Ike Vol 5

Isaac,

Normally people start winding down in December. Not you though! This month you’ve been like a baby Tasmanian Devil. Everything you can grab gets gummed and licked to within an inch of its life, especially your feet. Seeing you with a sheet of tissue paper invited comparison with a lion munching on a gazelle. Less disturbingly (but much wetter), you’ve discovered that the bath is great for splashing in. And the rougher we play with you, the more you like it. You especially love the games where we make you gasp in terror, followed by a great big gummy grin. Just wait till you find about rollercoasters!

In amongst all that, you also managed to sit up on your own for a few seconds. In fact, you’re getting so good at sitting up that we’ve ordered your first high chair in preparation for weaning. Mummy makes sure you are constantly physically challenged. She’s always putting you on your tummy so that you lift your head up, getting you to sit up, rolling you around…it must be like a perpetual personal training session.

In other news, you’ve started protesting very loudly about being put down on your own. Listen up sunshine – if you think you’re going to win a battle of wills, you want to take a closer look at your parents. Not going to happen, my friend. Between us we’ve got over six decades of Olympic level stubborn control-freakery. Not to mention several friends with kids, and we’ve seen them crash and burn on this stuff. You ARE going down for your nap. It’s time for Spooks. Anyway, it’s all smiles again when you wake up.

The highlight this month is that you’ve been laughing a lot more. It’s a beautiful little throaty giggle and we cannot get enough. Sometimes you seem to laugh at random…but sometimes we can get a series of 4 or 5 chuckles out of you, which makes our day. It’s definitely a nicer sound than that dolphin-esque squeak you’ve started doing, which makes us feel like we’re raising a SeaWorld refugee. I’m sure it won’t be all that long before you’re laughing at us, rather than with us, so we’ll enjoy it while it lasts, if that’s OK.

This is my last letter to you for 2008. God only knows what you’ll challenge us with in 2009, but this is our first proper year as a family in 10 Avenue Road. We couldn’t have asked for more – you’ve been a wonderful little boy and we’re very glad to have you.

Love,
Daddy