Around The World and Back Again...

Hello, everyone! I know it has been a long time since I did a blog. I have been very busy! At the end of May we went to the USA to visit family and friends over there. We first went to Kansas City, where we saw Nana, Great Grammy and Grandaddy, Grandpa and Amy, Sara and Laurel, our friends the Hendrixes and other friends too. We went shopping, all sorts of running around, swimming, played lots of games...and I talked Nana into turning Mickey Mouse on for me lots too! Dad had to go do some work in Denver and then in Baltimore, so Mum and I just hung out at Nana's and saw everyone in KC.

We flew to Texas and hung out with our friend Kim for the night, then went to Auntie Summer and Uncle Josh's house for the night before going to Lake Conroe for the week. Papa, Auntie Crystal, cousin Ariel, Josh, Summer and Whitney came with us. We had a great time! We swam in the lake and the pool, chased and fed the ducks, played on the playground and in the condo, went shopping and even went on a boat too!

We drove back up to Dallas and stayed with Grandma and Papa Steve for a few days. We played the piano, went to the mall and saw all sorts of things. We went to our friends Brian and Natalie's house for a few days too. I hear they are having a baby soon, but he wasn't out yet so I didn't get to play with him...bummer. But we played cards and watching a couple of DVDs, played in the sprinkler and even had a barbecue! Unfortunately we don't have any photos of Grandma and Steve's or Brian and Nat's because the camera was lost in a backpack in a closet and only retrieved the day that we left. =( We'll be better next time, promise!

We flew to Georgia and saw Great Grandma Moore, Uncle Marty and cousins Pierce and Troy...and don't forget the dog named Chuck. You could say 'POW' and he would fall over...funny dog! I like saying POW now! I looked at everything around Great Grandma's house, played with Marty, Pierce, Troy and Chuck. We went out to eat, I tried on Great Grandma's hats (see pics)and she rubbed my back lots too. That was nice!

After that we left Georgia and came back home to Alice Springs. It was such a great trip and I had a fabulous time with all my family and friends! Since we have been back, lots has happened. The Show (a carnival) came to town so we went and had a look around, jumped on the jumping castle and I even rode the train, though I wasn't sure I liked it until I was off. Other than that, we've been hanging around the house, seeing my little friends, blowing bubbles, playing the park, playing with food and play dough too and have even gone to several parties!

I am enjoying all my toys and seeing my little friends again. I am even learning to go to sleep in my own bed by myself (well, me and my bear). I'm really getting the hang of it! This weekend we have a surprise birthday party and a 'hens night' (friend Sara is getting married in a few weeks) to go to...party on. By far though, the biggest news to date is that I'm apparently going to be a big sister in February. I'm not quite sure what I think about that yet...but I'm sure I will let you know when I figure it out. =) For now, take a look at all the pics from the USA and since we've been back! Love you all!

...With an Ocean View

What do you get with a month and a vacation? LOTS to photos and videos. Well, 85 pictures and 15 videos to be exact! And in just a few days we leave to go to the USA to see our family and friends there!

Let's see...so much has happened lately! I have a new baby! Well...okay, 'Auntie Ruth' and 'Uncle Rodney' (here, little kids like me call really, really good friends 'Auntie' and 'Uncle') have a new baby, Rachel! Mum helped host their baby shower before we went on our vacation a few weeks ago. Dad and Rodney and I went and walked around town while they did...what do you do at a baby shower? Anyway, baby Rachel was born a few days after we got back to Alice Springs. We got to go see her in the hospital. I really like her! I think I will have to teach her lots of things.

Our vacation was so much fun! While we stayed with our friend Mark Hauser, we went to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo and saw lizards and tortoises and goats and pigs and koalas and crocodiles and kangaroo and birds and elephants and...well, you get the idea. We pet the pigs and the koala and the goats ate from my hand. It tickled a little bit but it was great! I was pretty tired after all of that so I took a nap while Dad and Mark went surfing.

The next day, we went and saw some more friends, Ariana and Xavier and their Mum and Dad, Lyndell and Jason. We had such great fun running around, playing in the tent and linen closet and generally getting into trouble! We had yummy dinner with our friends Matt and Mat, who live over on the coast and the next day we headed to Rainbow Beach. We got to play on the beach and it was GREAT! Mum and Dad thought we could just 'wade' because it was kind of cool outside, but I had other plans. In the end, I got pretty soaked...but that's what you're supposed to do at the beach, isn't it?! We walked up to a place called The Sand Blow. I was asleep on the way up, so I guess Mum and Dad carried me in the stroller up the steps, but then I woke up. The Sand Blow is a really HUGE sand pit! We have included video and pics of it.

After that, we went to Hervey Bay to look around and play on the beach some more before heading up to see 'Auntie Caren's' wedding. I made some new friends at the wedding and Caren looked so pretty. We came home and have just been hanging out, playing around the house and with friends. The other day there was a little party at a park nearby. We went and ran around, danced to 'If you're happy and you know it', met and pet two police horses, ate some cake and rolled around in the jumping castle. Well, technically it was a 'silly donkey'. And I say 'rolled around' because I just figured out how to stand up in the silly thing and it was time to get out. Next time, lemme at it!

'Auntie Carolyn' is going to watch me tonight so Mum and Dad can have a date and a very good sleep. I really like playing with Carolyn and she gives pretty good cuddles too. We leave for the USA in just 3 days. Mum says the plane ride will be VERY long, but no one will get bored- I will keep them entertained! So...I will see some of you soon and some of you not so soon. But lots of love to ALL of you! And don't forget to check out the pics! (same link as above)

New day...new word

Hello, all my friends out there in the world! Life here in Alice Springs is going pretty well!

Let's see...Swimming lessons just finished up a couple of weeks ago. It's getting too cool to swim anymore, but that's okay. I'm enjoying playing outside lots more since it isn't so hot all the time. And I get to swim in just a couple of months in the USA! Mum and Dad took down the pool in our yard this weekend. But they replaced the pool with a little cubbyhouse with a slide! I still REALLY like going to the park, but this slide is in my very own yard- how exciting!

I've decided that I really like climbing...anything. It's just plain fun. I think I kind of freaked Mum out when she came in the room and I was sitting up in my high chair, ready to eat. I climb up on all the chairs and can just make it up onto Mum and Dad's bed! But they are not too fond of my climbing on the coffee table. And when they found that I could climb up on the windowsill in my bedroom from the chair nearby, the chair was mysteriously relocated. Hmmm.

Our friends the Cooks moved a few weeks ago. We are all pretty bummed that they are gone but I hear that they like their new home. And we are going to go visit them sometime soon! I put a photo in the album of our last little play together ('the girls').

I have been enjoying Kindermusik a lot. When Mum tells me it's time to go to Kindermusik, I get pretty excited! It's fun to go dance and sing but it's kind of fun to watch Mum dance and sing too. She is silly sometimes!

A few weeks ago, Mum and Dad went to our friends' wedding. I stayed with our friends 'Auntie Ruth' and 'Uncle Rodney' for the night. It was the first time I have ever been away from Mum and Dad overnight but they took good care of me. We went for a swim and then I had a bath. We ate dinner and played before I went to bed. I only woke them up 3 times before getting up at 6.15am. =) I was just helping to prepare them for their new little baby, due in just a few weeks!

I went and had a check up Dr appointment a few weeks ago. I weigh 10 kilograms or about 22 pounds. I have just gotten a few new teeth so I have 12! They are a bit of a pain, but they sure help to chew up food. I have figured out how to blow my nose too. I think it's kind of fun to do it when there is no tissue there...and then to not blow when Mum does give me a tissue. I know how it all works...it's just a fun game!

The greatest development is all of my new words! Finally my tongue is catching up with my brain. Well, sort of. 'Dog' comes out a bit like 'duh'. 'Stuck' (a word I use at least 12 times a day) is 'stuh'. I know 'down'(dow) but haven't mastered 'up' yet. Then there are those pesky words that sound a bit the same: 'book'(buh), 'bird'(burh) and 'bye'(bah). I do come out with some pretty cool stuff sometimes. The other day Mum was asking me where I had put my drink bottle. I lifted my hands up and said 'duh nuh' (don't know). And today I was telling Mum that I wanted to watch Mickey Mouse and I said 'mih mow'. Still, my all time favorite word is 'no' and that's one I know how to say perfectly.

I have some videos to put online but those will have to wait for another day 'cause I need to hit the hay. Much love to you all! Check out my pics!

The 'Mother Load'

Hi there! For this blog I come to you from Alice Springs, with a variety of photos, 6 videos and many tales about my life. I hope you enjoy!

I think I am getting very big and figuring out lots of stuff. I know how to climb up on the couch by myself now, but sometimes I forget that I know how and have to ask Mum or Dad for help...by crying. Don't worry, I'll work on that. I have been exploring my nose a bit lately. Did you know that there are 2 HUGE caverns hidden behind the outside of your nose?! Speaking of noses, I really like giving 'eskimo' kisses. Regular kisses are still good though too.

In the morning, Mum makes me some oatmeal for breakfast. I blow on it when it's too hot so it will cool down faster. Sometimes, I like eating imaginary food. I take an imaginary cracker from Mum's hand and put it in my mouth- yummy (a fav new word). Then I will give Mum something imaginary to eat too. Yesterday, I got a little baby doll from the store. I like to carry him around with me and cuddle him and practice wrestling moves on him too.

I have finally come to terms with my addiction...for toilet paper. It started out innocently when I discovered that I liked to weight lift with a big 18 pack. It has progressed to ducking into the cabinet when Mum doesn't know I'm there and dragging out a package to take with me. But the other day was truly the worst- I had a total melt down in the middle of the supermarket when I saw a big display of squishy, yummy, soft toilet paper and Mum wouldn't give me just one package. She said we had enough at home. I have called 1-800-ilove-tp and the good folks there are helping me out.

You all know that I'm a BIG fan of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We had a tragedy the other day- our DVD player bit the dust. While we were getting it fixed, there was no Mickey to be had in this house- very dark days. But something good did come out of it- I started learning French. One day, Mum found some Mickey Mouse clips on youtube and put them on for me, but didn't realise they were in French instead of English. I didn't mind though. It did sound a bit strange but it still made me laugh AND it gives me a head start on my foreign language!

We have been getting out and about a lot. Swimming and playing in the park are two very fun things to do. I have just discovered the slide and I am a huge fan. In fact, Mum checked one out from the Toy Library (like a book library, except with toys) for me to play with for a couple of weeks. I have included video of my sliding adventures. We got a little bike seat for me to go riding with Mum. I am not too big a fan of the helmet, but I will put up with it 'cause riding is pretty nifty. I have also started going once a week to Kindermusik- a fun program with music and dancing and instruments and books and all sorts of fun stuff to do and play with. It only lasts for 45 minutes but I'm usually ready for my nap after that!

Speaking of naps, I had better go now. Enjoy the photos and videos, specially edited just for you! See ya!

Installment #2...finally

Well, it's here, folks! Installment #2 has arrived. Hopefully after all this time, you're not expecting something super duper exciting...but more photos and a video of me might be exciting, huh? =) By the way, my new favorite word is 'no'...as in 'no, I don't want more to eat'... or 'no!'(with head nodding), 'cause imitating Mum is ornery...or 'no, no, no, no, no, no...', 'cause it's a fun word to say! Well, I'm off to my next adventure! See my pics here

Installment #1

Hey, everyone! We have been busy lately and taking lots of pics so we are doing 2 installments in the next few days. Hopefully the next installment will have a video in it too! I have been learning so much. I have figured out that if I use my little couch for a boost, I can climb up onto the big couch. But don't you worry, I know how to climb down too (most of the time).

My hair is getting so long, it's starting to do crazy things(see pics). I have discovered that in addition to playing in my pool, playing in the sprinkler while Mum does work outside is pretty fun too...and I'm free to roam around. Woohoo! I have decided that I should throw Dad a bone...so I've started saying Dada all the time now. Even tried on 'DaddY' for size the other day...they thought that was pretty cool (they're easy to impress)! Last weekend, we went swimming with the Cooks and I jumped on a little in-ground trampoline they have at the pool. Mum and Dad forgot to bring the camera so we don't have any photos of that but it was pretty fun! I have started playing basketball- I have a suction hoop in the bathtub and a little shopping cart filled with balls in my play area. When I make a basket, I say 'yay'!

Last week we went to Sammy's pizza place for the first time. Rodney and Ruth took us and the Cooks there for our Christmas present and it was soooooo fun. Mikayla, Tani and Lisa and I played on the little gym. I learned how to climb up the little ramp and tried going up the slide a few times too, but that didn't work very well. Once I am a little bigger, I should be able to get into everything! We will definitely have to go there again soon.

Well, I'm going to skedaddle. Nathalie is coming over soon to play with me while Mum and Dad go on a date! Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of ME! Check out some pics here

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Happy New Year

Well, I know it has been quite some time since I filled you in on the goings on here in Alice! We finally celebrated my birthday after I got to feeling better. Mum, Dad and Nana sang Happy Birthday to me and then helped me blow out the candle...okay they kind of blew it out for me, but next year, I'm all over it.

It was good to have Nana here to play with me for a few weeks! She wound up getting sick too but she still gave me horsey rides on her leg and took me outside to look at trees and birds and grass. One day we got a delivery in this big box and Nana carved out little doors and windows and even a skylight...it was the perfect place to play 'boo'!

One day we went to Desert Park, just a few minutes from our place. It has all sorts of birds and trees and lizards. We even saw a few Kangaroo! I really wanted to go give him a hug 'cause he looked very fuzzy, but Mum made me stay with her.

The night before Christmas Dad read 'An Aussie Night Before Christmas'. It begins 'Twas the night before Christmas; there wasn't a sound. Not a possum was stirring; no-one was around...' and ends 'Merry Christmas to all, and goodonya, mates!' Funny but I thought it was fun enough just climbing all over Dad while he was trying to read.

Christmas morning we got up and went to church. I was pretty tired by the time it was all over- I even fell asleep in the car on the way home. But after a little nap I perked up and opened lots of presents and ate some yummy turkey and sweet potatoes and veggies. Nana had to leave the day after Christmas and that was sad to say goodbye. I'm already looking forward to seeing her and all my other fans...I mean family...later this year.

Since then I am enjoying playing in my new pool, playing with toys, playing with friends, rearranging my dresser drawers and the rest of the house, dancing and singing, going outside, RUNNING around, being tickled, giving kisses and smiles, making a mess eating and all sorts of other fun stuff.

I might even be getting the hang of this sleeping thing...but I won't tell Mum and Dad just yet. I have worked out that if I stand just under the pantry cupboard and point up and yell long enough, Mum will give me a cracker. Tonight Dad was putting some things in the fridge and when he wasn't looking, I swiped a tomato and started chowing down. I like to call it 'The Great Tomato Heist of 2008'...catchy, huh? It's crazy that it's 2008. I was born in 2006. That makes me...a big girl now!

Got to hit the hay but 'til next time, check out my pics here!