Baby's 1st Christmas

First, a great big HAPPY HOLIDAYS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!!!!! (yes, I know, it's the 13th of January, but better late then never. Right?

We had a lovely but quiet Christmas this year. It was exciting because the big boys are really old enough to enjoy (and still believe in) Christmas morning. Alex, although way to young to understand any of it, was content to be part of the fuss. As long as he's in the thick of things, he is a happy baby. There were 11 of us at Christmas lunch (Bob's mother was visiting.) It's funny to think that at my first Christmas Down Under, when Dan and I got engaged, there were 5!

The big boys and I did our annual making of the gingerbread houses. They also each made one to take in for their teachers (remember that our school year ends in December, so it's a "xmas" and "goodbye" gift all in one delicious house!!)

Santa spoiled all three boys (like always) and Alex lucked out with some awesome pressies.

Max, the AFL-mad kid, got an official umpires

shirt and lots of lego

Ash, my little master chef, got cooking things and an apron

Alexander got the most deluxe bike, complete with sun shade, phone and drink holder!

Alex's Christening

I'm sure you all are looking at the title of this blog and then glancing at your calendar and asking yourselves..."Is she CRAZY?!?!" Yes, I do admit that planning a Christening two weeks before Christmas may seem insane (and it was) but we didn't want to leave it for too longer and Alex IS 8 months old. (Plus I needed him to fit into the christening gown!)

So we had his christening and then a light lunch afterwards. It was small, but very nice. Alexander, of course, was perfect and just cruised through the few hours at church like it was an every day event (and trust me...it isn't!)

Alex wore the same gown that Max and Ashton wore. It was made from parts of my wedding dress. I wanted to have something that my children could pass down to their children. Dan, like many men I assume, thought that it was cruel to put his son in a dress. But I thought Alex looked beautiful (and a heck of a lot better then the other two boys being christened who's parents put them in matching white bakers outfits, complete with suspenders and these weird hats.)

We were really honored that our wonderful friends Tess and Grantley agreed to be Alex's godparents. We trust that they will shower him with expensive gifts and lollies over the years...just kidding. :) We know that they will help show our little man love and kindness, all that we could ask for in great godparents.

Alex at the "after christening party"

Trick AND treating

The Aussies don't get Halloween. Every October, people start complaining about "yet another stupid American" thing that's made its way across the ocean. And every year, I roll my eyes, thinking "WHAT'S SO WRONG WITH CHILDREN DRESSING UP AND EATING CANDY?!?!?" I even wrote into the paper to say that Halloween was, in fact, Irish and that it was no longer about witches and evil. It was about make-believe and junk food! Lighten up Australia!

For some reason this year, the Aussies seemed to be embracing All Hallow's Eve a bit more. The firt few years I lived here, October went by without so much as a "boo!" But this year was different. Max was more aware of the holiday and somehow knew about trick-or-treating and dressing up. So we decided to dress up and celebrate Halloween...with other Americans! The American grocery store near Melbourne hosts Halloween every year, but they always do it on a Saturday and Dan usually plays cricket. Since he's injured this year, we planned to head down to Melbourne.

The biggest hurdle was....what to dress up as!? And since we're a group of five, with yours truly being the only woman, I had to do some big time thinking. But then the answer hit me like a candy covered apple...THE WIZARD OF OZ!!

So we hit the craft stores and dusted off the sewing machine to create a Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tinman costume. Funny enough, we already had a lion costume (one my grandmother had sent Max when he was a baby.)

Now, most men usually don't want to dress up and join in. Dan took a LOT of convincing to get into the Halloween spirit with us. The boys did a good job emotionally blackmailing daddy. "But dad!! It won't be the same without you!" And because I'm not THAT mean a wife, we worked Dan's costume so that alone, it wasn't really a costume, but when he was with the rest of us- it worked. With some paint and a sponge, he became the Yellow Brick Road!

The day turned out to be hot (30C!!) but we had fun. We won 1st place in the family division of the costume contest (A: The American had a huge advantage and B: Nothing beats a baby in a costume!!!)

We arrived back home around 7pm to find a few groups of kids trick-or-treating around the area, so we let the boys dress back up and hot a few homes that were participating. It gave us great joy to see them running down the block, all dressed up.

Laughs, chatting and playing tourist

Our little man is nearly 4 months old!!!!!! Can't believe it!! He's full of smiles now and loves to "chat." Some days he goes on and on, and he'll even chat to himself in the mirror. He's becoming more and more interactive, and the bigger boys can't get enough. If I had a nickel for every time I yelled "GET OUT OF HIS FACE!"....

We sadly had to say goodbye to our American relatives. We had a blast and I loved sharing my new little man with them. We played "tourist" with Bob and Beanie for a week, ending out time in Melbourne. Alex had his first trip to the zoo, and although her slept through most of it, it was a great day.

That all said, our guest room is now vacant, so all you out there may start planning your trip out here. :)

Alexander has gone from smiling and little giggles to full blown laughing in a few short weeks. He's very ticklish and has a special spot (on his last rib) that makes him really laugh. It's so cute and Alex laughs so much he tends to end up with the hiccups!

Baby Alex helps celebrate mummy's 30th Birthday

WOAH!!!! This is the second update in July!! I'm getting better!!! :) Lots has been happening lately.

It's sooooo hard to believe that Alex is now three months old. We are now at the point we talk about his age in "months" rather than "weeks." It's crazy. We STILL have to pinch ourselves when we realize that we have this baby. It's pretty cool. The big boys STILL love Alex and will make sure they've each had their turn for cuddles. If Alex is awake at bedtime, they each have to have a cuddle in bed with him.

Alexander is "talking" lots and I swear he sings. If you sing to him, you can see him watching you and trying to mimic back. It's like you can see his brain clicking over. Think-think-think.

He's got this great smile and even his eyes light up when he's happy, which is most of the time.

As for me, I've hit the big 3-0 and of course, we partied in style. On top of having a fantastic party (which was American themed, of course) my Aunt Beanie and Uncle Bob surprised me all the way from the USA!!!!! It was a real treat and was even cooler that they got to meet my new little man.

MORE photos

Little Boy blue

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW....I guess it's true that you don't "do" as much for your child when it's not your first. And everyone keeps asking me for photos and the days keep flying by. Honestly, I blink and another week is over. It is SO HARD to believe that Alexander is 11 weeks old today!?!?!?!?!



Our "little man," is proving to be a textbook perfect child. He is a wonderful feeder, stacking on the weight. The health nurse says I get a gold star because he is thriving so well. (Makes me feel great!) Daddy's bought BIG AL little shirts that say "I'm a tits man" and "boobies make me smile." Nice.



Alex is changing so much so fast, that many say they don't know who he looks like. He looked like an Olney (and like Max) when he was first born. But then I started to see "ashton" in him, as he grew out of that newborn stage. But now, with his deep blue eyes, we are not sure who he looks like. He has the most beautiful smile and although he doesn't give them away freely, a smirk from our boy is sure to melt anyone's heart.