I’m getting old, but at least I can still say that I’m still “in my 30’s” and also that I’m married to an old man. 

As I worked extra on Friday, I was able to stay home for an extra hour this morning, which gave me enough time to make pancakes for everyone.  I went to work as usual and we had chinese for dinner.  I didn’t expect Paul to make a cake, but I did get store-bought cake, which was nummy.

Presents?  yes!  Mum got some lovely garden supplies, which have come in handy.  Cameron got me an ice cream gift card (he knows me so well).  and of course, birthday cards from the UK.  Thank you everyone!  Most of my side of the family remembered to call me and wish me a happy day.

I forget I am getting old and bald but a few hours out in the sun have reminded me of the bald bit for sure and the fact that I still ache remind me that I am getting old.

I know I haven’t posted in ages so here’s a quick run down

-I got bitten by a dog, in fact the same dog that nipped my mum, he must like the taste of English flesh as he gave me a real good bite.

-Elizabeth is a real outdoor child, no idea where she gets it from but she loves to be outside.

-Kathy and I are exhausted, wiped out, pooped

Cameron has been off school the last week and is broke so he spent a day helping me put together a shed I bought, I say help but the truth is he did most of it and I held stuff up so he could do the drilling. At one stage he was lucky enough to have Elizabeth and Buster trying to get onto his lap to help him.

The shed is going to be a godsend as Elizabeth is starting to want to play with things like drills, jigsaws and my chainsaw on a pole. Apparently these aren’t suitable toys for me never mind about Elizabeth, Someone did suggest that she may be able to cut straighter lines than I can!

Since Cameron had to work on Saturday Kathy and I finished the shed we also dug up two huge lots of Ivy that we have gradually been hacking at since we moved in here. They filled up a big wheelie bin and to be honest I am absolutely thrilled to be rid of them.

The only problem is that the posts that they were growing around now look very very wobbly, we are expecting big wind tonight (outside not from me before anyone comments) and I am hoping the posts won’t decide that they no longer want to live now the Ivy has gone.

We are busily trying to get the back lawn area cleaned up so we can let Elizabeth loose out there a bit more without worrying so much. Tonight we bought a water slidy thing which I think she will like.

The next job is to finish the block wall for the dogs new area, he won’t like it but I am tired of dodging poop every time we go out on the lawn so he will have to learn to live with it.

Here are a couple of pics of Elizabeth, Kathy and I don’t bother pretending anyone wants pics of us anymore..

This is why Kathy doesn't send me shopping

Elizabeth trying to get one of Pauls sweatshirts on

Three excuses for my lack of posting:
1.  I’m too busy at work to blog.
2.  My computer at home bit the dust.
3.  It’s been way too nice & sunny to spend time indoors. 

The daytime temperature is in the 70’s and we’ve been spending more & more time outside and doing yard work… pulling weeds, planting, raking, mowing, digging, and trying to keep the birds fed, too.    The blossoms are out on the fruit trees and leaves are growing.  All the daffodiles are in full bloom and it looks lovely everywhere you go.

But — Elizabeth will have a complete meltdown if we don’t let her go outside every day.  As you can see from her “garden” shoes, she is outside a lot.  

After about a month of teething, the bottom tooth has FINALLY broken through.    Elizabeth has also learned how to say “get” and we have gotten her to the point where she’ll shake her head ‘yes’ in response to a question, rather than ‘no’.   “Do you want ice cream?”  [shakes her head no].  “okay, Elizabeth — no ice cream.”  We’ve been trying for a while, but just this week, she’s decided that she wants to say yes.   Elizabeth also refuses to crawl up the stairs anymore.  She wants to hold our hand and go up like we do.

Paul discovered a new trick Elizabeth learned.  She was in her play yard in the office.  Paul has an English flag hanging up in there (or did).  Elizabeth had a stick that she gathered from her time outside and she was using it to try to get the flag.   She stands on her tip toes and stretches out with the stick and keeps trying to pull the flag down to her.  Of course now the flag had to be taken down. 

Equipped with her new bucket & shovel, Elizabeth can play in the dirt for hours on end.

As promised, here are the results from this morning’s doctor’s visit:
Weight:  22 lbs.  [17% ile]
Height:  31.4″ [43% ile]
Head: 19″ [90% ile]

Elizabeth’s weight has dropped only in the past couple of weeks.  She had been weighing around 22 1/2 lbs.  Dr. Marsden was very, very impressed with her progress.  He said she has a very nice curve to the weigh/length, as most children sprout up and then at age 18 months, drop dramatically.  Elizabeth has had a steady increase in both weight & height. 

The doctor also said we’re in for a lot of trouble, as Elizabeth seems quite smart for her age.  She doesn’t act like a “normal” 18 month old.  

We had the shots, which were only hard on mom.  This time, Elizabeth was just happy for her lollypop and horse sticker.  

After we got home, Elizabeth got her garden shovel and immediately headed out to the back.  I let her dig for a while and then we went inside for a snack and a nap.    After lunch, we might head out for the kind of walk that nanny got her used to.  I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Albertson’s, but I’ll do my best.

Yesterday, as I’m bringing Elizabeth in the house, Buster is going nuts.  I tell him to “sit” and suddenly, that’s all I hear.  Elizabeth gives me a great big smile and says “sit”.  then I say it.  then she says it.  Yes, it sounds cute, but after about 10 minutes of saying “sit”, it gets kind of old.

Today, Elizabeth crawls up the stairs and gets to the top and wants me to pick her up, which I do.  she points to the door and whines. 
Me:  “What do you want, Elizabeth?” 
Elizabeth:  [does the sign language for "go"]
Me:  “Where do you want to go?”
E:  [does the sign for "car"]
Me:  “You want to go in the car?  Where should we go?”
E:  [does the sign for "shopping"]

Tomorrow is Elizabeth’s 18 month doctors visit.  She just developed a runny nose, so we may not have the shots done until she’s better.  I’ll let you know of her ‘official’ weight & length & overall health.

Also today was Elizabeth’s first time on the swings &  slide at the park.   We LOVED the slide.