Attack of the tickle monster

Just located, some very rare footage of the little known but much reviled 'tickle monster'. As you can see the footage is a little shaky, no doubt the camera(wo)man got a little concerned for their safety during the attack.

Winter sun

When we decided to make the move from the UK to Australia we often pointed to 'better weather' as one of the big temptations of the southern hemisphere. In my head I guess I'd always been thinking about summer. The English summer is anything but reliable and every time I'd come back home on holiday over the last 11 years, its usually been in February - universally agreed as the most rubbish month to be in the UK, and always guaranteed hot weather in Sydney. 

Over the past couple of weeks I've realised it's not summer that makes the real difference between Sydney and London it is actually winter. The last two weekends we've enjoyed crisp clear blue skies, warming sun and generally lovely outdoor, picnic, walk and ferry catching weather.  And it's the middle of winter!

In summer months we now have to worry about Alex's whiter than white delicate skin, while in winter the sun isn't so harsh and we can spend time outdoors without needing to wrap him up like the Michelin baby to protect him from the wet and windy European winter.

It's a win win for winter!

My future's so bright - I've got to wear Nanna's shades

A lil' bit country...

Alex in his suitable 'country' attire

This weekend Alex and family and a couple of friends left the big smoke behind and headed way out into the wilds of the Australian countryside. OK... slight exaggeration. We drove about 2 hours away and stayed a night in a nice country hotel in Bowral. Where we wondered around the shops, ate yummy food and generally lazed about before packing up the raft of baby related paraphernalia and heading home. But was nice to get away, if only for a night and show Alex and Nanna B that there is more to Australia than the Sydney they've seen so far.

little cat burglar

Kangaroo Valley - Mean nanna won't
let me crawl out onto the street

But I'm over it now

 

Hair harassed

what have you done to me?

Alex had a first visit to the hairdresser this afternoon. And to put it bluntly, it didn't go well. There were tears, there was yelling, there was a look of genuine dismay from the little man towards his encouraging but ultimately useless mother. There was super fast scissor work from the slightly frazzled hairdresser and there were blond curls everywhere!

And we got there - in about 6 1/2 minutes.

And once it was over we were all smiles again.

Alex is now transformed, sans long flowing locks and bouncy curls, into an entirely different baby. I barely recognise the little man whose emerged with the neat (ish) hairstyle and the less girly good looks.

He definitely looks older. Either that or he looks younger. Or it might be shorter and chubbier. One or the other or both.

And you... you're not helping!

All better 5 minutes later

Attack of the giant baby

Baby steps

For once the heading for today's blog entry isn't some kind of witty double entendre, clever analogy or play on worlds. I'm literally talking about my baby's steps. And he's taking more of them every day. In fact the video here is not that impressive but I've managed to not have my camera around every time he actually takes his multiple baby steps across the lounge.

I didn't think I was all that keen to see Alex walking. I know that once he walks it's just a matter of time before he's running and that's a whole new world of trouble. He took soooo long to finally start crawling that I decided not to stress about this particular milestone. And I haven't to be honest, I still enjoy watching his little toosh wiggle from side to side as he wonders off to explore the uncharted depths of bathroom or chase animals in a park and I figure he'll walk when he's good and ready.

Judging by the last couple of days he's getting close to ready and I''m very excited. He's just so proud of himself when he makes it from the chair to the coffee table or from his mum to his dad, he even gives himself a little clap to recognise the effort.

Sunday's effort -  we've been making progress by moving the coffee table further away...

and aren't we proud of ourselves!

You'll need to speak with my agent

This weekend had a touch of the celebrity lifestyle. Appropriately it was at the Sydney Opera House when our little man had his moment in the spotlight. It started with a gentle climb up the opera house steps - that's right ALL OF THEM. It didn't even take him very long, he was a baby on a mission.

Presumably they don't get so many little people crawling up the steps so he attracted a bit of attention. And when he made it to the wide expanse at the top of
the steps the world was his oyster and off he went crawling into the open, with no regard for the strangers gathered in groups in the sunshine.

Then he was spotted! A very excited Japanese tourist with a camera. A smile a flash and suddenly we were surrounded by about 7 of her girl friends all grinning, chirping and chattering with cameras whirring (do cameras still whir?) and flashing.

Well that was it, the bottom lip wobbled, the mouth opened and the crying started. So like a celebrity security guard I whipped up the star cargo into my arms and away from the paparazzi... and there ended our little mans moment in the limelight.


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