Easter Weekend 2013, Matilda 6 Months

So the delayed entries begin....last week, I had a plan for this blog entry and now a week later.....my mind is a junlge of thoughts.  I'll go ahead apologize now for my upcoming lackluster posts.  **I prematurely published this last week and this is now my fourth attempt to complete it.**  Easter is a big public holiday here in Australia so Good Friday and Easter Monday are off.  We had a 4 day weekend and no plans so we jam packed it with a staycation.

Good Friday: Caversham Wildlife Park (kangaroos and kaolas) / Whiteman Park picnic

Feeding Kangaroos

Petting the dirty and stinky kangaroos

Playing with the rabbits

I just thought this was peculiar.

Elliott holding a 3 week old bunny.

Family Koala Photo

Matilda liked rolling around on the blanket at Whiteman Park during our picnic.

Elliott overheard the Bullard's kids requesting ice cream and Matt got him one too.

We were standing here for over 30 minutes until he finished this...

but I was able to take lots of pictures.

This next series of pictures are ridiculously cute.  Elliot wanted to share his chair with mei mei so he scooted over to one side as I placed her next to him.  What happened next was just too cute!!  My heart was melting taking these pictures.  I got over 20 photos and here are a few....they love each other so much!!

Notice Elliott's hand on her leg and Matilda leaning into him

He wanted to tickle her feet

Saturday: bus into CBD, Fremantle

Me and my lovely, sweet baby!

We told Elliott we could ride the train into the city but turns out it's the one weekend every year they do maintenance on the Perth Underground....so we took a bus instead.  Luckily, even though Elliott saw us approach the bus, got on the bus and sat with us, he still thought we were on a train so all was not lost. In his defence, this weekend, he has asked about riding the train "because it was broken yesterday but now it's fixed."

Dinner at The Mexican Kitchen in Fremantle with friends. Tasty food.

In Freo for the Street Arts Festival and went to the park for a bit for the kids.

Easter Sunday: Easter basket, Dinosaur Park, Marcus's 3rd Birthday

Finding his Easter basket fun and toys

Happy as can be

Matilda was changing clothes at Dinosaur Park in King's Park and I had to get a picture of her chubbiness.

Trying to get that perfect 6 month photo

Standing up and walking around with Daddy's help

We invited Ewan, Elliott's best friend, and they had a ball!

After naptime, we went over to Ana's house for Marcus's 3rd birthday party for a swim and cake.  Matilda outgrew her bathers so we went in with just the nappies.  She liked it but we didn't stay long as it was a bit cold for her.

Cute and random photos:

Elliott is showing mei mei how the singing teapot works.

Hello, teeth???  Chewing on Sophie the Giraffe

We've been writing a capital and lower case letter on the doodle pad (thanks Rosa!) during meal time lately and this time, Elliott insisted on writing it himself.  This made me cry!!!!!!!!!!  I know that it is the letter "O" but I didn't know he knew how to do it. 

Note: He still seems ambidextrous (both right and left handed) to us and drew these in a counter clockwise motion. 

Additional Note: Grandpa Baldwin is ambidextrous. 

This was Elliott's Easter art work he came home with.  Good thing he told us it was a chicken!!  Mom and Dad had no idea!!  Love ya Elliott!!

Love you Matilda!

Onsie provided by Rosa.

Wearing Elliott's Rockets onsie and putting a girl's twist to it by adding a skirt.  I was taking picutres of Matilda before going to school and Elliott insisted I take one with him in it.  He LOVES her!!

6 Month Stats

eating rice cereal, apple puree and carrot puree

100% breastmilk

no teeth

can move up to 4 feet in a scoot/crawl motion

extremely happy, content, sweet baby that loves to smile, such a joy!!

8.6 kg (19 pounds)

Thank goodness she hasn't grown too much since her 5 month mark!

Some Random and Potty Training Updates

Every night since Elliott was born, we have family fun time on the bed after his bath where we get him dressed and play, and in order to get his pants all the way on, he stands up.  Last week, I noticed....he was taller than me!!!  It was sad and happy all at the same time.

Look at my thighs!! Mommy really has to clean in those fat creases!

Smiling!

When my parents were here, we taugh Elliott to say "yong kuai zhe, che xia zhe" which means "use chopsticks to eat shrimp."  Now he insists on using chopsticks when I make shrimp for him.  His determination and concentration is very admirable; this is not an easy task but he makes it work.

Not sure why this photo is rotated but even moreso, I don't know how, but we woke up one morning and her hair curled up on one side.  Too cute!

My mom bought this headband for her and this is her first time wearing it.  Too cute!!!  Before having a daughter, I most definitely thought these things were odd....but now I can agree, they are adorable!  Thanks for letting us borrow all these hand-me-down dresses, A-yi!!

Happy Mommy, Happy Baby!

She's really been chewing her fingers but still no teeth.

Elliott's last Surf Babies lesson and I'm sure Matt is relieved!!!  Can you pick out the boy in blue NOT in the water and putting up a fight with dad?  He got a "participation" certificate and a stamp. 

I think Matt deserves the stamp.

Sculptures by the Sea at Cottesloe Beach is back again and Elliott really lliked looking at the art.  Here he is posing with one and keeping his arm up from where he got his stamp. 

I asked him to stand by the art and I was pleasantly surprised to see him do it and actually pose for a picture.  Too cute!

Walk back from the jetty.

Pensive Elliott looking at the bamboo musical sculpture.

Matilda waking from her nap in the pram.

I really liked this one of a whale shark.  I love this blue color, like the lapis stone.  Here, I was daydreaming of a way to get super rich and put this in my home.

Elliott really liked this skeleton one.  We'll probably go back to the beach soon to visit this once more before the exhibit is gone.

Crocodile made of nets.

Plastic toys hanging - Elliott spotted Percy, his John Deere tractor, a turtle, etc.

While Matt and all the boys were at the GnR/ZZTop concert, Sam and Trey came over for a playdate.  Elliott invited Sam to share his chair with him.

Trey was making moves on Matilda but she wasn't too impressed.  Can you believe our big girl is less than two weeks older than him?

I don't want to say too much for fear of jinxing us, but since the playdate at Beatty Leisure Park with Ewan, Elliott has made a turn with the potty training.  Today he did his first full day at school with no accidents!  Mom and Dad couldn't be more proud!!!  We love you Elliott!