THANK YOU FOR WAITING

Hello again. Thought I had better update the page since I seem to be getting a little slack in my old age. There's just so many more committments as a 4-month-old... Kind of makes me feel a little tired...


So what have I been up to? Picnics, lunches, visiting, shopping - like I said, it's very hard being a baby! Mum and I had our most recent visit to the child health nurse yesterday. I now weigh 9kg and am 70cm tall (I wonder what age I'll stop telling people how much I weigh??) That makes me the size of your average 9 - 10 month old, so yes, I am still well and truly in the biggest 1% of Australian babies. The nurse also says my bottom teeth aren't far off coming in - perhaps that's why I've been such a grumpy bum lately. I have no problem reaching for and grabbing things with both hands and am a pro at rolling from my tummy to back. I am also starting to roll from my back to front and am doing some weird kind of spin on my tummy that is apparently the start of crawling. I talk all the time and have learned how to squeal, much to Mum and Dad's delight.


So things with me are excellent - I am even settling in to a bit of a routine (don't worry, Mum is completely prepared for the fact that this is likely to change at the drop of a hat). Mum has plans to start me on solid food soon so stay tuned for the upcoming post with pictures of me hiding under piles of baby rice and other assorted mush!

I'll leave you all with the first inappropriate beer bottle photo my folks took - I can't believe they lasted 'til I was 4 months for this one, but gee I look cute!

Love and kisses (more like licks really, but that doesn't sound as good),

Hannah.

WATER BABY

It's official - I am becoming a water baby! After seeing how much I love my bath time (I am quickly learning that if I kick hard enough, I can almost completely cover Daddy in water), Mum thought it was time to go for a paddle in a slightly larger body of water. After the recent disaster that was 'swimming at the beach', Mum decided on the delightful backyard pool of Alene and Guy (Nana and Grandad's good friends) heated to a very bearable 32 degrees.

While I wasn't so sure about it at first, I realised that Mum wasn't executing a devilish plan to dispose of me and reap the resulting full night's sleep (I just say that as she may have mentioned it once or twice...). Mum had surprisingly safe hands and I wasn't dunked at all, not even once! I didn't really like the floaty chair thing that she brought along but I think with a bit of practise I might enjoy that a little more.

So a big thanks to Alene and Guy for letting me come over and invade their yard - it was great!

Hannah

BACK TO THE BEACH HOUSE

After some careful consideration and another visit to the beach house, I have decided that I could get used to that kind of lifestyle! Sitting outside watching the boats come and go, the trees blowing in the breeze, watching Mum and Dad sip their wine while reading the paper and magazines - tough, but someone has to do it and I might just be that person.

We visited the beach house this time to catch up with Uncle Paul and Aunty Zoe. They were great, although just a little reluctant to hold me - give it time, I'll wear them down! Uncle Paul was teaching Mum how to use some of the special functions on her new camera, hence this rather interesting snap!


We spent a good part of the day at Occy's Brewery - a new, little boutique brewery near Newtown House and the Abbey shops. It was a very relaxing afternoon and I only lost it just a little bit as I started to feel a little overtired - nothing a ride in the pram over gravel couldn't fix.


Thanks for the weekend Uncle Paul and Aunty Zoe - I look forward to the big cuddles next time we see you!

Hannah

2007 KICKS OFF

Hello again. It's been a pretty busy start to 2007 so I thought it was time for another posting.

I've finally passed the magical 3 month mark. I can hold my own head up no worries now and can't get enough of standing up (with a little bit of help of course). So Mum and Dad thought it was time to try out my Jolly Jumper and I'm glad they did - how much fun is that! Bouncing around on my own is excellent and I have to send a big thanks to Megs, Marty and Sophie who bought it for my bubby present.

I have also moved into my own special bath. I just didn't fit it the laundry trough anymore - too many times I tried to push off one end and bashed my head on the other end. This bath is great, I'm much more independent and can splash around much more. Dad pretty much ends up mopping the laundry floor every night, but geez it's fun!

Speaking of how big I am getting now, we just had our latest visit to the Health Nurse. I weigh almost 8kg and am 67cm tall - she says that puts me in the top 1% for size and that I'm the size of an average 7 month old. But what did we expect really when you take a look at my mum and dad.

In more exciting news, my cousin Hemi visited from Melbourne so Mum and Dad had a big rellie bash at our place. You can see me with my Great Uncle Kim in one of the photos and also having cuddles with Grandad on the same day. I am beginning to understand that I have a very big family - they freak my out a bit, but I am starting to get used to it!

And last week I rolled from my tummy to my back all on my own for the very first time. Mum carried on like a right dork and proceeded to tear up and call everyone she knows. I haven't really had another shot at it - I think Daddy is starting to think that Mum made it up, but I'll get there again soon. These things take time you know!

On the weekend we had Bec and Av's wedding. It was absolutely beautiful - I even wore a dress!

But I've rabitted on enough for today - anyone would think it was my Mum writing the way it goes on and on and on...

Love,
Hannah

NEW YEARS AT THE BEACH

Hello again. Mum, Dad and I just spent the weekend down in Busselton to celebrate my first New Year's Eve. Well, I kind of slept through it but I'm pretty sure they celebrated for me! Aunty Mel and Uncle Jamie came down too and I got to meet some new friends who are visiting WA all the way from Sweden. Henrik, Ida and Mathias were all very lovely and I think I might have to visit them soon in Sweden and in Beijing (where Mat is living at the moment).

This wasn't my first trip to the beach house, but it was my first time in the water. First I dangled my feet and then later in the afternoon I went for a real swim and man did I hate it! The water was so cold! I cried and cried and cried and finally Mum gave up and let Daddy take me back to the house. She wouldn't let me post any of those pictures - she said 'no one needs to see that'. I'm not really sure if she was talking about my screwed up crying face or her in bathers. But I did enjoy a nice warm bath after that! And then I got to have big cuddles with Jamie - he is pretty good at this parenting stuff especially for a beginner!

On New Year's Day we went for a drive to Canal Rocks. That was cool! I can't wait to go back again soon.

Time to go, will post again soon. The animals who ride my new train need me.

Hannah

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS

Well, that's it - my very first Christmas and man am I exhausted!

I started the day with a big kiss for Daddy as he headed off to work. Yes, he had to go into work after the big power failure on Tuesday. But he was home by 10am and then we got to open some pressies (just as well since I had to listen to Mum whinge all morning until Dad got back!) I got a beautiful quilted Santa Sack from my Gran and Pop - just as well since it was full by the end of the day!
After Mum, Dad, Johnno and I had our own little party at home, we headed up to Perth for lunch at Great Nana and Great Grandad's. I wish someone had warned me about the chaos that followed! So many people, so many presents and I was totally spoilt. I was so overwhelmed that Mum and Dad had to take me for a drive to calm me down a bit (I think it was more the sore tummy than anything else). After a nice sleep and good feed, I gave everyone big smiles while they ate their Christmas lunch. They were all wearing very suss paper crowns - I wonder if they know what they look like...

Then we headed back to our place and the Walker family came over for a yummy dinner of prawns and salads (I know it was yummy as it filtered through to me this morning together with just a little bit of white wine). Again I was spoilt and Mum finally let me open my big pressies from Santa - I love the Animal Train and am very relieved Daddy and Uncle Dean figured out how to make it drive and play more than just the demo song - that would grow tired very quickly I imagine.

I'm so happy I got to spend the day with all my wonderful family and send big hugs, kisses and just a little bit of drool for all the excellent presents. I can't wait 'til next year when I will be up and about - I'll have to be extra good this year so Santa comes again in 2007. Hmm, 2007. I have big plans for the new year, I'll let you know.....

Love and Christmas cuddles,

Hannah

JUST BEING CUTE

This is the monkey that Bec and Andrew sent from Melbourne. Johnno is eying it off, but I love him even more than he does! Thanks Bec.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Hello again. You'll be pleased to know that my mum has finally started to slow down on the photos - although she has just got the hang of her new camera... So I'm now 11 weeks old and hanging out 'til my first Christmas. We have a very busy day planned, but I think I'm up for it. I have a sneaky suspicion that Mum and Dad may have gone a bit overboard with the pressies given that I can't do much yet, but we'll wait and see. All our mates have spoiled me already and I have some wicked new outfits and cool toys for the bath.

We had our latest clinic visit this week and it turns out that I now weigh just under 7kgs and I am 63cm long. This means that my rate of growth has slowed a little, but I am still right off the top of the average graph - way above the 97th percentile! I guess it was always going to happen when you look at my mum and dad. I am starting to gain control of my arms and hands and have started reaching out for things I want - toys, food, expensive jewellery. I am very close to rolling over (according to the clinic sister) and it looks like my teeth are on the move.
Mum also got really excited this week because she got to collect the professional pictures we had taken at 4 weeks from the framers. The picture below shows the montage that's now up in the dining room (she assures me it isn't overkill, but I'm not so sure...)
Anyway, must go and watch day five of the third test - I am tipping the Aussies to win The Ashes this afternoon and Clark to take most of the remaining wickets. Go Aussies!

Hannah

MORE OF MY FRIENDS

Just a quick one to fire through some pictures of me with some more of my friends. I am so popular... The first one is of me with Maddison and the second is of me with Dylan (he's 3 weeks old and still smaller than I was when I was born 2 weeks early!)

Hannah

AT 9 WEEKS

Hello again. I know I have left it a while between posts this time, but I have been very busy growing... and growing and growing! That as well as shopping and visiting - it's very hard work being a baby!

Anyway, I am now up to 6.8kg - yes, that means I am putting on a kilo a month. I haven't been measured in the length department yet, but I'll let you know after my next visit to the child health nurse. I am really starting to hold my own head up well and am even pushing up with my arms when lying on my tummy. Won't be long now until Mum won't be able to leave me in random places like the lounge, or bed, or change table or I'll roll right off in an attempt to escape these crazy parents of mine.

The pictures I've included in this post are of my Nana and my Great Nana. I love them both very much and always love their visits (and it gives me a break from Mum!).

Time to go and look cute and drool a little more - I told you it was hard work being a baby!

Hannah

MY FRIEND SOPHIE

Yesterday, Mum and I went to Aunty Stacey's house for morning tea. Aunty Megan and my new friend Sophie came too. (Again, I realise these women aren't my real Aunties...)

Sophie is very clever - she can crawl, eats solid stuff and can even pull herself up to stand. I hope I am that good one day! We had a great play while the older chicks talked and talked and talked. They didn't seem to be at all bored without their husbands there...

Anyway, I can't wait to see Sophie again. I'm sure it won't be long until we are getting up to all kinds of mischief together. I have some plans involving Dad's home entertainment equipment, but don't tell him.

Hannah

THE MAGIC CHAIR

I have a little advice for all of you playing at home. It's for those of you who have a little baby, are expecting a little baby or for those who think there is even a remote possibility that you may one day have a baby.

Now I'm a pretty mellow kid as far as most things go, but I occasionally like to test my mum and dad by chucking a bit of a wobbly or by staying awake until I am so ridiculously tired that I can't sleep (I know, too tired to sleep? Sounds crazy but I know you know what I mean). The only problem is that they have discovered a secret weapon in this battle - the Magic Chair.

The Magic Chair was a present from Aunty Mel and Uncle Jamie (I know they aren't my real Aunty and Uncle, but it sounds cute). It is a rocker that has a comfy chair and animals to look at, but the real secret to it is the vibrate function. When it's on I just can't seem to be grumpy. Come to think of it, I can't even seem to stay awake! It's great for sitting in to watch the golf (my new favourite show) and Mum and I have some great chats while I am in the chair.

So my advice for all of you is to get one of these! I think there is a niche market for the development of one of these chairs for adults - I'll have to get onto that.

Must go, Mum is trying to explain the rules of cricket to me. I get most of them, but this follow-on business is tricky.

Go Aussies!

Hannah

A BUSY WEEK

Boy, am I tired! You see I have had a very busy week as Mum has continued to drag me from pillar to post. We started with a bit of a rest on Monday - lots of reading and smiling and drinking and pooing at home. Then on Tuesday, Mum dragged me along to the obstetrician for her 6 week check up. Nana came too and looked after me while Mum was in with the doctor and he was very happy with how she is going.

Then on Wednesday, we hung around at home while Mum waited for our new lounges to be delivered. Mum was so excited when they arrived in the afternoon, but when they wouldn't fit through any of the doors she seemed to be a lot less excited. Now we're waiting for Uncle Trav to come and visit on the weekend so he and Dad can take them from their current home in the garage and try to fit them through the dining room window - good luck with that mission!!! I'll let you know when the lounges are finally in the lounge room!

And Thursday was my most busy day. I had a morning apointment with the pediatrician - my 6 week check up. He said that I was the longest he had seen at my age, feels good to be a record holder! He said that I was perfect and that my mum and dad should be very proud. I am in the 97th percentile for my weight (5.81kg) and have shot off the top of the graph for length (61cm). While we were in his office at Murdoch, Mum got a text message from Nana saying that she and Grandad were downstairs in the emergency room - Grandad had kidney stones! But he's all good now. Then we went up to visit my new boyfriend Dylan. He's Mum's friend Alison's little baby. He only weighed 6 pound 1 ounce and was very, very cute.

So as you can imagine I am very tired, not to mention the massive projectile vomit I just did - it was the biggest Mum has ever seen and she has seen a fair bit of spew in her time! I think I'll go and have a lie down - I think Mum should have one too, she's looking a little weary...

Love and kisses,

Hannah

AT 6 WEEKS

So, despite my parents' obvious lack of experience in child rearing, I have made it to 6 weeks of age and am doing pretty well. I have started holding my own head up, although sometimes I get a bit tired and lose control - I look a bit like my Grandad when he is falling asleep on the lounge! I am holding a rattle when it's given to me and am just starting to reach out and touch things that I want to get my hands on. You know, toys, Mum's shirt, Johnno when he comes close enough...

I have also started to smile, aside from the obvious farting grins. I don't quite understand why, but the first two times I tried it, Mum cried. What a giant girl! What she doesn't realise is that I am smiling because she sounds like such a dork when she talks to me - and she said she would never talk like that to a baby. But I do like that we have started reading books together now. Dorothy the Dinosaur sure gets up to some exciting adventures. I just can't wait to hear more!

I have grown out of the 000 size clothes and am now into the 00. I am off to the pediatrician next week and to see the child health nurse too. I'll let you know how I go. Mum and Dad say I grow in length every day and have really chubbed up - they can talk!!

So that's what's happening with me at the moment. Gran and Pop Mark have gone back to Brisbane and I miss them a lot. My Nana and Grandad come down to visit often - I really like it when they come and I know Johnno appreciates the attention too!

I'm off to spend some more time with Dad - I miss him when he is at work so I have to make the most of the weekends. No one cuddles like my Dad!

Love,

Hannah

PRESSIES #1

Dad has decided that it would be a good idea for me to put some pics of me using the pressies I got for my 0 birthday on the blog site. Now I think this sounds good in theory, but I received so many presents that it might be a fairly slow process - hence the #1 part of the title.

So in these first 2 pictures you can see the lovely Pooh lounge that Ricky and Laura bought for me and the funky little overalls and one of the jumpsuits from Trav and Veronica. You can also see my new preferred sleeping position for during the day.

Time to go, apologies for the hand gesture and also for the excessive posting - buy hey, I'm still new and the novelty hasn't worn off yet!

Hugs and kisses,

Hannah

BATH TIME

My dad has taken on the job of bathing - kind of glad about that, I mean you saw in my previous post just what a gumby my mum is at the whole baby handling thing. Not sure she could be trusted with me in the bath!

It seems that after a pretty shaky start to the whole naked and immersed in water situation, I am really starting to enjoy bath time. The picture to the left was taken when I was just 4 days old and was still in hospital. It was a nervous time for Dad, but he did a very good job.

The other picture was taken when I was 5 weeks old - you can see that I am enjoying myself a lot more and Dad is even brave enough to go for the roll over on to my front! I am getting a little too big for the laundry trough and think it's a great idea to push off one end with my feet. Unfortunately I haven't quite put it together that this bashes my head into the other end.

Well, time to go and have a bath. I think I may add a little lavender tonight, just because I am special and I deserve it!

Hannah

UNCLE PAUL'S VISIT

How good are these pictures! When Uncle Paul first came to visit, he brought his wicked new camera with him. I hear he took nearly 200 photos - not sure if he needed to take that many to get a good one, or if I'm just so good looking that he couldn't help it... I'm going to assume the latter.

Now they say babies don't smile until at least 6 weeks old and if they do then it's just wind, but take a look at this pic and tell me that's not a smile! And besides, who doesn't have a bit of a chuckle when someone lets one rip...

Better go, Mum has decided to have a beer tonight so I better go and chase up a feed before it sends her to sleep!

Hannah

EARLY PICS

I know I'm going back in time a little bit, but I thought I would post some of the photos taken when I was in hospital. This first picture is of my mum when she 'wasn't in labour'. Yes, that is the sad, sad image of a woman bent over in pain - if only she knew how much worse it was going to get... About 10 minutes later, Dad actually managed to convince her that they were real labour pains and we were off to the hospital.

The picture above is of me sleeping in my hospital cot. It was pretty comfy, but I really don't like having my hands and arms all wrapped up - I am an absolute jet at wriggling them out.

The picture to the left shows just how retarded Mum actually was at handling me at first. This is a particularly pathetic attempt to burp me. Don't worry, she is much better at it now.

Anyway, better go - Mum is getting ready for bed so that means I am too.

Hannah

MY FIRST ENTRY

So here I am. Mum has decided that I needed a blog page so that the people who don't get to see me very often can keep tabs on how I'm going. I think it's a little excessive, but I'm not really big enough to argue yet!

As I write this post I am about 3 and a half weeks old - yes, I know I have excellent fine motor skills for a newborn, not to mention my outstanding literary ability. Mum and Dad seem pretty impressed with me. I am feeding well every 3 or 4 hours and am gaining weight at about 1 and a half the average rate. I still wake up a couple of times a night for a feed, but am pretty good at going back to sleep straight away.

I have been absolutely spoiled with presents and visitors and best wishes and I'm pretty stoked at the moment because my Daddy is on holidays and my Gran is visiting from Brisbane. My Pop is coming to visit soon too, he'll be here on the weekend. I can't wait to meet him!

Anyway, I'd better go and do some more sleeping and pooing but I'll post again soon.

Hugs and kisses,

Hannah.