We are family

We don't get many chances to have a family photo taken. In fact, we haven't any photos taken in the past year that has the three of us together. This photo is courtesy of Nanoo.

The Family Christmas Tour

We've managed to visit both sides of the family this Christmas, travelling to Inverell, Coffs Harbour, and Lake Macquarie. We've put a lot of kilometres on the car, but it was a great holiday and Henry travelled well with the long car trips.

Henry had a great time with his cousins. He also spent a lot of time playing in the pool with Dadda.








As Henry had been a good boy all year, Santa paid him a visit and he was happy when he opened his presents, which included: books, a train set, paints and chalk, a guitar, stuffed toys, mega blocks, and a battery operated racing car.

When in Coffs Harbour Henry visited the Big Banana and did 20+ laps of running through it and back. He also went to the Pet Porpoise Pool and got to pat a dolphin and sit with Dadda when he was kissed by a seal. Grandad Bartley also bought him an ice cream.

Tiff's belly continues to grow (along with everything else) with baby no. 2. Other than the occassional swelling of feet and ankles it has so far been another trouble free pregnancy.

Due to being preggers and having a toddler we had a quiet New Year's Eve, staying in to watch the fireworks on TV.

Hope you all had good Christmas and New Year.

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to all family and friends who read our blog.

We will be doing a bit of a family tour this Christmas. Christmas Day will be spent with Michael's family so Henry can get to know his cousins. Boxing Day will be with Tiff's Dad, then its another trip to visit Nanoo before New Year.

Henry is still unsure what this Christmas caper is about, but he knows the fat bloke in a red suit is Santa and Henry says "ho, ho" whenever he sees a Santa.

In other news we had our first scare when Henry tripped and fell into Allegra's chalkboard easel, cutting his forehead open - blood spilling everywhere. I just stood there in shock not knowing what to do, Henry was hysterical, thank god Michael is the level headed one and whisked Henry off to try and stop the bleeding and calm him down.

With bleeding stopped and Henry seemingly back to his happy self we took him to the doctor to check the wound (more hysterics, as Henry didn't want the doctor to touch him or clean the wound) to confirm a stitch would be required. There was no way Henry was going to allow this, so some special tape was stuck over the cut on his head and we now wait to see if it will scar.

This weekend we took Henry to Luna Park (a fun fair for those not in the know). He had a ball going on the kiddies rides, riding up and down on a horse on the carousel, and spinning with Dadda in the tea cups. It was great to see him try something new and enjoy it so much. After each ride he would point back and say "more".

Other baby news - yes, keeping busy with Henry and work we sometimes forget we are expecting another baby. I'm 22 weeks pregnant now and all is going well. I don't seem to be gaining as much weight as I did with Henry (must be I'm more active), but by all accounts we are not expecting a small child. We opted not to find out the sex of this one. Due date is now estimated to be 23 April.

Have a safe and happy Christmas.

Visiting Nanoo

Recently (well within the last few weeks anyway) we managed to throw off the shackles of city life for a weekend trip to see Nanoo. On the way we stopped at Clontarf to visit some friends and to give Henry the chance for a frolic on the beach.

He started out fully clothed, but was soon down to his nappy after wading in and getting his shorts wet. Soon after this his shirt came off after a more adventurous run into the water, and a quick shower later was followed by a nudie run around the park to work up an appetite.


All the fun and excitement helped wear him out for the drive up. Not that he needs much of that when travelling as he has trouble staying awake longer than about half an hour in the car.

Thanks for the hospitality Nanoo !

A few pics to distract from all this name calling

Showing just how advanced he is for an 18 month old, here is Henry riding a skateboard indoors. Well, maybe not riding, but nonetheless doing a pretty good balancing act. He's practicing for the X-treme games.

A down pour of rain overnight flooded our balcony, but that didn't stop Henry from doing what all toddlers love to do - splashing in the puddles.

Driving Miss Daisy? Henry and Allegra love playing in the car. Don't forget to wear your seatbelts kiddies.

Henry's first taste of noodles resulted in three thumbs up from the young food critic.

A table for two. Jason if you're reading this, hope you appreciate Henry's attire. He's wearing your favourite "wife beater".

Up the Duff

Dear family and friends

We are delighted to announce we are expecting a little brother or sister for Henry. Baby no. 2 is due late April 2007.

Love to all
Tiff and Michael

A few more happy snaps

Action a-plenty

Henry's first major scrape after a stumble down a step... and onto concrete no less.

Henry and Allegra on piano.

Favourite pastime # 1 - eating.

Swimming with Dad (below) is becoming a regular event now that we are moving into the warmer months.

busy boy

He's been getting about a bit these last few weeks. Here (above) we see him in his best party clothes to attend an engagement party for Michael's cousin Steve and fiance Anna.
Henry found the best way to spend the afternoon was in getting his dad to chase him repeatedly out the door and down the hall in what seemed like a few dozen escape attempts... dad's not quick by any means but he still didn't quite manage to pull it off this time.

We've also had a few outings to various parks for a kick about, or just to stumble about pointing out the local wildlife or passing vehicles - a definite favourite. Planes passing overhead get his attention if he manages to pick up on their particular sounds, and very few trucks and buses manage to get away undetected.

We have a construction site next door to us which is erecting some apartments, and whilst this did cause a fair amount of concern when we first realised we would be living so close to so much noise and activity - it is now one of Henry's favourite places as he gets to watch the delivery trucks, cranes, and cement mixers as they bustle about.

Park life

One chilly morning last weekend saw us up and about earlier than normal. After breakfast we decided a visit to the park was in order, or "Pat Rafter" park as we now call it (see previous blog entry). To our surprise we had the whole playground to ourselves. Henry wasn't that interested in the slide and swings that morning. Now that he had found his feet he was keen to waddle around and discovered what fun could be had by collecting winter leaves and a twig or two.

Cheeky boy and a celebrity encounter

We guess it has been a steady and gradual process, but it does seem as if we are suddenly in the company of a little boy, and left wondering where that baby got to. Henry's walking has improved and is now his preferred way of getting around the flat. His front top four teeth have now arrived, which he uses to great affect chewing through his food. Henry loves eating and eats everything. He is now 12kg and 77cm tall.


Henry's has a large box full of toys which he doesn't really show much interest in. He loves music. He has an assortment of musical instruments that he plays with daily. The maracas and xylophone being his favourites. He also loves to dance. He bops up and down, sways and can do the twist. Any music will do.

His other great love is books. He likes being read to, but sometimes he is just happy to go to his book shelf and pull out one book at a time, sitting quietly turning the pages by himself.

Henry is an outdoors boy. He likes going for walks in his stroller and visiting the playground. It was only on Tuesday when we were at our local park that a fellow parent was asking me about Henry as our two children were jostling for positions to go down the slide. I hadn't looked up to see the dad I was talking to, as my eyes were fixed on Henry who wasn't sure if he wanted to go down the slide backwards or on his tummy head first. The dad was trying to coax Henry down the slide, calling him Superman, and Henry happily slid down arms stretched out front, head first. I looked up to give the fellow parent a proud smile that said "that's my boy Henry", and met the gaze of Australia's favourite tennis star - Pat Rafter. I don't know why, but I was slightly embarrassed and quickly picked up Henry and moved on to another area of the playground.

Reaching milestones

Sunday night at 8.15 pm (May 28), Henry took his first steps.
Henry has been 'cruising' the furniture for some time, and has walked a metre or three holding our hands or pushing his car; but this time he was standing holding on to the lounge and decided he'd just walk. He didn't even hesitate or stop to think about what he was doing - he just did it, unprompted. At first he was just walking on the spot, but then he started moving forward. We were so stunned and excited, when he squatted down to start crawling we immediately stood him up to try to get him to walk again.


He's also said his first word. He can say mama and dadda but he says that to anything, so his first word said in context is ........... boo! Not surprising really, as he loves to play peek-a-boo.

We often hear that Henry seems such a happy lad... and he is really, but of course there are occasionally times when balance must be restored to the universe. Please don't think we did anything to provoke the reaction below, and nor did his little friend Allegra really. She may have touched him or is perhaps even just standing a little bit too close for Henry's liking.

Another party... another cake.

Henry's "official" first birthday party was held last Saturday, 22 April 2006. It was a typical Hobson/Bartley party - boozy - but a special day that we could share it with our friends. It was made even more special that both sets of grandparents made the trek to Sydney to join in the celebration. Tiff made the giraffe birthday cake (for the record Michael would like it known that he made the sun). Thank you to everyone who has sent birthday cards and presents. We are blessed that we have such great family and friends who support us and enjoy and love Henry as much as we do.



Henry and Allegra with Michael.


Henry and Grandad Bartley (Tiff's dad). Uncle Steve Hobson looking on in the background probably wondering if Henry is ok with the drunk old guy.


Henry and GrandJan (Michael's mum).



Well done Henry boy! Congratulations on making it through your first year.