Emily's Adventures

Happy 1st Birthday!

2009-01-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

Emily celebrated her 1st birthday on 28th November. We had a small party with family and friends at a local park. It was a wonderful day.
Mum, Jade and Mav all came up for the weekend and was great to have the family together again. Mav and Mum made Emily's birthday cupcakes and they were yummo!

About a week after her birthday Emily started walking and there is no stopping her now! Her latest trick is to spin around in circles until she is dizzy and fall over.

I am a slack blogger!

2009-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

I know it's been way too long since I did an update.....now that Emily is older I have less time to myself.

So I guess I should start with our trip to NZ. We had a wonderful time. Everyone loved Emily...and how could they not!
The flight over was a nightmare. Never Ever try to fly at bedtime. There was too much going on and EJ would not sleep. We got to NZ at midnight (NZ time) and got Emily to bed at the hotel by 1am. She had 7 hrs sleep and was a grumpy bum the next day. She didn't sleep well while we were away.

Some Photos - More on Facebook

Gisborne, where I grew up.

Emily at Opotaki Beach...First time on sand.

Family pic.

Our car. Great hire company, but I can't remember the name right now.

Emily in her car seat.

This is the main reason we went to NZ. My cousin Anna-Maree married a wonderful man named Tim. It was a beautiful wedding and I had a ball at the reception. The last time I saw most of the family was for my Dad's funeral. It was really fantastic to make some happy memories with my cousins as adults.
Here is the Bride and Groom with Nana and Grandad (my Dad's Parents)

Emily helping Uncle Mitch to decide where to go in Rotorua.

Emily, Katie, Nana, Grandad and me.

We did a lot of the touristy type stuff in the last part of our trip. We spent a few days in Rotorua and we stayed at the TopTen Holiday Park. Fabulous place! Highly recommend it.

We went to this adventure place where Jarrod and Mitch bungy jumped and the 3 of us went on a giant swing. I will get some photos from Katie to show you, they are hilarious!

We also went to Tamakai Maori Village....and it was a wonderful and amazing night. I learnt so much about the history and culture of my homeland. Emily got very frightened when the warriors did the Haka but she was well behaved the whole night.

A Quick update

2008-10-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

Just a quicky to say hello and that we are all still here. It's been hard to find the time to blog recently. Jarrod ahs been working in QLD nearly every week for the past 3-4 months. We miss him so much when he's gone and there have been some hard days.

We are heading to NZ on Tuesday with Auntie Katie and Uncle Mitch. It will be the first time my Nana and Grandad (Dad's Parents) have meet Jarrod and the first time for the whole family meeting Emily.

We are starting in Auckland, and heading to Gisborne, Napier, Dannevirke, Tui Factory, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Otorahunga Kiwi House and then back to Auckland. We'll be gone for 2 weeks and I will have plaently of new pics for you when we get back.

While we are away EJ will be turning 11 months! I can't believe that in 6 weeks she'll be 1!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos of the cutest baby ever! Check out those eyes.

Fathers Day pics

2008-09-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

Fathers Day @ Blenheim Park
She loved the swing.

Daddy and Daughter

On the move

2008-09-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

Enjoying banana in her new high chair.
At airport on the way to visit Grandma

Emily and Great Grandad, AKA Old Chap

Emily and Great Grandma

Four generations
Well our most exciting news is Emily is now on the move. She started crawling about 8 mths, and as of the past week or so has been pulling herself up on anything that stays still long enough! I'm sure she'll be walking before her 1st birthday!

Foods is going fabulously. Emily loves Vegemite, on toast or a sandwich. Very messy but oh so much fun. Come summer she'll be eating outside on the balcony and making as much mess as she likes.

We celebrated Fathers Day this weekend. We had a picnic in the park with J's family and it was so much fun! Emily went on the slide, a swing, a rocking thing and a spinning thing. She seemed to enjoy it.

Where is the time going?

2008-08-05T00:44:00.001-07:00

Just the way I like her!

Favourite time of the day

Little Miss Cheeky Australia's Next Top Model??
Just like Aunty.
My Little All Black.

I find it so hard to believe that by the end of the month my little girl will be 9 months old. This year has gone so quickly.

Emily is almost crawling. She can commando crawl and sometimes manages to do it properly. She can escape our lounge room now by rolling over the pillow barrier.

She is going fantastically with solids. We have introduced some dairy and chicken. Loved both of course. She also had some Vegemite toast this week, which was a big hit.

Sleeping is fun at the moment. Emily has decided that she doesn't need to sleep during the day. Most days I'm lucky if she sleeps for 1/2 an hour! The past 2 nights she has been waking up for a bottle at 3am. Not happy!

Emily has learnt some new words. We think she can say hello and she definitely says Dad. She can also do kisses.

Emily says: zx cxxasfb bdasdfghjbnnnnnnnnnnnn ll.60hyf56tfrc 3cxzmmmmdf

Slackest blogger ever part 1!

2008-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

I figured it was about time I posted more pics of EJ.

We are all doing so well at the moment. We have had visits from Grandma and Aunty Jade recently and have started to plan for our first trip to NZ.

EJ is now weighing about 6.5kgs. She is having solids 3 times a day and loves her food! Her favourites are pears and carrots. Emily is also fully formula feed now. As you will see in the photos she is now a little fatty!

She is sleeping through the night. She will go to sleep anywhere between 7.30pm and 9.30pm and wake for a feed at 5am. She then sleeps til about 8ish. I love getting more sleep!

Emily is moving lots now. She can get to where she wants by rolling and spinning in circles. If I sit her up she stays there for a bit...still a little wobbly though. She sometimes gets up on her hands and knees but usually does a face plant afterwards.
EJ is a little chatterbox! Her newest sounds is squealing, both happy and grumpy ones. Sometimes when she's grizzling she says mum!

I'm working 2 days a week now in a pharmacy doing compounding. I love going to work and the staff are really nice too. Big thanks to Aunty Katie for babysitting on Wednesdays for me!

So I know your all really here for the pictures so here you go!

Slackest blogger ever!

2008-07-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

Father of the year!

Sorry!

2008-06-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted anything. The day seems to get away from me.

I'm gettin my camera memory card back on the weekend so I'll have some recent pics to show off.

Emily is doing really well. She had her 6 month check up and is now 5.85kgs, 62cms and really thriving. She is having her vaccinations tomorrow and we are returning the capsule.. it's time for a big girl seat.

Emily is so vocal now. Always making some noise and she has started laughing...at everything!

She is having two "solids" meals a day now. She enjoys pear, sweet potato and carrot. We've tried potatos and banana's and both are tolerated. She hated avocado. It's so messy feeding her but so much fun.

I've started working 2 days a week. I'm working in a pharmacy doing compounding and I'm loving it. Auntie Katie looks after EJ for me on Wed and Daddy has an Emily day on Sundays.

Emily rolls everywhere now. I can't leave her on the floor alone anymore cos she ends up on the otherside of the room! She's almost sitting up too.

She rolled!

2008-04-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Emily was playing with Jarrod and she rolled over! She went from her front to back. She did it all day Sunday but hasn't done it since. I'm glad that Jarrod got to see a "first".

Aunty Katie and Uncle Mitch came over on Sunday too. Katie bought her new fancy camera with her and we did a photo shoot of Emily.

As requested part 2

2008-04-05T05:19:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Aunty Jade spoilt Emily with new clothes...she wasn't happy about the fashion parade

But she loves Aunty cuddles!

I love seeing Emily with Waz...and I'm not saying why but I'm sure you can all work it out.

The only way Emily would nap was in Grandma's arms

Emily is getting so strong on her tummy now. She will tolerate it for longer now.

As requested!

2008-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

For Easter we went up the coast...it was miserable weather the whole time! Otherwise it was ok....the kids didn't understand how to be quiet when Emily slept so she didn't have day sleeps. She was sleeping in her pram bassinette which was too small and was waking every 2-3 hrs overnight. Still doing it too.

Caitlin was besotted with Emily. I had a little "helper" the whole weekend!

Looking at this photo I can see that Emily kinda looks like Jarrod's family too.

Emily and I took a trip to Melbourne to see Grandma, Aunty Jade, Uncle Mav and Leata and Waz. She was fabulous on the flight and slept the whole flight. It was wonderful to see the family again....makes me realise how much I miss having them around.

Grandma knitted a beanie for Emily and she looks so cute! She also has one for soccer which I will get a pic of at the next game.

Emily is learning the skills to roll over. She can get on to her side but that's it so far.

Aunty Jade loved giving Emily her bath and bottle at bedtime. I enjoyed the break! I love Emily to bits but sometimes you just need a break.

I know I'm slack!

2008-03-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

The smiles are coming all the time now and are getting bigger. She is starting to laugh as well but it sounds more like she's coughing.
Baths are always in the big bath now and she love splashing around.
Naps on weekends are sometimes taken with Daddy on the couch.
With the start of the NRL season Daddy is introducing Emily to the game. It doesn't show in the photo but Emily loved wearing this jumper. She was smiling the whole time she had it on.

2008-03-03T00:17:00.000-08:00

It was Aunty Katie's birthday last week, so we went for dinner at their place to celebrate. It was also Emily's 3 month birthday the same night.

Kristy and Sally came around to wish Katie a happy birthday. It was great to see them!

Emily is starting to enjoy tummy time a bit more these days....esp with Daddy.

The evening formula feed is going really well. Emily is sleeping better at night and actually going to sleep at a decent hour, about 8-9pm instead of 11-12. We have her in a routine of bath, bottle and bed which is working. She has had a couple of baths with Daddy in the big bath cos she is starting to get to long for her baby bath. She loves having a shower too and has learnt to close her eyes and hold her breath when her face is under the water. Last night she was holding bottle up by herself, well it was resting on her hands!
Aunty Katie attempted to get some arty/professional looking photos last week. She did a good job too. We will eventually do some professional family photos....but will probably wait until Emily is closer to 1.
I just have to boast about myself for a moment.....I managed to change a tyre today. It was hard work and I got all dirty and greasy but I'm really proud of myself for doing it!

2008-02-26T00:06:00.000-08:00

It seems that Emily is going to be a digit sucker just like her mum and both Aunties. So far she is taking after Aunty Jade and sucking her middle 2 fingers...she also snorts just like Jade!

She isn't interested in her dummy much anymore prefering to suck her fingers instead.

Formula

2008-02-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

We started weaning Emily on to formula last night. I plan on doing it very slowly, replacing a breast feed with formula every 2-3 weeks.

Last night went well. She drank 120mls straight down. She did a couple of big burps, had a grizzle and went to sleep for 7 hours.

I think the reason she has been feeding 1.5-2 hrly at night is because I don't have enough milk for her. Emily had started waking 4-5 hrly overnight for feeds. She had been sleeping 7-8 hrs since about 7 weeks.

Emily is having a growth spurt at the moment. She is sleeping most of the day, only waking for feeds and to grizzle or cry.

This one's for Jade

2008-02-25T15:28:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we went to the Zoo with Auntie Katie and Uncle Mitch. It was a stinking hot day but we had a blast! Emily wasn't terribly interested she slept for most of the day.

Emily taking a ride in a Tuk-Tuk (??)
This tiger was kinda scary looking. He/She kept pacing in a figure 8.
This ones for you Jade......Who has the bigger ears??
My favourite...The Meerkats
Emily looking very interested in all the animals.
This is the blind giraffe. It uses it's tounge to "see" (If I'm wrong about that blame Mitch)

The Ostrichs.
The old chimp. He was sitting and watching he 2 young ones playing.
The new baby Gorilla.

The Monkey Arrives

2008-02-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

Emily Jean was born on 28th November 2007 at 12.27am via emergency c-section.

She was born at 35 weeks and was 5 weeks premature.

Weight - 1728gms

Length - 42cms

Head - 30cms

I'm going to start by adding plenty of photos of this beautiful girl.

This is Emily 5 mins after being born

In this one Emily is a few hours old. Jarrod's hand is in the picture which gives you an idea of how small she was.This is the first time I got to hold and see Emily after my c-section. This was 3pm the day after she was born. It took alot of pain relief for me to get out of bed..which is why I look kinda stoned.

This is Emily at 5 day old. She only had a feeding tube by this stage.

Emily in her bed the first day home. Emily spent a few hours at home with us on 9th December and came home for good on the 11th December.

Milk Drunk!

Chillin' out with Dad

Smiles for Grandma