The Computer History Musuem was commemorating the 217th birthday of Charles Babbage. They have a replica of the Difference Engine No 2 on display. I got to wear a hat (another word I can say) but no-one let me have any of the birthday cake.

It weighs over 5 tons and has 8000+ moving parts. If only I'd brought my new tool set with hammer ("bang-bang") and screw drivers I could take this thing apart. Then I'd be able to fit the pieces in my mouth.

I went to a musuem/kiddie zoo. I learnt the finer points of gravity on the tennis ball exhibit (my own climbing exploits on chairs, steps, sofas and high chairs had previously taught me the basics of gravity).

The bobcat at the zoo kept looking at me. I think they can pick the ones that are the juciest and plumpest. Relax - the turtle is not real, the lighting was tricky but it's really a statue. I also know the difference between a duck, chicken and goose ("oose").

I've been a busy boy in California. I've been hiking and seen some deer, helped peel potatoes for lunch, and been to the zoo. I've been learning lots of words too.

Aren't I a high-tech wunderkind? I just did my first google search. It didn't find anything, maybe Google's overrated. I hope they have something better by the time I have to go to school.

[Bad news - no internet for you for a long time. ed.]

A long weekend is great for projects. What I like about Ikea instructions is even if you can't read you can still figure out how it goes together.

And after it's done someone has to run the stress testing as part of the acceptance phase.

In November we went to a conference in San Francisco. I had to stay and look after Nanna and Poppa and keep them busy. I also visted great-Grandma's house where I had to be a lumberjack and stack the firewood (well, chew it a little. Remember the beaver posting?). I also had to pick the apples and the lemons.

My retinue and I went to the Botanical Gardens for a pumpkin festival.

Then if my mother held me up high enough I could point out where I dropped Dad's cell phone.

Fallen leaves are for playing. Well, if someone rakes them first, then I can play in them. Then they need raking again..

Sometimes you're happy....

..and sometimes you just have to put on a happy face

And if it's all too much then just fall asleep

[Hmm, they had to change your shirt after lunch, huh? ed.]

I declare the last two months to be an extended celebration of my first birthday. That's why the blog has been so quiet. (If you care to disagree then be here at 3am on any morning and I will debate the topic in my usual style. There may be a brief intermission for sleeping between 4am and 4:10 and then the debate will resume.)

The birthday party retinue included Grandparents Schu and Uncle Greg. The visitors were very welcome and I had so many trips to the park to keep them entertained. We also went to Franklin NC and I hiked some waterfalls.

Wow! I've chewed plenty of sticks, rugs, shoes, cooking utensils and anything else in sight, but I'd like to meet the kid that did this!

[It was a beaver that's moved into the area, and that's what beavers are meant to do. You're not going to get any ideas, ok? Or you can start building your own lodge too - ed]

Tear down this wall!

[No. Well, actually yes. It will be replaced by the proper gate I would like to build if you gave us any spare time to get something done - Ed.]

Here's one for the Canadians...

And a big "Hello" to all my Canadian readers. For the rest of you, did you know I'm 25% Canadian?

Here I am experimenting with alternative fuels that will keep Thomas the Tank Engine running for many more generations of children.

Instead of using fossil fuels I'm going to figure out how to skip the fossilisation stage and use green leaves. No maple leaves were harmed during this experiment.

My friend Alexandre came to visit me from Ottawa. Here we're riding the big green car in the store. The salad section is my favourite.

My first photograph

Time: 4:15pm

Place: Supermarket parking lot

Exposure: something

Shutter: it made a click and a whir

Lens: whatever is in Dad's cell phone

Angle: from my car seat towards the back of the car

Filter: 0.8 Saliva on the lens, phone, buttons

Feeding time at the zoo

The blueberries are good but there are some leftovers from breakfast that I'd like to finish first

One giant step for Max...

Whenever I'm in Silicon Valley I like to enjoy the silicon. At Half Moon Bay the silicon was a little muddy at this time of year.

My retinue and I went for a pancake breakfast in Vasona park.

After the pancakes we rode the 102 year old steam train (a 1/3 scale prairie type locomotive).

What I did for my summer.

I went to Grandma and Grandpa Schu's house to look after them, chase them, teach them how to climb stairs, eat food with my hands (most of it). They warned me about the jet lag from the 3 hour time change but it hasn't affected me at all. I still wake up at the same time, it's just that the clock is wrong. It's very quiet in San Jose at 4am.

I get to play with Grandma & Grandpa's toys. They're far more interesting than what I have at home.

Break the camera, Part 2.




If you can view this video then it means the operation was a success and they have removed the camera from my stomach.

Break the camera, Part 1.

Being a real Georgia boy I went to Stone Mountain. I saw the circus and the other sights. My 7pm bedtime [theoretically 7pm - ed] precluded the 9.30pm laser show and fireworks so I will have to wait until I'm a bit older.

I did get to ride the train around the mountain.

I took my retinue to a mall with a "soft play" area

where I could bounce around. There's lots of toys to climb on, tunnels to crawl through and objects to pull up on.

The best part was the soft soft carpet. I found every pulled thread in the carpet and tried to pull it out.

Want to see some action?

I find my time on the swing is very relaxing and a great opportunity to clear my mind of all the clutter and toys I've played with that day and to contemplate the important things in life.

• What is the sound of one swing swinging?


• Is sweet potato and spinach better than banana and yoghurt?


• How should I get my haircut?


• Kitten or puppy?

No hands!

I can't walk, I can't talk, but I can type.

This is me in the feared #3 Cruisers car. I'm qualifying for the NASBOX race.

Things just got dangerous around here. I can crawl and go fast. Occasionally I go too fast and take a roll.

It's hard work and makes me even hungrier. You should see how much I can eat now. Eating off a spoon is great, TOTDFM^* has his uses now.

^*For those who came in late: The one that doesn't feed me

Want to know the secret to my skin that's as soft as a baby's? Spinach. That's right, spinach. It's going to be bigger than botox. Remember where you read it first

Warm Springs, GA

I went to Warm Springs GA and my retinue (TOTFM, TOTDFM plus Grandma & Grandpa Schu) followed. Outside the cabin I saw my first ducks and geese.


It was also time for my first hike (4.2 miles) [you? hiked? you were asleep for half of it and you can't walk yet anyway ed].

Just to prove I'm a real Australian, I ate some kangaroo.