Alexander Swimming

This week Daniel was sick so couldn't go with Mum and Dad to their house and to do go to the park and nursery. Instead he came with Alexander and I to swimming. I asked him to take some photos and videos of Alexander swimming because we haven't had any taken so far. Fortunately Claire was there too to help get some and to help Daniel focus the shot on us and not the floor, water, teacher, other swimming class, etc. 

Alexander has come a long way in just a few weeks of swimming. He still gets upset when I put him on the edge of the pool so I can climb in but he is settled once we are in the water. He even starts to smile sometimes. He has started to paddle his arms at times. When on his back he will kick his legs. He doesn't kick at all though when on his tummy. He likes to do Humpty Dumpty and is great at turning around in the water but isn't very keen to do monkey monkey. He LOVES swimming for the ducks and flying saucers.

This week was the first time that he was ok with swimming to Christine, he didn't get upset. He did it a lot when singing the Hokey Pokey. A great progress.
 
I love helping him swim and seeing the things he is learning. I hope that he grows up to like water. Enjoy the videos and photos. Thanks Daniel for doing them.

My cheeky boy getting some selfies in before the lesson

and one of Alexander

As you can see from Alexander's face, he's not so keen to be in the water at the start.

Here is Daniel's filming of doing 'If You're Happy and you Know It'. Alexander even closed his eyes when singing '... go to sleep.' At least he's relaxed when on his back.

Here Alexander is swimming to catch his duck. He's good at stretching for the toy.

As I mentioned before, this lesson was the first one where Alexander was ok with swimming to Christine and then back to me. He didn't really get upset.

Swimming to Christine

Swimming back to Mummy

Alexander is also doing pretty well with climbing out to start doing Humpty Dumpty.

But he really isn't keen to do Monkey Monkey.

I love seeing his little legs kicking as he swims on his back. The balls definitely make it more interesting for him, changing colours every few seconds.

Alexander likes swimming through the tunnel at the start but after a few goes he tends to want a cuddle for a short time and then he will kick again. I especially like his little wave in the video. Too cute!

The part of the lesson that Alexander likes the most is swimming to collect the little flying saucers. 

He isn't too fussed to do the horsey ride.

Thanks again to Daniel (and Claire) for taking the photos. Cheeky boy had fun with my phone.

Mini Kid 2 Keeper

As part of Daniel's birthday present we got him a Mini Kid 2 Keeper experience at the Reptile Park. After coming down sick with tonsillitis it was touch and go but thanks to antibiotics he was mostly better so we decided to still do it. Mum and Dad met us there with Oscar as they were going to have Oscar and Eliza for the night and look after them and Alexander while Daniel and I went to the program. It worked really well.

After checking in we said bye to the others and waited in reception to start the program. Daniel got his name tag and then was very excited while he waited.

The keeper then brought over a tawny frogmouth for the kids to pat. Daniel said that it felt very soft. 

We then walked over to the bbq area to meet some reptiles. The kids had the option to hold or pat each one. I could tell Daniel was still not 100% as he was very reserved, sat with his hands in his pockets most of the time and just listened, didn't call out answers or ask questions. At one point he came over to me because he just wanted a hug. But he was still enjoying the program.

The first reptile that Daniel held was a blue tongue lizard. The kids were shown that you need to hold it under its stomach because it doesn't like to fly by holding it over its back. We were also told that its tongue is blue so that it doesn't get sunburnt and also so that other animals think it is poisonous (which Daniel recalled to James at night).

The next reptile was a spotted python. Daniel wasn't keen to hold it but he was ok with patting it. He didn't want the snake to turn towards him though.

Next was a bearded dragon. Again Daniel didn't want to hold it but he was happy to have it sit on his leg. The guide said that the best way to hold a bearded dragon is to have it hold you. 

He did pat it too. He noticed that it actually felt soft, even though it looked really spiky. This is again a way that it tricks predators. 

Next was a corn snake. It is called that because its stomach looks like corn on the cob. It is also found in corn fields. It was quite a wriggly snake so Daniel was hesitant to hold it again. He was ok with patting it again.

The next animal was very exciting for Daniel! He had been wanting to play with star tortoises since he got his gift. Unfortunately he didn't get to play with it but he did get to hold a leopard tortoise. It is the 3rd largest tortoise when fully grown. This one still has a lot to grow. Daniel learnt that tortoises tend to live on land where turtles live in the water. Tortoises have feet for land while turtles have flippers to swim well in the water. It was cool to hear all that Daniel hear and took in from this experience.

Next we went over to the Rainbow Lorikeets where the kids could go in and feed them. Daniel was very hesitant to do this. He stood in the enclosure with his hands in his pockets for most of it. I don't know if it's because he wasn't feeling great or if he was nervous about the birds.

But he did get there in the end, collecting some oranges and tried to hold them up to the birds. The lorikeets though weren't keen for food though but the kids had fun placing them around the place.

Next we got to feed our kids. They had some banana bread and some bottled water.

Then we got to go over to the birthday boy, Hugo! Today was his 65th birthday. Daniel and the other kids were able to go into his enclosure to give him a pat. Daniel felt his shell and his foot. He said this was his favourite part of the program.

 Next we headed into the Koala enclosure. Daniel was able to pat and chat with 2 koalas - Milo and Maisy. They were very cute and enjoyed their pats. Milo even looked up at Daniel while he was patting him.

Patting Milo

Saying hello to Maisy

 The last part of the program was going over to the kangaroos and feeding them. When we did this in Tasmania the kids LOVED it! The kangaroos here through weren't that interested in eating. It was quite different. But it was still fun for him to do. He even got to feed the joey, Jellybean.

Daniel decided that he would like to try feeding the kangaroos later with Oscar, Eliza and Alexander. After the Reptile Show finished they came over the the kangaroos and tried to feed them. They still weren't very interested but it was fun trying to feed them. Oscar laughed when the kangaroo put it's mouth in his hand, saying that it was very wet and cold.

Because Daniel wasn't feeling great we had lunch and then headed home but we had to go via the dancing spider (of course!). It is his favourite part of the Reptile Park.

A great day and a fun program. I look forward to taking Eliza in 2 years to have the same fun.
 

Dramatic Painting

Daniel and Eliza are enjoying doing water colour painting. One afternoon they were painting some pictures from Chugginton but were speaking about their painting in a very dramatic way. Gives me the giggles each time. Enjoy.

 

Cheeky Alexander

I just love watching Alexander's little personality shine. He soaks so much in and is becoming so expressive. I wish that I could just bottle him up at this stage because it's so much fun, so funny and a stage that I want to remember. Here are just some glimpses at my little bubba.

Lots of times I say that you could spend a lot of money on toys but kids will always play with the everyday things. Alexander was playing with one of the fidget spinners but instead of spinning it, he was hiding it in the oven mitt. I just love love his giggles with finding it.

The oven mitt is also a fun toy to play with and put on your hand.

 
James headed to Melbourne for the week so the kids got to FaceTime him each night. FaceTime is always filled with many giggles, lots of talking over each other, lots of fun and craziness.

I just loved watching Alexander chat with James. He had a book and enjoyed 'reading' it to Daddy.

He also is 'talking' a lot. He liked telling Daddy about his day. I'm just loving this gibberish chatter.

Alexander likes to have his photo taken. Here he is doing cheese for the camera, just because.

Alexander is developing a love of reading. All 3 kids like to go and get books, sit and read them together.

He especially loves reading 'Where is the Green Sheep?'. I love his 'Where is the Green Sheep?' action.

 Alexander has an obsession with finding his bellybutton. At the moment if you ask him 'Where is your bellybutton?' He will pull up his shirt and find it. Too cute!

Even Eliza joins in the fun.

Alexander is such a Grandpa when he walks around. Often it will be with his hands behind his back.

Last Friday while Mum and Dad were around we were having lunch and Alexander was getting so tired. I reckon if we left him in his high chair a little longer he would have been one of those bubba moments of falling asleep while eating. A few seconds after James picked him up to put him to bed he was asleep on his shoulder. Bless.

Another family from preschool noticed that we have the same pram that they had. They also had a skateboard which they didn't use anymore and offered it to us. James took it for a walk to the shops. Eliza loved it. James found it hard to steer but thought it was still fun.

Alexander always makes me laugh when he tries to jump.