Brian's bedtime routine

Eliza is becoming somewhat convinced that she doesn't need to go to bed, so we have a bit of a tag team going to get her to sleep (yes, the perfect baby has turned into a perfect toddler).

So Brian lines up all the toys and tells Eliza that they are going to watch her all night while she goes to sleep....

It works !

Shake it up baby

Eliza showing baby Zek how to shake his maraccas

Big sister Sydney gives Eliza a bit of shakn' competition

Keep on walking...

One of the most wonderful things about this age is watching the sheer pleasure little ones have when they finally work out how to move. I could watch this for hours.

Picnic at Strickland House

We love Vaucluse and the wonderful places it has to be close to the harbour. We had a picnic at Strickland House just the 3 of us.

Eliza made good use of the picnic plates

Brian with the essentials - baby (check), wine (check).

Famous Five get-together

We met up with our friends on 29th Dec. There were 5 friends, who turned in to 5 couples who now have 12 children between them. So 5+5=22 and even more if you add the grandparents.

Brian with Lyn and Chris Conybeare (parents of Alix)

Stephanie Smart - Clare and Mick's youngest - eyeing off the cakes

Eliza trying out her new bike given to her by the Smarts

Maya McGrath - Alix & Nick's youngest

Will and Ally Pearson - Cathryn's eldest two. There is one more since Nov named Max.

Chocolate crackles - yes please !

Boxing Day

Our family and our French family came to celebrate Eliza's birthday on Boxing Day.
From left: Dave, Claude Bouvier, Alissa with Eliza, Bev in the background and Victoria.

This is the only photo we have of Eliza on her birthday as we put our camera down and in the mayhem of the day, couldn't remember where we put it. If you have any good photos of the day, we'd love to get some copies.

The start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race seen from Brian's office.

Invitation to Eliza's (actual) First Birthday

I made an invite to Eliza's first birthday showing the dramatic change of our little treasure from a tiny baby with big eyes, to a beautiful little girl.

In one year, she has grown from this....

.... to this.

Eliza's first 1st birthday party

We organised a 1st birthday party for all the little ones in our mother's group. Not everyone could make it, but there were plenty of little people around.

My first attempt at a No 1 cake.

Eliza thought the cake was pretty good

The belle of the ball



.... and her proud parents !