About The Boy

Hello Friends and Family,

Just a quick post to tell yah what is going on in Kid Central, New South Wales.

So this one is all about the Baby Boy aka Huckleberry on this blog.

He is so big and strong. Somehow he has 8 teeth and it may explain all these cold symptoms and this night time waking up...ahh! seems like he was getting to one nap a day, but with the nighttime wake ups, not so much.

He loves food, loves to eat and you dare not eat in front of him. He screams for you to share! Basically, eating real fruit, Cheerios and other things like that. I was grateful to get some Puffs and Yogurt things from GiGi as we haven't found anything like those things here. He is starting to use o's only as mini-frisbees now. He has loved the American baby snacks. Puffs are gone. Yogurt melts close to gone. They have teething rusks here which are kind of nasty and these yummy teething biscuits by Heinz, I believe. But nothing finger-foodish. As much as he likes to eat and knows I am going to feed him once he is in his high chair, he will not willingly go into it, does the full blown, buckaroo unless food is already presented on his tray. So, snackies first and then real food of some sort and then some baby food is how we are doing it for now. He has had some chicken and baby yoghurt. The boy loves a popsicle,too and the scream is extra special for that. He recognizes the packaging and goes nuts. We remember being worried about giving Muffin such stuff too soon. Huckleberry has to have it though to have silence in the house. Since starting this post he has tried: scrambled eggs, bacon (remember their bacon is like ham),and some tastes of his sister's grilled cheese which were all quite enjoyed. He also loves to have a cup to drink from, sling across the kitchen, poor water everywhere on his tray to splash in...

Bath time is new fun. Loves it. I think he has said "duck" as they are his favorite toy to play with while being bathed. He has bent over to drink the soapy water...that was so funny and unexpected for me. If "Duck" is really his word, followed by DaDa and MaMa he is following Muffins lead...this was her word,too. He likes to kick and splash and his beautiful bodaciousness. It is just so fun to watch in the evening. Though, I sink wash him after every meal now. He has not been in the pool yet. It is cold (the water, not Australia)and we have not had many swimming days when the pool and weather were cooperating. On beautiful days like today, I can't take two kids in the pool by myself and hate that the construction is never ending next door so even if I could do it, I'd hate to have roofers and carpenters as my audience.

By the way, he only says "Mamamamamama" when whining in his crib. Dadadadada is like part of constant cheerful chatter.

Sweet boy is pulling up on stuff and pulling out bins to the toy shelves. He loves standing at the activity table (with a little support on those fat wobbly legs), adores balls, has quite the arm and puts everything in his mouth.

He hasn't figured out how to pull up in his big green crib, though he is trying despite many head bumps. The Ikea one was set perfectly for him to reach the top and grab hold...we could have lowered it, but the ship stuff arrived and it wasn't necessary.

His monkey mobile died (it was Muffin's,too) He truly loved it and I think the reason he started to pull up in the crib was to grab those monkeys. The Man is going to see if he can fix it. I thought I might check to see if the same one is still available in the US or if they have it here in Aus.

The rocking pony Auntie Jan and family gave Vivi for her second birthday is H-berry's favorite thing. He adores it. Tries to climb it, back flips in my arms to reach it when it was in his room. I had to remove it. He knows that it is a push of the ear to get it talking and when it stops reaches to try to do it himself. Of course, he can not support himself on it yet, so I sit beside him and rock the thing and hang onto him. Loves all the ride-on toys to include the little red car and his firetruck, but will happily go for a spin on the little motorcycle or sister's tricycle.

When H-berry is in the exersaucer type things...yes, we have two...one bought here while we waited for our stuff and the other brought on the ship...he is a maniac...hopping and spinning. Worth checking to see the weight requirements for the hopping things and maybe we could switch one of these out.

The little guy needs clothes and I may even make it out today to see what we can find. I am
I looked at a picture taken of him swinging in a one piece jumper type thing and he looks like a sausage coming out of its casing. Poor dear. But summer is supposed to be over here, and I am not buying summer things. He has some very casual play clothes bought on the Target and JCPenney clearance racks than can get him thru until he needs the warmer things.

H-berry loves to crawl around and carry something with him. He bops along to music and is generally easy going and happy. Oh and he likes to play with cars when he is in his high chair and already makes grooming noises...which, I swear, must just be instinctual.

His legs seem to be shaped like his Pop Pops. I see it. The Man does not. Show and Tell on FaceTime was given and GiGi says she sees it,too. Yes, I see a certain shape about them knees on down like his Pop Pop.

He is just the sweetest lug of love. As his big sister likes to say to him, "You're so gorgeous!" I think she must have that phrase in her head from her Auntie Cathy directing it at her...she is the only other person I can picture saying it just so...but when she says it, it is so cute.

He is gorgeous, indeed.


Stay tuned for the big sister update!

Car Seats and Choc-o-late!

Yesterday, a car seat (capsule, here in Aus.) installation company came to the house to install seats properly for Aussie standards in our new car. The Man wasn't comfortable with the tightness of the seats on his install and they do not have the same LATCH system we have. Ummm...they don't have it at all and we aren't used to that. Nor do the seats come with the center clip on the seat belts. (Yes, they have "for hire" services to do this all over, some set up a couple days a week at the hospital parking lot, the baby supply stores, etc. yeah, $120 later, I really appreciate more stopping in to local fire departments in Richmond, VA for free car seat checks!) Oh, and this is our second paid installation as when we purchased the seat it was in our temporary car and then we thought it was law to have it done and get your little installation certificate for the glove box...

So, Christian, cute young guy still driving on a new license indicated by the "P" sticker on his car...does his thing, shows me some tricks I didn't already know and spent the time to measure the kids in the seats for proper seat belt shoulder strap adjustment. We could have had Huckleberry Boy forward facing because by Aussie age and weight requirements(How many kilo's is he? Me, I don't know...)but have chosen to keep him rear facing until one year. American style.

He comes inside to fill out paperwork and call in my debit card which they call "savings" here.I am used to debiting from my checking, and I can't even explain why it is like this here. I can't remember, don't care. I just tell them savings and put in my pin. Christian asks if he can wash his hands. I point out the loo.

Cute Christian leaves, I go into the bathroom and immediately notice that there is "brown stuff" all over the edge of the sink, the cold water handle, and the white hand towel. I run for the front door so I can explain....but he is gone and I am...MORTIFIED and AMUSED. It is funny.

"Lucy, you have some explaining to do!" Miss Muffin has been using her clothes and not her napkin a lot lately and I have been on her case reminding her to use her napkin, wash her hands, etc. That morning she had a new "Big Tedz" cookie that is half dipped in chocolate. I had the New Aussie bosses wife here for a sympathy visit right up until the time Car Seat Installer came and Viv had eaten it and gone to wash her hands. I thought nothing of this, I was just glad she did it.

I then decide to call the company, speak to the same receptionist I spoke to when I arranged service. I said, "You have to call Christian and tell him..." She was cracking up.

There you have it. Just another day in the life of an American mom in Australia.

Cheers!

Val

P.S. The sun is out for a visit. :) and we have a visitor from Richmond, Virginia, Cougar Hockey Team Member and FBI Agent coming to see us this weekend. So excited to fraternize with someone from home!!

SO WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO AUSTRALIA? Some little things to keep you on the in:( Bear with me if I am repeating)

"Give Way" means YIELD. It drives me crazy for some reason since one word word does it so efficiently.

We went to a mall on a late Saturday afternoon and all of the stores were closing. It was approx. 5:00. Put a real damper on my imagined shopping spree. Call ahead for store hours.

Car dealerships are open M-F to about 5,too. Head on over Car Salesman, this is the life. Plenty of time to surf, bush walk, not work or sell cars:) Balance.