Chillin' out in the Naki

Sophie and I took a few days off work and kids-klub and headed on down to the Naki - it worked out well, Ingrid got a couple of overdue days of R&R and we got hang with the Nana in New Plymouth.

I was a little bit apprehensive about driving with Sophie for 4 hours, but it worked out really well: I left home around 7pm her normal bedtime - and she crashed out after 40 minutes in the car and then woke up about 40 minutes from Nana's place. I did get the fright of my life on the way down though...It was dark, hosing down with rain, we were in the middle of nowhere, I had the radio turned off so I wouldn't wake Sophie and as I was winding my way through the Awakino Gorge deep in thought...and then from out of nowhere a voice boomed out "Daddy go fast!" - talk about giving me the shits!...I thought she was fast asleep in the back!

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Sophie enjoying the fast slide...

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...enjoying it over and over and over again
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A quick spin on the tyre ride...
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We don't have parks like this back home...check out the view!
- Family snap with Aunty Shell and Nana...
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Daddy trying to be arty again with the camera

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Sitting with Nana wearing my new princess crown - thanks Grantz!

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Exploring at the beach with daddy

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It's been a very relaxing trip and Sophie has been a little angel. We're gonna head back tomorrow around noon...fingers crossed Sophie sleeps for a long time during the daytime.

Sophie (and Daddy) will miss Nana heaps, but Sophie (and Daddy) are looking forward very much to seeing mummy again too.

Brad

Painful weekend...

"Check out my chinny chin chin"

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Sophie has been in the wars all weekend - the poor little thing tripped on the step outside and started a a chain effect...she smacked her chin - then bit her tongue and moments later twisted her ankle trying to run after the ball - then to top it off - she was given an enema from a nurse this morning as she hasn't been to the toilet for days...an eventful weekend!

Cuddles

Sophie has been little Miss Cuddly all week, I'm not sure what's come over her, but for the past 5 days or so she's been literally jumping up into our arms and then wrapping her arms around us and giving Ingrid and I some gigantic cuddles!...it's been very cool.

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"How you doin!"

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We've had my family up last weekend - It was Aunty Nicky’s birthday so Nana, Aunty Rochelle and Darren all came up for weekend. It was great to see everybody and Sophie was extremely excited having the extra attention all weekend long. Mum ended up staying and then babysitting Sophie on Monday though, because she developed another batch of hideous nappy rash and couldn't go to Kids Klub. We’ve taken Sophie back to the Doc’s (again) as her bum rash flares up something chronic still and she still isn’t coping with ‘number 2’. We suspect it may be allergic to something so we're cutting out various things from her diet to see if it makes any difference -the docs have all scoffed at the idea she may have an allergy to something and have prescribed more medicine for her...guess it's a waiting game for a couple more weeks.

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Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth...yeah right!

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"Fun-times with my Aunty's!"
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Feeding the ducks...then ripping out half their feathers!
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Ingrid is feeling a lot better now too - the first three months of pregnancy have been pretty rough for her - but she seems to be feeling heaps better now...she's just missing her wines!

The due date for baby number 2 is 23 Feb - we're all very excited obvioulsy and Sophie keeps on touching Ingrid's tummy saying 'baby in dere...baby in dere!'. I think this time around too, we may even find out what flavour it is...

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Feeding the ducks and a couple of greedy little eels showed up!

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Brad

Number 2

We're happy to announce Sophie will have a little brother or sister in February next year!

Puddles

The sun has been shining in Auckland today (which makes a change) so after our weekend ritual of walking down to the local cafe for a fluffy, we headed off to feed the ducks.

Sophie thought it would be hilarious to stomp in all the puddles and swampy grass while we were there...and by the time we got her back to the car, the bottom half of her was absolutely drenched!....never mind though, it was a nice way to spend a sunny Saturday morning.

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We've been in our new place for around eight weeks now, and we still haven't got around to unpacking and finishing off the spare room or the guest-house out the back...yip, we're slackers... but Sophie seems to be settling in well and enjoying her new home, although, she does refer to this place as 'the house' and every time we drive past our old house, she drops her bottom lip and yells out "Home...home..."

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We've been seriously thinking of moving Sophie into another daycare that's closer to where we live, which will mean Sophie will get to grow up with kids that she'll be going to Kindy and school with. The other reason is, we've both started to feel that her current Daycare isn't as great as we once thought (not to mention they're putting the price up in a couple of months + they don't subside the 20 free hours like other day cares!), but more importantly, Sophie doesn't seem to be enjoying the place like she used to for some reason. Ingrid has already enrolled Sophie into a couple of cool Daycares nearby, but they both have massive waiting lists (between 6-18 months we were told), but to our surprise, one of them phoned as back last week and told us there's an unexpected opening early October....so watch this space...

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Yay...Puddles!

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Happy to be playing outside in the sunshine...even if I have drenched my feet in mud!

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Wicked...more puddles...and more mud!
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Sophie and Mummy posing for a scenic shot...nice one Daddy!
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"Lots of ducks"
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Yay...the aeroplane game...Sophie can't get enough of this!
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What do you mean Daddy's shoes are too big for me?
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My new 'lellow; ball
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Brad

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

We've had a pretty full on couple of weeks. Without going into graphic detail, Sophie has been having some major problems with doing her number two's. A few weeks ago, she had saved up for a couple of days and then let it rip...literally (ouch)...and unfortunately from that point on, she has been too afraid to go...thus, resulting in some major problems. Ingrid has taken her to the docs a couple of times, as Sophie's been keeping everything in along with crying about stomach pain. She's also developed what only could be described as third degree burns on her backside from the releasing of constant little 'sharts' every five minutes. Needless to say, nappy changing became a horrific experience as Sophie became hysterical with the pain it caused and bath times were just as bad.

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So after a few days off from Kids Klub and lots of TLC from Mummy and Daddy, the burning effect has mostly cleared up and her stomach aches have gone, although now comes the hard part if trying to explain to a two-year old that it’s "OK to do big poos"...so a fun couple of weeks ahead for sure!

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On the flip side...Sophie is singing her heart out more and more and absolutely loving her nursery rhymes..."Old MacDonald" and "The Wheels On The Bus" have been huge hits in the King household recently!

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Entertaining the crowds at the Mall..she looked like a busker dancing around and around while singing at the top of her voice!

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"Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O"

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"The Driver on the bus goes Beep, Beep Beep..."

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Dancing at the Mall

Brad

"Mummy broke it"

Na it's ok...I'm old enough now to read my own stories...

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"This is only the 654th time I've read 'The Hi'5' book.'..but guess what? - It still rocks!!!!"
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To cut a long story short...Mummy snapped this RENTED Hi-5 DVD while trying to get it out of the case....needless to say - there wasn't much 'celebrating' going on like the DVD suggested!
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I know...I really should be using a spoon...come on Mummy and Daddy, teach me some manners...please!
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What's the best thing about winter?...being wrapped up nice and warm, while sitting next to the heater with a nice...arhh...frozen...ICE-BLOCK!

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Mummy and Daddy trying to look cool..Yeah whatever...this blog is supposed to be about me!

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Sophiexx

Quickie

"My future's so bright...I gotta wear shades..."

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"C'mon lets dance!"

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Sophie enjoying the groovy new bath

- Who would have thought that Ice-cubes would keep her occupied for ages

- "Yeah baby!"

Brad

Yay - The new house!

We finally moved into our new house last Friday - Yay!!!! A BIG thanks to Nana for taking care of little Sophie for 5 big days in the Naki while we moved too...Sophie had a great time there and from what mum says - she was the perfect angel from start to finish.

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The New House

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The Lounge

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Dining and Kitchen

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Our first dinner together in the new place
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Sophie's room upstairs
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Ingrid cooking her man some bloody eggs in the Kitchen
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Sophie checking out the "ManCave" outside.

Lots more to tell you about the new house and the big move - but back to work tomorrow so I'll update late in the week with a full story.

Brad

Only 5 more sleeps 2 go

Hard to believe that we are finally moving in five days. We've spent the past few days packing and getting ready for the big move. Sophie is aware that something is happening (hard not to know I suppose when half her toys and things are in boxes!) and we're showing her pictures of the new house quite a bit too...I'm sure she'll love the new place.

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We took Sophie back to Chipmunks today since she loved it so much last time...

-"You beauty!"

- "This bouncy castle thing Rocks!"

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"Ooh...I like the horse ride too"
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"Bugger that other kid - watch ME go down the slide!"
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"I'll just make sure everyone else can see me in here...yip, they're looking at me!"
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"This is the best part of the day- I made Daddy carry me up 15 times - he even took a video of me sliding down too"
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"More sliding and more VIDEO'S"

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"A quick wave to the camera and then - See ya - I'm outta here!"

Brad

Fun at Chipmunks Playcentre

Yesterday's weather was grotty - so we took Sophie along to a new indoor centre that opened recently in Albany called Chipmunks Sophie had a huge time (unfortunately we didn't get many photo's because the bloody camera died 5 minutes after arriving!)

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This beats sitting inside on a wet day

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"mmm - I'm not quite sure about the boy behind me...I'll pretend not too notice and he might go away"

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Next Friday we finally move into our new house. We've started packing (a little) but I imagine this weekend will be pretty busy It's sounds cliche', but you don't realise how much junk and crap you accumulate over a few years - so we're off to the dump too to get rid of a lot of stuff this weekend.

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I'm going to drop Sophie off at Nana's in New Plymouth next Wednesday and come back and pick her up on the Monday, both Ingrid and I figured, it will make life 10 times easier moving without a 2 year old running around and getting all excited all weekend (+ she'll get to hang out with Nana and Auntie Nicky all weekend which ain't a bad thing either)

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Brad

Tiger Time

Tigertime at Kids Klub today

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Ingrid and I had been a little concerned with Sophie at Kids Klub recently. She didn't really seem to accept the 'over 2's' section to begin with, but now we're happy to report that Sophie is back to her normal happy, 'loud' and cheerful self! - She no longer cries when she goes to KK, and the past couple of days, Ingrid has had to hang around for a good 40 minutes or so when she picks her up, as Sophie has been completely engrossed in some sort of activity or playtime - and she seems to be loving it all over again.

Goodtimes.

Nana posts the blog

I have just had another wonderful couple of days with my Auckland family and was asked to babysit my lovely granddaughter (as if I needed asking) while Sophie's Mum & Dad went shopping.

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Story-time with Sophie

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I don't know who entertained who, I know I had a lot of laughs and lots of cuddles and played with lots of toys, read stories, sang songs, drew pictures, watched her dance while squealing with joy, all made for a wonderful time. I thought I would be entertaining Sophie, but I think it was Sophie that entertained me!. Grandchildren are a great excuse to revert back to one's child hood aren't they? I know that one of life's precious moments is that when your grandchild comes running up to you to give you a big cuddle, especially when she is a little upset, sounds soppy, I know, but it sure does tug at your heart strings.

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Going to the park watching Sophie climbing a tree, kicking a ball, waiting patiently for a turn on the slide and running like the wind makes this Nana so proud and happy to be part of her life. She is talking really well now, almost saying sentences. I can almost understand everything she says. She is a such a little darling and it is really hard leaving, but I am really looking forward to seeing her again in a couple of weeks.

Love you Sophie
Lots of hugs and kisses
Nana

Cuddle time with Nana