Visit by the Fire Brigade

Most Mondays we head off to playgroup where Kaiden gets to spend time playing with his best friend Luke, while his Mummy (or Daddy) gets to enjoy a cup of tea and a chat and Jordan gets to crawl around and explore. At our last playgroup we received a visit from the local fire brigade who after giving a brief talk (as best you can to an audience of mostly two and three year-olds) then a quick departure to see to a fire, returned to show the kids their big red truck. The kids (and some of their parents)then had a go at using the hose which was lots of fun but a bit scary as there was alot of water coming out!

11 months

mmmm chocolate mousse!
And where did the last couple of months go? The last few have just flown by with 10 months seeing Jordan reach a few milestones including:
* second lot of two top teeth coming through
* clapping
* pointing
* waving

Now at 11 months he is looking more and more like a little boy.

* He loves to stand and uses EVERYTHING as a standing post, and especially loves using your leg if you stand still for more than 30 seconds.

* Is now in size one clothes. He can no longer squeeze into 0's. They are too short in the arms and legs.

* Is very determined..the tanties are starting already if he doesn't get his own way

* Still loves his big brother. Kaiden still calls him "his baby" or "baby Jordan". They just adore each other and love making each other laugh.

* Knows what food he likes. If you are eating something he thinks would be better (like chocolate mousse) he throws his food away and looks for some of yours.

* Is very clingy (or should that be cuddly?), more than what Kaiden ever was. He loves to be picked up and held.

* Is a fidget and can't sit still for a second.

* Hates being in his cot and stands up in their yelling and jumping up and down to be taken out.

* Is starting to have one, longer nap in the afternoon.

I must be crazy...

for going camping in winter. But the boys (Brett, Kaiden, Jordan and Harry) had a ball, and to be honest, I had a good time too although I do prefer the warmer weather.

We used a playpen for camping only - handy when setting up/pulling down or when you need to keep a little one in safe place. Except this one tried to break out...



Kaiden and his buddy Luke played together all weekend, and even then we came home he asked if he could go over to his place.



Our camp set up...


And mega baby cuteness..pity the hat didn't stay on for more than five seconds.




We went to Brooloo Park which is a cattle property near Kenilworth.

Jordan, eight months

Eight months, here already. Soon my baby won't be a baby, he'll be a little boy. He already has the personality - he is cheeky, happy and loves exploring. He also:
*Shakes his head
*Pulls himself up, loves trying to stand
*Hates us leaving him, even for a second
*Two teeth, bottom center (one came in at 7 1/2 months, two top teeth about to come through)
*Sometimes frequently-waking at night, probably related to the teeth
*Especially loves playing with his big brother in the bath
*Never sits still or stays still in your arms - he is a bundle of energy
*Still fits into 0s but is fast growing out of some of them, length-wise and some are getting to tight to get over his head (see below!)

Weight: 8.630g (50th percentile)
Length: 74cm (95th percentile)
Head circumference: 46cm (95th percentile)

We recently bought his 'hippy beads' - a necklace of amber beads which are to help with teething.



Kaiden still adores his little brother. He has a great imagination whether he is hunting dragons or finding monsters. He loves to sing and occasionally dance. With his new Tonka computer game he is great at using the mouse and then printing out certificates to colour-in (which he also loves to do). My favourite moment is always when he says "Mummy, I love you very much".

PS It is very difficult to take nice photos of a baby at eight-months.

My "not quite a Milo"

The Milo is an easy vest pattern but somewhere I got a little lost and instead I turned it into this....still looks nice especially on our gorgeous boy. It will be great to wear as the weather turns cooler and I added a little extra length to last him through the winter months.


This month he will be SEVEN months, and he ....
* Can nearly sit up by himself unsupported (especially loves it in the bath so he can play with his big brother)
* Loves kicking. If I'm breastfeeding him while on the computer he loves banking his legs on the table and cracking himself up with laughter
* Makes people smile, lots of comments on happy, smiley and gorgeous he is. This guy is a heartbreaker!
* Lots of "talking" bubbly noises and cute laughter.
* Loves his tucker. Has to eat the same food as us, no jar food for this little guy.
* Gives my breast a little massage or rub when he is feeding. He still loves his breastfeeds although they are fairly well spaced out now.
* Can propel himself across the floor at good speed although not crawling. The wooden floors are great for sliding.

Weighs 8 kilos
Height 71cm
Head circumference 45cm

Six months already!

Jordan loves...
...his food - we can't eat without him having some too.
...rolling from side to side and onto his tummy then back onto his back
...his tummy time
...playing with his big brother, he seems to be a bit lonely when he isn't around

He..
...recognises his name (Kaiden yells it at him enough times during the day)
...is getting alot more hair
...wakes once or twice during the night depending on whether I stay up to give him a dreamfeed at 10 / 10.30pm
...weighs 7470 grams
...is 70cm long (75th percentile)
...has a head circumference of 44.4cm

Four months - Jordan update

We headed up to the chemist to see the health nurse and have a monthly weigh in - Here's the stats:

Weight 6520g up 490g, in the 25th percentile for his age
Length 66 cm up 4cm, in the 85th percentile for his age
Head circumference 42.8cm up 1.6cm 75th percentile for his age

Jordan is still a very smiley boy, loves being the centre of attention. He has discovered that he has a voice and has started blowing raspberries. There is usually one wake during the night for a feed but during the day he tends to cat-nap with a longer sleep in the afternoon. Photos to come...

Three months old

Our little guy is three months old already! It brings a smile to our faces seeing Jordan and Kaiden interact with each other. These two are going to get into ALOT of mischief together when Jordan is older. Jordan loves lying under this dangly stars, and has started to be able to hold a rattle.
The stats from the weigh-in yesterday are:
Weight 6030g, up 750gms in 5 weeks (about the 40th percentile)
Head circumference 41.5cm (about the 75th percentile)
Length 62cm (about the 60th percentile)
He is now into size 00 clothes and about to move into the cot, once the right size bunks arrive for Kaiden.

Tommy Turtle

Jordan's nickname before he was born was "turtle", so for Christmas I made him one using another Funky Friend's pattern. I gave personalised him by embroidering Jordan's initials onto his underbelly. The cheeky thing snuck into Jordan's cradle this morning to say 'hello' before he is wrapped and put away ready for the big day. Then he went for a little look out in the garden although it won't be long before he comes out to play again. I used the same fabric as I did for the giraffe (from Lincraft) with some fabric from my stash for the underbelly.

Jordan's second month weigh-in

Time is flying. Jordan is two months' old already. He has gained one kilogram this month and here's the stats:
Length: 59cm, in the 75th percentile for his age
Weight: 5290g, in the 40th percentile for his age
Head circumference: 40cm, in the 85th percentile for his age.

Six week smiles

We are getting alot more smiles now and some baby "talk". Jordan charmed our visitors Arthur and Roslyn and has spent the week going to playgroup, shopping, the park and afternoon walks. The unsettled period has moved to 4pm (hence the afternoon walks) with feeds around about every four hours (if I'm lucky!), sometimes more frequently especially during the day.

This week...

Kaiden started in the little kindy room at daycare. While he may miss his friend Liam, he does get to play again with his former bestie Frankie. He enjoyed his first day. He gets to go in the bigger play area with the older kids. Lunch and the afternoon rest is half an hour later. At his swimming lesson on Friday he kicked and paddled all the way across the pool. Jordan is growing quickly. This week we saw smiles for the first time which are just gorgeous, especially with the little dimples. We had the six-weekly visit to the paediatrician this week, a week early because Brett was worried about Jordan's boy-bits. Jordan was given the all-clear - he has a hydrocele which should disappear over the next 12 months. He also impressed the Dr with a huge pee which not only saturated the mat but the cover of the bed as well (I bet the receptionist who had to change the sheets was not impressed). The Dr discovered the Jordan has an innocent heart murmur which apparently can be be hereditary.

New stats for Jordan:
Weight 4.55kg
Length 56.5 cm (health nurse was a bit out probably because Jordan was asleep at the time!)
Head circumference 38.7cm

At four weeks...

Above: Jordan enjoying Lauren's birthday party - he slept through the whole thing.

Today we went off to the child health nurse at the chemist for a weigh-in and measure. Here's the stats:
*Weight now 4240g (was 3530 at birth) now in around 49th percentile (same as birth)
*Length now 59 cm (was 53cm at birth) now in 96th percentile (up from 90th percentile at birth)
*Head circumference now 38cm (was 35cm at birth) now in 75th percentile

No wonder the 0000 bodysuits no longer fit and we have moved in 000s. There are only a few 0000 outfits that still fit him and for not much longer, the 000s are better with more room for his cloth nappy bum.

I weighed Kaiden at home and he now weighs 13.6kg which puts him in the 40th percentile for his age.

At four weeks Jordan:
* Loves a bath and always has from his first one
* Hates his nappy being changed and getting dressed
* Can go 3 1/2 to 4 hours between feeds (including at night if I'm lucky)
* Changes from day to day, some days has very long sleeps, other days not so
* Is most irritable in the early evening
* Has a tinge of red in his hair

Kaiden refers to him as "the baby" not Jordan - "Where is the baby?", "We feed the baby".

Conversations with Kaiden now go like this. We were passing a paddock of dairy cows so I ask Kaiden, "Where does milk come from". He smartly answers, "nipples". So true. (Months ago we were having a similar conversation at my Aunt's and he pointed to the milk carton). He has taken in breastfeeding - if Jordan is on his lap he pulls up his shirt ready for him to have a feed. Sorry buddy - won't work! He thinks Jordan drinks "pink" milk - strawberry flavoured of course, because that is Kaiden's favourite.

It feels like Jordan has been part of our family forever, in a nice way. Like it was his destiny to join us and now our little family is complete.

Two weeks old...

While Jordan is one month tomorrow, I'm still catching up on my blog posts. This is an update from week two....

Jordan is growing bigger every day. His eyes are more open and he is certainly taking in all that is happening around - especially his loud, singing big brother. Also at two weeks:
* Jordan's dry peeling skin has almost gone - it doesn't look so much like he needs some exfoliation.
* Is in 0000s (was from birth). Now winter has seemed to have gone, I had a look at what Kaiden wore (tiny five 0's) in his first month. They are so tiny and just no way that Jordan will fit them. So I gave them a good cuddle, had a sigh and packed them away. Just need to convince Brett now that it is OK to chop them up to make a memory quilt.
* Is still unsettled at night but watching less of sci-fi and more of the business channel around 2am (is that when the US stock market opens?)
* Is a real cuddly bunny and loves a good cuddle or lying on Mummy's shoulder to go to sleep. I'm taking in the moment of enjoying the soft baby breath on my cheek :).
* Has regained all of this birth weight, and a bit more, weighing in at around 3.8kg.
* Kaiden is taking opportunities to get into mischief, the latest being getting into Daddy's shaving cream (we were wondering why it was so quiet in the bathroom!). He still loves his little brother but is looking for some attention as well - asking for cuddles, mostly from his Daddy.

There's a house in my Mummy's tummy

I'm not normally into sharing belly photos, but I just love this one of K taken on Tuesday, a couple of days before Jordan's arrival. Most people have been asking us if K knew what was going on...I'm still not exactly sure but we were reading "There's a house in my Mummy's tummy" for the last couple of weeks, K came to the scans with us and he would often sit and feel Jordan moving and shout "Get out Turtle!". When he first saw Jordan in the hospital he yelled out "Baby" by the next day Pop had taught him to say "Baby Jordan" and he says that he is a "big brother". He is fascinated by watching Jordan feed and asks if he can get him a bottle. Sometimes he "helps" by getting a nappy or carrying in clothes or a towel at bathtime. So far he has taken to Jordan's arrival well, he is a wonderful big brother.

Baby photos

Here's the very cute Turtle at 33 weeks. It is amazing the detail from the ultrasound. We don't have a photo of Kaiden to compare it with because at the scan at the same stage Kaiden didn't want to show us his face but Turtle was a bit more co-operative! We had this scan to check the position of the placenta which showed everything had moved up and was looking good! Turtle has an above average head circumference and femur length so I wonder if that means a big head and long legs?

Introducing "turtle"

Last Wednesday we went for the 20 week scan and saw "turtle". The baby has been honoured with that nickname after Kaiden said they looked like a "turtle" on the tv screen. All is well and we were blessed with some marvellous pics of the little one all snuggled up. I'm starting to get some good kicks now and Kaiden loves to say hello to "turtle" and tells them to "get out!" (not yet I say, they have to grow in there for a little while longer...)
And just so you can see, this was Kaiden at the same stage...and look how cute he turned out!