James the Plumber?

Couldn't resist posting this video of James doing what he likes best! This has become his favourite game outside... Enjoy :)

That thing called 'Walking'

So as you'd know, James started walking on Friday the 1st of May, when he was exactly 13 months old. And it was in the loungeroom at home with both Matt and I so he knows how to keep us both happy!!
Initially he walked when all things were perfect. That is, when he was already standing, when there was nothing in the way, and when the distance wasn't too great.
But within a week he was choosing to walk instead of crawl at most times, standing up when he fell and generally feeling pretty chuffed with himself!
Here's a video of the little man mastering his walking. The first half is when he'd been walking for about a week (I only just realised how both boys are dressed!!!) and the second half was taken after about 2 weeks. It's amazing how quickly he's become competent and balanced, and actually breaks into a run at times!

Mum's Day Weekend (yeah right!) and Toddler James...

Off to Cootamundra for Mother's Day Weekend... We had to be there Friday night so that Matt could set off dirt bike riding all day Saturday with Mike! They were off to bed very excited Friday night (Matt laid his clothes out right across the living room and packed and repacked his bag about 4 times!!!!!), and up bright and early Saturday to set sail for Wee Jasper National Park. The weekend is run by a group called Dirt Bike Crusades, a group of blokes who have dirt bikes and religion in common. Not the mix you'd usually expect is it????

While they were off riding through the park, Kez, Ella, Jack, Lily, James and I had a great day in the glorious Coota weather. We walked into town, did a spot of shopping, had a little treat from the bakery (YUM!) and then set off home again for the afternoon.

Jack had a friend's birthday party to go to so Kez took him off for some quality Mum-Son time. And while James had his afternoon sleep, I helped Ella make some 'metals' (sic) for the members of her basketball team as she was proud they had made the semi-finals. Ella also made some for Jack and Lily to make them feel special too! Lily pottered around doing her own thing while I was knee deep in purple and white cardboard and curling ribbon! Then James-o woke up and it was game on - flat out playing for the next couple of hours!!!!

What's Ella about to do here????

Ella had Lily and James' full attention...

James was/is besotted with his cousins [although perhaps a little too much as he got a bit close to Lily's chin with his teeth kisses :( ]

"I need a rest! Playing with these girls is HARD work!!!!"

"Oh alright, I'll keep playing..."

Our tired and weary men arrived home about 10:30 Saturday night, buzzing from the 'best day ever!' Mike said, "Just between us, I reckon I was a better rider than Matt" but I told him I'd keep that one quiet... Wouldn't want Matt to have any motivation to keep riding to improve and beat him...

Sunday morning arrived - Mother's Day - and saw Kerrie and I treated to a sleep in, and then pancakes baked and delivered to us...

I received a delightful massage voucher from James (he told Matt to pick it up from that place on the way to childcare) and will look forward to the 30 minutes of peace when I get around to using it...

Then it was Auskick time! Ella & Jack were very excited about showing their footy playing Uncle Matt their skills...

Here's Jack punching the footy and Ella closest to the camera just after her turn...

Ella punching...

Jack with a ripper of a drop-punt!

And then Ella with a text-book kick follow through... Matt and I were really impressed with the Auskick program. We've never really heard of what was involved in the weekly sessions but it was great to see kids learning splinter skills and then finishing with an all in game of footy!

Then back home for a lovely barbeque in the backyard, spoilt by another glorious Coota day...

The kids played beautifully together (Lily just kept a cautious eye on that carnivorous cousin of hers...)

We set off for home after lunch, James and I sleeping the first hour until a very weary Matt woke me, telling me he was almost asleep behind the wheel and needed some conversation to stay awake... So to top my Mother's Day weekend off, I drove the rest of the way home while Matt slept!

While I get myself organised to upload a video of the Toddling Tot, Here's a pic of him the other morning... I couldn't resist it... legs hanging out of his jumpsuit cos he won't lie still after changing his nappy, dressing gown on, and Bob the builder dozer from the Carmichaels in hand... Stayed tuned for the vid...

Stumbling block... (& Kate!)

Our desktop PC has decided to take a break... We're still in the process of trying to get a diagnosis ;-) but in the meantime it takes tooooooo much patience to blog from the laptop so you'll just have to wait!!!!

When we're back up and running I'll post some pics of our weekend in Cootamundra for Fathers Day (yes, I know! but more about that later...) and I'll put up a video of our competent little walker! He's now standing up on his own from the ground and is preferring to walk rather than crawl. YAY! Just in time for soggy winter footy grounds!

Kate's having a ball in South America. Check it out on www.theadventuresofbralsh.blogspot.com

She promises she'll be good at updating while she travels about.

And Ange, tell your sister in law that the blog2print site is brilliant and we've got our 144 page hardcover blog book (our first year) on it's way for $75. Money well spent I think!

A little catching up to do...

I've found a few pics that were intended for the blog but somehow, never made it over the past month... No excuse except I'm back at work and a little busy. Will that do?

James loves his swing and spent hours out there over Easter being pushed by Jacqui...

James made his first Easter basket at Bumble Bees. But still hasn't tasted chocolate... Next Easter...

The obligatory family portrait (sans Matt though. I'm intending to photo shop him into the gap between Jacqui and I... Will post it if I'm successful!)

Playing with the carpenter (Grandpa Leon) in his new toy box. It's a hit with both bub and Mum! It holds soooooo many toys and it's out of sight/out of mind for me... Thanks Dad!

And having a snuggle with Katie (and Ronnie)...


He loves his new bike and knows how to work the phone...


And how to work his hands/mouth/food (and the camera!!!!) I think he likes my cooking!


Quiet book time with Matty. Note the healing nose...


And some quick snaps Tuesday morning before the...

HAIRCUT!!!!!!!

He was very relaxed as Cheryl combed his fringe to cut it.

And then looked at Soph as she took some snaps...

Sitting up like a good boy for Cheryl to check it over...

And a happy photo with Cheryl after the trim!

Nothing to blog...

Hi... Long time no blog!
And the only reason I've got is that we've had nothing to blog... Nothing exciting anyway...
So if you need an insomnia cure read on... Here's the mundane detail of our lives!

1. James has asthma. Bugger!
We've been treating a childcare cold/chest infection for the last 5 weeks. The poor little man seemed to get a little bit better by the end of the week at home with me only to crash again when he returned to childcare. Even the break with Kate, Nanna & Grandpa didn't make him any better. So, lo and behold, after yet another dose of antibiotics, the doctor decided he has asthma. We've started him with a ventolin puffer and his little spacer today. I guess his ear-piercing screams that accompany the process help a little... he has to fill his lungs again after each one.

2. Matt is off to see an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist on Monday.
After having a CT scan on Monday (after playing footy again on Sunday!!!) Matt has just received his report from the doctor.
The report is as follows...
Fractured and depressed left tip of the nasal bone continuing across the midline in a sagittal plane with a resultant slight step deformity along the fracture line. Also, a short fracture of the anterosuperior portion of the nasal septum.
He's got an appointment with an ENT specialist on Monday to talk about management of the injury. We'll see how it goes...

3. Jane has studied and is studying...
I've recently been trained as a facilitator for a new initiative for children and families in the early days of Autism... Appropriately, the program is called "Earlydays" and I'm trained to deliver the Early Days Workshops...

At the same time, I'm in the process of completing an online training course in a new treatment technique. It's based on play, and specifically, identifying what stage of emotional development the child is at and then playing with them at that level in order to help them grow and expand their learning. It's great and so inspiring, which is handy considering I have to stare at the computer screen for approximately 25 hours to complete the course.

4. James' walking!
Well this is exciting I guess. Tonight in the loungeroom, James took about 8 or 9 steps from me to Matt. He's been stuck on 4 steps for a while - taking the easy option of dropping to a crawl when something was too far away.
We'll post a vid of him when he's walking properly - we won't bore you with every step!

I'll endeavour to take a few pics over the weekend and blog something early next week... Promise...