The day the baby stole the book launch

I've been schmoozing.

With academics.

I must say, I felt quite at home in the world of academia and not at all bothered by the lack of postnominals after my name.

Mum and I had to go out to uni to talk to her cousin* about a new work contract. The visit coincided with the launch of a book she helped work on before I was born. So off to the book launch we went!

Mum's cousin loves babies. He was the baby whisperer of his family. I'm more than happy to let anyone hold me, but particularly those with baby whispering skills, so Warren held me for just about the whole function.

And he introduced me to everyone.

I met the Dean. I met the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. I met people with MAs and PhDs.

And I completely stole the show.

The Dean mentioned me in her speech. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor mentioned me in his speech. And the authors mentioned me too!

My academic career has begun.

* Warren is actually married to Mum's cousin. So technically not her cousin at all. But giving detailed family histories messes with the flow of my blog. Don't you think?

A different view

I view much of life in our house from my little chair.

Other babies lie on mats and view the world from the floor.

Not me.

I'm a reflux baby.

But Dad and Noah went out today and my little chair was still in the back of the car after our visit to Grandma and Grandad's last night!

Deciding she couldn't carry me around all morning, Mum dragged out Noah's baby playmat from storage. She propped me up with a little cushion (so I wouldn't spew everywhere) and attached some little friends to the toy bar.

I loved it!

I even did some almost-ready-to-roll-over moves.

So now there's a new baby apparatus in our lounge room.

And I'm even more vulnerable to big-brother cuddles!

Could it be?

Could it be...that I am getting my first tooth?

I have been a little bit out of sorts today.

I had a long morning sleep but no afternoon sleep.

When I was awake, I just wanted to be held and didn't want to sit in my chair.

And, not that you want to know the details, but...well...I've been through quite a few nappies today. Quite a few, if you know what I mean.

It was the nappy action that had Mum puzzled.

Was it something she ate?

She didn't think so.

And then she remembered that the same thing used to happen with Noah...around teething time.

"When do babies get their first tooth?" she asked Dad.

But, of course, he didn't know.

So she looked it up online and, sure enough, teething can begin at around four months.

There are no little teeth poking through my gums just yet. Mum checked.

But I'll keep you posted.

Tour of Duty

My tour of duty is complete!

By the time we arrived home this afternoon, I'd met all my great-grandparents and a good handful of great-aunts and uncles...and even a cousin!

We left Tamworth this morning after a good sleep (at least I slept all night long and didn't wake up in the middle of the night to tell everyone I didn't want to go to the beach because of little-boy-eating sharks).

This time, I resigned myself to being trapped in the car for hours and promptly fell asleep.

I got fed every two hours when the car stopped so, with my tummy full, it was easy to sleep most of the trip.

Finally we arrived at my Great-Grandad and Nan's house. Great-Grandad made a beeline for the car and made sure he got the first cuddle with me.

He said it had been a long time since he'd held a little baby like me. But I think he did a good job.

Then I met cousin Jenny and had cuddles with Nan, Aunty Margaret and Uncle Ian.

Opinion was divided on whether I was big or small. If I could talk, I would tell them it's all relative. And I might have something to say about commenting on a girl's weight!

We had a lovely visit and then it was time to hop back in the car for the final hour.

Home at last!

Pewing

There's been a lot of 'pewing' going on today.

In case you didn't know, 'pewing' is the sound that Star Wars weaponry makes.

You know.

"Pew, pew, pew!"

That sound.

It's a sound I've been hearing all my life when my brother plays Star Wars games.

And today he had a like-minded friend to play 'pewing' games with.

We left Mummy B's house today, after a morning of cuddles and photos.

And we arrived in Mum and Dad's old town of Tamworth to stay with some of our good friends, Jack and Hallie.

I watched while the kids jumped on the trampoline and played on the swing set.

And then the 'pewing' games began.

Oh yes. It's all about Star Wars where my big brother is concerned.

I occasionally get written into these games as Princess Leia. Or Princess Lucy. And, invariably, I require rescuing.

For now, I have no choice but to sit in my chair and be rescued.

But I'm sure my own 'pewing' days are just around the corner!

Adapt-a-baby

If there were ever any fears that I would be a lousy roommate*, I proved them unfounded by my amazing sleeping skills last night.

I did wake up once for a feed, but then I went right back to sleep and slept for hours. Despite sharing the room with three others. And despite the noise they all made, crashing about as they got ready for bed.

Daylight saving? Pfft.

Strange room, strange house? Double pfft.

I am adapt-a-baby.

And so, I awoke a happy girl in this strange house and enjoyed some lovely cuddles with my extended family.

There was more driving (yes, I was a little unimpressed to get back into the car but I didn't make too big a deal out of it), a visit to a park and then lots of photos.

Then, in the afternoon, I giggled for the first time!

Dad made me laugh with a little peek-a-boo game. And I giggled each time.

I also enjoyed getting about in a summer all-in-one suit. It's a novel experience to have my chubby arms and thighs exposed to the air!

It was a happy day away from home.

*There may have been a little incident the last time we went away as a family. It may have been, on that occasion, that I slept for a total of two hours over two nights.

Road trip

We set off on a big adventure today.

My first road trip!

I've been in the car for a couple of hours at a time, but today's trip took more than seven hours.

Mum and Dad weren't particularly looking forward to the drive, but I was none the wiser.

They tried to explain to Noah how long the trip would take.

"About as long as a day at Kindy," Mum told him.

In the end, it was the interval between McDonald's restaurants that mattered.

We hopped from one to the next and it made the seven hours go by quite quickly.

I slept, we stopped, I had a feed, back into the car, I slept again. Repeat.

Finally we arrived in a little town called Manilla.

That's where my Great-grandmother lives.

When Dad was a little boy, he called her Mummy B. He still does. And now so does Mum. And Noah. And I will too, when I'm big enough to talk.

I am one of four great-grandchildren and the only girl.

I had some lovely cuddles with Mummy B and I treated her to some of my very best smiles.

I also got to meet Uncle Ian and Aunty Di and have cuddles with them too.

But if you thought I was the centre of attention, you'd be wrong.

It's not easy to compete with a three-year-old boy!

Still, everyone thought I was a very beautiful and happy little girl.

Which I am, of course.