May 3. Winter is starting in Melbourne, cold dark mornings give way to windy cloudy days, or sunny but still cool. The city gradually slows and fills with a determined torpor; meanwhile the hospital emergency gets predictably busier, greeting all of us workers with a symphony of breath and cough each day.

Jai still wakes at his usual time, and now me and my wife cling to sleep and hope the other parent has more energy. Then roll out into darkness, pluck him from the cot, rewarded by the usual smiles and laughs. After some time at home, it's out into the streets, searching for coffee and for the first rays to warm us up.

Jai's got a lot better at using both of his hands, we're concentrating on making him use the weak side. Getting his hips up off the ground too, but not pushing his chest up enough, and not coordinating it all well enough to crawl. Our physiotherapist, Jill, gave us some new exercises to try on a roller, which he seems to like, but tires out quickly. We're taking him swimming every week now, hoping it helps him to keep getting stronger. Uma's doing good, and seeing friends at school and outside. Making Melbourne her place. She is very gradually becoming less demanding of our attention, and allowing us to look after Jai without feeling so left out. Resilience building for 4 year olds: friends, playgrounds, garden, swimming, and dance classes.

We have decided to have a regular evening off to be a couple once a month. Jump on the tram to the city, to meet some friends or share a meal. Rejuvenate. Soon Heather's Mum will join us here for 3 months and lend a hand.

July 25. Winter proper now, cold windy and raining most days, like the Melbourne of my childhood. We've been busy moving house, any spare time spent organising things for the new house. Getting grumpy and exhausted. Heather's Mum has been great, waking up with Jai and doing a large part of the looking after of him. Uma's been taking my attention when I'm at home, but i try to grab some time with Jai as much as i can. He misses the outside world when it's too cold and windy, so i try to take him out each day and let him look around. Instant calm for when he gets cabin fever. He can sit up for a long time now, maybe 20 mins at a time. And today, he crawled! - commando style maybe, but definite crawling to get to the toy he wanted. Very proud of himself, as he should be! We're excited too!