Back in New Zealand

I can hardly believe that it's been over a year since we were living happily in New Zealand - there we were for three long lounging months of summer; going to the beach; walking up the mount and generally having a lovely time with Nanna B with not a care in the world and our Sydney adventures still to come.

So now we return for a couple of well earned weeks rest after lots of work and more tummy bugs, coughs and snotty noses than you can count on one hand, which is perpetually clutching a tissue.

A windy beach walk with Aunty Jan & Nanna B

It's amazing how quickly you can switch off from all the work worries and slip back into doing very little. Alex recognised Nanna at the airport and was immediately very comfortable at her house which makes me thinks he remembers it, even just a little bit. He's spending his time climbing up and down the stairs, chasing the pussy cat every chance he gets and hanging out with his (2nd) cousins Ruby and Jackson. He's becoming very good at saying 'Jaxshon' although 'Boobie' he still struggles with.

The backpack, up and safe from slobbery dogs

We also bought a backpack for him to travel in when we go for walks which he loves. Haydn and I walked up Mount Maunganui with him in it, admittedly I had the easy ride as I didn't have a 12kg+ toddler on by back. Well, I say that he 'loves it' there was one moment where he was strapped into the backpack but dad hadn't picked him up yet and a very friendly dog came up and gave Alex a big lick across the face, he wasn't such a fan of the backpack at that moment....


We've been having daily walks on the beach with Nanna B and Aunty Jan and the weather, which keeps promising storms and rain has been lovely and sunny the whole time we've been here.

Saying goodbye to Nanna B

Seeing Nanna off at the airport

 So we're on our own again.

Last weekend we dropped the lovely Nanna B off at the airport so she could finally return home after more than 3 months looking after Alex, and looking after mum and dad as well to be honest.

I had been dreading this week a bit. How were we going to manage? Could we really give Alex breakfast, drop him at the Nannyshare/Daycare, get to our respective works, actually do our jobs, pick him up, feed him and get him tucked up in bed before midnight? Well, so far so good, it might be the honeymoon period but we've managed to survive the week, after lots of planning, preparation of at least two dinners on the weekend, some car swapping, a doctors visit, a little working from home and a take away dinner tonight (well, no one's perfect).

We all miss Nanna but Alex seems to be doing well with the Nanny, Beena which is a real relief he's also enjoying daycare more and more every day.

Alex meets three chilly sisters

Alex poses with the three sisters in Katoomba

This weekend Alex, Dad, Nanna B and I had a lovely relaxing long weekend in the Blue Mountains. Alex got to wear his new lovingly Nanna-knitted hat, cosy jacket and toasty moccasins as we visited Katoomba, Wentworth Falls and a few lovely eating establishments along the way.

We stayed in a lovely old cottage and Alex adapted well to his new environment. The cottage was based around a cosy lounge room with doors going to the kitchen, and both bedrooms. Alex was amused by his, and our, ability to exit from one door and then arrive in the same room by an entirely different door. This from a little man who will basically be programming his own iPhone by the time he's two.

The only slight disaster of the trip was mum and dad forgetting his travel cot. So we unintentionally introduced bubba to sleeping in a big kids bed (thankfully one that was very low to the ground). Results were mixed, he didn't exactly fall out of bed, instead he would sit up in the middle of the bed, look around confused by his new found freedom and lack of bars and then cry.

I'm sure there is a nice parable here about why the caged bird sings but I can't think of it just yet. Instead here are some photos from the weekend.

The Littlest Hobaby

Dear Baby Alex,
I have something to tell you, you see, we're moving again. Please don't be sad. I know you might feel that your babyhood is a bit like an episode of 'The Littlest Hobo'. You arrive in a new place, bright-eyed, tail wagging. You make friends with the locals, you solve some crimes, everyone in the village falls for your furry charm and just when people are thinking you're here to stay you're gone again.

I know it doesn't seem fair to leave the lovely Nanna B and beautiful New Zealand but there's this thing called 'money' and these things called 'jobs' which enable you do pay this thing called 'rent' and eventually get one of these things called 'mortgages'.

Seems ridiculous to you I'm sure. Can't we just stay here and play all day and eat iced lollies and mush banana into the carpet? you ask. Well, your Dada and I would love to do that but alas the aforementioned money, jobs, rent and mortgages are calling and eventually holidays have to end.

I think you'll like Sydney... really.  

Love,

Mama xx

P.S
In case you don't remember The Littlest Hobo, this is sure to jog your memory:

There's a voice that keeps on calling me
Down the road, that's where I'll always be.
Every stop I make, I make a new friend,
Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again

Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

Eye Spy

eye spy 'puss' at the mount

 Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with C.

C for Cat. Alex has discovered his little furry feline friends with a good dollop of enthusiasm of late. It started with the somewhat fraidy-cat 'Puss' at Nanna B's house. For the first couple of months Puss has been far too terrified of baby Alex to emerge from her hiding place under the house, except when hunger provides some temporary courage. Recently she has ventured out a little more, mainly to sniff around under Alex's high chair for any tasty leftovers. This amuses young master Butler no end, and the chances of him actually eating go down to almost nothing.

Poor Violet in Auckland

During our visit to Auckland this weekend a more courageous cat provided Alex with some much needed crawling incentive. That is until Violet (the cat in question) retreated to the top of her scratch poll thingy to escape from baby Alex's advances.   

A tooth or two

Not content to simply pack up his life in London, visit a tropical island, attend his first wedding and start the move to the other side of the world - baby Alexander has also been busy growing not one but TWO brand new front teeth. He's very keen to use his newly discovered chompers at any opportunity, so much so that we're considering hanging a sign around his neck warning strangers not to leave their fingers unattended too close to his mouth.

The photo above was taken just before tooth number two made an appearance. The process has been relatively painless... from what we can tell. Possibly helped by the amber teething necklace kindly donated by Nanna B a few months ago.

Alexander's not getting married

Well not yet anyway, but he has been to his first wedding. His uncle Adam married Christina on Sunday, the main reason for us all being in Bali. The wedding was beautiful in a magical setting and maybe unsurprisingly Alex was a little angel, not making a peep throughout the ceremony and falling asleep, on cue, during the speeches (well, no one's that perfect).

Alex has taken a real shine to his uncle, whom he's only just met, and of course the feeling is mutual. He's also had the pleasure meeting a whole raft of Butler clan, a virtual flock of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. We've also had reunions with lovely Aunty Sian and Nanna B. Combine that with the hotel staff and baby Alex might just explode with affection.

Ode to Nanna B

Well, Nanna B left us this morning after 6 months in the UK so it seemed appropriate to create a tribute post to little Alexander's super nanna.

It's been such a pleasure having Carol here (yes she has a name other than nanna) she's been a huge help around the house and with Alex but more than anything else it's been wonderful to have someone who manages to love and adore our little man as much as we do - totally unconditionally. Personally I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law type person.

So here's a little photographic tribute to Nanna B.

Sleeping around

When Alex was one or two month's old I would often look enviously at the other mum's in my mothers group as their babies would always fall asleep on their mums' lap or tummy. Alex never really did that, he might nap on mum or dad for a few minutes but he usually woke up soon after. It's not that he was a bad sleeper, far from it, he slept in his baby bouncer; his hammock; our bed; the middle of the floor and under his rain forest play gym with music blaring... just not on mum or dad :-(.

For the other mums the opposite was often true, their babies would only fall asleep if they were firmly attached their mum or dad. I know it is a blessing really to have a baby that doesn't need me to get to sleep but I was still jealous of how cute the others looked curled up contentedly in their mum's arms.

Well in the past few weeks things have changed, he still falls asleep in those other places it's just sometimes he needs a little help from dad, or mum or Nanna B to finally drop off.

And quite frankly... we love it!

First month in the world

Some photos from master Butler's first month exploring the world.


Bathtime... looking at mum! After initial reservations about bathtime, including a memorable incident involving pooping in the above bath we are now loving our massage and bath routine and our post bath cuddle with Dad in our cuddledry towel.




Here we have our extra special home made baby blanket from the lovely Amy, made especially special by the fact that Amy is probably our busiest friend, yet she took the time to knit this wonderful blanket. It now goes everywhere with us, in the pram, on the car seat, on the bouncy chair... and amazingly Alex hasn't been sick on it yet... clearly a blanket with extraordinary powers!




Trips out and the ever changing weather in London mean many costume changes for master Butler



Hanging out with NCT friends including Nicholas, Poppy, Dilys, Sarah, Tilly & of course Alex


A few visitors during the first month, already showing the love to Nanna B & enjoying a first picnic with the Comfort-Serbutts (Cordellia is running around in the background somewhere)