Dad n Mads

Gaye stays in Sydney while John and I go Sailing

Vic and John and Madeleine Visit

Guest presenter today is Gaye:

While I played hostess to little Maddie Geoff was down at the Yacht club for the racing(first 1st of the season) and preparing Perigan for the sail north to Sydney and the second round of the Audi IRC series

We also learned that Steven and Regan are expecting their second child next August. Great news indeed but I think Owen may not be so pleased.

A real treat for Gaye. She got to babysit Maddie for Vic and John when they came down this weekend to attend a wedding in Melbourne. Maddie is now 15 months old, walking and is able to communicate any needs and has great language comprehension.

Also this is the first of the rest of our lives with Geoff now retired. Yahoooooo.

Maddie and Owen Meet Santa

That Santa fella certainly gets around, last week he was in Shepparton with Owen, this week in Sydney with Maddie.

A Submission from Vic

Update; see if you can match the caption with the Pic:

Cheeky chipmunk
Car keys soothe the savage beast
Animal lover, first patting an echidna and then a python
Hanging out with mum

Victoria is our special guest columnist today with a report on their trip to Port Stevens.

Hi everyone,
I hope this email finds you all happy and healthy.

I've finally found some time to download some pics and write an email. So here is a quick update before I head off to bed.

Maddie celebrated 10 months on the weekend. Its so hard to believe how quickly the time has gone by. We decided to get out of town and headed up to Port Stephens for the weekend. For the first time in a long time it didn't rain. We had a lovely time lounging around in the sun, swimming at the beach, a short hike up the closest tall thing we could find (Tomaree Point). It felt like we were in Qld not 2 hours north of Sydney.

We picked the right weekend...we stumbled into the Jazz, Food and wine festival. There were lots of wine stalls with generous portions so we both went home a little happier than when we arrived. Maddie was very patient with us and thankfully entertained by the jazz and all the attention she received for being so cute. Every other baby we saw was sound asleep, but not not our Maddie!! She didn't want to miss a second of the action.
(Ed: Just like her Mom)
The apartment we stayed in had an internal set of stairs which Maddie found hugely entertaining. She climbed those steps so quickly, so many times, and was extremely proud when she reached the top each time. Unfortunately she didn't master the descent, attempting to go down head first. (Ed: Just like her Mom at that age)

John is still at home and loving it. No 45 minute commute to get to work!! He still has another 4 weeks to go, so we'll have to make sure he fits in as much fun stuff as possible. Its particularly nice that I don't work Fridays so we have long weekends together - every weekend!

Work is going well, very busy though. Its nice to be able to walk in the door and find that Maddie is already fed and ready for a bath. I always get big smiles.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the end of the month. We arrive on Wed 29th Sept and leave on 5th October.

Well its time for me to get some sleep.

Chat soon.

Love Vic xx

Hi Cousin.

Madeleine and Owen say hello.

John Graduates

As well as working and being a new Dad, John found time to study and graduate his Masters at the University of New South Wales.

Madeleine Update

Victoria sent me a couple of pics of Madeleine via email messages over the past couple of days - boy can that girl smile. I'm make Vic my guest contributor for this messae. That way I can copy and paste from her emails.

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22/04/2010

We are doing pretty well....when I can convince the girl to get some sleep!

She is still rolling around alot and gets up on all fours rocking back and forth. Right now she has discovered her box of toys and is sorting through for something fun. We bought her colorful alphabet foam mats that link together. She has already discovered how to separate them. Good for chewing!

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24/04/2010 Monther's Group Photos

Here are pics of Maddie stealing the other babies toy! What a bully!

xx

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30/04/2010 Some Pics to Brighten Your Day

Hi guys,
Here are some pics to brighten your day.

Maddie is doing great. She now weighs 7.75kg. She is so close to crawling and gets around by rolling.
No teeth yet, but her gums are pretty sore.

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More photos here:
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m101/geoff123_2006/Last%20Weekend%20in%20Sydney%20March%202010/

More family and baby pics form our weekend trip to Sydney. Gaye used her Christmas gift from Sue, a travel voucher for JetStar, I managed to got cheap tickets at $39 and $49. Whilst Gaye stayed with Dim and Sue checking out the local markets and activities that Redfern had to offer, I stayed with Vic n John and caught up on some surfing and bike riding. Also investigated gliders at the local hobby shop and purchased a Canterbury Sailplanes 'Dart'.Saturday we caught up with John Flynn over taps at Dee Why Beach and shared some stories and made plans for some winter sailing.Sunday Grant and Suzie and Luca joined Vic, John, Maddie, Sue, Dim and me for a barbie lunch and a couple of nice reds.

Christmas 2009 at Home

Guest blog-spot: Maddie's first Christmas, by Maddie's Dad.

What a week it's been! Vic plucked up the courage to take to the skies with Maddie on her first plane ride at 6 weeks old. I felt pretty bad not being able to join her but, by all reports, Mum and bub survived their one and a half hour trip together quite well. And the screaming part? Well, we've put up with our share of noisy babies in confined spaces.

I arrived on Christmas eve in time for a couple of beers with Geoff and a final flurry of gift wrapping. After a good night's sleep in my wobbly single bed, the big day arrived.

By general consensus, we forewent the traditional Christmas swim due to a fairly average show by the Victorian sunshine and the anticipated antarctic water temps. Yes, we are soft.

Maddie put in a brief appearance at gift time without too much apparent interest, then put herself back to bed. The rest of us swapped Kris Kringle pressies with talking bottle openers and barbecue implements receiving good representation.

Following the present ceremony, the Monties dispersed leaving Gaye and Geoff, Dim and Sue to enjoy lunch together. For Vic, Maddie and myself, it was off to my brother Scot's place. The main festivities were more subdued than the traditional overindulgence in good food and wine for me. I seemed to be constantly settling Maddie, who was a little rattled by the noise and attention of an eager family wanting to meet and have a cuddle. Unfortunately, this got in the way of a beer permanently attached to my hand. Nice day, though, with cricket and darts tournaments later on.

Vic and I have since found some time to relax, with plenty of willing baby-sitters. A couple of rides and games of golf and I remember how nice it is to be home again.