Santa Baby

Santa Baby

Vincent's first Christmas. When he was just over five months old we were determined to make sure he got to see Santa. We realised that the first few years of a childs life it is more about your experience as a parent rather than an experience for the child. Seeing him sitting on Santa's knee (which I hear is unusual these days, companies prefering the child to stand or kneel next to Santa - what is happening to our culture) was such a delight. The Santa wasn't exactly the kind of Santa that I'd have picked though. He was about 23 years old, he was an Aries, and a bit of a flirt (as you can tell, he talked to much). The elf, who was delightful, took a photograph of Vincent and Santa and we left the grotto with me feeling very proud of myself and very proud of my son. When I showed Vincent the photo of him and Santa Claus he got excited, kicking and smiling.

Water Baby

Water Baby

We've been so excited about taking Vincent swimming. When we went shopping for a swimming outfit we bought the same design in 6-9 months, 9-12 months, and 12-18 months just so we had outfits that would match his sun hat (for the seaside in the summer) and his towel - any excuse. Okay, so this wasn't necessarily our plan as both of us are not exactly the biggest Disney fans (although I do have a soft spot for Dumbo), however, we couldn't deny how gorgeous Vincent would look in this all in one.

I was so nervous taking him swimming. I hadn't been in a swimming pool since 2004 and that was a very brief encounter whilst on holiday in Gran Canaria - very self concious. To my surprise I wasn't self concious at all as I got there as one thing I have noticed, and grately appreciate, with parenthood is that it is all about the child and their experience, and for Vincent this was his first time at the swimming pool. He dipped in his little toes, he kicked his little legs, and then he had a float in his trainer-seat rubber ring kindly donated by my brother and his wife.

However, it was his Mummy singing songs from The Wiggles and throwing him up and down in the air, in and out of the pool that made him laugh and excited. Mummy embarrases herself = a very happy baby.

Little Wiggle

Little Wiggle

We discovered The Wiggles when I accidentally stumbled across one of their songs, 'Hot Potato'. They seemed fun (if not a little annoyingly happy - big eyes and teeth lined grins), and is now the only other children's program Vincent appears to have an interest in other than Spongebob Squarepants - he certainly takes after his Daddy who I believe is Spongebob's number one fan. We discovered that The Wiggles was showing on Nick Jr at 6.30am every single morning. Hurrah for Sky+. I set the series to record - much to my husband's annoyance. Every day we watch several episodes. It was about a week into our wiggly craze when I noticed that every time Dorothy the Dinosaur came on the screen for 'Dorothy's Dancing Alphabet' Vincent had the biggest grin on his face, the excitement coming out in frantic kicking of his feet and flapping of his arms. It was seeing his excitement that persuaded me to convince my darling husband to come along with us to a Wiggly Concert in London this Summer. Stay tuned for a Wiggly Concert illustration...

Snow Angel

Snow Angel

Unlike the winter of 2010/2011, where the snow started falling in November, we had to wait until February 2012 for the first snowfall of the winter. I'm sure, as first time parents, my husband and I were much more excited about Vincent's first experience of the white stuff than he was. His expressions and emotions portrayed a sense of confusion. 'Where had all the green stuff gone and why was everything now white?' Several photos later I wanted him to sit in the snow for a photograph, but Vincent had other ideas - he wanted to lie down. Still not really enjoying this new look to the back garden it took me, his crazy and unashamed Mummy, singing Three Little Men in a Flying Saucer - even though I was well aware the neighbours were lurking in their back garden too - to get one small smile out of Vincent. Click! Caught it on camera - our little snow angel.

I Can Fly, Mummy

'I can fly, Mummy'

I had popped to the Post Office to post a birthday card for a friend when I noticed that the park was completely empty. It was a little cold but nothing a little fluffy coat wouldn't cure. I wasn't sure he was old enough - just turned seven months - but it was worth a wee try. Well, as soon as I lifted my little fella out of his Oyster buggy he knew he was off on an adventure. I placed him in the swing and pushed it ever so slightly and his little face lit up with the largest grin I had ever seen. My phone came out of my pocket to take photos and film footage under a minute long, then rang my husband just to share my excitement of his excitement. All the while the grin stayed on his face, he held onto the chains tightly, and kicked his little babygrow covered feet as though dancing in the air. He looked straight at me as though to say 'I can fly, Mummy'.

Super-baby

Super Baby

For the first entry to The Illustrated Life of Vincent it seemed only fitting to do the entry of Vincent into this world. After an induction and only four hours and fourty minutes of labour Vincent Stephen Jack Carver came into the world, July 09, 2011 at 10.40am. Arms soring above his head 'like superman', his Daddy said, screaming with all his body and his eyes tightly shut. Such a special day was Vincent's birth day.