Feels Like Home...Until A Reminder

Friday was a good day.

I had a great time walking around the Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition (1/10 the size of the Houston OTC) with my co-worker Ana and running into several other expats that I've met since moving here.  I'm pretty sure we were the only dual female engineer combo walking around and we got asked alot where we are from since Ana has a Spanish accent and I of course have an American accent.  After being here just 5 short months, it was nice to see faces you know, which is something that I expected at the Houston OTC.

On my short walk to the bus stop in CBD, I cross one major street that has two lanes.  The first car I come across is a dad from Elliott's daycare class and we usually ride the bus together.  He was headed to a happy hour elsewhere, otherwise I would've caught a ride with him.  Wow, that was a nice coincidence!?! 

There is a alley that I walk through called Shafto Lane that is full of restaurants and bars which is packed at lunch time and of course most days after work for happy hour.  I walked by and saw a table full of my co-workers from my floor in the Business Services team and chatted with them.  At this point, I feel on top of the world, like I'm really at home in Perth. 

Elliott was super happy when I picked him up at daycare and while I was holding him, fronting a major street and train line, he was lunging at the window and pointing as he exclaimed "Ambulance," "me-moo-me-moo (this is what sirens sound like to him)," "car," "truck," "bike" and "train." 

We got home, fed him and our new sitter came by.  She is a good looking young Perthite studying percussion in uni now.  It was hilarious to watch Elliott flirting with her.  At first, he gave her a dirty look like he does to most people when initially meeting them, especially inside our own home.  I don't know how many times I've had to apologize to strangers for his dirty look, especially immediately after they make a nice comment about how cute he is.  Then he was trying to catch the sitter's attention and being on his best behaviour but then after 10 minutes of this coyish behavior, Matt and I quickly realized he was putting on a show for her.  It was hilarious to watch!!!  It reminded me of a comedian performing joke after joke to an audience and knowing that he had the crowd amused.  Looks like we'll have our hands full in the future.

We went out on a date in Subiaco to Hippo Creek, a South African meat restaurant for some delicious steaks. I ordered the Assegai and the description on the menu states "400 g Angus rump marinated and served on a skewer hanging over a bowl of fries with your choice of garlic butter or peri peri butter."  We ordered a side of spare ribs as an appetizer and they were yummy!!

Before with the garlic butter on the top tray that drizzled down the meat and into the bowl of chips.

After with the garlic butter drenched chips left in the bowl.

We then walked over to Brownhaus, a Belgium chocolate place with coffees, desserts and much more.  I had a hot chocolate, Matt a fancy coffee and we shared a mascarpone with a side of cookies 'n cream ice cream.  YUM!

Saturday was our reminder that we were living in Perth, not Houston.

Since our family has been out of commission the last few weekends, we set out to the Hillarys, near the aquarium to the shops and restaurants for an early lunch. 

Before we left, Elliott wanted his John Deere hat so Matt put it on him.

I think he looks a bit like Rosa in this picture.

A little swagger in his walk and sunnies in hand.

Yet another beautiful location in Perth with a closed in water front so the beach is safe for kids.

We ate burgers just across the way.  Elliott saw "water," "boats" and "birds."

Elliott loves ramps and you can see the joy on his face as he runs up and down 4 or 5 times before getting worn out.  I'll say it again, he is SOOOO good at wearing his hat and we are so thankful for that.

 

I love the way he runs towards me, gives a big cuddle and then comes up for a kiss.  It melts my heart each time!

Elliott saying "bye bye boats."

Elliott refused to nap when we got home today so we headed out for the grocery store and soon after, had a reminder that we are in Perth.  An employee came around to the customers and said we had to make our way to the cashier as the store closed 10 minutes ago.  Sheez, we had forgotten!  Good thing we got to the store when we did, otherwise we'd have no dinner tonight.

Like I said, just when we thought we were getting comfortable, we were reminded we were in probably the most backwards and remote western city in the world.  Despite that, still loving Perth.

Mid-February, almost 20 months old

I was doing so well blogging weekly and then slipped last week and feel so behind again.  I noticed I wasn't taking that many photos so I picked it up...which makes blogging even harder.  Sorry, I think my baby is the cutest and sweetest ever and would post ever single picture if I could.  I guess every mom feels that way about their kids.  It's truly an amazing feeling.

I snapped a photo of our typical morning heading out the door to childcare/work in the BOB.

Elliott found a cubbie!

Thomas Train and playing around on his picnic table

Running and playing with a kiss for Mommy!

Cute lips playing with his dinosaur.

In his play corner, looked cute kneeling on the pillow.

EVERYTHING becomes a "tunnel" for his Hot Wheels, including between the dinosaur's legs.

Woke up from a nap and was watching tv with Dad.

Last Sunday, we met up with another expat family here that my friends in Houston "introduced" us to, R&J and they have two little kids, a boy E age 3 and a girl E age 2.  We met them at Scitech which is an amazing place for not just kids, but adults as well.  It is a combination between a Science, Technology and Children's museum and is extremely educational and fun.  Again, Perth is an amazing place for kids and family.  Toddlerfest was going on so it was perfect for the little ones.

We got there right as it opened so the playroom was still somewhat vacant.

Toddlerfest was complete with a petting zoo.  Elliott liked it!

Future Engineer in the making.  These were really cool toys, like Legos but with a peg system.

Back to the train table, again.  He has a great sense of direction because in this huge place, he can find his way back. 

More play stuff.

They had a cool car/roller coaster thing that Elliott loved!! We had to wait in line for this one and went twice before we had to let others ride.

"Helicopter!"

And he came back for more of the ride....  :)

He was patiently waiting for his turn.

Valentine's flowers from my lovely husband.

For the last two weeks, Matt, Elliott and I have taken turns not feeling well.  Some days, I think we caught the Perth stomach bug (they call it "gastro") here.  Wish us luck into the next week because we are all so ready to be 100%.

Laying on go go (dog) in the morning.

Should have known something was wrong.

Funny mid-motion picture I captured of Elliott on his Sit' n Spin.  He can get on and off it by himself now without saying, "Help, please."

We will be investing in Hot Wheels for the foreseeable future.

First time in at least a year or more (I can't even remember it) that Elliott has allowed a blanket on him for longer than 2 seconds.

It looks like I grabbed him and pinned him for this photo, because, I did.

Post-nap-lay-on-the-floor

Appetite for a vegemite toast.

Today, Sunday the 19th, Elliott sat in his chair and was intently watching "Finding Nemo."  He really loves this movie and can't quite make the "n" sound so somehow "nemo" turns into "elmo."  He is very serious about this fish. 

Check out our new patio furniture, currently inside of our home in the "sun room."  Gosh, the sun is so intense here, every room may as well be a sun room.

Possibly one of the last times in the pool before it gets cooler.  He wanted to go in, hopped in with no problem, walked and played with his toys.  His max is still ~20 minutes before he says "all done" and starts to climb out on the ledge.

"Happy starfish!"

Elliott was copying Matt...so cute!

Nemo, Hot Wheels, Yet Another Park

On Saturday, his nap schedule was a bit off and the only thing that consoled him was watching Finding Nemo. 

Best seat in the house.

We rewarded him for having a great sleep/eat week with Hot Wheels.

Look how tall he looks!

Today, we decided to visit Jackadder Park, near the shops where we were running errands. Little did we know, there was a HUGE kid's festival taking place complete with a Dora the Explorer show. Matt dropped us off so we could play and he ran the quick errands. It was close to lunch/nap so we didn't stay long.

We rode the train and he loved it! He's ridden a train 3 times now, once was last May for friend's birthday party, then last month in Esperance and then today. The latter two times, he was quite excited! He almost threw a fit when we had to walk away, but I was able to distract him.

In the queue, eyeing the trains.  He was very patient and well-behaved while waiting.

The lake on the other side of the park.

At the playground.

Slide!

He took off on the ramp.

"Driving! Driving! Driving!"

We're pretty bad about keeping track of his teeth coming in but basically his bottom two next to the four in the middle have been coming in the last few weeks so he's a bit warm, drooly and fussy at times.  Good thing is, his molars are already in so we'll wait to see what is next. 

Best Week Ever!

This year, I switched my schedule from 9/80 (getting every other Friday off) to 5/8 (working 8 hours every day of the week) to accommodate our lifestyle here with Matt's work schedule, daycare hours and Elliott's routine.  Granted I am "losing" 26 Fridays off, the Monday through Thursday stress-level dropped 10 notches and we're only a month in and it is worth it.

In the last week, our family has really gotten into a routine and Mom and Dad are reaping the benefits.  I pick Elliott up from daycare, walk home, feed him dinner (Matt usually gets home around this time), read books, play time, drinks his milk and then bathtime. 

Not that I'm one to talk, but he typically took 30-45 minutes to eat dinner with us tag-teaming working on him.  But this last week, he ate all his food in under 10 minutes and did not request C with PB, which is code for 'crackers with peanut butter.'  Matt baked meatballs a few weeks ago and we had some frozen.  I also peeled, chopped, steamed and pured sweet potatoes and carrots and added that in with spaghetti sauce and he loves to eat the mien (noodles) with it.  He did so well!

Best part!!!  Straight away after bathtime and getting dressed, around 7:20, Elliott is wanting to go to bed and walks right over to his crib in his room.  I sing two songs to him, Yi Shan Yi Shan Liang Jin Jin (Twinkle Little Star in Chinese) and The Eyes of Texas, give him a kiss and a cuddle (popular word here for hugs), place him into the crib, say a few sweet words to him and walk out.  For the last 4 nights, he falls asleep on his own!!!  Before 8 PM!!!!!

I feel like I've gained 30 minutes of my day back and that is amazing!!  He also sleeps quite well through the night and wakes around 6 AM every morning.  I couldn't ask for anything more, besides maybe a sitter from 6-8 AM every weekend, and I hope this new schedule keeps up!

In the last few weeks, his speech and comprehension of what is going on astounds us.  A few weeks ago, we were upstairs and he said "Roary, upstairs" (that is where we watch his tv show), "bus, downstairs" (his Fisher Price bus from A-Yi is downstairs) and then when we came down stairs, he looked outside at the pool and says "water, pool, outside."  I was one PROUD Mama!!

He saw a picture of his cousin Abby wearing her qi pao and I asked him if she was pretty so he now says "Abby pretty."  So sweet!  He even kissed and hugged my iPhone. 

Okay, enough updates, here is the obligatory photo.  Due to this new found schedule during the week, we really don't get much of a chance to snap some photos so I'll work on that.

Playing with hot wheels and the clothes washer today after daycare.

Cars, cars and more cars.

Look at the joy in his eyes that cars bring him.