Sleepy time

This is the sight that greets me 9 times out of 10 lately when I go to check if Hamish has fallen asleep. Now that he can roll over, he thinks bedtime is a great time to practise! Unfortunately he doesn't know how to roll back over yet, either that or he just doesn't want to.

He has to be really tired to actually nod off - I try to strap him in with the sheet but he's too strong and wriggles out of it in the blink of an eye.

Things I've been learning about looking after babies

1. There may or may not be a right answer.

2. No-one can tell you if there is an answer, or what it is.

3. When you think you've found the answer, it will work for 48 hours max.

4. Babies don't have an instruction manual, and if they did, they would ignore it.

5. Things you know you could manage with one hand tied behind your back on a normal day become impossible when you've been woken up every 2 hours overnight.

6. It's possible to feel completely over it and frustrated, and completely joyful in the same moment.

7. Apparently everyone who is a parent is Only Just Coping. This is a closely guarded secret, revealed only to other only-just-coping parents.

My Kitchen Calendar is still on September

My calendar hasn't moved from September yet - an indication of how the last couple of months have been here. Too busy to flip the pages, and too tired to care!

I may turn it to December tomorrow. We'll see.

Damn Dams...

There's been a lot of fuss on the Central Coast over the last couple of years about the state of our dams and water supply.

From the bus today, I saw a spray-painted sign someone has stuck up on a tree. It made me laugh, because this is what it said:

"Fix the Damns!"

Blowing Raspberries

Today, Hamish has learnt to blow raspberries. I feel ridiculously proud of him. We've been making the raspberry noises at him for a few weeks, because it makes him giggle, and today I notice he's trying to make the noises too. How cute! Even though it is rather dribbly...

Interesting Find at the Beach

This is a photo of our neice, Georgia, holding something we found at the beach today. Can you guess what it is?

Hint: this website has the answer: http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/students/focus/heter.htm

Paddington out and about

Last weekend, we went to Mcdonalds for breakfast. Sitting near us was an elderly lady. Sitting next to her was a large Paddington Bear toy. Not particularly striking - except for the fact that she was 'feeding' him his morning coffee!

I hope he liked it - she certainly seemed to be enjoying herself!

First Trip to the Beach

What's Your Word?

I've just finished reading a book called "Eat Pray Love" By Elizabeth Gilbert. In it, she meets someone who has a theory that every place and person has a word that sums them up. For example, the word for the city of Rome is SEX and the word for New York is ACHIEVE.

Elizabeth eventually decides that her word is ANTEVASIN, a Sanskrit word meaning 'one who lives at the border', an in-betweener who belongs neither here not there.

This got me thinking - what's my word? After a bit of pondering, I think it's SAVED, because that's how I see myself. It resonates well with me and reflects the foundation of who I am, a child of God who's been saved by His grace.

What's your word?

Saf

I quite like this photo of Saffy.

Melb Cup

I don't bet, and I couldn't tell you the names of the horses, but I love the Melbourne Cup!

I love watching it and I get excited about who will win. And then promptly forget all details - couldn't tell you any past winners.

Can't beat a good national event! Like all top Australian events, this one is more about eating and drinking than anything else. Gotta love it.

More on Marketing

I've checked the website again and it has info about how they target you with ads. They say:

"Ads in Gmail are placed in the same way that ads are placed alongside Google search results and, through the Google AdSense program, on content pages across the web. The goal is to provide you with helpful ads, links and content relevant to your specific interests. Advertising and related information are displayed based on a completely automated process."

I still don't like it.

Targeted Marketing

I use Gmail for my emails and recently I have written a few emails that mention Hamish and sleep.

Today, I notice that three out of the four ads down the side of the page are about getting babies to sleep. Here they are:

Sleep is ImportantLearn how to achieve quality sleep! Essential things you must know...www.WeNatex.com.au
Teach Your Baby To SleepStep-by-step program teaches any baby to sleep through the night!www.sleepsense.net
TOP Swaddle Blanket 2008Promotes Sleep & Motor Development Stretchy Cocoon, Easy IN/OUT Zipperwww.Thewoombie.com

That just seems like too much of a coincidence to me! I've noticed it before - whatever I'm writing about, ads seem to match it.

Creepy - I don't really like it.

An Expert Sleeper

Hamish should take lessons from Oscar on how to go to sleep. Here he is demonstrating how to do it.

'How to Drive Your Mother Crazy' by Hamish McCann

Step 1: Stay up past your bedtime and get really tired.
Step 2: Finally go to sleep.
Step 3: Wake up and roll over onto your tummy. Try to do this just after midnight.
Step 4: Throw up.
Step 5: Scream hysterically.
Step 6: Wait till you've been put back in your place, then repeat from step 2.

It's important to look really cute at the same time so your mother doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, or both.

Note from Mum: even though I'm really tired, you've gotta love him - look how cute he is!