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.

Our almost 4 year old

Darian is almost 4, how did that happen? Not only is he growing in leaps and bounds but he is the best big brother in the world. He loves his little brother so much and I am so impressed by their relationship.

So, what is he into at the moment. All things Kelly Tarlton's, we've been there too many times to count in the last few weeks and we have promised to go a lot more times in the weeks to come. He is also very into trains and airplanes and helicopters. We've tried appeasing the train obsession by taking him to MOTAT but he was more interested in the airplanes and very dissatisfied with the fact that he couldn't get onto the airplanes. Our next stop is to try to get him to an air show so I have to keep on the look out for that. We also have promised to take him to the Glenbrook Vintage Train Day Out with Thomas event so we have to keep to that. At our Seeport event he got really up close to a helicopter but because it was so loud he retreated a bit and was happy to steer clear. He hasn't quite been bitten by the boats bug yet and thankfully with my contacts at the Port I'm sure when he is of age we could get him on board one of the tugs.

He love riding his bike and is a pro at it. We have yet to take the training wheels off yet as we need to train him a bit more, I think I'm just a tad over protective so maybe we'll do that when mummy is ready! 

He repeats almost everything he hears and of course has mastered the Kelly Tarlton's you tube video almost verbatim. Which is the CUTEST thing I've ever heard. 

Since he turned 3 he has only been attending day care 3 days a week, and with my mum still here with us she takes care of both him & Cade on the days he isn't at day care. He loves his teachers and the centre Manager, Robyn, is his fave at the moment. Rianna is still his closest friend however I have noticed that they tend to play with others now, more and more. Last week Darian spent most of his days at school with Mackenzie, but Rianna was on holiday so we'll see what happens there. On the days that Cade is at day care with him he tends to spend more time in the babies room taking care of his brother than he does with his friends. 

He still loves reading books and at the moment his favourite is "We're going on a croc hunt". He loves listening to the CD over and over and over again. We had to buy him the book and CD for Christmas last year as well as we couldn't always guarantee we could get it from the library. He also loves visiting the library and can spend hours just looking through the shelves of books and playing with the toys they have on display. 

After the issues we had in the past with his breathing, we have finally made some headway and thank the Lord have no more issues. A few months ago we were referred to an ENT specialist, Dr Robert Gunn. He wasn't keen to perform the Tonsillectomy as our GP preferred and put us on a nasal spray for a few weeks to see how it changed. Well, after a few days we saw a major difference with him. He started sleeping through the night and the sleep apnoea just went away. So Dr Gunn told us to just keep using the spray, he says even his own son uses this daily and it helps so much. With the significant changes we've seen we will continue to do so and are so grateful our boy didn't have to go under the knife again. After two adenoidectomies I wasn't happy to let him go for another operation so I'm glad it didn't happen. 

We haven't successfully potty trained him yet but we're getting there. I don't want to push him as I've seen this backfire with some kids so to maintain a healthy relationship with the potty we'll wait til his ready. 

The eating is still not the best. He still loves his weet-bix or "breakfix" but will not eat much throughout the day. He prefers sandwiches, marmite or peanut butter and still loves his fruit and yoghurt. He also is just like his dad and loves to drink water and is really into his Nesquik and Calci-yum. We keep trying to offer him new food but he refuses. We'll get there.

He still loves his music, Of Monsters and Men is still his favourite. Even though he has gone through phases of loving Bruno Mars and Pharrell he still keeps coming back to Of Monsters and Men. He loves music, his drums are always out and even plays with his brothers little trumpet toy as well. He sings all day long and (just like his mama) memorises jingles really quickly. 

He is currently enrolled at Twinkle Toes and Playball at school and on weekends we take him to swimming lessons, this semester he is enrolled at WestWave swim school. Twinkle toes is a dance class that incorporates movement and music. He loves it. We didn't sign him up at first but after a few classes Robyn rung us at school to tell us that he is so keen and they just can't keep him away when the class is going on, so we signed a deal with the dance teacher and got him in halfway through the semester. At Playball they learn co-ordination and teamwork through playing different sport oriented games. He absolutely loves Playball and Twinkle toes and can't wait to get to school on the days they're on. 

He loves helping mum out in the kitchen and wants to always be involved in anything I've got going on. I have to give him little jobs when I'm busy so he doesn't get under my feet too much. He especially loves it when I use the planetary mixer and wants to help add all the ingredients into it. And he is finally over his fear of the food processor. I don't know why but he would get so scared of the food processor, so much so that he would not come out of his room til it was literally packed away. He is over it now though and is quite proud of the fact that he is scared anymore and will proudly announce "I not scared of the food processor mummy". Too cute! 

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!

The year that was 2015

It's that time again. Time for reflection, time to make a change! Out with the old and in with the new. 

2015 was an extraordinary year. In it was the birth of our second child, Cade Israel which was clearly the highlight of our year. I've spent the last 6 months on maternity leave which has allowed me to spend that extra time being with Cade full time and spending more time with Darian as he only goes to daycare 3 days a week now. I've watched my boys grow and become more and more in love with each other, and that has been the greatest blessing in my life this year. 

We've also been blessed to purchase a second house. A daunting task yet an exciting one as well. Construction on our new home starts in early 2016. So something for us to look forward to in the new year. Last year we found out we were pregnant with Cade and so 2015 started off with a lot of excitement and preparation. 2016 has a new home on the horizon and who knows what else lies in store for us. 

I don't know what the year will bring but I'm excited to watch my boys grow and know that whatever comes our way this year it's going to be a year full of milestones and God's abundance and I couldn't ask for anything more!

Welcome 2016, I look forward to getting to know you better!

Cade's 5 month check up

I cannot believe our little Cade is 5 months old already. I'm so enjoying this age. He is starting to move around now and has started to crawl, backwards mostly but moving nonetheless. He is turning over and loves seeing his brother and dad. He will get on all fours and rock back and forth until he can lunge himself forward.

He had a viral infection last week with a red rash all over his body and his eyes. We couldn't necessarily figure out what caused it but our doctor has given us an all clear that it's not anything serious. When he had cradle cap earlier on, Marcus had prescribed a Urea cream that still seems to work on his skin, although he hasn't completely gotten rid of his sensitive skin, we are finally starting to enjoy the baby soft skin he should have.

He is also eating solids now, has been for a few weeks. Loves veggies and fruits and of course has his rice cereal in the mornings. I've also started introducing formula in preparation for my return to full time work. He is doing well and hasn't had any issues on the formula. He will have mainly just one formula feed during the day and at time where I have to be away for an extended period such as grocery shopping or if I'm busy with Darian we will give him another formula feed. He has taken to the bottle really well and is trying to hold it himself, albeit unsuccessfully!

He is still sleeping in his own cot in our room, will continue to do so until he is at least 12 months old. 

He can clearly make known what he wants and has discovered his voice, especially when he wants to be picked up. He will push himself off you and almost catapult himself in the direction of the person he wants. Definitely a strong willed boy who knows what & who, he wants.

Still in love with his big brother, now that he is moving he finds it easier to get to where Darian is and will sit back and laugh and chuckle at Darian's shenanigans.

Weight: 7.60kg's
Length: 65cm