Hi everyone, this is Arddun. Just wanted to tell you about my great day with my friend Eli and his mommy.

Eli is a boy I hang out with every Sunday. He’s almost a year older than me and pretty much looks textbook Cherub – long golden curls, beautiful blue eyes, and the cheekiest grin I’ve ever seen. He tells me how it’s done, shows me the ropes, y’know? Also, he’s very enthusiastic whenever he sees me – yells “BAAY-BEEE!” across the room and that’s how I know Eli’s in da house.

Eli and Arddun
Early days - when Eli came 'round to say Hello

We went to his house today – his older sister Lily was at her grandma’s, so me and Eli just hung out. I showed off my new-found crawling skills after Aunty Kate tucked my dress into my leggings so I wouldn’t face-plant (Mommy NEVER thinks to do that), and then Eli showed me his impressive stash of age-appropriate baby toys and the building blocks that once lay part of Lily’s latest architectural masterpiece. Naturally, I went for the blocks and the pink pipe cleaner, and stayed clear of the baby toys.

Mommy tried to make me take a nap in Eli’s cot, which was a futile enterprise because I can roll and stand almost as soon as she leaves me alone, and when she wised up and basically pinned me to the bed, I yelled and kicked so hard and so long that Mommy got a backache and said, “PHAIL!” (she says that a lot.) “Let’s try the pouch.”

Which eventually led to, “Let’s consider this nap a wash out, and start with dinner.”

I got to sit in Eli’s high chair again! It’s EXACTLY the same as mine, except without the stripy cushion. I must have made a mess, because table service was very prompt.

First you wipe the table...
... then you wipe the patron.
"Do you mind? I'm kinda in the middle of dinner here."

My after-dinner entertainment included Eli showing me his underpants. Yuh. Brand: Cotton On Kids. Very Now.

(Mommy on the phone with Daddy.)

Mommy: Eli just showed Arddun his underwear! Heh heh!

Daddy: Eh? What, he’s running around with no pants on?

Mommy: No, no… he’s just fished one out from somewhere and showed it to Arddun. His pants are still on.

Daddy: Right. So our daughter’s not scarred for life, then.

Mommy: Not today.

Later, Mommy said, “You’ve seen Eli’s underpants now so I guess you’ll have to marry him.” I think she was kidding.