The James Strahan
Frequently Asked Questions Page

• When was he born?
• Why is his surname Strahan and not Gilding?
• What about the rest of his name?
• Are the parents getting enough sleep?
• What is he eating?
• What is he up to?
• What is he going to be when he grows up?

When was he born?

On November 7th 1997.

Why is his surname Strahan and not Gilding?

Fiona and Jack decided they did not like double-barrelled surnames so James Strahan-Gilding or James Gilding-Strahan was not an option. There were already two Gildings in the next generation (Callan and Asher) and another on the way, but only one Strahan (Tara) so we decided to go for Strahan.

What about the rest of his name?

James is the name his birth mother gave him. Jasper is the name of Jack's paternal grandfather, and is also a name that Fiona has always liked. We think it's quite neat that he has one name from his birth mother, one from Fiona's family and one from Jack's family.

Are the parents getting enough sleep?

This is a touchy subject especially when it is other parents who are asking. The answer is yes, plenty thanks. James generally goes to bed at between 6:30 and 7:30pm, has a bottle in his sleep about 10pm and sleeps through until about 7am. This does seem a bit unfair but we have no doubt that our turn for sleepless nights will come soon enough.

What is he eating?

James mainly lives on infant formula and rice cereal, but he is happy trying various other foods. He has so far had a week each of apple, pumpkin, and banana mixed with his cereal. He definitely did not have any chocolate over Easter and we are hoping to avoid this for as long as possible. The way he watches adults eating suggest that he is realising there is quite a lot more to food that he has so far experienced. He has eaten broccoli, sweet potato, carrot AND today had some of his grandfather, Ron's pea soup, which he clearly thought was good, and it was the same as everyone else and we were all eating it together.

What is he up to?

James leads a busy life which includes going to the Mothers' Group facilitated by the local Infant and Maternal Nurse, going to lunch with the Mothers' Group in local cafes, hanging out with his mom and friends in the cafes, sitting in his pram watching his mum work in the garden going for walks in his pram, watching the chooks, watching out for the dog as she goes by, lying under trees laughing and watching the light on the leaves, laughing and practicing his rolling over onto his tummy and grizzling when he's had enough and hasn't yet worked out how to roll back and hoping his parents will rescue him, sitting up in his new high chair, helping feed himself and having no qualms about the mess, taking his bottle out of his mouth and putting it back via his nose and ear, and looking very chuffed when he gets it right.

There is some debate as to whether he is right or left handed as he picks up the spoon and and toys with his left hand more often than is right, if he is lefthanded then he'll be like his dad, and his maternal great- grandfather!!

James can sit with very little support and now knows sitting is much better than lying down, the world and relationships are much more exciting when sitting.

The stream of visitors has slowed down somewhat, although there are still some champing at the bit for their first visit, whilst others are lining up for their third.  He is not flustered and is particularly interested in children .... he knows they are different ... and intriguing.

He is vocalising a lot and will try to talk to Ian Henderson our local ABC newsreader. He laughs loudly now and has quite a belly laugh and his pitch is chuckling, squealing and screeeeching is high and volume is loud. He usually wakes up  and begins to grunt, then gurgle to himself, then giggle, then laugh and then begin to SQUEAL...

Events on his social calender including Sydney in May to visit his grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends of his mum and his new cousin Jasper. In July he will be going to Brisbane to see his maternal uncle and aunt, and dropping in on Sydney on his way back.  His mum is thinking of having a T-shirt made:

The New Generation Tour '98
James Jasper Strahan

Sydney - 8-18th May
Brisbane and Sydney - July
San Fransisco?

What is he going to be when he grows up?

This is not so much a question people ask, as one to which they offer unsolicited answers.  Suggestions include:

• a dancer in Graeme Murphy's dance company - you should see his feet
• a conductor of some wizbang 21st century orchestra - you should see the precision in his hand movements
• a rugby player - his strength and his feet (again)
• a reincarnation of Buddha - you should see his smile and his tummy.

Given the range, we suspect these suggestions are more about their own interests than James's. We are not in a hurry to answer this one.