sixtwentyone

Out, out, brief candle!

This was written by Faolán on 16th September 2012 at 5:00 pm when he was 10 months, 24 days, 10 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Bad weather forced NASA to put off the piggyback flight of the space shuttle Endeavour to California, where the now-retired spacecraft will be put on display.

As well as my obsession with rotating, generally circular objects, I love lights.

Electrical lights or flames, I don’t mind. Switching lights on and off is a particular party trick of mine. Blowing out candles is another!

Not only can I blow them out (perhaps with some help, I’ll be the first to admit) but I can whistle on the intake of breath as I do it!
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More teeth on the way

This was written by Faolán on 9th September 2012 at 12:00 pm when he was 10 months, 17 days, 5 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Novak Djokovic wins to book his place against Andy Murray in the U.S. Open final.

I already have two front teeth in plenty of time for Christmas. Now it’s plain for all to see that my teeth at the bottom are on their way too!

It’s really sore and irritating, which I try to relieve by biting.
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An upright citizen

This was written by Faolán on 30th August 2012 at 10:46 pm when he was 10 months, 7 days, 16 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Spanish champions Real Madrid were drawn with their English counterparts Manchester City, German champions Borussia Dortmund and top team in Holland Ajax Amsterdam for the European Champions League group stage.

Okay, so crawling isn’t enough for me! I knew there was a use for these legs other than to kick the floor or to propel me along in my four-limbed motion.

I’m not stable. In fact, I’m very wobbly and can only manage standing for a short time, but we’ve got to start somewhere!
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Oh I do like to be beside the sea… side

This was written by Faolán on 27th August 2012 at 6:00 pm when he was 10 months, 4 days, 11 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... The search for a lion in Essex was called off. According to a police spokesman, the sighting of a lion was most likely a "large domestic cat or a wildcat."

The summer weather is just about holding, so we headed to the beach this afternoon.

On previous occasions I’ve been carried or pushed on the beach, but this was my first time sitting down and playing in the sand. It was bit breezy, as it can be here, so my mummy protected me from the blowing sand.
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A vital night out

This was written by Faolán on 22nd August 2012 at 11:59 pm when he was 9 months, 30 days, 17 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Tony Nicklinson, 58, suffering from "locked-in syndrome" and fought a long legal battle over assisted suicide died.

After almost ten months in the big, wide world, it was time for mummy and daddy to leave me for the night.

Not alone, of course! I spent the night with my aunt, Mairéad, who took good care of me while mummy and daddy let their hair down.
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Lazy days of summer

This was written by Faolán on 20th August 2012 at 6:00 pm when he was 9 months, 28 days, 11 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Celebrated US writer and political commentator Gore Vidal died aged 86.

Summer is back! Did it ever leave? I’m not sure it ever arrived…

Finally we have a few warm, dry days to enjoy – seems the Olympic fortnight is destined to be good for the weather too.

It was warm enough for us to get out the barbecue and burn some food in the front garden anyway.
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My eyebrow dimples

This was written by Faolán on 16th August 2012 at 2:00 pm when he was 9 months, 24 days, 7 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... The UK said Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will not be given safe passage out of the country from his London refuge, after Ecuador granted him political asylum.

Here I am perfecting this crawling business. I can now whizz around the house, almost as fast as anyone else. Nothing and nowhere is now safe!

A lot of people have said how much I look like mummy… but take a look at my eyebrow dimples.
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Darragh takes flight

This was written by Faolán on 5th August 2012 at 8:00 pm when he was 9 months, 13 days, 13 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Praise poured in for Team GB after they won six gold medals yesterday - including three in an hour of athletics - on their most successful day of Olympic action since 1908.

Today was Darragh’s birthday… present. His actual birthday is in March, but his present from the family was a trial flying lesson. The lesson itself didn’t quite come off until now, due to a variety of factors – mostly the weather!
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Cowboys & American Indians

This was written by Faolán on 29th July 2012 at 8:00 pm when he was 9 months, 6 days, 13 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... Lizzie Armitstead wins Britain's first medal on the second day of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

For a long time now, people have been amusing themselves by tapping a finger on my mouth or lips. I would contribute to the amusement by making a noise, which sounded like the noise people like daddy made when they were children – pretending to be Indians of a “Cowboy & Indian” nature.
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More crawling

This was written by Faolán on 20th July 2012 at 4:00 pm when he was 8 months, 27 days, 9 hours old | Leave a Comment

Also on this day... The Olympic flame arrived in the host city in dramatic style, being abseiled into the Tower of London from a helicopter at 20:12 BST, no less.

As each day passes, I get better and better at crawling. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes.

I started by shuffling backwards, like many babies apparently do. It seemed easier than going forwards – a metaphor for life, perhaps?

All of a sudden though, mum and dad have to keep there eyes on me as I’m discovering a whole new world of things to touch and taste – some of which they obviously don’t want me to!
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