bethany: four months!

bethany, at four months you...

*have started to laugh and it just melts my heart

*love your hands and fingers, always in your mouth and you try to put them in when you are nursing too

*love your daddy and have special times with him now

*still love the change table; kicking and grabbing your legs

*are our bubba, wubba, chubba

*look for, smile and coo at your big brother

*sleep through the night, EVERY night

*very relaxed and like to be with people

*likes grabbing daddy's beard

*look up at me and try to get my attention

*watch the dogs and like to see them 

*are our little grunter

*like to squeal with glee

*obsessed with sitting 

*stand up on our laps while supported and like to jump

*have definitely started teething, with lots of dribbling

*are a smilie girl and have started a one-sided smile when you are not sure of something or someone

*are n-e-a-r-l-y rolling over, with your legs and hips but not yet your arms

*love your pink elephant toy, and new christmas presents that are funny and have cool noises

*can bounce yourself on the bouncer!

*hardly cry and in the mornings, just enjoy looking at your mobile and laugh and wait for us to come and get you

*fall asleep quickly in the car, which makes you an awesome little person to travel with 

*are very attentive and love anything patterned especially black and white

*watch tv!

*happy being on mummy's lap especially

our beautiful girl, 

you are such a joy to be with and we love you so much. you are so relaxed and enjoy being with us all. i know that when you were born, i was not just given a daughter for life but also a friend. your eyes are bright and joyful and i can see the unique personality coming through as you continue to grow. it is such a blessing to be your mama. 

you are my most favourite girl in all the world x

bethany: one month!

bethany at one month

has put on weight for every weigh in
is a little grunter
has a strong neck and likes to look around
gives smiles easily (especially to her meema)
the longest sleep so far is 6 hours!
loves her big brother, looks around and smiles at isaiah
likes to go in her capsule and falls asleep in the car easily
loves her hands and not to be swaddled
enjoys her bath time, kicking her feet in the water


bethany,

what a month it has been! so many precious moments. we were so anxious to meet you and once you were forced out (mummy's waters were broken) you came quickly. you have impressed everyone with your attentive nature and gorgeousness. we love you more than words our girl.

arohanui

one year!

Our big one-year-old boy, we celebrate this milestone and the joy you bring us all!

We had a week of celebrations both in Korea and New Zealand to celebrate reaching one year.  Your actual birth day was very special because we planted 'your' tree at our land in Ruakaka. Your tree is a puriri, and we chose it because it attracts many native birds but also is an evergreen tree with beautiful flowers in the winter. We pray it grows strong and healthy as we pray that for you.

Eleven months!

Our Cheeky, can you believe that you are eleven months today? Because I certainly cant! Over the last month you have soared in confidence and definitely want to tell us what you think or feel. You communicate lots through your emotions and facial expressions, signing and some words! We love to see you excited about new things and making connections with things you have experienced before.

Eleven months is 8,035 hours counted up... over 334 days of growing and learning and adventuring; together.

Isaiah, at eleven months you...

ten months!

Buddy boy ~ 10 months is here!

Isaiah, looking back this has been another action-packed month of learning and developing. You are 'finding your feet' and are now such a confident mover on the ground. You also walk up and down around the furniture and play with letters on the fridge. You love to play peek-a-boo with your dad and laugh when he does funny things like put clean socks on your head. You have your own sense of humor and deep fresh laugh. It makes something burst inside when I hear it!

Isaiah, at ten months you...

** have started to point at things you want us to know about or that you are interested in
** are up bright and early every morning, ready to roll and cuddle with us in bed
** look around expectantly when I say 'Where's daddy?'
** are a busy-beaver at home, zooming around on all fours and finding things to get into
** are an outdoor boy - you need to have time outside and don't like to be couped up inside
** experienced sickness twice this month
** can now get from standing up to sitting down and without hurting yourself!
** have balanced unaided on your feet a couple of times
** respond and engage regularly with books, often choosing to do this by yourself
** have changed to being more of a picky eater recently which may be because of having tonsillitis earlier this month :(
** love love love the ELC, you know when we are off to school and are happy to be with your friends there
** are not sure about real grass - You don't like the feel on your hands! A summer in the far north of NZ will change that I think
** are really growing and often get mistaken for being older than you are because of your height

** have a love/hate relationship with your change table now
** know when it is bath time because we sing the 'It's bathie time' song and you get SO excited
** Bath toys are now your new chew toys
** have extended your love of balls to large ones like basket balls, soccer balls and rugby balls
** now sleep on your side most nights
** like to play with your hair while nursing
** love fruit and bread the most
** really like to feed yourself much more than from us
** love to dance and bop to music
** have a new smile, where you scrunch up your face and giggle. It's hilarious!

Isaiah,  our friend captured you at the ELC, being courageous and going on the slide. All your friends were there to cheer you on! We love that you want to try out new things.

''My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yes, this is my wish'' 

Rascal Flatts

I hope you know somebody loves you, my boy xx

Previous posts:

• Nine months!
• Eight months!
• Seven months!
• Six months!
• Five months!
• Four months!
• Three months!
• Two months!
• One month!

Nine months!

You are nine months today, Isaiah!

If I could tell you this, I think you would whoop with joy and clap your hands ~ you love to do that when you are excited. You are keeping mummy and daddy on their toes these last couple of weeks as you are moving everywhere! And this week you have been pulling yourself up, on anything possible, to be on your feet. Once you are there, you are reaching and finding things to explore all around our apartment. You have such a thirst for new experiences.

Eight Months!

Happy eight months, Isaiah! You are two-thirds of the way to your 1st birthday... It's full speed ahead. You are learning so much.

Isaiah, at eight months you...

Seven Months!

Here's another first Isaiah, we are celebrating your seven months in Australia ~ you have been to four different countries already my boy, our little traveler!

Isaiah, at seven months, you...

Six months!

Wow, Isaiah we are celebrating you reaching six months when we are in New Zealand, at home with our family. You are so loved!

Five months!

Isaiah,

This month has been action-packed and incredibly fun as you have developed so much more and in ways we never imagined. It has been the month of battling ear infections and finding your voice more and more. You are a tall boy and everyone comments on how grown up you are. If you get the chance you will choose to stand on those strong legs of yours and look around. You are quick to pick up on things around you and continue to watch your surroundings with your inquisitive nature. Today, you cut your first tooth at exactly 5 months, like a statement saying 'I am 5 months and I need teeth now!' I was on top of the world when I felt that little sharp point on my finger but a pang of how fast this is happening!

Four months!

Isaiah, at four months you...

** have picked up on raspberry blowing, especially when you are not happy!
** expediently use your hands now, gripping, grabbing and even hugging around my neck
** on average, only wake once during the night with a PB of 10.5 hours!

Three Months!

Isaiah,

It's three months since you entered this world. Where has all the time gone? Here are some things I want to share with you at this time...

Two Months!

photo collection by Heather Meinen

Isaiah at 2 months

• still adores the change table; will stop mid cry and laugh when put on it
• holds a new record of 7 and half hours for the longest sleep so far and this is now quite a regular occurrence
• feeds about every 2 hours

isaiah: one month!

Fist pumps all round! 

Isaiah at 1 month

• is an attentive boy, always looking and taking things in
• likes to look out the lounge window of meema's house especially
• holds a record of 5 and half hours for the longest sleep so far
• feels secure with his hands close to his face and creates amazing shapes with them
• loves his change table and smiles the most on it
• has developed amazing kicking skills while mum sings kung-fu fighting
• loves his food!
• has put on weight every time he has been weighed
• can track with his eyes and moves his head in the direction you move to
• is a gentlemen, always on his best behavior when visiting or out on errands
• has acquired chubby little cheeks
• immediately recognizes mum and dad's voices
• has nearly grown out of his bassinet!
• is happy to go into his car seat and seems to know to fall asleep in it
• will be taking his first international flight at just shy off 5 weeks
• has some pet names so far: Baby Hub (right from the start) Little man, cheeky monkey, baby boy  

Isaiah, 

We love you more than words our precious boy ~ it feels like you have been here always. Can't wait for all the surprises next month will hold! It feels so complete with you here.

Arohanui