mr & mrs zimmer

Zack is now well on the way to walking. He insists on being able to hold onto your hands and totter around the flat, the garden, the pavements, the shopping mall, so that he can look at what he wants to see. Keith and I feel like human zimmer frames, heh heh. It won't be long now and he'll be running around.

I am really looking forward to the time when he can stand on his own, but I'm aware that when they're so mobile, you have to keep your eye on them every minute of the day. I had an awful dream last night that Zack went missing. That feeling of dread inside you... I remember talking to the police and constantly looking at the space where he was, and he was gone. I got an email from Kelly recently about the Jamie Bulger case, and it's haunted me ever since. I can think of nothing more evil, and terrible to lose a child to some coniving criminal. It must be terrible to feel completely bereft and unable to fix it. I don't even want to think about what I would become in that situation. It isn't something to dwell on.

Zack is also becoming amazingly stroppy: asserting his will. I can see where the Terrible Twos stories start... he's on his way already. On the one hand it's frustration because he can't tell us what he wants, while on the other, he throws himself around when he can't have his way. Tough life being a toddler, but even tougher being a parent to a toddler.

you wouldn't say so from this photo though, would you ?

We were away on the weekend and it was lovely having the space to let him run around, but it was also really tiring as we had to watch him and 'zimmer' him alot, and he didn't sleep well in the nights AT ALL. So we were both feeling decidedly smashed on Sunday morning. I was counting down to sleeping in our own beds last night !
He travelled very well, and was content to just listen to us while we chatted on the way there (about 2 hours) and napped when he wanted to. It reminded me of those crazy trips I did with my mum to Norfolk, and Keith to Edinburgh when Zack was so small. I was off my head tackling all that !

still getting over myself

Have had a moment of insight : I do not need to worry about whether or not all the toys are accounted for. I think it's my personality type, but I do wonder every time I tidy (nightly) whether we've got all the components of each toy, as I can't always see them. I remember how annoyed I used to get as a child when something wasn't complete. Who wants to play with a toy that's missing a leg or a block or a wheel ? But to be fair, my plate is full of things to worry about and do, and spending any time at all on wondering where things the size of a plum or a grape are, is just a huge waste of time and energy. If they go missing, they're Zack's toys, not mine. If half the components are missing we'll just send the toy on it's way to the recycling bin.

I do not need to spend time on this.

Glückliche Ostern Kinder

Zack had an exotic Easter with a five day trip to Berlin. He was really very well behaved despite having to spend most of the days in his pram being pushed around, and not having much opportunity to crawl or cruise - it just isn't child-friendly being on the move. He was very obliging and slept in his pram when he was tired, and ate in it when there wasn't a high-chair. Eating was incredibly messy, the biggest being a meal in a lovely Asian-fusion restaurant where the floor was absolutely covered in rice and bits when we left, but for the most he was well behaved. He is currently surreptitiously dropping things over the edge of his high-chair, and this happens everywhere. A stern "No!" is delivered by mum and dad, but what effect it has is yet to be seen. Apparently this is another phase.


He is just delightful in the mornings – often waking up in a good mood, and oh-so chatty. New words are "ga-ga", and heaps more pointing being done. Little chuckles are emitted when we touch light-switches or whatever was being pointed at. He is eating more and more varied food – this weekend certainly tested that – which is a huge relief. He ate his first apple while we were there : on loan from his friend Emily. (Our friends in Berlin, Kev & Lisa, have a little girl of 2 and are expecting another in a few months time). It was fascinating to see two little people interacting. They were delighted to see one another, and distraught when it was home-time. So funny to see.

the Birthday Party

we had a joint birthday party with all the friends who turned one around the same time : Anokye, Caitlin and Ruby. It was a good turnout, and we were joined by family and friends. A lovely day and I think the kids enjoyed themselves immensely.


Anokye in his ceremonial outfit - too cute for words, and so photogenic.

Jackie & Alessio - growing at speed

Caitlin is already running, and there are just a few days between her and Zack.