Christmas in the Naki

Ingrid at one of the wild west coast beach's in Taranaki

-

Sophie had an absolute blast in Taranaki for Christmas. Everything worked out pretty well, mum and I drove down to New Plymouth last Sunday morning around 10, while Ingrid and Sophie took a short cut and flew down that afternoon...it meant we had a vehicle while we were down there (which we needed, given the amount of family we had to spread ourselves around to see!)

Sophie at Brooklands Zoo...do you think she looks happy to be there?

-

Story-time with Aunty Nicky

-

It rained on Christmas Day (again), but every other day was a stunner which meant Sophie got play at Brooklands Zoo and play outside at Nana’s with all her new cool toys…including: a covered paddling pool, baby pram, a new bike and loads of other cool stuff. One of the funniest things that happened, was when Sophiewas playing in the pool…She went stark raving loopy for about five minutes! – she kept walking around stomping and splashing around - with both hands clasped behind her back shouting “ARH-JA-BAY”! over and over and over…what she was trying to say?...I have no idea, but man it was funny! (Click here to view video)

-

Sophie in stitches with her new 'popping ball' toy

-
What am I supposed to do with this?
-
More presents...this time at Grantz's place
-
Off to Poppa's and Nana Carol's place for some more toys...
-
"Bye Aunty Shell...bye!..."
- Her new trick...arms behind her back watching TV... -
"Check out my new bike...Thanks Grandad Phil!"
-
"Just chilling in my new chair...checking out Bob the dog and...arh...someone else sitting at MY TABLE!"
-
"ARH-JA-BAY"...Nana and Aunty Nicky watching Sophie go loopy in her new pool
-
"Crikey...that's blimm'n freezing!"
-
Playing in the garden at Aunty 'Shell's' place
-

Watching all the sheep run by at Aunty Shell's house

-

We stayed in Taranaki for a week – I drove home late Saturday afternoon and Ingrid and Sophie took an early morning flight the following day. Since we've been back, I’ve gone through loads of photos with Sophie on the computer - and it’s very cool watching her face suddenly light up when she sees photo’s of Nana, Aunty Nicky, Poppa, Grants and Aunty “Shell” – I can tell she misses everybody lots…

-

The view from Nana's house...very cool

Brad

The beach...

Nana comes to stay

Well what an amazing three days I have had with my precious grand-daughter. I really feel like a proper Nana now as there has just been Sophie and I during these past few days and what a joy this has been. We have had so many conversations, some I have understood and some are still a mystery (probably just as mysterious to Sophie as well – wondering why Nana can’t understand what she is saying?)

-

Too wet to go to the park...so lets tip pegs out of the bucket...over and over again...

-

This has been such a special time for me, I have loved taking care of her and taking her to the mall and also to the park. Sophie was so excited when I told her that we were going to the park, but her excitement was short-lived, because as we were driving to our destination, the squeals of delight soon turned to squeals of disapproval. I couldn’t quite fathom the change in her mood, until I realised that we had gone completely passed the park! Yes, I know what you are thinking; even a 19 month old has a better sense of direction than me.
I finally found the park, which wasn’t that great really, as it was really windy and I also came to the realisation that Sophie was just like her father – a real dare devil. I was on tender- hooks the whole time. She has no fear. History was eerily repeating itself.

What do you mean I've got dirt on my face nana!

-

Chilling out in my new 'in-door slide'

-

Walking through the mall with Sophie holding my hand has been such a delight, as her obvious happiness with life has been evident, (she was the loudest person there), laughing, singing and chatting to all and sundry.
-
As well as shopping and going to the park, Sophie and I have played with toys, read endless stories, played in the mud, overturned the peg-bucket endless times, rumple-tumble on the bed, danced to Hi 5, eaten strawberries, sang songs together, had lots of giggles and cuddles and generally had a great time together. Only one little tantrum that only lasted a couple of minutes, that was easily forgiven, as she was really tired.

A memorable three days for this Nana.

-

Like father like daughter...Sophie at The Rock Party last weekend
-
"What do you mean I'm not allowed one?"

Nana xx

"Bye Daddy"

It took something as small as 'bye daddy' to make me realise, just how little time I've actually seen of Sophie lately. This time of year is pretty full on with work commitments, client functions social gatherings and Xmas parties. So it hit home pretty clearly the other night when I got up to go to the bathroom and Sophie looked at me and started waving saying 'bye daddy' over and over...as you could imagine, I felt like mud...and all I can say is bring on Xmas, and bring it on fast... Ingrid, Sophie and I will then get to spend 3 quality weeks hanging out and enjoy life together as a family...bring it on I say.

-

Sophie having fun at Kids Klub yesterday - It was parents night and the end of year bash!

-

Sophie and her love of tunnels - Kids Klub have a pretty cool playground

-
They even brought out a few animals for the kids to play with...rabbits, poneys, guinnea pigs and rats!
-

Last week at Lollypops playland...check out Sophie's reaction to another kid playing in her space...if klooks could kill!

-No fear...Sophie will climb anything!

-

Daddy and The Rock team at their Xmas party in Surfers last week

Brad

Grizzle Guts

Sophie's new name today was Grizzle Guts.

-

I hate it when it rains in the weekend and we can't take Sophie out to the park or the beach, she gets pretty restless at home, even through we both try and entertain her as much as possible. So on a day like today - we ended up going out to a few shopping malls and checking out our local pet store, (which incidentally doubles as a free indoor zoo for kids!)...plenty of dogs, birds and tropical fish to check out.

-

We ended up calling her Grizzle Gut's becasue these-days at the mall, she no longer wants to happily hold our hand and walk around in a timely fashion, nope - this one simply wants to run a million miles an hour and shout extremely loud at everybody (and I mean everybody) in the Mall!...we tried the push-chair, but to no avail...so after her little 'hissy-fit', we popped her in the car and took her back home....and yip....she made it quite obvious that she wasn't happy with us at all.

- A rare moment of joy at the shopping mall

-
But how can you get wound up...when she looks sooo cute...
-
Playing with the fish's at the free zoo
-

Brad

Nana's & Weekend Weddings

Ingrid and I had a wedding to go to on Saturday, so Nana kindly offered to come up and baby sit for the weekend. The two of them had a ball of a weekend - so a big thanks again Nana for travelling all the way up from New Plymouth for two days.

-

Sorry - it was the only shot we got of Nana and Sophie all weekend!..I need to show mum how to use the self timer on the camera next time!

-

Ingrid and I headed off to Waiheke Island around 1:30pm on Saturday and got home around midnight - Ingrid even managed the entire ferry crossing without freaking out...much. We had a great time at the wedding but the both of us suffered for it, big time on Sunday morning...I guess that's what happens when the wedding reception is held at a vineyard! Thankfully Nana got up for the early morning shift on Sunday so the two of us got to have a wee lie in...sweet.

-

Nana is coming up again in three weeks to look after Sophie for a few days, which has worked out brilliantly, as Sophie's' day care finishes around the 14th of Dec and Ingrid and I both have pretty crazy weeks leading into Xmas. You beauty and thanks again Nana!

-

Playtime at the park with Nana

-
Sunday Afternoon: - I brought an ice-cream - Sophie ended up demolishing it and getting most of it all over her shirt!
-
Nana and Sophie at the park - I must tell mum to stop setting the camera to 'ginga mode' - Sophie's hair is blonde...really!
-

Brad

Iceblocks and morning surprises.

It was my turn to get Sophie up this morning. Ingrid and I take normally take turns every weekend so bothget at least one sleep in a week. I woke up around 8am and thought to myself, "ok, this isn't bad, Sophie was up at 6:30 yesterday, I've certainly picked the right day this weekend" A few minutes later I heard her grizzle a wee bit, so I got up and opened her door....it was that moment when I wished I’d swapped days…Her room looked like a scene from ‘The Exorcist!’....there was VOMIT everywhere!! and the smell….lets just say I haven’t smelt anything that bad since my flatting days in New Plymouth...
-
Obviously I felt for the poor thing, and judging from her new crusty (yet extremely chunky hair-do,) I figured she must have been like that for a while. After a few minutes I faulted and called for back up...as her cot, her hair, the mattress and all her clothing had all been severely compromised....(I’m feeling ill simply writing this and reliving the moment again)

-

Thankfully, Sophie didn't really seem to mind that much, she certainly wasn't cranky or looking unwell at all. She had a great time in the bath shortly afterwards too. The game went something like this: I tried to scrub off all the foreign matter clinging to her entire body, while she picked up, and played with all the floating surprises lingering over the bath surface…mmmm yummy.
-
Anyhow, apart from her loss of appetite most of the day, Sophie has been in pretty good form. We took her out for coffee, the park and the mall (which is fast becoming the the norm most weekends…but Sophie seems to enjoy it) and then I decided to buy her a ice block, as most people say they're pretty good for upset tummies…no need to tell you if Sophie enjoyed it …the pictures below tell a thousand words...

-

"I say, what is this funny looking thing?"
-

"Lets give it a try...so far so good"
-

"What the!...nobody said anything about freezing my bloody teeth off!"

-

"Why the hell did you give that to me daddy!"
-

Brad

Top weekend

Last post I mentioned that half the kids came down with a pretty nasty virus at Kids Klub, we were touching wood, literally, hoping Sophie wouldn’t pick up yet another bloody bug - and thankfully the anti-bug-gods were looking down favorably on us, as Sophie has spent the last five days or so, in top form.

-

Hanging out at the first beach...2 hours of chasing the ball around and providing hours of entertainment for us!

-

It was a scorching weekend weather wise, so the three of us were out for the entire weekend making the most of it! We made a shit load of trips to her favorite park, played on the swings and slide, spent a load of time at different beaches around Auckland, had a nice vist from Auncle Steve and Aunty Maria...and we even managed a sneaky late afternoon beer at the local pub outside in the graden bar, Ingrid and I drank, while Sophie shared her rasins with the wildlife hiding in the grass.

-

The cool part these days is, you can now say to her, ‘come on Sophie, lets jump in the car and go to the park” – within seconds she is squealing with excitement and running around trying to find her shoes yelling out ‘car, car’ over and over!

-

Running a marathon down the beach

-

A quick stop to build some sandcastles and bury her rasins in the sand

-

A quick wave to the invisible people swimming in the ocean

-

Even smart enough to apply her own sun screen now...clever girl

-

Sophie's appetite has been nothing short of ferocious this weekend too…I’ve never seen a kid demolish plates of food in that short of time!...she’s obviously going through a major growth phase at the mo, as her energy levels have shot through the roof...she's eating like a horse, having great sleeps and talking like nobody’s business…yes indeed, it's a pretty cool time to be a parent.

-

Her favourite past time, climbing up the ladder, walking over a draw bride and then sliding down the twisting slide!

- "Yeah..this is slide is sweet"

Brad