18 Months +.....

Ollie has been keeping himself very busy since his last update...you know how it is, things to do, people to see!

We took him to Ocean Park for the first time. He was a little bewildered to begin with...but not anymore. He loves the merry-go-round and cable cars and proved he was a local by giving his all at a bird show, with his 'wah's' and feverish clapping.


In between the rain we've managed a few swims in the past few weeks....preparing for the summer. He's now in arm bands, being too big for a floaty, but that doesn't seem to have stumped his enthusiasm for water!
















He has had his first haircut, courtesy of Mummy. Just a few bits here and there that needed trimming....there still isn't that much to work with so we've been trying a few new doos.

The stable clubs here had an equestrian event down at Happy Valley and Ollie managed to get up close with a miniature pony, which he thought was wonderful. He spent so long telling the pony to look at the camera that he forgot to do it himself!

And finally, not to be forgotten, Tiggy has now likened herself to a farm animal, camping out in Ollie's little farm house. I'm sure you can imagine how delighted he was to find this surprise in there when he opened the door!!

Growing up fast....

Ollie is now approaching 17 months of age....going on 4! He's really learning to communicate and pieces together all the words he knows to try and get his point across.

We went to Hong Kong Park with his friend Daisy last week, where Ollie took great pleasure in telling Daisy everything there is to know about the turtles and fish in the pond. Whatever they were talking about kept them entertained for what felt like hours!

Ollie is now attending Drivers Ed. and taking a special course that enables you to drive cars, trains, butts (buses) and tractors. In his spare time (when he's not driving of course) he likes to sit quietly and read, and given the chance will read every single book he owns.

Fashion has also become quite a hit with Ollie (certainly doesn't get this from either of his parents)! Between the headdress and the shades, it won't be long before we see him strutting his stuff down the catwalk I'm sure!

Fifteen Months

Ollie has reached 15 months and is doing really well, still growing like there's no tomorrow and now running everywhere. He talks non-stop and has developed an extensive vocabulary already.

After 6 months of dormancy his teeth are suddenly sprouting up in a group of 6, one for every month missed since the last one! Not surprising really that we've been feeling a little.....'sensitive' these past couple of days.

He is still as cheeky as ever and coming up with new and inventive ways of playing with his toys every day. His favourite at the moment being all forms of transport including cars, trucks, trains and horses?!.....and in case Tiggy feels left out, Ollie likes to ensure she knows she plays a highly important role in all of his games.

We have just been visited by Mummy's best friend Meg Trimble (from her earlier years) who she hasn't seen in about 19 years! Ollie thoroughly enjoyed entertaining Meg, impressing her with his bed bouncing moves. Things have obviously changed a fair bit since we were last in touch! :)

Happy New Year

Here we are again, ready to carry on from where we left things in 2006. We all had a wonderful Christmas in the UK with the family and Ollie thoroughly enjoyed seeing Grandma & Grandpa again and of course meeting his other Aunt, Uncle and cousins for the first time. We were extremely lucky with the travelling and were very kindly upgraded to Business Class in both directions...if only Ollie knew what that really means to us Cattle Class travellers!

Whilst in England Ollie went for his first taste of fish and chips in Padstow to Rick Steins fish and chip shop, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We also took him to a Donkey Sanctuary where he had a run-in with a goat who stole and ate his carrot (which was actually meant for the goat, but never mind). We did a few walks around the golf course, well we walked he sat on Daddy's shoulders. We also went to Mount Edgecombe where Ollie got the chance to feed lots of ducks some bread. I say got the chance because he never actually fed any ducks, just himself!

Ollie had a wonderful time with his cousins and really enjoyed the extra attention. He picked up lots of new words while we were away and an obsession with lights?!

We arrived home on New Year's Eve and for Ollie it was just like Christmas all over again when he came in and saw his bedroom with all his toys in it.

It's Christmas time!

Well it's almost the end of another year. Oliver has just turned 14 months and is on his way to the UK (for the first time) for Christmas, to see Grandma and Grandpa and meet the Maltese side of the family, also for the very first time. Aunty Kirste, Uncle Chris and his 3 cousins, Robert, Andrew and Mikey. Although he may not know it yet, we think he's going to love every minute of it!

For Christmas, apart from meeting some more of his family members apparently the only other thing he wants for Christmas is a....um.....box! Who needs all these flashy toys when you can have an amazing, brown, cardboard box. What child can live without one?!

This will be our last post for 2006, so before we go we'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. See you in 2007.

Winter's on the way

With Winter (well our version of one anyway) just around the corner we've started to get the winter woollies out.

Luckily Grandma and Grandpa kindly bought Ollie some winter pj's on their last visit, because he didn't fit into any of the other ones we had for him!

The Chinese pj's, although adorable, were promptly removed after this photo was taken as he could barely move.

It's time for shoes....

Oliver took those first hesitant steps just before his birthday and got his first pair of shoes not long after. With feet the size of his 'baby' shoes were out of the question. He went straight into a UK children's size 5!

Since then a whole new and exciting world has opened up for him, but it didn't come easy. We've had many tears, bumps and bruises on the way. Despite all that I think it's safe to say that Ollie would consider it all worthwhile.

Let's just hope he doesn't end up with feet like his father's!!

Onedeful Ollie

Oliver has passed the first year milestone. Grandma and Grandpa came all the way from the UK to party, and we were also joined by Nanna & Grandad and Uncle Matt and Auntie Meg for some videos, drinks and food including loads of Nemo cake - it was a shame to eat Nemo (well done Mummy - yet another talent revealed), but it sure did taste good. As expected Ollie was inundated with presents, thanks to everyone who sent cards and gifts - we need a bigger place now!!!

We went for Ollie's one year check up and he is still VERY healthy! 82 cm or 2'8" in height and *ahem* 13.5kgs or 30lbs.... yes we are carrying two of the heaviest available bowling balls in one arm. Who needs the gym anyway!

We got a little present of our own a couple of days before Ollie's birthday... HIS FIRST STEPS... it started with 2 then 8 and then back to 2 after the birthday food! A week later he is slowly gaining confidence to let go and take a few more steps... and we are working on our reaction times!!!

What a great year it was for us a family... to see this "little" wonder develop from such a helpless baby into a walking, talking little boy! He is clearly understanding and saying words now - Mum, Mahmah and Mummy and Dad, Dahdah and Daddy are very clear and at times very loud. He "Vrooms" when he pushes his truck around and every time he sees a picture of a cow (including the one on my juice cup this morning) he lets out a big MOOOOOOOOOO! He is trying other words too, the cat is DAT and ball is GOR. He also waves and smiles at everyone - the little attention seeker he is - today we were in the car at a stop light and suddenly noticed LITTLE MISTER was sitting up in his carseat smiling and waving - he was getting the attention of an elderly lady on a bus in the next lane, it looked like it made her day from her smile.

Here's to another fun filled year (and loads more to follow) with lots more surprises in store for us as parents. Keep watching this space for more updates.

Ollie at the Playground

We took Ollie to the playground for the first time this week. After a couple of pushes on the swings he seemed to enjoy himself and the initial tears of fear dried up quickly. His favourite part was his ride on the horse, which was probably due to the hours of practise jumping up and down on Mum and Dad's knees at home. There are a few things that he is still too small to use, but the touch and feel alphabet, mirror and big slide were tested and approved (sorry about Daddy spoiling some of the pictures)!

Ollie has now passed the 11 month landmark, just a month to go until the big day. Party plans are already underway including a freezer full of homemade cakes and UK based grandparents packing their bags for a surprise visit. He'll be going for his one year check-up soon, so will report back with progress, but the vital statistics are guaranteed not to be on the small side!