Oh what a trip!

The last week of our trip wasn't quite the fun we were hoping for. Elliot got a bout of gastro and his poor tummy got so upset that he couldn't keep any solids down for ten days. We'd start slowly with the pedialyte and bland crackers, then formula, but no matter how long we waited or how little we gave him as soon as we gave him something a bit more substantial -- big ole vomits! I can assure you it was not fun for any of us. We had to cancel most of our plans for the last week including our much anticipated trip to L.A. to catch up with my good friend, Monica, and her gorgeous little family.

But all was not so bad in the end, after so many days of no food, we figured Elliot could handle a few more and decided to risk the flight home. Thankfully, he only had one tiny little vomit the whole way. And even better he didn't vomit again and started eating like the Elliot we know once we landed on Aussie soil. Best of all, Monica, came and rescued us from our lengthy layover at LAX and picked us up so we could have a couple of fantastic hours catching up over dinner. It was a short visit, but oh so sweet!

All the things I did in America!

My first trip to the U.S.A. sure was full of lots of fun things.

I went to Barnes and Noble and roamed the shelves and shelves of books . . .

And I got to see snow!

And I rode a horse . . .

. . . and an elephant . . .

But the bestest part of all was getting to spend time with my Gramma and Grumpy and my cousins and all the rest of my family!

I sure love you guys!

Naked is fun!!

Jenny and Mike and BB's visit

One of my very favorite parts of our trip to the States was when my good friend Jenny and her very sweet hubby Mike came and visited all the way from North Carolina. We bowled and shopped for little BB in Jenny's belly and ate way too much Mexican food, and it was all so good. Jenny and Mike helped out heaps with Elliot as they were looking for a little baby practice, and we happily accepted a little break from parenthood. There's something about catching up with old friends that is just what the soul needs sometimes.

Our Shari's tradition

Everytime Mommy comes to visit the Tri-Cities, she and Great Gramma go out to Shari's for a great big American breakfast. Great Gramma is in a wheel chair now, but we got Dial-A-Ride to drop her off and the tradition continued. Best of all, this year I got to come to breakfast and I even got to try a little bit of pancake. (I threw up later in the day, but I really don't think it had anything to do with the pancake!)

The cousins in action!

It warmed my heart to see Elliot having such a fantastic time with his cousins.

Have a look.

And another.

The bestest gift!

Gramma and Grumpy surprised Elliot with an early Christmas present that all the kids had a hoot playing in (including me!)

And here's some footage of us all having a blast!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

So they're not exactly the two front teeth (they look a little bit like fangs actually), but at long last Elliot got his first two teeth just in time for Christmas.

My first Christmas

This Christmas business sure is fun stuff! First, I got to go with Mommy and Daddy and Grumpy to get the Christmas tree. And guess what we saw there? Reindeer!!! Those are some big furry creatures, let me tell you!

And later on I went to the shops with Mommy and Daddy and Gramma and Grumpy and sat on this fat guy in a red suit's lap. I really liked him and Mommy and Daddy said that he'd bring me presents which I thought was awfully nice considering that we'd just met.

But my favorite part of Christmas was opening up presents with Claire and Evan. To be honest, Evan was the only one who could open up presents on his own, and Claire and I were pretty happy just playing with the shiny paper and boxes, but Evan helped us out and I was awfully happy with what was inside once I got there.

I got all sorts of neat clothes and a jack-in-the-box and a Mexican radio and maracas (which Claire kept trying to steal) and two talking doggies that sing songs and stuff and a special book that has my Gramma's voice. I got so much neat stuff that Mommy and Daddy had to go out and buy another suitcase just to get it back to Australia!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Everybody's swinging!

One of my favorite days of our holiday is when the whole family (Elliot, Claire, Evan, Ryan, Jen, Brian, Linda, Uncle Hank, Aunt Audrey and I) took a walk down to the park after a very big breakfast and took turns swinging. Swinging made me a bit nauseous after so much food, but the kiddies loved it. In fact, Claire and Elliot loved it so much they decided to go tandem to free up the other kiddie swing for Evan.

Elliot gave me a shiner for xmas!

I asked for kisses but got a headbutt instead. What a little toughie we have!

My big American family

Boy oh boy, have I been meeting a lot of people! Since coming to the U.S. I've gotten to meet my Uncle Ryan and Aunt Jen and, of course, cousins, Evan and Claire. I've also met Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Ginger in Portland. They've got a really nice house and a great long hallway to chase Claire and Evan up and down.

Then, Great Uncle Hank and Great Aunt Audrey and my second cousins Brian and Linda travelled all the way from Northern Idaho and Montana to meet me. How nice is that?

Best of all I've finally met my crazy Great Gramma. She's the best. She likes to make funny faces at me and hold my hand.

And all of those people are in my family and I didn't even know it! Mom says that we have even more family in Canada. Holy smokes! Maybe I'll get to meet them next time we come!

Cousins Evan and Claire

After ten whole months, I finally got to come to America and meet my cousins, Evan and Claire. I think that they are probably the bestest cousins a boy could ask for.

Evan is the coolest. I love following him around and learning how to make cars go vroom vroom vroom. I also love playing with him and his dinosaurs and making my roaring noises. Evan doesn't really like sharing his dinosaurs with me, though. Maybe it has something to do with me always putting them in my mouth and getting them all wet!

Claire, on the other hand, is not opposed to a little drool. In fact, she definitely is the winner of any drooling competitions. She makes me and mommy laugh when she chews on our cheeks and slobbers all over us. I think she might need to keep practicing those kisses. Good thing she's so cute, we don't even mind if her kisses sometimes hurt. Another thing Claire's been teaching us is yoga. I thing she's a yoga master; her one-legged down dogs are something else!!

Can't wait for you to come and visit me in Australia, Evan and Claire. You're good guys and I really like ya!