Adelaide Zoo and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Summer was in full effect in Adelaide ... it was 40 C! I was styling in my shades and sunhat. Daddy was sweating in his suit.



We saw giraffes and emus. Who knew that Africa and Australia could meld into one place at the tourist zoo? They even had an "American Beaver". It looked a lot like a Canadian beaver.



The wildlife sanctuary had really active Koala bears and their babies. They jumped from tree to tree looking for eucalyptus leaves.



Crocodiles and giant spiders were in this play area (thankfully, these are pictures with the fake animal!) The real croc was at lunch. She ate a whole chicken in one bite!





There were real snakes! Daddy got to touch one.... too scary for me.

Oh boy! I can lie down finally!

We reached the hotel and I am so happy to see a bed. I haven't slept flat for 3 days.

I'm gumming everything so Daddy gave me some celery sticks.

Hmm..... it's funny tasting.

But, I'm so glad to be on land!

November 2007 - my trip to Australia begins

Our trip to Adelaide, Australia. Daddy got us business class seats. All those business men were sure pleased to see me stop in their cabin.

The lovely stewardess gave me the bulkhead so I could rest comfortably.



Mommy made sure I had my blankie and butterfly.




The stewardesses loved to peer in and coo at me whenever they passed by. How am I supposed to sleep with that kind of attention?

Our first stop was Shanghai..... 14 hours? I only slept 2 hours of it. Mommy was looking a bit worse for the wear. Hee, hee... she had to keep me amused for 12 hours. Luckily, PorPor was on the flight and played with me when Mommy passed out from exhaustion (or the booze).

Mommy gave me her seat and sat on the floor after I wouldn't sleep. Daddy hooked me up with some entertainment. We watched Transformers (4 x), Superbad, Knocked Up and Superman. How about High School Musical, Daddy?



At touchdown, I was still wide awake!



We then went from Shanghai to Singapore (5 hours), and from Singapore to Sydney (8 hours). Air Canada didn't start their direct Vancouver-Sydney flights until December. One month too late for Mommy and Daddy's sanity.

With the layovers, it took us 3 days to get to Australia. I went through 4 changes of clothing. Did you know that the airplane lavatories had baby changing tables? There's a fold down table just above the toilet. Thank goodness for transit hotels.... I got bathed there otherwise I would have been rank.

At the end of the flights, I'm frazzled and Mommy and Daddy are beyond exhausted. Perhaps they were a tad ambitious to bring me so far? Hahahaha..... take that for not believing your friends' advice to "DON'T DO IT"!

This is us in Adelaide airport.

To add insult to injury, Qantas told Daddy that his carry-on was too large. They gave him this bag to hold his laptop. I think it's an Asian special. Daddy kept on saying how he felt like he just got off a train from the mainland.

My First Hallowe'en

I think my parents (especially my mommy) really like Hallowe'en. Daddy carved the eyeball for our porch pumpkin. I liked touching its squishy guts.

My first costume! I can scare Daddy's arowana. Do you like how Daddy and Mommy dressed up as seaweed?







Our pumpkin was 8 ft tall. After Mommy fussed with it for half an hour, it finally glowed. We ran out of candy by 7:30pm. Some pesky kids came back over and over. Need more loot for next year!

More milestones!

I can stand and bounce on my legs too. Daddy is so proud!

Visit from Uncle Chen

Uncle Chen from Bridgewater came to visit us. He doesn't have kids... can you tell? Look how he's holding me. I'm all giggles.

Now that I can eat...

... all I want is Starbucks! Uncle R won't let me have a sip ... I just get to lick the cup.

My first flight -- Fort St. John.

I had my first flight. Mommy did an outreach clinic up north, in Fort St. John. Mommy, PorPor, auntie Arlene and I went... it was like going to camp! We stayed at the hotel across the street from the hospital. Mommy was there each day from 8 am to midnight with visits every so often.

Pictures of the town to come!

Auntie Arlene has never seen such a quiet town. We celebrated her birthday up there.

October is a month of milestones - 5 months old

I've reached many milestones this month. Mommy has been busy documenting everything.







I've found my toes and boy, are they tasty. Even better than my fingers.

Last month, I learned to roll from my back onto my tummy. This month, I've figured out how to roll from my tummy back the other way.




With my arms out in tripod fashion, I can stay sitting up. Sometimes, I lose balance and pitch slowly forward onto my face. Oh well, still learning.




I got my first cold this month. Please stop wiping my nose! The snot tastes yummy. See how I like to lick my lips?





I also got my first spoonful of rice cereal. It's a great mushy toy.... I like smearing it all over my clothes and face. I'll trick Mommy with a smile and then spit out the rice cereal after.


And, yes, my parents are still using the Bumbo on an elevated surface. Luckily, they're smart enough not to leave me unattended in it. By the way, I'm starting to arch out of it. I will escape it one day. GongGong is fast setting up my highchair.


Now, back to the rice cereal. It's slower in my bowels than breastmilk. I didn't have a poop for a day and when it happened....




It went everywhere! Right up my back and nearly out my neck. Straight into the bathtub for me.

I do sleep much longer 'tho. 6-9 hours each night, starting at 9pm! Mommy is so relieved. We're getting more sleep. Daddy too.... 'cause he's not waking up when we get up at midnight, 2am, 4 am and 6 am anymore.



All good.

Can you believe it? I'm at the casino!

Can you believe it?! Tulalip Casino lets kids into their restaurants! We went to the Eagles Buffet for a grand feast after outlet mall shopping. Daddy didn't believe Mommy when she said she could try sneaking me into the casino in the baby sling (for food of course *wink*) . The Premium Outlet mall needs better food options. But casino food will do.





I'm in a casino at the age of 5 months! Love it! When can I roll some dice?

Dinner out!

We went for dinner with Auntie Alice and the whole crew. I was reasonably well-behaved. Not too past my bedtime yet.



Here's Cousin Annabelle and Auntie Eliza. We're all grins.