Liv to Party!

• Age: 52 weeks
• Weight: 8.75 kg (19 lbs 5 oz)
  
• Average hours of continuous sleep: the usual half-day
  
• Latest tricks: having (and eating) her cake

A certain someone turned 1 this week. It was a bit of a non-event, since we are so busy preparing to move down under. However, Liv did learn to eat cake, and she seems to have inherited a sweet tooth - probably from both sides of the family tree!

Clap your hands say yeah

• Age: 50 weeks
• Weight: not sure these days, probably 8.8 kg (19 lbs 6 oz)
  
• Average hours of continuous sleep: much better now that Daddy is back!
  
• Latest tricks: clapping

Here's a few pics of the latest milestone



Namaste


Wave your legs in the air, like you just don't care: a very common sleeping position for Livia

Random pictures from summer

Stats not applicable as ALL the photos are from a while back... just thought I'd upload them so that Liv's groupies (you know who you are - you are probably reading this right now!) have a few new photos to savour.

Liv is charmed with Warren's fake sneezes, Lani's seen it all before


Liv is happy to be surrounded by all these new friends.

When will Liv learn that eating her own feet is non-nutritive?

Hmm, maybe Liv isn't yet ready for slides...


...but there's nothing like a walk with Daddy strapped to her back!


Pensive time with Nana Betty


Cuddles with Aunty Manda


A bit of rocking and a bit of singing makes a happy Liv


More chilling out at Brunners Lodge, Leavenworth


Liv and Jan become acquainted


(Two months later) On the top of the world...well, Daddy anyway


Back down closer to ground level (where Liv is a smidgeon taller than Mummy)


Woah - is that me I see reflected here?


More Daddy and Liv time

Liv to Fly!

• Age: 48 weeks
• Weight: 8.6 kg (18 lbs 15 oz) and holding
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 11 hours - grr 6am wakings
• Latest tricks: 7 hours at daycare!!!

Last weekend we popped on the train for another foray into London. This time we met up with friends Lisa and Bryn, and did a loop on the London Eye in what might have been the worst weather yet this year. On the plus side, the queue was short. On the minus side, check out the less than stellar view we had of Buckingham Palace:

Despite this, Liv was enchanted with the ride


Now I realise how tall Bryn actually is


What a view from up here!


Back at 0 above sea level, it's smiles all around

Liv and friends at the park

• Age: 46 weeks (where did the time go!)
• Weight: 8.6 kg (18 lbs 15 oz) - dropped a bit more, due to the flu (daycare induced)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours
• Latest tricks: 6 hours at daycare without Mum!

Alex pauses for about 10 seconds to eat some grass...

...although the Mums keep a close eye on him

Meanwhile, non-crawling Poppy and Livia keep each other entertained

Livia seems surprised we can see her as she tried to blend in with the blanket!

Who is your favourite person, Liv?

• Age: 43 weeks
• Weight: 8.7 kg (19 lbs 3 oz) - dropped a bit due to a cold, not that you'd notice it
  
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours
  
• Latest tricks: Mum ma ma ma mum

Says it all really...

Liv-ing wild at the Wildlife Park

• Age: 42 weeks
• Weight: 8.8 kg (19 lbs 6 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours
  
• Latest tricks: Making sounds down a paper towel tube (not your usual milestone I know, but it makes her happy)

This weekend we celebrated Chris's 30th bday (well OK, the 5th anniversary of it). To mark this occassion, we rented a car, and did a couple of trips out beyond the ring road of Oxford to places not reachable (or not practically so) by bus/cycle/train/other form of non-car transport. Despite a false start (we managed to drive the same stretch of motorway three times before figuring out the right exit) - all to avoid a partial toll road (it turned out the toll was all of 5 pence/10c) - we made it to our first destination, the Cotswold Wildlife Park, still smiling. Here are some of the highlights...

Boogie-ing with the bantams


Liv does her sleepy tortoise impersonation

Taking a peek at some little critters

Tacoma Tales and Aunty Ali's Wedding (delayed posting)

I won't even pretend to know the stats for these weeks. Instead, the pictures (and limited captions) will have to do all the talking. More pictures from the Flaim-McMillion wedding and Tacoma are found here.

Granpa Frank and Liv get reacquainted


Liv meets Lia (Pang) - see here for a whole bunch of wonderful photos from this encounter


Aunt Ali and her new hubby Luke



Flaim or McMillion? JoAnn and Liv contemplate the question...

Liv in London!

• Age: 41 weeks
• Weight: 8.7 kg (19 lbs 3 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours, but sleeping less during day
  
• Latest tricks: Shaking rattles, not just chewing on them

Yesterday, we headed off to the Big Smoke to meet up with our friends Juanita, Andy and Sophia. Despite a false start (the train pulled away in front of our disbelieving eyes), the rest of the day went without a hiccup - Liv was happy and content all day, we had an unbelievable lunch at Le Pain Quotedien and the weather wasn't too shab either. Photos from the day are here, but the best are below.

Liv and Juanita in Hyde Park

Sophia winning the running race (she's been watching the Olympics) although full credit to Chris for the lunge at the finish line (and no credit for the camerawoman for cutting off the fellahs' heads)


Think it might be nap time

Liv(e)ly Bath Time

• Age: 40 weeks
• Weight: 8.6 kg (18 lbs 15 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours after combatting jetlag
• Latest tricks: Standing (supported)

Liv has now been on the outside for as long as she was on the inside! To show us she's now a big 9 month old, she started standing, although not without a spotter close by. Or a conveniently located couch to rest her tum on.


We have also posted some photos and movies from bath time, which is always a crack-up for her.

Flannel fun



Some well-placed splash prevents this from being R13.

Daddy decides bath time is over when Liv tries to drink her bath water.

Turning pages and lots of laughs

• Age: 36 weeks
• Weight: 8.3 kg (18 lbs 5 oz) - no change?
  
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours and we remain grateful
• Latest tricks: Turning pages (see movie one)

After months of playing a fairly passive role in the whole book-reading experience, Liv now contributes importantly by turning the pages (as distinct from trying to eat them).

She also finds something (not entirely sure what) exceedingly amusing about swinging the cords to the blinds back and forth. Daddy seems fairly captivated too.

Next time, the camerawomen will try to get Daddy's face from the nose up too.

More raspberries...?

Really don't know quite where she got this trick from. You can imagine the looks I get when she does this while we are standing in line at the supermarket.

I would like to add that I have NOT edited the sound at all. She did this for about 10 minutes, and ended up with a face full of spittle.

Lazy days

• Age: 35 weeks
• Weight: 8.3 kg (18 lbs 5 oz) - oh my goodness, no more BabyBjorn now
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours and we remain grateful
• Latest tricks: High fives

The title of this post reflects not only Livia's parents lazyness in updating this website recently, but also that of the wee lass herself who (despite being the first out of her baby buddies to roll over) seems to be quite content to watch her friends crawl and dance circles around her.

We've also been a bit lazy in terms of taking new snaps (don't want to get photo-fatigue before our big trip), but here is a good one from a few weeks back.

Liv and her friends

• Age: 33 weeks
• Weight: 8.0 kg (17 lbs 10 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours and we remain grateful
  
• Latest tricks: Sitting, sitting and then more sitting (not a new trick really, just one that she does ALL the time!)

Liv and Siena stay still for a full 3 seconds


A tired Liv underwhelmed despite the best attempts of Jonathan and Jean

Livia: a sphere of happiness!

Livia caricature

The moment of tooth

• Age: 32 weeks
  
• Weight: 7.8 kg (17 lbs 3 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours
  
• Latest tricks: Growing teeth

Liv is now sporting two new accessories in her lower jaw. We catch glimpses of them now and again. A far more certain method of detecting them is to place a (scrupulously clean) finger there. Or, you could try a bare exposed nipple. Then you feel it. Visual proof to follow.

Liv swings while Poppa snores

• Age: 31 weeks
  
• Weight: 7.7 kg (17 lbs - what are we feeding her!)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours, no change, we're all happy
  
• Latest tricks: Playing on the swings and testing out their flavour

This week, Livia's Poppa came to visit for a few days. Poor guy - looks like he's worn out from all that childminding!

Oranges and carrots

• Age: 30 weeks (oops skipped a week there)
  
• Weight: 7.6 kg (16 lbs 12 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours, no change, we're all happy
  
• Latest tricks: Babbling (unfortunately da da da not ma ma ma)

Our little one had her first picnic in the park. As the observant among you may have already noticed, Mummy forgot to bring a bib. That mistake shall not be repeated.

Incidentally, this footage was captured on the cellphone - gotta love technology!

So, who do you want to change your next pooey nappy Liv?

Liv in Paris

• Age: 28 weeks
  
• Weight: 7.5 kg (16 lbs 8 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 10 hours...in a wardrobe
  
• Latest tricks: Travelling the Eurostar
  

The last weekend of May saw us board a train... then the underground... then another train... then another underground... et voila, there we were in Paris. We were fortunate enough to have our good friends Juanita and Andy, and their toddler Sophia join us. The two little mademoiselles and their parents had a great time - highlights included walking around Montmartre and the Jardin du Luxembourg, a trip to Mariage Freres (speciality tea shop), a dinner out with free babysitters and, mais oui, les croissants, les eclairs et les pains aux chocolats. More photos are here.

Admiring the view over Paris from the Sacre Coeur...

... as well as the carousel in the Jardin du Luxembourg

The closest we made it to the Eiffel Tower, Liv looks underwhelmed by it all.

Sophia shares her Mummy for a nice photo

Liv'ing the high (chair) life

• Age: 27 weeks
  
• Weight: 7.45 kg (16 lbs 7 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 12 hours
  
• Latest tricks: Exhibiting Dad's sense of humour
  

This says it all really...

Aunty Ali arrives (and 6 month birthday!)

• Age: 26 weeks (6 months)
• Weight: 7.4 kg (16 lbs 5 oz)
• Average hours of continuous sleep: 9 hours and holding (or so we think, she tends not to wake us, just chatter to herself)
• Latest tricks: Sitting up - in the stroller, in the highchair, in a punt, on her Aunty Ali!

This week saw another Flaim in the household - Chris's sister Ali arrived from Seattle, providing us with the opportunity to exploit her as a free babysitter. Liv happily accepted the newest member of her entertaining squad, as you can see below.

Naked kick time was never this much fun


Liv shows off her baby banz


Chris shows off his punting skills...


Ali's a quick learner, Chris pantomimes the moves

Her royal highness enjoys the view from a nice shady spot


What a comfy couch!


Family photo op

A sotto voce rendition of goodnight moon



Ali in danger of losing some hair