From this:











To this:







Well, it's not quite a reliable replacement yet, but I think we're on the way. he's certainly sucking it a lot when he's awake.











In other news, he did roll over a couple of times the other day (front to back), but then forgot how.

D'Arcy is on school holidays this week and next, so I'm trying to think of amusing diversions for him, without much success. We might go down the coast a bit in the second week, depending on how we go this week. He's been a bit sick again lately. This winter term is so hard on young kids, it goes on for ever with no public holidays to give them a break, and they all get sick. D's teacher said that there were only 14 in the class for the last couple of days (out of 23)!

Having the MIL here has been good, very low-key, and she's thrilled to see her grandson. He's the only grandchild she will ever have, so it's pretty special for her. I'll try to get some photos of her with him for the American relatives to see

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 15

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

I have a boy who smiles! He's very pleased with himself here.

D'Arcy reported that he got $2.20 from the tooth fairy, that her name is Veronique, and that her favourite colour, like D'Arcy's, is black. These were answers to questions he asked her in the letter he wrote her.

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 14

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

Erik turned around in response to his name, I think. Not long until Daddy gets back (2 sleeps - well, 2 of my sleeps) and Erik gets to meet his Grandma Joyce!

D'Arcy lost a tooth this morning (at 6 am) so he took it to his dad's house today, and he's written a note to the Tooth Fairy, apparently, so we'll see how it goes. I've got off lightly with the tooth fairy recently. Almost all his teeth have fallen out at his dad's.

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 13

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

The swing has not been a Great Success, I'm afraid. But my mum has slowly and patiently been trying to get Erik to sit in if for short periods and acclimatise. Today's effort was the best so far, about 10 minutes before he started to complain.

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 12

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

D'Arcy took a truckload of photos of Erik this morning, and lots of them are lovely. Not always well centred in the frame, but he got some good facial expressions, which is more than I can usually do! There are more like this one on Flickr. I took Erik to the clinic to have him weighed this morning, and he'd put on 400g+ in 10 days, but I suspect that a lot of that is poo, as he hasn't done one for days. The clinic nurse warned that it would be huge when it finally came!

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 11

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

A boy and his grandmother. He's been having a fairly grotty day today, not much sleep. And I though we'd been moving into a nice routine...

A Photo a Day While Daddy's Away 10

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Originally uploaded by Crit Chicken

Someone who had just woken up. In his bassinette.