It has been awhile since I've done a blog post, and February was a busy month, so get your cup of tea ready and settle in for a lot of pictures!
Don and Georgia arrived in early February and our time with them was a good mix of relaxing at home and touring the countryside. We did a road trip up to Taranaki to see a working dairy farm, and then drove to Napier, stopping in Taupo on the way. Both Taupo and Napier had beautiful gardens to enjoy.
In Napier, we visited the Mission Estate Winery, established by a group of French missionaries in the mid 1800s.
Madeleine continues to be a wonderful little traveler. She loved having company in the backseat for the many hours on the road, explored our hotel rooms and holiday houses to the max, and ate like a pro at all the cafes and restaurants.
Back at home, she had fun destroying the towers that Grandpa Don built for her.
She made music on her new xylophone.
And she didn't let her silly hairdo (thanks to Grandma, of course) keep her from poking her head outside to see what was going on in the world.
I took Georgia on one of my favourite walks from our Point Howard house - it follows the waterfront for a little bit...
... and then leads you uphill through a beautiful canopy of fern trees.
Georgia came with us for Madeleine's 9 month visit with the Plunket Nurse, in early February.
Madeleine weighed in at just over 22lb. I don't remember her height - it's not nearly as exciting as her weight.
Both Don and Georgia came with Madeleine and me on separate occasions to our Tuesday playgroup. They got to see Madeleine and all her little buddies singing songs, playing in the sand, and having afternoon tea (snacks).
We all went to Makara Beach one day and enjoyed the beautiful views. This expanse of ocean is the Cook Strait and the land in the distance is the top of the South Island.
A sweet Daddy and M moment.
Every Saturday a fishing boat selling freshly caught fish docks near Point Howard (the hill with houses in the background). Some days it is so busy that there is a long line of people waiting all the way down this wharf.
They always have a sign up telling you the fish to choose from - we bought a big Warehou the day we went.
They fillet the fish for you, right on the boat while you wait.
One of the highlights of the last month was Madeleine and I getting baptised at St Alban's Anglican church. It was a beautiful sunny day, and Madeleine did extremely well (so did I). It was lovely to share the special day with Don and Georgia.
The Anglican church baptizes by sprinkling water on your head, and then marking you with a cross on your forehead.
Another big event of the last month has been our move to yet another house. The landlord of our previous house decided to sell, and the buyer wanted to live there, not rent it out. We were very sad to leave that house and it was hard to find anything that even came close. Our new house is less than ideal, but the location and cheaper rent are two good things about it. It is in a small oceanside community called Eastbourne (also where St Alban's is located), and since we aren't at the top of a narrow windy road up a big hill anymore, I will be able to run and walk with M a lot more easily.
Believe it or not, I may actually post more pictures of little M soon... she is already TEN months old, and I haven't even touched on all the cute things she is doing these days.
Madeleine received several early birthday treats this week including cute bicycle pants from my parents, and a fun new walker/ride on toy from Auntie Henrietta! Thank you!!
Don and Georgia arrived in early February and our time with them was a good mix of relaxing at home and touring the countryside. We did a road trip up to Taranaki to see a working dairy farm, and then drove to Napier, stopping in Taupo on the way. Both Taupo and Napier had beautiful gardens to enjoy.
In Napier, we visited the Mission Estate Winery, established by a group of French missionaries in the mid 1800s.
Madeleine continues to be a wonderful little traveler. She loved having company in the backseat for the many hours on the road, explored our hotel rooms and holiday houses to the max, and ate like a pro at all the cafes and restaurants.
Back at home, she had fun destroying the towers that Grandpa Don built for her.
She made music on her new xylophone.
And she didn't let her silly hairdo (thanks to Grandma, of course) keep her from poking her head outside to see what was going on in the world.
I took Georgia on one of my favourite walks from our Point Howard house - it follows the waterfront for a little bit...
... and then leads you uphill through a beautiful canopy of fern trees.
Georgia came with us for Madeleine's 9 month visit with the Plunket Nurse, in early February.
Madeleine weighed in at just over 22lb. I don't remember her height - it's not nearly as exciting as her weight.
Both Don and Georgia came with Madeleine and me on separate occasions to our Tuesday playgroup. They got to see Madeleine and all her little buddies singing songs, playing in the sand, and having afternoon tea (snacks).
We all went to Makara Beach one day and enjoyed the beautiful views. This expanse of ocean is the Cook Strait and the land in the distance is the top of the South Island.
A sweet Daddy and M moment.
Every Saturday a fishing boat selling freshly caught fish docks near Point Howard (the hill with houses in the background). Some days it is so busy that there is a long line of people waiting all the way down this wharf.
They always have a sign up telling you the fish to choose from - we bought a big Warehou the day we went.
They fillet the fish for you, right on the boat while you wait.
One of the highlights of the last month was Madeleine and I getting baptised at St Alban's Anglican church. It was a beautiful sunny day, and Madeleine did extremely well (so did I). It was lovely to share the special day with Don and Georgia.
The Anglican church baptizes by sprinkling water on your head, and then marking you with a cross on your forehead.
Another big event of the last month has been our move to yet another house. The landlord of our previous house decided to sell, and the buyer wanted to live there, not rent it out. We were very sad to leave that house and it was hard to find anything that even came close. Our new house is less than ideal, but the location and cheaper rent are two good things about it. It is in a small oceanside community called Eastbourne (also where St Alban's is located), and since we aren't at the top of a narrow windy road up a big hill anymore, I will be able to run and walk with M a lot more easily.
