16 September

We had a lovely day a couple of days ago - we went to the Royal Adelaide Show with Max - walked around the pavilions and watched some of the wood chopping events. Max was introduced to livestock - a cow and a chicken (see pic). Not really sure what he thought of it all!

He's been a lovely soul this week - very happy and smiley. He seems to have (mostly) got over his runny nose of the other week (but I haven't), and he's sleeping well. He has two sleeps a day and a good overnight. He seems to alternate sleeping through the night for two nights with one night with one waking episode. He's now in his own room, and while one of us slept in with him for the first three nights, we now are in our own room and use the baby monitor to keep tabs on him.

He's still not rolling - but he is so close. I'm trying to give him incentive to roll, but he's not that interested. I suppose he'll do it when he's ready. He grabs his toes now - most amusing, but not when trying to change a nappy. He also has just started to kick when in the bath. Absolutely hilarious.

Weight - I weighed him two days ago (fully clothed & with nappy) and he was 6.78kg - so probably nearly 6.7 actual. He's still putting on weight quite well.

Food - we've had success with corn, banana, yoghurt (sort of - might be a bit tart on its own, but OK when mixed with fruit), rhubarb and broccoli. He even had a bit of mild guacamole the other day. Apricot, however, seems quite strong for him - so I think it'll only be eaten when mixed with other, milder, fruit.

We approached the Flinders Medical Centre Foundation with our fundraising idea for the Neo-Natal Unit - selling baby clothes through Ebay. They seem very keen, so we're pretty much on track to go. Now all we need are some donations! We'll get some postcards printed and distribute them to appropriate locales, and I'll email everyone I know. We hopefully will spend the next couple of months collecting clothes and getting them ready before putting the first auctions up. Cross fingers.....

6 September

Food today - potato - NO, but peas YES!!!
Whose is this child? Not mine, on the evidence...

(Pic - "No Max, no more peas. Mama's afraid of bright green vomit...")

5 September

We have begun to settle into a new routine, now that Max is on three meals a day. We are trying to also anticipate when he is tired, in order to make the daytime sleeping a bit easier. Mostly, it is working. He's having five feeds a day, and since we reduced the calorie level of the formula, he's actually drinking more. He's eating pretty much anything we throw at him (peas this morning), up to 6 tablespoons of food each meal. We only tried avocado the once as he screwed up his face enormously! We will try it again at some point. The fruit this week has been Pawpaw, which I tried as it was listed in one of my baby food books. Max seems to eat it fine, but I must say it smells and tastes revolting to me.

Father's Day was fun - Max & I visited Tato at work to give him his present - see photo!

We've been going to the movies most weeks, to the 'Babes In Arms' sessions (full of babies, prams and parents walking up & down aisles!). Actually very good fun, and it makes us get out as a family more - even if it is only for a few hours.

The last day or so has seen Max have a bit of a snuffly nose - other than a bit of noise at night it doesn't seem to worry him, but we are our usual paranoid selves. He's currently wrapped up very warmly! Hopefully it's only a touch of a cold and will pass.

His last physio appointment went rather well. He was in a foul mood - I think he was too hot - but he did all that was asked of him, and did the things he normally does at home. He's almost rolling, but this isn't consistent at all. His 'tummy time' is much better, and his upper body is getting stronger. Wendy (physio) gave me a couple of ways to help encourage him to hold his head up when he's sitting. He can't sit on his own, but loves to sit or 'stand' on our laps when we hold him.

He has had a bit of a 'lazy eye' recently, where he goes cross-eyed occasionally. I have been told it's a developmental thing and mostly this kind of symptom passes as the child grows, but the opthamologist has asked to see him earlier than scheduled - November instead of December. Hopefully by then it will have resolved itself. If not, he may need a patch on the 'good' eye to encourage the 'bad' eye to work and to ensure the messages to the vison centre of the brain are being received equally from both eyes. He may be long-sighted, so glasses may be the solution. Whatever.

It's the last 'formal' week of our Mothers' Group this week. I am hoping that the members will be keen to continue meeting together. They really are a good group - I'm lucky. They are almost all girls, (only one other boy), but the mums all seem to be around my age - no one very much older or younger.We are planning the big move - Max into his own room. We were going to do it this week, but now that he's a little sick (well, with a bit of a runny nose), I'm not putting him anywhere. Maybe next week.

(Other photos 1-at a friend's 21st - the theme was "Gangsters & Flappers" / 2- my current favourite photo!)