Hello,is their anybody out there.

Hope everyones got their lights back on out there?!...For those not in the know,Auckland and surrounds and,some parts of the south island have had major powercuts.And we had a very brrr..ish cold front hit the country that dumped heaps of snow in the south...I so wanted to be in canterbury as they got up to 50 centermetres of snow,how 'cool' is that...sadly,cromwell got barely any of the white stuff..bummer.I'd love to build a snowman with jasper(snowPERSON for those Polictically correct out there),but it was not to be...ok,enough of the weather rundown now.
Not much else happening really,the kids are great.Ruby still has all her hair..Yey!!

Well,our son has 2 new words"What?"and"NO"...seriously,this is what he said to me the other morning when i asked him to get out from behind the TV (his favorite place to hide)
He is getting very bored with mine and Rubys' company i'm afraid and,the time has come to put him into daycare..not full time or anything,just a couple mornings a week.I know he will absoulutely love it as he will love the other kids and it will challenge him.He has been enrolled for ages but,being a small town with only one daycare for his age(the others are 2 years +),the waiting list is LONG!..I am looking forward to the conveniences of a city for awhile...we are still shifting out of cromwell at the end of the year.The weather is flippin'freezing and it is very depressing not being able to get out with the babies as much as i'd like to..boohoo for me.
Ruby is lovely,very fussy,but settling in to more of a routine now...well,kind of.She started smiling not all that long ago,but she is also quite a serious little thing...funny how they come out and have their own quirky ways right from the beginning.She is quite chatty too,cooing and stuff..Jasper didnt at this stage so much and yet,he did smile alot more,still does.Anyway,i'm rambling now.
BIG well wishes to my big brother and family who have found their own little(or not so little..)slice of paradise in the sunny hawkes bay.We WILL be visiting soon!!

WHO ate all the....SOAP?!!?

Yes,it's true.Our son takes great big bites out of our bars of soap..Yuk!.Dam,that was gonna' be a punishment tool for when he is older(just kidding!).How can he honestly like the taste of soap?..he thankfully has improved on eating real food though,even VEGES if we discuise them enough,he's quite fond of tuna and mash and anything with chicken at the mo.He is not so keen on red meat.It's so stress free now tho..yey.
By the way,Jasper has learnt the word "NO"...ah-oh,we better watch what we say around him from now on.

The last of the autumn leaves

With one very bored toddler driving us nuts,we decided to bundle the kids up in layers of warm clothes and head out into the big outdoors...we walked to the local park.Jasper was not the only one happy to get some fresh air,we all enjoyed the walk.Winter is well and truly on the way...Brrr!

Ruby at 1 month old

Jaspers' first painting

Look at all my beautiful teeth! I have another coming thru on the bottom right,can you spot it?..

Today i did my very first painting,I think i liked it?..it was wet and slippery but i liked running my hands through it,i thought it might be nice to have a little taste but it didnt taste as good as it looked...I think mummy was more excited than i was about the whole thing!

Out and about

Well,I did it!-I got out of the house with both the kids.Ok,so Fiona came with us...but it was a start!!.We took Jas to playgroup,and he had a ball.I couldnt get over how all the kids had grown since our last time at playgroup,and it makes you realize how much your own kid has grown.Jasper is so cheeky,he kept trying to steal the other kids biscuits!
Hello to my little nephew Ethan,i had to laugh when his mummy wrote that ethan calls his cousin Ruby,"woobee",and now he calls all babies "woobee".We will be seeing alot more of my nephews and nieces soon,as dave and i are moving to Brisbane,Australia at the end of the year,or maybe sooner-depending on whether we have enough money.We are excited about our big move across the ditch.

Going mad!

Ok, I always knew having 2 babies only 12 months apart was going to be hard...but this is ridiculous!,I mean these two do everything in unison??,they wake up at the same time,(I'm trying to train them to go to sleep at the same time,but this hasn't worked...'lucky me')..now where was i?,oh yeah,they poo at the same time,want their bottles at the same time,want cuddles at the same time....this is when technology would be really useful and i could have my own MUMMY ROBOT,and it could take over when i'm at my most tired,or atleast go to New world for me when i'm really stretched!..
Anyway,I've promised myself that come monday i am going to try and reclaim the old Lee!This includes getting out of the old dressing gown,getting fit..losing weight(ugg!!),getting a life basically.Also,simply getting brave enough to venture out with two very small children-very scary,believe me.It does help alittle that Jasper is now walking and is just that tinsy bit more independent.I feel he has been deprived a little of his friends at playgroup since his sister arrived on the scene.Mind you his social life is looking up,with 2 birthday parties to attend this month!
The littlest doyle is doing well,growing very fast(now 9 pounds 9oz),and very content.I must say it is nice to have one child that will still be in the same spot that you left them and,that doesnt need to be wrestled to get dressed!.Yep,Ruby is great.She wakes about 3 to 4 times a night but ,it's only the 12 to 2 am feed that kills,all her other feeds are fairly brief...feed,burp and change..oh,the joys.
Funny thing tho,sleep deprivation-the other morning i went to good old New World with my skirt on backwards,and ALL the checkout girls had a right old chuckle...and then when i got home i recieved a phonecall from the police station(oh crap..),the lady on the other end tells me i have lost my wallet..i have?,apparently it fell off my CAR ROOF on the corner of waenga Drive and cairnmuir place!...Shame.

Toddler Jas

About jasper:He is a bit of a loon!,his latest trick is headbutting the floor and,up untill a couple weeks ago he would crawl in circles(normally when guests were visiting),he is a real show off.
Gran is very proud of herself as she has taught Jassie how to do a high 5!!
I am really pleased that Jasper has found a new interest in books,(and our books,but thats another story...),he will bring us a book and we will read together orelse he will sit by himself and babble away.He still talks nonstop.What else?,oh yeah,he loves being outside and playing in the dirt!,he can now walk outside too by himself...he is now walking all the time,so it is goodbye to my baby boy and hello toddler Jas...WATCH OUT WORLD!

Week 2...

Can't believe Ruby is 2-weeks old already.She is now 81b 110z...Wow!.Her eyes are a lighter blue now,and her hair is thinning,I can only hope she will have a little bit left?.Meanwhile Jasper spends his days cracking us up!,he is such a comedian.Lately he has taken to copying his sisters cry..and is abit more clingy than normal?,but apart from this,he is handling the transition well.He is such a happy boy.
Anyway,here are the latest photos of the kids...

The Baptism

A special day for our little family...Ruby Elizabeth was baptised at St. Johns Church in Cromwell. Me, Dave, Gran, Aunty Fi and Jasper all took our place at the front of the church, with, of course, the star of the day, Ruby.
She barely woke from her slumber as the minister took her in his arms and placed the water on her forehead. Ruby looked beautiful in her antique style silk gown and matching hat. After the service celebrated with a slice of cake. It had pink and while truffle iceing with her name written on top. Later in the afternoon we went out for bite to eat, Jasper celebrated with a big chocloate biscuit, which he bravely fought Aunty off for.
Hello to Jasper and Ruby's God-parents, Shanley and Jon, wish you could have been here.

Family days

A note to you all out there in Blogland! I am having a wonderful time,such special family days, which are running out too fast. Our little Ruby arrived a week early, such a pretty baby and so contented. It has been amazing to see Liane and Dave with their little family. They are doing well and into a routine now.
Jasper is a great little guy, funny and bright and keeps us laughing.
Autumn in Central Otago is spectacular, as always, it's been mild too.We've had Jaspers 1st birthday party andthis Sunday is Ruby's Christening in the 125 year old stone church in Cromwell. It is the last service in this church as they are moving into the new one, so it makes the day even more special. How lucky I am to be part of these special events.
Big changes all round with Gerard and Jess on the move soon to Hawkes Bay. Well done to Jess to secure a job, they have done so well since leaving the U.K. Their dream is to become a reality and we all wish them success in what lies ahead.
I connected with Baxter and Izabella again really quickly. How beautiful they are, happy and gorgeous. I always seem to have a camera in these kids faces.
Have spoken a lot to my Aussie grankids. I have been sent wonderful photos. They have grown up so much, we all look forward to the family reunion which is just not happening this year, but we are working on it. Andrew and Rose seem very settled over there and we are hearing more from them so it's all good.
I feel very blessed with all my healthy grandchildren in my life. My thanks to my children for making me feel so proud.
I've spent some special time with Sheyrell and will miss our cafe catch-ups. She is in Queenstown for an extended time and my love and support are with her as she walks a new path. I cant think of a more beautiful, spiritual place to have a chill out time.
I will close now, what an amazing trip home, my love and thanks to my family.
Granny

Day 5

Day 5 and Ruby has already been to her first birthday party!.We didnt stay long,funny how the second child just sort of slips in quietly,it is nowhere as daunting as taking your first child out and about..speaking of first child,Jasper is slowly taking more notice of his sister.Today he patted her head(with supervision!),and seemed really interested-it was very sweet.He is doing well,unfortunately he has a sniffle...which i hope does not develop into anything furthur.
Here are some more photos...

Ruby Elizabeth

RUBY,
language/cultural Origin:FRENCH
Inherent meaning:BEAUTIFUL JEWEL
Spiritual connotation:FULL OF GRACE

Yes,our little jewel is here,all 71b 14oz of her.Born on the 20th April at 9:45 p.m,and in quite a hurry might i add.We brought her home the day after her birth as i missed Jasper terribly,but also i just wanted to climb into a hot bath and sleep...well,atleast i got the bath part!
Ruby Elizabeth is a surprise,she is way tinier than jasper ever was,with a mop of black hair(that has already lightened,with flecks of golden highlights..).We all can't stop stroking her soft hair and skin..she came out all round and pink,and is still.This morning she opened her eyes for the first time properly,they will be big and blue,like her brothers,but,oh,she is a poppet!...I can't get enough of her.
Her daddy is smitten with his little girl and,he is so careful with her..It is gorgeous to watch him with her.Jasper isn't so smitten,but he is slowly coming around to the idea...just aswell!.He is such a daddy's boy at the moment,actually he always is.We have to watch him like a hawk around Ruby tho.
So,we hope you all get to meet our Ruby before too long?,she is a delight,and a wonder.Enjoy the photo...

Birth from a daddy's perspective

Wow, what can I say? Liane was absolutely awesome, never have I been more proud of her. It was a lot quicker this time around than it was for Jasper, Lee phoned me at work to say that her contractions were getting bad, this was around 4:00pm, I got back half an hour later, by 6:00 we were at the Maternity Unit, her contractions were really intense and 5 minutes apart by then. They came regularly and painfully, lasting about a minute at a time, by 7:00pm she was puffing away on the gas, by 8:00 pm the midwife was sitting with us the whole time, she new it would not be far off. Lee started pushing her little heart out at 8:35, she did really well, the contractions came steadily every 2 minutes, and 10 minutes later Ruby's head popped out, a mass of matty black hair! She was quiet for a while, I was still staring dumbly at her purplish features, then she gave a squawk, which turned into a full hearted cry, the most wonderful sound in the world. She has a good set of lungs on her, our Ruby, the crying continued for the next few hours( now maybe a less wonderful sound),in between sucking greedily, she had no problems latching onto the breast, something we were both really glad about after the problems with Jas. She settled down in the early hours of the morning, falling into a deep sleep around 6:00am. By this time she was a lovely rosy colour and most of the vernix has been re-absorbed. She slept really well until mid-morning, woke up, now not too keen to latch on, I think she was still really tired. Lee battled on to get her to suck, with limited success until we gave her a bath to clean her up and wake her a little, after that she was ready to suck properly again. We both felt ready to leave in the afternoon, having spent a good part of the morning with Granny Walker and big brother Jasper, who was tearing into everything.Got home about 3:30pm, am feeling terribly proud Ruby is absolutlely beautiful... so far, so good...

Playtime with Granny

A chocolatey surprise

You call this CHOCOLATE?!!
Well,it was a lovely easter.Jasper sure enjoyed having both Dads' and mums' full attention for 5 days.We brought him a little lucky dip parcel from the church fair,inside was a chocolate muffin,while he kind of liked this,the bonus find was actually today...jasper accidently stumbled upon some of my chocolate stash!!Well,needless to say,his eyes just about bulged out of his head as he stuffed the sweet morsel into his mouth,a look of complete satisfaction..it was his first taste of chocolate,and now he KNOWS the truth!-sugar is GOOD!
Jaspers every word at the moment is "DUBBA-DUB",no-one knows why,but it is very funny,he uses it ALL the time,he has his own secret language and is a real chatter box,he never stops...his walking is coming along nicely,he is on his feet alot of the time now.About 15 steps a time.He particulay likes walking to his gran.
Well,the autumn colours are at their grandest now in central otago,my favorite season.Quite a warm april so far.
Jaspers' meeting some more family members soon,as his second cousins have all arrived from auckland.My cousin,Aaron and his wife will be staying in Queenstown for the next 12 weeks,with their 3 kids-Jamie(5) Isaac(2) and Asha(6-months).My cousin Jodies' little boy,Finn,turns two in June,and they live in arrowtown,so no doubt it will be a good gathering of family at that b'day party.

My 1st birthday

I had the best birthday a kid could have!.All my little mates turned up with their mums and dads,and we had a cool noahs ark cake,that mum and granny made.plus yummy fairy bread,iceblocks,cupcakes.I made a real mess eating the cake and ended up with it all over me,but i'm little and cute enough to pull the look off!.I also loved the tuna sandwiches that the grownups ate.Those silly grownups,they were drinking bubbly stuff and mummys friends were acting alittle bit giggly!?...
I found it all abit much at one point and had a little cry-but i was put in my highchair and was then much happier.I was like a little king surveying my kingdom...and then all the peasants came forth and the presents were opened...their were trucks and diggers and buses' and blocks,shape-sorters,books,clothes and things.It was quite exhausting but i had some more cake and that perked me up.
I was very tired afterwards and had a big sleep.
Now i'm a big one-year old and i do feel abit taller.

3 weeks!!

3 weeks!,thats all untill miss Ruby makes her entrance into the world.Poor kid-I mean,its got to be abit of a shock.Ah well,she's had a good run and now it's TIME TO COME OUT!!.Fortunately it has been a good pregnancy,Lets just hope the birth is as straight forward?.I feel like the most blessed person in the world right now...anyway,here's the latest preggie shot,taken in wanaka.
My mum arrives today,so we will go and pick her up this afternoon.

Archery?Me?...

On sunday we went to Wanaka.We spent a fair bit of time at Have a shot,which for fifty bucks you can do clay pigeon shooting,rifle range,archery,driving range and mini-golf-phew!.Alas,what with a young child and not much moola,we stuck to archery and mini-golf...what fun.Quite an experience doing the archery(I am not a natural!),Dave and Fi had it mastered-show offs!.We then did the mini-golf(which was not so mini!),the guy had the front desk said it was quite a tricky course and he was not wrong(and i've played a fair bit of mini-golf in my time..),but we got to the end-eventually.Jas was amazingly good,right up untill the 17th hole and then he decided he was sick of sitting(plus he had managed to spill my entire water bottle over himself!),so off came his pants and,in just his nappy he happily crawled up the fairways,pulling up every pebble and clump of dirt along the way.
End score:Dave;65 Liane;82 Fiona;82.
We had a quick lunch on the wanaka lake front,and then a play in the very cool playground there.Jasper was not the only one that was absoulutely nackered on the way home.I love doing this family stuff.