Geography geek...)
- It is 3 hours ahead
- It takes 6.5 hours to fly there, longer on the way back
- It is spread along the coast
- In the summer the beach is deserted because it is just too hot to be out there and the sea is warm like a bath

Things I have learnt about my brother, (Uncle Kyle), in the last few weeks:
- He is very brave to move to another continent, country and culture.
- He loves Nicki, not just with his heart, but his entire soul. He would follow her to end of the Earth. If you want to see true love, there is no better example. It's right there.
- He is a VERY good liar. He suprised Nicki in the most wonderful way by flying out early. I heard him on the phone and saw him laying false trails on Facebook.... Makes me wonder what he lied about when we were younger...

We will miss them both more than any words here could ever express. BUT... they have a chance to start a better life out there, a better life that will lead them back here one day. This will be the making of them.

 They'll be home for visits and will spoil you rotten no doubt! We can talk to them on the phone and on Skype and we will see lots of photos of them. The flight over there is shorter than the drive down to Devon, (granted we did have a traffic jam and a break down...), so hopefully we can visit as well.

So we'll be sad for a while and miss them lots but it's not like they'll be away forever. I can't wait to hear all about their adventures!

xxx

Summer time

It's summer and we are making the most of it. The best way of showing what we've been up to is with pictures. I'll point out now that you are getting rather annoyed at me constantly asking you to say 'Cheeeese!' I actually don't know why I ask you to say that because you pull the most hideous face when you do!

Trampoline, now long gone...

Poundshop pavement chalks - lifesaver

Numbers...again!

Beautiful boy on holiday in Devon

Rock climbing in your new dinosaur shoes

Cheesy cheese face at the beach

'Tell me to say cheese one more time. I dare you...'

More numbers

Now an expert on your balance bike

Pool time at Grandmas house with your aunties

Carnival!!!

It's been a busy summer, with lots of changes. Your Auntie Jessica has finished at primary school and will be going to secondary school in September. It won't affect you very much but it's a big step for her. Seeing your happy face waiting for her in the car after school will help enormously. We'll be there Jess, waiting to hear all about it.
Your Auntie Nicki left in April for better and brighter things in Dubai. She has a fantastic job and a brilliant career ahead of her out there. We are all so proud of her. But of course we miss her like crazy. You've had a moment or two when you've felt sad and said 'want see Icki'. You've spoken to her on Skype and Uncle Kyle told you she was trapped in the phone. You found that highly amusing! Kyle will be joining her in less than a month. This is not something Mummy can write about easily and probably deserves it's own blog post. It's a big change for us all.


When school starts again, it means it is nearly Autumn. Autumn is when the leaves change colour, the nights get darker and our pyjamas get cosier. I won't lie, I love Autumn and Winter. There's excitement in new school uniforms, thinking about Halloween costumes, pumpkins, fireworks and CHRISTMAS!  (It's written in capitals because I am so excited for 'it' but it's small because I don't want to alarm anyone else reading by reminding them of 'it's' approach)

I can't wait for some Autumn adventures with you Harry. Although I expect a lot of them will be potty training related. Do you really have to grow up? Nappies and your dummies are the last remaining baby traits and I'm not keen to give them up yet.

Love you Harry..... ( 'I know, Mummy!' is what you've started to reply to that).

Mummy xxx

'Me, I want a Hula-Hoop'

We've been watching quite a few DVDs lately, mostly because of the awful weather. We raided the selection at Grandmas house and came back with quite a few to choose from. Anything animated is a hit with you, especially Disney Prince/Princess senarios like Aladdin or Tangled. Films with catchy songs or funny characters are also popular, like Happy Feet, Cloudy with a chance of meatballs or Despicable me. I feel like I've had a good catch up with childrens films over the last few months and would call myself a bit of an expert.

One of the films we got from Grandmas was Alvin and the Chipmunks. I was unsure about this one as it's not entirely animated and you usually aren't keen. I was sadly mistaken. The first thing you've asked for in the morning these past few days is 'Chimpmunks'. No, thats not a spelling mistake. You call them 'Chimp'munks. You laugh hysterically when Theodore says 'ooooh muffins' I have no idea why.

They sing a song about Christmas which includes the line, 'Me, I want a Hula-Hoop'. You've taken this quite literally. You're getting there with your Hula skills. You've got the basic idea and the ladies better watch out when you show them your moves when you're older. The ladies love a Hula-Hooper*...

*OK, so not strictly true but it's still an important life skill

 
Love you Dude x

We're being invaded...

...by toy soldiers*, in the bath, obviously. Apparently they were all dirty and needed to have a bath. I started to run your bath and you tipped them all in when I nipped upstairs to get your pyjamas. I'm just glad it wasn't anything electrical or valuable. It's very cute seeing you enjoying your toys like this. Not so enjoyable when Mummy steps on a toy soldier whilst in the shower. I swear it hurts more than stepping on a Lego.

(* Disclaimer: In no way to do I encourage or endorse the use of guns or fighting. The soldiers are characters from Toy Story, one of your favourite films. I doubt very much you even know what a gun is.) 


You have been chatting a lot recently. You come out with the funniest things. I need to write them here so that I remember them. Your Auntie Hannah used to come out with some funny things when she was little. I remember telling my friends about her but I just can't remember what she actually said. I don't want to forget your funny moments. There are three that stand out from the last week:

1.  You were pretending to speak to someone on the phone.
Me: Who are you talking to Harry?
You: Daddy
Me: Really? Do you know his number?
You: .... thirty four!
(Technically correct - he is indeed thirty four. Clever boy)

2. We bought Happy meals in the drive-thru and I told you to wait until we got to Grandmas house. Auntie Hannah started to eat hers.
You: NO HANNAH! Eat Grandmas house! HANNAH! (blows raspberry at her)


3. This morning, you wanted me to open the window in my bedroom but I wouldn't because it's very low and you could fall out.
You: Please Mummy! Help please! Heeeeeelp! I like help....


It's so exciting watching you learn to communicate with everyone around you. You spread laughter and happiness so easily. And the singing. Oh my lord, the singing! You are learning to sing faster than you are learning to talk. It is near enough in tune and in time which is amazing.


Favourite tunes at the moment:


We are young by Fun
Call me maybe by Carly Rae Jepson
Price tag by Jessie J
Daddy Call by Boney M  (This is completely Daddys fault!)
Sexy and i know it by LMFAO
The lazy song by Bruno Mars


You are also rocking a rather entertaining version of ABC that we found on YouTube. You do the most hilarious deep voice. I need to film you doing this one. Maybe I can use it as blackmail when you're older.


Don't ever stop singing Harry! 


xxx

Oh, and a pic to show off your new haircut. Every time the lady cut your hair, you said 'Ow' 
 

A bit of art

More on your face than on the paper. Suppose it's more fun that way! Nice gurning by the way...

Oh and please don't hate me when you're older and you see photos like these. You can pull some great faces so they'll be a lot more to come!

I'll add another cute photo to soften the blow. This is you in your trendy clothes today. You're far to fashionable for someone so young. Auntie Hannah bought you the trainers. Thank you Hannah!

x

Miracle recovery

Since Tuesday night, you have been poorly. You have had a fever and have been sick, all over Mummy I might add! At lunch time today, I was very close to rushing you back over to the Doctors because you were just inconsolable. You cried hysterically for an hour, fell asleep sitting up, and then cried for another hour when you woke up. I managed to convince you to have your medicine and half an hour later you were like a different child. That Calpol bottle really is Mummys best friend! You have turned a corner now and seem to be getting better.

Because you haven't eaten, Mummy offered you lots of yummy treats, like special ice-creams. This is one of the perks of being poorly.

Being in the garden automatically means bubbles to you. And we have plenty of them with our bubble machine.

And in continuing our theme of eating whatever you want after you've been poorly, we made Pink. Yes, that's right, Pink. ( It's what we call strawberry flavour Angel Delight! )

I've never known anyone make such a quick recovery after appearing so poorly. Mummy was very worried about you Harry but is very glad you are now on the mend.

x

How to live your life

There are certain things in life that your parents are meant to teach you. How to walk, talk, catch a ball, count to ten, ride a bike. These are usually the fun exciting things in life. You will remember them forever. There are certain other things in life that your parents teach you that you never even realised. Things you do automatically because they are second nature. Things like this:

This is how to live your life Harry. Simple guidelines which make everyones life just a little bit nicer. Follow these rules and you will grow up to be a good, decent person. And I will know that I have done a good job in raising you.

x

Funny faces

You made Grandma and I laugh a lot today. Well, you do that everyday but today was especially funny because you were pulling such funny faces.

I don't think I need to say anything else...

xxx

Numbers

I never realised just how many numbers we come across everyday. Not until you were able to read numbers and now insist on pointing them out all the time. For example, a walk to the library means pointing out numbers on doors, wheelie bins, car number plates and buses. A five minute walk takes us fifteen, at least. God forbid we go to the supermarket. There are numbers all over the place! All you can hear from our trolley is 'four two! three zero!'

You've been able to count up to 30 for a couple of months now. Although, all of the teen numbers sound the same. (You always say the right amount though so I know you are thinking it correctly). You can read numbers up to twelve. You are barely two and you are reading numbers. You are so clever Harry and Mummy is so proud of you. What gets me is how you are so eager to find numbers anywhere we go, whatever we are doing. People may assume that because I am a teacher, I have sat you down and drummed it into to. But I honestly haven't. You WANT to learn. Even when we play on you magnetic drawing board and I ask you what you want me to draw. The answer is always 'umbers, pwease Mummy' I can beg you to let me draw something else, but you say no and get cross with me.

You read you numbers on your bedroom wall before I turn off your bedroom light and say goodnight. Sometimes, when your eyes have got used to the dark, I can hear you reading them to yourself again before you drift off to sleep.

I go to sleep singing the Numberjacks theme tune in my head because you have made me watch it TEN TIMES in one afternoon. Bloody numbers....

It's snowing!

I've waited patiently for you to come back from Daddys house so that we could play in the snow. Our back garden was completely untouched. Pure white snow, a blank canvas for us to play on. As soon as you arrived home, the wellies went on and were out like a shot...

....you told me it was cold and you wouldn't touch the snow. You didn't like it sticking to your wellies and didn't like that your football was wet. You asked to go back inside after 4 minutes. Oh well, maybe you'll enjoy it more next winter.

Come on Mummy, It's freezing out here!

You are two on Wednesday. I'm still thinking about what to write in this blog for you to mark the occasion. Watch this space...