your twenty-second month

You were officially a big grown up boy.

We had taken the side of your cot

so that it was a toddler bed.

It wasn't without a lot of trepidation on our parts

as we were really concerned it would upset your fantastic sleep routines.

But in your true style

you took it all in your stride

and went to bed the first night without a peep.

You did fall out of bed the first night

but it didn't wake you

and we put your back into bed without so much as a murmur.

It was so lovely to be able to come in to your bedroom in the mornings

and be able to sit next to you on your bed for a little chat.

And the cutest thing of all was that you would stay in your bed each morning
until we came in to see you

almost as if you thought you couldn't get up.

Mummy had a bit of an obsession with you having good manners

and had been so proud when you started politely saying "hello", "goodbye", "please" and "thank-you".

But you had added to your repertoire

with "pardon me" after burping,

"bless you" when people sneezed

and "you're welcome" when people thanked you for things.

Your speech and understanding simply amazed us

and during your twenty-second month

you really started putting more and more words together into proper meaningful sentences.

You were increasingly more specific when asking for things like "toast and marmite" or "strawberry jam yoghurt"

and you were starting to use longer phrases too 

and sometimes you cracked us up.

Like when you ran over to your crying sister and shouted at her

"BE QUIET MADAM".

Or when you were having a cuddle with Nanny and said

"Can't talk now" to Mummy when she asked you a question.

Or when you would say "Now sit there and be good" to us

while you were sat in your high chair.

You absolutely adored books

and would tell us "read it" as you found your favourites.

And you definitely had favourites.

You would have happily listened to Zog at bedtime every single night,

or Stick Man when at Nanny and Pops'.

Heaven forbid someone suggested a book, television programme or activity that you didn't want to do,

it would be met with "no-nokay"

which was a word you had made up

but which we rather liked.