Seven Months Old

You are on the move! You are crawling around in your commando style but getting faster and faster all the time. While recently doing the vacuuming Daddy was watching you and gave Ava her breakfast. In the time that he read a quick text on his phone you had moved right across the room with your hand in the dog bowl ready for a second breakfast. When you see something in your sights that you like the look of watch out! On Saturday January 3rd you took your first couple of proper crawling steps first Daddy and Grandma spotted you while we were out on a picnic and then later that afternoon at home you did it for me. So we don't think you will be far off putting one hand in front of the other, crawling with the technqiue we all recognise.
We have been over to Whangamata and you tried out your new beach shelter, hooded towel and togs. It was warm but the water was still a little cool. Mummy was too chicken to go for a swim it was too cold but you dipped your toes in the water and even sat in the sand waiting for the waves to come towards you making a splash. Despite being cooler than you are used to at swimming you seemed to enjoy your first experience of swimming at the beach in the sun with the noise of the waves and the texture of sand leaving your cute little footprints behind. Lying on the beach it was amazing how much dried seaweed you were able to uncover in the sand.
Back at home you have been enjoying your other Christmas presents and listening to lots of new stories. It has been warm so a splash in the paddling pool with your new ship toy has been a nice way to cool off. Daddy hopped in with you for the first swim and Ava was keen to jump in too when she wasn't drinking from it thinking it was a giant water bowl. You are enjoying your swing more and more. Each day we head out in the morning after you have woken up and go for a swing and as you swing higher and higher your smiles are getting bigger and bigger becoming more confident with with the rocking, swinging feeling.
Another first is your first bush walk which you loved. The Hakarimata's in Ngaruawahia are close to home and a good walk up lots of steps to reach the top with a great view. I walked up with you sitting in the front pack but instead of facing inwards towards me like you usually do we turned you round to face out and look at all the bush and see those walking in front of us. Daddy was in front and every time he turned around to look at you, you were ear to ear smiling and giggling away, you loved being outdoors and seeing all the different plants in the bush including the massive kauri trees.
Before Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake went home we went to the Hamilton Rose Gardens for a picnic with them and Grandma and Poppa. We had a picnic down by Turtle Lake and then walked around the different gardens. The morning that they had to go home there were tears. We had just spent a month with Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake seeing them everyday and it just felt as though that was now normal but sadly it was time for them to head back to work and for us to stay in Hamilton. We are lucky to have Skype and are going to make more of an effort to Skype regularly so that we can all see each other and keep up with your progress, even when we are miles apart.
You have always loved music. At SPACE each week we sing songs, at swimming lessons we sang songs, at wriggle and rhyme we sing songs, at home Daddy and I sing to you and we play your iHeart Kiwi Kids radio station. While we have been travelling you have at times become restless in your car seat wanting to get out and singing you your SPACE song "Hello Olivia, your such a lovely baby, yes we love you," calms you down every time. You have even started bopping along to the songs you know and love.