The baby moves!

I CAN CRAWL!!!!!!

Finally. Finally. I've been trying and trying and trying for a darn age to get going in a forward motion. I could get on my hands and knees no problem, just hadn't worked out the moving bit. But this week I've done it! On Tuesday I surprised myself by taking two wee shuffles forward, and over the next few days I mastered it. Today (Sunday) I've been going all over the house. Oh it feels really good to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Now Finny, watch out - I'm after you . . . if you take something, I'll come get it. If I like the look of something you're holding, I'll come get it. If you . . . you get the picture.

(You can check me out crawling on my videos on the link at the bottom.)

Actually it's heaps more fun playing with Fin now as I can chase him and we can get places together. I should have got to grips with this crawling malarkey weeks ago! It was just so handy having Fin bring me stuff all the time; I didn't really need to go anywhere, did I?

I'm also enjoying talking a bit more now too. I like to say "hiya" to anyone and everything that comes in my path (and I wave at them too, just so there's no confusion). I can say "bye-ah" as well. "Mumma" and "Dad-EYE" are quite effective, and Mum seems to be hugely pleased when I go "ffff-ffff" in response to her asking me what a doggy says (woof woof, in case you're interested. I just can't do the "woo" bit. Yet.).

If I can't get my words to work, I just gesture wildly. It doesn't always work though . . . Case in point: last Sunday Mum and Dad had some friends round for brunch. Mum made a well-tasty bacon and egg pie (very Kiwi, apparently) and she gave me a measley wee bit. Well! Hooooooooooow long did I have to lean forward in my chair, pointing pointedly (the whole point of pointing, right?) and going "mmmm, mmmm" to get my due share? Ages, that's how long! Eventually the adults stopped yakking and Mum noticed and gave me some more pie, so I guess it worked in the long run.

By the way, did I tell you what I'm getting for my 1st birthday? A holiday in Fiji! I kid you not. We're off to Fiji for a wee break on 25th Nov (okay so it's 2 days later than my actual birthday but still!). I can't WAIT! Lots of sun, and apparently there's a reeeeeeally cool pool with sand and stuff at the place we're staying. Fin and I are so looking forward to it! So are Mum and Dad, as we've promised them we'll be good at going to sleep at night and behave for the babysitters so they can go and have dinners out. Maybe! Anyway it's the Christmas treat for the whole family and it'll be a new thing for us all as we've not all been away overseas together ever!

And also - there's more! - just before that, on my ACTUAL birthday itself, guess what? Granddad's arriving!!!! He's flying on a big plane all the way from the UK to come and see us and he's staying for a while. He'll be here when we're in Fiji but he's said he'll look after the car and the house for us and then he'll be here for a whole 10 days when we get back! Can you tell I'm excited? Never met my Granddad before so I'll have to make sure I look extra cute for him.

LOTS to look forward to!

Right, after all that news (crawling, holidays and family all in the one month!), I'm off to bed. And there's a story attached to that one too, but I'll let Finny tell that one on his blog. . .

Lots love all,

Lex

xx

Few pics of us in the park recently and one of me crawling if you're interested. You are, right? ;o)

http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/LexieCrawlingAndPark

Life is unfair!

Here I am, look - standing up, doing very well, thank you very much. Then see what happens . . . (sorry it's on its side)

Huh. Just not fair. Two steps forward, one step back!

Just call me . . .

  . . . Fang! 

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, I have my first tooth!  And it’s one thing I’ve managed to beat my brother on so far, ‘cos his first tooth wasn’t until he was 11 months old.  So nah.

It’s caused a bit of bother, mind you. It’s a bit of a pain in the . . . well, the mouth, really, to have this sharp white thing poking through your gums.  Fortunately it’s not kept me awake at night, much, so everyone’s happy.  And the big plus to having a fang is that now I can reeeeeeeeally chew into my food.  I can bite it and everything!  Especially those nice crackers that mum gives me.  I like getting bigger and growing stuff like teeth and hair!

Yes, I have a little more hair now.  Currently I choose to wear it mohican-style:

I think it looks wicked like this!  Mum, however, is fussing over how nice the colour is and how she’d love to put it in clips and bunches and stuff.  Huh.  Long live short hair, I say.  Anyway, what’s she on about, she’s got short hair too! Guess it’s one of those “do as I say not as I do” moments.  Dad says there’ll be lots of those ahead if he’s got anything to do with it, and even more so if there’re boys involved. I say he’s not got much to worry about on that front, boys are far too silly to socialise with.

Mind you, Fin is really quite cool, and he’s fun to play with when he brings me toys and says “Look Lex” and generally involves me. I just wish – and forgive me for the repetition from previous blogs – he would STOP SITTING ON ME! I like cuddles from him ‘n’ all, just not 12kg ones, thanks.

As you’ll have gathered, I’m feeling fine now, after my poorliness the other week.  I had everything at once, didn’t I?  Rash, fever, sore bum and sore gums.  Still, I call that efficiency – get it all over at once then enjoy the time afterwards.

Not much else going on in Lexie-Land. Oh, apart from we all went as a family to have a swim the other day, the first time ever we’ve all been together.  It was great, I really loved it!  Mum was thinking I didn’t like swimming or pools really as I grumped during my lessons last term and we stopped them as a result.  However, it was only that I didn’t like swimming at that time, it was the middle of the morning and I was tired and just wanted to chill out with Mum at home.  I love swimming really!  I did lots of submersions and kicking and paddling and laughed lots when we all went.  It was fun to watch Finny too, jumping off the edge like a loon.  Mum and I were safely on the other side of the pool, so we didn’t get splashed toooooo much . . .

Right, will go now.  Oh!  Just one more thing – I’ve got my VERY OWN car seat.  It’s great!  I was just too long for my capsule, my feet were kicking into the seat of the car and anyway it’s boring facing the back all the time.  So Mum found these car seats online, and sent Dad out to the shop to choose one.  She said to him to just choose the colour he wanted for me.  Guess what he came back with?  This one :

Mum said he was a great big softie, and she may be right, but I love it!  Nice and girly yet a bit sophisticated with the black as well. 

Go Dad! Maybe I can train him up in shopping after all . . . .







Check out my latest photos here: Mum and I had a bit of fun doing our own photoshoot the other day, that’s here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/LexiePhotoshootCoupleOfFin

 

General other ones are here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/VariousJulAug09

Strawberry Kid

Hello readers.  It’s been a rough week. First I got a sore – and I mean really sore – bum, which made me cry every time Mum or Dad changed me.  Then I got reeeeeeeally hot and Mum kept sticking this beepy thing in my ear to check exactly how hot I was.  Then I got poked and prodded by the doctor, and as a result had to have special cream that felt particularly cold put on my bum every five minutes. Then I had to keep taking this sweet gloopy stuff off a spoon to make me less hot. Then after a couple of days of this, as if that wasn’t enough, I was a lot less hot but I looked like a strawberries-and-cream pudding! 

Look:

Then Mum went and put this pink stuff on me to try and help, and I ended up feeling even more ridiculous. Look: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway.  I feel better now, I don’t look rashy any more, I’m not hot and I don’t have to take any more lotions and potions and creams.  Finally all is well in Lexie-Land.

(Turns out Lex had roseola, also known as “baby measles”. It’s a very common illness in babies under 2. High fever for 3 days, very irritable and miserable baby, fever breaks then an impressive all-over rash appears for a couple of days, still an irritable miserable baby, then all is well. The sore bum was a separate, but coincidentally-timed, issue. Bet you wanted to know all that, didn’t you? Ed.)

 

Aside from exciting illnesses, I’ve been enjoying getting bigger.  For a start, it means I can try my best to give as good as I get to that brother of mine. Quite maddeningly, I still can’t manage to get myself up again to sitting after he’s tipped me over, and I can’t shift his big bulk off me when he decides to lie on top.  I keep eating my broccolli and spinach to get nice and strong, but it doesn’t seem to be working yet . . . .

 
Talking of which, isn’t it great?  Food I mean.  Here’s what I like:

* Pumpkin chips that Mum roasts in the oven.  Oh my goodness these are my absolute favourite – nice and squashy, easy to hold, sweet and yummy-scrum.  Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

*  Broccolli.  I like to pretend I’m eating a tree.  A whole one.

*  Banana biscotti – Mum bakes them nice and hard so they last me ages to chew on.

*  Avocado – especially cold from the fridge. Apparently (Mum says), it’s been created by a benevolent God for busy Mums, as it’s instant, cheap and good for me.

*  Penne pasta – preferably with a bit of sauce on it to spread around the tray and my face.

*  Toast – especially nicked from Fin’s plate.  His has peanut butter on it, which is soooooo much better than hummus.

* Rice pudding. Fin says it’s not fair as he wasn’t allowed this until he was much older.  I say that’s the advantage of being the second kid.

Ah, food is great.

 
In other news, I’ve got a new playmate!  Aunty Ange (Nadija’s Mum) had her baby a wee bit early and Bella arrived on 8th July. We’ve been to see her and she makes me feel like a great big grown up!  She’s so tiny (6lbs something).  I’m looking forward to playing with her when she’s a bit bigger :)

 

Over and out for now, will update again soon. Here’s a pic of me and food, just ‘cos it’s on my mind:

I’m singin’ in the rain . . .

Goodness Auckland’s rainy.  It gets nearly twice as much rainfall per year than London, apparently!  So Mum and Fin and I are just kinda hanging out in the house when it does rain.  Lucky I can sing really!  I’ve discovered my voice recently and love to chat and sing away to anyone who will listen.  Look, here I am doing it:

Nice, huh?  Mum says it’s really nice to hear my actual voice rather than just screeches (her words!) or coughs.  Incidentally, I’ve perfected the “poor-me-I’m-dying-of-neglect” cough, which can be used at any time, even when receiving full attention already.  You can check out my perfected technique on my videos and photos album (link at bottom of this blog).

What else is new?  Oh yeah, I tried some steak the other day.  Quite liked it.  Not as much as my brother did when he was my age though, as you can see from the comparison below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far, my favourites include: porridge (with lots of prunes); broccolli and yoghurt (don’t pull that face, it’s nice!); mince and tatties (Dad’s pleased); cous cous; cinnamony stewed rhubarb and apple; Mum’s banana biscotti thingummies, which are fab to chew on.  Lots more too but those are my favourites at the moment. 

Mealtimes are usually quite entertaining.  I can watch from my very own highchair now (which is nice and clean and lady-like, and I intend to keep it that way, yes I am talking to you Finlay!).  It’s great, I feel very important in it.  Finny’s using his old highchair as a seat now, without the tray, and it’s really quite entertaining watching Mum trying to keep him sitting down and at the table while we have dinner or lunch. I’m taking notes to make sure I’m very well-behaved for Mum when I get older [maybe that’s wishful thinking? Ed.]

Don’t think there’s any other amazing news.  Oh yeah, Mum and Dad went away for a night for the first time ever ever since having me and Fin.  Dad was getting older so I guess Mum figured he needed comforting, so off they went. They were quite nervous about it I think.  Needn’t have been, it was fun with Aunty Ailsa and her daughter Kora, they kept us nicely amused and saw to my every need.  It was nice to see Mum and Dad when they got back though, and I gave them a nice big smile to let them know!

Pics and a “cough” video here: http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/LexieSPerfectedCoughAndMore

Clever me

Hi readers.  I’m very chuffed at the moment. 

I CAN SIT UP!

Well, okay, I can’t actually get up to sitting on my own, but once I’m positioned I can hold my own.  For quite a while, too!  Look:

 

And here’s another one, differently attired, to PROVE that I can do it on successive days!:

 

Couple of wee videos of me too, right here in this album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/LexieSittingUp

S’all for now, folks.  Will be back with more wondrous accomplishments from Lexie-World soon, I’m sure!

Lotsa toys!

Hi guys, Mum and I were mucking about with the camera and my toys the other day, check it out:

  It was good fun! I know that Mum did similar pics with Finny when he was my age. She’s put a couple up on the picture albums for you to compare!   Yes, I do look like my brother don’t I?  ‘Cept don’t tell him I said so but his ears stick out more in his toy pics than mine do . . . ;o) (There are loads more pics on the link at the end of this entry.)

Life is going well. I had my 5 month Plunket check the other day, and I’m now 6.8kg (that’s about 15lbs), which is just under double my birthweight!  I like being little, it just involves, eating, sleeping and playing.

Talking of eating, I discovered beetroot the other day.  YUM!  So far I’ve had: chicken and pepper (capsicum as the Kiwis call it), avocado (love that), broccoli, squash (not the Robinson’s sort, don’t worry!) and beetroot.  All very nice, but I think beetroot is the prettiest, don’t you?  It’s very funky to eat too, as it’s sort of sweet and mushy and weirdly-textured. Fin likes to help Mum feed me; thankfully Mum is teaching Fin to do it gently and not ram the spoon down the back of my throat.  Sigh.

I started back at swimming a couple of weeks ago, and that’s going well too.  Still liking going underwater! And because this seems to be a picture sort of blog entry, here’s one specially for Granny N, who wanted to see me in my swim togs:

I’m still the youngest in the class, which is kind of kudos, I suppose. Fin started swimming at the same age as me (3 months), so I’ve still got to beat my brother at being the youngest to do something. Perhaps I could work on being the youngest to start the cryptic crossword or something intellectual like that . . .

 

 

 

Lots more pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/finlaygeorgesmith/LexieAndHerToys02

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