Heavyweight champ!

Hello everyone

Mama took me to be weighed and measured today. I now weigh 14lb 1oz (which means I have now doubled my birth weight) and I am 61.5cm long! Unfortunately this morning I woke up with a rash in my elbow creases and on the backs of my knees, Mama thought it was prickly heat but the Doctor seems to think it might be eczema. I have a special cream to put on to ease it, I am not in any discomfort though and still smiling away. My sleep patterns are a bit erratic again, Mama thinks I might be having a growth spurt! I am almost rolling over on my own now. I rock from one side of my hip to the other and crane my neck backwards and push up my bottom - any day now Mama will find me on my tummy. I practice lots in my sleep too and early morning which, incidentally, is when I start talking. Papa has had to sleep in the guest room for a couple of nights as he doesn't find my 6am babbling so endearing!! Mama is getting my nursery decorated soon, she has found a local painter who is willing to replicate my favourite Rudyard Kipling story, "How the Rhinoceros got his skin". I want to have lots of animals and palm trees to gaze at once I move into my new room after Christmas.

Morning playtime

Tummy time video

I'm on a roll!

A big moment for me this evening. Mama put me on my side and after a few huffs and puffs I had successfully rolled onto my front! Mama was super excited, so was I as I was smiling away! Mama took a video of me a few days ago (in the video bar below), I was trying to roll over but was getting rather frustrated with my attempts! There is no stopping me now! These photos were taken this week in my cot with my favourite toy, Mimosa the cat.

Mini Maharaj

This week Mama and Papa visited friends of theirs who have a son who is only 10 days older than me. I was the star attraction and was given a special baby ceremony where they dressed me up as a Maharaj, which means an Indian prince, and put black dots on my cheeks and forehead which is meant to ward off evil spirits. I was then blessed in the family shrine by the matriarch of the family. I loved all the attention even though I was passed around like a parcel! Indian babies are rocked to sleep in the ladies' laps when they sit crossed legged on the floor, Mama has since tried this with me at home and we both like it. Indian women also breastfeed this way too, but Mama isn't so limber to try that just yet! I love you all and miss you lots xxxxxxxx

Check out my new video!

Hello everyone!
Mama took a new video of me this morning kicking around on my change mat. You can view it on the video bar, it is the third one day. Happy viewing! Love you lots and miss you all xxxxxx

I am 3 months old!

I am 3 months old now and learning fast. I am grabbing at most things in my line of vision and can roll onto my side when I swing my legs over. I haven't attempted a full roll yet but it will come! I am still very interested in my hands but haven't discovered my toes yet. Below are some photos of the lovely girls at Mama's favourite coffee shop called The Green Hotel. It is a beautiful palace which has been converted into a hotel which is a sustainable enterprise; all proceeds go to local charities. The staff love me to bits and when Mama goes for coffee they scoop me up (when I am not sleeping) and take me round the beautiful garden courtyard, cooing over me. They have all offered to be my "ayah" which means a nanny but Mama says she wants to keep me all to herself which is exactly what I want too. I am a very sociable baby but I only really want my Mama and Daddy. I am learning so much every day now, I am grabbing at most things and my inquisitive eyes are taking in everything, Mama calls me her meerkat as I am always lifting my head off her shoulder to absorb everything in my sights!

My week in Mysore

Mama and I have had a lovely week back home in Mysore although we are both missing the cooler climes. The weather is 29 degrees most days with 75% humidity so we are trying to keep as cool as we can. I am still sleeping from 7.30pm until 4.30am every night and catching a few naps in the day too. I have just started to wake up around 7am and kick around in my cot for a while smiling away. This is a lovely family time as I manage to see Daddy before he goes off to work at 8am. I made some new friends this week, they are the daughters of Mama's Austrian friend Angela. They are called Pia and Lara, Pia is almost 3 and Lara is 8 months. I was transfixed with them when I visited their house and despite being the youngest there I was the most well behaved!! Most evenings Mama takes me out in the pushchair to a nearby park which helps me have a little nap, last time we went though Mama got soaked to the skin as the monsoon rain drenched her! Happily I was fast asleep and dry in my rainproof cover - he he he! Mama took me to be weighed and measured this week; I weigh a happy 5.7kg and I have grown to 61cm so some of my clothes no longer fit me. Mama took me shopping today though so I have few more lovely colourful outfits. Daddy has a day off tomorrow so we will have a lovely family day. We are going to visit a new apartment as Mama and Daddy are thinking about moving, the place we are seeing tomorrow has a swimming pool - yippeee!!!!

Back home to Mysore

So after a 13-hour drive we finally got home from beautiful Kerala and I went straight to bed.

Daddy took a video of me for you all to see. He is a bit of a dingo though because he got the camera on it's side.

This is me in my cot in Mummy & Daddys room. I love my musical mobile it always sends me off to sleep; dad says it is because I wear myself out dancing on my back to the twinkle song! (truth is I just do that to see him smile at me).

Hope you don't get neck ache watching me........ check out the video bar bottom right for my latest big screen action!

I'm on my holidays!

I'm writing this from the beautiful state of Kerala. Mama and I have come here to visit Daddy as he is working down here all week. We had a challenging 13 hour drive across 3 states to get here, I was comfortable enough in my car seat but had a grizzle now and again when I couldn't sleep. I love it here as the weather is much cooler than Mysore, I look like the Michelin man as I have on so many layers! Daddys' temporary office is a beautiful location set amidst the undulating (big word for me!) tea plantations, we have an uninterrupted view across the green hills and can see the rainclouds rolling in and out all day. I especially love it here as I can see more of Daddy than I do at home, he took me out into the forest yesterday in his sling and he was showing me the lemongrass growing everywhere and the cardamom plants. The Indian family in whose house Daddy's office is based love having me here too. The mother takes me off into the kitchen and round the house whilst Mama can have a cup of tea. We went for a VIP lunch yesterday at a beautiful campsite overlooking the hills and lakes. The Director of a Keralan travel company, Sam from Kalypso Adventures, travelled up here to see me especially, he is a good friend of Mama and Daddy. He took us to his gorgeous campsite where he had laid out a table covered in a white tablecloth and we were served delicious Keralan cuisine - I was the star attraction of course! Everybody in Kerala recognises my name because it is mostly a Christian state. When I was introduced to the family of the house they said, "Joseph, like Jesus". I love being up here as I am in the outdoors all day, Mama, Daddy and even Uncle Vijay put me in my sling and take me off for walks through the forest, my eyes are bright as I take in this new world. I miss everyone at home and will skype you when I am back in Mysore. Love "Jesus" xxx

My trip to Daddy's office

I'm continuing to settle in well to my new home in Mysore. I have found a new rhythm with feeding and sleeping this week and even last night I slept straight through from 8pm to 06.30 - Mama was really excited, as was I, because it means even more time in bed in my sleeping bag!

Mama took me to the local hospital this week where I was weighed and measured; I weigh a very respectable and healthy 12lb and am 59cms tall - Mama's milk has some magic ingredients in it obviously! Mama and I go out every day with our driver, Chandrashekar, he is a very good driver and looks after me. Mama especially likes him as he doesn't use his horn too much which means I can sleep for longer. Everywhere I go though people are trying to pinch my cheeks and keep snapping their fingers in front of me, it's a bit irritating to be honest and I have heard Mama say in the local language "please don't touch him".

We have visited Daddy at his office a few times too. I really enjoy going as it is in the middle of beautiful countryside and I can see the cows and the sheep that live there. We are going on our first family trip to Kerala next week, Mama and I will stay in a hotel whilst Daddy will be staying at a nearby campsite with work. It is the monsoon season there so I will be really wrapped up to prevent me getting cold. It will take us 10 hours to get there by car so hopefully I will sleep alot on the journey but Mama says she will wake me up when we see wild elephants along the way.

I miss all my family at home in England but I'm loving India too so don't worry about me.

See you all at Christmas if not before. Keep skyping me so I can see you all often. Love Joseph.

Here's looking at you kid!

Mama made me giggle lots today, I am one happy baby!

I've discovered that people like it if you smile at them. When I do it they give me lots of cuddles and attention.

Namaste! India - my new home

Namaste means "hello" in India, something I have already learnt! So, we have arrived in Mysore, safe and sound. I really enjoyed the flight and managed to eat, sleep and have a few nappy changes during the 10 hour flight, I was blissfully unaware when we took off and landed, mama's milk kept me distracted! I am still jetlagged, just like Mama and Papi really, but I love sleeping in my new bed and gazing wide-eyed around my new home. It will take me a while to adjust to all the new sounds, smells, sights and faces and I still jump every time a car horn beeps - which is every few seconds! We went to visit Papi at his office yesterday but I was too sleepy and didn't really take it all in, there will be plenty of chances to visit again though when I am more awake. Mama and I are hanging out at home this morning, time for me to have my morning nap and then lunch before heading off to find a laundry and to go to Mama's favourite hotel for some homemade cake! Yummie.

Here I am with my new Indian "uncle", Deepak in our lounge.

7 weeks old this week!

We are still down in London which has been good fun. We have had a busy week, the biggest news is that I have been weighed again and weigh a healthy 10lb10oz so mama's milk is doing the trick! I have also had some more vaccinations for India, I was fast asleep when I had them so it was a rude awakening, I felt quite grizzly the rest of that day but I am now feeling much happier. We went back to Shrewsbury for a few days and spent time with my Nanny, Granddad, Aunty Faye and blonde bombshell cousin Ava. She is so loving and is always kissing and cuddling me and helping to change my nappy. I love her so much.

It has been very hot and sunny in London which is preparing me for India, Daddy even bought me my first pair of sunglasses! I love cuddling up with Daddy in bed, here we are this morning having a lie-in!

Today was my mama's birthday

We got up at 5am, 7.30am, 8.40am and again at 9.30am this morning.

It was a special day and we had a special breakfast - lovely thick cut bacon sandwiches with brown sauce. (I had milk again). Then we had a wash.

We are still in London because my passport and visa are in the Indian High Commission still. As with every day this week it was a lovely sunny day and perfect for a picnic in Hyde Park.

This picture is me having a nap on my blanket. Now I look back over the blog here I notice I am often pictured bathing. I would like to state for the record that I do not want any of these pictures to appear later in life used as a way to embarrass me.

What do you think of my hat?

So here I am, early morning on Tuesday and someone has left the window open in my bedroom.

Although you all think summer is here, actually after a hair wash it is still pretty cold!

Daddy had given me a bath and I was pleased because I felt quite sticky after a night of milk leaking over my chin and down my neck. He washed my hair - which is looking quite blonde bye the way, and then left me on the bed by myself.

How could he be so cruel? He seems to have plenty of hair but I do not! It was practically freezing.

Any way, being resourceful as he is, he found me a hat that was lying around.

We were all happy but then mama came in and shouted at daddy about something. Before I knew it my head was cold again!

I know they are new at this parent thing but you would hope they can get it together soon.

J xx

Three weeks old already

Yes I am 3 weeks old!

Quite a lot has happened since my birthday.

I have got into quite a nice routine of waking up for a feed - usually I get about 15-20 minutes of milk down me which is yummy. The only trouble is it gives me the the hiccoughs, so I have to get burped over mama's shoulder after food time.

Next I usually have my nappy changed. Often it is full already but I don't mind - at least it is warm. After nappy change I like to have a toilet break so I usually fill my nappy again - I can get through over 10 a day if I try.

It's quite cool because I have learned that if I want anything all I need do is pretend to cry and everyone in the room comes to see what I need. So as soon as I fancy a nappy change I can usually get one organised.

So next I usually try to have a sleep. To be honest I don't mind where I am for sleep. In someone's arms, in the car seat, in my basket; it's all the same to me. With all the growing I am planning I need all the sleep I can get right now.

So far so good as I have managed to put on almost a pound since my birthday!

Well that is pretty much my life at the moment apart from the odd bath and trip to Mothercare.

It's my birthday!

Hi everyone, here I am ready for the world.

This is me and Hayley (she's my mama). It took me almost 16 hours to come out of her tummy. We went to bed on the Monday night but she was so sick I couldn't get a wink of sleep. She just did not get the hint that it was time for me to come into the world.

Finally I managed to stick my little finger through her womb and make all the water come out on the kitchen floor. Then they took notice and we all went to the maternity unit in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital at 03:30 on the 31st May.

After hours of trying I still could not get out so luckily the doctors helped and pulled me out just in time for lunch on my birthday! What a coincidence.

Hayley was really tired but she did not show it. I think she was just happy to finally meet me after 9 months of talking to me in her tummy.

It was nice to meet her too. She has such lovely milk.