Precious

It's been such a strange and unpleasant week. People keep describing it as "surreal" but I don't think that's it at all. It's more like hyperreal; it makes you look at everything around you, and all the ones you love, and see fragility and the terrible possibility of loss.



This has been a week for all us parents to think, Oh, those poor people and then, in a little selfish corner, Thank God it wasn't us. But I suppose that is only natural; and better cast, perhaps, in a light of gratitude for your own blessings.

This week, which has been awfully busy and full of bad things, makes the good things shine very bright.





This has been a week for looking at the moments you're living, and filing them away for a rainy day of your own.



I'm so sorry, Christchurch.

This is one for the books!

Man. You go away for ONE NIGHT on a stupid conference, and you come back and find that your baby:

a) had an ear infection last week, only you were too dim to notice it
b) had his chin caught in the bicycle helmet clip owowowowowowowow
c) has to have a hip xray because the doctor is concerned about his turned out left foot and his asymmetrical bum creases
d) can do THIS.



We have decided that it's official. Today, the eighteenth of February 2011, is the day that Seb became a toddler. He can stand up by himself in the middle of the floor without assistance. He will take steps unprompted. He doesn't walk far yet, but that's just a technicality. The boy's toddling. Baby no more.

Love ya, my big guy.

Arty Farty

This first pic is just a record of my beautiful girl with turquoise hair instead of pink. It's just a snap and it doesn't do her justice, but gosh, it suits her. It makes her hair so very dark, and her eyes so very blue.

Her Spanish teacher is not terribly impressed, but hey.

But hey, we are an arty farty family. Check out what my little man can do. I know it's only scribble, but isn't he doing well with holding his pencil, and understanding how the thing works?

Seb hasn't been very well for the last couple of days. Runny nose, a bit of a fever, disturbed nights. But his lovely auntie sent him a very well-timed distraction present. Thank you so much, Fuffy! As you can see, he's having a lot of fun with them!

Stand Up For Yourself, Man!

Oh alright then.

Toothy Terror

I am ORSUM! I am so orsum its SCARY!

See how littel I am? Pretty littel eh? But I can still sprize you! See how innosent I am standing here by the table?



And now I'm here on the chare rite? But that's not too scary is it?



Wot about this eh? Are you scared yet? Heh heh heh!



Want anuvver sprize?

I've got FREE BIG FAT BIG BOY TEEF! Two up the top and one down the bottom and my mum and dad didn't even know I had enny of them! Hee hee hee I am such a sneek!

I am goin to eat so much STAKE now. Even if I have to clime on the table to get it.

Hot

Ugh. Hot. Hothothothothot. Sweaty. Lethargic. Hot. Nearly thirty degrees inside, in our high ceilinged, small windowed, thick walled, wooden floored lounge. H. O. T.



(Doesn't that filter work well to express HOT? Also, it's called Lord Kelvin. Nice one.)

I took this video last week, but since all we've wanted to do all weekend is immerse ourselves in water - even I went for a swim! No seriously! - it seems appropriate.

CORN FRENZY!!!

I know this looks like a piece of child torture, but really, the corn was far too hot to hold and needed to be cooled down. Seb, however, found this delay most unreasonable.



Our son REALLY likes corn.

Fashionista

Every well-dressed cyclist these days is sporting a... long wrap-around skirt.



I think this was his first official dress up!