unPassport Photos

We have been taking passport photos recently. Apparently this is the boys' take on a "neutral expression" while " looking at the camera".

How can you resist....

showering those sweet baby cheeks with kisses?

Welcome Home James Andrew

James Andrew Larkings
born 5:34pm 19th February 2010; 3220g; 49cm long

Your imminent arrival caused the rest of the household to rush about in the early hours of the morning. Despite showing such strong signs that you were keen to arrive, you refused to co-operate so some 15 hours later alternative arrangements for your arrival had to be made! But all was well.

Apparently you were hungry for you have not stopped eating since you have arrived; In fact you banquet like a Roman Emporer - multiple courses, with stops for naps, and the occasional vist to the vomitarium!

And then you sleep - for two, three and even four hours at a time. Long luxurious sleep that is undisturbed by the excited shrieks of your brother, the beeps of the hospital equipment or the general noise of the household. Your mother is happy for she sleeps too.

Occasionally you wake up and rail against the "darts and arrows of outragrous fortune" that this new world contains. Hunger = Bad; Digestive processes = bad; the process of being dressed or wrapped = bad; no longer being able to feel the edges of the world = bad.

But then, when fully satieted and safely in the comfort of your parents arms, or lap you uncurl and explore your new world. Looking with wondering eyes at all that it is now made of; bearing with equanimity the overly-generous love of your big brother as he brings you toys and food, or tries to play with your fingers, toes and nose.

And we look back at you, wondering at how you could be so perfect and tiny; wondering what sort of person you will be and what you will be like; all the while praising God for your safe arrival and asking that he will watch over you and be will you all of your days.

Welcome to the world baby James. We are so blessed to have you part of our family.

In which Katherine attempts to summarize 2009 two full months after everyone else has

(My Apologies to all (is there anyone left who reads this...) for the scant posting in the last 1/2 of the year and the rather lame attempt to catch up with this...)

2009 was a very full year which seemed to get busier as the year went on.
There were good things:

scottish ball and a memorial dinner

• Visits to the Farm - which the little boy loves as it has all he wants; animals AND mechanized equipment.




• Visits away with friends (apparently it is necessary to light a v. large bonfire everytime we have visitors come away with us)

There were some not-so-good events, including the death of John's grandmother in August, and the death of some friends in a car accident in October. The ramifications of the second are still being felt as the custody arrangements for their little boy are not yet established.

There were birthdays, some of which were more "milestones" than others. We now have a combined family age of 62. (and yes, I did have a birthday party and no, there are no photos to show).

There was some card making and crafting - including this effort for Father's day. (Alex did the stamping and provided hand for outline.)

The latter half of my year was preoccupied with "baby-growing" which meant lots of sleeping (for nine months) and nausea (for about five months). The "baby-growing" project (the external part of which begins any day now... I hope) has meant that sleeping and "(unsuccessfully) trying not to throw up" have superceded "writing about life on the internet" on the to-do list.

We spent Christmas in (rainy) Sydney housesitting for relatives. Cricket, swimming and lazy around their pool were the order of the day.

Alex watching Aunty Jenny attempting to bat with 2 year old sized equipment.

One on One swimming lesson tuition with Daddy.

Somewhere in there we nearly bought a house, but reconsidered due to the building report.

2010 is shaping up to be just as full as 2009 with the much-anticipated addition to the family, John being committed to additional work responsibilities and extra-curricula activities - the latter of which includes a probable family trip away for a month in Europe - and the usual trips away. It remains to be seen if being on maternity leave gives me sufficient moments to update you on our life! But bear with us, we are still here, peering into the windows of your life, even if we don't quite manage to draw the curtain on our own that frequently!

Something else under the sun

There are so many stories of car accidents in Australia which we read without thinking of how many people can be affected. This one is however more personal (to us) than most - John grew up with the man involved (in fact we saw him a fortnight ago), and our sister-in-law was one of the first people at the scene. John's parents have gone to Dubbo with the parents/grandparents of the people involved.

Please pray for the family (and ours).

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so men are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them

Alex turns 2

Our little Entropy warrier has now turned 2. While we can't imagine life without him, it does seem to be so quickly that he has changed from a helpless (contented) bub to a small "independent" child with a definite mind of his own.

We celebrated by staying at my parents and having dinner with cake. Alex then got to stay with his grandparents while we went to the movies.


This year he sort of knew what was going on with the cake - he waited till we finshed singing and then attempted to blow out his candles! He had also had fun "helping" me ice and decorate said aformentioned cake that morning.


He also had fun opening his presents. Even three days later he is "reading" his cards like books.

The Emperor's Rhyme

The King of Peru
Who was Emperor too
had a sort of rhyme
which was useful to know
if he felt very shy
when a stranger came by
or they asked him the time
when his watch didn’t go.
Or supposing he fell,
by mistake, down a well
or tumbled when skating
and sat on his hat.
Or perhaps wasn’t told
Till his porridge was cold
That his breakfast was waiting
Or something like that.

So whenever the Emperor
got into a temper or
felt himself sulky or sad,
he would murmur and murmur
until he felt firmer
this curious rhyme that he had.

“Eight eights are sixty-four
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
carry one
and take away eleven.
Nine nines are eighty one
Multiply by three
If it’s more
carry four
And then it’s time for tea.”

So whenever the Queen
took his armour to clean
and didn’t remember
to use any starch.
Or his birthday, in May,
was a Horrible day,
being wet as November
and windy as March.
Or when sitting in state
with the wise and the great
he happened to hiccup
when signing his name.
Or The Queen gave a cough
when his crown tumbled off
as he bent down to pick up
a pen for the same.

So whenever the Emperor
got into a temper or
felt himself awkward or shy,
he would whisper and whisper
until he felt crisper
this odd little rhyme to the sky.

“Eight eights are eighty one
Multiply by seven.
If it’s more
carry four
and take away eleven.
Nine nines are sixty-four
Multiply by three
When it’s done
carry one
and then it’s time for tea.”


A. A. Milne Now we are Six Metheum and Co, UK, 1927