A Very Very VERY Long Post

This is what I get for not blogging for over a month - writing this SUPER long post. I reckon only the moms (and maybe grandmas) will make it through this post.

Let's rewind back to Josh's FIRST Father's Day, September 4th. Aussies celebrate Father's Day in September, and this year it fell 3 days before Josh's 26th birthday. Last year for Father's Day I gave Josh two onesies for my little bun in the oven. One said "My heart belongs to a Chiropractor" and the other "Made in Australia". Here's Josh a year later with our little "bun" wearing one of the onesies!


We had a great day celebrating Josh. Mckinley gave Josh some American candy and a mug (for his tea drinking at the office) with pictures of herself on it. It turned out so cute, but there was a little hiccup. I ordered the mug a week or so before Father's Day and when I received it in the mail, it wasn't Josh's mug! It said "Happy Father's Day, love Baylee" with pictures of a 10 or so year old. Kinda creepy to think someone else might have a mug with our little one's pics all over it. I rang Snapfish and they were able to send Josh's mug. I wrapped up the mug for Baylee's dad and gave it to Josh since I didn't have his. When he opened it I asked him if he had some news to tell me - another child I didn't know about?!? :) Mckinley's mug ended up arriving on his birthday a few days later.

For Josh's birthday this year, we celebrated with our Bible Study/Home Group. I made one of his favorite Aussie desserts, Mars Bar Slice. It's basically melted Three Muskateers bars with Rice Crispies. YUM.

Josh got his birthday present (a new Xbox) a few months early this year, so he didn't have anything to open on his birthday. I had to give him something to open, so I gave him a card from Mckinley with a voucher for a massage! We also went to lunch with our friend Lisa, who was helping Josh out at the office. She is normally a CA at the Airlie practice, but helped out a few times at the office in Bowen.

On Mckinley's 4 month birthday, we decided it would be a good time to put her in her Jolly Jumper! Boy did she LOVE it!

We didn't stop there though....we had to let Wrigs have a go. Josh and I were both laughing so hard watching Wrigley. Tears were running down my face I was laughing so hard.

On September 10 we went to the local rugby playoff game. Little missy behaved herself and we had a nice afternoon. Here's a pic of her with Scott & Alex.

Bowen's rugby team beat the Collinsville team. Collinsville is about an hour away.

Josh has been reading a book to M most nights before bed. This is normally when I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner, but some nights I sneak in the hallway to spy on them. Precious moments like this make my heart smile.

M and I have gone to lots of outings with other mums and bubs the past couple of months. Normally we meet 3-4 other mums/bubs once a week for a coffee and chat. It's always a nice time catching up and exchanging stories about our bubs. Here's M with her 2 boyfriends. Judd is on the left and Xavier is on the right.

September 17 was our third time to attend the annual Bowen Fishing Classic. Last year at the Fishing Classic we volunteered to help at one of the food stalls. I was pregnant and nauseous the whole morning. This year was much more enjoyable. Saturday afternoon we listened to some of the live music...

...and watched some of the weigh-ins for the fishies.

Sunday afternoon we went to watch the fashion show.

M and Xavier were teaching each other how to share. :)

September 20 M started solids! I was so excited to watch my little bunny try something new. She loved her rice cereal. We were able to have some of the grandparents on Skype to watch. I love both Josh's and M's expression in the pic below. :)

The book that I am using to guide me with her solids feeding has her try a new food every fourth day. The pic below is her first taste of apples. She wasn't too sure about them!

The book walked me through an easy way to prepare M's food. I take the veggie or fruit, wash it, peal it, chop it, steam it, puree it, put the "mush" into ice cube trays, freeze it, then pop the cubes into labeled & dated ziplock baggies for the freezer! Each morning I defrost her food for the day. Easy. Cheap. Healthy.

September 22 M got her ears pierced!!! I was a little nervous about this, but Alex (ear piercing is one of Alex's many talents, and yes she's certified to pierce baby's ears) assured me this was a great time to get them pierced. She's done this to a lot of little ones and reckons if they are any older it takes a lot longer to heal because the kiddos touch their ears, causing infection. Alex put some numbing cream on M's ear lobes, so she couldn't feel it. M was more upset with Alex trying to put the mark on her ear than the actual piercing! My little bunny was so brave, and I think she looks so cute with her little earrings. :)

September 24 we went to Townsville for a day of shopping. Josh got to use his massage voucher (from his birthday). He also got some new glasses and work clothes. He looks soooo handsome and smart with his new glasses!

Sunday, the 25th we had a lovely dinner at the Cove celebrating Dan's birthday. It was so nice to have M asleep in her stroller next to us and chat the night away with friends.

October 1 was our third time to attend the Bowen Cup - the horse races. We didn't have a babysitter for M, so we brought her along. I had to make her a cute fascinator for the day! I love how it turned out.

M did SO well at the races! She skipped her afternoon nap and was still in good spirits. It was kind of a last minute decision to go to the races, so I didn't have an outfit. Viginnia let me borrow one of her super cute, super comfy dresses. I had so much fun dressing up! I had a fascinator Josh's mom bought for me. I borrowed jewelry from Viginnia and shoes from Bianca. So blessed to have girlfriends here!

Josh with his two girls -

My attempt at an up do (thank you Pinterest) -

Hangin out with M in the car for a bit in the a/c -

With Lauren & Alex -

Josh, Brett, & Scott -

With Melita & Lian -

With Vigin -

We had such a great day! We went out to eat that night with friends, and Alex's dad "watched" Mckinley for us. So nice! I say watched instead of babysat because she goes to sleep at 7pm without a fuss and will sleep until I wake her at 10pm for a feed. I love my baby.

Sunday the 2nd we had our first semi-successful trip to the beach. This was our third time to Horseshoe Bay with Mckinley, but the first two times she cried the whole time. This trip we got her in the ocean and she only fussed for a little bit!

Xavier wasn't happy about getting his "togs" on. Mckinley saying "it's ok Xavier." :)

My poor neglected fur child, Wrigley. I might not blog about her much, but she is still a very important member of our family! She is so much fun. She knows when M goes down for a nap that it's Wrigley time. She'll bring me a toy and want to play. :) This is her new favorite spot to relax.

My bunny playing games with her daddy:

October 8th we went to the Bowen Rodeo. We had a good time watching the bull riding, bucking broncos, wrangling, and barrel racing. It was pretty similar to the rodeos I've been to the States, just a small town version.

One of my goals after M was born was to run a 5k, and I did just that on October 9th. I was so proud of myself. Josh and I competed in the Bowen Triathlon. Josh was on a guys team and I on a girls. Josh did the bike leg and I did the run. It was a HOT day, but we both made it! Getting packed up ready to go...

Josh and his running teammate, Jamie -

I left my camera with our cheering section (Alex, Scott, Mckinley, and Xavier) and they took some great pics!

Josh has Thursday afternoons off, so we decided to take M for another dip in the ocean yesterday. She did so much better!

I LOVE this photo of Josh & M -

On the way home from the beach we drove through a new neighborhood to look at the houses and came across....

...can you see them? Some wallabies! (or maybe kangaroos, I can never tell)

Josh thought yesterday would be a good time to shave his long hair. Before -

After -

That's what has been going on at the Farmer's house lately!