at the zoo

janu was a little sleepy at the zoo, and maybe a little scared of the 100 foot long, thick-as-your-leg snakes. So he snuggled down under his dad's hat and feel asleep. How did we know he was awake? He pulled up his hat to say hello. it is his new cleverest trick.

he also now lifts up his arms when he wants to be picked up & cuddled, and seems to be alot more responsive. If I'm not mistaken he may know his name now, AND he has his 2 top teeth coming down down down. What a lot of action.

Saltram

A National Trust house near

Plymouth, with happy men. There is something odd about visiting the houses of the filthy rich, but somehow the sumptous gardens, rooms and estates (and cream teas) reel us in.

kuan, chompu, somo & janu!

Friends came round last sunday for crumble and tea - Janu really loves other little humans. They are another species to adults, and he is captivated. Everyone was moving so fast (except for fat, solid Janu) that most photos are a big blur. Only afew months until he is as old as Somo (1yr) who was racing around the room insisting on playing with all the things that aren't toys (the books, the plants, the wires, the hot tea)...!

fluffy ears

This is how cold it is! Janu seems to love the cold weather - when we're out walking in sharp wind, he laughs out loud. His cheeks feel as rough as sandpaper from all the wind - I thought all babies felt like that until I felt a friend's daughter's rose petal cheek. I wonder how he'll cope with Australian summer? Now both ears need covering from the icy winds (and I just wanted an excuse to show the funny hat that I made him).

o-boy o-bama!

Janu was so excited when I told him obama had won the US elections. He was truly over the moon. He shed a few tears listening to his acceptance speech. He tried to tell me that the reason he was up all night was because he was too excited about the results. (ha!)

He hummed old american civil rights tunes all day - mmmmmmmmmhhhhhmm I'm gonna lay down my sword and sheild, down by the river side, uh huh huh, down by the river side, I ain't gonna study war no more no more..... we're gonna hold hands the whole world round, down by the river side. and then he just started making up his own words. and then he fell asleep.

alphabet soup

Staring early with their letters. Sarah has lived in Staverton only 3 months, having just arrived from Japan. She is light like a fairy, and has the brightest smile. She introduced Janu to miso soup with seaweed & tofu for lunch. Loved it.

cob

For a few weeks in June, Adrian helped build a cob building up on Dartmoor. We went up this weekend to have a look at it for the owner's birthday (but forgot to take any photos.) Continuing on to the high, beautiful (freezing!) moors, and I realised that even with gorgeous views all around, my eyes were only on one thing: the big fat woolen baby in front of me. He is wearing his dad's hat to keep the icy wind from his ears.