Singapore

Choosing my first DVD...

Shawshank Redemption anybody?...

Going for a ride with daddy...

My chipmunk look...

Putting my floaties to good use...

All set & ready to go...

Chillin' by the pool...

Enjoying some snuggle time with Mummy...

I am proud to announce that I have finally managed to cut a tooth that has stayed - well its been there for almost a week so mummy doesn't think that it will disappear. I have previously cut a tooth four times but each time it decided it didn't want to stay and retreated into my gum. It is one of my bottom front teeth. mummy and daddy have tried to take a photo for the blog, but I haven't let them yet... maybe soon...

Yesterday we got back from a weekend trip to Singapore. I had to go for some tests to monitor my reflux and as I am still a little young to travel on my own mummy and daddy came too. The tests were not very nice, but as I knew it had to be done I was a brave boy and didn't cry too much. Apart from my tests we spent most of the time shopping - mummy and daddy had a long list of things that apparently are a little hard to come by in Hanoi. It meant that we didn't see much of Singapore but I now count myself as an expert on Singapore malls! Amongst the shopping we did find time to catch up with Aunty Penny & Uncle Paul. Apparently the stork is booked in to visit them in a couple of months so I thought I'd give Uncle Paul some parenting practice. He seemed to cope quite well so I think he'll go okay...

Now that I'm a big boy and have achieved the grand ol' age of 9 months, mummy & daddy decided that it was time that I learnt to swim. After putting on my togs and some bright orange things that made me feel quite light it was time to brave the water! Fortunately I had mummy and daddy close by to keep me safe and I must say that I did enjoy myself a lot. I'm now looking forward to moving to our new apartment in Hanoi that has a big pool. We're moving in about a months time which gives me a bit of time yet to find all the non-baby-proofed areas of this apartment before we go... my current favorite is the kitchen... going in there guarantees me being picked up by mummy or daddy and of course when they have picked me up they can't help giving me a cuddle!

Must go as it is bath-time.

Love Oliver

Time to toddler-proof the house...I'm on the move!

Chewing the "fat" with Morfar...

I found the Swedish geology very interesting...

Me with mummy & daddy on Hogholmen

Escaping with Morfar...

Riding the cannon at Skansen with mummy...

Saying hello to a goat at Skansen (he didn't seem to mind too much)...

Riding horsey at Skansen with daddy...

My viking heritage comes in handy during shoulder fights...

Playing with cousin Jasper does tire me out!...

Enjoying the serenity with Auntie Sue & Jasper...

Bathtime with Jasper...

About to go exploring with mummy...

Discovering the delights of bubbles...

We're so cute!!

Chillin' out during playtime...

My contemplative look...

Deep discussions with Jasper...

Reading with Mormor

Hey all! I'm back! Sorry its been a while since I was in touch, but i've been on holiday. Most of the holiday was spent at Mormor and Morfars house on Hogholmen - a tiny island outside Stockholm in Sweden. It was a really nice place, but for some reason, getting onto the internet was a nightmare. Mummy and I were away for almost 7 weeks and daddy joined us for the last 3.5. As it was such a long time I thought I would give you the highlights:

• Seeing Morfar and Mormor again (Mormor arrived 2 weeks after us as she was in London waiting for my new cousin to arrive but i looked after Mummy and Morfar very well in her absence).


• Hearing that I had a new cousin - Alexandra Marie. This is especially exciting as I am no longer the youngest of all my cousins!


• Travelling to Dalarna (North of Stockholm) to visit family friends (I charmed them well so they are now all members of my fan club) and also learning a bit of Swedish culture by visiting the Carl Larson House and going to a concert of Swedish music. Gun-britt offered to let me stay after mummy, Mormor and Morfar left, but tempting as it was (she and Arne were really nice and fun to hang out with) I decided that they couldn't manage without me.


• Daddy arriving from Hanoi!!!
  
• Aunty Sue, Uncle Barny and Jasper arriving from Riga. They arrived the same day as daddy so it was all a bit crazy for a while!!
  
• Comparing hairstyles with Jasper - between us we have one full head of hair... I have hair on top and he has hair round the sides... our parents call us Mo (-hawk) and Mul (-let). Not sure if this is a compliment...
  
• Studying Jasper's 'forward gear' technique and then copying it with great success to achieve comando-crawling status...


• Working out how to sit up when I am lying down - its so good not to have to wait for someone to work out that i'm crying because I want to sit up (grown-ups are not so clever so sometimes this took a while!!!)


• Taking my first few steps on my hands and knees - i'm a bit shaky still, but hey, its all about the freedom of movement.


• Eating lots of yummy fish caught by Mummy, Daddy and Morfar and eating blueberries they had picked (though mummy said the blueberries did funny things to the contents of my nappies).
  
• Meeting my cousins Ellinor, Charlotte and Alexandra for the first time.


• Sitting outside & watching the birds fly around and the trees move in the breeze - how's the serenity?


• Going to Skansen (an outdoor Swedish museum) and looking at the Swedish houses and native animals (even if some of them looked very scary... ... and BIG!)


• Travelling into Stockholm and meeting Auntie Helena, Uncle Krister & cousins Karl and Edwin again. I was very proud to show them that I'd learnt to crawl since they last saw me!


• Travelling to Riga with mummy & daddy to stay at cousin Jasper's house.
  
• Snuggles with Mormor... Morfar... Auntie Sue... Uncle Barny... Auntie Helena... + whoever else looked like they might need/like a hug!

• Going on my first overnight ferry trip.