DS#1 is 'developing'.

[OrmIrian]

I was chatting to him when he was in the bath last night. When he got out I noticed that he has got a few pubic hairs. Now I know it's inevitable and to be expected and natural blah blah, but I confess to feeling a bit freaked by this! In a way I'm not by the signs that DD is approaching puberty. We are very open with regard to sex and puberty so my response confuses me a bit.

I will deal with my feelings and give myself a metaphorical slap and all will be well. But did anyone else find it a bit odd to start with?

I was sort of expecting a voice change first or something of that sort.

Oh Orm, same here.
Ds is only 9.9 but tall and solid. I noticed the other day a few downy but slightly darker hairs - thinking they are the pre-runners to pubic hair.
I freaked, but everyone I have mentioned it to say it is normal.
(poor ds having his fledgeling gender dicussed with all and sundry )
From what I have read (and I have read loads over the past month - obsessed, moi?), the first change is pubic hairs, and elargement of testicles and further bodily changes - growthspurt, underarm hairs, body odour etc.
Voice change apparently is the last stage (or one of the last stages)
But I am freaking. sob. My baby!

I noted your post the other day about your worries about ds's weight. (no, not mad stalker honest ) This could be connected. My ds always looks pudgy just before a growthspurt, then he shoots up and looks in proportion again. This could explain your ds's weight - he is entering puberty and getting reserves in for a massive hormone driven growth spurt.

But I feel odd. He is my eldest and so much still a baby really (well to me anyway) Sob.

Same her hippo. He still seems very young to me. But you may be right about the weight gain Don't worry about the 'stalking' I appreciate the suggestion. Normally an addition of pudginess is closely followed by a suddent spurt upwards - but this time it's been going on for ages, so it might well be puberty as well as the usual sort of growth.

OMH at body odour! His feet already stink. I think I'll forgo the testicle inspection

Same here, ds's testicles are his and his alone, and not something I would like to look at too closely
We have luckily not encountered any smellyness yet. [phew]