Tom can...

We're in the midst of potty training. Lots of positive reinforcement is going Tom's way; cheers and stickers whenever a performance is made (sometimes while silently gagging - we really need to look at what we're feeding him) while a soothing, blame-free 'Oh dear' greets the accidents. This has led to a number of words being added to his vocabulary including the sing-song 'never mind...' that accompanies Nik discovering pants full of poop and 'Tom-tom PUMPED!' (a phrase that fully deserves its resounding triumphalism).

So, while watching my son's gait transform from padded waddle to snake-hipped jaunt. I had one of those disappearing childhood sensationss. I began to ponder on all the things that Tom is nailing at the moment and it filled me with smiles so I had to share.

• Tom routinely puts his coils back, giving them a reassuring pat when they're in place.
• He's pretty adept at putting DVDs in the machine and gets frustrated with the endless trailers.
• He knows that bogeys, burps and pumps are all hilarious but is not quite the judge of 'context' that he might one day be (hopefully).
  
• He knows that riding up front is far, far better than being strapped in the back of the car, no matter which way you dress it up.
• He knows that watching TV in bed in the morning beats getting dressed and hurrying anywhere...
  
• At the weekend, while playing in the garden with Joe-from-next-door, there were times when their running gait looked the same. Tom's balance is improving enormously (thanks Deborah).

Nothing reflective to say about all that really - it's just a joy to watch him grow up.