How are we getting on?

Seems I have not blogged on Jamie's development lately. Its not that there has not been any, its just we have been so busy - which I find is a good thing for all of us!!

He is certainly recognising words and phrases and I understand a lot of what he says - even though other people might not! When he is hungry he does a 'yum, yum' face and at baby signing he has started to follow a number of the signs.

We still continue to attend baby signing and there are a few other children who are about Jamie's age and he has become 'sociable' now. On a Friday we have started to attend a playgroup with the twins, with some of the girlies from Bingo and their children, and again this has brought him out of himself a bit more. Although he does seem to like to play on his own as well....

We have started back at Drama Bugs now it has moved nearer to us. My only reservation with this is one of the other children who seems to have a tantrum every time, while his mother just sits texting on her mobile phone.

I am aware more now of the effect of everything we do on Jamie; from him copying what we are doing and possibly saying (Lucy currently says 'Tampon') as well as the effect the TV has on him. He seems hypnotised by the box at the moment and we have tried to limit his watching and the programs he is allowed to watch - CBeebies and a bit of Peppa Pig. We have had a few minor tantrums when we have turned off the TV but so far they have only been minor. I bought him a T shirt last week with the Chuggington trains on the front and he keeps picking it up and walking round with it as he recognises it. Its amazing to watch as he learns and moves forward with his understanding. We were given a game which consists of a number of circles with cut outs in them - colour coordinated - of various animals and have been asking Jamie to pair them up. He loves playing this game and I am so proud!

Another game he likes playing at the moment however, is the opening and shutting of the door. He can now reach up and open the back door himself and loves to stand there opening, shutting and opening again the door. Of course I have to stand over him and make sure he doesn't trap his fingers in the door. So far no tears...

And we have managed to get through the whole of the summer without incident around the pond; although it has meant having to watch any children in the garden like a hawk in case they go near it. I mentioned this a few weeks ago when I was out, and a friend of a friend said her in-laws had a pond cover. The twins mum very kindly took out all the seats in her (large) car and we went and picked it up. That should make the pond a lot safer when we return to the garden. Its a bit wet at the moment....

Jamie still loves reading and the books we borrowed from the library have been read a lot. We have already been back to get some more and renew the ones we have got! They have started a Storytelling session at the library every other Tuesday but we have yet to attend - not sure if Jamie would be a distraction or not!!