It is the start of a new month and time to reflect on the last one and write-up all of the firsts that we achieved.  Month of Firsts is a series of posts I started because I was struggling to keep track of what you did and when you did it.  Some of the things make me laugh, some frustrate me and others are just magical.  It is a warts and all account of the good, the bad and the ugly.  All moments worth sharing and keeping for future reading.  So, Harry this is what you got up to in April:

• Did a stand up wee (in the park).  It went everywhere but thankfully not on either of us.
• Got your first scar – on the brow of your nose, which is because you fell over when you were running too fast and not looking where you were going.  You were more concerned about the mud on your knees, until that is, you saw your reflection in the mirror.
• As a result of the above you also got your first black eyes.  You must have hit the ground with one heck of a bump.  I now feel very guilty for just sticking a Peppa Pig plaster on it – and giggling at the sight of you with it on – and giving you a Kinder Happy Hippo to cheer you  up.  In my defence the black eyes didn’t appear for a few days.
• Went the whole month with a dry night-time nappy.  I am almost tempted to stop putting you in them altogether.  Almost.
• Went away on a boys mid-week break (with your Daddy).  You’d have thought I would’ve been happy to have the house to myself for the first time since you were born, but I hated it.  I still managed to wake before my alarm, I put the stair gate on, I even found myself watching CBeebies, and to top it all off I didn’t manage to finish my morning cup of tea (something I have always blamed on you).
• Experienced your first “embarrassing mum” moment  – We had gone out to see some animals at a petting farm and as we arrived an adult kune pig was making a run for it.  You watched in shock as Mummy dumped everything (including you) and chased after it, eventually herding it in to a corner to stop it going on the road.  As I walked back triumphantly you shook your head, turned and walked away.  As an aside, it is really difficult to catch a pig.  There is absolutely nothing to grab hold of.  Their skin is really tight so it’s not like you can grab it by the scruff of its neck like you can a dog.  And they are really powerful and very fast!  Just try it!

• Stroked a pig – the one I had saved from an unsavoury ending (OK, a bit dramatic as it would have been a toss-up as to who fared best in a collision with a car.  To be honest my money was on the pig).
• Made cakes.
• Recognised the sound of the ice cream van, knew what it meant, and persuaded me to walk around the block to find it.
• Met Stick Man.
• Went in to Mummy’s work.  Work has been manic recently and I was unable to get home in time for Daddy to set off for his work, so he dropped you off en route.  You arrived with your “hat pack” and pretended to be Andy (from Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures) running up and down the aisles whilst members of my team chased after you pretending to be dinosaurs.  It was a day they weren’t expecting and one they will never forget.

Thanks for making life that little bit more colourful.

Love you x