Oliver @ 1 month

All suited up and ready to go for a ride

Oliver's one month anniversary

a little tummy time

Who dat?

The crazy monkey puts Oliver into a catatonic state.

Some of the cute bits and scary long fingers

Oliver weeks 2 and 3

We've been home for a while now and are trying to settle into a good schedule. Sometimes Oliver is up for it, sometimes he's not. We just roll with it. So far as we can tell, he's a pretty good natured baby, enjoys his walks in the stroller and chillin' out in the Baby Bjorn. Oliver loves staring at mommy's face, staring at daddy's face or just staring at wherever the light is originating from.

Who could possibly resist this look? This kid is a lady killer.

Refusing to wake up.
Check out my new striped outfit!

The extremely proud, but also sleepy parents.
Having a lovely time at the Abbotsford Convent on Australian father's day. All the homies in the house throw your hands in the ay-er!
Having a cuddle just after bath time. What is Oliver thinking?... Who is this strange woman?... Stop posing and just feed me?... or That's my mamma!

Welcome Oliver! The first week.

Here he is!!
At long last we welcomed our son, Oliver Ethan Rivers, to the world on August 22, 2007. He arrived with a little cry, 7 pounds 5 ounces and 20.3 inches long.

The hospital stay went as smoothly as could be expected and we came home a few days later where we have been trying to adjust to our altered states of existence ever since. We're loving every moment of our time with Oliver.

The rest of this section is an assemblage of some of our favorite pics from the first week...

Still in the hospital, but already living the thug life.
This is how we behave when we've had a good long feed.
Mom and Oliver home from the hospital enjoying some quiet time.

A typical sleeping pose for Oliver.
Just checking out the scenery on dad's lap, hiccuping like mad.

Blog Hiatus (Part III)

Last year, a couple of visitors come through... Ann and Andy Powell visited us in April, then Bobby came for a couple weeks in May. We took the opportunity to travel with A&A to Tasmania and then up to far north Queensland with Babak. Both places are remarkable.


Cape Tribulation and the Daintree National Park, where the rainforest meets the reef.


Spotting crocs amongst the mangroves.


About to join the fish in the Great Barrier Reef.



Bobby cooling off at the 'blue hole' locals only swimming hole.



Spending quality time with little rock wallabys around Mareeba in the Atherton tableland.



Bobby, Melissa and Eric taking in the scenery along the Great Ocean Road.


Down to Tasi with Ann and Andy...


On the fast boat ride along Bruny Island.





Sea lions taking it easy on the rocks. A steady diet of squid produces quite a ferocious smell.



Melissa enjoying a 'cuddle' with a baby wombat at Trowunna Wildlife Park.

Blog Hiatus (Part II)

We recently took a a little time off before the Melissa's due date to relax up in Noosa, Queensland. Once again, we took in some wonderful beaches, georgeous and dramatic seaside walks and some pretty decent cuisine. This part of Queensland is called the Sunshine coast. It rained most of the four days we were there.


Said storm and coastline.

This is the view from Noosa Nat'l Park looking South towards where we stayed in Sunshine Beach.


Just after Easter this year (2007), we took a trip over to Western Australia with Jocelyn and Susy for Marta and Michael's wedding in Perth. We took the opportunity to travel South through the beautiful wine country and surf coast of Margaret River, then down to Denmark for some more beach time.

Susy, Melissa, Marta and Jocelyn at the wedding party.

The sunset at Cottesloe Beach...

Only a few thousand kilometers over the horizon is South Africa!

Trying to spot where two oceans meet, Cape Leeuwin on the SW tip of WA. (Hint, it's straight over the sign)

Atop the giant tingle trees, 40m above the ground (somewhere around Walpole).

That's Melissa, Joss and Susy making tracks in the sand on another amazing beach, somewhere along Mazzoletti Beach on William Bay, West of Denmark.

Blog Hiatus (part I)

We've been away from the blog for a while, it's true. What have we been doing in that time you ask? In short; work, travel & Oliver. We'll skip the work summary and move right into travel. After that, as any new parents might do, we'll likely dedicate every new post of this blog to our lovely new son.



Buchan Caves, North central Victoria

Where the millenia old crystal formations pay homage to bacon...

and in the winter, the ski fields play host to snow sports amongst the snow gums for the local wildlife.









Cape Schanck, Southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria

One of our favorite spots in Australia (so far). We stayed at the lighthouse in the keeper's cabin overlooking the sea.







Grampians, Mountains of West central Victoria




Camping and bushfire country.





Point Nepean, the western most tip of the Mornington Peninsula

Where Port Philip bay meets the sea, and the former Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt met his demise while swimming in "the rip." Interesting fact... after he disappeared he remained PM for two full days before he was declared lost at sea, meaning there was a deceased man running the country during that time!

This beautiful state park was formerly a firing range for the military.

The Great Ocean Road, West out of Melbourne along the Bass Strait

Our first trip out this way coincided with a bizarre heat wave after a long, cool spring, which encouraged every insect in the region to hatch and swarm simultaneously. Apparently, a once in a lifetime experience. To top that off, this route is one of the most iconic drives in the country, not to be missed.