The Terminator

This sounds like it's going to be about a scary Chinese law enforcement agent. Sorry, but the Terminator is none other than Toby. Having been the sweetest most laid back baby in the world, he has developed into a clingy, tetchy little being. I say little but for his age, he is pretty solid - broad backed, fat legged and now, completely mobile. Every time I put him down with some toys and sneak off to the kitchen to get a glass of water or something, I hear the relentless pad, pad, pad, tetch, tetch, tetch of Toby seeking me out. No matter how far I run, he doesn't give up. There is no stopping him. He is the Termiator. This persistence is also applied to any other of his seemingly nonsensical wishes. While Eliot was easily distracted, Toby is remarkably single minded for a nine month old. When he finally tracks me down, he climbs up my leg until he is standing, precariously clinging to my legs. In exasperation I pick him up and then he puts his head on my shoulder and smiles triumphantly and I am forced to forgive him.

Last weekend, we had brunch with some friends and put Toby down to sleep in their spare room. When he woke up, we found we couldn't open the door. There was Toby in a strange, dark room, screaming to be picked up and the door was not budging. Happily, manpower is not at a shortage in China. Skill, however, can be a different issue. Withing five minutes, a locksmith had been located. He knelt at the door for a few minutes with some impressive looking tools but seemed a bit stumped when Jamie explained that the door wasn't actually locked. A few more minutes and some prodding. "It's broken" he said helpfully. "Yes, we know, that's why we called you - can you open the door?" "I don't know" he said sitting back on his heels. "Well, could you try?" said Jamie through gritted teeth as Toby screamed hysterically in the background. "OK" said the locksmith finally and a few minutes later, the door was opened and Toby was liberated. Two minutes later, he was fine. I was still hyper ventilating when we left.

Eliot has not been short of a few adventures of his own, mostly involving attempts to knock himself out. In the space of a week, Eliot has had a door opened into his head; has opened a cupboard door on the same spot; has slipped and cut himself right next to his eye and fallen over and cut his head open against a table. I have tried to explain to him that if he falls over, he should put his hands out to break his fall but instinct seems to be failing him. I am slightly concerned that his nursery is going to call social services. At least I would be if we were in the UK. Yesterday, I went to collect him from school and was told that he'd fallen over and hurt his knee and had been very upset and then had a nosebleed. "I cried at school today" announced Eliot in the car. "Was that when you fell over?" "No, Jasmine pushed me". "Jasmine - are you sure?" Jasmine, the girl who wouldn't get into the swimming pool. Jasmine who is approximately half Eliot's height. I would be surprised if she were able to push a feather let alone Eliot. "Yeah" said Eliot in injured tones.

Eliot has a new friend from school called Flora or at least I have a new friend, Flora's mother so Eliot is now playing with Flora. We all went out for lunch last Saturday and Eliot wanted Flora to come home and play. "Another day" we said. Eliot got home and sat on the sofa. "I don't have any friends" he sniffed. "Of course you do". "Yes but I don't have any friends in my house" he continued, sticking out his lower lip. Slightly nonplussed, we were wondering how to respond when Eliot looked up and caught my eye and couldn't help a little giggle escaping. Cheeky person.