Flower

Flower - such a simple word for me to say, but it's Andrews new word - said for the very first time today.  OK so it sounds more like wower but as his mother I know what he's saying!!  Its quite fantastic watching your child acquire his language and every day he seems to come on more and more.  Andrew is now singing along to the Bob the Builder in the morning which has taken me straight back to when Hannah was about 2 and coming home from Rainbows singing Bob de Bidder (I have spelt it like it was said, it's not a typo!)  such lovely memories I have of her singing it at the top of her voice, especially when she thought no-one was around!  Andrew has been singing Spongebob Squarepants for quite a while too - more like de de de de but its at the same rhythm as the theme tune and sung at the same time as the theme tune is on the TV!  Hmm, maybe he is watching too much television, or its on a lot when he is playing - Hannah may have a lot to do with that!!

So now I can add flower to his list of new words which includes nana, delta (deda) dad da, dad, mum, the latter is generally said in a whiney voice, look, a personal favourite, he says it in his pushchair or if we're out wandering and he wants me to look at what he's pointing at, today it was look, wower!  he seemed so pleased when I said 'Yes Andrew, that's a flower, clever boy,' it makes your heart melt - until he then notices a freshly made bird poo and picks it up!! lovely.  And last but not least ball and butball (football) he loves showing off to his dad when sky sports news is on and Andrew starts pointing at the TV and saying butball!!

Whilst I was relaxing in the warmth of his love and pride at his new word it suddenly hit me that probably by this time next year we'll be having proper little conversations (and probably arguments) and his language acquisition, whilst not complete, will be getting very well established.  Although I look forward to the times when he doesn't get frustrated by my lack of comprehension as to what he wants, there's a little part of me that feels a little sad that my baby boy is growing up so fast, I sometimes wish we could stop the clock for a little bit longer - not forever - and really enjoy this period of his and Hannah's life.  That's why I count myself very fortunate that I am able (thanks to a very thoughtful husband) to take this time out from work and be at home for them both at such a precious time in both of their lives.

On another note, Hannah lost one of her top front teeth yesterday!! I have of course told her to stop kissing the boys!  It was Red Nose Day today and I thought me and Hannah could watch some of the televised show - it is a Friday and no school tomorrow so I let her stay up later.  It lasted about 10 minutes, we both ended up in tears after watching a short film about a girl called Esther - who I don't think I will ever forget.  Living in Africa, this little 9 year old girl is HIV positive as is her mother who has now developed full blown AIDS, Esther has to look after her mother and her toddler sister and also herself, quite often she goes without food.  Hannah wanted me to read out the subtitles so she could know what the little girl was saying and it was truly heartbreaking.  This little girl who is not well herself, is fully aware that her mother is dying and is scared of being left on her own.  At one point she said her body aches all over so much that she could cry, to see her nursing her sick mother brought it home to me just how bloody lucky we are.  I think it did for Hannah to as she said she wants to give Esther all her money so she can have some food.  This of course made me cry even more, so the pair of us were sitting on the sofa crying our eyes out.  I'm ashamed to say that had I not seen that film or the film later on of the little children in hospital suffering with malaria, I would have thought I had done my bit by buying Hannah a red nose and me a red nose badge.  It was actually David Tennant that spurred me on to go online and donate £10.00 when he was standing in the middle of a children's ward surrounded by very sick children, some having to share beds, saying don't be the person who is sitting there watching this saying I'll donate later and then forgetting about it, do it now!  so we did!  £10.00 is enough to save two children from Malaria.  I wish I could afford to give more.  Hannah still wanted to give her money to Esther, I think it made her realise, if not fully, but a little bit, that she is a very lucky girl.