Tickle Time

Callum is now 20 weeks old. He's been smiling and laughing for quite a while now, but this is first time the laugh has been captured on video.

More Anya Tales

Anya's been going to swimming lessons since late October, and swims at Don's (David's brother) and Newmarket Pool (a great local pool with slides and fun pools) quite often. So I guess it's no suprise that her first comment upon finding Mrs. Incredible in the doctor's toy basket, with super-stretched arms, was, "She can do BIG ARMS -- BIG ARMS!" (this is the way they teach them to do freestyle/forward crawl).

Another moment that really made David laugh happened when he took her shopping. He likes to cycle with her, towing her in a trailer, and puts the groceries in the trailer for the ride home. Since we live at the top of a hill, the last leg is pretty tough with all the extra weight. He was panting heavily on the upward climb, and didn't answer Anya when she tried to talk to him. "Daddy? Daddy?" she called. "Can't -- talk -- right -- now --" he gasped back. Once home, he stopped in the driveway and panted some more. "Daddy! Why are you hah-ing? Stop hah-ing! I want to talk to you!"

The naughty spot has been in force for a while now, but Anya still doesn't quite understand (or doesn't want to understand?) that we put her on there for a set time, and don't talk to her while she's on it. Recently I had to try really hard not to laugh: she told me she was ready to say sorry, but time wasn't up yet. I simply reminded her, "No talking, time isn't up yet," and she said forcefully, "Unggh! I HATE the naughty spot!" and smacked the wall with her hand. I had to go away because I was afraid I was going to laugh... (Yes dear, that's the point of the naughty spot!)

Anya's First Rock Climb 27-Dec-07

Anya's been pestering us to take her rock climbing, and she does climb things quite well at the park. So we brought her to Rocksports to try it. She only climbed up about a meter, twice, then declined further opportunities, saying, "I'm supervising."

Christmas '07

We started this morning with opening presents at our house. Grandma (David's mum Raema) had stayed overnight and joined in. Mid-morning, we all trooped over to Don and Ann Maree's house for a massive family get-together where more presents were exchanged. It took forever to open presents for six kids and seven adults!

Anya's favorite present of the day was a miniature Winnie the Pooh tree house (complete with honey pot). Her other favorite is a magic wand which makes jingling noises when waved. This morning she enjoyed waving it at Raema and "magicking" her into a baby, a dad, a mama, and back to herself again.

Christmas '07 Video

Waily waily waily!

Anyone who's read Terry Pratchett's Wee Free Men knows what "waily waily waily" means... if you don't know it, there are "pictsies" (little men who are, well, Pictish, in that they're blue skinned, speak with Scottish accents, and love fighting and drinking) who bewail unfortunate circumstances by yelling "oh, waily waily waily!" (they especially love to do this in groups, like an aggressive form of keening).

 

I've managed to find amusement in Anya's latest infuriating mannerism by thinking of this line from the book.  In Anya's case, this involves suddenly flipping from being happy and cheerful to feeling fussy.  She then works herself up from low level fussing up to concentrated snivelling and ultimately full blown wailing, by which time she's forgotten what she's upset about, but she's darn well upset and intends to stay that way.  This happens at least four or five times a day, usually about nothing of importance, more as if she's checked the clock and thought, hmm I haven't fussed for a while, better do it again.

 

So far we've managed to stay pretty even tempered about it, simply telling her we can't talk to her while she's wailing, but it is VERY annoying and tiresome, and I hope she stops doing it soon!

Bitey Boy

Our boy continues his winning ways, not only smiling at all and sundry but now also willing to lick and bite just about anybody...

Anya+Callum Photo Comparison

Everyone keeps saying how much Callum looks like Anya did. I felt at the beginning as if we had Anya all over again, but as Callum got older I didn't find them very similar after all. So I put these photos together to compare.

Springbrook National Park 5-7 Dec 07

This was the second day of our mini-holiday at Springbrook. David really did the toughest bit, carrying Anya on our bushwalk. We were just happy she was over the mysterious allergic reaction she suffered the day before during our walk to Natural Bridge. You can just make out the top of Callum's head in the sling I'm wearing.

Purlingbrook Falls (Springbrook) 6-Dec-07

Natural Bridge (Springbrook) 5-Dec-07

My Jumping Elf

Anya's changing as quickly as Callum... time seems to be going so quickly.  I just realised this week that she's developed the habit of running from A to B full pelt, then arriving with a jump at the end.  Jumping is also fun across gaps, up steps (still not doing that one properly, but keeps trying), on one leg (while holding on to furniture), up to the sky (while David and I hold her hands and she swings her legs way up) and into the pool.  She's very excited to help Callum jump as well, bouncing him up and down in the Jolly Jumper.

 

Less engaging habits lately include yelling songs at the top of her lungs, doing exactly what I've just asked her not to, and other typical toddler behaviour... luckily for me I haven't yet experienced a public tantrum, although David has: while carrying Callum in a sling, holding Anya's tricycle in one hand, and trying to get Anya to keep moving through the shopping mall (in aid of giving me a break at home).

Jolly Jumper 1-Dec-07

Lots of firsts this week: jolly jumping (well, mostly swivelling on tiptoe so far), standing supported (looks delighted every time), sitting up (with help), rolling to one side, reaching out and grabbing things... and best of all, LAUGHING! Rather than a giggle, Callum's laugh is sort of a "heh-heh-heh" as if he's surprised to be laughing.

By way of comparison, Anya's first turn in the Jolly Jumper was at 5 months, so Callum seems to be developing physically a lot more quickly. It's amazing to watch him try so hard to sit up -- cranes his neck and lifts his head. Anya only sat up after months and months of being carried around upright and never seemed to be trying to sit up by herself.

On the other hand, Anya was already reaching out and grabbing things at 12 weeks old (Callum is now 16 weeks) so she was ahead in other ways. My hairdresser (who has 4 kids) said she thinks boys are lazier and don't develop as quickly! Funny, as general consensus seems to be that boys are usually ahead of girls in physical skills.

I've also been reading about birth order (Time Magazine) -- apparently we can expect Anya to be more intelligent/ambitious, conformist/conservative and serious, while Callum will most likely be more agreeable, rebellious and humorous. Firstborns are also usually physically larger, but so far that's not the case! I was interested to read that elder siblings' intelligence is boosted by the tutor effect -- having to explain things to their younger siblings.

Renovation Concept

This perspective drawing shows how our house will look after renovation. We intend to raise the house, make most of the existing interior into an open-plan kitchen+living, and have 3 new bedrooms+rumpus downstairs (an existing bedroom will remain in place upstairs). A deck will be added as well as a paved area underneath the deck extending out to a spa.

For photos of the house as it currently exists, please go to flickr (i.e. click on the drawing above).

Fingers 18-Nov-07

Callum's latest hobby... chewing on fingers and growling happily while doing so.

Our Lovely Boy

"Before"


"After"

David wanted to capture the mega-poo experience but missed seeing this one, so I photographed it for him. Then I thought, why not share the excitement?

Bath 14-Oct-07 (4)

Callum loves his baths! It's lovely to view this photo's set in flickr as a slide show.

Big Smiles 8-Oct-07

Callum is 8 weeks, 2 days old today. Last week he weighed 5 kg and was 58 cm long (gains of 1.3 kg & 7.5 cm since birth).

You're not imagining it, yes he's got BIG hands.

Heavy Weather

After living here for ten years I'm still not used to Brisbane's heat. I just can't take the sauna effect:

• Brisbane's high today is 30 C (86 F) with 66% humidity.

Compare this to my last city and my home town:

• Los Angeles is the same temperature but with 12% humidity.
• Tucson is a little cooler with 8% humidity.

The mad part is that it's supposed to be springtime here right now... with weather like this, I'm really dreading summer!

Cycle Crazy

Today David got up at 5 am and rode 100 km along with 5000 other people in the "Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge" (here's a map of the route). I managed to pack a bunch of necessities and hit the road (with Callum and Anya) by 9:30 to meet him down there and pick him up. He was done by 10:30, similar to last year's effort, despite worries that he'd lost fitness.

Afterwards, we met up with my friend Mel, who recently moved to Miami Beach. I was amused to note that she lives on Santa Monica Road (intersected by Redondo Avenue). Mel is Australian, but like me, lived in LA for a few years. (I even lived in Redondo Beach for a while, but never lived in Santa Monica.)

It's been a pretty big visiting weekend -- yesterday we also visited both David's brothers Don and Rob at their respective homes. Both families have been away together, camping on Fraser Island and finishing with a few days at the Peregian Beach units.

Anya had a great time swimming in Don's pool and playing with him (Ann Maree and the kids had gone out before we arrived, but came home in time for the latter part of our visit). She loves going to different places and looking around. In the evening we were at Rob's, and Anya ran around the house with her other cousins at a mad pace.

Everyone enjoyed holding Callum and "chatting" with him. I'm continually amazed at how much all the kids love babies. The day really brought home to me, as well, what an easy baby Callum is compared to how Anya was. He (gasp!) goes to sleep by himself sometimes when you put him down!

He's getting really big -- long, not fat, that is. At his first checkup this week he measured 58 cm long (head to toe), which apparently puts him in the 75th percentile for his age. I've noticed with dismay that he's already outgrowing the baby carrier which he sleeps in (rather than a bassinet). It was my plan to have him in it for about 4 months, but it looks like I'll have to come up with a new plan.