Balloon Boy
Last year, we took Louisette to the Canberra Balloon Festival, and it’s her first memory – so of course we went again this year. TJ’s at an age where aeronautical marvels and supermarkets are roughly equally enthralling. . . but they are enthralling.
The last photo is the pack of us having breakfast at the (surprisingly crowded) Pancake Parlour.
Cabin Boy
TJ’s godparents bought us an afternoon cruise while they were here. Louisette had been on boats in Hong Kong when she was two months old, so she had a great time (and now we can say the familiar phrase, “You have been on a boat, but you were a baby” to TJ too).
He had fun wandering around, attempting to hurl himself overboard, and licking his reflection.
Godparents
After meeting his paternal aunt and uncle for the first time last week, TJ met his godparents today (who are also his aunt’s parents). The next few days are brimming with thrilling activities with the godparents before they’re off to foreign parts again (they usually live in Hong Kong).
Today we visited Boundless playground and Aspen Island (the one with the National Carillon on it), and had a massive get-together with the entire family – all his cousins, every aunt, every uncle, every grandparent, and every godparent. Plus a great-uncle to take the photos, so we didn’t end up with one of those awkward one-person-missing pictures (plus my uncle’s a pretty awesome photographer, and brought his own camera and tripod). The last time we got the WHOLE family together was for Louisette’s first birthday party (which we delayed for a month so we could get the full set). Of course TJ didn’t exist then, so the urge to update in full has been itching at me for a while. I can’t possibly express in print how tricky it is to coordinate that many people. . . but it all worked out in the end. I might just stick with fathers’ side/mothers’ side in future!
And, of course, godparents. That’s them in the middle
Better out than in
TJ is nine months old today. It’s funny how quickly it becomes impossible to imagine life without a baby who’s been around such a short time.
While we were down the coast, he started doing “proper” crawling (instead of the sea-lion flollop he’s favoured for the last six weeks) for the first time. Today he was doing extremely well with his walker (and less-stable car) – and he knew just how impressive he was, too.
TJ’s First Paddle in the Sea
He was so brave. You can really see the journey in his face.
Also, see that lighthouse in the background? That’s where we’ve been the last few days – with Chris’ brother and his wife, and Chris’ parents. It was incredible!
Aunt and Uncle
Chris’ brother and his wife are visiting Canberra for several months, which is extremely exciting for all concerned (with the possible exception of TJ, but he’ll come around). They saw Louisette when she was two months old, then one-and-a-quarter years old. We Skype sometimes, and have their picture on the wall. On Louisette’s birthday, they made a video of the pair of them reading a kids’ book to her, and emailed it to us.
Today they met TJ for the first time.
Felicity Banks 