Sunday Routine

PL (Pre-Luca) Sunday mornings were spent sleeping in and then going out to brunch around 9-10-11am. We'd usually read the papers for about 30-45 mins while James drank several cups of coffee. Then depending on our bank accounts, we might walk around the shops. Sometimes we'd go for a run together, sometimes we'd do housework and rennovation projects together. What a distant memory all of that is!

By 9am this morning, I had already been up for several hours, fed Luca milk and breakfast (while at the same time I ate my breakfast), started the laundry, walked to and from the veggie markets, and put in another load of laundry! The sunday routine is much different now. I try to make it to the markets - which is only a 15 min walk from my house. It's great - I get to stock up on fruits and veggies for the week, and it is so much cheaper than the grocery stores. On Sundays I prepare lots of Luca's food (thank goodness for food processors) and stuff as much as I can in the freezer to use later on in the week. I make about 75% of his food, but also like to give him the commercial baby food too - there's more variety.

The weather latley has been really really cold and wet. VERY DISGUSTING. Today it finally stopped raining and the howling wind died down just long enough for us to walk to the markets and also the Esplanade Park (about a 30 min walk from my house). I was blown away by how many families with young kids were at the playground at 10:30am. I guess little kids just don't ever sleep in, do they? Luca got his first taste of the swingset. We had so much fun - you should have heard him squeal and laugh. Can't wait till he's big enough to go on the seesaw with me!

James has now been away for 2 weeks and I've got 3 more to go. Luca's health is improving, but Mom's isn't. I now have whatever illness he had. Guess it's just part of the winter time cold virus that is going around.

I'm purchasing the airline tickets for our wedding today. One word...EXPENSIVE. I've done so much research on the internet, and also though agents, and there's no way of getting around how much it's going to cost us. Oh well. Best to pay for it now, and forget about it. I've also bee working on setting up the wedding website. It's looking good, but before I give out the web address I've got lots more work to do on it.

I've only got about 30 mins till Luca wakes up from his nap and I've got a mile-long list of things to accomplish - so I better get to it.

Coughing, and more coughing

This picture was taken when Caydn was visiting us from Australia - it cracks me up because it looks like Luca and Jaycob are in deep conversation with each other. Take a look at Luca's hand on Jaycob's shoulder!
James is away for 5 weeks on a course in Townsville, Australia. He's been away for 1 week now so there's only 4 to go. I have a whole new level of respect for single parents....it's so hard! Between working, taking care of Luca, and well...actually that's all I have time for. Did I mention that Luca was REALLY sick last week. He's had a cough now for about 6 weeks and it got so bad that I took him to the Dr - he was very wheezy in the chest, struggling to breath, and very very grumpy. It's so hard for Dr's to diagnose what is wrong with little babies, and I was afraid they were missing something....so after two visits to the Dr, and a trip to the ER - I was told I have to let him wait it out with panadol, an inhaler, and a humidifier for his room. A week later, he's still coughing and very wheezy....so I'm hoping he gets better. It was scary dealing with this all on my own. Thank goodness that James parents are in town as well :-)

This photo was taken at the airport when we said goodbye to Daddy.

Even though he's got a nasty cold he's still all smiles!

Our Engagement Party

On Saturday, we officially celebrated our engagement with our closest NZ family and friends. It was held at the NCO mess at James work - and it turned out to be a perfect evening. Everything from the waiters serving champagne, yummy hors d'oeuvres, slideshow, and shuttle service back into town went really well - and of course it was great catching up with everyone. We even had a few friends travel down from Auckland for the party. I guess it was a little mini pre wedding reception for those that won't be able to come to real thing in St. Louis.

A few pics from the evening...


I love James! Can't wait for May 22, 2009! (that's right....I did get my hair cut off!)

We woke up on Saturday morning to a major hail storm. It actually looked like snow. It was so beautiful and totally made me miss living in a place where it does snow. Saturday before the party we were busy running errands around town to get ready - the maddness of the crowded shopping centre combined with the cold weather made it feel like Christmas to me (North American Christmas, of course).

James nephew, Caydn, was visiting from Australia and was in town for the party.
Some of the girls...take note of the cheesy slideshow in the background. We featured photos of our family and friends (and us of course) to keep guests entertained throughout the evening.

Doesn't everyone look nice all dressed up? The dress code was Guys in Ties, Girls in Glitter.
James with his mother, Jo.

A display of Shelly and James' early years. Yes, Mom, Dad, Erin, and Grandma...you were all on it too!
Moi, James, and Nigel - don't they look good? I think the guys should wear their suits more often :-)
Michelle, Me, Toni, Jo, Karlyn, and Rebbecca - after a few too many champagnes

Angels

The past few weeks have been anything but easy. First Luca got conjunctavitis (eye duct infection), and then he came down with a nasty case of Croup (chest infection with a bad, bad cough). All the meds caused an inbalance in his body which led to a yeast infection in his mouth. It's been one thing after the other - I guess it's his little body building up his immune system while he's young! We have visited the pharmacy so many times behind our house, that they now know us by name.

Luca's never had a set sleep/eating schedule which has led to many wakeful nights. The sleepless nights intensified with him being sick, and for several days I was a walking zombie during the day. Then came Saturday...

Our friends recently lost their 1 month old baby girl, Madi, and the funeral was Saturday. I can't even imagine the pain that they are going through right now. I've never seen a coffin that small before...and I don't think I've ever cried as much at a funeral before. A death is never easy, but especially when it is a child, so young, with so many unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

It really put things into perspective for me. My crankiness and complaining of lack of sleep seemed incredibly petty after Saturday. We just never know how long these gifts have been given to us.




Luca's feeling much better now. His cough is minimized and he's only on the thrush medication now. We've also buckled down and started a sleep training program. It's based on the Ferber method, and after I read his book it made complete sense. At 6 months Luca is able to learn better sleep associations and is able to sleep through the night - once probably taught of course. Not only is Luca learning how to self settle himself at night, but he's also beginning to take regular naps. A huge achievement. I've been going it alone with Luca - James is away for 7 days. James is more of a softie than I am when it comes to Luca crying, so it's actually good that I'm starting the Ferber method while he's away.

6 months - 17.5 pounds, and yes everyday is a gift.

Your Favourite

It all gets better from here. We've just had the shortest day of the year, so it will slowly get lighter and lighter outside. Before you know it we'll be rolling out the BBQ's, swimming in the outdoor pools, and rejoicing in lower power bills.

One difference living in NZ is that they don't have as many pre-preparred food items (like instant jello cheesecakes, carrot cake mixes, angel food cake, refridgerated biscuits, cinnamon rolls, pizza doughs....basically all the things that make our life easier but our waists bigger!) When the evening gets dark, and the house gets cold I usually go to the kitchen to entertain myself by baking or cooking something. You have to bake most things from scratch over here. This week I'm making chicken n' dumplings....but have to actually make the dough for the dumplings myself....I know, I know.....I'm used to being spoiled. This is where I want to share something with you...

One of my all time fav websites.....(drum roll please)......

www.allrecipies.com

It seriously is the B-E-S-T. You can type in the ingrediants you have and it spits you out all kinds of recipies you can make. You can search by time it takes to prep, cooking method, highest rating, get metric conversions (for me in NZ), and learn all kinds of amazing new recipies already tested by hundreds of other people. It seriously is fantastic...I get most all my recipies from it. Go ahead, check it out. I know you want to.

Look at my assistant :-) I can't wait till he's a bit older and we can make cookies together, decorate easter eggs, bake bananna breads...no sexism here!

A few of Luca's friends from coffee group. In the red is Olivia (she's very advanced - already teething!) and the other boy is Zeke.

So what's your favourite website?....I'm curious, and I've just told you mine, so it's time to share!

What goes in must come out!

What's this stuff?!

Last week we started Luca on 'solids.' At 5 1/2 months was his first taste of real food. Here are the photos from his first few bites. Suprisingly he knew exactly what to do when the spoon came to his mouth. We're not sure if this is because of his careful observations from Mom and Dad eating, or just because he likes to put everything in his mouth. The opening of the mouth bit he got, but the swallowing of the food....well that took a few more days to get the hang of. He's loving the food, and seems to want more everytime we are finished. Such a boy!

Take a look at the video from his first bites.....too cute.

Sauvignon Blanc

I was invited on a famil to Portage Resort (in the Marlborough Sounds) and it was a much needed mini holiday for both James and I. We were wined and dined, and enjoyed the winter solitute of an almost empty resort. Oma watched Luca, so we were baby-free for almost 3 entire days....and boy was it nice :-)

After a ferry to the South Island, and a water taxi to Portage Resort, we were whisked to our really luxery rooms that were pre heated for us upon arrival. James and I had just recently been to the Marlborough Sounds for Bruce's 60th b-day in Feb with Dad and Fran....but it was a much different feel during the winter time.

We spent the afternoon walking around the sounds and touring the resort...basically doing nothing....and it was soooo nice!
The resort was amazing, and the the next day they sent us on a personalized wine tour of the Marlborough region. About 65% of NZ's wine comes from this region. This area is famous for it's Sauvigon Blanc and we did our fare share of sampling. James, Dad, Fran, and I had been on a wine tour before but we definitly weren't going to say to another one! We visited a few wineries we had been to before, but many that we hadn't. It would take you several weeks to make it round to all 110 of them.

We had a beautiful winery lunch in front of the fire, and toured wineries, gourment food shops, and a chocolate shop. Gorgeous, sumptious wines that put our el cheapo supermarket wine that we drank in our hotel room the night before to shame......ha ha. Several bottles of wine later, and feeling very very buzzed we boarded the ferry back to Wellington where we met up some friends for the night.

The next morning was spent hanging out in cafes in a very windy Wellington before heading back up to Foxton beach to celebrate James' moms birthday. Luca greeted us with huge smiles, and we heard stories about how wonderfully behaved he was. All in all....a very perfect few days away:-)

The ferry that takes you from the North to South Islands.