Spin me round

The other night Genevieve woke up at 4am. Although she didn't cry, we could hear her playing in her cot and playing with her aquarium for about an hour.

Later, when we decided to get up for our breakfast, we saw that she had managed to wriggle herself around across the cot, instead of the normal way we'd put her in. It looks like we've got a little cot-surfer now.

Walkin inna win terwund der land

We have managed to get away as a family once before, to the wedding we went to in Rutherglen. So in late May, we thought that it'd be achievable to head up to the snow this year. Last year, we had our big around-the-world trip, during which we found out that Naomi was pregnant, so those two factors meant that getting up for a slide just didn't happen. So this year, we were pretty keen to make it happen.

So, with the regular crew, we booked some apartments in Bright. However, since we did the same thing two years ago, one of the crew has moved to NZ (and probably still hasn't gone to the snow over there even though it's a bumper year), another has found love (as well as the love of his two young boys) and we have had Genevieve. So it wasn't quite party-central as it had been previously.

I took the Friday off, so we could just cruise up there. So we packed the car 'tetris-style' and set off around 11am. It was just as well, as it took a little longer than previous times, with stopping for feeds, changes and just the odd cuddle. But we landed, unpacked and set up Genevieve's stuff in record speed.

Once everyone arrived, Paul, or resident 'little-brother' called it for an 8am start. And, I'm very proud to say that without any undue effort, we were ready at 7:50. of course, Paul wasn't ready until 8:15.

Once we drove up, we settled in at Swindler's, or SWNDLRS as the cool-kids call it these days. Naomi and I were gonna tag-team. She had first shift with Genevieve, then I'd come and an let her have a go, and so on. So I went out for a little while, making sure that my mate Brendan found the Summit run OK, gauged his comfort level and then tried a few other runs before heading back in. Naomi was a bit anxious about heading out - it had been 2 years since she last boarded and, of course, a lot has happened since then. So I wanted her to get out before the snow softened too much. While she was gone, I tried to give Genevieve a feed (getting a take-away large cappucino cup full of hot water, to heat her pumpkin/sweet potato/zucchini puree). It was reasonably successful, although she did wear a lot of it.

Naomi came back in a little later than I expected, which was great. After one run she realised she remembered it all and she had a ball. She was quite impressed with her efforts, but she'd had enough, so I was out amongst it for the rest of the afternoon.

We headed off around 4:30, before the traffic and got back to Bright before Genevieve got too upset, and gave her a regular feed and tummy time. She was such a good girl. We were highly conscious that this could have been the weekend from hell, but it was actually pretty easy. However, we had to check out at 10am so to go up the mountain a second day, with all of the gear packed into the car, we both agreed it was going to be too much hassle to get our snow gear out, set up camp in Swindlers etc etc. So instead, we thought we'd have a nice sedate Sunday cruising the various wineries and gourmet eateries around the Alpine Shire.

We all had a wonderful weekend and we are glad we made the effort. It was great to get out on the snowboard. It was also great that we could so easily juggle looking after Genevieve, and getting some runs in. I can't wait until next year (no point in going again this year, as Australia's snow season hasn't been great).

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!?

I've heard far too many women complain about their husbands/ partners not getting up to think that it's just a matter of blokes being lazy. I will often sleep through Genevieve's cries, although a slight stirring of the dog or a possum in the tree will wake me. Perhaps there's a primal reason - so I can go hunting the next day?

Anyway, last night was not one of those nights. We've been trying to stop Genevieve needing a night-feed (which is a pretty normal thing to do at around 6 months). One strategy, that has worked, more-or-less, is Genevieve getting a 'dream' or 'roll-over' feed at around 10:30pm. This means that (hopefully) she won't get hungry until the morning. However, she is still in the habit of waking around 3am or so. Generally, she'll just wake, gurgle to herself a little and then settle herself back to sleep.

Last night, however, we had hours of screaming. She was overtired and just wouldn't settle. In the end, it was a bit easier for me to settle her, as I don't smell like her next meal.

So Naomi and I were suffering. It was the worst night I'd had since Genevieve was a newborn. But, of course, Little-G woke up bright as a button. Perhaps she was just getting me back for the prosepect of inheriting the family nose?

Water wings

I'd been looking forward to today all week, and not just because it was the weekend. Naomi had managed to find a pool that wasn't too far away, that practiced the water awareness training we were keen to try - beyond what we had been doing ourselves. Part of it is to get started as young as possible, and our local pool doesn't allow babies under 1 year old in their lessons.

But this one has their yardstick at 6 months, so we were in. Each week, they try a new basic skill and this week it was bobbing under water - which is a good thing as it's something we've been practicing with Genevieve for months now. It was a lot of fun, with lots of appropriation of nursery-rhyme lyrics to give them more aquatic themes. She was the youngest there, so everyone was quite impressed we were taking the effort. And, of course, everyone adored her.

Genevieve really seemed to have a ball, and her eyes were darting around taking it all in. She did get somewhat distracted by a lot of it, and so at times almost took in a lungful. But she didn't let it stop her, and the half-hour rolled around very quickly. It'll be good to go to every weekend.

Oompa Loompa

"If your baby is otherwise well but turning yellow before your eyes it's almost certainly because of her consumption of foods containing betacarotine..."
: Baby Love pg 467 - Robin Barker

As we've said, we've been feeding Genevieve quite a few solids, including quite a bit of sweet potato, pumpkin and carrot. Can you see what's in common with these? Yep, they're orange. And accordingly, Genevieve's face is starting to look a little like Nanna's did back in the 70s when she took those tanning tablets.

6 months old!

She's growing up so fast - look, she's even reading.

She had her six-month injections, which are the last she'll have until twelve months (thank goodness!) She was pretty good, but I was a bit traumatised.

In the last month Genevieve has grown another 1 cm and put on 490g. This means she is now 64cm long and weighs 6.2kg (13lb11).

Feed Me!

Well the weaning has been coming along really well! So far Genevieve has tasted (and liked) rice cereal, pear, sweet potato and pumpkin. Next on the list are apple, zucchini, potato and banana.

She will sit in her high chair and patiently wait for her food to be ready and then she tries to help feed herself by grabbing the spoon or bowl. Feeding time can end up looking like a full contact sport. But it's all fun.

It's a toof!

You may have noticed, in recent photos, that Genevieve's cheeks have been getting redder and redder. Well it appears that now that we've been feeding her solids, she's popped out something to help her deal with them. A TOOTH!

(Click for zoom - The photo quality isn't that great - but it's there - it's that bit of white in the centre.)