Road Trip Part 1 - Sydney

Our 7 day road trip started on Tuesday. We packed up all our stuff and hit the road around lunch time. I should also mention that last week we started to transition the boys to one nap a day, and by lunchtime they are very tired little boys. They slept most of the 90minute trip to Sydney.

Tuesday afternoon we did a little shopping, cooked dinner and put the boys to bed. Our hotel was a one bedroom self-contained apartment. The boys went to sleep in porta-cots in the bedroom. They didn’t like going to sleep in a strange room. They cried a little, but fell asleep quite well as they were very tired. Ben woke 3 times in the evening before we gave him some Panadol (Tylenol) and he slept the rest of the night.

Ben had a few teething miseries in the first few days of the trip and now has a total of 12teeth! He got 3 new teeth in the first few days of our tip. He now has the 4 middle top and 4 middle bottom plus his 4 molars. The 2 bottom molars are completely through the gum, he’s still working on the top 2 molars, they are slightly through the gum, but not completely. Ethan still only has 4 teeth (2 top, 2 bottom middle teeth).

Over the next 2 days we visited many friends in the Sydney area. It was great catching up with everyone.

Our two little boys are well and truly toddlers now. They are both walking very well and have a keen curiosity about the world. They love to explore, examine and learn about the world around them. They open draws and cupboards; they push buttons on TV’s and DVD players; they pull on cords; they pull toilet paper off the roll; they put their hands in bins and toilets; they climb on furniture without fear of falling off; they push chairs around the room and still enjoy eating all sorts of “treats” they find on the floor! With that in mind, imagine travelling with TWO curious toddlers to places that are not baby-proofed! Life at the hotel was chaotic. They boys do not appreciate being told “no” when they are only trying to explore and learn. We try so hard to let them play, but it is not always possible, and we found our self saying no, and consoling screaming toddlers a lot!

Below are some pics of the boys playing in the hotel in Sydney.

Ethan

  Ben and Ethan getting treats from Mumma. Ethan getting a treat from Mumma. Ethan Ethan Ben brushing his teeth Ethan Ethan and Ben exploring the kitchen Ben – again with his toothbrush Ethan and Ben Ethan and Ben having dinner – Ben is laughing. Ben Ethan Ethan climbing through the coffee table Ethan Ben emptying the baby bag. Both boys now love to empty things. Apparently this new skill is a developmental milestone that helps hand/eye co-ordination! Sal with Ben and Ethan early in the morning. Finally on our last day in Sydney the skies cleared and we got some sun. We took the boys to the park for a MUCH needed play outside. Below is Tracie and Ethan in the park. Ben exploring Ethan Ben feeling the sand in the sandpit. He’s never seen a sandpit before (only the sand at the beach) Ben playing in the sand and Ethan showing us his hand as if to say “Mum, I’ve got something weird on my hand, get it off for me” Ethan doesn’t like it when his hands get dirty!! Ethan Ben examining the tiles on the wall. Ethan in the sandpit. Ben and Ethan in the sandpit. This park had a very strange elevated sandpit. It was as high as the boys chests in parts, and as high as our waits in other parts. The surrounding ground was concrete. This sandpit made us both very nervous that the boys might fall out and onto the concrete, so we didn't stay long. Ben and Ethan. See the elevated sandpits behind them. Strange huh!?!? VERY cheeky Ben. Tracie and Ethan. Sal and the boys. Sal and Ethan Sal up in the climbing net looking down, and Ethan looking back up at his Mummy. Ethan and Sal, wondering what to do next. Ethan on the swing Ben on the swing Sal and Ben going down the big slide. Ethan playing at the bottom of the big slide. Ben and Sal climbing up the mountain. Ben climbed most of it himself, and only had a little help from Mummy. Ben and Sal

After an hour at the park we had lunch in the car and said goodbye to Sydney. Off to the Blue Mountains……