LEAPS AND BOUNDS

I am learning lots of new things all of the time now. I can push my wagon around the house all by myself. Mum and I put some toys on it each day for me to bring up to the lounge to play with. It is all quite an adventure. I'm not too sure about going around corners yet, especially the sharp ones. But if I want to keep up with Jessie my cat, i'll have to figure it out soon. Today Jessie was sitting under the coffee table, so I brought my wagon and toys over to show her. She didn't want to play with me though, I guess she was too sleepy.

Brrrrm Brrrrm

My Nana and Grandad bought me this cool bike. It just arrived today. I helped Mum put it together today by looking after all the bits Mum needed. I can make my bike go forwards and backwards and even on a bit of an angle. It has a little place in the back for my baby doll to sit. Mum is showing me how to take her for a ride by pushing the bike along. I drove the bike right up to the fridge all by myself so I could play with the magnets which is heaps of fun.

BATHTIME

We love bath times! Sometimes Mum and I have a bath together and sometimes I have a bath by myself with Dad or Mum watching. But no matter how I have my bath Jessie always comes along to keep an eye on things. I practise all my swimming tricks in the bath - splashing, blowing bubbles, drinking the water, catching fish, standing up, sitting down and lots more. Jessie is not so keen on the splashing though!

GREAT AUNTY MARGY AND GREAT UNCLE JOHN

Great Aunty Margy and Great Uncle John came to visit us in Rotorua last week. It was very good to meet them. They always keep an eye on me by checking out this site and they leave me lots of little messages. When they came to visit they bought me my own little girls car and some bubbles. I can push the car along while I crawl and make brrrm noises. We had a turn with the bubbles too but though I tried and I tried to catch them, they just kept disappearing. Great Uncle John took this picture and sent it to us.

Thank you both for visiting us and for spoiling us all as always. And a big congratulations to you on your 40th wedding anniversary!!! We look forward to seeing you again another time. Lots and lots of love, from Linda, Stu and Kate

THANK YOU UNCLE ANDREW AND AUNTY CATHERINE

On Friday we got a parcel from Austria. Uncle Andrew and Aunty Catherine are touring the world and they found this cool jacket for me. Its a little bit big yet but Mum says I will grow into it quickly. Yah! Thank you Uncle Andrew and Aunty Catherine, I just love it. And Thank you for leaving little messages for me on this site too. We love getting them.

I have been practising walking like this lots - along the furniture and with Mum and Dad. When Uncle Andrew and Aunty Catherine see me next they'll have to run to keep up with me!

MY GREAT GRAN 1914 - 2006

This is my Great Gran with me at Great Sid's 90th birthday party in February 2006.

On Saturday we went to say goodbye to my Great Gran at her funeral in Hastings. Lots of my family were there which was really neat. When we were at the church I chatted away and told Great Gran all about the lovely things that we've all been up too. Then Great Uncle Brian and my Dad went up the front and told stories about Great Gran to us all. Dad says he'll tell me all of these stories again and lots of more as I get bigger, so i'll always know all about my Great Gran. When Dad was up the front I waved to him with both hands so that he would be very brave!

Great Gran was 91 years old. Mum says that is a wonderful old age to live to but I don't really think its that old - after all i'm already 10 months myself! I first met her when I was just 3 weeks old. Mum and Dad took me to Hastings to meet Great Gran and Great Sid at their home. It was very exciting. My Great Gran gave me lots of cuddles and fed me my bottle. Mum says she was a bit of an expert at these things as she'd had lots of practise. After our first visit I saw her lots, both in Hastings and at Grandma's in Palmerston North. Mum tells me that Great Gran loved to watch me do all my new tricks and that she loved me a lot - just like she loved all of her family.

I know my Great Gran was a very special lady because lots and lots of people loved her and were sad to say goodbye. I am so lucky I got to meet her and give her cuddles.

AUNTY SARAH'S BABY SHOWER

Bradley and I went with our Mum's to a baby shower for Aunty Sarah on Saturday. We had so much fun. I helped Aunty Sarah unwrap all her presents and Bradley and I made sure that we kept everyone on their toes. We had yummy food too and got lots and lots of cuddles from everyone. Mum says Aunty Sarah will have her baby very soon - we can't wait.

SWIMMING

Water is one of my favourite things. I love swimming, and baths, and showers, and taps and... drinking water too. Mum and I go to swimming lessons once a week. We do all sorts of tricks like kicking our legs, blowing bubbles, jumping in from the side and going under the water. One of the other babies' mum has an underwater camera and she took pictures of us all while we were swimming under the water. I have my eyes and my mouth closed but I blow out too - you can see the air bubble in front of my face.