Time for my monthly post about the lighter side of being a parent. This post is a sequel to 7 thoughts from my 7 month as a parent and 8 thoughts from my 8th month as a parent. I can’t guarantee as many laughs as Anchorman 2, but I hope that you enjoy reading it all the same.
1. In my post 7 Thoughts from my 7th month as a parent, I mentioned that our son’s habit of chewing a plastic duck in the bath was a cause for concern given that we’re raising him as a vegetarian. He now prefers to chew wash cloths instead, which is kind of reassuring to us. As I mentioned in another previous post, I bought 50 of these on eBay (for a mere £15!) before he was born. I think that this was definitely not excessive given that every bath now requires two of them – one for him to play with and one for us to use to wash him.
2. In the post 7 thoughts from my 7th month as a parent, I mentioned that our son sometimes prefers playing with beer mats rather than plastic toys when we’re out out a restaurant. I was thinking of sneaking in a pub to pick up a couple of beer mats and wrapping them up for him as a Christmas present. Beer mats and wrapping paper, two things that he’d love to wave about. What more could he possible want?
3. Son had a bit of a howl in the car while we were stuck in a bit of a traffic jam in the car park. I managed to momentarily soothe him by singing along to Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ on the radio. This was a big moment in my life. One of my primary school teachers once told me to stand near the back and not sing too loudly when our class was practicing for an assembly where we were going to perform in front of the whole school.
4. Was going round supermarket with son in a sling today, gently swaying him about to get to sleep. After he fell asleep, I ended up briefly pushing the trolley back and forth in one aisle until I remembered he was in the sling. Does this sort of thing happen to anyone else?
5. Our son’s recently been leaving one of his picture books open on a page with pictures labelled ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. Wonder if he’s trying to drop a hint.
6. The excitement, the anticipation, the energy, the desire to get up and play rather than sleep… A lot of people associate these things with how young children approach Christmas. However, they also reflect what seems to go through our son’s mind between 4.30am and 6am a lot of mornings. Anyway, we should really be thankful that he generally wakes up babbling and wriggling around rather than crying.
7. This month, we have learnt that the word ‘tapas’ makes our son laugh. We’re not sure why this is, but it sounds like a good excuse to go out to a really good local tapas restaurant a bit more. As we’re doing baby-led weaning, all the vegetables and fruit that come with the tapas at our local place mean that he can enjoy the food there too!
8. Becoming a parent has certainly lowered my inhibitions. I recently sang What Does the Fox Say while going round supermarket with son. I think that I certainly deserved some extra loyalty card points from the supermarket for this, especially as my son was wearing a really cute reindeer baby grow at the time.
9. I’ve really enjoyed blogging and seeing that people have been reading and commenting on this blog. I was delighted to recently be nominated in the ‘Best Newcomer’ category of the Love All Dads awards for UK dad bloggers. To vote for Dad’s the Way I Like It, all it takes is a click on this link and then a click on the name of my blog on the shortlist. Since writing this post, voting has closed. To see the results, click here.
What do you think of this post and what do you remember from your first year as a parent? Please feel free to share your views in the comments section below or on the ‘Dad’s The Way I Like It’ pages on Facebook or Google+.
Remember that you can also subscribe to this blog by entering your e-mail address in the box on the right of the screen and also follow this blog via BlogLovin. There’s also now a Pinterest board for this blog as well, so please feel free to pin this post if you’ve enjoyed reading it (http://www.pinterest.com/pin/428827195740417163/).
Similar posts
Being a dad – celebrating the little things
6 things I’ve learned in 6 months as a parent
7 thoughts from my 7th month as a parent
Stephen Greene
Jan 06, 2014 @ 19:38:29
My son often tells me to be quiet when I am singing a song to him. My voice really is that bad.
Jonathan
Jan 06, 2014 @ 19:41:01
I fear that it may well be the same for me once my soon develops the ability to talk!
KezUnprepared
Jan 06, 2014 @ 22:36:15
Haha I love singing with the Little Mister (turned 2 in Nov). He makes up songs and tries to sing along with TV shows or the radio. He doesn’t use words much yet (except for the beautiful songs he makes up about his Nanna – it’s kind of like the Batman theme song but ends with “Poppy!”) but he tries to be melodic. It’s cute. He mostly likes when we sing with him, but occasionally he’ll give a disapproving look and say, “No.”
I hope it’s a really long time before he thinks I’m unfit for singing haha.
Jonathan
Jan 07, 2014 @ 20:22:28
Thanks for sharing that! My wife goes to a choir and is a lot more musical than me, so I’m hoping that means I’m not under as much pressure to sing to our son! Which will also doubtlessly be better for his ears too!
memyselfandkids.com
Jan 07, 2014 @ 16:11:45
I don’t have the compulsion to rock back and forth anymore. However, I compulsively point out trains as my boys used to love them. Wonder if or when that it will end.
Jonathan
Jan 07, 2014 @ 20:19:34
Thanks for sharing that! As a birthday treat when I was about four, my mum took me to a cafe where I could sit an look out at trains arriving and leaving at our nearest train station (which I loved!).
memyselfandkids.com
Jan 08, 2014 @ 01:44:37
I think there is something about trains that we all like – especially boys/men.
Judith (little bilingues)
Jan 08, 2014 @ 06:13:15
I wrote a comment from my smartphone yesterday but not sure it went through so I am writing it again. Sorry if I am just repeating myself…
Particularly like #3. I couldn’t get the Wham song out of my head until recently, very disturbing!
You are clearly enjoying being a dad, I am sure your son will love reading this article when he’s older. Looking forward to discovering your 12 thoughts from your 1 year as a parent.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:34:31
Thanks for commenting. I enjoy doing this monthly post even though it gets more challenging month by month.
tombriggs79
Jan 08, 2014 @ 17:55:09
Several things ringing true here! They love playing with the most mundane things and you’re not the only person who does the trolley thing either – I still do it even when I’m there without the kids! Congratulations on the nomination – very well deserved too. 🙂
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:33:30
Thanks for your comments and your kind words. Glad to know my supermarket experiences are not unique!
Jem
Jan 09, 2014 @ 08:34:15
re: #4 – downside to using a sling … you’ll never stand still in a queue ever again 😉
Lovely blog! Just found you via twitter. Off for a read before I crack on with some work *zzz*
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:30:38
Thanks for commenting
Debra
Jan 10, 2014 @ 13:20:49
Now I’m not pushing a pram around, I have an issue with not knowing what to do with my arms. I tend to wave them around in front of me! I think I’m worried I’m going to fall over without having that something to lean on!
We did baby lead weaning with our son too, it was the best decision we ever made. Give me a little bit of mess over having to be organised and remember to pack baby food any day!
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:16:49
Thanks for sharing your experiences – I totally agree with what you said about baby-led weaning.
ginacaro
Jan 10, 2014 @ 16:12:12
My two use to love playing with beer mats when we were running a pub. Great (cheap) source of entertainment 🙂 #PoCoLo
Jonathan
Jan 10, 2014 @ 17:47:13
I must remember to pick up a couple of beer mats next time I’m in a pub!
Orli D
Jan 11, 2014 @ 17:04:59
I still some times find myself rocking supermarket trollies and swaying from side to side, and my youngest is almost 5 now…
I guess it will stop some day, just not today!
#PoCoLo
Jonathan
Jan 16, 2014 @ 17:29:28
Thanks for sharing that, it’s reassuring to hear!
6 things I’ve learned in 6 months as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 12, 2014 @ 13:56:25
Being a dad: celebrating the little things | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 12, 2014 @ 13:59:12
7 thoughts from my 7th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 12, 2014 @ 14:00:40
8 thoughts from my 8th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 12, 2014 @ 14:04:07
Victoria Welton (@VicWelton)
Jan 12, 2014 @ 18:18:01
It’s incredible what you do when you become a parent! A great post, thank you for sharing with PoCoLo 🙂
2013 – a year in review | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 14, 2014 @ 17:26:49
Justin Knight
Jan 16, 2014 @ 14:19:35
Love this post- especially the vegetarian-in-training chewing on his rubber duck! Funny stuff!
Jonathan
Jan 16, 2014 @ 14:23:33
Thanks, glad you liked it! Our son has really lost interest in the rubber duck now, it’s face cloths all the way!
10 thoughts from my 10th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jan 27, 2014 @ 19:03:27
11 thoughts from my 11th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Feb 24, 2014 @ 20:30:57
12 thoughts from my 12th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Mar 31, 2014 @ 14:33:39
13 thoughts from my 13th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Apr 28, 2014 @ 18:02:31
14 thoughts from my 14th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
May 20, 2014 @ 19:22:12
15 thoughts from my 15th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jun 23, 2014 @ 19:05:38
16 thoughts from my 16th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Jul 29, 2014 @ 21:13:06
17 thoughts from my 17th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Aug 19, 2014 @ 18:20:07
18 thoughts from my 18th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Sep 24, 2014 @ 18:04:19
20 thoughts from my 20th month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Dec 19, 2014 @ 21:13:37
21 thoughts from my 21st month as a parent | Dad's the way I like it
Feb 17, 2015 @ 19:08:10