Leila Rose Petal

See what I can do by Nicky P

Hello, this is Leila. My mum’s not feeling well and can’t think of anything to say so I’m dictating this entry to her.

Today I am six months old! Big, aren’t I?

Mum says that the little bub with the scrunched up face who wouldn’t open her eyes for the first day is a distant memory. I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Now that I’m getting big I’m starting to do lots of things. I talk a lot. Almost as much as Finn. My favourite word is ‘da’. It serves lots of purposes. When I’m happy I say it over and over again in a high pitched voice. When I’m sad I drop my bottom lip and say it in a deeper voice, with lots of emotion. I am, afterall, The Little Princess.

I’ve rolled once - from my back onto my front. I didn’t like it much so I don’t think I’ll try it again for a while. For now I can see pretty much anything I want by stretching and looking back over my head or by rolling onto my side. I love sitting up, but I can’t do it myself yet. Mum and Dad put me in my donut or my high chair and I sit and watch everything. Sometimes I need someone to straighten me up a bit, but I can mostly hold myself up.

I love my hands. I like my feet lots too, but I think my hands are pretty special. I spend a lot of time looking at them and I really, really like to suck on them. My hands are really great at grabbing and scratching at things and pulling them up to my mouth so I can lick them.

I’ve started eating a bit of real food. I was interested in what Mum, Dad and Finn were eating so they thought I might like to try some. I suppose it’s OK, but I still prefer bottles. Mum says it doesn’t matter too much at this point since it’s mostly about getting used to eating off a spoon and the different tastes and textures.

I kind of sleep through most nights these days too. I do wake up but I’m rarely hungry. I just like to have a chat. Mum doesn’t seem too happy about this when she brings a bottle into my room and I don’t want it. She usually mutters something and then goes away again. I don’t mind, I can still talk to the nappy I cuddle.

I don’t like dummies and prefer to suck on things made of cloth. Mum got me a little toy rabbit to sleep with and I really like him, but I make him too wet when I suck on him so Mum gives me a flannelette nappy to cuddle and suck on in bed. They’re lovely and snuggly and soft and Mum gets me a clean one every day.

It ’s time for Mum to give me a bottle now because I’m starting to grizzle a bit. She’s always too slow!