Day 59 - Mint and More Camera Play

I think I need a bit of a system for playing around with my new camera's settings! I took a number of photos of the apple mint growing in the garden tonight and using a range of settings I got varied results mainly in the exposure which I guess affected the colours. From grey to bright green, this picture is the  most true to life. Now I just need to play again and take more notice of what I am doing!

Day 58 - New Shoes

I am actually surprised that new shoes haven't come up on my blog yet, because they seem to come through my door pretty regularly! I get a lot of my shoes from working in a shoe shop and this is where these lovely new Jane Debsters came from. I think they will look perfect with the dress I have for David and Dani's wedding next month which is floral and has a black sash. These feel really comfy (leather lined is a winner) and I love the patent heel and patent across the toe.

Day 57 - A Day at Home with my Bubby

Henry enjoying a little treat for morning tea!

Finally Saturday is here and there's no work, no daycare, no big obligations! We are trialling Henry on a bit of a new routine today as he has made the decision to drop one of his bottle feeds, so he is now just down to one per day. Loving his food and still feeding well morning and a few times at night, he is getting really active and he is so full of personality. Not being with him during a chunk of each weekday sometimes makes it harder to read his cues on weekends, so tuning into his little ways of communicating is more important than ever at the moment. We'll see how this whole feeding thing goes! (Still wondering why he doesn't drop the 3.30am feed instead!!)

Day 56 - Surprise!

The wine glass is in the pic to show perspective!

I had a student return today after a week in Vanuatu (lucky!). Anyway, his Mum was outside my door this morning when the class came in and she told me that her son had a present for me but he didn't want to give it to me in front of everyone. I was thinking, "aww, how cute... he brought me a souvenir back!" but no, it turned out to be a giant zucchini from their garden that went bezerk while they were away! Maybe I will make the chocolate and zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting that I collected a recipe for today.

Day 55 - Mutt Dog!

I was planning a unit of work for school last night on the book 'Mutt Dog' by Stephen Michael King. It's a gorgeous picture book, all about a homeless dog that doesn't belong anywhere. He has knotty fur, sleeps under a park bench and eats whatever he finds. As I was working, I looked over at my own 'Mutt Dog' (Milly) with her currently knotty hair. Her coat has to be a job for the weekend... I am too embarrassed to take her to the groomer at the moment!

Day 54 -Another Doughnut Day!

Doughnuts... taken on my mobile

Love this new trend in kids birthday treats for school! No more slicing up a Woolies mud cake into 33 pieces with a bread and butter knife (yes I have done this before) it seems that the new trend is to send in a batch of fancy doughnuts. This was the second time this year and it is only Week 5. I am impressed!

Day 53 - Food Photos

Had a bit of a play with my new camera tonight and I noticed that it has a 'food' mode on it. I guess in recent times, taking food photos has become popular! I know that I have sometimes taken photos of things that I have cooked and I know others do it too, posting pics on facebook in particular. Anyway, I am still learning how to use the new contraption, but it passed the time while I was waiting for the water to boil for the pasta!

Day 52 - Finally Programming

I actually don't mind programming, but it is such a time consuming part of my job that it is a job that I sometimes procrastinate about starting. Judging by the photo, my program needs a bit of a spruce up this year. At least I started by buying a new folder. Anyway tonight I have seriously gotten into getting it all ready and Henry has mostly been good, by staying asleep so I can get into doing it.

Day 51 - Winning Entry?

After some insistence from a workmate, I decided today to try and take some good photos of Henry and maybe enter one in the Bonds Baby Search. Of course when you are trying to get a photo with the perfect smile and 'look' it is much harder. I tried a few on my new camera, but think I need more practice on it, so I switched to the old one and took about 50 on rapid fire. We like this one!

Voting opens on the 28th... the link is http://babysearch.bonds.com.au/entry/40945/henry-m so make sure you go back and vote next week :-)

Day 50 - Hey... 50 days!!!

Hey... 50 days and I realise writing this later, that I didn't take any photos with actual intent on the day! I will just have to share another photo of Henry that I like and actually did take on Day 50!

Day 49 - Mmmm... Rolling Home after a Chinese Feast!

Mmmm... Duck Pancakes at Portia's

After a huge Friday night dinner at Portia's Place we all nearly had to roll back to the car; it's hard not to over indulge when the food was this good. I have been to Portia's quite a few times and I am always really impressed by both the food and the staff. Portia herself has a great sense of humor and always seems to chat to you like she knows you. I love the way the staff give table service like refilling drinks and individually (and deftly) serving up the entrees, including making the duck pancakes right at the table.  Portia commented that the restaurant was full of women tonight and the night before the place had been full of tables of men. No wonder it was pretty noisy when we were there!

Day 48 - Look Mum!

I was very proud of Henry this morning as he sat up by himself for some time (probably only 20 seconds, but that felt like ages!). He has been showing signs for some time and has been able to sit up with a bit of support, but this morning he must have decided it was time. He is right about to topple in this picture, which of course made him very upset!

Day 47 - Cyclone, Rain and a New Bubby

On the way to work this morning I heard on the news that there was a cyclone about to hit Darwin today and I was thinking that I should send a text to my friend Frances. By the time I got to work I started rushing around doing preparation and somehow forgot all about that text! Little did I know, Fran was in labour and had given birth to baby Samantha Elizabeth Miles at 9.03 this morning. In Darwin time, that meant she was probably born at about 11.33am EST. Very exciting news anyway, as Fran and Chris have waited so long for this and are so deserving!

Well it was cyclones in Darwin this morning, but only rain here this afternoon, which Henry and I were both caught in on our way home. I took the pic above on the new camera (I haven't learnt much yet!) after Dale spotted this little guy slinking across my red brolly on the front porch!

Day 46 - Brand New Toy

Well of course I took this picture with my old camera, but finally my new DSLR arrived today. It's a Nikon D5000 and on first glance I really do have a lot to learn, being such a novice. Looking forward to getting out and about and using it very soon!

Day 45 - Valentines Day; In Sickness and in Health

Lucky to have a photo at all today, I rarely have days off work sick, but both Dale and I both stayed home today after some dodgy McDonalds (never again) on the way through Goulburn on Sunday night. After getting up at 6 to call in sick, thankfully I could go back to bed as Henry slept through til 7 which is a rarity. After dropping him at day care, I got back home, crawled into bed and didn't wake until 1pm. After watching tv for about half an hour, I fell asleep on the couch.

I started to feel a bit better once I got up and about to pick Henry up in the afternoon but Dale is still recovering. The picture above in a part of the dress Dale gave me for Valentines Day. One that I had seen and liked elsewhere, but the only one in my size had a fault. He's pretty clever!

Day 44 - Lunch with R&R

We drove to Penrith today to catch up with Robbie and Robert, who we haven't seen for about 6 months. They hadn't met Henry yet, but unfortunately he wasn't feeling that social. We later realised the reason for his sudden grumpiness after breakfast this morning was because he had a piece of toast stuck to the roof of his mouth! When I went to change him after lunch I noticed it when he was lying on the change table and removing it certainly changed his mood - poor bub!

I realised this weekend how much things have changed in Sydney and how long it has been since I moved away. Although I still know my way around, I have forgotten which lanes you need to be in, to get anywhere and so we accidentally drove down Henry Street to get to the plaza, but I managed to get this little snap for Henry. I have one of Belinda Street in Gerringong and now Henry has his own!

Day 43 - Congrats Dave and Dani

Dave and Dani at their engagement lunch today

David and Dani held their engagement lunch at Brown Sugar in Warners Bay today. We just made it there on time at 12 (actually it was probably about 10 past) after a drive down The Esplanade and not spotting the restaurant. After realising the cross street it was meant to be on wasn't in the sat nav, we found it on google maps on the mobile and finally made it! We were treated to a great lunch over looking the bay (sadly not it's best day because of the rain) and enjoyed meeting some of Dani's family and the wedding party.

It was a long drive back to Sydney, battling rain, bad visibility, a crying Henry for about 30 mins of the trip and finding that they changed all the local streets around while I have been living in Canberra :P Henry was all good after a change of duds and a big bowl of veggie pasta topped with cheese and we were glad to be out of the car!

Day 42 - Back Up the Hume Highway

Well it was back up the Hume Highway for another weekend in Sydney, with another Friday afternoon trip. This time it was for David and Dani's Engagement Lunch, which will be held in Warners Bay, up the coast on Saturday afternoon. Since Dave and Dani are building a new house this year, as well as getting married, we bought them an outdoor wall hanging, which I picked up in Piallago yesterday afternoon.

Day 41 - Henry Continues Feasting

"Mum, you are the best cook!"

I know I have put a lot of pictures into my blog of Henry eating, but it really is one of his favourite things! Tonight he got so into it, that he proceeded to lick the plate at the end. I took a series of about 30 photos on my mobile phone which I happened to have handy, but this is my favourite. I am pretty impressed by the image quality of my mobile's camera - I only wish that the pics were easier to retrieve from it. Being a windows phone, it doesn't like my mac much!

Day 40 - Henry's Latest Masterpiece

Henry's latest masterpiece has pride of place now on our fridge, right next to his sister's portrait of their Dad. Up close I actually think it looks pretty interesting, although I am pretty certain, the painting babies have no idea that they are creating art! I imagine over time our fridge will see many of Henry's paintings which is why I have created a record of one his first.

Day 39 - Like Father, Like Son

Whether Henry is Ebaying like his Dad, or watching his videos on You Tube, he was really getting into the computer tonight :P

This was the first photo that I took and even after adjusting to the sports mode on my camera which took some much clearer pictures, only this one conveys the intensity with the keyboard bashing!

Day 38 - Traditional New Car Photo

Do you think Dale looks happy?

In my family it is a tradition to have your photo taken with your new car. The tradition started with my Pop; there are many photo of my parents, aunts and uncles with their cars and it is something that I enjoy continuing!

We picked up Dale's new car this evening and he is pretty keen to beat his record in the Subaru.  I'm pretty sure that this is Dale's 5th car since I have known him, so it is an average of only just less than one per year!

Day 37 - Sunsets

After a long, hot weekend in Sydney, we drove into Canberra at sunset. Thankfully the heat had disappeared by the time we left and hadn't followed us home either! Dale drove the whole way home and let Henry and me sleep our colds off.

Next weekend, we go back up the Hume to head up to Sydney and then up to the Central Coast for David and Dani's engagement lunch. Busy times!

Day 36 - Latest Fashions from Europe Arrive to Beat the Sydney Heat!

Fashion Faux Pas? 

While Dale appeared to have a very good reason for this (I didn't want to get my socks dirty while I walked over to my boots) I was still pretty surprised to see him in sandals and socks! Out at Eastern Creek it hit about 42 degrees when Dale did a ride day today. Full leathers with a helmet looked pretty uncomfortable but Dale said that it was worth it. Although it has been hot in Canberra this week, this was different. At 6pm it was still 38 and when I went outside this morning at 8am, it felt like about 30. It is something I have noticed in Canberra; in summer it doesn't get hot that early!

Henry caught up on some sleep in the aircon, giving me my first sleep in for months (yes - until 8am!) and he even resettled himself when he had previously woken at 7. By tonight his temperature seemed to have settled and he seemed to be a bit more himself. Only problem is that now I have his cold. Why does a cold in summer always feel so much worse?!

Day 35 - Sydney Bound

Henry and Little Ted, fast asleep in Mum and Dad's driveway

Well Henry seemed better in the morning, so off he went with Dale to the clinic, where the nurses decided he was well enough for his vaccinations. Afterwards Dale dropped him at daycare where he was carefully monitored and had a blissful two hour sleep. His temperature was okay majority of the day, but by 2.30 or so when I called to check up on him, it was checked again and it was decided that one of us should pick him up. Our trip to Sydney meant we were supposed to leave at 4.30, but as it happened, Dale had to buy a car in the afternoon so were delayed. Henry's temp had dropped back to normal so were right to go by 5.30. He stayed cool and slept in his car seat the majority of the way, waking within the last half hour, but resettled with Little Ted in his arms by the time we arrived in Quakers Hill.

Day 34 - What to Blog

It's 11.15 and after having spent the last hour or so with a sick for the first time Henry, I am debating whether or not Henry should have his vaccinations in the morning, whether he should be at day care and whether I should have the day off to keep him home. Five days in and sick already! I haven't sorted out his bag for the next day or my own clothes let alone what to blog for the day for my project! Best thing seems to sleep on it and hope for a not too wakeful night.

Day 33 - D Day

So I finally have a regular dentist again after having had my first one for what must have been about 30 years! I like this one. Today was only the second time I had been there and he remembered that last time he saw me, I "could hardly move." It was about a week before bubby arrived.

"So you must be a country girl," he said, "from somewhere where they don't put fluoride in the water."

"Uh, no... I'm from Sydney."

"Right - well in that case I am guessing you are a sweet tooth then, because it is pretty unusual for someone so young to have so many fillings!"

He knows his stuff...

Day 32 - 38 Degrees and Rising

A self portrait of me with Henry collapsed under the ceiling fan this afternoon

First thing when I got to work this morning I got onto the task of opening up all the windows and filling up the air cooler. About 10 litres of water lasts until lunchtime and by then it is almost too hot to try to cool the classroom again. Air conditioning is a bit of a dream I think.... Julia? National Schools Air Conditioning Program? May give me the energy back to think about this National Curriculum Idea!

By lunch time the water cooler has run out of drinking water and play ground duty is a fight to stay out of the sun and hot wind. By the afternoon session, the classroom must be about 45 degrees, I feel like I am in need of a shower, the kids faces are all red, everyone's hair is all frizzed and no one has the energy to do anything (not even colour in... let alone me having energy to plan and program). The car is hot as an oven and I pinch the steering wheel with my thumbs and index fingers until the air con kicks in. Henry is chilling (literally!) at the day care centre, until we get home where we collapse on the floor under the fan! How long until Winter?