This is just a snapshot of one of our ‘normal’ days here at the Harvey Household.  The kids were having a great time enjoying the sunshine, playing happily together, and allowing me to take lots and lots of photos of them all, even smiling nicely when I dared to ask!  Having their Auntie Jode over did help with the photo taking and the nicety of the playing - she always makes things more fun!  And can you believe Cooper slept through all of this fun?!  So no cheeky smiles captured of our favourite nephew – this time!   Next time, I’ll go and do one of those things only an auntie can do and poke him a few times so I don’t he doesn’t miss out!

Anyway, here are a few shots that Marc took of the boys on Sunday afternoon.  They are growing up and changing so much! 

Sunday, 6th June 2010

Ella had her 4 month needles this morning.  She is such a trooper, the poor little thing.  While waiting for Dr MacLaverty, she charmed the reception ladies and a few of the waiting patients and then had lots of smiles and a chat to our doctor.  All the while, never suspecting that she was really there to get her two needles and drink some funny tasting stuff!  And even then, while she was bared legged and a bit goose-pimply she still had plenty of smiles for the nurse while she was weighed and measured before her injections. 

Thankfully children aren’t like puppies, in the fact that most dogs know when they are being taken to the vet before they are even taken to the car!   The next time it will be Reuben’s turn (18 month needles… a bit late, but who’s counting?!) which I am not looking forward to.  He’s not so great with the whole needle thing.  Actually he’s terrible with the whole needle thing!

Anyway, so Ella is 67cm, 8.5kg and has a head circumference of 47cm.  Yup, she is a big girl, chubby and heavy and tall!   She makes it over the 100th percentile for all three categories.  Just to give you an example and put those figures into some perspective, the weight-for-age 50th percentile is just over 6kg for a 4 month old girl… No wonder she is moving into size O clothes! 

My question for today is:  Why is their head circumference important?  I have no idea, but it gets measured and recorded at every check up and it has got a growth chart all to itself in the QLD Health Personal Health Record book.  It must mean something to someone out there in QLD Health land. 

So Ella is now sleeping off the shocking treatment she was given my the lovely nurse at the surgery.  Hopefully she will be down for the count for at least two hours and wake up cheery for me!

I would also like to take this opportunity to note the drool.  The drool on her chin, the drool on her dress, the drool on the Jolly Jumper and the drool on the floor.  This is a good drool day.  By now (it’s almost 4pm here in Brisbane) she has been through a few changes of clothes and numerous bibs, just because of all the wetness!  Today she has managed to stay dressed like this ALL DAY.  It’s amazing!!!

As I sit here and type this post, Reuben has decided that the Jolly Jumper is a swing and Ella thinks it’s hilarious.  I, however, do not.  So Reuben getting in trouble is doubly funny to her.  

She has also just got the hang of bouncing and spinning in the Jolly Jumper.  Smart little chicken :)

Ella has also started eating ’solids’.  A term so loosely used here.  Rice cereal and pureed fruit/veg is not solid.  It’s gross.  She LOVES it.  She LAUGHS through her meals.  Seriously.  This kid is one happy person almost all of the time.  Who laughs through their entire dinner?  Only Ella :D  Maybe it’s to counteract all the drooling, but she does not spill, spit or generally waste a single spoonful of the stuff.  Personally, I’d be feeding it to our non-existent dog under the table!  I’m not complaining though, her making meal time easy counter acts her brothers making meal time loud (Reuben) and long (Owen).

She needed sunning today.  Her pore bottom is a bit raw and a good dose of vitamin D, on the floor of her room in the warm was just the thing she needed.  A good play in the sun was followed by an almost four hour sleep!  Go Ella!!!!  And then she woke up her normal happy, smiling self.  Something we haven’t seen much of over the last couple of days.  Welcome back, Ella Bella xo