6 Months Old

Wow, time is really flying by!  We are just a few days shy of Christmas and the weather here is gorgeous!  It doesn't really feel like the holiday, but we are trying to get into the spirit nonetheless.  Today, however, was the babies 6 month check up.

Braden

Braden weighed in at 16 lbs even and 27 inches tall.  He's still a bit small by full-term standards, but quite big by pre-term standards.  More importantly, though, he is developmentally right on track for a 6 month old.  Unlike his brothers, though, he has ZERO interest in solid foods.  Any time we try to feed him, he literally gags.  Needless to say, we aren't trying that often.  ;)

Gavin

Gavin was only slightly smaller at 15lbs and 26.77 inches tall.  He is also developmentally right where he is supposed to be.  Although, he is smaller, you'd never know it by the way he eats.  He LOVES food.  He's getting quite good at his pears and oatmeal and we'll be introducing sweet potatoes and pumpkin over the holidays.

Jamie

Jamie is not really "aware" of Christmas, but loves that there is a piece of chocolate in the calendar every night, a pretty tree in the living room and presents underneath it.  He knows he isn't supposed to open them, yet, but he loves to carry them around.

Jamie did get an early Christmas present last weekend.  We weren't able to wrap it or hide it, so he's gotten great use out of it already...

14ft Trampoline

He is also a great fan of the work holiday parties here - they all take place poolside.  Everyone commented on how big Jamie's smile was as soon as he saw the pool.

Holiday Greetings

I have to say that I am delighted that so many people think that I am so talented to have manufactured (faked) the picture on our cards this year.  However, I'm here to tell you that while I am a very amatuer photographer, I am not that talented with PhotoShop.  To illustrate the point, here are the "proofs" of the card... followed by a number of the pictures I rejected when selecting the one to use for the card. 

The kangaroo in this picture is named Kelly.  She is one of two orphaned kangaroo joeys that were being fostered by my friend, Amiebeth.  There is a wonderful program here in Alice Springs that asks people to foster orphaned and/or injured animals to get them healthy enough to go back into the "wild" on preserves.

The setup and rejects...

Kelly in the background with Braden

Trying to hold Mark (the other kangaroo)

Kelly investigating



Jamie is D O N E with this nonsense



Lesson Learned

So, while I was still pregnant, I took Jamie for his 2 year check up at the pediatrician.  The pediatrician gave me one piece of advice:  don't leave your two year old alone with the babies for even a minute.  Ian and I have worked pretty hard at following this advice, but Jamie has always been really good around the babies and shows very few (if any) signs of jealousy or sibling rivalry. 

Today, we took Ian to the airport which left me at home with all three kids by myself.  Which means, realistically, that it is impossible to have all 3 (or even just the big one) in my sights at all times.  I stepped into the kitchen with Braden to make a bottle leaving Gavin strapped into the bouncing seat and Jamie playing with his trains.

Less than one minute later, Jamie comes into the kitchen to tell me that Gavin was on the floor.  Now, mind you there was no loud noise, no crying, just Jamie telling me that Gavin was on the floor.  I was sure he was mistaken, so I asked him how Gavin ended up on the floor.  He told me that he tipped him over.  Seriously????

Fortunately, Gavin wasn't hurt and was actually laughing when I came in the room.  So, of course, my first thought was to grab the camera.  :)

Jamie and I had a conversation about the right way to play with his brothers.  I chose not to punish him because he came right in to tell me what happened, but if it happened again...

Trying to get into the spirit...

This will be our first Christmas in the desert, so its a little hard to get in the holiday spirit when its 90+ degrees every day.  So, we've been taking lots of opportunities to try and make it happen.  We've bought a Christmas tree - my first artificial one!  And it will be staying here when we leave.  I've borrowed some decorations, because ours haven't arrived from the States, yet.  And, we've introduced an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas.  I've even invoked Santa (better be good!) to gain cooperation and we went to meet Santa at a pancake breakfast.  We got a few cute pictures:

There were also some pretty funny ones:

Love both expressions!

I just wanted a candy cane!  I did NOT want to get close to the crazy man.

Thanksgiving 2010

This was our first holiday in Alice Springs.  While it was cool and rainy in Virginia, it was hot and sunny in Alice Springs.  Thanksgiving day high here was 97 degrees!  Hard to get into the spirit, but we had a wonderful day nonetheless.

We joined a number of other families (Americans and non-Americans) in a hall at a local church for a big Thanksgiving buffet.  Lots of good food.  Jamie had a wonderful time running around with the other kids.  Gavin slept thru most of the evening and woke up just in time to leave.  Braden was awake for most of the evening and wanted to see everything!



The turkey



Pavlova (popular Australian dessert)

Mommy & Braden



Gavin (being thankful)



Ryan & Hudson Daddy & Braden

Daddy & Braden

Jamie (caught with his hand in the pretzel bowl)

Robin Lowe, Lexi & Hudson Rhoades

Joe Lowe & Amie Thearp (carving the turkey)

Amie Thearp (breaking bread)

Telegraph Station

There is no shortage of beautiful parks around Alice Springs and this weekend we explored another one.  The Old Telegraph Station. 

There a number of trails thru and around the Station that I hope we are able to try before we leave.  Some are definitely too intense to do with the wee ones, but others look like they might be doable.

We didn't actually tour any of the buildings, but we did have a lovely morning tea (lunch) tucker (picnic).  We met a friend of Jamie's (Rio) and his mom (Simha) there and the boys had a fantastic time. 

We were joined by some birds and critters, including a newly "hatched" cicada. 




Orange Drummer Cicada Nymph



Orange Drummer Cicada (by the river)



Yellow Throated Miner joining our tucker
















The highlight of the morning was playing in the Todd River, which still had water in it from the previous week's rain.

Post swim snack

5 Months Old

It is really amazing how fast time is going.  Our littlest ones turned 5 months old yesterday, so we continued the tradition...

Braden

Gavin

Holding hands...