Avery decides it's time for her daddy to have a bottle.

Clio spent the weekend showing everybody how to relax.

Avery picked up the drum very quickly. By the end of the weekend she was practicing her paradiddles. 1 pa ta te 2 pa ta te 3 pa ta te 4 pa ta te...

GK and Stephen say, "It's time to go swimming!"

Little Avery says, "It's time to go swimming!"

Mmmmmmmmmmmm fresh pineapple!

Well, we have passed our first three months and I have a happy baby and a (still) happy wife. Cliona has mastered her smile and is working hard on her laugh. We can usually get a chuckle or two out of her, but it's still pretty random. She still wakes up at least once at night and hasn't really gotten a firm routine. But she seems to pick up new skills and gets more comfortable with herself every day.

We have lift off

Well done Cliona!

Clio lifted her head up properly for the first time today.

Future's so bright ......

Gotta wear shades!

Happy Three Month Birthday Cliona

Most of all she liked lying on the blanket kicking her feet. Lately she really likes to be able to kick her legs and her newest thing is pretending to stand - she loves that. She is smiling at everyone now and has laughed a couple of times. She greets us every morning with lots of smiles, she is still most active and happy first thing in the morning. She wakes early but is happy to lie in her crib and talk to her mobile. We usually feed her around 7:30am and then she spends some time on her activity mat. That's where she gets to practice being on her tummy though it usually only lasts a couple of minutes before she wants to be flipped onto her back. Then it's naptime for Clio and walk time for Roxy and I. We like to get out for an hour or so and by the time we get back, it's feeding time again. Clio and I have been having one day in and the next out so if it's an in day we play - maybe read a book, pretend to stand and bounce. Recently she has been able to hold onto a rattle and she can hit some of the toys hanging in her bouncer. That takes a lot of concentration though and she's only got the left hand down so far. Maybe she will be left-handed like me. All that stimulation takes a lot out of a little baby and she usually falls asleep in her bouncer for a couple of hours in the afternoon. After her afternoon feed it's time to take Roxy out again which somtimes coincides with Stephen coming home from work so we get to take a family stroll. Then Stephen plays with her for an hour or so and then it's time for bath, massage, snack and bed. The out days are pretty similar except that we go out for lunch or do a bit of shopping. Clio loves going to new places and, like a lot of babies, she falls asleep in the car. Happy 3 month birthday Cliona, it's been the best three months ever.

And it was a nice warm day so she got to wear another lovely summer dress.

She loved being outside looking at the trees.

Cliona and I met Stephen for a picnic in the park to celebrate her three month birthday.

Happy baby

Just need a hat and then we are ready for our morning stroll.

Cliona laughing for her Dad

But by the time we got down to the beach for the 9pm fireworks, Clio was not a happy camper. She wanted to be home tucked up in her crib but instead she was on the beach being disturbed by some very loud fireworks. Once the show was over and we started walking home, she fell back asleep - it is amazing what movement does for this little girl. It's like a switch - not moving=crying and fussing, moving=smiling and sleeping.

4th of July started off great - Clio was in great form, giving us big grins all morning.

We got her back upstairs, took off her suit and she was sound asleep before we even had time to put on her pj's.

Cliona usually cries when she is taken out of her bath so we were expecting the same but she didn't cry at all.

She seems to enjoy it but doesn't like her hands being in the water. She kept them raised like this the whole time.

No complaints as yet.

We are lucky to have 2 hot-tubs down at the pool - one is a scalding 104 deg for the adults and the other is much cooler for the children. With the kiddie hot-tub in shade in the afternoon we decided it was time for Clio to take a dip.

I have lots of new clothes that I now fit into - this is my 'it's foggy and damp' outfit.

I still like to be swaddled at night.

Quick Mammy, I'm ready for my close-up.

But I love kicking and waving on my back

Still need a good bit of support for sitting

Look how far I can stick it out now Nan.