Byron

Spring 2011

2011-12-06T04:40:00.001-08:00

September, October, November

Am I really 6 months behind?! Oops. More quotes. Pics to come, when I get organized.

The Woods are lovely, dark and deep
But before I go to sleep
I have promises to keep.

(Byron, when asked if he remembered the "dark woods poem" he'd only heard a few times, weeks earlier.)

B: Let's play a game called "Annoy", where I spray you in the face and you run away.

Byron thought his mummy was very clever for knitting an elephant, not because it was an elephant, but because I somehow changed the color from the one on the pattern :)

Jasmine: Look at my spinny dress!
Byron: Jasmine, I don't like spinny dresses! I like cranes.

Byron (on Melbourne Cup fashion): She's got undies on her head!

Byron - playing a game called "Delivering little parcels to make the sad people feel better."

Byron (re "The Great Jiggy Wiggy", a character (the king) on his xbox game Banjo 'n Tooie) That's Jesus, Daddy!

Jasmine: I can do whatever I want to!
Byron: No you can't. You can't kill people or play in the cupboard.

Sent his handprint to Jonathan, "his boy", whom he picked (from the World Vision site) to sponsor.

Winter, 2011

2011-12-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

June, July, August

Don't be fooled by the Good Big Brother look. He makes her push him back up the hill!

Rock climbing at Scienceworks. He'll be back!

Penguins!!

Quotes:
Jasmine: Do aliens fly?
Byron: Aliens don't catch flies. Lizards catch flies.

Byron has been learning to write a few letters. He was concentrating on his writing so hard one day, that he fell off the chair.

On waking up one morning: There were dinosaurs... a monster outside my bedroom window... no, it wasn't a dream... but luckily I'm some sort of superhero.

regarding hot chips: I don't like crunchy. Crunchy is NOT my friend.

I want real chocolate, not brown.

Byron to Zachary (quoting Shrek): Wanna dance, pretty boy?

Byron: I am so "not"

Daddy: What can we do to help you not wet your bed?
Byron: Let me stay up.
Daddy: How will that help?
Byron: Erm.... you'll see!

Mummy: Come on! Don't you want to go to Play Group?
Byron: Yes.
Mummy: Then perhaps you could be a bit helpful?
Byron, excited: I'll drive!

Autumn 2011

2011-07-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

Apologies: I'm very behind in updating the blogs. Unfortunately all my recent pictures just got wiped with the death of the laptop. If you have any photos from this month, please send them, and I'll edit the posts as able.

Visited the local kindergarten and signed up for next year. After seeing the playground there, Byron is Very Keen!

Look at my shoes! My glasses! I look like a dude, actually!

J: Mummy, the block licked me
B: Jasmine, none of my blocks have tongues

I don't want to play the hard game. I want to play the soft game.

B: What's an avatar?
Me: A little computer picture that represents you. See? Computer-Byron: he looks like you, has blonde hair, jumps around...
B: ...is naughty.

Something made me grumpy!!

I'm a superhero, coz I've got socks on!

This couch is electric and spongy and dangerous, but I'm stronger than it!

(When asked again by one frustrated Mum to quit saying "Why?" for a bit): Why can't I say "Why", Mummy? I don't know stuff!!

May 17: turned 4 years old.

B: Mummy?
Me: yeah?
B: I don't want to talk to you.

B: Go out.
J: Why?
B: Because I want to have my beauty-rest.

B: (opens the glass door) I'll see if it's dark...

This season, Byron is increasingly interested in writing letters. He'll sit and copy them, and he knows a few 'by heart' now. Unfortunately for him, it didn't occur to him that writing "B" on Jasmine's toys (not once but twice) would be considered evidence against him :)

Summer 2010-11

2011-03-08T04:49:00.000-08:00

Summer at the playground

Summer thickshake

Summer hammock

Summer hat

Summer singlets (with superheroes)

Summer school

Summer sea creatures (an octopus)

Summer break from Playgroup.

Quotes from Summer:

I'm feeling pestered! Everyone's pestering me.

B: If I was a winged man I could fly up into the air and trick Jesus and God and pretend I died!

Mum: Why? To make God laugh?

B: yeah!

Dad: Who's poo-ey?

B: Zachary is! (putting his fingers down the back of his nappy!)

Mum: Stop saying "Why?" for a while! Just give it a rest!

B: Mummy, why can't I say that question?

All those birds would look like sheep if they didn't have wings. (Cockatoos)

Mummy: Don't come back in here saying "More more more".

B: I'll just come in and say, "More more".

J: Byron's digging under the slab!

B: (pushing on the house with his hand) It's not wobbley yet.

Started calling his baby brother "Zacka", which Jasmine immediately copied.

When I had a sleep I dreamed about grumpiness, so I'm very grumpy!

I wish I was a rain cloud. It would be fun to make mud for Jas.

Is that your chocolate with no sweet? (I gave him some of my 85% dark chocolate, and he's hardly ever asked me for some since.)

B: Jasmine? How about we get married?

J: No thankyou; I'm dancing.

B: (Speaking for the doll he was holding, to the doll Jasmine was holding) I'm a superhero, coz look what I can do! (tips doll back so its eyes close)

Jasmine, you can't see in your ear unless you're inside your ear.

I'm a very naughty boy, but I'll be good for Grandma!

Skills and achievements: Getting good at using the pot and toilet, so graduated to undies. Touched a koala and a roo at the wildlife park. Helped me dye some carded wool for spinning. Persuaded Jasmine to call him "Superhero Byron" for the morning. Played two characters in his own imaginary game, arguing with and persuading himself. Still has an imaginary friend called Martin.

Spring, 2010

2011-01-20T02:39:00.000-08:00

Run run run!

Monkeying around on the swings. Scary to watch, at times, but he sure has had a lot of practice!

Trick shot with Zachary.

Trying to read to Zach (even Mummy has trouble reading "Oh say, can you say?"!)

Spring rolls in Spring. Very serious business.

3 car seats squashed into the back. For the next 7 years, apparently.

Favorite colors: red and black.
.
Some art:

First time I ever saw him attempt to draw a person. This is Daddy, obviously.

This one is a "Quick, Jasmine... Mummy left the paints on the table and now she's not looking" coordinated effort. But Byron did most of it. It's very 3-D because it was piles of thick paint squirted straight out of the bottles, about 2-3cm high off the paper. Lots of fun, until Mummy noticed...

One of Byron's many black paintings. :)

Quotes:

No, Mummy! He's already warm! (when told I was knitting a jumper for his toy sheep)

Dear God, thankyou for our lunch and bless your cotton socks, in Jesus' name... GO!

I want to go to a very happy place, and that's Grandpa's house.

Uncle Matt and Auntie Kylie's wedding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ObdJlm42fw

B: I'm a superhero and my super protects me from being hurt. So I don't cry too much. And I don't laugh as much.

Mum: You don't laugh as much?

B: No, because I'm protected from tickling.

B read me "Green Eggs and Ham" and did a pretty good job

B: These socks are nice and comfy and warm!

Mum: You can tell people at playgroup I made them for you.

B: NO! They might say "you can't have those socks!" I don't want to tell anyone! I'm serious!

B: Mummy, you know everything, don't you?

Mum: Nearly.

B: You do, actually.

Whoever wins the game gets to win the game.

I don't like this tea. It's got boogs in it! (Dinner time is always a struggle, but that was a new one.)

I'm going to be Mr. Incredible. Very, very strong! (walks off swaying his shoulders...)

(lifting his legs up and down): Look, Jasmine; I'm getting strong. Do you want to have a go, so you can get stronger and push Daddy?

I just like being naughty, no smacks.

Our 3yo. Clever enough to defeat the lock on the childproof kitchen gate. Still silly enough to brag to Mummy about it.

B: Why did it just get quiet?

Mum: Because we all stopped talking. (this doesn't happen much with Byron around)

B: Please can I have a banana?

Mum: No, it's nearly tea time. I know you're hungry.

B: I'm not hungry!

M: Then why do you want a banana?

B: I'm hungry!!

M: ?!

B: I'm just hungry coz I want a BANANA!

June, July, August, 2010

2010-09-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

Changing the oil, he says.

Quotes from Winter:

(re Zach) He's not making a noise. I hear him not making a noise.

.
Yes, please, but no, thanks.
.

Byron: (waving two balloons) Give me a hip

Jasmine: Hip!

B: Give me a hip, Jas

J: Hip!

B: Hooray

J: Hooray!

Gimme six! (Funnier, apparently, than "gimme 5")

(eating Coco Pops) Now I've got fireworks in my tummy!

I feel hot, and I think it might be because I'm hot.

The electricity went to the wire across the road. (His explanation of Toy Death due to battery failure!)

Don't chop it! (When I was about to cut him some cake; he wanted the whole thing!)

(To Zach): Aren't you a little vegemite boy! (because I sometimes call him a happy little vegemite)

(re. Lake Wendouree) Look, Mum, there's water in the pond!

(Walking around with hands over face) I've got special glasses on to keep the water out of my eyes.

Mum: If you want to get out you could open the door...

B: Hmmm... Great idea, Mummy!

(Cooking imaginary food with Jasmine) B: Tea tah! You want to say grace?

J: Of course

B: Hold my hand... (Thanks God for pretend lunch)

Mum: You're not supposed to say No when I tell you to do something.

B: No, it's SO dangerous!

(frequently, to Jasmine): Jasmine!! Don't tell anyone!

(pulling labels of clothes): Look, Mummy; you're getting free cards!

Byron: That's enough!!

Jasmine: Do what you're told to do!

(To Nathan) Move still!

Mummy, leave Zachary alone. I'm reading him a book.

I think we should go for a quick drive to Sydney and I will have a little talk to Grandpa and a big play, and then we can drive home again...

I crashed into Uncle Matthew's website and broke my truck.

(after an explanation of an electrical circuit): That's very silly, Mummy.

Why has mayonaisse got vinegar in it? (remembering, apparenly, a week earlier, when I had walked into Jasmine's room saying, "Why does it smell like vinegar in here?" just before finding them spreading mayo all over the room.)

B: Sometimes I reach over and take things from the bench.

Mum: and if I see you, you get in trouble.

B: Yeah. If you see me.

May, 2010

2010-06-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

Byron is THREE

Well, not quite, in that photo, but that's his birthday jumper. Here is what he considers "a pose":

hehehe.

Please, can I bring this rock inside?

Byron in May:

His favorite game is "Pairs" with his dinosaur cards. Fun to hear him say, "Ooo! Diplodicus! Yay!" He loves making up stories ("reading") to Jasmine, and her refusal to sit and listen is the cause of many fights. She follows him around the paddock, and he teaches her lots of things. It's occurred to him that quickly offering his sister a hug (when he's made her cry) saves him from getting growled at. His speech is pretty good, though he still often says, "I'm am", and once was heard to say, "No I'm am isn't not!". LOL.

Other quotes:

Now, come on, Jasmine; let's go in the bedroom and I'll show you there's no monsters in the cupboard. I'll turn on the light so you won't be scared. (went on to explain why shadows aren't monsters.)

"I don't want a sleep! I'm not tired; I'm full full FULL of energy!" [yaaaawn]
.

Byron (looking at me in the rear view mirror): No, you can't see me!

Me: Just because you say so doesn't make it true.

Byron: Yes it does! ...That doesn't make any sense!

(reading to Jasmine) "In the light of a star, three little bugs sat on a leaf. One was called Bella, one was called Bella, and the other was called Bella. (the book was "my little book of 5")

(Crying) I tried to throw the stick over the fence for the goat but it actually hit me on the head. It didn't watch where it was going!

(before playgroup): Mummy, can we leave Jasmine at home?

Mummy: You need to make up your mind.

Byron: No and Yes. Heheheh.

Stay tuned for less frequent updates from now on. Maybe every three months. Mummy is feeling BUSY, and his photos aren't changing much now. :)

April, 2010

2010-05-07T20:47:00.001-07:00

Testing his future-birthday-present for fit.

Mackas!

Into hiding things in his room (or Jasmine's)

What? He's feeding himself!

Stuff from March and April:

"Goosey, Goosey, Gander, where shall I wander?Upstairs and downstairs, in his nightgown, There I met an old man who walked a crooked mile..." Twisted Nursery rhymes
.

Decided to call Jasmine "Jazzy" with no apparent outside influence
.

Learned to climb over the gate Daddy had just built between the yard and the paddock
.

"Do you want to ask me if I want a bath, Daddy?"
.

Being very vernacular; "Good-O!"
.

"The number of the Day! That means it's time to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house!" Strange but useful brain connections

.
"You're doing a really good job with your wool, Mummy. Your wool is pretty. Your wool is nice! That's just amazing and nice..." inching closer to the yarn I was dyeing (when told to stay away) with compliments to distract me

Mummy: Bunnings? Why would I want to take you three out of the car and herd you all around Bunnings while you run away, and be naughty, and touch things you shouldn't, and then try and get you all back into the car? That doesn't sound like very much fun for me.

Byron: But it sounds like fun for me!

"Look, Jasmine... see the bus?" Pointing out shapes in the clouds.

Daddy: Don't get in Grandma C's car in your dirty boots!

Byron: [takes off boots and climbs in]

"Well, I think I AM allowed to..." trying his hand at willing things into reality.

"I'm not tasty; I'm a yukky boy! And you're not a dinosaur, Daddy!"

"One day when I'm a cat and I've got strong eyes, I'll be able to see through the fog."
.

"Jasmine and I are playing "Grandma and Grandpa". You are Uncle Matthew and Zach is Auntie Kelly." [runs off to buy me a motorbike]

Mummy: Where's my little sewing box?

Byron: It was on the couch. I think Jasmine took it.

Mummy: Hmmm. I wonder where "she" put it?

Byron: I think she put it in my cupboard...

(Morality aside, the learning to lie phase is pretty funny!)

Mummy [growls at Byron]

Byron: I'm going to buy some insects and let them sting you because you're saying bad things!

Mummy: Well, you haven't got any money.

Byron: Well, not yet; when I'm bigger.

Also seen making up a story to go with the new book he hadn't heard yet, and telling Jasmine (correctly) which Dr Seuss books (pictured on the back page) that we did and didn't have.

March 2010

2010-04-09T18:48:00.001-07:00

I looked out the window, and there he was, little Monkey.
.

Sometimes having three littlies is a bit awkward. Here Zachary, upset at being left alone, joins Byron for story time... but doesn't make it to the end of the book ;D
.

Byron watching TV while sitting on my back, as I laid on my stomach on the floor.
.

He loves playdough, though it end up getting confiscated every single time he's allowed to play with it :)
.

Burning off some energy at Macka's. We go here fairly often, but it's hardly bad for his health, as he's too busy playing to eat more than a few chips for lunch.
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Pressing the bell buttons at the Eureka Stockade playground
.

February

2010-03-05T04:35:00.001-08:00

The school bus, apparently.
.

Trying to get to the tree branch like the girl up the tree did. (The rule is "You're allowed to climb up the tree if you can climb up yourself")

Lending a hand Ü

Relaxing on the swing in the sunshine

Inside the toybox

Byron this month:

Put an icecream bucket on his head and ran around headbutting stuff, to prove it didn't hurt.

Started going to Playgroup with Grandma

Hid himself under the toybox on the treadmill so I wouldn't know he was squirting bbq sauce on it.

quotes:

From the top of the treadmill (with supreme confidence): "If I fall I'll just do a flip and land on my feet."

Holding a cardboard tube "exhaust pipe" to his chest: "Hey, Mummy! Smoke is coming out of my engine!"

B: (after putting a sand "chocolate cake" into the "oven" under the back step) Look, Mummy; I'm climbing into the oven!

Me: Don't burn your hands

B: I won't; I'm wearing oven gloves.

(to Jasmine, with appropriate actions) "Gimme five... to the side... down below... TOO SLOW"

(to Jasmine) You'll fall if you climb up onto the roof... You should get a ladder!

hehehe.

2010-02-05T03:41:00.000-08:00

Checking out the new gate... which doesn't help him escape the 'yard' at all...

Carding some wool from the black sheep...

Why else did you think I wanted Jasmine's pink back pack? ...

Making pancakes with Jasmine...

Staking trees with Daddy

December, 2009

2010-01-07T01:23:00.000-08:00

Byron this month:

We started playing a game to make having his nails clipped more fun, where I call him "sir" and charge him to come to my clipper shop. After charging him an imaginary $2 for clipping all his toenails, he decided to do mine, charging me $100! (At least he said, "Thankyou, sir")

"I think my milo's not a baby, cause it's milo." (stomach contents become confusing when Mummy has a baby in hers.)

"Daddy, I want some Beyonce! I love Beyonce!" (asking for music to dance to)

"Where's the Princess? The queen is gone! I have to find the queen!" (on waking up; obviously dreaming of rescuing some damsels in distress)

Daddy: Why are you putting the cushions over there?

Byron: [flapping his arms] Because that's where my nest lives.

"Mummy, you need to go inside for a minute, because I'm starting the angle grinder." (kicked out of his 'shed')

"I just want the pineapple only!" (complaining about having to eat pizza)

"Thankyou, God, for our yummy food, in Jesus' name... and bless your cotton socks... in Jesus' name, amen." (grace)

Byron asked me to make the toy chipmunk a milo, but I refused, saying to Chippy, "You eat nuts." He quickly backed me up, saying to the toy, "You eat nuts... and bolts".

"Mummy, the men won't wave to me!!" (indignant at the rudeness of airplane pilots flying far above us)

November, 2009

2009-12-03T02:25:00.001-08:00

How does one go about getting cute pictures of a naughty 2-year-old? I know...!

Hehehe. Well, okay, he's also pretty cute when he's not asleep in bed, in the car or on the beanbags... he just doesn't smile and stay still at the same time very often Ü

Quotes for Nov

"Mummy, stop making noises! I'm trying to watch the news!"

"I think I could climb into it and get a pig..." (after watching some cute piglets on TV)

"There are two left." (I took the jelly bean container off him and said if he could count how many he had taken out, he and Jasmine could share them. He showed me the hand containing two... and hid the other handful behind his back!)

He's also started the annoying habit of repeating what someone just told him. But he has learned how to control his temper enough to (sometimes) yell, "No Thankyou, Jasmine!!" instead of just whacking her. Progress ;)

October 2009

2009-11-05T18:57:00.001-08:00

Getting a lesson from Daddy on How to Pedal.

Potted

At the Goldsmith Steam Rally (boys' day out with Daddy; technically Nov 1...)

Emptying the dry dirt from many pots into the rainwater in the empty sandpit = MUD
Despite the look on his face, he was allowed to play in it. Did a lot of washing that week.

Up under the handle of the treadmill. Anything to pretend he's riding a motorbike!
.

QUOTES FOR OCTOBER

My legs aren't sore... I think I can walk... yep! (self-testing after seeing a boy in a wheelchair on TV)

Don't unchance me! (When told he was naughty and couldn't have another chance. He was angry at the punishment (Jasmine got a lollipop and he didn't) though she let him have hers shortly after.)

Two is enough... (different opinion to Mummy re. iceypoles)

I'm not being good, but I'm still being good! (trying to convince Mummy)

Daddy: Come here.

Byron: You have to say, "Come here, little robot" (he had a bucket on his head) and you have to say please!

also:

Mastered the forward roll

Told the toy horse all about his day yesterday

Reads books when he should be asleep (he's realized that we hear the click of the light going on, so he leaves it off, but he still reads out loud Ü)

Cleaned the tables at Happy Jacks (playground) with the toilet brush he found

Taught Jasmine how to ride a motorbike (the only props were two toy rings, used for steering wheels)

September

2009-10-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Playing with the frame of Daddy's buggy

Climbing up the rope ladder as easily as a monkey. Loves going to the playground!

Taking the wheel and going for a spin ;)

He doesn't think rain is any sort of reason not to play outside, and why would you when your big (size 5) raincoat covers you so well?

I didn't record so many quotes this month, as he talks more or less constantly; instead I wrote some of the things he's been up to.

This month Byron's been into posting things into cracks (like books and spoons into the gaps of my treadmill). Nathan's also been trying to get him to say "J" because he actually says "j" as "dy", like "dyasmine". Once, when I asked him to say "Jjjjjj-asmine" he said to me, "Daddy's at work, so I don't have to say DYAY!" hehe.

He puts on his boots and heads outside all the time, which is fine, as we have an enclosed little yard. But sometimes I put him over the fence and he explores the paddock and chases the sheep. Once, when he was a bit far to see over the longish grass, I called out to him, and the neighbor waved and pointed. He was at the back fence asking him to lift him over ;).

He seems to pick up words and ideas all over the place with ease. He told me he had whiskers (brushing his cheek with his toe) and that our seagull ornament was actually an Albatross. He plays "boilers" with a broom, sweeping dusty ground up into "steam". He plays with an imaginary dog. He says "Goodbye" to his fruitcake before taking a bite! When I told him my back was sore, he took me to "hospital" (his room), told me to lay down, fed me imaginary cheese, read me "Rub a dub dub, who are these men in a tub, who a think a be.... they all sailed out to sea", turned off the light and shut the door behind me.

He had a great time tipping water over Jasmine's head (she thought it was great because it just dripped off her hat). When she was crying one day, he said to her, "Come here, sit on my knee and I give you a cuddle." Cute, but he mostly says "That's enough kisses!!" and pushes her away. Though one nice night he said to me, "Mummy, I need LOTS of kisses" and then said, "Thankyou, Mummy; I love kisses!" He likes feeding Jasmine, and even dishes her up more (out of his plate) if he is close enough.

He was walking around stamping his left foot, and when I asked what he was doing he said he was trying to start his motorbike. He can count to ten, though he wasn't specifically taught to (and I think his "Look, four blocks..." is more clever than reciting stuff.) He can half-quote lots of rhymes, like Ring a Ring a Rosie, Old King Cole, Diddle Diddle Dumpling, Hot Cross Buns, etc. and "reads" them (and other books) to Jasmine.

He's still at the very naughty and defiant stage (and spends a fair bit of time on his bed some days), but he's still, by far, one of the cutest, cleverest, nicest little people I've ever met. Hehehe.

August, 2009

2009-09-06T04:09:00.001-07:00

The serious business of fixing mowers.

Look what I can do once I've put the pots all over the kitchen floor.

So serious...

But this is what happens when I say, "Smile, Byron..."

Cuddling Jasmine

Quotes of the month:

I'm hungry! I need chocolate. (each day)

Mummy, I need my socks on coz my feet get cold if they get cold.

I'm NOT tired, I'm a BOY.

Don't get lost, Mummy (as I followed him around Target, a bit too slowly)

You can't have more wool; you've got your own wool (I was buying more, but he thinks my yarn stash is big enough.)

Mummy, I won't wake you up, Mummy.... I won't wake you up any more, Mummy... Mummy? Mummy!

Hey, where are you going? (to a stranger walking by)

He also...

Took off PJ pants and put on tracksuit pants

Next day, took off PJ pants and wet nappy, and put on PJ's over bare butt.

Told me off for turning his pillow upside down

Spent 3 hours at a Macka's playground, and all he remembered, when Daddy asked about it, was that "Mummy spilt her orange juice all over place!"

Spent days talking about wheels and whistles and muskets and fires after a visit to Sovereign Hill.

July, 2009

2009-08-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Puts his own boots on and heads outside regularly. He can't get out of this small yard (yet) but loves to have a bit of freedom, especially with puddles like this about!

He was feeling cold, so he put on a jumper (around his waist) and a tshirt Ü

Now Byron is in the big bed! We took the side off the cot, as he was climbing over it anyway, and found him on the floor a few times. At least this bed has rails! Jasmine got promoted from the portacot to Byron's old cot Ü

Quotes for July:

"Ginger beer, ginger beer, ginger beer, ginger beer" (sung to the tune of "Spider man")

"Ding Dong!" (When knocking on his bedroom door didn't get results quickly enough)

"Mummy, go faster!!" (in the car)

"No, MOPS is on Tuesday. Bye." (talking on pretend phone)

"I'm going to be a man... and put on a hat."

"No, thankyou. I'd like a chocolate frog, though..." (response to biscuit offer)

Me: What's your "bzzer" today? Chainsaw? Jigsaw? Whipper snipper?

Byron: It's not a whipper snipper, it's a spoon!

"There's no reason for you to be in there!"

"All day long" (catch phrase of the month.)

"Goodnight Mummy, goodnight Jasmine, goodnight chairs, goodnight curtains, goodnight window....."

Also sings the whole alphabet song. Got a video of most of it, but can't seem to put it on with sound (which is pointless). Can count things (as he points to them) up to about 7.

June, 2009

2009-07-10T04:47:00.001-07:00

June Quotes from Byron:

"I might put wings on my back" (full of brilliant ideas)
"abcefdhj elamo p.... s...." (getting there with the alphabet song)
"I'm freezing, Mummy!" (after playing outside in whatever water he could find)
"Monsters! Don't bite me! Here... [feeds pancake] you go!" (talking to the pictures on his jumper)
"I don't have wings. I can't fly." (patiently explaining to Jasmine)
"I don't think so" (answer to Daddy's "We're going to wash your hair")
"Here, Mummy, have my screwdriver" (the answer to my "Daddy has locked it with a key")

Gardens/playground near our house

Loves his sunglasses.

Cooking a concoction on the swing

Preferred to climb up this way than the ladder on the other side.

She's finally here! I told him Zara was coming over. Unfortunately she got held up a few minutes, so Byron sat here about 10 minutes, waiting, and saying "Come on, Zara!"

May, 2009

2009-06-05T03:55:00.001-07:00

Byron learned a great new skill in May...

So we took off the side. He has half a bed! He hasn't rolled off yet, but there is another long pillow on the floor in case he does Ü He still sleeps all over the place.

There are also new childproof doorhandles (great idea, Kelly) after the night where we had to put him back in bed about 10 times between 3 and 4am. Now he has to knock on his door to get out :D

Here's an early present from Grandma and Grandpa. He loves the whiteboard side the best.

This month, on the 17th, he turned TWO!

Unbelievable.

Here are some little Byron Comments for May:

"I want a drink, Mummy... of coffee!"

"I want to see Daddy in the shed making things." [getting on well with long sentences]

Puts a bendy ruler in his mouth and snaps like a croc.

[to Jasmine] "Got to be careful when you use oven. Bit hot."

[to me] "Stop being silly!" [presses 'button' on my shoulder] "Stop!"

"Jasmine" [no more cute "Jazzem". sob.]

"Look, Mummy! Green frog! Da-glumph went little green frog one day" [playschool song]

"Oooo! Look; all fluffy!" [checking out Daddy's underarms]

[told to apologize to Jas]: "Sorry, Jazzem, Sorry, Jazzem... (cuddle)... Nice cuddle. Thanks for nice cuddle, Jas-men. Don't cry. I won't hurt you any more."

[sees Suzanne walking over] "There's my neighbor, Mummy!"

[encouraging] "Oh, that's good digging, Jasmine!"

[inquiring] "How was school, Daddy?"

[generous] "Want some icecream, Jasmine?"

"I might go to the bakery. I love the bakery!"

"One monkey jumping on the bed; one fell off and bumped his head. Mummy called the doctor, the doctor said: [growly voice] 'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'" Playschool song.

[crying] "You have to change my nappy! It's all pooey!" [Anything to escape time out!]

"Bless to us in Jesus' name, amen" [unprompted grace]

[to Jasmine] "Don't you break my chainsaw; you'll get bzzzzzed, you will!"

[Encouraged to answer "My name is Byron" when asked his name] "My name's 'ME', Mummy. I'm Me!" [technically June 1, but too cute to wait:]

I like this one. No complaining, future-Byron, because it was almost the one where you were sitting on the pot staring at the Nappy-box TV.

April 2009

2009-05-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

March, 2009

2009-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

He can say a lot of words, and I've been keeping track of some of the entertaining comments he's come out with in the last month.

"Xylophone... watering can... look, Jazzem: Umbrella..." (reading the Wiggles ABC book to Jasmine)

"Love you, teddy. Love you, teddy. Mwah [kiss]"

"Number 1: first in line" (Wiggles song)

"Hello down there! Hello, girl!" (to Jasmine)

"Not yet, not yet, no no no" (reading "The Bike Lesson" to Jasmine)

"Maybe after Playschool watch Sportacus again?" (addicted to "Lazy Town")

"Zara! Zara! Come here!!" (wandering around the house trying to transport his friend over to visit with the power of his mind.)

"Hurry up, Mummy. I'm ready Now." (wanting some milk)

"NOT!" (his very quick response to Daddy's dinner time question: "Is it going to go in Byron's mouth, or not?")

"Somebody's playing music!" (listening to the magpies)

"Beep, mmmmmmmmm, beep, beep" (pretending to cook in his pretend microwave.)

"Music! Mmmmmmmmm" (pointing at the freezer Ü)

"It's cordial, Mummy" (when asked if he'd like some 'juice'.)

"Don't cut me, just get away" (talking to the scissors as he was using them to cut some wool)

"It was a very nice tea, Mummy. Thankyou, Mummy." (unprompted! He's having a polite phase, I think.)

"We go a liberry today?" (Daily question. Loves the library because there are climbing cushions)

hehehe. I'll have to keep writing them down.

February

2009-03-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

Doing a bit of drawing

Doing a bit of "cooking"

Testing his 13 teeth on an apple

Climbing high enough to reach his books on the 4th shelf

Good old Library books

January 09

2009-02-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

Testing out the buggy frame (he climbed in, of course. Then we talked about snakes!)

Why we keep a long pillow around the top of his cot.

It was a long day...

Chasing some sheep with a bottle of rice. The idea was to shake it and they would come to get oats. Now they come for oats if they SEE us. Ü

Faking sleep.

December. The end of 2008!

2009-01-21T18:43:00.001-08:00

Sorry this is a bit late, but ...December!

Guess what he's doing here? hehe. (Hint: he has a baby sister.)

He likes to walk on the treadmill, and he can turn it on and press the buttons. (There is a safety key, which we hide, for obvious reasons.)

Those little chairs come in handy.

A trike for Christmas (though he actually spends more time fixing it with plastic tools than riding it!)

Funny how, of all the Christmas presents, the $2 plastic toy from the supermarket is the favorite!

The sandpit is great, too!

November

2008-12-03T19:17:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Dec 3, we found a half-cut molar! Silly mummy thought that teeth came in order, and a new tooth would be next to one he already has. Alas, no. But it explains the odd behavior the last 3 days... dribbling, grizzling in the night, not wanting to have his bottle, asking for bikkies and then spitting them out, grizzling and naughtiness from dawn to dusk... oh yeah, and extra early mornings!

This one is on the top left, and I think 2 teeth will fit between it and the four front ones he has. Plus, there are lumps where new molars are bound to pop out soon. Sigh. Poor little boy.

Wearing Daddy's hat

Knitting again... now trying the "with yarn" version

Too clever for his own good. Now he gets growled at more!

Self portrait. I didn't even realize he could reach the camera, let alone turn it on and snap his foot, until I saw the flash Ü

Next he puts his foot up onto the top, but decides it might be a bit risky... maybe when he's nineteen months old...

October pics

2008-11-02T05:55:00.001-08:00

The Adventures of Byron, monkey extraordinaire...

*************

Swinging from the treadmill...

Creative altitude adjustment...

Evel Knievel...

practicing running from danger (and saying "fast fast fast!")...

Top of the ladder...

UFO Spotting... Ü

Traversing the Wilds behind the shed (note tribal-style handprint in ash on face)...

Brushing up his Jungle Telegram skills...

In disguise (lion) with lion repellent (water)...

Top-of-the-range Adventure Equipment (hat and Wiggles thongs)...

*********************

Word list: Got up to 300 and then mummy stopped counting. Talks all day.
Puts a few words together, like "Naughty. Tip. Water. Floor." Nods his head to confirm.
Chats to Jasmine. Calls her "little girl" and says "what doin? TV?".
Takes her toys when possible.
Goes to bed with no fuss, now. Parents will enjoy while it lasts.
Doesn't eat much. Runs around all day.

September

2008-09-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

This month has seen a big jump in Byron's vocabulary. So I spent a week writing down all the words I heard him say. By the end of the week I had about 100 words, and he was adding new ones every day, just copying what he heard. He seems to understand most of the words he's saying (saying "stab" while poking Nathan with a pen, for instance) and he's starting to learn that he can ask for things and communicate a bit. Lots of fun.

Here's the list I'd written: (and how he pronounces them, if not properly)

Bella [Uncle Matt's dog. Very popular for a while]
Blanket (Blan)
Bath (Bahf)
bus
bird (buh)
bear
down
arm
brush (bahsh)
car
guitar (tar)
amen (ah meh)
eye
cheese
fly
chop
door
draw (door)
clock (kyock)
boat
book
dance (dass)
Byron (bine)
jump (jup)
Hi 5 (ha fah)
puppy
more
no
nappy (nap)
pants (pass)
outside (ow sah)
Jasmine (Jass em)
milk
pinch (pish)
knit
pull
home
hey
ice
mop
milo
mess
playschool (pay soo)
pasta
keys
mix
hot
Henny (Henry [the Octopus from the Wiggles])
Fifi [from a cartoon]
pear
oops
say
step
Zara
sock
wool
sleep (seep)
sweep (seep)
star
up
round
rain
shut
toes
table
toast
tea
story (soary or stay)
shower
top
turtle
sultana (tana)
stab
stuck
box
bottle
drip
fruit
dish
icecream
yogurt
hammer
don't
dad
mum
squirrel
drum
bang
well
chocolate
sharp

He also tries to sing bits of Wiggles songs, like "quack quack", "nummy, nummy" (from "Fruit salad"), "Ho To" ("Hot potato"), "toot toot", with various actions. hehehe.

He is very quick at climbing on the kitchen chairs, now, since he realized that he can reach a lot of new things.

Asleep on the bouncy again.

Doing the actions for "Fruit Salad"

Static little adventure cubby under the bouncy

Reading "Henny". It's actually a very glittery book called "Dolphin finds a star", but all he cares about is that little purple octopus you can just make out on the last page. That's when we discovered he could say "Henny!". Then, to make sure we understood, he repeated it a hundred times.

Caught eating sugar.

From August

2008-09-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

In his little denims

"Dance, Teddy, dance." Teddy, with wool tied to his ears and baby shoes on his feet, gets taught to "dass dass dass".

Quite pleased with himself and his chair-climbing ability.

Asleep on the floor again!

New little utensils. He got the hang of the fork very quickly.

Having a go at "The Chronicles of Narnia".

Wearing his new mittens on his feet.

Having his lemon butter sandwich at his kid-sized table.

July

2008-07-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a scary pirate! Don't mess with me!

He spent about 5 minutes trying to knock down the phone before he gave up.

I love "AH DIN!" He also loves carrying frozen stuff from the freezer (in the laundry) up to the kitchen for Mummy, because he cries when we take it off him.

I dare you to put it on the FOURTH shelf, because I'll get it there, too!

Byron's response to the question "Do you want to go outside?"

Outside! He's practicing walking with his sneakers on the rough paddock ground. It's not easy.

Where he got stuck while trying to get the mop or something.
Er... a little help?

Pikelets (with lemon and sugar, of course) for breaky

How mummy found them when she came home from grocery shopping.

June

2008-07-25T22:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm posting this at the end of July, but Byron's new little sister has thrown a spanner into the amount of time available for playing on the internet. So here are a few pictures from June...

Bath, just before getting his first haircut

His little "chair" for watching TV, bouncing to songs and 'veging'

One grumpy day, when he wouldn't do anything, he managed to snag this tomato out of the fridge and chomped it into smithereens for about 15 minutes. Had to have a bath afterwards, but, oh, well... he was happy!

Byron's first "campfire", burning some scrap wood

Byron was given an unopened iceypole, as he seemed to love chewing something cold. A few minutes later, we realized he'd opened it with his teeth... and half frozen his little cheeks!

Byron's Birthday - May 17

2008-05-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, little boy!

Opening the first present, a bear night light. We also gave him a board book, some clothes, and Mummy knitted him a hooded vest.

Spent most of the morning playing with all the balloons that turned up in his playpen.

When it occurs to him that, even though he's sick of ripping paper, when he does... everyone cheers!

One of two icecream cakes (there were lots of people).

http://video.about.com/baking/Ice-Cream-Cake.htm

I used "Cookies and Cream" icecream, put a bit of Ice Magic in the middle, and colored choc chips on top.

New clothes and new cars.

Checking out the sleeping bag "accessories"

He had to go outside today (May 18), to help his parents and Uncle Jason put up the garden shed. He supervised from the pram, while looking cute in his new coat.

Definitely a favorite. We had to take it away before he'd so much as look towards another present.

Things Byron tries to say: Dog "Duh", bath "BAAA!!", bird "buh", shut "shuh", shoes "shzz", cheese "chshhh", toes "tuh", mum, daddy "daDA", Ra Ra (dog noise), grrr and brrrm, [what are you] doin' "doogan", socks "sop". He can walk 3 or 4 steps, but can rarely be bothered. He has two new top teeth. He can go anywhere with his walker, but still seems to prefer the box... or to get down and check out the wheels like a little mechanic. He will spontaneously kiss and hug... even his toys or a picture he likes. He has been seen licking the rug, presumably to see if the pattern tastes different. He waves at his reflection, and his shadow. He loves Hi 5, and bounces on his mesh bouncer (which is his "chair") to the music. His palms are ticklish. He likes to pull his socks off in separate places. His top three most exciting things are watching the dryer, having a "BAAA!!", and going outside with Daddy.

April 17

2008-04-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

11 months old today!

Lots of little things about Byron:

He can stand and balance (without holding on) for about 20 seconds, and will do so to show off.

He likes his new “cage” so far (it's a play pen, really to keep the new baby safe from him!)

He has You Tube favorites.

Most days he only has one midday nap.

He still has a bottle in the middle of the night (about 2 or 3am).

He likes most food... if he can feed himself. Favorites are cheese, sultanas and biscuits. (He will let you feed him if it's icecream or apple porridge or something similar).

He likes playing with his cardboard books, but his favorite is “The B book” read by Daddy.

He's now got a big boy car seat.

He loves Playschool but gets bored with “the story”. He dances to songs a lot.

He has 3 bottom teeth.

He can open drawers... and bins.

He can drink with a straw, and loves strawberry thickshakes

He likes watching birds but his favorite thing to watch is the dryer

He loves wool (but only the stuff his mum is knitting with) and he tries to sweep with the broom.

He loves to bash the computer keyboard.

He can climb down off the couch or treadmill... but seems to prefer climbing up.

He hasn't worked out how to climb up the bookshelf... yet.

He can twist his tongue sideways.

He growls (sometimes while he's giggling, which is funny) and he chats to himself all day.

He loves pulling books off the bookshelf.

He likes to squat down and spring up (especially if you act like you got a fright)

He likes buttons, especially ones like the printer button which make noise

He can walk with his walker and turn right, but not left

His favorite word to say is currently Doogan (I think it might come from how often he hears the phrase "What are you doin'?")

Waking up all sweaty on a warm day.

Helping mummy make biscuits.

Standing up on a box to reach the mouse. (Actually it's a cordless mouse which I put there to distract him from the connected one. As long as I say, "Hey, stop clicking that!" every now and then, he's perfectly content in the knowledge that he's annoying me.)

Visiting Sovereign Hill. He wasn't sure about the big horses, but he liked seeing his Daddy and the steam works. He also saw the Gold Pour, tried a bun from the bakery, got rained on, ate some Sovereign Hill gravel, watched the gold panners, and generally took everything in.

Checking out the battery from up on the walkway.

Watching the wheels at the Beam Pump.

Long lost Auntie Kelly.

er... Knitting!

Sam the dog.

We got him a walker, and he can now turn it when he runs into something (right only), but I think he's spent more time getting in and out of the box Ü

More boxes! (This is the one for his new car seat)

March 17

2008-03-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

10 months old today!

Our not-too-accurate scales say he's pretty much 10 kilos Ü

March 13

2008-03-13T05:12:00.001-07:00

In spite of having fallen off this old computer a dozen times, my fearless little Byron climbs up again to reach better books. Next he got down the brown one on the next shelf up. He has been pulling these ones ("Ellie Chronicles") down all week, so I put them up a shelf... thus the climb.

We have to be careful about the B.A.T.H. word... his little face lights up when he hears it, like a dog with "walk". If we're not serious about a bath Right Now, well, it's just unkind.

Trying to get a picture of "the wave" which is the way his hair wants to go. It parts equally well on the right and left and the grain goes in to the centre to make an almost surfable wave.

Favorite study activity (other than book-throwing) is to turn the printer on and off. Nathan moved the printer under the computer table, but he found it in 2 seconds.

"Helping" mummy make a knitted toy sheep. (Finished product is very popular. See pic on http://knitterings.blogspot.com/)

Ready to be wrapped. We have to be careful what we leave near the edges of tabletops these days.

Lately, with the warm weather, he has been refusing to have a daytime sleep. Then he conks out on the floor! He actually fell asleep on my knee, and the stove timer went off, so I dumped him here and he went back to sleep.

He was resting his head on the floor (watching TV) and when I put the pillow in front of him he crawled on. Slept here for well over an hour.

Byron's treadmill. Well, actually it's his mum's, but she can't use it much. Either she wakes him up, or she risks him getting sucked under... because he can't stay away!

Up on the tready mechanics. He leaned forwards a bit far one day and did a lovely little forward roll. Looked quite stunned at his daring, but he didn't cry.

Trying to get higher. Potential mountain-hiking nut.

Favorite thing to chew. Note the baggy eyes... his mummy has them, too!

February 19

2008-02-18T03:14:00.001-08:00

"I'm stuck!"

Well, the monkey is 9 months old, now, and crawling all over the house. Here are a few places we have found him lately...

between the old armchairs...

half-way to the DVD's...

under the kitchen chairs...

under the coffee table...

under our bed...

and under his high chair!

Here he is, very proud of himself for getting the doorstop off again AFTER Daddy superglued it on. He was crying a minute later, though, because he couldn't get the white part off (which is screwed onto the wall).

YAY!! Mummy found my favorite ad on You Tube! He would crawl straight to the telly to jig along with the "So you think you can dance" ads.

Time for some fatter books than "Dr Seuss", I think.

Oooo... it's moving! My new swing!

He got this for Christmas, but we only got a frame to hang it on yesterday.

Higher! Higher!!

We can sit on the garden bench and push him.

After swinging for 20 minutes, he began to contemplate the physics of it all.

This was today... after refusing his morning sleep, as he sometimes does, he flaked out in the middle of lunch. he he he.

Jan 18, 2008

2008-01-17T19:59:00.000-08:00

Well, Byron is having a wonderful time, now that he's figured out crawling. He doesn't flop onto his stomach much, and though he looks slightly awkward, he's quite quick. Turn your back for a second and...

He was weighed on the 14th and was 8.81 kilos, which is right on average for 8 months. Of course, he wasn't 8 months until the 17th, and for his "birthday" he got two new sharp teeth, coming up from the bottom gum.

He's eating well (he had (minced) tuna casserole today) and is getting into trouble every 5 minutes for playing with power cords. I noticed he can twist his tongue sideways, but when I mentioned this to Nathan he said, "So what? Everyone can." Well, not me, so it must be a genetic thing he got from Nathan.

Other tricks he's been up to include dancing to music (especially shaking his head), waving and giving sloppy kisses. Tonight he is starting to sleep in the cot overnight, as he keeps wriggling to the top of the cradle and then getting cross when his head presses the top.

Hmmm, Daddy is comfy...

Byron and Nathan

Locked out of the kitchen!!

So many more toys, now that I can crawl!

Just in case anyone is thinking of having a baby out there... lol!

Jan 9, 2008

2008-01-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

Going out

Coming home.

New stuff from Auntie Kelly.

Mmmmmm! Raw zucchini!

The destructive phase begins!

He learned to say mumumum before Christmas, but by Christmas was onto Brrrrooom. Now it's all Dadadad. He can't sit still long. He starts off sitting, folds in his right leg and leans forward into a crawling position. If he's already lying down, he does a pushup and tucks his knees under. He can move his hands but can't quite get his knees coordinated. He can inch forward, though, or roll over and over to get somewhere.

His current goal in life is to reach the power cord and make his mummy growl at him, which is hilarious. He likes all his toys, but prefers grass, if possible. He likes most food, but his current favorite is raw zucchini.

Dec 30

2008-01-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

Seeing if he can fit into the dishes bucket (for camping)

Pushups. Could push up and slip backwards and get all over the room this way by Christmas, but he was frustrated, because he was trying to go forward!

Presents from his Dad and Mum: blocks, rings and a little pool.

All ready for Christmas lunch in his Rudolf tshirt. He tried all the meat and veges we had, stuffed into his little mesh bag feeder.

Ready to go camping, squished in beside the esky.

Sleeping in his camping bed: a fold up baby tent with a mozzie screen.

Relaxing by the pool in his new bathers. It was 35 degrees, so we went home the next day and missed out on the 39-40 degree days. Too hot for tenting.

Swimming in the pool at home. Another hot day!

December 16

2007-12-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't put the pictures from the camera onto the computer for a while, so when I did there were 130! While I was searching through them, I was singing "Alouette" and Byron was giggling madly, like he speaks French and understood the words. he he.

He wriggled his way over until finally he was completely under the table.

Helping his mum to sort out the decorations.

He got pretty wet before he got the proper bit in his mouth. Spent quite a while trying to get to the water through the side of the bottle!

Really wish I knew what he was thinking here. Something mischievous...

Chomping on the car keys.

He's learning to wave. Here he is in his new high chair.

One of his favorite games... sit down, stand up (times 50!!).

At his "desk".

Nov 29

2007-11-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

The last 4 nights he's slept all night without waking up for a bottle. The three nights before that, I let him sleep until he grizzled (rather than giving him a bottle at midnight). We're all sleeping well!

He never bawls like this, so when he started crying just because Zara was crying, I had to take a picture before I gave him a cuddle. He he.

Sausage roll Ü

Punkin Punk.

He loves to get hold of a glass, as you can see from the extra huge grin.

What's a boy to do when noone will give him a hamburger!!

(Ben's barbecue birthday party. He had chocolate custard.)

November 22

2007-11-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

He's getting quite frustrated. He can push himself up onto his hands and knees, but then his knees slip backwards. So he's working his way away from what he's trying to get to! Ü

According to my scales, he seems to be about 8.2 kilos, which is about average for his age. He was 6 months old on Nov 17.

Big happy grin

How he normally sits, holding his feet.

Byron's soccer ball.

He likes to stand up, holding someone's hands. Usually has a big, excited grin, but we couldn't seem to catch it. Of course, he has to learn to crawl first.

Relaxing on his Winnie the Pooh mat, using Teddy as a pillow.

November 5 part 2

2007-11-04T16:36:00.001-08:00

On Nov 2, having been enjoying his apple cores, I thought I'd give him something different, and opened up a baby tin of vege mash. He pulled a funny face, but yesterday I gave him some more of it, and he just about hyperventilated if it took too long to get his next spoon. Of course, the mash, which is mostly pumpkin, stained everything yellow! I tried to weigh him (holding him and not holding him when I stood on the scales) and he seems to be about 7.7 kilos.

He's also decided, in the last few days, that he likes rolling onto his stomach after all, so he does it constantly. His little playmat world is getting too small.

The Weight of the World. He thought it was funny.

On top of the World (ie, the exercise ball we sit on at the computer)

Cheeky little monkey

Woke up early one morning, and decided it would be fun to pull in the mesh that hangs around his bed. I got up to see what he was chuckling about.

Loves chomping on an apple core.

Snuggley and cute after waking up from his morning sleep

He likes to "type", but he thought he was pretty clever when he pulled the whole keyboard into his lap.

November 5

2007-11-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

These pictures are all from Oct 17, when he turned 5 months old. Beautiful day. We started some farex again, and he was pretty keen. Wrestled the spoon away from me... I had to give him one and get another one for me. He he. Then I “gave” him his Tupperware baby cup, which I bought at Heather's ages ago, and he's been chomping on it since. I put some milk in it, but that was a bit of a mess Ü ...it's currently got a few bits of pasta in it, so it rattles.

Byron and Bluey easily fitting into the birdbath.

He seems to love the feel of grass.

Flaked out in the cot. He likes to sleep on his right side.

Testing out his cup. More milk on his tshirt than in his mouth, of course.

We parked across the road, and three cows came along to say hi. Byron thought they were great!

October 20

2007-10-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Bo, the dog. Guess what "Bo" is short for?

October 17

2007-10-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

Happy 5 month birthday, bub!!

Today we started some farex again, and he seemed to like it. He had about 3 teaspoons, opened his mouth wide for the spoon, and wrestled with me to get the spoon for himself. I had to give him one and get another one for me. He he. Then I “gave” him his Tupperware cup, which I bought at Heather's ages ago, and he's been chomping on it since. I put some milk in it, but that was a bit of a mess, so for now it is empty.

He's been waking up about 7am lately, but he just talks to himself in bed, usually for a good half hour.

Today I took Byron outside. He sat in the pram with his hat and suncream on and looked at the cows through the fence across the road. Then we went to my garden to do a bit of weeding, but he soon got hungry. I gave him a bottle and he fell asleep for a few hours.

Adding pictures won't work today for some reason. I'll try again soon.

October 14

2007-10-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

He had his 3 needles for his 4-month immunisations. He didn't even cry for the first two; in fact, he smiled at the nurse. Of course, that 3rd one really stings, so...

These are all September pics (because I'm a bit slack). October ones to come later...

Sept 22. I Love Farex.

Can sit up for a bit to do something important, like watching Play School or finding a hat. He tends to lean forward until he's touching his toes, and then he somehow ends up on his stomach again.

He can easily sleep sideways on the recliner, even using a pillow as a matress.

How cheeky is he?

Loves his playmat. He seems to think that "rolling" is overated, but he can easily turn 90 degrees to reach something he wants.

Cute little twisty toes

He has discovered his toes, and can spend hours playing with them.

September 17

2007-09-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Byron is 4 months old today, and we went back to the health care nurse to get him weighed. He is now up to 6.69 kilos, which is a little higher again on the charts (about the 40th percentile). He didn't get any needles today (like he did for his 2 month birthday)... that's coming up in a few weeks Ü . His treat for the day was getting to meet Priscilla. He was a big show off for her, and rolled onto his back about 5 times in a row Ü

Preparing for a strenuous pram walk around the lake

by getting some quick zz's in his comfy car seat

Sitting (one of his favorite things to do) in a big, comfy armchair with the new teddy bear he got from (great) Gran.

I was trying to get a photo of the tshirt and brown denim jeans I bought, but all he wanted to do was pull silly faces! he he.

This is the sad face that makes his Mummy and Daddy laugh, even though they shouldn't.

I turned on the light to give him his midnight bottle. He usually sleeps through it all, but this time he objected to the light, turned his face into his sleeping bag hood, and went back to sleep!

What he was wearing today. Mummy had to get a photo, because she made the jumper.

September 11

2007-09-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

Byron woke up Sunday making a new sound: "zzzZZZZzzzz". He he he. It was only a day or two later that I realized he was just trying to blow a raspberry back at me, because now it's more half zzz, half raspberry. He can say "goo" and "hah" but "mummy" is a long way off yet, I think.

He's also putting everything in his mouth!! We think he might be getting some teeth soon, but there are no emerging sharp bits yet.

New little overalls because the others are getting too small.

But these ones are still a bit big...

On Father's Day we drove to the gardens and wandered around, (which is what Daddy wanted to do). Byron also helped to make a card by scribbling on the front (while trying to eat the pen) and getting his handprint stamped. Then he had a blue hand for the rest of the day!

He found the gardens fascinating, and wanted to sit up in the pram to see all the trees.

Much as he likes to sit up, he can't hold himself up, so it's a bit safer to strap him in. He thought it was funny being strapped in with Bluey.

Byron got his second package in the mail, and it was from Auntie Kelly again. In it was this very cute, soft woolly jumper, which fits perfectly.

Sept 6

2007-09-06T00:46:00.000-07:00

5:42 PM 6/09/2007987255gj6ukoihg8iuh4se5d4clkn78tnboh7kj, mytgv
UYVYBQ2AS7Y9U8JMN98HO897IIUHB,56FVMK6TCFR56BVYGVYJVH6
FFGBVE5VVTGBNHN46D5YC34ZXDRDRWE.56CCBVF R87FGFBVVFB GHN QWDSF., TY VASZZ324S2AXCY7FHKJN`1zWSXK,SEX BVFE4CRHH N6T7GBN0GYVB G67GBN67GBNBNT7G6M,VG 2ASRED4DFJH6TH91SDE1 VE4DFG5:44 PM 6/09/20075THSDEAWS MGVFBRFAzZXFBGNN VASDS

(Mum's note: typed by Byron with his right hand - 4 or 5 characters at a time. He even managed to get the date and time up a few times, which I didn't know you could do... I just added the "enter"s.)

August 30

2007-08-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

Propped up on the bench in our back yard

Showing that he knows (now) how to chew his thumb without poking himself in the eye.

Playing on his Winnie the Pooh mat.

Little boy in a big cot. He doesn't like it much, but he's having occasional daytime sleeps in it, when he's too tired to realize where he is. Hard to imagine him growing out of this one day!

August 27

2007-08-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Little sleeping bag. It stops him from kicking the blankets off.

All attention focused on Play School!!

Look, there's a bug in my pocket!

Feeling a bit weary.

August 20

2007-08-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

Byron rolled over today, from his back to his stomach. I don't think he meant to, because he seemed to surprise himself quite a bit! But he likes to roll (with a little push) so once he figures out how he did it, there'll be no stopping him.

Bluey the Elephant.

Discovering that he can do breast stroke in the bath. Sort of.

Having a bit of a snooze on Daddy's knee and a pillow.

August photos

2007-08-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

He loves his little playmat. It's close to the TV, too.

Trying out the goatee-and-sideburns look.

Got to love that fluffy squirrel.

Little overalls

"Don't push me coz I am close to the edge"

Pictures from May, June and July

2007-08-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Byron, still in hospital, dressed in his little green giraffes outfit.

He loves his baths! This is number 3, I think. He didn't like the first one at the hospital, though.

June 2. An early smile.

All rugged up and ready to "walk" around the lake. This quilt was made by talented Nola, who works with Mummy.

July 3. A big cheesy grin to show off his chubby chin.

About Byron (by Mummy)

2007-08-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Byron was finally born at 6:15am on May 17. He weighed 3270g. Everyone in the family came to visit him on his very first day (everyone in town, that is) because his Daddy wouldn't tell them whether he was a boy or girl. Of course, they probably would have visitted anyway, but Daddy thought it was fun to say "We've had the baby" and no more. Ü

Here is a little history of Byron so far:

May 19: Weight down to 3050g. Much more interested in sleeping than eating. A bit jaundiced and dehydrated. The nurses couldn't get the heel-prick test. Byron ended up having about 10 needles in all, to his heels, the back of his hands, and finally, successfully, from his radial artery. In the end (when it was dark) they decided we could take him home.
May 21: Visitted the Paed's clinic for another jaundice blood test. Weight down to 3020g.
May 23: Weight 3150g
June 6: Weight 3480g
June 13: Weight 3740g
June 25: Weight 4200g. Smiling quite well.
June 29: 6 weeks 1 day old. Had some professional photos taken. Little neighbor Zara was born.
July 1: Started sleeping 6 hours overnight nearly every night.
July 3: Started playing with his toy dog (getting his hands onto its fur, anyway)
July 5: First visit to playgroup
July 9: Weight 4680g
July 17: For his 2 month birthday he had 3 nice injections Ü
July 23: First illness (nasty cough that lasted a week. Poor appetite, and even saw the GP.)
July 24: Weight 5030g. Age 9 weeks 5 days.
July 28: First Tupperware party Ü. Started reading him Dr. Seuss books, which he seems to like.
August 5: First giggle (while being tickled)
August 13: Weight 5890g (Zara was 5985g last week!)
August 14: First giggle when not being tickled; he was just watching Daddy pop up from behind the couch. Started watching Play School. He can't take his eyes off the TV, and often smiles at the songs and stories.
August 15: First email address (ByronJoshua@hotmail.com) and first blog!

Now Byron is nearly 13 weeks old. He's happy and healthy, and he's getting cuter and more fun every day!