Home Safe and Sound

Well after all the travel I'm back home in Dublin. The last week has been pretty tough on all the family. I'm not sure what is wrong (mum calls it jetlag) but I've been waking at 3am, having a feed and then because I have not been feeling at all tired mum has had to bring me downstairs to play for a few hours. Of course I'm fine because I've been able to nap during the day but poor mum is exhausted. And Dad has been even more tired because he had to go to work. However that's all over & done with now and we're back to normal (except for the fact that I'm waking for a night feed).

The last week of my holiday was great but really very busy. We flew down to Adelaide and stayed with the Murphys. It was lovely there - not only was it warm during the day but it was nice and cool in the evening so we were all able to sleep really well. I went up to the Barossa Valley with Mum and Dad. Great Uncle Wayne joined us for lunch in Angaston and he also came to the wineries with us. It was great to meet him. I was very luck that I got to visit Rockfords (Dad's favourite winery).

I managed to take it easy for a couple of days and hang out with the Murphy boys. I also met Charlotte and Craig Dunstan who came over for dinner on 2 evenings. I then got to meet Great Uncle Geoffrey - he was very excited to see me and I had lots of great smiles for him (except for this photo where I was going for the sultry look).



Just when I started to get settled into life in Australia it was time for another big flight. After a long flight (during which I was very good), we spent 2 nights in Shanghai. Mum & Dad went out and Nan Bingham looked after me. I woke up while they were out and Nan was very kind to me. Then we flew home and as a treat we got upgraded on the last flight home. To be honest it didn't make much difference to me - the bassinet in business class is the same as the bassinet in economy but Mum & Dad looked very comfy on their flat beds.
Now that we're home I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks of taking it nice and easy and eating lots of food...

aDaDaDaDa

Its official - I'm talking. My first words are Da-Da (or aDaDaDaDa as I like to say). Dad's thrilled because I'm calling his name and mum's thrilled because I'm calling Dad's name so he has to respond and she gets a break. As well as this talking I'm still really busy with other activities

• playing with my feet, especially when I lie upside down and put my feet in the air like a beetle
• screeching
• smiling (of course)
• concentrating very hard on playing with toys (with 2 hands)
• eating - I'm having food 3 times a day (sometimes just a small amount but sometimes I have a big portion)

We're back in Bribie Island with all the family now. I'm having great fun and loving all the attention. Liam & I do lots of screeching and Joel is always giving me gentle hugs & kisses. Its still really hot here and I'm back to waking again once at night time, but its probably just because of the heat (would you manage to sleep soundly when its 28degrees?). I know mum's not worried because I was sleeping really well when I was in Tewantin. We've been pretty busy just hanging out - we went to the RSL for lunch on Saturday and Dan & Stella joined us - they are very nice. Our activities have been slightly hampered because of the rain. I thought I'd seen rain in Ireland but its nothing compared to Queensland rain (which is torrential and then combined with heat & humidity.
Nanna & Pa are leaving today. I'll be very sad to say good-bye but I'll see them again in September.
Off to Adelaide on Wednesday.