I'm just cruisin'

So, I'm 8 1/2 months old now and mom and dad think I might walk before I crawl (they hope this is not a metaphor for my whole life). I still don't really like being on my tummy, and would much prefer to hang out on 2 feet. I worked out that if I just hang on to this couch, I can streeeetttcchhh and stumble and get stuff.

My favourite thing to say- Dadadadadadadada (not purposeful... we think) and blowing big spraying raspberries.
My favourite toy- it changes every day but anything that can be banged together is good
My favourite place- in bed between mommy and daddy at 5am
My least favourite place- my own crib at 5am

Photos from Grandma's December visit

When Heather decided that being back at work was not playing out as we had hoped, she made the decision to be at home with Patrick, where she is now. He is infinitely happier with this situation, and we are too.

Through the month of December, friends and family really came to our side in caring for him while Heather finished up at school. Patrick spent time with Auntie Terry, but decided that was his week to just scream all morning. Jocelyn (Nanna) pitched in too, and then came back again with Richard for Thanksgiving- no small travel in the depth of winter coming from a record snowy winter in the Northwest. But perhaps most special was Grandma, who dropped everything in Adelaide and jumped on a plane (well 3 actually, each way) to spend 3 weeks in December with us looking after Patrick all day during a very cold and snowy December which included a record low temperature on December 15th of -19 degrees. (That's -19 Fahrenheit for our Aussie readers, or -28 degrees Celsius. Don't ever tell me again Sydney gets nippy in the winter- it doesn't.)

He's cute, I know, but 3 weeks cooped up inside with any infant (who would rather you never put him down) when it's too cold to go for even a 15 minute walk, was a lot to ask. Thanks Grandma!

I love my Uncle Rocky

We have had a precious
several weeks
with help from
almost the whole family
on both sides.

Patrick wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a peaceful 2009.

Patrick and daddy, at 5 1/2 months. Can you guess who is who?

Thanksgiving

We certainly have much to be thankful for this year... Nanna and Grampy (who Patrick met for the first time) came to visit us for Thanksgiving. Patrick spoke on Skype to Grandma back in Australia and Grandpa in Thailand (where he may be stuck for a while yet), and is enjoying all the attention he can get... and Grandma arrives in person tomorrow!

how time flies...

August 8th and November 27th, 2008

Yes, we can.

Patrick was just over 2 months old when we watched, from Australia, Barack Obama accept the Democratic party's nomination for president. Some of you have seen that photo. Today, I held him in my arms while I voted in this historic election, at the local elementary school where volunteers handed out donuts and hot coffee as we rubbed our hands while waiting in line in the chill and anticipation of an autumn early morning. He rested on my shoulders as, together (for this election was very much about him), we voted for a candidate who reminds us of what the United States of America can be, rather than what it had become these past 8 years. I wanted him there with me, at that moment.

"... that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and to those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes We Can."

Trick or Treat?

Hi all,

I'm 4 months old now and I thought I'd send you some photos from the Halloween weekend. No real fancy costumes for me (I'm just too little), but I was in a happy mood. By the way, for those of you who haven't been able to come and visit us here in Denver, that's our house behind daddy.

Holding my head up high...

As you can see Patrick is getting stronger all the time. He started at day care this week where he spends the morning while the afternoons are spent at home with mommy. Yesterday he rolled from front to back for the first time. Nobody was more surprised by what happened than he was.