Happy 9 and 10 months to all these babies - can't believe they're all getting so old so fast!!

Tenny - good luck with the hockey!! Sounds fun. I sighed a HUGE sigh of relief about your lucky nappy-less morning in bed!! Can just imagine how icky that could have been

Kellxx - we never even got as far as the mushy foods. Alyssa always refused to eat it. She went straight to finger foods =\ She refuses to eat anything on a spoon, however she WILL eat if it's given to her from chopsticks. Otherwise she'll only eat what she can hold.

Belle - hope you're feeling much better by now!! Loving the pics of your beautiful girls in FB - keep em coming.

Pix - hope you feel better soon!! Hugs your way, babe... And hugs for the gorgeous Miss Beth and her gazillion toothypegs

Mel - love ya and MWAH!!!!!

All going well here... Alyssa has been a bit sick for a few days, but mostly ok. Projectile vomiting in the nights and a temp between 38 and 39, but happy as Larry during the days. Had my SIL look over her and she said it's just something viral, and she was fine. Just manage it with Panadol or Nurofen. Panadol evokes an instant projectile vomit reaction from her, so nurofen it is!

Was just reading the news website and saw an article on a baby who died because the parents didn't get effective treatment for eczema =(((( I HATE that Alyssa has this awful condition. We manage hers really well, and for the most part her skin is perfect - just small breakouts every now and again - but it still sucks that it is something that unmanaged can really be THAT BAD. It sucks that my little girl has a lifetime of skin management to prevent that type of itching, sores and scabbing.

On a happier note, Kellxx and Kristy inspired me to attempt to make Alyssa's first birthday cake myself... I purchased a cake decorating book, some appropriate supplies, and made this trial cake for DHs birthday. For Alyssa's birthday, I'm planning on doing three large A B C blocks in white with bright coloured edging, lettering and pictures on the sides, stacked up and sitting on top of a large chocolate cake coated in a thick ganache. The block cakes will be an Autumnal cake (maple syrup flavoured cake - a Nigella recipe) for the A, Banana cake for the B and a Coconut cake for the C. Two of the blocks will be on the chocolate cake base with the third block sitting on top with an Eeyore toy on top of that surrounded by teeny icing roses that I have been making. I'm also playing around with some different graphics and things to try to make a funky little birthday invitation for her party.

It's sad that our babies are getting so old... I don't want to have to go back to work now and leave her. Can't believe that I was thinking of only taking 6 weeks off because I enjoy my job so much! I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I enjoy my baby - I feel all emotional when I think of spending those days away from her (and it's only 2 days a week).

Oh! And we finally got building approval for the house!! The tenants have moved out of the existing house and we have organised for demolishers to come in and clear the block. We expect to start building in 2.5 - 3 months =)))) We have a new house building blog here.

And that's just about it for us