Boys' day out

Today was a rare day for Tom. No Mummy! Nik was off at the NEC all day for Cake International, so Tom and I were left up to our devices. I tried to think up some manly pursuits for us to do, but as it was Saturday, most of the morning was taken up with Water Babies. This didn't go well today, as Tom was pole-axed by a delinquent older child charging down the corridor like an idiot as we walked to the pool. The kid's Dad didn't even apologise. Probably as a result, the lesson didn't go well; lots of crying and very little joining in with the activities. He perked up afterwards though, especially after a drink and a handful of dried fruit.

As it was a lovely sunny day, we decided to make yet another trip to Attingham Park for a walk and a play in the playground. Tom was fast asleep in the car within a minute of leaving the pool, probably due to the late night he had last night (see below), and I actually had to wake him up when we arrived at Attingham. He seemed a bit out of sorts

(quiet & tired), and wouldn't walk to the playground. Once there, though, all systems go, and he headed straight for the baby swings (always his favourite) and spent a few minutes there. Once I pried him away from there, he actually headed to one the slides and had about 6 goes without any prompting - rare these days, as he's been of them for a while. I then decided that we should have a go together on the bigger swings, which he loved - he sat on my knee and giggled like a loon as we went back and forth. I got cramp in my legs in the end, and got us down. Tom was not impressed at all - walked straight back to the swing and shouted "Dada! Dada!" at the top of his voice while slapping the swing. I think that's the closest we've yet come to a real word. There was certainly no doubt as to what he meant.

We then headed to the cafe, where Tom ate all of his lunch (4 sandwiches) followed by half of my fidget pastie and almost all of my carrot cake, much to the amusement of all the tables roundabout. I couldn't believe how much he ate, or how little I did. Perhaps he's looking after my waistline, bless him.

We then did a mile-long walk through the woods, of which he walked about 50 yards. I didn't take the rucksack with me today, so I ended up lugging him round most of it. Hmmm.

He nodded off in the car on the way home, and he was so deeply asleep that not even opening the car door, unbelting him, taking his shoes off, getting him upstairs and putting him in his cot woke him up. He had about 2 hours in the end. He had a surprisingly good tea given his mammoth lunch, and we then drove down to the station to pick Mummy up from the train. Then bath-bottle-bed as usual.

As alluded to above, Tom had a night out yesterday. We were invited to a bonfire night do in Newport by Lou & Andy, NCT friends. It ended up being a bit of an NCT get-together, as there were 4 of the 7 babies there. The weather wasn't great, but it was a nice do and all the kids enjoyed the fireworks - no tears fro any of them. Tom then ate 5 (five!) cocktail sausages back at Lou & Andy's, and would have had more if we hadn't called a halt there. Little bugger, he won't touch meat at home. Anyway, it was after 9 o'clock when he got to bed, but he stayed cheerful all evening. He's definitely more resilient these days. He wouldn't have managed that even a few weeks ago. The lad's growing up!