Rolling with the homies

Ok new post time, I've been reading everyone else's and they got me excited to write again! Plus I need to finish up my "Adventures in NZ" anyway. Can I just say it feels like the end of the holiday, and the return home that are the craziest times? I didn't even look at a computer for almost three days. Nor did we finish unpacking till about then either. And my vacuuming.....

So the last week we spent there was a LOT of shopping. Clothes, gifts and FOOD. And spending time with the whole family, including a trip to Tauranga to meet up with my grandparents.

This trip has been filled with so many firsts for Ka'ihi, and it makes me so happy to see him so happy!

He started eating a lot more regular food. (I really do not know what I'm doing when it comes to being a parent, but having a mum who works as a regional manager for day care really helps!)

he loves yoghurt (obviously)

got spoilt with icecream

Good food and loads of entertainment = sleeping angel!

got a turn behind the wheel

hurling obscenities at other drivers

loves the trampoline

and his cousins

and my parents huge German Shepherd!

Seriously, after a week, Ka'ihi would wake up in the mornings, roll over and look for the dog, while practicing his new "bark". He spent so many hours watching and playing with the dog! 

 He also loved to chase the cats

and rough them up a bit

got loads of practice climbing stairs

 and walking

and became so affectionate!

He started dishing out hugs to just about everyone. Which is probably very timely, since he's also become so much more rambunctious, and mischievous and - BOYish. See those bruises on his leg? The result of speedcrawling OVER objects, instead of around them. Cue Daddy! Kamuela has been looking forward to this for a really long time. When he can finally play with him, wrestle with him and generally be "men" together. But loving hugs, open mouth kisses and huge toothy smiles are enough to make me laugh when I'm trying to be firm. I am in trouble!

Well it was a great trip and we were sad to leave, although a little anxious to get home and settled again. We're heading back in just two months for my brother's wedding so it wasn't too much of a goodbye! We loved spending time with the family and all the activities we were able to do. Both me and Kamuela's favourite thing was playing basketball with all of us and Alice's family at the chapel a couple of times. That was a lot of fun!

Oh and Auckland International Airport has just been renovated, in time for the Rugby World Cup this year, and it is the coolest airport ever. I have to take more pictures next time we go through, but this was the family bathroom:

 changing tables! 

yes, that is a microwave

and it's clean. Isn't that awesome? It was so comfortable, so practical and so convenient! I am so proud of NZ right now. They really support breastfeeding, childbirth/care is free for ANYONE (citizen or not) and every NZ baby born gets $1000 to put in a bank account to accumulate interest until the child turns 18. And if we lived there, we'd receive at least $300 a week per child. Just for having a baby. I. Heart. NZ