Welcome to the New Year!
Danielle will be 27
Joe will turn the big 3-0
Hinalei will turn 6 and start year 2
Joe will turn 4
Rawiri will turn 3 and start preschool
and Lennie will turn 1!
We look forward to a year filled with growing, happiness and striving to live the gospel and keep the commandments of Heavenly Father.
We hope:
To see Joe go to Hawaii
To see Hinalei continue with ballet
To see Danielle not get pregnant (true story)
To see Joseph start Sunbeams
To welcome a niece!
We love:
Our family all around the world
Our friends who care for us and give us good times
Our savior Jesus Christ
Our Heavenly Father who blesses us
Wishing everyone a prosperous new year!
Christmas 2014
After a busy November preparing for our Thanksgiving Dinner we host and a busy December helping out with a ward Christmas party I was looking forward to a nice low key Christmas. In November Joe and I discovered a website called Aliexpress which is different business that sell different goods. We found a lot of toys on the site that normally cost close to 3 times the amount here in NZ. Therefore we decided to use the site to help us out with a couple of Santa items. Ordering in November was the best as it can take up to 30 days for the things to arrive but I am very happy to say that the items arrived on time and in a better condition than I had expected. Also Joe and I work had to put away money onto different cards at certain shops here in NZ especially for Christmas. We do about 12 a fortnight and come out with just about $300 which at Christmas time is a really blessing. We use it to buy food, items for the home, gifts for friends or families and this year we also had the children purchase a gift for a less fortunate child their age. It was one of the best moments of my Christmas seeing the gifts wrapped by the kids for another kid and they didn't fuss once that it wasn't going to be for them. In return Heavenly Father blessed them with presents from many other family members for which we were most grateful.
Christmas morning was spent opening presents, eating a wonderful breakfast at my parents house and then going over to Joes Uncle Johns house as Aunty Yvonne from Hawaii was visiting. It made my heart sore to think of Joes parents and how it has been 3 years since we have seen all of his family (except his dad). We are saving this year for him to go over in May for his sister graduation. If possible we would all love to go but it is Joe who is the priority. This year I tried hard to hold fast to keeping the CHRIST in Christmas. My children are all at the age of Santa and the excitement of what he will bring them but Joe and I tried really hard to do things daily to teach them about Jesus and his role in Christmas and that he is the reason for the season. I was very proud when the missionaries asked Hinalei why we celebrate Christmas and she said it was because that is when Jesus is born.
Christmas morning was spent opening presents, eating a wonderful breakfast at my parents house and then going over to Joes Uncle Johns house as Aunty Yvonne from Hawaii was visiting. It made my heart sore to think of Joes parents and how it has been 3 years since we have seen all of his family (except his dad). We are saving this year for him to go over in May for his sister graduation. If possible we would all love to go but it is Joe who is the priority. This year I tried hard to hold fast to keeping the CHRIST in Christmas. My children are all at the age of Santa and the excitement of what he will bring them but Joe and I tried really hard to do things daily to teach them about Jesus and his role in Christmas and that he is the reason for the season. I was very proud when the missionaries asked Hinalei why we celebrate Christmas and she said it was because that is when Jesus is born.
Rawiris 2nd Birthday
Happy birthday to Rawiri.
Today I read my post about Rawiri after his first year. Talk about a laugh to myself especially when I wrote:
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.
Chuckling to myself as he turns two that we have added another baby to our family in the year since he turned one. It was actually only about 2 weeks after his 1st birthday that I found out another little baby would be joining our family and once again I shed tears over how to do it. You think I would learn the first time that Faith with works, well it works out.
But getting back to little Rawiri. He is such a great child to have in our family. He is a happy little spirit who loves to have a laugh. We love to make him laugh because his whole body emulates the joy and excitement and makes me wish I could still get excited as amused by things instead of having an air of wariness and sarcasm mixed in.
This year has seen his dead straight hair turn into tight tight curls. With the right amount of water and gel he has a full hear of tight curls. I never believed it would go curly and after Josephs hair went straight from cutting it, Rawiri's will probably not be cut for a long long time especially since I feel like I kind of messed it all up with little Joe.
I believe Heavenly Father actually understands the need for the children to come in the order they do. Hinalei and Joseph love Rawiri - to Hinalei is a kind and caring little brother where Joseph comes off a bit bossy and loud and to Joseph he is the perfect companion because he does not compete with Joseph but stands his ground, affirms his stance but is also a loyal companion. His speech and understand seems to be leaps and bounds what Joseph and Hinaleis was at that age but with two clever older siblings how can you not expect him to flourish by being around them. He is also very caring towards Lennie even if sometimes I sense that he wasn't quite ready to have his baby title ripped away from him and wants an extra cuddle or attention.
Rawiri likes:
His tiger pillow pet
(Loves) his yellow gumboots
his daddy
Playing hide and seek
Eating or trying new foods
Feeding himself
Singing songs
Pointing to different body parts
Bath time
Nursery
Balls
Packing and unpacking pots, pans, containers
Blocks and big cars
Following Joseph around
Running
Having his head stroked
Watching people bake or cook something
Staring at the oven when the light is on
Rawiri dislikes:
Nappy changes ever!
Being left alone in a room
His dad leaving the house for callings, job, any reason
His carseat
Being left out of activities even if he is to small
Cleaning
Saying sorry
Closed doors
For his 2nd birthday his Nanny wanted to host it because she was away the previous year. Since Rawiri loves to point at "Donalds" (McDonalds) we decided to do a small low key party at Donalds. In the morning we went to Timezone and played games, Rawiri liked the game with the hammer to smash the sharks, throwing balls to sink the alien and also the ball game into the animals mouths. Then we went to the warehouse so he could chose a present. After walking around the whole store he chose a chocolate bar. He also got a bunch of clothes and a puzzle from Nanny and Grandpa, clothes from Aunty Nic, money from aunty Jenna and Uncle Jared, a maori necklace from the parents and some other little toys from his siblings. At McDonalds he played on the park and had a cheeseburger happy meal. For dessert he had a chocolate cake decorated with M&Ms. He was so cute when he blew out the candles because he did several tiny little huffs to get it blown out. We had to relight the cake 2 more times so Hinalei and Joseph could each have a turn at blowing them out too. Afterwards out friends the Totties came by the house to drop off a lunchbox and some transformer underwear for Rawiri. RJ Tottie is 2 months older than Rawiri so they are good friends.
We love you Rawiri. I see you as kind, happy soul who will stand your ground for what you believe in. I see you as someone who cares for others and puts their needs before your own. Someone who loves his food and enjoys learning how to cook. I see you loving to sing, play instruments and share those talents with others. You and your brother will be great friends who support and lift each other up as your personalities balance other the others. Stay happy and stay fun.
Today I read my post about Rawiri after his first year. Talk about a laugh to myself especially when I wrote:
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.
Chuckling to myself as he turns two that we have added another baby to our family in the year since he turned one. It was actually only about 2 weeks after his 1st birthday that I found out another little baby would be joining our family and once again I shed tears over how to do it. You think I would learn the first time that Faith with works, well it works out.
But getting back to little Rawiri. He is such a great child to have in our family. He is a happy little spirit who loves to have a laugh. We love to make him laugh because his whole body emulates the joy and excitement and makes me wish I could still get excited as amused by things instead of having an air of wariness and sarcasm mixed in.
This year has seen his dead straight hair turn into tight tight curls. With the right amount of water and gel he has a full hear of tight curls. I never believed it would go curly and after Josephs hair went straight from cutting it, Rawiri's will probably not be cut for a long long time especially since I feel like I kind of messed it all up with little Joe.
I believe Heavenly Father actually understands the need for the children to come in the order they do. Hinalei and Joseph love Rawiri - to Hinalei is a kind and caring little brother where Joseph comes off a bit bossy and loud and to Joseph he is the perfect companion because he does not compete with Joseph but stands his ground, affirms his stance but is also a loyal companion. His speech and understand seems to be leaps and bounds what Joseph and Hinaleis was at that age but with two clever older siblings how can you not expect him to flourish by being around them. He is also very caring towards Lennie even if sometimes I sense that he wasn't quite ready to have his baby title ripped away from him and wants an extra cuddle or attention.
Rawiri likes:
His tiger pillow pet
(Loves) his yellow gumboots
his daddy
Playing hide and seek
Eating or trying new foods
Feeding himself
Singing songs
Pointing to different body parts
Bath time
Nursery
Balls
Packing and unpacking pots, pans, containers
Blocks and big cars
Following Joseph around
Running
Having his head stroked
Watching people bake or cook something
Staring at the oven when the light is on
Rawiri dislikes:
Nappy changes ever!
Being left alone in a room
His dad leaving the house for callings, job, any reason
His carseat
Being left out of activities even if he is to small
Cleaning
Saying sorry
Closed doors
For his 2nd birthday his Nanny wanted to host it because she was away the previous year. Since Rawiri loves to point at "Donalds" (McDonalds) we decided to do a small low key party at Donalds. In the morning we went to Timezone and played games, Rawiri liked the game with the hammer to smash the sharks, throwing balls to sink the alien and also the ball game into the animals mouths. Then we went to the warehouse so he could chose a present. After walking around the whole store he chose a chocolate bar. He also got a bunch of clothes and a puzzle from Nanny and Grandpa, clothes from Aunty Nic, money from aunty Jenna and Uncle Jared, a maori necklace from the parents and some other little toys from his siblings. At McDonalds he played on the park and had a cheeseburger happy meal. For dessert he had a chocolate cake decorated with M&Ms. He was so cute when he blew out the candles because he did several tiny little huffs to get it blown out. We had to relight the cake 2 more times so Hinalei and Joseph could each have a turn at blowing them out too. Afterwards out friends the Totties came by the house to drop off a lunchbox and some transformer underwear for Rawiri. RJ Tottie is 2 months older than Rawiri so they are good friends.
We love you Rawiri. I see you as kind, happy soul who will stand your ground for what you believe in. I see you as someone who cares for others and puts their needs before your own. Someone who loves his food and enjoys learning how to cook. I see you loving to sing, play instruments and share those talents with others. You and your brother will be great friends who support and lift each other up as your personalities balance other the others. Stay happy and stay fun.
Lennie is 3 months
Our beautiful little daughter turned 3 months this week. The time goes by much to quickly with 4 children as you are kept busy with the day to day routine. I can't believe we have been blessed to have her for 3 months and yet I wish I could freeze time so that we could keep her little just a tiny bit longer. She is sleeping through the night, gives big beautiful smiles and has deep eyes that keep you fascinated while you try and coax some coooing out of her. All of her siblings adore her and are constantly trying to be in her face, kissing her, holding her, squeezing her and loving her. She is a happy baby who doesn't mind their attention. She does seem to have it in a bit for Rawiri. Maybe he secretly pokes her while I am not looking but he always seems to make her cry even when he is only looking at her. Must be a bit of pre sibling rivalry. Rawiri has had to adjust the most to her coming into the family and some days he loves her and some days he doesn't want anything to do with her.
Each day I thank her for coming down to our little family. I didn't realize or maybe remember how much joy each new addition can bring to your home. Even the feelings of familiarity like she has always been with us surprises me sometimes when I remember it has only been 12 weeks. She suits her name perfectly "Lenore" which means light. She is a little light in our family and always brightens up everyone in her special way. Joseph calls her Nenie because he can't pronouce his Ls right now. Rawiri just calls her Te baby and Hinalei calls her my little darling.
All of the kids love to sing to her. I constantly hear Hinalei making up words to the tune of "Are you sleeping" or sometimes even her own melodies staying things like, you dont have to cry I am not going anywhere, I love you little sister I am your big sister Hinalei. Mummy is there and she has the milkies, I will hold you while mummy is busy. I burst with joy as I listen to her singing and see her kindness. Even Lennie coos back and sometimes falls asleep to her sisters songs. Hinalei loves to tell me "Mum! I put her to sleep! I did that!"
Life with 4 definitely keeps me busy but they are growing and maturing each day. I am grateful for these tender moments I get to experience each day even if in some moments all I can do is pray for the strength to hold in there a little bit longer. I appreciate my husband so much for all he does. I don't know how single mothers do it because I rely so much or look forward so much to him coming home and having those extra pair of hands. Sometimes I still can't believe I am a mother to 4 children.
Life is real and messy and busy and even heart wrenchingly scary when I look into the world sometimes. Thank goodness for the gospel of Christ and for the comfort it provides and thank you to Lennie for coming to our family.
Each day I thank her for coming down to our little family. I didn't realize or maybe remember how much joy each new addition can bring to your home. Even the feelings of familiarity like she has always been with us surprises me sometimes when I remember it has only been 12 weeks. She suits her name perfectly "Lenore" which means light. She is a little light in our family and always brightens up everyone in her special way. Joseph calls her Nenie because he can't pronouce his Ls right now. Rawiri just calls her Te baby and Hinalei calls her my little darling.
All of the kids love to sing to her. I constantly hear Hinalei making up words to the tune of "Are you sleeping" or sometimes even her own melodies staying things like, you dont have to cry I am not going anywhere, I love you little sister I am your big sister Hinalei. Mummy is there and she has the milkies, I will hold you while mummy is busy. I burst with joy as I listen to her singing and see her kindness. Even Lennie coos back and sometimes falls asleep to her sisters songs. Hinalei loves to tell me "Mum! I put her to sleep! I did that!"
Life with 4 definitely keeps me busy but they are growing and maturing each day. I am grateful for these tender moments I get to experience each day even if in some moments all I can do is pray for the strength to hold in there a little bit longer. I appreciate my husband so much for all he does. I don't know how single mothers do it because I rely so much or look forward so much to him coming home and having those extra pair of hands. Sometimes I still can't believe I am a mother to 4 children.
Life is real and messy and busy and even heart wrenchingly scary when I look into the world sometimes. Thank goodness for the gospel of Christ and for the comfort it provides and thank you to Lennie for coming to our family.
2 months old for Len-star
We celebrate our second month of having Lennie in our home. I say celebrate because we love having her here and she is such a treasure. Hinalei absolutely adores her and does almost everything for her, gets her clothes, changes her nappies, talks in baby talk to her, rocks her if she is fussy and sings song after song to her. Joseph desperately wants to be able to carry her around but we constantly remind him he is too little. He showers her with kisses and tries to give her different foods when we are not watching. Rawiri has a mixed relationship with her sometimes showering her with love and other times crying because he wants to be held and wants me to put her down. I don't think he was quite ready to give up being the baby of the family so he often spends lots of time cuddling Joe when he gets home from work.
Lennie is currently wearing size 3 month clothing which already looks snug. Unfortunately I don't have her measurements or anything because Plunket has been a real failure this time around but I think I can safely say that she is outdoing all of her siblings. She is already sleeping in 6 hour stretches and doesn't complain about anything except for feedings which is super at. I am so grateful for such a wonderful, calm and happy baby especially with my other 3 keeping our life so busy.
Her likes
Lennie is currently wearing size 3 month clothing which already looks snug. Unfortunately I don't have her measurements or anything because Plunket has been a real failure this time around but I think I can safely say that she is outdoing all of her siblings. She is already sleeping in 6 hour stretches and doesn't complain about anything except for feedings which is super at. I am so grateful for such a wonderful, calm and happy baby especially with my other 3 keeping our life so busy.
Her likes
- Bathtime
- Feeding time
- Being held in the football position
- Being sung or talked to
Her dislikes
- Tummy time
- Doing her wind if it means she has to stop nursing
- Being hungry
- Getting out of the bath
- Having her brothers kiss her face over and over
3 weeks today.... my little dream baby
Lennie is 3 weeks old today. Honestly it already feels like she has been with us for so long. It could not have only been 3 weeks? Can I say something? It is going to come off a bit boastful.... Lennie is a perfect dream baby.
Honestly I have been waiting with baited breathe for this little darling to say "Just kidding" and reveal her real self but after 3 weeks I am thinking that this is her little nature. What am I talking about? How about the fact that she sleeps in 4 hour stretches, or the fact that at night she is already pulling 6 -7 hour stretches and only waking once. During the day she is awake and active and gorgeous but goes down no problem and then at night after she is feed and changed I can lay her back down and she will put herself back to sleep! No joke. She can be wide awake, I will say to her "Well I have feed you and changed you if you cry I will wake up to see whats wrong but I am tired so I am going back to sleep!' and then I do. She just goes back down by herself - at 3 weeks old.
She nurses great although I think my let down is a bit to fast for her so I have taken to nursing her while she sits up and that seems to help. I can't brag enough about the awesomeness that are midwives. Of course finding the right midwife is so important but I have been blessed with two wonderful midwives who have made my whole birthing and post birth experience such a good experience.
All of the kids are handling their new sibling well. I haven't seen to much jealously but I have tried extra hard to make sure I have shared myself around and do things with each of them. So far only Rawiri is jealous that she gets to sleep in our room and tries to come in during the night. Hinalei absolutely adores her little sister and loves to hold her and sing to her.
Well I hope this post hasn't jinxed anything but just wanted to remember how wonderful she is.
Birth Weight: 8lbs 15oz
Current Weight: 10lbs 3oz
Honestly I have been waiting with baited breathe for this little darling to say "Just kidding" and reveal her real self but after 3 weeks I am thinking that this is her little nature. What am I talking about? How about the fact that she sleeps in 4 hour stretches, or the fact that at night she is already pulling 6 -7 hour stretches and only waking once. During the day she is awake and active and gorgeous but goes down no problem and then at night after she is feed and changed I can lay her back down and she will put herself back to sleep! No joke. She can be wide awake, I will say to her "Well I have feed you and changed you if you cry I will wake up to see whats wrong but I am tired so I am going back to sleep!' and then I do. She just goes back down by herself - at 3 weeks old.
She nurses great although I think my let down is a bit to fast for her so I have taken to nursing her while she sits up and that seems to help. I can't brag enough about the awesomeness that are midwives. Of course finding the right midwife is so important but I have been blessed with two wonderful midwives who have made my whole birthing and post birth experience such a good experience.
All of the kids are handling their new sibling well. I haven't seen to much jealously but I have tried extra hard to make sure I have shared myself around and do things with each of them. So far only Rawiri is jealous that she gets to sleep in our room and tries to come in during the night. Hinalei absolutely adores her little sister and loves to hold her and sing to her.
Well I hope this post hasn't jinxed anything but just wanted to remember how wonderful she is.
Birth Weight: 8lbs 15oz
Current Weight: 10lbs 3oz
Lennie - A birth story
Back story:
I don't feel this story would be justified without first doing a little back story. At my 32 week appointment my midwife decided to do a growth scan to see if everything was looking good. My appointment was set for 35weeks 5 days. After going through all the different things the technician tells us that my baby is measuring much bigger than normal. Like measuring 40 weeks.
This information was relayed to my midwife, because of my C-section with Hinalei this raised concern as there is always a chance of uterine rupture from the old scar. Professionally my midwife had to refer me to an OB at the hospital for an assessment. I did not feel that I was carrying a super big baby as I felt this was one pregnancy I felt more strong and healthy.
My appointment was during week 38 and I was not looking forward to it. I knew my weight would immediately cause then to make assumptions and would just want to run tests. Sure enough the OB was a very young professional who sounded like a medical textbook. She was throwing around stuff like baby's shoulders would get stuck and that I must have gestational diabetes because of my weight. She wanted me to take the glucose test again and go for another growth scan and then come back for an appointment with an anethesic(sp?) to make sure my airways were clear and my spine was good. All I was hearing was that it regardless of my past two wonderful births they wanted to steer me to a C-section.
After the appointment I felt so discouraged and sad. I knew my body, I knew what it was capable of and I knew I could have this baby. I did not want to go and have a glucose test at 39 weeks as the results would only give them more power to push for a C-section. Thankfully my midwife is an angel. I shared my feelings with her and she went to see the OB and told them off for being so hard on me, she let me decide if I wanted to do the glucose test and also said she would do a stretch and sweep on Monday July 14. I opted not to do the glucose test. I hate that test and I trusted my body. I did go to the growth scan they scheduled and low and behold baby was back inside normal range. She was measuring around 9lbs but I know there is a margin of error and my son was close to 9lbs so I knew my body could stretch. We were suppose to go back to see the OB after my scan but my midwife told me to just go home, she didn't want to see me bullied again.
At my stretch and sweep I was already 4cm dilated, my midwife told me that we probably shouldn't go pass 40 weeks just in case she was above 10lbs. So we set up to break my waters on my due date July 20. I felt good about this decision but still wanted to just go into labor naturally as your body deals with everything better.
The birth story:
July 17 rolled around and I had been walking, bouncing on my ball, envisioning myself going into labor etc. That morning I had been contracting. However suddenly I felt like I hadn't felt baby move for some time. I lay down and trier to get her to move but after 15 minutes I wasn't feeling anything. I called my midwife and she said to just go into the hospital to be monitored. That experience was a scary one and I am not ready to share about it but they found her on the heartbeat machine. I was contracting while being monitored but they said the best place to labor is at home so off we went. They slowed down. Joe had a job interview that day and I think baby knew he needed to be there.
That night around 10:15pm my contractions started up again. I felt like they were definitely more intense. They were around 3 minutes apart. Not wanting to worry we headed into the hospital. Well as things go my midwife was there with another lady. She was dilated to 9cms so she told me to just labor in the other room. Well the contractions just didn't really get stronger, they were consistently coming but just not building in intensity.
Finally at 4am my midwife was finished with the other lady and came into to check me, she told me I was 5cms and that if I wanted they could break my waters to get things moving. I knew mentally that if she did that I was going into full blown labor and that their would be no turning back. I decided to do it and I let myself know that I had to get it together for these next hours. My mum, Sister Nicola and Joe were there to support me along with my midwife. Mum and Joe were sleeping just after my water was broken so Nicola helped me through the first hour. Then my midwife lifted my bed right up and I was leaning over the side when I felt baby start to turn inside of me. It was like a full 360 motion and then the contractions just started to come. At this point we called my sister Jenna on Skype because she was in Wellington but wanted to see the birth.
Time lost its meaning after I felt that turn, the contractions came quickly and often and indeed intensified into what I knew to be labor. I was holding onto Joe's hands/arms and mum and Nicola were in charge of massaging my back as each contraction rolled in. I was leaning over the side of the bed. I had to tell Joe to say during the contractions "just a bit more, a bit more." Mentally it was great because it was so hard sometimes to just keep breathing. I had a good throw up so I knew that transition was near as my body was cleansing itself for when I had to push.
After leaning against the bed for a while I decided to climb on the bed to give my legs a break and was on my knees, however I felt myself tense up each time I had a contraction and I knew that wasn't going to help move the baby down and I kept getting cramps in my right leg. I was starting to feel really tired. I felt like I wanted to push but I my midwife told me not to, she said to just keep breathing and we could just breath the baby out. I told them I was tired and she suggested flipping around onto my back so I could take the pressure off my pelvic bone. I didn't actually think this idea would work but as soon as I turned over onto my back I felt baby move through the pelvic bone and I knew we were so close. My midwife checked me and said that I was like 9 and 3/4 with just a lip of cervix and if I could just breathe through the next two contractions she would most likely be born.
Mentally it was so weird because I was only breathing but my body was voluntarily pushing but because I wasn't also pushing baby was able to come and turn slowly and properly. To be honest I don't remember much of those two contractions because they were so so intense and I was telling myself to relax my face and I was listening to my midwife tell me to breathe or pant. Finally she actually started using the word push but it was like small push, hold, pant, little push, pant, little push and the whole time I think I felt like laughing because there were so many instructions and I didn't even know if I was doing it right but everyone was saying "good job" and "she is right there!" I think everyone must of got emotional at this time, I had felt her head come through and then after a few more push, pants I felt her come into the world. Everyone in the room at the same time said "Woah!" and then my beautiful little girl was placed on my chest. Born 6:39am after only 2 and 1/2 hours of labor (well what I consider full blown labor).
She weighed in at 8lbs 15oz and measured 19inches she is my biggest baby but shortest baby so far but nothing like the big or large that the OB was going on about. My midwife said that she had me pant and push to make sure the shoulders didn't get stuck but she said when the head came out so beautifully she knew that the shoulders would come out perfectly too. When my midwife checked me for tears she told me I didn't have a single one! Not one tear! Considering her size I couldn't believe it but again my midwife said that was all because I breathed her out so I gave my body time to stretch.
Ever since Hinaleis birth I have strived to empower myself with knowledge of how birthing should be and how women are built for this. I don't know if I come off making it seem like birth is easy because it isn't but I believe our attitude and view of birth can change how we birth and the experience that we have. I am not trying to prove I am super women but having a drug free, no intervention birth I just know that my body was built to have children and that your body takes care of itself. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me and our family with a 4th child, I don't know how many more we will be blessed with but I am grateful that he trusts us with these spirits.
Conversations with Joseph
J: I don't wanna go preschool
M: It's okay Joseph I will pick you up later
J: hmmmmmmmuph I don't like preschool
M: Please put on a jacket and shoes, I have to drop you to Nannys so I can go to faith in God at the church
J: No mummy I don't want you to go to church, I'll miss you, I'll cry for you mummy.
J: (630am) Mum! I here! I poopoos.
Hinalei gets in the car after school and isn't wearing shoes
J: Mum! Hinalei not wearing shoes, He-yay! (stern voice) you must put your shoes on, don't put your shoes in your bag, right now!
Joseph gets an upgrade
My little son is not so little any more. Having turned 3 I feel like someone put a bike pump under him and pumped him right up into this lean tall little boy. Add to that his cool haircut from his uncle Ricky and he is looking quite handsome and grown up . The trouble with this is that he has now grown out of his convertible car seat. I didn't even have to worry about this with hinalei till she was closer to 4 but I have been noticing for the past couple of months just how squashed he has been looking and the straps seem all to snug.
Well I found out that in NZ the car seat laws are based more on weight and height and since he had passed both of those points I got myself educated on kids booster seats and then started watching trademe (like a Craigslist) for a good deal.
I managed to win an auction last night. Joseph is very proper and doesn't like change. I think I mentioned before that I have to hide new clothes in with his normal clothes because he will not wear them but prefers his rags. Well I was wondering how he would react to his new car seat. 100% different. He loved it. Wanted out of his convertible car seat so there I was on the side of the road switching around car seats for him. But I think his face shows it all if you want to know how he feels about the change.
Love you my sweet son!
Final 10 week countdown for #4!
10 weeks until #4 arrives (actually 7 weeks but I am catching up!). This has been one of the busiest pregnancies I have ever had. Seriously this baby has basically had to just come along for the ride. Life with 3 kids is so busy and so often times I don't remember I am pregnant unless I am starving or she is kicking.
The other night I sewed my nursing cover for this baby and decided to start a business selling them on a site called TradeMe. It is similar to Ebay or Etsy in the USA but is specifically for NZ people. I have sold 10 so far and it makes me happy that other mums can enjoy the simple but effective use of a breastfeeding cover. I have also used Pinterest to make a dress, a ruffle bottom onesie and some other cute things. I have been fortunate to find some cute outfits for good prices in the local op (thrift) shops and also ordered some things from Target and had them shipped to my Aunty.
My biggest fear is probably this labor going as fast or faster than Rawiris labor (3.5 hours) but my midwife is awesome and I with it being my 4th I think a fast labor would be the best thing :). While I would love to try a home birth because of my C-section with Hinalei I don't know that I will ever get that option.
I gave up drinking soda almost two months ago. I'll still have it with the occasional fast food but we don't buy it or actively seek to drink it. I have found that this was the actual source of all my heartburn with my other pregnancies and my terrible headaches that I was suffering from have also disappeared. I must admit it feels like I was slowly poisoning myself now when I look back and see and feel how healthy I feel with this pregnancy. While I have started out this pregnancy the heaviest I have put on the least amount of weight this time round (remembering I have 7 weeks to go) and I know that is partially because I have been watching my eating and also stopped the soda. Even my midwife said I appear to be the picture of health.
Mostly I am wondering about life after baby. In NZ you have to use a carseat until children at 7 years old which means I will have 4 kids in some type of carseat. I have to drop Hinalei to school 5 days a week. I guess I am just wondering about fitting it all in and doing it well. Hopefully in a year I can look back and find that it was all accomplished without to much gnashing of teeth.
We don't have a set name for her yet either although everyone has nicknamed her Lennie, not sure if that will feature in her actual name. I still really hope she comes early on her dads birthday. I just think that will be so cool! His birthday is July 14th.
Can't wait to meet her even if it blows my mind I will be the mother of 4!
The other night I sewed my nursing cover for this baby and decided to start a business selling them on a site called TradeMe. It is similar to Ebay or Etsy in the USA but is specifically for NZ people. I have sold 10 so far and it makes me happy that other mums can enjoy the simple but effective use of a breastfeeding cover. I have also used Pinterest to make a dress, a ruffle bottom onesie and some other cute things. I have been fortunate to find some cute outfits for good prices in the local op (thrift) shops and also ordered some things from Target and had them shipped to my Aunty.
My biggest fear is probably this labor going as fast or faster than Rawiris labor (3.5 hours) but my midwife is awesome and I with it being my 4th I think a fast labor would be the best thing :). While I would love to try a home birth because of my C-section with Hinalei I don't know that I will ever get that option.
I gave up drinking soda almost two months ago. I'll still have it with the occasional fast food but we don't buy it or actively seek to drink it. I have found that this was the actual source of all my heartburn with my other pregnancies and my terrible headaches that I was suffering from have also disappeared. I must admit it feels like I was slowly poisoning myself now when I look back and see and feel how healthy I feel with this pregnancy. While I have started out this pregnancy the heaviest I have put on the least amount of weight this time round (remembering I have 7 weeks to go) and I know that is partially because I have been watching my eating and also stopped the soda. Even my midwife said I appear to be the picture of health.
Mostly I am wondering about life after baby. In NZ you have to use a carseat until children at 7 years old which means I will have 4 kids in some type of carseat. I have to drop Hinalei to school 5 days a week. I guess I am just wondering about fitting it all in and doing it well. Hopefully in a year I can look back and find that it was all accomplished without to much gnashing of teeth.
We don't have a set name for her yet either although everyone has nicknamed her Lennie, not sure if that will feature in her actual name. I still really hope she comes early on her dads birthday. I just think that will be so cool! His birthday is July 14th.
Can't wait to meet her even if it blows my mind I will be the mother of 4!
Joseph starts school at Camrose Kids Preschool
Joseph is my shy boy. He has a fierce temper and does not like to be told what to do. Instead their is a lot of options presented to him so that we don't fret over the small battles. Well I knew that him starting preschool was going to be a huge challenge. He does not like change, in fact if I buy him new clothes I have to just rotate them in secretly with his current clothes because otherwise he will flat out refuse to wear them - it is so crazy.
We started taking him to Camrose which was the same preschool Hinalei went to the week after her turned 3. He was eager to play and interact with the children as long as I was in eye sight. Well after a week of doing that it was time for him to start having some time away from me. He was so angry when I left the first time, in fact the teacher said that he was more angry that he could not come after me than the fact that I actually left. As mentioned about he does not like to be told what to do.
Fast forward 3 weeks and I was still having a lot of trouble getting him to settle when I left. One day especially he decided to run away from me in the parking lot and thank goodness no cars where around because that was so scary. I came back to the car that day and realized I had not asked for the Lords help in settling him. I was relying only on myself and the teachers to settle him. I prayed right then in the car and everyday since.
It has been a 100% turn around from the day after I prayed. He has calmed down enough to the point where he will give me a kiss and cuddle and wave goodbye when I leave. He has started to sing songs from school and his vocabulary is huge!
We started taking him to Camrose which was the same preschool Hinalei went to the week after her turned 3. He was eager to play and interact with the children as long as I was in eye sight. Well after a week of doing that it was time for him to start having some time away from me. He was so angry when I left the first time, in fact the teacher said that he was more angry that he could not come after me than the fact that I actually left. As mentioned about he does not like to be told what to do.
Fast forward 3 weeks and I was still having a lot of trouble getting him to settle when I left. One day especially he decided to run away from me in the parking lot and thank goodness no cars where around because that was so scary. I came back to the car that day and realized I had not asked for the Lords help in settling him. I was relying only on myself and the teachers to settle him. I prayed right then in the car and everyday since.
It has been a 100% turn around from the day after I prayed. He has calmed down enough to the point where he will give me a kiss and cuddle and wave goodbye when I leave. He has started to sing songs from school and his vocabulary is huge!
Joseph turns 3!
Joseph is my simple easy to please boy. When planning Hinaleis 3rd birthday we did this big thing at McDonalds with all her little friends. When I asked Joseph what he wanted he responded firmly " I don't want birthday party, no cake, no presents!"
Oh my goodness! Well with the fact that my sister got married on his birthday we decided we would have his party a little later on. Come around Monday April 7th and I decided that for FHE we should just have his a cake with FHE so he didn't feel so overwhelmed by it all. It was perfect.
We got him a caramel cake and I had already brought him some dinosaurs and trains for presents. The best part was watching him open his dinosaurs, he acted as though they were about to jump out and bite him! He made his Aunty Nic finish opening them because he just didn't trust them.
We love having our little Joseph around.
He loves:
Dinosaurs
Trains
Cars
Anything outdoors
Mowing the lawns with grandpa
Going to the shop
Eating pavlova
His pillow pet
He hates:
Being told he can't do something
Wearing something he doesn't want to
Haircuts
Being told no
Having to change into "nice" clothes
Oh my goodness! Well with the fact that my sister got married on his birthday we decided we would have his party a little later on. Come around Monday April 7th and I decided that for FHE we should just have his a cake with FHE so he didn't feel so overwhelmed by it all. It was perfect.
We got him a caramel cake and I had already brought him some dinosaurs and trains for presents. The best part was watching him open his dinosaurs, he acted as though they were about to jump out and bite him! He made his Aunty Nic finish opening them because he just didn't trust them.
We love having our little Joseph around.
He loves:
Dinosaurs
Trains
Cars
Anything outdoors
Mowing the lawns with grandpa
Going to the shop
Eating pavlova
His pillow pet
He hates:
Being told he can't do something
Wearing something he doesn't want to
Haircuts
Being told no
Having to change into "nice" clothes
My sister Jenna got married!
I planned a wedding this year! Yep planned and pulled it off without to much tears or gnashing of teeth. My sister Jenna is one of my best friends and the great thing about us is we can communicate really well which means I can tell her when she is being a pain or when I am being a control freak. Put that together with a wedding and you will have great success.
From booking a venue, finding a dress for her and the bridesmaids, spending a day doing invitations for 12 hrs, 6 weeks straight of making decorations, hiring equipment from 6 different vendors, organizing a Polynesian caterer, florist, cake, decorating the entire venue and then pulling off the day without a hiccup it was one of the most fun and amazing experiences ever.
Best part? Having a married sister I can finally gossip too about married stuff.
Its a girl!
Found out today we are expecting a girl! Two girls and two boys. What a great combination! Can't wait to meet our little princess in July!
Hinalei starts Primary School at Manuka Primary!
Hinalei started Primary school this year. I wish I could say that she was apprehensive or scared or worried but if you know her you will know that she was far from this. In fact on the first day (in the which her dad had actually taken time off work to be there) she told us we need not come in with her because she was a big girl now! Goodness me doesn't she realize these first times are for the parents not the kids?!
Oh well that how ready and confident she was. She loved being decked out in her school uniform and had been practicing at home putting on her shoes with buckles so she could do it in school. She had meet her teachers at a school visit we had done a week before so she was ready to get in there and just start learning.
I had brought all this Dora book covering stuff and then low and behold year 1 kids don't actually have a bunch of exercise books just folders to put their sheets into - well I covered those anyway. We said our goodbye and waved as she went into the classroom.
She has always been independent and confident, something I know developed from her first couple of years at BYUH where she had so many friends and people who loved her. It has been the best thing for her because she is not afraid of new situations and just gets in there.
As a side note I will say that nothing puts you into a routine like school 5 days a week - school uniforms, drink bottles, lunches, shoes, socks, hats, books, notices. I was so worried about getting her their on time each morning and yet sometimes we are ready to early. I have learned the importance of laying out items the night before and having her take responsibility to bring me her notices, check her book bag, and we do things in a certain order each morning
1. Breakfast
2. Get uniform on
3. Do hair
4. Put on shoes and teeth
5. Pack bag and make bed
6. Family prayer
It works for us and I am grateful that we are getting in a good habit now because it will make it easier as each kids comes up through the line.
Oh well that how ready and confident she was. She loved being decked out in her school uniform and had been practicing at home putting on her shoes with buckles so she could do it in school. She had meet her teachers at a school visit we had done a week before so she was ready to get in there and just start learning.
I had brought all this Dora book covering stuff and then low and behold year 1 kids don't actually have a bunch of exercise books just folders to put their sheets into - well I covered those anyway. We said our goodbye and waved as she went into the classroom.
She has always been independent and confident, something I know developed from her first couple of years at BYUH where she had so many friends and people who loved her. It has been the best thing for her because she is not afraid of new situations and just gets in there.
As a side note I will say that nothing puts you into a routine like school 5 days a week - school uniforms, drink bottles, lunches, shoes, socks, hats, books, notices. I was so worried about getting her their on time each morning and yet sometimes we are ready to early. I have learned the importance of laying out items the night before and having her take responsibility to bring me her notices, check her book bag, and we do things in a certain order each morning
1. Breakfast
2. Get uniform on
3. Do hair
4. Put on shoes and teeth
5. Pack bag and make bed
6. Family prayer
It works for us and I am grateful that we are getting in a good habit now because it will make it easier as each kids comes up through the line.
Hinalei is 5!
Hinalei turned 5 this year! Oh my goodness. I still remember driving home from the hospital with our little girl. I can still remember heaps of people telling us that first year to savor all these little moments because they grow up so fast and here we are 5 years later.
She is the Princess of our family. She has an answer for everything and makes you crack up at what she says even when she is insulting you. She is a happy cheerful girl who loves to learn and be helpful. She still loves her woobie even though it is only for night times now.
Her best friend is still her nan and she still gets hysterical every time she has to come home regardless of how many hours she has spent with nan. She loves to sing anything. She is caring and kind to her brothers and can't wait to meet her new sister. She has interesting name choices for her new sister too. Zalina. Kate, Juliet and Famena to name a few.
Yes me and her still clash because I see to much of myself in her. She loves to be center of attention and doesn't stop taking ever. Oh well I turned out okay. She already talks about boys and says thinks like they are skuxx!
She can't wait to start school and will have her visits shortly. She is so ready and I know she has lived getting her school supplies together.
Happy birthday princess. Please don't grow up as quickly the next 5 years as much as you have the pass 5 years.
For her party we had a small BBQ with friends on a Sunday, they ended up playing with the hose outside... Oops.
The number of the year is: 26!
Twenty six short years ago
In the land where I currently reside
A girl was born
This girl would grow up to be
The loveliest mother
The most beautiful and caring wife
The most considerate caretaker
My best friend and companion
Here's to you, Danielle!
You really do make my life complete
If I could go back in time
I wouldn't change a thing
I'd go back to that canoe
Getting ready for the show
I'd willingly get chastised
"Eh! No push us into the watah laddat ada guy from befoa!"
(translated into pidgin)
But...
I think I would modify my response
And I would say:
"As you wish"
Happy Birthday my Love!
You're my happy extra
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