Tonight Andy and I sat, drinking a bottle of cheap bubbles and talked about Louie like we usually end up doing once he has gone to bed (obsessive much?).  Also about how lucky we are.  Our situation this year has been amazing, both at home all day with our boy - Andy working in his office but able to share in so many daily moments, the wake-up smiles, outside baths, the firsts.  All those days, those first special days, are ours.  I am so grateful to be able to stay home with him.  Even though some tough days I look up the situations vacant.  Frazzling, wakeful days where I think going away to work sounds perfect.  But then a day comes along like today where I suddenly see how much you've grown, how wide-eyed and switched on you are, and I thank my lucky stars these days with you are mine because they are fleeting, almost gone.  Soon these days will belong to someone else, a teacher or carer.  They'll see you roll a grape around in your mouth and spit out the skin.  It'll be them you look over your shoulder at, proud with your latest achievement.  They'll pick you up when you bury your head in your hands crying with frustration over some annoyance.  And I have to be ok with that because it's important you have lots of people in your life, people who love you and help you to grow.  But right now these days are ours.

* Not exactly a lie but you are actually almost 10 months old.  The days are flying by.

You crawl!  It happened so quickly, about three weeks ago you started caterpillar crawling...push up onto your knees, move hands forward, drop down onto tummy.  Repeat.  Then a few weeks ago you just got it...and you are off.  You've discovered which door Dad is hidden behind, where the cat bowl is, what corner you're not allowed in.  The world has opened up for you and you're venturing further afield every day.

You love new people and totally charm them with your dimply smile and excited squeal.  Today a supermarket checkout lady said you were the most excited baby she'd ever seen.  You brightened her day.

You are almost over the 4 week cold you've been hanging onto and teething seems to have let up for a while, it is a welcome respite.  You've got 8 teeth and I think the back ones have been moving about for the last few weeks, tough ones obviously.  It sucks to see you in pain.  I wish I could take it all away always.

The guitar is your favourite toy closely followed by the ukelele.  Dad plays to you a couple of times a day and you are fascinated.  You've figured out strumming, now you are concentrating on chord progressions.  Dad taught you 'Gloria' today and you like it a lot.  You can sing it really well.

Baby boy you are a marvel,  it hurts how much I love you.

xxx Mama