Would you have a look at our handsome boys!

Kalbarri Camping Trip

Let me start by saying that every spring during wild flower season since Paul and I moved to Australia, I've wanted to travel north through all the wild flower fields to Kalbarri, a popular family holiday destination six hours away known for its lazy river, beautiful gorge and rugged coastline.

For various reasons, this year was the first year that we actually made this happen, and even though I'm well aware of how I sometimes get let down when my expectations are high, I was nonetheless a little bit disappointed. The wild flowers weren't nearly as spectacular as I'd imagined. The gorge, while incredibly stunning, was also an incredibly stressful (and fly-ridden) place to visit with two energetic and fearless little boys. And frankly, travelling and especially camping with two children under four is anything but relaxing.

Despite these disappointments, we managed to have several moments throughout the week where we managed to have a lot of fun.

Elliot loved the campground jumping pillow!



And both boys loved the daily pelican feed.



And all the boys were really loving Elliot's new fishing pole and tackle box (or treasure box as Elliot called it)

Hiking on the coast while looking for whales and singing our new "I like to hike" song.

Elliot scoping out the competition at the kid's fishing competition.

El and I taking his catch in to be weighed. It was a 48 gram goat fish BTW.

And then El got tired of fishing and decided to make sand castles instead.

While Paul was left holding the fishing pole.

We all had a blast at the outdoor screening of Ice Age 4 while pigging out on pizza and popcorn.

We rented a little boat one morning and Paul and El had a great time fishing together.

Oliver and I decided to use the opportunity to relax and catch up on some sleep (and no Oliver was not laying in the hot sun all morning, we made a little shade cover for him out of the towel and oars).

Heading back to town after Paul and Elliot (bare-bummed) helped push the boat over the sandbars that we got stuck on when the tide was out.

Hiking with Ollie down to the gorge, perhaps not our smartest parenting decision.

How pretty!



We made it Ollie!



Get these bloody flies off of me!!!

Stop running Elliot!!!!

Oh I also should mention that our decision to buy a double screen DVD player for the trip was possibly the smartest move we've ever made. We've come so far since our pre-parenting days when we swore that we wouldn't use TV as a babysitter for our kids. Let's just say we can admit it when we're wrong.

. . . and a couple things more!

Ollie, your daddy and I thought of a couple more things about you that we didn't want to forget like . . .
. . .the way you are still obsessed with hats and sometimes insist on wearing one to bed and then wake up crying if it falls off.

. . . and how when I drop you off at daycare, you head for the toys and never look back, but always come running for a cuddle as soon as you see Daddy there to pick you up.

. . . and how you love walking backwards oh so slowly toward us until you bump into us with your bum and then giggle your head off.

. . . and the way you've started to try to do wees like a big boy when you're undressed. You arch your back and hold your willy and wait and wait for the wee to come. It will soon sweetheart.

. . . or how you know the minute you've done a poo and waddle wide-legged over to the nappy box, lay the towel down on the carpet and then lay yourself down on top of it saying, "poo, poo" until we come and change you.

. . .and how you've started loving books and want to read one after another some mornings. And now that Elliot has started 'reading' books to you, you love them even more.

. . . and the way you love to jump off the verandah. You crouch down and then straighten your legs as if you were going to do the world's biggest jump, but then just step down with one foot sometimes falling dramatically on purpose afterward and then chuckling your head off.

. . . and I'm sure there are a hundred more little things that I'll think of later that all add up to make you one adorable and funny little guy. We love you knucklehead!

Oliver at 18 months

Oh my sweet little cookie monster, this blog post has been a long time coming. And even though you're closer to 20 months now, I didn't want to miss out on the chance to write about what an amazing little boy you're becoming.

But first for the stats (at 18 months):

Height: 87.5 cm (34.5 in)

Weight: 14.2 kg (31.5 lb)

These numbers might not mean much to you, Ollie, but they put you at the 97th percentile for your age which basically means that you're a pretty big little guy. But we already know that.

And we also know that you're pretty tough. But even I was surprised (and Elliot was definitely in awe) when you received your 18 month jabs and didn't even whimper. What a little dude!

But there are lots of other things that I don't want to forget about how you are right  now . . .

 . . . like the way you idolize your big brother and want to be with him all the time and how you copy his every move some days. But the days of you letting him take toys from you or boss you around are certainly over. For that matter, the days of you letting anyone boss you around are pretty much over. Yes, sirree, you're your own little man now, and sure do let us know by the way you grab us by the finger and say "come" so that you can show us what you want and be sure we understand. Or by how you continue to throw yourself on the ground and chuck these massive tantrums (although sometimes I suspect they're more of a show than anything) when I put my foot down and refuse to give you another cookie!

. . . and how you are a regular chatterbox these days. We thought Elliot was an early talker (and he surely was!), but oi vay, kid, you're knocking our socks off by the way you're adding new words to your massive vocabulary every day. Just yesterday, the ladies at daycare were raving about how impressive it was that you were putting together so many two and three word phrases these days. Your daddy and I tried to make a list of all the words you know, and we had to give up as we approached 150. Here are a couple of your favourites: no (pronounced nooooo-oh with your voice going up at the end; if it weren't so tiresome it would be really really cute!), cracker, snack, milk, banana, Nacho, and Elliot.

. . . and how you are developing such a beautiful sense of humor and unique personality. You are fearless and sweet and confident and cuddly and a really great little boy just so long as you are happy which you mostly are. But dear me, you have a stubborn streak and a nasty temper when you don't get your way. I'm hoping that this is just part of the frustration you feel by not being able to express yourself and that these tantrums will taper off as your vocabulary improves (but I'm still waiting on this with Elliot too, and he's pretty good at expressing himself).

. . . and the way you just seem to love life, especially if life is taking place outdoors. You are so content to push your cars around or dig in the dirt or play with your golf clubs or lawn mower. You like your dad and I around (especially when you get frustrated or hurt or just feel like a spontaneous attack hug!), but mostly you're really happy playing on your own.

But probably the thing that I want to remember most about you right now is the beautiful way you've started to wake me up. You climb into bed and alternate between pulling the covers up over your legs and throwing yourself back so you land with your head on the pillow next to me saying "sleeping", or doing sumo wrestler belly flops onto my tummy, or giving me raspberries on my tummy, or smothering me with the most precious sweet little kisses.

You are one super duper little kid, and your daddy and big brother and I love you heaps!