A visit from Mum

Abbey has just turned 10 months old, can you believe that?!! Only 2 months til the big first b'day which blows my mind. She is going great guns and really loved having Mum (Nana) up for a 1 week visit. We did some bits and pieces around town, had a trip out to Glen Helen and even attended the Desert Knowledge open day and looked at solar panels.....! Looking forward to my birthday tomorrow and think that Phil has something sneaky in store :)

Abbey's new favourite trick is pulling all the dirt out of the pots (and sneaking the occasional handful in the mouth)
That's vegemite on her face, not snot! This is us having drinks and nibblies in the creek down at Simpsons Gap

Having some quality time with Nana

Farmer Abbey in Phil's hat

On Mum's last night we went out for dinner to Oscars to celebrate my b'day. Abbey made it through the night by us feeding her constant pieces of potato.

Democracy at work

Unlike Rudd and his band of spin driven, media managed, debt denying, airline raging flunkeys who can't even say the word 'billion', we here at Phil, Kylie & Abbey's blog aim to tell the truth at all times in the name of democracy and all that stuff. So today, Abbey is asking our dear readers the poll question - should we have a poll? Please take your time reading all the available options and vote with a clear conscience, confident that your vote will make a difference. See the poll to the left of screen. P.S. Kylie is turning 29 on Sunday! Can you believe that she wasn't even born in the 70's, ah, so young. Little wonder she stares at me blankly when I explain the sheer greatness of the 1975 classic album, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. Sometimes I really feel the generation gap between us.

Growing up fast

On the back lawn at our house

Dinner with Dad

All wrapped up for the cold morning air

Our campsite on the Hugh River (I should make special mention of Lyndon's trailor bogged to the right of screen :))

Hi to all our family and long distance Abbey followers!

We've just got back from a night out camping on the May Day long weekend. We were out at Owen Springs again, this time in the Hugh River with our friends Rach, Lyndon and little Maia. The flies were a bit friendly, but this time the weather was beautiful and cool.

Here are a few pics... mostly of Abbey because she is just so damn cute at the moment!! She is now 9 and a bit months old, crawling at the speed of light and pulling herself up on everything. She is also sporting 2 front teeth to match her other little chompers (which bite quite hard I can tell you from experience!)

Camping!!!

Above: Phil, Abbey & Harry

Below: Kylie & Abbey ready for a walk

Above: The campsite

Below: Abbey in the tent

We went camping for the first time this year (except for Phil who has camped out for work) at Owen Springs. We set up the tent and swags on the banks of the Hugh River, hanging out in country first crossed by Europeans a mere 150 years ago. It was Abbey's first camp out and she seemed to enjoy the dirt, the dogs and the food. She turned 9 months old today and celebrated the day with the appearance of her first top teeth. All is good with us at the moment - work has been pretty good and the mighty Demons spanked the hapless Tigers on the weekend! (if you can call an 8 point win a spanking...).

Abbey, me & Nan (and the rest of Alice Springs) at Ellery Creek

Nan and Kelli enjoying a glass of red at Simpsons Gap

Kel and Abbey in the comfy chair Mum got us for Chrissy

A bedtime story from Great Nana

Well as you can see from the pics, Nan and my Aunty Kelli have been up in Alice Springs for a week which has been great. They are they first of the family visits for the year and we are looking forward to visits from Mum, Bruce & Marg, Alison, Stacey & kids and then meeting up with Dad in WA in Sept... so a full on year ahead! (and we'd love to throw in a trip to Brissy to see Dave and Michelle as well :)) Abbey is loving the attention and we've had lots of cuppas, shopping and a trip out to Glen Helen for lunch.

8 months

Abbey's heart beats true

The Nazis and the Communists would probably call it 'indoctrination', but I'd like to think that if Abbey had a choice, she would have picked the red and blue hoody to wear. She can already hum the lines to the team song, and her favourite player is Russel Robertson. Go Dees!

Above: Near Bond Gap, west of Simpsons Gap

Keeping the family happy

More pics of Abbey to keep the family up to date. Just imagine when there was no internet or digital cameras!! She is 'shuffling' forward these days - not quite crawling but very close. Kylie goes back to work in a few weeks so Abbey will spend a few days a week in childcare. I'm sure she will have heaps of fun - Abbey, not Kylie that is. Pics below are: 1. Beating the heat at the pool. 2. How much fun is the bath? 3. Mmmm...I think I'll wear the pink suit after my bath. 4. In her Sunday best.

Above: One of our resident Goannas

Below: Abbey in her jolly jumper thingy

Above: Phil & Abbey at the Gap taking advantage of a cool change

Below: Abbey eating a coaster - her first attempt at eating a non-food product - in this case, cork from the bottom of the coaster

Abba dabba doo - 6 months old

Hi all, just thought I would add a photo of Abbey sitting up (her new favourite trick) and showing her two little toofy pegs (which are very sharp I can tell you from experience.... SO glad not to be breastfeeding anymore!) I think she is the cutest baby in the ENTIRE WORLD... Hmmm does that sound biased? Naaa.

Above: Looking south from Simpsons Gap

Above: the range east of Simpsons Gap

Below: Abbey in denim

Well we are all home now from our holiday - it is hot and humid (great), but not 45 like Adelaide! The country looks fantastic after all the rain so I thought I better show everyone + we can't have all the photos of Abbey can we?? Speaking of, she is now 6 months old - which she has marked by a very needy phase (ie: lots of crying if left unattended) but we still think that she is a little rippa. Her front chompers are getting bigger and she is eating solids really well - not long before she can have a steak I reckon! I just booked flights to Melbourne in June to see the mighty Demons destroy Collingwood at the MCG - can't wait already.

Xmas holidays

Hi everyone, here are a few holiday photos from our trip away. The time away has been great and Abbey has travelled really well. She is getting her first teeth and has tasted her first 'real' food - both big milestones!! We have been to Adelaide, Mount Gambier, the Great Ocean Road, Albury and Bendigo. We are in Bendigo at the moment and will be heading home next week via the Flinders Ranges. Talk to you all soon!

Above: Abbey on the Great Ocean Road
Below: Apollo Bay

Below: Abbey in her winter woolies (a rare thing for her)Below: Kylie's family at the before-xmas xmas lunch

Below: The Cowan clan in Albury

Below: Abbey, John and Kylie

Below: Nana and Abbey - just 88 years difference

It's hot, damn hot

"It's hot! damn hot, real hot, hot & wet ! That's ok if you're with a lady but it's terrible if you're in the jungle!" Apologies for this crude (but entirely appropriate) quote from Good Morning Vietnam. It's all I can think of now it is exceeding 40 degrees. Oh well, it is summer after all. Abbey is staying cool, just chill'n on her rug. We leave for xmas Sunday week - can't wait

Abbey is 4 months old

Abbey turned 4 months old yesterday. She is learning to grab things with her hands now and is loving looking around her surroundings. She is also sleeping great - last 4 nights she was only up once!! Needless to say we are enjoying this new phase a whole lot more, especially as she becomes more interactive. It's only 3 weeks unitl we start our xmas holidays - can't wait to see everyone, although I know who will get the most attention. Luckily we will receive $1000 from the Govt before xmas to 'stimulate' the economy (or in our case, put it in the bank where there will be no stimulating taking place without our permission thankyou very much). At least beer and cigarette sales will be up across the country (only joking).

1. Simpsons Gap before another storm

2. Abbey eating her fingers as an entree

3. Abbey sharing a joke with her dad