Three Special Words

In life there are three special words. First you have to love yourself and then you can love others. When the time comes that someone tells you they love you nothing could feel better and when you can say it back to that person you know they are special and worth having in your life forever. Well it was amazing when you were born how Daddy and I could instantly fall in love with you. We tell you everyday how much we love you because we do. But I have never really thought too much about the day you will be able to say it back until the other day. On Wednesday night Daddy got home from work and we had you under your play gym kicking about and having some fun, you were making lots of noises talking away to us. Daddy told you how much he loved you saying "I love you," he said it a few times and then you made more of a distinctive sound and really tried hard to shape your mouth. So Daddy said those magic words "I love you," again and you said it right back. I don't think we could quite believe our ears so Daddy said it again and you said it right back. Daddy and I looked at each other and cracked up laughing, we couldn't believe it! Parents are always proudly boasting about what their children can do and saying how advanced they are but at just under 17 weeks old I think we can proudly boast about your advanced talking. After you said it I raced around to grab the camera and try to capture you talking on video as we knew people would find it difficult to believe us. Unfortunately we shouldn't have laughed as you didn't want to repeat it after that but we were just so shocked! So we are yet to capture it on video and be able to prove to everyone just what you said. Daddy and I were both so happy that we could both be there to celebrate hearing your first words, yes that is how 'advanced' you are. You didn't start with a word; you strung three words together. I think we were pleased we could hear it together so we could share this milestone but also because both hearing it meant we knew it wasn't just our ears playing tricks on us, we had both heard it.
After being away on our trip to Australia you were such a good girl but you did lack your normal sleep and were tired. Coming home and getting back into our routine it is easy to see the benefits of sleep you are even happier full of smiles and lots of continuous giggles, wanting to move on your tummy, getting close to rolling from your back onto your tummy and now talking. It feels like you have really grown up in just a matter of days.

First Big Adventure

At only 16 weeks old you have already had your first big trip across the ditch to Australia. We headed over to celebrate Jo and Hamish getting married and to catch up with Lauren and Drew and meet your little mate Thomas (born four days after you). You were such a dream baby the whole time we were away. You knew something exciting was about to happen the day we were due to fly. Daddy was home (on a weekday) and you didn't want to go down for your first morning nap, preferring to play with Daddy. Finally you went to sleep but that was almost the end of your sleeping during the day less a quick hour sleep in the car on the way up to the airport. Once we had boarded the plane we started to reverse out ready to zoom down the runway and set off but electrical problems meant we sat on the plane, on the tarmac for an hour and a half (in which time we could have been halfway to Australia). You were a good little girl but I was worried that you might reach your limit halfway through the sky due to the big delay. But with a couple of nappy changes, sucking on your dummy for take off and a few feeds you were great, having a grizzle for just five minutes. You were awake the whole flight only giving in and going to sleep ten minutes before landing. The next day we meet Thomas and the two of you had fun looking at each other while on your tummies. By the end of the trip you seemed to know each other and would look to find one another near far apart. We went to Jo and Hamish's wedding and everyone was keen to have a cuddle and meet you in your cute little outfit. It was close to 30 degrees so coming from a NZ winter it was a bit of a shock to the system how warm it was. Cuddling you during the wedding ceremony I was worried once someone else had a cuddle I would be left with big sweat marks. Again with very limited sleep you held it together and we could enjoy the wedding together as a family. The next day you crashed. You obviously knew that you were tired and needed to catch up on some sleep so had some great day sleeps one of which was over three hours long. While you were still asleep Lauren and Drew took Thomas for a swim and once you woke up Daddy and I took you for your first swim. You absolutely love shower time and have enjoyed floating around in the bath with Daddy. You are not afraid to put your head under the water in the shower and lick up with the water so we thought you would enjoy going for a swim. But by the time you had woken up the wind had picked up too which made it a different experience to being inside the warmth of our bathroom. We had a quick dip but it didn't take long for your little body to feel the cold. After a couple of days in Kirra (enjoying walks along the waterfront to Coolangatta) we headed back to Lauren and Drew's near Brisbane. Lauren, Thomas you and I went to some amazing Mummy Tree Markets where I brought you a gorgeous little lacy dress and found some gorgeous flowers with diamantes to add to other clothing items to pretty them up. The day we were due to fly home we went and looked through Myer's and found four super cute jumpsuits and the cutest little shoes for you to wear though the summer. The clothes were just so cute and different over there. Despite you having a good routine at home we were out and about a lot more than normal while we were overseas and you coped so well you knew when you needed to sleep and would just sleep for longer to catch up without getting grizzly. You enjoyed playing under Thomas' play gym, playing with some new toys and listening to some new stories. I put you and Thomas on a mat and read to you both. You were both mezmerised by the stories and at one point were holding hands as you listened (unfortunately we weren't quick enough to capture it on camera) but we did get a photo of Thomas having a protective hand on his new best friend. Coming home was a late night landing in NZ at midnight with a car ride home we didn't reach our beds until around two in the morning. But this time you slept pretty much the whole flight home, waking ten minutes before landing and were pleased to see Grandma and Poppa there waiting for you to step through the gates of the airport. Lauren, Drew and Thomas are coming to NZ in November and I can't wait to see the two of you play together again, you will be nearly six months old so will be able to do a bit more and Adam and Nicole will have a new playmate for the two of you to look after too. I wonder if you and Thomas will recognise each other straight away? While our trip to Australia was mostly about catching up with friends you didn't get to experience your first koala or kangaroo this time but you have a whole lifetime of new experiences to enjoy and we will be back in Australia sometime soon. For this trip you got to experience your first swim outside, your first taste of summer, your first market, playing with your first family friend, the different Australian air and heat and different environment to look at from your pram out on walks.