8 Months

Blog note:  You may have noticed the new links down the right hand side.  Rather than trying to include pictures within the blog posts, those will be my "critter gallery."  I'll try to note anytime I update those pages, but this way folks only have to see what they want to see.  :)  There are lots of new pictures on the reptiles and insect pages this month.

Its hard to believe how fast the boys are growing!  Jamie is becoming quite the little boy - climbing and swimming are his two favorite activities.  And he doesn't care where he does them (the bathtub, swingset, couch), we'll really be in trouble when he tries to figure out ways to combine them!

Yesterday the babies turned 8 months old.  It was quite the month for them.  Both started crawling!  Gavin has decided that if he's going to be smallest, he needs to be first at something.  So, teeth it is.  Gavin has cut 8 teeth in less than 2 months.  Even Jamie who got his teeth pretty darn fast took almost 4 months to get 8 teeth!!!

 

Yasi?

Nosi! 

Last week was dominated with talk and preparation for Cyclone Yasi, which hit Queensland pretty hard.  Queensland really didn't need any more rain, let alone a cyclone (hurricane).  What was really notable about Yasi is although it weakened as it came inland, it still managed drop huge amounts of rain across the center of the country. 

We were given flooding preparations plans (Alice Springs Flood Map), buildings around town were protected by sandbags, and we gathered up all the toys in the backyard and tied them down.  We braced for 60mph+ winds and rains up to 12" over a 48 period.

And we got...nothing.  Well, not nothing, just nothing remarkable.  We got rain, but only about an inch or so.  It did come down pretty hard a few times.  Hard enough to overwhelm drainage capabilities in our front yard, which created a wonderful play zone for Jamie.

I'm not sure anything would've made him happier than the hour he spent playing in the rain and splashing in the puddles.

The next day the skies had cleared, the yard had drained and we spent a lovely afternoon playing the backyard.

Gavin LOVED this popsicle!

More fun in Alice...

It's been a busy time here at Chez McCain.  I've started a new job as a Project Manager for Desert Knowledge Australia.  I'll be working on designing and implementing an information management strategy.  I'm just working part-time for now, but I'm pretty excited about the work and look forward to the challenge.  Actually, I'm really looking forward to getting some good pictures of the wildlife.  On my third day there, I watched a bird and a lizard fight over a bug and then I tripped over a Bearded Dragon on my out of the cafeteria.  I'm a little nervous about all the snakes that are out there, but I'll guess I'll deal.

In the meantime, Braden and Gavin have been growing and changing on almost a daily basis.  Since Christmas, Gavin has cut 4 teeth.  He's also working on two more on top, so he's going to have lots of teeth shortly.  I'll try and get some good pictures of his new toothy grin for one of the next posts.  Braden is working on his two lower teeth.  You can feel them, but can't quite see them, yet.  Fortunately, both boys seem to be taking after their big brother With the exception of one problem tooth for Gavin, you'd almost never know they are teething.

Here are some pictures of Braden and Gavin from the last month:

Jamie climbed into Gavin's crib and wanted me to bring Braden in.

A few other random shots of Jamie:

Playing on Boxing Day

Putting the trucks to sleep for bedtime.

 We were also the fortunate recipients of a hand-me-down swing set and slide from a family that was leaving town.  If we could haul it away, we could have it for free!  It helped that Gran & Grump were still here, so they could help us get it set up.  So, we now have a proper playground in our backyard.  Slide, swing set, sand box and trampoline.  What more could a kid ask for?





More Fun with Gran & Grump

Even though, it was pretty hot while Gran & Grump were here, we managed to get out and about.  Jamie, Grump and Mommy went to the pool.  Which is Jamie's favorite activity by far.  He LOVES to jump in the water and spent over an hour jumping into the pool and getting out and jumping in again.  Fortunately, Grump was up for the game. 

We also got to explore the Telegraph Station.  The Telegraph Station was the first European settlement in the Outback.  It is a gorgeous park and has so much history. 



The pole with the wire is the telegraph line.



Jamie in the schoolroom.



We also had fun just hanging around at home...

Jamie trying to eat his toes like Gavin.

Jamie after trying to lick ice cream out of a cup.

Gavin and Braden playing with their new toy from Aunt Jen