milk

Our sweet baby turned 4 months old this week.  He is a great eater.  Where Max and Maya would take 30-45 minutes to bottle feed expressed milk that took 30 minutes to pump (until they learned to breast feed at 3-4 months old), Trent drinks straight from the source and is done in 15 minutes or less.  Even though Trent is fast, I spend a good portion of my time feeding him.  Max and Maya have a lot of questions about breast feeding, and it ends up being a frequent topic of conversation and also pretend play.

Often at nap time, they will both find a doll or stuffed animal to nurse to sleep.  A couple of weeks ago in church, Max was trying to breastfeed Maya's doll and loudly said, "Mom!  I can't find my boobie!".

Since Trent was born, I have (almost) given up dairy.  It seems to upset his stomach and gives him nasty diaper rash.  When I feel like the desire to eat ice cream, I think of his poor red bottom and I usually am able to control myself.*  So I drink boxed soy milk.  Lonnie drinks whole milk, and Max and Maya drink powdered milk (just in an effort to save money).  So everyone in our house has their own kind of milk: Lonnie - "blue" milk, Alisa - "box" milk, Max and Maya - "jug" milk, and Trent - breast milk.

Last week, we were checking out at the grocery store.  Max and Maya were in the cart with Trent in the front carrier, when Max said rather loudly, "Mom, is that breast milk?".
To which I replied, "No, it is soy milk."
Getting louder, "But Mom, don't you drink breast milk?"
"No sweetie, I drink soy milk because regular milk upsets Trent's tummy."
Maya now even louder, "No Mom! You only drink breast milk because Trent only drinks breast milk!"
Me trying to quiet them both down, "Yes, this is special milk for mommy that won't upset Trent's tummy".


*Thankfully they don't sell Blue Bell Ice Cream in New Zealand.  I practically lived off of it while I was nursing Max and Maya as I was convinced it converted directly to breast milk.
 

go the all blacks!

Go The All Blacks!!!!

Did I mention that our Kiwi born, future rugby player is rolling over (both ways), holding his head up in a push up and trying to pull his legs under in a crawl.....at less than 4 months old!!!  I am worried he will be crawling within the next two months.  We need to start baby proofing.  Slow down Little Man!

tane mahuta

On our way back from Bay of Islands we drove along the Kauri coast.  We wanted to drive through natives forests and especially wanted to see the giant kauri trees.  We went on a couple of little hikes.   

This tree bellow is called Tane Mahuta.  It is the largest known living kauri tree.  It is estimated to be between 1200-2500 years old.    

Tane is the Maori god of the forest.  According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui, the sky father and Papatuanku, the earth mother. Tane was the child that tore apart his parent's embrace and then clothed his father with stars and his mother with the forest and birds. All living creatures are regarded as Tane's children.  Tane is also Trent's middle name so we offered him up to the tree with whom he shares a name sake Lion King style.  

kiwi culture

New Zealand native pukekos make you think that  Dr Seuss must have come here for inspiration.  They have large orange beaks, blue and black feather and very large feet.

Max likes to chase them.  This one would even chase him back once he out ran Max.

The kids had fun exploring a full scale Maori village, while Lonnie hung out in the car with sleeping Trent.

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds were beautiful.   The cultural presentation was impressive and the kids were excited to see the Waka.  Which was about when their patience ended.  They could have done without the tour. 

Cute Nana and Papa at Haruru Falls. 

meat

Max: "Mom, what is meat made out of?"
Mom: "Well, Max.....meat is made out of animals."
Max:"No! Meat is made out of popsicles!"

A couple hours later.....

Mom: "Max, what is meat made out of?"
Max"Meat is made out of chocolate."

A couple hours later....

Max:"Mom, we don't eat animals."
Mom:"Do we eat chickens?"
Max: "Yes, but they aren't animals.  We eat dinner chickens and not animal chickens!"

parks

The people with the loudest votes in our family are Max and Maya, and they love going to parks.  The love even more going to parks with their Nana and Papa....

Mt. Victorica (Takarunga) and North Head......

sitting on mushrooms, exploring old barracks and caves, watching the sun set and enjoying the view.

Onepoto Domain, Northcote....
riding bikes, watching model sail boats, chasing pukekos, playing pirates.

Northboro Park, Belmont....

playing in the sand box, riding on the flying fox, going down the slide, riding bikes.

beaches

We couldn't have my parents come all the way to New Zealand and not spend time at the beach

Pahia, Auckland......

 Russell, Bay of Islands....
Yes, it was still much too cold for swimming but that didn't stop Max and Maya. 

Tapeka Point, Bay of Islands.....
This lovely spot was just at the end of the road from where we stayed for five days in the Bay of Islands.

auckland whale cruise

We just finished a two week visit from my parents.  We went on lots of adventures and took a lot of photos.  I will try and post them in the next couple of days.  

The day after John and Cookie arrived we went on a Whale and Dolphin Cruise in the Auckland Harbour*.   After a very cold week, we were nervous about the weather, but the sun came out, the skies were clear, and it was a glorious day.  We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to New Zealand for John and Cookie.  We saw lots of dolphins, and we were even lucky enough to see several whales.  Max and Maya were great on the boat, except for the one time Max slipped past all of us and out onto the side of the boat just as it lurched almost sending him overboard.  Trent slept happily in his baby carrier, played in his pram, and was passed around between the four adults.   

*We even found half price tickets on GrabOne.