What's New, Pussycat?

I am almost 3 months old now and can do many things I couldn't do at first. Here's a list, for my faraway family members, of some of the grown-up things I have done in the last few weeks:

1. I laugh and play with Mommy and Daddy every day. I play with my toys too (sometimes a little roughly but they need to know who's boss)!
2. I have a whole new range of sounds to express new emotions; I coo when I'm happy, yelp when surprised, cry for 'Maaaa' and sometimes, I say 'Hello' (Mashi will back me up on this one)!
3. I wipe my own face with my muzzie or any bit of cloth I can lay my hands on. The naysayers have told Mommy it's a coincidence but she knows better!
4. I indicate when I'm hungry by opening my mouth wide and miming spooning food in. I don't need to tell Mommy when my nappy is full because she has a sensitive nose (although my long suffering expression helps as well, I'm sure)!
5. I grab and guide Mommy and Daddy's fingers into my mouth when I feel like chewing on something because I might be teething already.
6. I like to sit upright on Mommy or Daddy's knee, with my legs dangling, facing forward so I can see what's going on in the world around me (lying down is for babies)!

7. I love my first book which Daddy has got me and I am completely taken with the 'bouncy lamb' and the 'curly snail'.....

I can't wait till Dida and Dadu, Grandma and Grandad and all the other friends and family members I don't get to see enough of, can see me do all these things!

Fight Night

Last night, Mommy, Daddy and I were woken up by a loud growling noise. At first I thought it was Daddy's tummy, but we soon discovered it was coming from my nursery. Daddy grabbed the camera and took this photo of Kicky and Gerry at each other's throats while Mommy broke up the fight. It turns out that, fuelled by Aunty Michelle and Mashi's comments, Gerry and Kicky had been arguing as to who was my best friend and things had got out of hand. I spent all day today (when I wasn't feeding, anyway) explaining to them that they were my joint best friends. The truth is, as fond as I am of my furry friends, I love my family and FOOD even more!

By Public Demand...

This is me as I am now. Some of the women in my life - Mommy, Dida, & Mashi - insisted I post a recent photo of myself where I looked 'more (Gregory) Peck than Shrek'. They didn't want any girl babies who happened on this site to think I still look as battered and bruised as I did at birth (I was a forceps baby). So, here I am all scrubbed up and ready to party!

Meet My Gang

In the middle is Gerry Le Giraffe (Mr G.L.G Matekoni to you), my first recruit and lieutenant. Below Gerry, his matronly missus Hatima who sings me to sleep. Then there's Kicky, the Kung-Fu Tiger from Bangalore who's taught me to high kick while lying down! I put my new skills to use when I play a game of kick-the-blankie every time Mommy lays one over me for my afternoon nap. On Gerry's left is Bear; she's so shy she hasn't told me her name yet but she has a lovely singing voice (though you have to twist her tail to get anything out of her)! Luciano 'the loud' ladybird is also a part of my menagerie, he has scrunchy antennae and a shiny tummy that keep me entertained for hours. And finally, my newest friend, Tony the Tiger. Tony used to live at Longleat but he was very lonely there so my Grandparents brought him home to join my gang.

Meet the Parents

Here is a picture of me with my parents. My father's name is Daddy and my Mother's name Mommy. I have Daddy's ginger eyebrows and Mommy's black hair at this point but that may all change (fingers crossed) as I'm changing every day! I also have blue-grey eyes which Mommy hopes will not change as they are different from everyone else's in the family.
Daddy goes out to work every day. I think his job involves burping babies, because Mommy says he's an expert. Mommy used to work too but now spends the day looking after me (or that's what I want her to think, but it's really me keeping an eye on her like Daddy's asked me to). Mommy and Daddy love me loads. They are always kissing me which is embarassing for a grown-up baby like me. And I love them lots but I make sure I squirm like mad so that they are in no doubt that I think they overdo it!
...Oh look at the time, I'm due my hourly feed! Come back tomorrow and I'll introduce you to the crew from my crib.

First Post

No, this isn't me following a K.O. defeat in the boxing ring - it's a picture taken by my dad when I was 5 minutes old. I was born at 3:15a.m. on 3rd May 2008 and weighed 2.88kg (or 6lb 6oz in old money). I am pleased to report that a few hours and a bath later I looked a lot less like a potato.