I got a Mac

And we have discovered Photo Booth.

First run....

Second run....

Third run....

Mac's are so cool!

Deb's Surprise Birthday

Paddy and I went to Toowoomba on the weekend and surprised Deb for her birthday. We had a nice afternoon in a cocktail bar with yummy tapas and a doughnut cake.

It was nice to have a surprise for a very special friend.

Paddy's first Maleny Christmas Street Carnival

The Maleny Street Carnival at Christmas was always a highlight for me as a kid.

So it was awesome to take Paddy to his first carnival.

He was so happy watching all the kids and everything that was going on.

We got our photo taken with Santa - it is a shocker. Paddy was scared and was crying and I looked scared after Santa was feeling me up getting into the lolly sack. Danny looked the best out of all of us - a definite first.

Mini Holiday @ Curramore

Our power decided to fail so we had a mini holiday at Gram & Poppy's house. It was wonderful!

It rained the whole time but Paddy loved being out under the umbrella so that's how we kept him entertained.

He had lots of time playing with Gram and Poppy. So much so, when we got back home I had to retrain him to play by himself.

During the short minutes that it didn't rain we were able to venture outside and Paddy got to feed Poppy's cows and Poppy's chickens. He loved it so much - whenever we ask him where Poppy's chickens are his little head pops up. Maybe Paddy can convince Danny to get us some chooks.

And we got the obligatory laundry tub bath photo.

Dad and I learnt to make meringue and home-made mayonnaise. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking the meat that we rescued from our freezer and with babysitters to play with Paddy it was bliss. A really great mini holiday.

Kevin & Crystal visit

We had a nice stay with Kevin & Crystal to watch Mitchell race in the Iron Man. He did really really well and there was a lot of yelling and jumping up and down by the girls. The night was made even better by lots of seafood and one huge pavlova.

Paddy loved being around his cousins.

They ate together in their matching high chairs....

and Samaya taught him to sit quietly and wait while she talks on the phone.

The Ashes

We are all very excited that the cricket has started and especially the Ashes is underway. Peter was staying with us for the first test. The experience was even more exciting watching it on the big screen that we are TV-sitting for Troy at the moment.

The obligatory BBQ to have lunch with the Australian cricket team was cooked.

The must try bowling and batting session after the days play had finished. The Warnie flipper made an appearance. Paddy was in heaven with the ball bouncing around everywhere.

In hindsight, I don't know what we got so excited about being that we drew the first test and lost the second. Unbelievable! Come on WACA.

This is where Paddy spends most of his days...

Terrorising the factory!

Bobby has put up barricades to try and keep him contained but it is definitely a mission. I will remember to take a video of him getting around in his walker. He is really really fast... well fast for me anyway.

Mitchell the Ironman Round 1

I don't have any photos but we watched our nephew Mitchell compete in Round 1 of the IronMan series at Currumbin on the weekend.

He came 9th out of 20 ahead of some really big names like Ky Hurst!

We are so proud of him - it was definitely worth a mention on the blog!!!

The next round is 5th December and you can watch it on Channel 10. Make sure you do!

Our Garden

We planted some herbs in our front garden at Crohamhurst.

There is something about putting down solid roots of plants in a rental house that make it feel more like home.

Depending on how they go, expect if you come for dinner something with chives, mint, thyme or parsley in it. Oh and lots of lettuce.

My 30th Birthday

My future little frog in the making!

I had the most awesome day - it was exactly as I imagined it to be. Very relaxed, with everyone enjoying their food and drinks listening to live music. Great way to say goodbye to the craziness of my 20's.

I even snuck in a couple of vodkas when Paddy went to bed and danced away the night with the frogs just like old times.

Thanks everyone who came and made it such a great day.

I am working my charm to try and convince the boys that it needs to be an annual event. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Paddy burnt his hand

Crusing around the factory he grabbed on to a light and really really burnt his thumb and palm.

After a quick trip to the hospital and some magical burn cream he was all bandaged up and ready to come home.

We refused the offer of morphine! from the hospital and the tough little cookie only had one dose of panadol and one dose of nurofen and he was fine. Slept better than he has in ages!

The blister on his thumb has burst but we still have to keep it wrapped up so it doesn't get infected. It is absolutely not bothering him - he is such a trooper.

We spent some extra time in bed with him after it happened - to try and make ourselves feel less guilty.

I don't think we are going to get the parents of the year award - today he fell on the wood floor and put his new teeth through his lip. So he has a bandaged hand and a fat lip - poor baby.

Rubbery Ducky you're the one...

Caloundra Music Festival

Renee & Adam and Danny and I hired a unit at Caloundra right near the music festival at Kings Beach. The plan was that we wouldn't buy tickets to the festival (waste of money with babies) and that we would sit on our unit's balcony and have our own little party.

Plan was completely ruined when cyclonic winds and rains descended upon the Sunny Coast that weekend. We listened to Powderfinger from the couches wrapped up in blankets - not ideal but definitely memorable.

So being that we were cooped up in a little unit with two babies for the weekend Paddy and Amaya had no chance but to hug each other.

Here is the obligatory bath photo.

Staying with Troy

While we were working full time we stayed with Troy to cut down on travel time.

During that stay I got absolutely addicted to guitar hero.

So did Paddy....

I Love Camping!

Totally unbelievable I know but I have caught the camping bug.

Troy took us all to Double Island for the weekend and it was awesome.

We went up in convoy. Cooper and Cole went with Troy and talked to the truckies on the radio the whole way - "Radio check".

We went in the Paj on it's maiden voyage up the beach.

We found a great little spot and set up on Friday afternoon with the threat of rain.

Saturday it rained a bit but we still got out for a spot of sand taboganning and to visit the gorgeous lagoon. The greatest regret I have of the whole trip was that I didn't have the video on when Cole did his first run down the sand dune - he got absolutely hammered. Poor kid had sand everywhere. One of the funniest things any of us have ever seen!

The boys still went swimming eventhough it was freezing. Other activities included touch footy on the beach, card playing, a bit of Texas Holdem and heaps of marshmallow eating over the fire.

I am putting the call out there. We are heading up to Double Island for our Christmas shut down and would love some company. Let's get organised and get a little camp together - thinking of going up after Christmas and over New Years for a couple of weeks. Let us know!!

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

It was super freezing!!

Aunt Deb had a houseful of friends for us to see - Nyree & Tony, Mardi & Brad, Suzie & Anais and Nat & Dale. Can't wait until I can sample the wines with them...

Instead Paddy and I just tried to stay warm.

We went walking in the morning and Paddy had his first try of strawberries. He loved them!

We went to the rugby grand final which was even more freezing!

Great weekend seeing everyone but Paddy definitely is not used to the freezing Toowoomba weather - for that matter neither am I. I think I saw the smile on his face as we drove out of there...

We are still here - with a new addition....

Kelly, our office manager, went to Europe for 3 weeks which meant that Paddy and I have been working full-time for the last 3 weeks. Put that together with a teething 6 month old and there is not a lot of time or energy left over to post regularly. Sorry!

Today was our first full day at home in a long time and one of my top priorities was to start writing on our blog again.

There has been a lot of big events in our time away from the blog. The biggest being our new addition.....

Paddy's two bottom teeth. They came through with only a little bit of fuss. I certainly know they are there when he is feeding - can't wait for the top two to come through....

Over the next few days I will do a bit of a catchup session with what has been going on here while we have been away.

Paddy's First Real Food

Paddy has his first tast of real food last night - a piece of apple.

We are using baby led weaning - the same system that Renee & Adam used when introducing food to baby Amaya. So no rice cereal for this little boy or us having to sit there and spoon feed him. It is just straight into the hard stuff.

He absolutely loved it.

Danny sat with him and ate some apple himself to show Paddy it was ok. Then Paddy got stuck into it and sucked on his two pieces of apple for nearly 20 minutes. We don't know if he swallowed anything but there were little bits taken out of the apple by the end. It was the quietest he had been all day!

The basic theme of this system is that you share what you are eating from your plate with baby. We are heading to the Carnival of Flowers food and wine festival this weekend so I don't think I will be throwing him any curries, brie or Byron Bay organic doughnuts that I intend to eat by the truck load. I think I might pack my organic apples and carrots for Paddy.

It is such an exciting time.

He really is becoming a little person - no more baby Paddy.

Work Wednesday

This is what happens on Work Wednesday when Gram is in Mexico and isn't there to supervise.

Paddy eats ink.

After many baby wipes, force-feeding of breastmilk, sucking on wet towels and a bit of research on google by Troy we calmed down.

The blue stain stayed on his cheek for quite a while though.

Shhhh don't tell Gram!

Polo on Sunday

We went to the 10 goal polo at Ashling in Beaudesert on Sunday. It was Danny's second Fathers Day as we didn't get to go to polo on the actual Fathers Day. Will, Tracy and baby Hugh came with us which was great fun. We got to see baby Jack Rawlings too who is an absolute cutie.

True to form I only took one photo. That was of us driving over the new Gateway Bridge for the first time. Well it is a milestone I guess..

Charlie& Samaya Cook

Paddy's cousins came and stayed with us for the night. Samaya loved Paddy and was really great at singing songs to him. Charlie was too busy checking everything out but every now and then he would pull up, point to Paddy, say "baby", try and give him a kiss and then move on.

They were playing the scary lion game here.

Paddy was not impressed.

Thanks for visiting Kevin, Crystal, Charlie & Samaya. Love you all lots xoxo

The Men in Paddy's Life

He adores his Dad. Loves to wake him up in the morning and wrestle in bed. This little cheeky grin from Paddy is a definite indication of the relationship these two are going to enjoy.

And he has his Uncle Mister and Poppy who are just as loving.

In fact, much to Danny's disbelief, we think Paddy is looking more and more like his Uncle Mister every day. Check out this profile shot.

Musical Talents

He absolutely stopped and was transfixed by the guitar.

And that was with Gram playing.

Imagine what will happen when Uncle Poc starts belting out a tune.

I can sit up by myself..

well nearly. I just need Gram's hand there just in case....

But I definitely can move around a lot more. I started on my playmat....

Rolling over is definitely happening. Am a champion at the front to back rollovers. Just need to master the back to front ones.

Our boy is getting bigger.

James and Angela's Wedding

Meet Mr & Mrs Pedrazinni.

We had a really great Saturday seeing two great friends finally get married - they have been together for years.

The ceremony was at Sienna College Catholic Church and was so beautiful. And the reception was held in a marquee at Angela's parents house in Maleny. Highlights for the night were

: the rockin' band - it was the first time I have enjoyed listening to a covers band in a

loooong time. And they played Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder - an all time favourite.

: the food - salmon and lamb cooked to perfection.

: "God Only Knows What I'd Be Without You" by The Beach Boys sung in a 5 part harmony

with no backing by Lee, Melissa, John, Coleen and Chris. Stunning!

: the speeches were so meaningful. Yes Danny Cook and I cried through the whole thing.

Don't ask Danny about Angela's grandmother - he will start crying again.

: the bridal waltz was Keith Urban - Making Memories of Us. I forgot how beautiful that

song is.

: the complete love that filled the room - sounds cliche but you could just feel it.

The major highlight of the night was we got to go to the reception child free. Yes you heard right - Paddy stayed with Phil, Sal & the girls. We dropped him off at 4:30pm and got back to him at 10:30pm. To say I was upset was an understatement - a mess would probably be the right word. But I had a glass of wine when I got to the reception which calmed me down pretty quickly. Then I got to chatting and dancing - yes I danced with my wine glass in my hand. Ah the memories. Paddy did really well - he slept for most of the time. He went straight onto the boob as soon as I got home which was nice. I am glad I have done it now but don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. I missed him too much!

Overall a great night. The only down side was Danny Cook not having access to any midstrength beers. So was drinking some heavy Japanese beer all night. You all know what that means - luckily we went home early.

James and Angela, it was an honour to be invited to such a special day. All our love xoxo

Maleny Country Fair

We took Ra Ra and Paddy to the Country Fair at the Primary School.

Ra Ra was a bit overwhelmed by it all and after walking around in a daze for an hour finally went on the jumping castle. One of the highlights was getting in some exercise with Danny.

She said her favourite part was the animals at the petting zoo. When I asked her what animal she would like to be she said a pig because they are the funniest and they get to play in the mud.

Love you Ra Ra!