i must really love my baby...

Feeling shell shocked and really upset after the Christchurch earthquake. Have found myself in tears many times. We've been so lucky and all our friends are safe and well. There has been so much loss, and I can't even express how it has made me feel. I am very thankful for my wonderful family, but also terrified of what could have happened if it were us.

Today I made pate. From real chicken livers. It was the most disgusting thing in the world. Next time, David is making it. (It still makes me retch thinking about it). The pate is for Ollie, as an iron rich food in his baby led solids journey. As Scone said to me this evening, I must really really love Ollie to make it. The recipe made heaps, so I think I'll have to add some salt and pepper so David will eat some. I also made Ollie hummus. Going to really try and widen the food I give him this week as I've gotten a bit lazy 'cause he loves toast so much. Despite the love of toast, he doesn't actually ingest all that much yet! He isn't supposed to, but it is weird considering we spend a fair bit of time "eating".

Last night we went to my step-sisters for a BBQ. It was great to finally meet our newest niece! She is absolutely gorgeous! She was born premature, and is now nine weeks old (four weeks adjusted). She is doing so well!

 Ollie got to try out his cousin's baby automatic swing, he was rather impressed and even went to sleep in it (eventually!!). I can definitely see the appeal of those swings - it kept him really happy when he was mega overtired. Definitely not a necessity, but great for subsequent babies so you can deal to the older kids!

Ollie is six months old next week! I might have to do some kind of "the last six months post" like our buddies Ree & Alex. (Ain't she a cutie!?)

a toast to toast

tasty toast

We had a great time today with toast! Being the weekend, David was home and Ollie really enjoyed him being there at food time. Ollie was so enthusiastic! Lots of highchair banging and bouncing! He loved his toast, and even after gagging twice (resulting in vomit!) he was quite happy to pick it up and chew again! I love that we are teaching him how to chew before he swallows! It was amazing, he got the food out, and then just carried on eating! Go the gag reflex!We also had avocado and purple kumara - tasty!

More food pics and rambling here

I hate that the weekend is already over - it just isn't long enough! It wasn't long enough when I was working Monday-Friday and it definitely isn't long enough now that Ollie and I are home without David Monday-Friday. That said, I am very thankful of the awesome weather we've been having!

island bay festival

We recently checked out the fair at the Island Bay Festival. It was a super hot day, so gelato in hand, we found a spot under the trees and chilled out, listening to live music, and people watching! Scone came along with us (and thoughtfully brought Juicies! Yum!) and had compulsory Ollie cuddles (and nappy change!)

We did see a family with a Manduca baby carrier, I've been wanting one of these for a while, but they are rather pricey! I've used a Moby wrap with Ollie since he was a few weeks old and we both loved it! But he is now getting a bit heavy and his position tends to move down by the end of a walk.

Today we went to the Petone fair (which was AWESOME by the way - wish I actually had money to spend) so I took the opportunity to check out Organic Baby.... and bought a Manduca!! So so comfortable! I'm excited about getting out and about with it! It seems I've become a bit 'earth mama' with the baby led solids, babywearing... what next?! It must be homeopathy.........

Food is fun, til you're one

So I introduced Ollie to solids today, in the form of steamed orange kumara! Also a wee bit of avocado. It was so much fun - he really enjoyed squashing his kumara sticks,  I'm not sure that he actually ate anything - but that is to be expected in the early days with baby led. If he did, I'm sure I'll see it in his nappy tomorrow *blerk*.  I'll try to make the kumara a bit firmer tomorrow - it was far too easy for Ollie to squish. Think we'll also try some toast......

I'm planning to do a dailyish update on how things go but won't post it on the main page. So if you care.... I've created another page here!

Whole foods?

this ain't food

We are preparing to introduce Ollie to food that isn't mama-milk. Depsite the recent "study" that suggests food should be started at four months, we're going with a more baby led approach and waiting til six months (ish). Part of me is still in denial that that he has grown so much....it all feels like yesterday! Ollie has been very interested in food for several weeks now and often tries to steal our food. I've tried out the highchair and Ollie is quite happy in there, but not so keen on the lack of food! 

I've been along to the Plunket "food talk" and while the Karitane nurse was very nice, I really didn't get that much out of it.  I'd read a wee bit about 'Baby Led Weaning' and thanks to my awesome cousin, found out about a study being run by one of the universities,which we've been accepted into. They provide resources and support which will help our baby led journey. In short, baby led means no purees, no spoon feeding, and Ollie eats what he wants. We plan to start this week.

Oliver's first football game!

On this gorgeous, hot, sunny, Wellington day we went to the football! Oliver's first Phoenix game, and the last home game of the season! Oliver was his usual happy self - he really loved the crowd (and the big screen that we didn't realise he was watching behind us..)  It was rather noisy the whole game, but it was definitely the loudest at the very end when Vukovic (our keeper) scored! (It WAS from a penalty which the Fever LOVED due his near score a few weeks ago aganist Perth! They were riling him up all game chanting "Shoooot" everytime he took a goal kick). Hmmm only post two and I'm already talking about football! Whoops. Anyway... the crowd is screaming and jumping up and down, I look down at Oliver and he is fast asleep! I wasn't surprised that he could sleep through the noise, I mean he did sleep through the band at my cousin's wedding...  but to miss the final goal?!

While I was browsing news sites for an appropriate picture of the football to steal borrow (until I remembered I wasn't blogging about football) I discovered Frank Whitten (aka Grandpa/Ted on Outrageous... the "Southern Man" on the Speights ads) has died from cancer. Awww! <3

new role.... new blog....

I am going to give this blogging thing another go! Less about cupcakes and football.. more about our family life!

In the last few months since Ollie was born, life has completely changed in ways we never imagined. Gone are the sleep ins and the long, long days working in an office! I see this blog as a way to document some of our daily adventures, and no doubt dramas. (I am also really hoping I can use this blog to justify spending lots of money on a really fancy camera.) Hopefully my blogging spirit will survive and there will be semi-regular posts. It will depend on whether I can come up with topics that are blogworthy. I am assuming our family and friends don't want to see or hear about Ollie's spectacular poop. That said, there will be lots and lots of Ollie info as he is definitely the most exciting thing in our lives.


So here we are!