A favourite toy

Maybe he will be an electrician?

Happy Birthday Auntie Steffie!

Oords

Watching and waiting

I did it!

Max worked hard to balance the riders on top of the bus.

Here We Go!

(title from "Stop" - Jane's Addiction)

Morning sun

Happy Halloween!

During the day we had a lovely lunch celebration with 6 other families.

Then we came home and got ready for trick-or-treating.


It was supposed to be Pooh with Tigger and the bee with the bear, but Pooh had other plans.

And we're off!

They cried briefly at the first house but by the third they were holding out their buckets in anticipation.


They each chose their first candy (a few licks of a purple sucker)

Sugar high?

Ready, set, go!

Peek-a-boo!

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A year of growing

One year after the referral photo was taken:

(One year and one day to be honest - it took over 24 hours to get an in-focus photo where they are both looking. This is also their first time having whole apples)

Happy 15-month Birthday!

Now when people ask "How old?" we can answer, "One and a quarter."

Walking & Dancing

Things no-one will tell you about motherhood...

There are many widely known truths about motherhood - joy, bliss, lack of sleep/ time/ money, deepest love ever etc.,all of which are true.

There are also many, many facts that you will be left to discover on your own. In my never ending quest to be helpful I will share what I can.

Of course, these are not my experiences, just what I have observed in others. Ahem.

You will accidentally hurt your baby at least once.*
You will blame every cry, runny nose, bad mood, fever, and bowel issue on "teething".*
The baby's father will annoy you.*
The baby's grandparents will annoy you.
Your baby will say his first word. You think.*
You will throw elaborate birthday parties for a baby who doesn't get the concept.*
You will consider lying about your baby's age to make him look more advanced.
Play-group will become your salvation.
You will no longer have a hand free to put on shoes. Buy clogs.
You will understand insanity.
You will find it increasingly difficult to write, speak, or even think as your vocabulary decreases to single syllables.
Everything will start to smell like pee.

(*adapted from Rebecca Eckler)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Tet Trung Thu!

Click here for more information on this Vietnamese holiday.

Click here for all October photos.

Standing Max

... and walking Vanh.


(Max took his first steps earlier today!)

Standing Vanh

Here he is after 10 days of practice:


Not only can he stand, but you can see from the beginning of this clip that he immediately realizes from the way I say "Vanh" that he is going to be asked to perform like a trained seal, I mean demonstrate one of his skills...

If my "Wow!" sounds a little overdone it's because I was genuinely surprised - it was the first time he stood up "on cue" like that.

Max is happy too!


(Update: Vanh took his first 2 steps the next day...)

Max's first word

Before I forget

10 days away from 14 months:

Both boys are 10.5 kilos, 72cm, head circumference 48cm

Max consistently stacks blocks (and everything else); Vanh knocks them down.

Yesterday Vanh stood up from sitting a few times without any supports. He was so proud and happy! He also said "Dada" to Daddy.

More music

Happy September!

For more September photos click here