Darian's 4 year old check up

I don't know how the time has flown so fast but here we are, with a 4 year old little boy. He is doing so well and from today's B4 School Check, it's proven that my baby is gone and has been replaced by this amazing, wonderful and clever little boy.

So here in NZ kids start school when they are 5, most on the day they turn 5, although that decision is up to the parent. You have the whole year that they are 5 to decide when they start. Anyway, when they turn 4 they go for their final health check with Plunket (the national child care provider) as well as their final immunisations. We had his immunisations done a few weeks ago while we were on leave and with Cade being sick with hand, foot & mouth disease and also having a little cold while we were on leave, I've had to reschedule the B4 School check at least 3 times. But today we finally had it and I'm happy to say he passed with flying colours. So the nurse got him to recite the alphabet (he even knows the vowels - "a, e, i, o, u" he keeps repeating), he knows all the colours and he knows his shapes too. She was quite clever in that she got him to colour in a picture and while he did he started saying the colours out loud and of course, they were all his favourite. Then she got him to throw and catch a ball to test his reflexes and motor skills and then got him to build with some blocks, which of course he loved. The nurse gave me so many pamphlets to read up on, including healthy eating, parenting styles, etc. But I know I just have to trust my instincts with him. He's doing so well and is growing up so well. I trust God has him in the palm of his hands and that Darian is just going to go from success to success.

He is 17.7kg's and 106cm and is within the 50th percentile for both weight & height. Still a picky eater and will only eat the usual, weetbix, toast, peanut butter sandwiches, jam sandwiches, yoghurt or custard and of course his mummy's pancakes. He loves fruit though, apples, bananas, oranges and I hear at school he eats pears too. And loves milk, water and juice. And of course, he loves cupcakes and chocolate cakes with sprinkles! We do try to get him to try something new but he's a stubborn little fellow. He doesn't like fries anymore unless of course we go to a restaurant.
He has the best imagination and spends hours playing with his toys and creating these stories. I love listening to the stories he makes up with his trains and dinosaurs and animals! He still loves sea creatures and we still spend every weekend going to Kelly Tarltons. He got his dad to buy him a stuffed shark and of course I introduced him to "Bruce" from Finding Nemo so he replays the scene when Marlin & Dory meets Bruce and now knows the whole scene, verbatim! We laugh hysterically as we listen to him playing with all his little sharks and "Bruce" - "fish are friends not food" he screams, or "Anchor, Chum" or "pshht, he's really, pshht, a nice guy, pshht". So funny! Love my boy!
He still loves music and walks around the house with drumsticks, air drumming and pretending he's in a marching band. And even has his brother following him around and around the table, so they really look like they in a marching band. Only thing is Cade's just started walking so Darian goes way too fast for him!
He is learning Te Reo, Maori too. They have Te Reo books at school and he is constantly singing "Mahi Tahi Tamariki-ma" - don't ask me what that means but I know it's a good thing! LOL!
He loves playing with daddy and every day waits for daddy to come home from work and cries constantly, daddy play with me!!
I love the relationship he & his brother have and am beginning to see how close they'll be. Although, now that CAde is walking and into everything, we constantly hear "Mummy come take Cade" when Cade is in his room, playing with his toys. Or "No Cade" or "Stop it Cade". It's tiring, but it's so awesome.

So we've started makig enquiries at Huapai District School which will be the school we will be zoned for when we move to the new house and so we will start taking him for school visits from February next year. That scares me, my baby will be starting school soon. Where has the time gone?!

Darian's annual dental Appointment

Today we visited the mobile dental clinic at Rutherford Primary school for Darian's annual dental check up. As he is a low risk and has such a good set of teeth we don't need to see them any more than annually. Anyway, the dental therapist was extremely happy with Darian's teeth and he was just amazing, sitting still, listening and ever so excited to have his mouth inspected. He got 2 stickers and a spider necklace which he was very proud to take to daycare and show off to all his friends.

While we were there, the dental therapist looked at Cade's teeth too and was very happy with him as well as the fact that we've introduced the toothbrush to him. Even though he isn't meant to see the dental therapist til at least 15 months, as we were there, he got in on the action too. He was a bit worried but soon relaxed and let he check his mouth.

Sadly there aren't any pics of Cade cos he was on my lap but we'll do it next time!

They are both such healthy, happy boys! I'm so pleased and beyond blessed.

Summer 2016

Well it sure has been a scorching hot summer in Auckland and I wish I could say we're enjoying every moment, but Lord knows I am not used to this heat anymore. It is very reminiscent of Durban weather so much so my dear mother seems to not be coping with the heat, much to my amazement as it wasn't that long when she experienced Durban in it's full summer glory, whereas we haven't experienced one since 2010. With temperatures easily going into the 30's (Celsius) and humidity in the high 60's (%) it is really sweltering in Auckland, in fact even the south island, known for it's cool weather is reaching record highs. We shouldn't complain though because once it's over we'll have 9 months of cool, rainy weather! So let's enjoy it!

Since I've been so bad at keeping the blog updated I thought I would just do one post that includes all the stuff we've been getting up to the last few months. (Not like it's the first time I've done this but I really can't find the time to update this blog so I apologise to any and all followers.)

We've spent our summer days at the beach and when Cameron was on his Christmas leave (and I was still on maternity leave) we tried very hard to do as much as we could with the kids. Lots of days exploring the city and doing fun stuff with Darian, as much as we can! He is absolutely obsessed with Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium at the moment so we had to get an annual pass so that we could take him as often as he wants. It works out as well, in that we get out of the sweltering heat and into some decent air conditioning. Although not very good for my claustrophobia but I've survived so far.

Here are just a few pics of what we've gotten up to in Auckland this summer:

At MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology). It was a special trip, just with Darian. He absolutely loves any vehicle, especially Trains and Airplanes so this was right up his alley. We had to do the Aviation Display Hall twice because he just couldn't get enough. But was very dissapointed that he couldn't get onto the airplanes. Cade stayed home with Granny on this occasion!

On the Tram - MOTAT is 40acres big so to go from the Aviation Hall to the other exhibitions you can take a Tram (or walk) and as Darian is slightly obsessed with Trains, we had to go on the tram (and it was the only reason he would leave the Aviation Hall).

At the Aviation Display Hall 

This Seaplane was a favourite for me. Working at the Ports of Auckland, the building our offices are located in, is the original Engineering Building where these awesome planes were engineered and maintained. These seaplanes would fly into Auckland Harbour and the "bay" in which they flew into (which is currently the body of water which is now at the Fergusson Terminal end of the Port) is aptly named, Mechanics Bay.  

Our little Captain, saluting

At the Sounds Amazing - Discover the Science of Sound Exhibition

He loved the walking piano

Special shout out to Nana - "All Aboard Nana"

At the Science on the Move exhibition

Enjoying the steam train - one of his favourite things is trains 

The Transport Exhibition was more interesting for mum & dad, Darian couldn't quite understand why he couldn't get into all the cars and trucks 

At the MOTAT Playground 

The Tram - Darian was super excited to be aboard this beauty. It's hard to believe that Auckland was once a city filled with working tram. The trams used at MOTAT are old, working Auckland trams that have been refurbished. 

Kelly Tarltons Sea Life Aquarium is Darian's new favourite place to go. For the last few weeks it is all he talks about and the only place he wants to go. He just can't seem to get enough. Here are just a few pics from our family trip there.

Isn't that just the cutest face!!!

Seeport 2016 - At the Ports Of Auckland Annual Open weekend. Had a blast on all the carnival rides. What was meant to be a fun evening out ended early as the rain started and we thought it best to get out before the kids got sick. Although the rain came and went and it was supposedly a great evening with Music from the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and Fireworks off the wharf. Oh well, there's always next year!

Our Mid year Aussie Holiday

What a wonderful, relaxing week we've had.

Friday I had to take the boys back to the doctors to ensure they were all ok and healthy enough to fly. And they were. Marcus gave me a script for Cade for Amoxicillin, just in case he's temp surges and it's not just bronchialitis but we didn't need it. He and Darian didn't get any worse while over there, which was good. Friday morning however I took Darian to daycare so he didn't miss out on his Playball game. He won the player of the day medal but couldn't keep it as we were going to be away for the next game and wouldn't be able to return the medal. He was so chuffed with himself, and mummy was super proud too as he was the only one in his age group that was able to catch the ball. 

On the flight there they were both really good. Darian was super excited to be on an airplane again and sat quietly watching he's shows. Cade didn't flinch or cry the whole flight. We arrived quite late and I was worried Cade would never make the 2 hour drive to Newcastle but both he and Darian slept the whole way there. We arrived at Brads and Shams place just before midnight, Shaien, a friend of Brads was there as well so they all got to meet Cade. Darian just went straight to bed, which was good and Cade was wide awake and loving all he attention. We sat talking for a few hours then headed to bed. The next day was Xavier's party so it was a busy day. Cade, however was very crabby and moody. I think it was a mixture of jet lag and being sick do I spent most of the party in the room, trying to get him to settle. Darian was just loving the party atmosphere and had company with little Jessie, the son of Phil and Kim, friends of Brads and Sham. So he hardly noticed that mummy was MIA for most of the day. 

It was a lovely afternoon though and a very sweet party. 

Darian and Jesse were best friends

We spent the rest of the holiday just relaxing. Lazy days and eating all kinds of tummy food, just what holidays are all about.

We got home on Saturday afternoon after THE worst flight ever! Darian threw a massive tantrum when we got on the plane because he wanted the tv, and as we were in the front seats for the bassinet for Cade, the TV would come up from under the seat. But during taxi & take off we had to put it away, so he screamed and cried while Cade slept through it all. Then on landing, we had the same issue but it got worse when he realised we were leaving the airplane. It was very hard trying to carry Cade while Cameron tried to carry the bags and keep Darian in check. And then it got worse as we got to passport control because Cade woke up, hungry! I couldn't leave the line and it was the busiest I've ever seen it that day with 2 immigration officers at the desks! Urgh! Go figure! So we had two kids screaming and crying! We were THOSE parents! WORST. EXPERIENCE. EVER!!! By the time we got to baggage claim we just couldn't deal, and one of the customs officers allowed us to bypass the line, because of our screaming children and go through X-ray through a special line.

My mum picked us up at the airport and I couldn't get to the car quicker just to feed Cade. I've never been so agitated in my life and felt really guilty for taking it out on my boy who was just over tired and too excitable! He love airplanes and didn't want to go but because mummy and daddy were just as tired and lost our cool too many times. 

It wasn't a very pleasant trip home but it was a great time away. We are hoping that we can have a good Christmas and that the family comes over this year. Our first Christmas in NZ since Darian was born! 

Can't wait!