Who's a busy boy?..

Wow, what a week and a half! I've been so busy and haven't had a chance to update the blog for a while so I'll start back at last Tuesday 22nd.

I had my visit to the Healthcare Nurse Trina who I will be seeing for the next few months. I think she could tell that I like her because I wee'd on her. I got weighed and measured, I'm now 4.04kg (up from 3.57kg only 4 days earlier!!!) and 52.8cms (up from 51cms at birth). I am going back to see her on 6th August so I wonder how much weight I will have put on by then! I also started with my Mother's Group on Tuesday at the same place and the other people seem really nice. We meet each Tuesday until 2nd September. This week we learned about CPR and last week mummy learned about taking time out for herself and making sure that she stays relaxed. Out of the 8 babies that are in the group, I am the youngest (all the others are 6-14 weeks older than me and all are boys except for 1 little girl). Mummy is getting along well with the other mothers and is really enjoying chatting to other mums who are experiencing the same things as her.

Nanna Rastall babysat me for the first time on Thursday when mummy and Grandad Rastall went shopping together. We went for a walk to the library and to the shops. I was really good for her, though I think she was a bit disappointed because I slept pretty much the whole time I was with her so she didn't get to play with me. She kept poking my cheek to make sure I was still breathing I was so quiet! I still really love my stroller and mummy and I have been walking everywhere since the weather has been nice.

Daddy had Friday off work so he and mummy went to a big toy sale. It was lucky that I was asleep in my stroller the whole time otherwise I might have ruined my surprises for Christmas! I got to meet daddy's inner child - he had great fun playing with the toys, but mummy had to remind him that I'm too little at the moment to play with remote controlled cars, racing car sets and big Tonka trucks.

I love spending time with my daddy

I have spent a lot of time with Nanna and Grandad Rastall and Aunty Karen and Uncle Eric this week as it was Nanna's 60th birthday on Monday and Grandad's 65th birthday yesterday. Mummy and I surprised Nanna on Monday and spent most of the day at her house. Nanna Jensen and Great-Nanna Bush also came to visit so I got to have cuddles with them too.

Cuddles with Great-Nanna Bush

We all surprised Nanna by meeting at a restaurant on Monday night for dinner. I was so good, I didn't make a noise and other people at the restaurant didn't even know that I was there until Mummy took me out of my pram for a photo!

Happy 60th birthday Nanna Rastall!

My first beer with Uncle Eric

We had a party for Nanna on Saturday night at her house with her friends from the Maryknoll Wildlife Shelter. I had a lovely time and it was great to finally meet Nanna's friends.

Party animal - do you like my party outfit?!

What a tiring party!

Yesterday I went to the movies for the first time with Mummy, Nanna, Grandad and Aunty Karen to celebrate Grandad's birthday. We went to a baby session of Mamma Mia - you should have seen how many prams and babies there were! We also saw some of my friends from Mothers Group. Aunty Karen took the day off work to surprise Grandad and it was lovely to spend more time with her. I loved the movie and behaved myself. I shared my love between everyone and when I wasn't staring at the screen, I was either sleeping or playing the air-piano to 'Dancing Queen' (with some help from Aunty Karen). After the movie we went out for a nice lunch where I didn't make a peep and after going home for a few hours (where I screamed for mummy the whole time) we had dinner at Grandad's house.

My first trip to the movies

Happy 65th birthday Grandad Rastall

Mummy and I are pretty tired and I need to spend a few days just at home to remember what my routine is supposed to be so I don't scream for mummy in the afternoon when I get home. I get restless for a few hours in the late afternoon/early evening, but mummy and daddy are finding ways to calm me at this time of day with baths, music, massage and lots of love and cuddles. I'm still sleeping really well at night so mummy and daddy are still getting lots more sleep than they expected to be getting. I go to bed around 6-6.30pm and get up around 8am with feeds around 11.30pm, 2am and 5.30am. I have had a bit of wind, but it is getting better, though I'm surprised that my daddy's hands are still in tact because I'm sure I've blown holes in them this week! Mummy is loving every minute of being with me (yes, even the ones where I cry because at least it's not during the night and all day) and daddy is so happy to get home from work to spend time with me. I am really looking forward to having a few days at home with nothing on so that mummy can catch up on things around here and I can kick back with my music.

Butter wouldn't melt in my mouth

I'm much cuter than Nanna's dolls

Snug as a bug for the cold weather

Ready for one of my walks with mummy

Photo of the week - my 'Blue Steel' pose

Derek Zoolander's (Ben Stiller) Blue Steel' pose from the movie 'Zoolander' - he's really really ridiculously good looking.....

I'm such a lickle man...

I'm quite bored today, my daddy has gone back to work and I'm stuck at home with mummy. It's been so lovely to have daddy at home and I've really bonded with him. I can't wait until he comes home tonight so we can play together!

Daddy's got the magic touch

I'm being very good for mummy this morning though, I've made sure that I've given her time to get a shower, have breakfast and a warm cup of tea (a hot cup of tea doesn't exist anymore), fold some washing, tidy my room, throw the rubbish out, check her emails, even replace the battery in the clock that she noticed was stuck on 4.30 this morning - all this and it's 10.40am! I've been amusing myself listening to music - Katie Noonan and Stevie Wonder are my favourite at the moment, and I'm just kicking back to some Roachford now. I'm looking forward to having some tummy time today, I'm getting really good with my neck now and can move my head from one side to the other and back again without too much trouble.

We've spent the last few days out and about again, meeting people who's voices I know from when I was 'on the inside'. Everyone's been so nice, I can't wait until I'm bigger and can play with everyone properly. We've been out to the shops a few times too and for walks around home as the weather has been dry but pretty cold so my Collingwood blanket has come in handy. I'm really easy to get out and about as I love my stroller and being in my car seat.

Uncle Mark and Aunty Tanya

Aunty Magda

Grandma Glenda, Uncle Aaron and Aunty Bec

My first introduction to Australian wildlife - she feeds the same way as me!

We went to see Grandad Jensen in the hospital on Friday after his operation - I hope he gets better soon so he can come home and we can play together. I got to see my Nanna Jensen, Aunty Michelle and cousin Liam too and I had a lovely time. I look so little next to Liam, though I'm sure it won't be too long and I'll be the same size as him since I'm already growing so quickly. We dropped in to see Aunty Karen at work afterwards and we went for a coffee down Brunswick Street. We timed it perfectly for her to give me a bottle and I made her laugh with the faces that I pull when she burps me!

Have you finished yet?!

What a wind smile!

The maternal healthcare nurse came to visit on Friday morning. Everything is really good and when she weighed me, we found out that I had put on a pound since Friday last week! I'm not surprised because I enjoy my milk so much, but mummy and daddy were a bit surprised that I'm now 7lb 14oz. Since I'm growing so quickly they decided to take a few photos to show how little I am so when I'm towering over them they can remember how sweet I used to be.

In my hat from Grandad Rastall

Howdy partner

My hand against daddy's thumb

Holding daddy's hand

Mummy's hand

A little Baby Magpie...

A very special thing has happen to me. I am now a real Aussie little boy. When I was 4 days old, my daddy signed me up to be a Baby Magpie - yes, I am officially a member of the Collingwood Football Club! Daddy bought me a dummy months ago and the rest of my merchandise arrived today, along with my certificate. It will take a while for the beanie and bib to fit, but I will be able to use my blanket when I watch the games with my dad on a weekend. I'm so excited, I'll be watching my first game of Aussie Rules this Friday night on the tv with daddy when Collingwood play North Melbourne. I hope that we win! Maybe I'll be big enough to go to a real game with my daddy by the start of the next season...

First week

I've had a very busy first week home. I've had lots of visitors, gone to the shops a few times, out for brunch, to my Aunty Michelle's birthday afternoon tea, visited family and friends and enjoyed time at home with mummy and daddy. The three of us even went out for lunch today to a nice restaurant. Mummy and daddy were so proud of me, I slept through the whole lunch and didn't make a peep! They are quite happy to take me out and about because I am so good and behave myself that I am no trouble at all (and I love being in the car and stroller). Everywhere I have been I have taken it in my stride and can't wait to get out and about even more.

The nurse came last Friday and when she weighed me I was back to my birth weight so I am doing well. My cord came off on Monday morning so I have a big-boy belly button now. I'm sleeping for about 2-3hrs during the day and anywhere between 3-5hrs at night, so mummy and daddy are getting much more rest than they expected they would. I love my two brothers, Charlie and Oskar, and they are loving having me around. Mummy and daddy won't let me play with them on my own, but we are having fun playing together through the glass and when we are supervised.

Here are a some photos from my first week.

With mummy and daddy
With Aunty Karen and Uncle Eric
With Nanna Jensen, Great Uncle Gary and Great Aunty Elvie
With Great Nanna Bush

I love my brother Oskar
Hanging out with Charlie, Oskar and mummy in the sun

Playing with mummy
Mesmerised by the sun...

Wanna come to a party in my crib?
In my hand-made cardigan from my Aunty Julie from England

Pope Connor Johnson-Baby after his first bath at home
I don't need a bed this big!

With Aunty Brooke and mummy

Only 11 days old and I have my first girlfriend, Indiana.

Up to date

As you can see, I'm exhausted after a morning of updating the blog for everyone, but at least you all know now what I've been up to since I've been released on the world. I am feeding really well - around every 3-4 hrs and mostly sleeping in between around the clock, so mummy and daddy are getting more sleep than they anticipated they would. The nurse came around yesterday and I have already put on another 30g from when they weighed me in the hospital before I left. I'm now only 170g below my birth weight and the nurse is coming again today so it should be even closer now.

Mummy said that we have to thank daddy for everything he has been doing since we have been home. He's been feeding me, changing me, waiting on mummy hand and foot, washing clothes and dishes, heating the dinner up that Nanna Rastall has been bringing and most of all, giving us both lots of love and attention. I know he worked really hard too while mummy and I were in hospital and made everything so easy for mummy. I have got a great role model in my daddy and I love him so much. I'll be very sad when he goes back to work next week.

Home sweet home!

I was really glad to come home so I could get to see my room that I had heard so much about. Don't you just love the coming home outfit that Nanna Rastall bought for me?! I wonder if my new home always looks like a florist...