Kisses for Nana

In anticipation of a trip to see his sick Nana, with the help of a bowl of applesauce Emmett and his dad rehearse Emmett's kissing technique.

Emmett got the chance to squeeze in a few precious Nana kisses but, sadly, Nana lost her battle with cancer. Everyone misses her. A lot.

Emmett's parents believe that Heaven has internet access (with a data transfer rate of, like, a gazillion Mbps), so the stranmccann posts will continue. They have to. Nana was one of the main reasons this blog was created, and unconfirmed reports suggest that she checked it 5 to 6 times a day. Who's to say that won't continue?

So, Nana, we thought you might be interested in an outtake from one of Emmett's earlier kiss rehearsal sessions. Thank goodness for experimentation and the discontinuation of unsuccessful trials. This kiss was not Nana-worthy, and was a reaction befitting a child who has just kissed weird, mustachioed, non-bathing, 2-packs-a-day, gingivitic Great Uncle Herb.

Left hand, right knee, right hand, left knee

After months of pushing himself backward, dragging himself forward, and getting his leg stuck underneath him, Emmett manages to get himself up on all fours and make his first crawl, much to his mother's astonishment, delight and horror. Hard to say whether hardwood is a help or a hindrance, but the lure of knocking down blocks is difficult to resist.

Coordinating his left hand, right knee, right hand, left knee is still a challenge, but it won't be long until he's able to grab his watergun and chase the squirrels away. His parents high five that.

News from the animal kingdom

Emmett's dad has been aching for an excuse to share a couple of his favourite news stories from New Zealand, and finally found one.

Big news in early April from Alexandra: the Great Easter Bunny Hunt, giving nightmares to chocolate-loving Kiwi children since 1991.

Then, a week later in New Plymouth, a story about a spraypainted goat. Believe it or not, this made national headlines.

And right here at home, just today, Emmettilius stranmccannii has at long last cut his first tooth. Not bad for a creature who started showing symptoms of teething, like, three months ago.

Thanks to Shawzanne for the video evidence, recorded while Emmett's parents abandoned him to watch the women's semi-final hockey game back in February.

A bad day for Sophie

Emmett, indignant at the teething process, takes out his frustration on Sophie the Giraffe.

(with regards to Gary Larson and his Far Side parody, "A Bad Day for Muffy." If anyone can help Emmett's dad find this cartoon, he'll post it)

Six months old

Emmett bailed on his six month photo shoot today. With a low grade fever, sad eyes, flushed cheeks and drool dripping from his mouth, he and his mom opted to cuddle on the couch instead. Teething time. They would have stayed in their jammies all day, except that Emmett had his six month checkup with the doctor. On this milestone birthday, he weighed in at 16 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 72cm long. Time for a new car seat...he is bustin' out of his bucket.