Rawiri will turn one tomorrow. In all honesty I don't know where this year has gone. I have loved every minute of having Rawiri in our family and I am so grateful that he came to join us. When I was pregnant with him I use to shed tears all the time about how could we manage with three children and about how hard it was with two. Since Rawiri has been born I don't really think I have ever felt that it has been super hard. I have come to realize that with time kids get older, more mature, more understanding, more helpful so what might seem impossible when you find out you are pregnant 9 months later is suddenly not so bad. I am sure Heavenly Father designed pregnancy like that with those factors in mind.
Hinalei adores Rawiri and calls him her little darling. She loves to carry him around the house and is so helpful with clothes, socks and diaper changes. She often says to me not to be cranky with Rawiri because he is a baby and doesn't understand.
Baby Joe from day one has been so affectionate to Rawiri. I am sure one day they will wrestle and roll around and fight but right now baby Joe loves to give hugs and kisses. Baby Joe is who gave Rawiri his nickname (Rawi pronounced Raarr-we).
Rawiri is the Maori word for David. David means "beloved" and he is indeed beloved by us and his siblings and everyone who meets him. He is a mummas boy which is something I did not expect but love 100%. Having a child who lights up when they see you, reaches for you no matter who is holding them and just loves to be held by you is a precious precious thing. It makes me feel like someone would seriously miss me if something was to happen to me.
In fact when he was a 2-3 month old he was so clingy that not even Joe could take him at night. From about 6:00pm each night he would only go to me - no one else. Joe had to take care of the other kids single handed because if I went and he held Rawiri he would just scream. He would nurse from 6-10pm. This went on for months. One night we went to the movies and my poor parents were watching him and he just screamed and screamed and screamed. If I had to do shopping I took him with me at night because he just couldn't be away from me. I love it and I am so grateful for the lesson he has taught me this past year about unconditional love and all its forms.
I feel finally after 3 kids that I have found my mothering groove. Oh in no way am I perfect or close to it but I have found what works for me with cleaning, housework, chores, cooking and raising the kids. I can get up and find ways to tidy up while playing hide and seek. I can make breakfast and do hair at the same time. Well it is all a learning process but I feel more confident in it now then I did a year ago.
Rawiri likes:
Walking
Crawling one legged style
Eat real meals not so much fruit
Lion hunt game
Happy and you know it
Roaring like a lion
Clapping hands
Giving sloppy kisses
Drums or any musical instruments
Ice-cream
Bath time
Going on the swing at the park
Rawiri dislikes:
Nappy changes first thing in the morning
Being left alone in a room
Not being carried
Feeding himself
Wearing socks - seriously he just pulls them off
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