So much about life with a baby is about the little successes. As much as you can encourage them to do something, most of the time they take you by surprise and its great. Steven might come home and I'll be so excited, "Look! He can bat the green toy with his hand!! He batted it twice in a row!!", or I'll be out and Steven will text me: "He's grabbing the bottle with his hands and tipping it up himself!" Elmer is taking more notice of the world around him: he smiles at himself in the mirror; looks around to see me from his car seat and grabs hold of toys, hair and clothing. He'll grin at one old lady in the supermarket and then glare solemnly at her friend. I love how ungracious babies are.

Before I had one of my own this kind of babble would have me both slightly bemused and slightly bored. Luckily I have some Elmer fans to share it with. Apologies if you aren't a baby fan, in which case here is a photograph from today to change your mind: