He amazes and surprises me.

Sambo. He really does amaze me. I don't give him nearly enough credit for what a gorgeous boy he's become.

We've been talking about the chance of leaving his "buddies" (dummies) out for Santa to give to some little babies who need them. He wasn't really keen on the idea - "nah, Mum, I think I need them more". So, I thought I'd change track and tell him that I'd buy him a lovely big present if we threw all his buddies in the bin. He thought that was a good idea, and that he really, really wanted an excavator (the boy is obsessed with all things boyish!). So, the 1 dummy that he always has, that is the only one that has a clip on it went missing on Sunday. I looked EVERYWHERE for it Sunday night. He went to bed with about 3 other dummies, but I was worried that he would wake up looking for it if it wasn't clipped on him. I actually barely slept on Sunday night trying to work on where on earth I'd put this dummy. Turns out, Sambo threw it in the bin. He told us Monday morning.

Wow, I thought. We might be onto a winner here.

So yesterday we were at the shops. And he spots this toy whipper snipper. Now, as I've mentioned, the kid LOVES all things boyish. In fact, he has been obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with mowers and whipper snippers from a very young age. He has turned anything in our house that might have a long handle type thing into a whipper snipper. So, you can imagine how excited he was to actually find a proper whipper snipper that makes noise etc! So...he decided that he would throw ALL his buddies in the bin, if I got him the whipper snipper.

So he did.

I was dreading last night. Really, really dreading it. I was tired to start with, and I thought I would be up ALL night with him.

Come bed time, he got a little anxious and told me he didn't want the whipper snipper anymore. I told him that we had thrown all his buddies in the bin, so there were none left. I said he could lie down on the couch and watch some of the Jungle Book (current favourite) with Thomas (the Tiger - also a favourite) and his whipper snipper (a BIG favourite!)...and there he fell asleep. I put him into bed and he slept all night with no problems.

What a little champ, huh? I'm so proud of him, but also kind sad that he's not a baby anymore. Within the space of a few short months, he's toilet trained, and thrown out his dummy. He's getting so big now...and having proper adult conversations.

Way to go Sambo.

Now....onto other stuff - Max has taken his first steps. I can't bloody believe it. At 9.5 months of age, and he's decided he wants to walk. Sob sob sob. Even my baby isn't a baby anymore!

A very big Happy Birthday to Nat and Cas for last Monday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Sal for last Sunday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Doylie for last Wednesday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Michael for last Friday.

Boy, October is a busy month for birthdays for us, isn't it?

Ok, now to leave you with a few photos: