Now we are 10 months

It seems no time at all since my post a month ago - time is going so quickly now, we're on the countdown to James's first birthday and my return to work.

Weekends this month have been busy (and will continue to be so for the next month). We spent Easter with Andrew's parents, then James and I spent a weekend with Jess in Windsor, then we had a surprise baby shower for Jess in Chelmsford, then last weekend we went to a wedding in Cheshire. The weeks have been quieter, but still busy: Monday mornings is swimming, Tuesday is baby sign, Wednesday is singalong, Thursday is baby group and Friday is buggy bootcamp. In the afternoons we tend to go to friends' houses, go to the market, go to Sainsbury's or just go for a walk.

STILL no crawling - but it really isn't far off now. James had a few days of being incredibly frustrated with not being able to move. Now he tips himself onto all fours (though normally with his feet still tucked under him), then collapses onto his tummy, then rolls onto his back. He has only really started rolling over these last few weeks. It is good as now he doesn't cry every time he ends up on his tummy.

James is now eating three good meals and two snacks every day. He's down to four milk feeds and we have finally managed to drop the one in the early hours. The next one to go will be the 11pm feed, but I can't really drop that till he's in his own room as he wakes when we come to bed. He still wakes at 4am every day but we can now settle him back to sleep fairly easily. How long till he actually sleeps through?!

Still only two teeth and no sign of any others on the way. They are useful now for tearing off bits of toast. He loves having them brushed and opens his mouth with a giggle when he sees the toothbrush coming.

James now claps his hands (though one hand is still a fist, he hasn't got the hang of having them both flat). He likes to do this when anyone else claps, or when he is feeling happy. He waves to anyone who will wave to him. I've started giving him options at mealtimes ("James, would you like a kiwi fruit or a plum?") to encourage him to make decisions and to point. He giggles when he hears anyone else laughing. After his bath Andrew reads him a story, and if he isn't there when I'm getting James dressed James will say in a questioning tone "Dada dada dada?". If he's a bit grumpy and wants me and milk he will say "Mamamamama". So I think he is now using the words in context fairly consistently.