East Links Family Park

Matthew had a great day out at East Links Family Park in Dunbar and loved his first pony ride on Sophie.

I'm a giraffe!

Matthew had his face painted for the first time at his Nursery Jungle Party today. He chose the design himself and is a giraffe. Honest.

Matthew dressed himself!

Mummy went to wake Matthew up from his nap and he'd put his pyjamas on himself after Daddy tucked him in!

He did do a very good job, although you'll note his shirt is round his middle and he has both legs in the one in his shorts, which will not now fit over his bottom! Still, he took the initiative and that's commendable!

Collecting shells on the beach

Matthew had fun collecting his first shells on the beach.

Colouring in

Matthew's Mince Pies

Matthew and Mummy made mince pies this afternoon. Matthew put the filling in and the lids on and did the taste test afterwards. Yummy!

Counting again

Would the real Matthew McDonald PLEASE STAND UP!

Matthew is a very clever boy today.

When Mummy went to wake him up this morning, she watched him sit himself up and then stand himself up in his bed. All with his sleeping bag still on. He then proceeded to lean over the side of the cot to try to wave to Mirror Matthew, which he does first thing every morning when Mummy or Daddy lift him out of bed.

He's been walking for a month now but has never really got from lying to sitting by himself, until now.

Time to lower the mattress, perhaps...

Using a spoon properly

Matthew managed to feed himself properly using a spoon tonight. Here he is enjoying his yoghurt.

A day of firsts

Matthew got his first pair of walking shoes this afternoon. He is a size 3f now, if anyone is interested. To be accurate, they're boots, not shoes, but they're very cool.

While Matthew was getting dried after his bath, he signed "medicine", which was exactly what comes next, before his "milk", which he's been signing since he was 6 or 7 months old.

After Matthew finished his bedtime milk, Mummy asked him if he would like to read a book, and Matthew signed "book" all by himself! He was such a clever boy. He's signed lots of words over the last six months, but this is the first time he signed "book".

Then, to be a real show-off, Mummy asked Matthew where his nose was (because he was touching the bunny's nose in the book), and he signed "nose" as well!

After his story, he pointed at his teeth, because it was time to brush them.

Then, he signed "bed" before he was taken off to sleep.

He's a superstar today.

Matthew's first birthday

That's one small step for Matthew - well six, actually!

Matthew took SIX steps all by himself tonight at Gran's house. He was playing with Mummy and Gran and was walking between them with some help, and trying to balance. He was having so much fun that he didn't notice he wasn't holding on any more, so he was standing by himself. He's done that before, but this time he walked from Gran to Mummy. Matthew balanced very well and might have managed more than six steps if Mummy had been further away.

After that he just went back to being wobbly and needing help, but it's a start!

Clever Matthew x

What a good boy

Matthew's first haircut

Matthew had his hair cut today for the very first time. He was a very good boy and sat still so now he's ever so handsome.

Burns Supper and Ceilidh

Mummy, Daddy and Matthew had a fantastic time at the Church ceilidh, which was Matthew's first. Matthew was suited and booted, as you would expect, and everybody enjoyed dancing.

Mummy and her friends, known as JAMMM (click for our website), also sang a few songs.

Up he goes...

There's no photograph or video because he got camera shy, but it's just a quick post to let everyone know that this morning Matthew managed to pull himself up without somebody helping him. He was on Mummy and Daddy's bed and used Daddy's legs as a ladder. He managed it twice, but after that he got fed up and didn't want to play anymore. After that, he was rather sick.

And he's been crabbit for the rest of the day. So much for the spring clean Mummy had planned for today.

Matthew's first Christmas

Matthew had a lovely Christmas. As you can see, he enjoyed opening his presents and played with all of them.

Mummy and Daddy put Matthew on his jigsaw mat straight after breakfast, and then he bum-shuffled all over the place to choose which present to open first. Then, he showed the toy to Boo Bear, who Matthew wanted to include, and span round in a circle. He had a system going.

These are photos of Matthew and his presents BEFORE he started ripping into them. Some of these are from Santa and some are from his friends and family.

This is Matthew on his new ride-on / walker that Gran and Grandpa got him. He's had an awful lot of fun pushing the noisy button on the steering wheel and reversing. Forwards is still a bit tricky but backwards is achievable.

After lunch, Matthew was trying on his new snowsuit from Gran and Grandpa when he decided to go for a nap. Mummy and Daddy were amazed because although Matthew has been napping for Gran while Mummy's at work he's never done this for them. Sure enough, he went for a good half hour sleep on the floor. Merry Christmas Mummy and Daddy!

Mummy wasn't going to bother cooking because cooking four Christmas dinners in two years had wiped her out, but since Daddy went and bought a turkey and trimmings she thought she'd better. She's glad she did because she really did want a proper Christmas dinner with the lovely placemats that Aunty Margaret made for us all, although she's not sure she'd have felt that way if Matthew hadn't been so well behaved...

There were some crackers to open as well:Matthew had a great day and would like to thank everyone for his lovely presents. He has posted Thank You cards but he understands that Postman Pat might be on holiday so they might take a while to arrive.

He hopes everyone had a brilliant Christmas and sends his love xxx

Matthew's certificate

Matthew's certificate

Matthew got his certificate today for completing the Bookstart book crawl.

Spider boy

Matthew at the Sunday School Halloween party today. Matthew was a spider and Boo Bear went as a mummy (the Egyptian kind, not the kind who make milk and wear glasses). Matthew was going to be a mummy, but HIS mummy underestimated the amount of work involved in the costume and ran out of time, so that's one for next year!

Thanks to Aunty Margaret for once again taking the best photos (the first two!).