more visits

This time instead of letting the world come and worship at the (very cute) feet of Gemma, we went out to the world. Well Wangaratta anyway. Mum bravely bundled up the little one, put every toy she might possibly need, enough clothes for a month and a truckload of nappies in the car and went to visit Rico's mum (without Rico!). After a bit of "what is this strange place?", Gemma slept ok(ish) and had lots of fun playing with her cousins Luke and Samuel. Mum also had her first haircut since before baby, ciao split ends!

Visits are fun

The last few months have been one long cup of tea. People visit you, well the baby really, but I love it. It is somewhat like a pilgrimage that you seem programmed to make, to celebrate with and welcome this new little person into this crazy world. In the words of Seinfeld "you gotta see the baby". Gemma is lucky that she is surrounded by such a great bunch of family and friends. Including her Uncle Paul and her great-aunt Ursula.

We have motion

Yes, Gemma is starting to work out that moving is good, it can get you closer to toys and other fun things to munch on. She has indeed worked out how to flip herself from laying on her back to laying on her front. Soon I expect her to be tearing up and down the house with her new-found rolling skills (future candidate for Australian of the year perhaps?) Except that, slight problem, she can't flip herself back yet. Oh well, there goes stardom. The first time really was very cute, she was laying with mum and dad on a rug and rock, rock, rock, over! Then she promptly burst into tears as she gave herself a bit of a fright.

"Hmmm, now I just gotta work out how to go the other way "

And for my next trick...

For my first trick I will grab my foot and bring it to my mouth, ta da! Wait there's more, I will also, drumroll...., hold my head off the mat, da da daa!

I will also just look pretty darn cute (not too much effort required for that one really).

Weekend with the family

Unfortunately my folks are still in northern climes, but we got to spend a lovely weekend with Rico's family. Aunties, uncle, nonna and cousins all gathered to celebrate the twins turning six. Hordes of screaming children made me look forward to, and fear, the time when it will be our little girl's turn. It was a little bit scary for her at first, with all the people and the noise, but by the end of the night, after most people had gone, she was laughing, literally, she laughed her probably first spontaneous laugh, when she was surrounded by her aunties and her nonna. Mum was happy and relaxed, we had raided the niece's birthday presents and were watching Enchanted (love that movie) so perhaps Gemma sensed the joy and calm in the air. The next day was another big one with a visit to the Pompeii exhibit at the museum. No wonder she is tuckered out today.

Well what else is going on? She is starting to have more control over her body. When she is laying on her mat and grabbing her favourite sheep with her left hand (it has a bell in it) she can now turn her body so she can grab it with her right hand as well, "all the better to eat you with", she mumbles (I'm sure) as she guides it to her mouth. Also she is now sitting somewhat forward, when you hold her with her head in your hand, feet towards you, she will curl up her body, so as to be more upright, "all the better to eat you with", she mumbles as she shoves your fingers in her mouth.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day - my first mothers' group class. Owing to the failures of the Melbourne postal system I was not informed of the start, so tomorrow will be the third session, oh well hopefully I haven't missed vital information that will affect her for the rest of her life.

All you need is love..

Not sure if she is a huge fan of the Beatles or just approves of the sentiment involved, but she loves this song. It definitely can't be because of mum's delightfully off-key rendition. Grandma, click on the video below to see her gorgeous smile.

Give me a kiss

Our latest thing is kisses. She is not quite sure what they are yet, but she is learning that it is something you do when you are happy, it involves the mouth and it's more fun when you join in. So when you zoom in to her face to lay a big wet one on her cheek she will open her mouth and move her head towards your mouth. See some of the attached pictures for a demonstration of the mouth position involved. Of course her aim isn't always very accurate... Noses sometimes get in the way.

On Saturday night we went to friends' place for their annual Christmas in July. Gemma enjoyed looking at turkey, even if she couldn't eat it. Mum enjoyed the eating, not just the looking. On Sunday we went for a drive to Ruffy in the Strathbogies. We would eventually like to get a piece of land in the country, and somewhere convenient to both Melbourne and family in the country would be great, just a dream for now, but it was a nice drive, with a yummy lunch at the Ruffy Produce Store.