AUGUST 2004
Drum roll please…… no, not because I have finally managed to get some time to update the site, but because Callum has finally cut some teeth and has decided to crawl! More about these developments later.
There’s so much to tell you about August…
The month started off a little slow, with Callum recovering from the latest bout of tonsillitis. However, he did his best to remain pleasant most of the time.
Still no sign of a return to sleeping through on a night, but things have improved slightly for me and Shaun due to the introduction of what is affectionately known as ‘nap night’. My Mum and Dad have always said that when Callum is old enough they would like him to sleep over regularly… well, he’s old enough now!! Mum and Dad thought it best that Callum stays on a Monday night because then I can get a good sleep before starting work on Tuesday – and they are right, it is the better night. We drop him off at bedtime, although he doesn’t go straight to bed – he has a daft half hour with his Grandad until his Grandma comes home from work, then he spends some time with Grandma before finally deciding that he’s ready to settle down. My Mum and Dad don’t complain, I think Dad likes having him to himself for a short while, and my Mum loves the “welcome home” that she gets from him when she has finished work.
Callum wasn’t fazed by this change in his routine… he loves being with his Grandma and Grandad, so being able to spend the night is a plus. I on the other hand am struggling with it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that he can go stay the night, but I really do miss him. I think it is particularly hard because we drop him off at bedtime on Monday and then I don’t see him until I get home from work on Tuesday evening. I don’t sleep through either… partly because I’m missing him, and partly because I’m so used to getting woken up through the night. I’m sure I will get into better after a few weeks.
We had taken Callum to the clinic on 25th August - he weighed 19lbs 4oz and measured 72½cms. He’s only gained 12oz in two months, which is pretty much the amount he should have gained in one. Neither we nor the clinic are too worried at this stage though – we know it is because he has had tonsillitis so much. His length had increased by 3cms so we know his development is continuing.
We have started using sign language with Callum. We saw a programme about it a few years ago and have always said that we would try it if we ever had a baby. Apparently babies do ‘baby-signing’ are less frustrated because they can communicate their needs before they can actually talk. There’s no need to worry about it delaying oral speech though… all the indications are that babies who sign tend to be earlier talkers. We will see how it goes, we are just going to start with the basics ‘eat’ ‘milk’ ‘more’ ‘all gone’ and ‘nappy change’.
Callum’s baby speech is quite clear though, you can very often understand some of the things he is trying to say, e.g. Daddy, Grandad, Grandma, hiya etc. He does say ‘Mama’ but usually only when he is upset!
Callum has now started instigating games of ‘Hidey-Boo’, it’s so cute. Now, if you say “hide” he bows his head as low as he can, burying his face into the sofa or your lap etc.
As I said that the beginning of this diary entry, Callum has finally cut some teeth, talk about ‘like buses’, he spent months showing all the signs of a teething baby, then cut three teeth in four days, a few days later he added another one for luck! So, within a week he went from having no teeth to having four. It was the usual first teeth, the front two at the top and bottom. The first three he cut without a problem, number four unsettled him much more, but it was soon over.
We took Callum to the Caravan for a couple of nights… it was a full house; Mum & Dad, my brother Andrew and his son Luke, and the three of us. It was lovely watching Luke and Callum playing on the beach. Although Luke is 8 years old, he has got all the time in the world for Callum and loves him so very much.
Another trip we made this month was down to Milton Keynes to see Lynn, Shaun’s sister, and the family. We were only going for the day, but in the end we decided to go down to Luton the evening before so that we could see Anna (our niece) and her husband Paul. It was great finally getting to see them in their own home rather than getting them to travel to Lynn’s. We stayed the night in a hotel. The room was massive – more than enough room for the three of us to be crawling around chasing one another!
Callum still loves walking around, with everyone getting backache supporting him. He’s finally realised that he isn’t going to suddenly learn to walk overnight and has surprised us all by deciding to crawl. He only just started doing it towards the end of the month, so he’s still a little slow at it, but he looks ever so sweet as he tentatively makes his way across the floor. He gets a little faster every day though.
Well, must go now.
‘Til next time,
Amanda xXx
