Swinging happy

A huge thank you this week to Alby’s Poppa and GG who bought him a swing for Christmas.  I thought Alby would like it.  I was wrong, he loves it.  And thankfully, unlike the Jumperoo which he has never spent more than 5 minutes in, the swing is proving a worthy babysitter keeping Alby thoroughly occupied whilst I run about the garden keeping my mad football loving bulldog entertained.

I never appreciated that Alby would love the great outdoors so much but I guess after 14 months where the only outside time is in a pouch or buggy, being able to actually experience the outside world – walk on tarmac and grass, pick up stones, conkers and leaves, touch the dew..., is like having an adventure play ground on your doorstep. 

These days I just have to show Alby his shoes and he has scampered over to the front door, pulling on the frame with his fingers in a desperate effort to get outside.  As he has yet to master even my most simple of commands – “don’t walk on the road dear”, “puddles are dirty Alby, yuck” and “come here Alby”, I’ve been redirecting him to the back garden.  Initially he is happy just to walk up and down the path but eventually laughing at Percy and admiring the mossy concrete grows tiresome and he heads over to the gate in a bid for the front.  At this point I bundle him into the swing (which randomly is set very high) and he is content for a good twenty minutes or more.  

Thanks must also go to my dad who put the swing together for me.  Combined the grandparents have made this week almost easy!