Helping Dad

Alexa proudly climbing up the ladder to help Dad prune the tree.

At the moment Alexa is absolutely loving her weekend time with Dad. She wakes very early in the morning (5.45 on Sat thankyou very much) and we hear he crying out in turn "Daddy" "Mummy" "Cuddle". Luckily daylight saving has just started, with clocks going forward so now her timing is perfect for the summer. Saturday was gardening this week and David did those gardening chores he most loves - pruning/hacking/chopping. Alexa was a great little helper and entertained herself watching Dad and checking out all the flowers in the garden. Meanwhile I could be inside doing some much needed catch up chores.

Pooh time

Time has flown and the chicken pox are a but a memory. It has left Alexa with a keen eye though and she will happily point out any new 'spots' that appear on Mum's face (gee thanks!).

We recently we shopping thanks to Great Granny and spoiled both ourselves and Alexa at Whitcoulls (a book store). We thought it would be great to see the reaction of Alexa at viewing an animated Pooh bear. She has so far not really been exposed to TV as we just don't seem to know when the good kiddies shows are on - the only one I've tried thus far is Baby Einstein. However she was quite keen to snuggle up next to Daddy on the mat with the blanket and watched in wide eyed amazement at Pooh Bear's Grand Adventures. It turned out to be a little bit scary in places which we decided to skip through, but mostly she loved it. Every time Pooh went off screen she kept saying "more, more". The top shots above show a pretty chuffed little girl.

Lisa (David's sister) has gifted us a chalkboard. Alexa loves drawing at the moment (mostly sticking to the paper and not walls). So we thought she'd love this idea of being able to draw, wipe it off and draw again. And she did - perhaps a future career as a Teacher??

Meanwhile the family is all well. David has this month been able to have a long weekend away with John and Norm to go fishing. He was off to the Tongariro river for 3 days catching some lovely trout which we have enjoyed - smoking some for later on.

I am very large now at 33 weeks (7 to go). The pregnancy this time has been a little harder on my body - but not surprising as I have a little girl to chase after 4 days of the week. I'm still at work 3 days and this will continue (all going well) until end October. Then I 'plan' like last time to have 2 weeks rest before the arrival of number two on or soon after D day 18 Nov. Nope we don't know what it will be, altho different family members have their guesses. I just hope it isn't anywhere near like the recent Siberian baby Nadia born at 7.75kg!!!

The Pox

Pic 1 - Alexa the artist (closely observed by Pooh of course!). Pic 2 - a cheeky girl.


Just when all is going well, something happens. Chicken pox has been touring the various childcare facilities in Auckland, however until now Alexa has seemed to avoid it. But Tuesday night I noticed the first 3 red spots that over the next couple of days have multiplied into many covering her torso, head, and a few over her forehead. What a poor wee sight. She has been amazingly happy so far, but the itch is just starting in and we will no doubt be fighting it over the next few weeks.

We do think she is pretty amazing at the moment as she seems to know the numbers 1 - 10. This is somewhat eratic but has been done enough times to make us wonder. However her first choice remains the number 2 - how many crackers? "2", how many cookies? "2".


She has also developed an unusual habit of sleeping widthwise in her cot. Now obviously this can't last, and she can only rely on her short legs for so long. But it seems that time after time we find her blankets assunder lying atop Pooh across her cot.





The rest of the family is all well too. I am growing very large! But still relatively comfortable (just don't ask me to get up and down to my knees too many times!). I have just over 10 weeks to go - and will soon be thinking about baby furniture and getting out all those clothes and things that were used for No. 1. Luckily Anne has found a large bag of Ethan (cousin) baby clothes that will be great to add to the current pile.

David is busy busy busy.

Golfing Pro??

We've had a good couple of weekend of late - seeing Mark (David's brother) over from the UK one weekend followed by a weekend up at Omaha. Mark and David had a great time with Alexa pushing her down Anne & John's steep driveway on her plastic bike with her legs up, clutching Pooh and the handle bars firmly (the latter as instructed by Dad). As Mark was only really there for the weekend (a friend's wedding) we had the one day to share with family, so we were all there - Anne and John, Mark, Lisa & Ethan, Aunty Kate, Granny and us. A great family day with a big lunch and yummy cake to follow - mmm thanks Anne. i am very grateful that I can hide many many sins under a large baby belly! This may haunt me post baby, but for now it remains a blissful pleasure.

The next weekend we travelled north to Omaha for a weekend of R&R. David has been working exceptionally hard (this means getting home later than his 'normal' 8.30pm) and was looking forward to something of a break (with only a bit of work to do as well). With a bright and sunny Sat what better time to begin Alexa's golf lessons! She seemed to love it - altho following these shots spent more time sitting on the ground being putted to.