Quick, go to sleep

Dad and I had a few adventures today.

We went to the park to play with Ben and Claire. I ran around chasing balls ehile dad and Ben kicked a footy to each other. Sometimes they'd kick it to me.

I had a really big sleep after all that running around.

Tonight, mum went out for her weekly walk and dad and I were supposed to go to ved. We didn't. We stayed up and played Wii! We may have lost track of the time, and when dad saw the headlights of the car in the driveway he grabbed me, turned the TV off and ran to my room.

He whispered, 'quick, go to sleep' a few times. We dived into bed and lay as still as we could. Dad was worried I wouldn't understand the importance of being still and quiet, but I din't make a sound, and actually fell asleep pretty quickly. He was relieved.

Bike Hat

I've been spending more time riding my firetruck lately.

I'm getting really good at manouvering it around the house, and around all the obstacles I encounter on my missions.

After running on my steam, I often try to convince a grown-up to give me a push. When mum got tired of pushing me today, she said "Ok, now it's your turn". So I got off, grabbed Mum's hand and tried to make her sit down while I pushed her.

Apparently, that's not what she meant.

So we found a solution. Mum went and got my teddy, Manny, and strapped him onto my truck and then I spent ages giving Manny rides up and down the hallway.

Then this afternoon Mum was hanging out some washing in the garage. I followed her in and found a bike helmet. I pointed at it and said, "bike hat". Mum was impressed because she and dad have never shown it to me. I picked it up, took it out to the kitchen and popped it on Manny's head. Then it was back to whizzing up and down the hallway...but with head protection this time.

Patting babies and being dogs

We had a few sets of visitors today. In the morning Ben came over with Claire. She's bigger than me and we have different ideas on how to build block towers. Claire likes to build them up and I like to knock them down. That caused a few problems but mostly we got on well.

Then we all went off to Playgroup. I had a great time with Olive. First, we spent some time 'patting' one of the little babies. We were very gentle. Then we pretented to be dogs, crawling around the floor saying 'woof woof'.

Tonight Nick and Rebecca came over for dinner. I showed Becky my room and we drew some pictures. After tea we played Wii. I didn't get to use a controller but I still pretended! Mum and Dad let me stay up late since I was being a good boy and not grizzling at all.

It's getting dark too early

Today Mum went to work and I went to play at Grandma's. We had our usual trip to the park but, unusually, I had no time for the slippery dip.

I did have time for ducks, though.

I impressed Grandma very much by sleeping for almost three hours! Later Mum came to collect me and we went shopping. I wanted to sit in the back of the trolley but I was being a bit naughty so Mum made me sit in the little seat.

When Dad got home from work we had a run around in the backyard. It could be one of our last 'after work run around the yard' times because winter is coming, and it's getting cold and dark a lot earlier than it had been.

I wanna hold your hand

I had a great game of peek-a-boo with Olive at Church today. I'm big enough to run around after the service with the other kids.

When it was time to go, Olive didn't want to come so I grabbed her hand so she would walk with me. Everyone thinks it's cute when we hold hands.

Shipped out

Mum and dad had to do a lot of garden work today, so I got packed off to Grandma and Grandad's place.

My favourite things to do at grandma's place include waving at Fender the dog through the glass door, going to the Pirate Ship park, climbing up and down the stairs, but the best thing is what's known as 'Noah's Drawer'.

Noah's Drawer is the bottom drawer in the kitchen full of things I'm allowed to play with. Safe kitchen utensils and pots and stuff like that. Most of them are either great for drumming or for hitting balls with!

That seventies outfit

I've got some new skivvies.

Teamed up with my long hair and brown 'bumpy' pants dad reckons I look like I've stepped out of the 1970s. He says that's not uncool, cause that's where he stepped out from!

Spoon

I tried to eat all my food with a spoon today.

It was fine with my yoghurt, but a little bit hard with biscuits!

Water fun

We dived back into the pool today.

More lessons.

More songs.

And more crawling across the 'walking' mat.

All the other kids walk across the mat. I'm different. The mums and the teacher, and my mum all encourgae me to stand up and walk across the mat, but I get such a reaction to the crawl that I keep doing it!

Introductions

My mission today was to introduce myself to everyone I met.

I'd point at my tummy and say "no-no".

I did this to strangers and friends alike.

To school

Mum went to work today and, because Grandma is away at the moment, Dad stayed home with me instead. He's still a bit sick but he thinks it's very nice how I seem to understand when the person is looking after me is sick, and act accordingly.

So I just played quietly and was a very good boy.

Today's fun began when Dad went to work and Mum took over looking after me. We went to the school where I am going to go to kindy so that mum could hand in my kindy enrolment forms. After we visited the office (which wasn't very exciting) we walked past the playground (which was). Mum decided to let me have a little play since school was over for the day. I had a great time. We ran into some friends and, even though I'd met them before, I introduced myself. I do that a lot lately. One of our friends is a year one teacher and she let me play in the classroom!

Okay

I spent most of the day with mum, because dad's got a bit of a cold, and he doesn't want me to get it.

So apart from trying to hang out with dad, and being dragged away each time, I spent a good deal of time saying my favourite new word, 'okay'. Which mum and dad say is a lot better than hearing 'no'!

Pretending

I'm at the stage where I like to pretend I'm doing things.

I love to 'vacuum' while mum has the vacuum cleaner. I'll use anything that remotely looks like the vacuum handle. Sometimes if I get the chance, I'll actually grab the real vacuum and use it for real!

But mum and dad laughed at my latest 'pretend'. Sometimes when they tell me it's time for sleep I'll quickly put my head down and curl up, as if I really am asleep. And then I do the sleeping sound effects. What sound effects? You ask. A big snoring sound. Mum says I'm imitating dad, and dad thinks my late night visits to the big bed will have to stop if I keep learning that sort of behaviour!

Come one, come all

We had houseguests today. The kind I like the best. Ones that are my age!

Olive and Harvey came to play while their mum was at work. I was very excited.

Harvey and I played with my guitar. I shared it with him, and I even nodded politely when he showed me how to use it.

Olive and I did our usual trick of sharing drinks and getting into harmless mischief.

We played and played, and when it was time for a sleep I didn't stay down for very long - I think I wanted to keep playing.

New sheets

I got some new sheets for my bed today.

They're flannel with cars and trucks and planes and helicopters on them.

At storytime tonight I'd turn from the book to my sheets and point out the different modes of transport.

I can say 'car' 'bike' and 'copter'. But not 'plane'. Planes are 'copters' for them moment! Or 'air-cars'!

Under the table

When I don't want to do what mum or dad wants me to do (which can be quite often!) I like to go to my special 'protest place'.

Under the kitchen table.

If I'm super annoyed I'll lie down on my tummy while under the table.

During one of my table visits today, dad bent down and crawled under the table. I didn't know what to make of it, and I started laughing. He laughed too. And then he extracted me from the 'protest place' and put me in the bath.

Mummy

Last night I said 'mummy' for the first time.

Sure, I've said 'mum' for a long time, but mum longed to hear 'mummy'. I've said 'daddy' for ages, but for some reason I've never said 'mummy'.

Well, that all changed last night when I casually let it slip. Mum nearly leaped for joy. i think she had a bit of a tear in her eye too.

I noticed that it was special, becasue all day today I've been saying 'mummy' and then giggling and smiling. Mum giggled and smiled too.

RUM!

I slept in until 7:30, and was still a bit tired all day after last night's shenanigans.

I made Aunty Lyndall 'run' all over the house with me.

She bought me some nice new books. And we had some lovely story times.

Dad and I played guitars tonight. First with my top Gibson guitar, and then with his real guitar. I love it when he plays his guitar. And he loves to play it for me. Even when I get a bit carried away and start to strum on the strings.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, and I did some 'drumming' on the blankets. I yell 'RUM!' when I play my 'drums'.

The longest day

Today could have been my longest day ever.

We went to church in the morning and the most memorable thing that happened was when I gave my friend Olive a big hug and we toppled over onto the ground!

Then we went to grandma and grandad's house for morning tea and lunch.

We went home for a sleep after that and then to the park for a bit of a run around.

I mastered the slippery dip, and had a lot of rides until mum's arms got sore from lifting me up to the top (there's no steps on the slippery dip - just a climbing rop, and I'm a bit too small for climbing ropes)

Then we went out to Easterfest for some evening concerts. We sat in the front row in the cafe, and I waved at lots of people walking past. I danced a bit in the aisles, and got lots of smiles. And I had lots of juice. I didn't get sleepy. I kept rockin' and talking and dancing until it got really late!

We went home. It was almost midnight. I looked at mum when we walked in the door and asked to watch some TV!

She told me that all good boys and girls went to bed five hours ago, and that I should have been asleep, and so I went to bed.

Rockin' with Grandma

The festival is going strong.

But so is the rain.

So mum packed me off to see grandma while she and dad went to some concerts in the rain. See, they're not totally irresponsible!

I did get to spend a bit of time in the media and artist area, and I wore my 'Church Punk' shirt!

I met the daughter of the Compliments of Gus keyboard player. She's about the same size as me, but I still called her a "babeeee".

Someone gave me a balloon on a stick and it kept me entertained for a long time in the big tent.

Rockin' with Audio Adrenaline

I love rockin'!

And the rock came to our town with Easterfest, a big festival in the park.

Today, dad was doing interviews backstage and mum and I came for a visit. I was in my skull and cross bone shirt and my skinny black jeans and my Chucks - I looked the part! Oh, and I brought my guitar with me too!

During the press conference the guys in Audio Adrenaline said hello to me and invited me up onto the stage. I was a bit shy, but I eventually gave Will the bass player a high-five.

They signed my guitar.

They got whisked away pretty quicly after that, so the only picture I have of our meeting is the one below, where I'm not doing one of my best smiles. Good thing Tyler is smiling for the both of us!

Later on we went and watched some bands play. I wore my trusty ear muffs to protect my ears. Dad took me down the front and I just stared at the lights and the bands on stage. Dad said it was amazing that I sat still for such a long time. Mum had me on her shoulders down the front for Audio Adrenaline's concert. I finally ended up in the pram but insisted I watch until the very moment my eyes finally shut - just in time for the encore.

Home-made punk

Dad and I went to the shops today. We were looknig for some new duds. We didn't find any that fit (I'm too big for the baby stuff, and not quite big enough for the 'boy' section)

But I had fun running through the mall. And I really tired myself out running up the walkway ramps in the carpark.

When we got home dad decided to customise one of my t-shirts for the upcoming Easterfest. He grabbed a black shirt, a can of spray paint and headed to the garage. I wasn't allowed to witness the event, but later on I got handed my very own hand painted shirt. It says "Church Punk". Mum even thinks it looks cool. Which surprised us all!

Aunty Lyndall arrived tonight, and I made her read me a lot of stories before bed.

Where's dad?

At 4 o'clock I decided it was time to get dad from work. I found mum and pointed to the car outside and said 'daddy?'

I did it a few times.

And then I cried 'daddy!' And I cried a bit more.

And I grabbed the picture I'd drawn and took it to the front door.

And I cried 'daddy' again.

Mum tried to explain that he'd be getting home a bit later. But it was no good. I wanted dad now.

We called him on the phone. He had a little chat to me. He explained that he'd be home in a while.

He had a late interview, and got home after tea.

When he finally got home I was tired, but still had enough time for a story and then fell asleep on dad's shoulder.

Ukelale

The TV antenna man came to check our aerial today. He had to test out all the channels. When he came to ABC2 I settled down on the couch, because one of my shows was on. And then he went and changed the channel! Darn.

Later on we went out to tea at Aanika and Zara's place. We had a a great time playing. They've got a real ukelale. I carried it around for most of the night.

The usual...

Off to grandma's this morning. Dad had to take me because mum was working at the radio station today. We were a bit late because dad isn't used to getting me organised every day. It takes a long time for me, and my stuff, to get ready.

Grandma and I visited Nana, and as we were arriving at her place I started to blow kisses. That's what she does to me. And I remembered. Cool huh?

Bedtime routine

In addition to my love of 'dabba dabba' and 'choo choo' I am appreciating stories from books more than ever.

My favourite is called "Growl" - it's a bout a little monster who saves the day by growling - and I love to growl along with the storyteller.

When it's time to go to bed I'll go and get a book from the bookshelf and climb into bed with mum or dad. It's usually been mum lately, because she's got a new knack of getting me to sleep.

We read a story, and then i'll get out of bed, take the book, and put it back on the shelf. Then I'll grab another one and we'll read it too. This can be repeated up to three times.

Then mum will say 'time to press the button'. The button is the light switch. I stand up on my little blue chair and reachas high as I can to turn off the light.

Then we go back to bed and my job is to lie down straight away and not carry on with any monkey business. Mum says she'll lie down with me as long as I don't carry on. five minutes alter I'm usually asleep. Sometimes mum is too!

Wedding bells

Mum and dad had to go to a wedding in the city today, and seeing I'm too little to go to receptions, I had to stay home.

So I planned to go to grandma and grandad's place.

But they had a wedding to go to too!

So I did the rounds.

I packed up my stuff and went to Sam's place for a few hours. We played so much I forgot to have a sleep, and even lunch!

After their wedding, grandad came and collected me and I finally went to sleep at 4 o'clock!

I woke up at tea time, and went back to sleep not long after - and just after midnight mum and dad arrived to take me home. I didn't stir at all, and they talked about remembering when they were little and being carried to the car and then to bed...

Dabba Dabba On

I have a DVD that lives at grandma's place. It's called 'Yo Gabba Gabba' - a kid's TV show from America.

I love watching it when I'm at her place.

I call it 'Dabba Dabba'.

This morning I said to mum 'dabba dabba on' - and pointed to the TV. She told me we don't have that DVD at home, and we couldn't watch it. But we could watch some Thomas the Tank Engine.

I call it 'Choo Choo'.

I didn't quite get the point she was making...and asked again for some 'dabba dabba' - but I think it sunk in when the trains came on instead.

Meat!

We went to grandma and grandad's for tea.

I had one thing on my mind. Meat. It's what I said, and it's what I ate.

Meat!

Rainy days

It was a rainy day today.

That meant dad and I couldn't play outside.

So we did a bit of TV watching, music listening, and story reading.

Self reference

I talk a lot.

Sometimes in English!

And lately I've been making reference to me.

"Noh-noh" is what I call myself.

At swimming today I made eye contact with each of my fellow swimmers, pointed at my chest and said 'Noh-noh'.

At bathtime dad caught me with a toy Ernie (from Sesame St) in one hand and a little green thing in the other, and I was saying "daddy, daddy...noh-noh, noh-noh" - he couldn't work out which one was which - but he thought it was pretty cool.