Lying, Sitting, Standing

Since getting back from Old Bar Daniel has been a champ at sitting! He can balance himself for 15-30mins but still needs someone around to make sure that he doesn't fall on his face.

Sitting on his own while playing with a ball

He loved playing with this musical ball that used to belong to Oscar. It is a great distraction toy when he is getting a bit grumpy or unsettled for some reason.

He has also been able to sit and balance himself while picking up toys. He did this first when Nana and Poppy were watching him on Monday. Such a clever little boy! Of course he didn't want to perform for the camera so it is only a short video.

Because Daniel is becoming a bit more mobile (still only slowly and spontaneous) I have decided to get him used to the playpen for the mornings when I need to do washing/washing up/folding washing/etc. It will only be an occasional use thing. I have started to put him in it now so that when he is mobile he will be used to it and not get cranky about being putting it in there. He was ok in it but did get a bit cranky as the time went on. 

He isn't crying, he just blinked as I took the photo and then my battery died :-)

Daniel also loves standing. He still is very wobbly but he can hold his own weight if supported. Mum Nana and Poppy bought him a walker toy which also uses building blocks. We were just looking at it and Daniel enjoyed holding it, tasting the handle and playing with the blocks (or more eating the blocks).

Today for lunch I decided to try something a bit different at the start of his meal. As Daniel sometimes likes helping me feed him I decided he could try feeding himself for a little bit. I cut some beans in half and steamed them in the microwave for 5 minutes so they were nice and soft. I then put them in the freezer so they cooled down quickly. We started his lunch with the beans. He didn't like them being on the lid so quickly pushed them off. Then he slowly started to pick them up and put them into his mouth, squish them in his hands, and then throw them back down on the table (and occasionally the floor)

Mmmmm

 He ate a little bit of them, but then wanted me to put them in his mouth. With a couple of them he almost slurped them up, like spaghetti, so I needed to quickly grab then end and pull it back out because I didn't want him to choke on it. 

Then when there was a little bit of food left in his bowl and he was getting a bit grizzly because he was tired, I decided to see how he would go with being able to feel the food and if he would put it into his mouth. He loved putting his hands into the food, squishing it in his fingers, putting his fingers to his mouth, splatting it on the table. I am trying to make eating times more enjoyable for him (even though he does already enjoy food). Now to just work on him and drinking water and he really doesn't like it - pushing away the cup everytime.

Look at all that food on my hand