Those pesky first two molars came through, and he's about to cut his other two bottom incisors (I hope). So he'll then have ten teeth - halfway there.
James still prefers crawling to walking, but he's gradually transitioning to walking. It seems like he isn't going to suddenly one day start walking - instead what's happening is that he is gradually each day crawling a little less and walking a little more, and one day we'll realise he isn't crawling at all any more. The nursery staff commented today how much he was walking compared to earlier in the week. He is still very pleased with himself when he walks - although the nursery assistant did say when she went to get the camera to take a picture of him walking he sat down and refused to walk any more!
James still loves reading books. When he reads The Gruffalo he now makes a hissing noise when he sees the snake, and says 'owl' when he sees the owl. He is also joining in much more with nursery rhymes. Recently I wondered why he was rocking backwards and forwards and then doing pretend screams, until I realised I was humming Row row row your boat - he was doing the actions! Then as I was getting him ready for bed tonight I sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and he did some great twinkling and made a diamond shape with his fingers. He's also taken to flinging himself backwards when he sees Iggle Piggle doing so at the end of In the Night Garden.
This month James has figured out how to climb onto his ride-on toy, how to go backwards and now how to propel himself forward on it. Hours of fun. He also loves his rocking horse and constantly asks to be lifted onto it. Other toys he's currently enjoying include stacking rings, a mailbox and cars - he loves pushing cars around. He gets very, VERY frustrated when toys won't do what he wants them to do. He has proper tantrums - flings himself on the floor and kicks and screams. I had to take him home from someone else's house early yesterday as he wouldn't stop tantrumming.
Pictures of James in his Hallowe'en costume and at a christening are below.
