Martha at 9 months

Evening Martha watchers,

Now Martha has spent more time out than in; and is even more happy than ever! Still no crawling or turning over, but there is almost-walking. There are fewer photos than usual this month, so to make up for it, there are a few videos - a real multimedia feast I think you will agree. They are at the end of this entry, but you have to read the rest of it first!

This month we undertook the second transatlantic trip, and this one was considerably more difficult than the first, mostly because of jet-lag and our lack of knowledge of how to do anything about it! On the way back to the US I did try a couple of things, such as keeping her up later in the UK to reduce the time difference, and it seems to have worked, in that she slept for longer quicker. Prior to the trip we spent a few days in southern California with the Grandparents Johnston. Here she is on christmas day being carried by Grandpa Walter on the shores of the Pacific Ocean:




By the silver ball with Uncle Tim and hat (courtesy of me)

In the UK we saw family and a few friends, but an inconvenient amount of time was spent bouncing and generally being wide awake.


With great grandmother


With Uncle Tim and Bagpuss


At the keyboard with great granddad

In other exciting news, she's been to her second curry house, and even sampled a small piece of poppadom, which I reckoned was OK for her. This is the "last supper" at The Panahar in Wraysbury on the evening before returning to Oakland:



OK, OK I know you've been waiting for it, so here now are the videos. They are stored on the YouTube website, so clicking on a link here will take you there - without you having to lift a finger! Well, thats not strictly true as you have to raise one finger slightly to click the mouse button, but metaphorically you don't need to. Beware, that YouTube contains many videos from all sorts of weirdos, and before you know it a whole evening can be gone viewing them.

If you are using an internet connection over the phone, then this will take a very long time, but it should work in the end.

First is Martha swinging on the swings near our house in Oakland. This is some time at the end of November 2006. Note the large amount of padding required to prevent her from falling out.

Martha on swing (1:01)

Second is one from the archives. Martha less than one month old in April 2006 in Oakland. Commentary is provided by Carrie, who is available for professional work during evenings and weekends.

Martha very small (0:44)

If these prove successful (and they work) then I'll do a few more.

Adrian