Yeah I know...

long time between blogs!

I headed out to mum and dad's the other week and had 6 photo shoots lined up - was so busy getting myself organised for that, then there for a week, and now home proofing....ridiculously busy! In a good way though.

You have to slip over to my work blog (link to the right) to check out my Trash the Dress session - OMG how much fun was that? I still have hundreds of photos to go through, but have banned myself until I get these family ones done first!!

Boy, I just went searching for photos of my boys to post here...and had to go back a LOOONNNGGG way. Seems I've been taking heaps of everyone else and none of Max and Sam! Max is pretty much walking now - he will easily walk across a room - but still only when HE feels like it! Esther thought I was lying about him walking - he always refused to show her, until yesterday actually! I'm glad she believes me now!! It's so cute when they start walking, isn't it?

Speaking of Max, I realised the other day that he is going to be JUST like Cas - clumsy as hell, and a drama queen to boot. The worst possible combination, I think (sorry Cas!!). Lucky he's so bloody beautiful though!!

Ok, photos.

photos

Just a few of Nic's boys I haven't shown off -

He amazes and surprises me.

Sambo. He really does amaze me. I don't give him nearly enough credit for what a gorgeous boy he's become.

We've been talking about the chance of leaving his "buddies" (dummies) out for Santa to give to some little babies who need them. He wasn't really keen on the idea - "nah, Mum, I think I need them more". So, I thought I'd change track and tell him that I'd buy him a lovely big present if we threw all his buddies in the bin. He thought that was a good idea, and that he really, really wanted an excavator (the boy is obsessed with all things boyish!). So, the 1 dummy that he always has, that is the only one that has a clip on it went missing on Sunday. I looked EVERYWHERE for it Sunday night. He went to bed with about 3 other dummies, but I was worried that he would wake up looking for it if it wasn't clipped on him. I actually barely slept on Sunday night trying to work on where on earth I'd put this dummy. Turns out, Sambo threw it in the bin. He told us Monday morning.

Wow, I thought. We might be onto a winner here.

So yesterday we were at the shops. And he spots this toy whipper snipper. Now, as I've mentioned, the kid LOVES all things boyish. In fact, he has been obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with mowers and whipper snippers from a very young age. He has turned anything in our house that might have a long handle type thing into a whipper snipper. So, you can imagine how excited he was to actually find a proper whipper snipper that makes noise etc! So...he decided that he would throw ALL his buddies in the bin, if I got him the whipper snipper.

So he did.

I was dreading last night. Really, really dreading it. I was tired to start with, and I thought I would be up ALL night with him.

Come bed time, he got a little anxious and told me he didn't want the whipper snipper anymore. I told him that we had thrown all his buddies in the bin, so there were none left. I said he could lie down on the couch and watch some of the Jungle Book (current favourite) with Thomas (the Tiger - also a favourite) and his whipper snipper (a BIG favourite!)...and there he fell asleep. I put him into bed and he slept all night with no problems.

What a little champ, huh? I'm so proud of him, but also kind sad that he's not a baby anymore. Within the space of a few short months, he's toilet trained, and thrown out his dummy. He's getting so big now...and having proper adult conversations.

Way to go Sambo.

Now....onto other stuff - Max has taken his first steps. I can't bloody believe it. At 9.5 months of age, and he's decided he wants to walk. Sob sob sob. Even my baby isn't a baby anymore!

A very big Happy Birthday to Nat and Cas for last Monday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Sal for last Sunday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Doylie for last Wednesday.

A very big Happy Birthday to Michael for last Friday.

Boy, October is a busy month for birthdays for us, isn't it?

Ok, now to leave you with a few photos:

No news really

Just thought I should update! The boys have gone home - we had such a good time with them, even if it was exhausting! They just adored Max (as well they should - he IS adorable!).

We were supposed to go whale watching on Sunday which we were so looking forward to, but it was cancelled as it was too windy. What a bummer. Ah well, next year when Clydey's parents are here, we'll take them.

Max's top tooth has finally started cutting. Did I update his stats? At 8.5 months he was 8.99kg and 74.5cm long. Sam was 75cm long at 12 months so I'm guessing Max will be taller than his big brother??? The midwife was worried because Max's weight gain has really slowed down and she told me to feed him more solids - yeah right, did you take a look at him? He may be a lightweight compared to what Sam was....but he's no shrinking violet!! He's crawling you crazy woman! Of course his weight gain is going to slow down!!

Clydey rang me yesterday telling me we need to have another baby and it HAS to be a girl - apparently he was holding a 12 week old baby girl at work, and got all clucky. He doesn't want another unless it's a girl though!

Ok, nothing else for now. I'll drop back later with some photos.

I don't want 5 kids.

More specifically 5 boys. I love my nephews and I love my sons. But 5 boys might just push me over the edge!!

Having a great time though (even if it is very noisy!!). We are making kites, we have played with play dough, been to the park, jumped on the tramp, played with the golf sticks, played with sticks, been to the shops.....and they've only been here since Friday night!! We are going to Shorncliffe Pier tomorrow, a picnic today, State Library on Wednesday....and maybe rest on Thursday (yeah right!).

Here are some photos - plenty, plenty more to come!!

Update on my kids - Sam fully toilet trained - day and night!! He was waking up with a dry nappy every morning, and the other night when I was putting him to bed I said we need to put a nappy on, and he said "nah, I don't need one"....so I figured, why not give it a go? What a little champ!! Max is still very grizzly....so I am guessing it's more teeth on the way? Can't see any but am hoping to hell that's what it is, cos I don't want him whingy like this all the time!! Still standing every now and then on his own....for longer and longer. It's not all the time though, so am grateful for that.

Ok, best go sweep for the 4th time today!!

oh dear

a very quick post as one of my favourite shows is about to start.

This morning I was in the lounge room with Max, who was standing up holding onto the couch. He went to reach for me, and I think changed his mind....and found himself standing there by himself.

Not holding onto anything.

Standing.

Long enough for me to call to Clydey to check it out.

Ok, I think. It was a complete fluke. He's only 8.5 months old after all. He just found the right balance by chance. It won't happen again.

Ummmm. wrong. Twice more today he's done it.

So, I'm not saying that this means he'll be walking anytime soon, but holy crap. It was enough to scare the bejesus out of me.

I WANT MY BABY BACK.

Ok, off now.

PS Sam is ok, just driving me bloody mental. Not sure if it's me or him, but I could do with a break from him.

PPS Congrats to Bobby and Lindsay on the birth of Thomas James. YAY for a boy for you guys!!

I feel sick.

But in a good way. I have just rung and ordered two new lenses for my camera. I have been trying for almost 6 months to decide on which lens to get next, and had finally narrowed it down to 2 different ones. Was planning on getting one now and one early next year.....so my next dilemma was which one to get now and which one to get next year!! I kept changing my mind, swinging back and forth from the zoom lens to the fixed lens. I think Clydey got sick of me and my indecision and yesterday just told me to get both of them! So today...that's exactly what I did!

Luckily I have at least 4 shoots in the next few weeks....so I had best push for some BIG orders from them to pay for the damn things!!

Now, kids wise, Max is still teething, poor kid. The two top ones - one of them is just there, about to break the skin. Just wish it would happen already! Luckily for me though (I keep saying, someone is up there looking out for me!) his sleep isn't affected in the slightest...he is just a bit whingy. Sam has been pushing my buttons too....but I don't know if that's just cos I'm exhausted from the teething child and I'm not in the mood to deal with him too?????? sometimes I just don't know if I do anything right with him - he often back chats, and can be really, really cheeky (not in a good way), and then other times he is the sweetest child around. I'm hoping it's just this age, but who knows.

Got my first stranger booking for a photo shoot....bit scary but looking forward to it. A 7 year old boy and his 3 year old little brother (and mum and dad!). I'm thinking I might see how she feels about letting them get ridiculously dirty for part of the shoot (the end part I guess?) and get some photos of them in a mud fight or something like that? Anyway, will think up some things and see how we go.

Ok, best go have a cuppa before Max wakes up. Some new photos.

Hey, have I mentioned that Max is a thumbsucker? Well, he most certainly is! It's oh so cute!