I'm ready for my close-up!

Well, it's been a day of firsts for the little cub today!

As Leo's been sitting up very well recently, with only the minimum help from Mum or Dad, we thought he might enjoy sitting upright in a bouncer. Unfortunately the one I've fallen in love with is a tad on the pricey side, so we were still looking for an alternative.

Then Daddy suddenly remembered a walker we bought from a friend before Leo was born. It's not a bouncer, but it would allow him to sit upright and it has a "dashboard" of buttons which make fun noises, play music and, best of all for our little magpie, make lights flash.

Well, to say he loved it would be an understatement...

His toes even touch the ground and he managed to push himself around a little. I can't believe how quickly he's growing and how strong he is. He was only 14 weeks today, I thought it would be months before this would be happening!

We also had our first walk out in our proper stroller. We're using an Oyster pushchair, and until now had been using a carrycot on it to allow Leo to lie flat. After his most recently growth spurt he's been looking a tad ridiculous in it, with head and feet almost touching either end and he was becoming increasingly frustrated that he couldn't see out. So we put on the stroller seat today and took a walk to the duck pond.

I can't say he seemed to mind the new seat all that much as he was asleep in a matter of minutes...success!

The biggest event today was our first ever Leo photoshoot! A lovely local lady who does great family portraits came to our house to take some photos of the cub, and of us as a family - something we don't actually have caught on camera very much! Review and contact details to come as soon as we have some pictures to share on the blog!

Tomorrow we'll need to wrestle with Leo's carseat to adjust the straps to allow for his longer body. He's all squished up in it now and his feet are dangling over the end. I just can't believe how much my little cub has grown, and so suddenly, too! Will be getting him weighed on Tuesday.

We're now starting to look into weaning as well. Guidelines say that you shouldn't wean babies ideally before six months of age, but definitely no earlier than 17 weeks. As Leo's got reflux which appears to be worsening a little again (probably due to his increased movement causing him to bring up his stomach contents more often, which will obviously be giving him heartburn) there's a case for weaning him soon after the 17 week mark. Something to research thoroughly, anyway, and definitely not something I'd do without speaking to his doctor first, of course! But people's experience does point to more solid food helping reflux babies to keep their meals down and generally be a lot more comfortable.