So, what’s been happening here?  Hmmm… well, Simon, Holly and I had a holiday in Cairns over the school holidays in October.  We had a blast and it was great to get up to some warm weather after winterWe got to spend heaps of time with my Dad since he was on school holidays, and the kids got to play with their cousins, Faith and Giaan, too.  They were all so good together, with a nice age span amongst them.  Giaan and Simon kept following one another around; it was so adorable.  While we were up there I did a few crazy things too, including going skydiving.  Very very awesome.

Simon has started talking quite a lot more.  And when I say a lot more, I mean he says the same thing over and over non-stop until he gets what he’s asking for.  It’s a great strategy Holly is growing up so much - it’s hard to describe how, but she’s becoming incredibly articulate and has a great memory.  I commented last night to Sven how much better her comprehension skills are than I’d have expected for her age.

 Anyway, enough of the blabbering, here’s some pics:

Holly and Simon playing in Mummy and Daddy’s shoes.

Holly at the hair dressers.

Holly being very good for the hair dresser during the haircut.

Simon with his crazy hair that Mummy may have played with a little.

Simon having his first ever haircut!

Holly at swimming lessons.

The kids in the super-shopping trolley where the seats are bolted behind a standard trolley.

The family are all doing really well.  Sven has been keeping himself busy popping out for photo trips to strange places.  I’m still not sure I understand the fascination with drains and dams but at least it keeps him happy.  I’ve also been keeping myself entertained with my tap dancing classes.  I am even going to do my EXAMS!!!  Hahahaha :)  I think it’s so funny that I’ll probably be being compared with ten-year-olds.  I also recently had a dance concert where I got to be a pirate!  Here I am below on stage (in the only photo I can find) on the far-right in the stripey top.

Holly is doing so well.  She’s just FULL of questions.  She never, ever stops talking and has even been known to talk in her sleep.  She’s extremely articulate and loves reading books and understanding about new things.  She’s just phenomenonally intelligent.  I don’t even want to quantify that by saying that she’s intelligent for a three-year-old because she is constantly amazing us with what she can learn and how quickly she picks things up.  She can even spell her name, including “Abrahamsson”, and we didn’t even intentionally teach her - she just kept reading it off her drink bottle then eventually worked it out and started spelling it without prompting.  She’s becoming much more social these days too and loves talking to other people in shopping centres and playgrounds.  She’s also very caring and will often make sure Simon is getting looked after too, ensuring other children offer him a turn when they’re playing together.  It makes you’re heart all warm and gooey watching that sort of thing

Holly has also gotten quite independant recently.  She will go to the fridge and get her own drink out, she can put herself to bed and has FINALLY stopped sucking her thumb.  Oh!  That’s a funny story itself - we went to the dentist who took one look at Holly and asked us if she was a thumb-sucker.  Apparently it was starting to change the shape of her face!  So, at the dentists recommendation we bought some Stop ‘N Grow.  I tried it out on my own thumb first and confirmed that it was truly horrible stuff that made me twitch and pull funny faces from the exact moment my thumb hit my mouth and for at least five minutes afterwards.  Anyway, at bedtime we painted Holly’s thumb with it and reminded her not to put it in her mouth and she immediately said “okay” then put her thumb in her mouth.  The expression was simply priceless!  The funniest part was, after reminding her about it and with her still pulling faces after the last time she promptly did it again!  Hahahahaha!  I almost wet myself laughing.  There were a few random “Bleaaaugh!” sounds every so often for the rest of the sleep which made us crack up but since then it appears as though she’s finally stopped sucking her thumb!  Hooray!

Simon is getting soooooo big.  At daycare today the girls were saying that he’s the second-biggest in his whole class and he’s only just moved up.  He has the same shoe size as Holly already and is just to physical all the time.  He never stops!  He’s also quite fearless and will happily jump off couches, dive into ball pits, and climb everything.  He’s also great with his food and will eat just about everything (except lettuce).  He’s talking more and will get his point across, but isn’t overly conversational.  He’s actually a surprisingly quiet little boy (I don’t know whether that’s because he has to compete with Holly) and hardly ever cries.  He even has six teeth at various stages of coming through at the moment and his temperment hasn’t even changed (that will make fourteen teeth all up).  He just loves to get out and about and wants to get into everything.  We’re working on getting him to stay close to us though because he’s so fast that once he’s gone he’s almost uncatchable and, if he does get out of sight, he doesn’t come back when you call.  I think his favourite things are torches, reading books, and watching Sesame Street’s “Mahna mana” on YouTube

We’ve been going out a lot lately over weekends.  Recently we went to Currumbin Sanctuary for the day and saw (and touched) lots of animals.  Sven and Guy even had a go on an adventure climbing thingy while we were there where they were climbing through the trees on a few ropes.  And last weekend we went camping to Mt Mee again.  I still marvel at how Sven managed to convince me to go camping in winter.  The biggest miracle was that we managed to fit everything into the car that we needed - the back of an Astra filled with a 12-man tent, portacot, blankets, pillows, camping equipment and food, plus two car seats with kids is quite a sight.  Luckily we survived thanks to a last-minute purchase of snow jackets for all and the blessing of good weather.

Oh, and just some quick notes to go with the pics - Simon got his first blood nose when he fell face-first inside the tent.  Sven stopped me from cleaning him up so that he could get a pic.  And Sven was mad enough to jump into the water which, another camper commented, was so cold he thought he’d lost his foot when he put his toe in.  Sven commented it was physically painful in the water at one point when he had to get out of his boat to empty out water.

Well, that’s surely enough blabbering so here are a whole bunch of pics from our recent trips.  Enjoy!

Sven coming back down from the trees at great speed on a flying fox immediately prior to hitting the mats to stop.

Simon loved the kangaroos…

Holly’s turn on a flying fox with Mummy running behind.

Simon’s turn on the flying fox… okay, maybe I was using it as an excuse to have a go myself

Rugged up camping…

Soooooo cold!  Sven jumping off the river bank into his teeny, tiny boat.

Us being responsible parents throwing our children in the air using a boat

* More text to come *

First present of the day!

Scarf courtesy of Dana, who works with Veronica.

Who knew a doctor’s kit would be so thrilling!?

Holly’s harmonica, as played by Simon. Holly has declared that only she and Simon are allowed to play it, which didn’t get much argument after she showed everyone she could play it with her nose…

Holly and Auntie Anita, in her new sleeping bag. Somehow, they managed to squish Simon in as well.

I just thought I’d throw this one in, though it was a few days before Holly’s birthday. She decided she would feed Simon his breakfast - Simon was most amused.

Holly asked for a brown teddy bear cake. She was even allowed to eat some of it!

 We’ve been getting out and about a lot lately and have been venturing further from home for various types of outings.  Last weekend we went to a parkland for a bushwalk and picnic morning tea.  Simon’s walking pretty well now and Holly loves to run around looking at and touching everything.

We’re also starting to get prepared for our holiday to New Zealand.  We’re not sure when exactly we’re going yet but it doesn’t hurt to be organized.  Although, I haven’t really been getitng organized, I’ve just been opportunistic.  Like for example, while I was buying myself a skull-and-cross-bones scarf from City Beach for my pirate costume (for my tap concert) I found some cool beanies and ended up getting some for Holly and Simon too. 

And while we were playing on eBay we found two backpacks for carrying the kids for bargain basement prices.  They seemed like they would be good for letting us get out and about to places we couldn’t take the pram.  We tried them out tonight and, while I think they may need a little bit of adjustment, they were great and the kids had a fantastic time.  They also seem quite secure in them as you’ll see below.

Heehee :)  Anyway, we’ve been keeping busy working and getting out and about now that the children are both getting older.  It’s great getting our mobility and freedom back.  By the time we get to NZ we should be seasoned travel pros hahaha!

Holly and Simon are playing together quite a bit now, especially games that involve Holly having Simon chase her around the house.  Actually, that reminds me of one unforseen consequence of having two children.  The whole idea of not reacting to behaviour that one doesn’t want to encourage works very well, but has started to be undermined by the fact that Holly no longer needs us as an audience now that Simon is growing up.  I can keep a straight face while Holly does something dubious, but Simon will giggle away, and that’s enough to keep Holly going indefinitely

Chris and Nan have had their baby now, Harry is his name, and Veronica, Simon and Holly went to visit this evening.  I opted not to, as I’ve been a little under the weather today.  Holly informed me that Harry was very little, and had tiny little feet.  Simon apparently gave him a cuddle, too.

Oh, and Simon is starting to talk now, too.  He’s been signing for a little while, for things like food and drinks, and “where did it go”, but now he’s getting a few words out, too.  Much like Holly at his age, the most unmistakeable word is possible “banana”

Anyway, here are some updated piccies of the two of them, including Holly with the sunglasses she picked out herself on the weekend…

Last Thursday was Simon’s first birthday!!!!  Can you believe it?!   I simply don’t understand how time can go so fast.  I just can’t believe that my little baby is one already.  I was looking back through some old photos and Simon didn’t really have as dramatic physical changes during his first year as Holly, probably mostly because he still has no hair and the rest of him has grown in proportion so he just looks bigger but the same.  And, as of his first birthday, he certainly is big - 12 kgs.  To put that into perspective, Holly is 14kgs.

So, as a summary, here’s Simon at the age of one :

• He still has no hair, although technically he does have some blondish fuzz that’s about 2cm long if you look carefully or get it wet
• He’s walking very well, mostly running, although he does stand still occassionally to reach up to the kitchen benchtop and grab things
• He likes anything that makes a noise, especially very loud things
• He like throwing everything… hard
• He’s very strong
• He’s very loving (he loves cuddles and kisses)
• He sleeps through the night in his own room with no fuss from 7pm to around 6:30am unless he’s unwell
• He has six teeth with one more about to pop through (you can see the seventh tooth through the very sore looking gum)
• He adores his big sister Holly and follows her around everywhere
• He can feed himself finger foods although spends a lot of time spitting them back out in mushy form; he does he love his normal foods though, especially yoghurt, sultanas, fruit and raw vegetables
• He can say Mummum and Daaadaaa, down, water (gah gah while pointing at his water bottle) but is very good at making it known what specifically he wants (he’s a good pointer)
• He seems to be understanding much more of what we’re asking of him
• He’s a very happy boy and rarely complains unless he’s hungry or someone’s taken a toy away from him
• He’s very easy-going
• He loves going out and seeing new things
• He’s just an all-around, wonderful little boy.

Here are some piccies of Simon’s wombat birthday cake, and from his party on the weekend.

I don’t think I mentioned it but, in case you noticed it, I dislocated my jaw and have to wear a mouthguard for 6 weeks until my jaw has time for the swelling to go down, then wear some other contraption for 6 months until the ligaments heal properly, then I have to get braces to stop it from happening again. All that from biting into an apple. The mouthguard was a problem at first but has settled down now. At least the liquids only diet part of it all has finished now and my jaw is no longer popping out all the time.

My Nanna has been in a nursing home for many years because of the Altzheimer’s.  She has no recognition of us as being family and can only say a few words.  There is little inkling of the Nanna I grew up with and love so completely.  I hate Altzheimer’s for robbing me of her joking, cheeky, loving nature while leaving this shell that looks similar enough to make you wonder if there is any recognition.  It tears your heart-strings.  Most of all, I am distraught at watching my younger cousins with her.  They never had the opportunity to know her as she really was; they only know her as she is today.

While it was quite difficult emotionally to see her again, I’m glad I went.  There were a few things that Nanna did that reminded me of good times, and she looked much better than I had been imagining.  My Mum came along for support and I was happy to see her smiling and sharing time with Nanna too although, again, it was hard to watch her having to say goodbye.

The trip to Melbourne was good in other ways though, as I was able to meet up with some of my relatives from my Mum’s side of the family.  Here they all are in the photos.

Here’s Holly meeting her Great-Grandnanna for the first time and giving her a cuddle.

Mum and Nanna.

Mum, Holly and Nanna.

Nanna, Simon and me.

Four generations - Nanna, Mum, Holly, me, and Simon.

Aunty Mary, Nanna and Mum.

Me, Taylah, Holly, Simon, Caitlyn, and Maddy (my cousins).

Lots of aunties… Aunties Marg, Jo and Mary with Mum and Simon.

Holly and her second cousin.

Aunty Megan feeding Simon his evening bottle.

See below for a lovely picture of simon, replete in grubby “Stud Muffin” t-shirt, and no pants.

Wow, while I was typing this, Simon just walked from the bean bag to the couch!  Lots of steps, no falling! Yay!

Unfortunately, our shower turned out to have holes bottom and top, but thanks to the usual massive level of redundancy in our group, it wasn’t a huge problem.

Special mention must go to Adrian and Jo for the gazebo, without which we would have been struggling for shade, and to Jon and Kelli for the very handy shower cubicle. Only issue with the latter, though, was that after the first shower, the floor became a little muddy, so next time a mat will be in order.

The site was a recently-established one, and appears to have been a paddock previously, so there really weren’t any trees to speak of, and hence no shade that we didn’t provide ourselves. Between the annexes and sunrooms on our tents, and the aforementioned gazebo, though, shade was reasonably good. Might need another tarp next time, for that afternoon sun, though.

Holly happily trapsed between the sites, and Simon practiced his walking by holding onto people’s knees and trotting around the picnic mat.  He isn’t walking without support yet, but it won’t be long…

Without going into too much further detail, the rest of the trip involved more waterfalls, more lookouts, and intermittent icecreams from the local shop, which, having something of a monopoly, charged pretty much whatever they wanted. However, it was hard to begrudge a little profiteering when it meant fighting the heat with yet another round of pine-lime splices and golden gaytimes.