BenjaminSimmons

Hi my name is BenjaminSimmons, PaulSimmons is my dad and Jackie my mum. I hope you don't mind me using this page as a blog until I get my own. I think I qualify for being a little agile ...

Week 27: Dad, am I agile yet?

Week 26: I'm now officially a half year old! To celebrate, here's me on my toy car http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/sitoncar.mpg (large 10 mb mpeg download) or smaller giggles here: http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/bengigglesoncar.mpg

Week 24: Went to my first swimming lesson with my friend Imogen. Have to say not too keen on the big waves, far bigger than in my bath!!! Have learnt the art of subtlety by stealing Imogen's book when she is not looking, http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/ben9.jpg, its quite easy as I think I have a stronger grip!

Week 23: Talk about SustainablePace! What happened to the last few weeks? I'll have to do a RetrospectiveSession? on my life and fill in some detail later. Anyhow, this week I went to nursery for the first day. Had lots of fun with all those new toys, though mum and dad were anxious for me.

Weeks 16-22: Eating some solids, sleeping 7-7 thru the night without a break.

Week 15: Doing ok. Will be old enough to start my own blog elsewhere shortly.

Week 14: Mum and Dad really pleased - 3 consecutive all-night sleeps! Even after my 2nd set of injections (cried real tears).

Week 12: The thumbs are working well, prefer my left one. I can now settle myself overnight.

Week 11: I've found my thumbs! I think they're better than a dummy now, I can mostly get myself to sleep and they're always there when I need them. Mum and Dad pleased.

Week 10: Sometimes you just need to know when to ask for help, and this week I had my injections (one in each leg, and a spoon of something yuk) I really had to ask mum and dad to help me through it. Dad says its one of the hidden skills in XP's PairProgramming ;asking the right person to help you.

Week 7: I am learning about SustainablePace this week. Dad says it's a valuable practice as it allows you to establish a rate at which you can consistently hit targets, and without this software teams are too often forced to apply short-termism. I practice this now - I reckon I can cry for just enough of the night to make my parents grumpy, but not too much that they can't loook after me during the day.

Sat March 13th: I've noticed a lot on this site about PairProgramming, and my dad thinks its a good thing. When I'm old enough, I'll give it a go. In the meantime, I do PairFeeding? where my mum or dad control the bottle and I decide how much to feed.

Benjamin... I suggest you keep crying in the early hours of the morning until your dad agrees to set you up with your own blog!

Weds March 10th: Got my first letter from the postman today. I guess I'll have to wait a few years to be able to read it. Dad says it isn't like just-in-time requirements that you get from an XpStoryCard? - you'd think they'd wait and send it in 6 years time. I don't think it's a love letter :-(

Tues March 9th: Saw myself, mum and dad in the mirror today. They were grinning like cheshire cats, so I thought it best to join in and show them my first smile :-) . Sometimes DoingTheSimplestThing is the best option.

Sat March 6th: Woke mum and dad for the qualifying of the Australian grand prix. Didn't want to miss my team, though I got upset when my driver, Montoya, was on.

Went to mum's hairdressers, and looked cute for them. Then dad took me to Tesco's on our own. First visit to the parent-and-child parking bay, nice and big, plenty of room for me to get out the car. Dad's not happy about the car seat and says it is badly designed - if they'd designed this with TestFirstDesign principles and actually tried the thing, he's convinced it would be better.

Fri March 5th: Ventured out with mum on our own. I was a very good boy and behaved myself in the car. We're becoming real adventurers now.

Weds March 3rd: Here's me on my new playmat: http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/ben5s.jpg

Tues March 2nd: I did a real burp - surprised myself and mum. Getting the nack now, but its still a bit of team work.

Sat Feb 28th: First real trip to Bluewater shopping. Boy I like my new seatunit and chassis (didn't they used to be called prams?) - it's really agile though not in the way you're thinking. I also had my first feed in the car today, which was kind of cozy. Mum bought me a green stripey number as a pressy for being so good :-) Dad bought a cake for himself ;-(

Fri Feb 27th: Dad says one of his favourite agile practices is UnitTesting, and that we should practice it at all times. So I thought I'd give mum and dad a continuous testing time last night, feeding every other hour. Hee hee.

Thurs Feb 26th: Dad keeps going on about a savings account for me, but I think I'm too young. He says it's like ContinuousIntegration if you start now you reap the rewards later.

Tue Feb 24th: Saw health visitor again. I'm nearly 2 oz heavier. My legs are even beginning to fit in my outfits.

Sun Feb 22nd: More visitors today. My aunt Dorothy and uncle Len, Ian and Stuart came this afternoon. How am I going to remember all these people!!

Sat Feb 21st: Another trip to Sidcup. Met my auntie Val, Bethany and Sophie. All they wanted to do was hold my hand. They bought me a nice soft rabbit, need to think of a name for him!!! how about Carrott or Sidcup.

Thurs Feb 19th: Fed myself so much today. Just ate and ate, a real binge. Scoff scoff.

Tues Feb 17th: The Health Visitor came today. She upset my mum, as I need to put a little weight on.

Mon Feb 16th: Feeling quite agile today - did my first XP "story card" with help from dad. Must get dad to put pictures here soon. I am now officially a real person, mum and dad registered me at the Registry Office today (I can now officially pay tax!!!).

Sun Feb 16th: Cried for guests. Mum and dad were getting worried that whenever we had visitors, I was an angel.

Sat Feb 14th: Valentine's day. Gave my mum a big kiss.

Fri Feb 13th: ... unlucky to write anything today.

Thurs Feb 12th: My first trip to Bluwater! Not very interesting for me, I just stayed with dad in the car. Slept through most of it, I hope I don't have to navigate next time. Also saw my nan - I quite like her, she gave me a big cuddle.

Weds Feb 11th: Got hiccoughs again today. Every one gives me such a surprise!

Tues Feb 10th: Had my heal-prick test, didn't hurt a bit. Also, my plastic cord clip was removed. It was so smelly, dad kept thinking it was my nappy. The midwife has let us off daily visits for 3 days - next on Saturday, because I've been doing so well.

Mon Feb 9th: My first real poo. Not a real stinker, but I was pleased.

Sat Feb 7th: My first all-night sleep, mum and dad very pleased with me. I slept 11:30 to 6:30.

Thurs Feb 5th: I'm a bit jaundiced, but that's quite normal. I've got to feed a lot, yum yum, and it will go.

Weds Feb 4th: After a really good feed, I get so sleepy. Mum thinks I do an ET impression coz my forehead creases. I just do it to amuse her really.

Tues Feb 3rd, 08:54: I was born 6 lb 2 oz. Mum and Dad called me Benjamin Alexender, though considered the name Kent for a while.

Tues Feb 3rd, approx 05:30: The midwives in the delivery room remarked on how agile mum is, and I'm sure this reflects on me.

Tues Feb 3rd, 00:15: Mum and I started labour with some contractions. It was my due date, and I thought it best not to be too late - mum's a stickler for being on time.

More recent shots: http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/ben6.jpg http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/ben7.jpg http://www.zen16160.zen.co.uk/images/ben/ben8.jpg