Christmas 2007

Merry Xmas everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day with your loved ones.

It was Ryan's first Christmas. We had a pretty good Christmas. The only problem was it has been a really long day for Ryan and by the end of it, he was really tired.

We started the day with Ryan playing on his playground set from Santa (which is really mum and dad). It took us more than 2 hours to put it up last night, and it was with the help of a friend! Thanks Vanessa. You were great :) Anyway, we put him on the swing and he loved it... to the point that he got upset when we took him off it.


This is so much fun

Then, we had Ashley's family and my mum over our place for lunch. Well, it was supposed to be brunch but it took us (it was just Ryan really) forever to open up all the presents. Ryan didn't really know what to do and he was too busy looking around to see what everyone was doing so we ended up opening his presents for him (or else we will be doing it the whole day).


Opening present with dad's help


Look! It's a drum


I'm a pro at this. Let me show you (This is actually his favourite toy at daycare)


Do you like my horsey?

We headed off to Ashley's auntie's place later in the afternoon. We didn't stay there for long but Ryan got more presents! It was quite late by the time we left and the poor boy was so tired, he fell asleep before we reached home.

Boy! Is he a spoilt boy or what? He has toys for Africa. Have a look at it yourself. We took a photo of most of the presents he received for his first Christmas so he can have a look at it himself when he's older.


Presents from 1st Xmas

Christmas Party

With Christmas just around the corner, Ryan's daycare had their Christmas Party today. Parents and caregivers were invited so we took half a day off work to joined him at his first party. It was quite good. Most of the kids had their parents there and Santa came briefly as well. We gave $10 to the daycare about a month ago so that he will get a gift from Santa. Unfortunately, we didn't get to have a photo taken with Santa. Unlike the time when he had his photos taken with Santa at St Lukes, he cried when I had him near Santa today. It's funny though as most of the kids were scared of the big man.

Meeting Santa

Daddy & I playing with toys from Santa

Ryan played with his toys from Santa for a bit after that while the rest of the kids had their turn with Santa. After that, we all had a bit of food before heading off home. We took home a Xmas card for us from Ryan which his teacher helped him make and also some Xmas decoration that Ryan made (also with the help of his teachers).

Have a lovely Christmas everyone... eat, drink and be merry on this festive day.

Love,
Sharon, Ashley & Ryan

Mmm... this pizza is yummy

Would you like to try some?

On second thought, I'd rather not share

Santa Claus

I took Ryan to St Lukes today and he had his first photos taken with Santa (there will be more over the years). He really surprised me as I thought he will cry as soon as Santa speaks to him but I couldn't be more wrong. My thought is that he was fascinated with his beard. He was probably thinking who or what is this big white bearded person in a red suit.



Anyway, the photographer managed to take 2 photos before he decided it was time for him to cry :) He did not smile in the photos as he was unsure of his surrounding. Mind you, he doesn't smile with strangers.



I couldn't decide which photo to buy. I like the one of him and Santa looking at each other but he was looking at the camera in the other one. In the end, the lady said I could have both of them burnt to a cd. So that was what I did. What do you think of them? :)

Walk in the Park

It was a nice sunny day in Auckland today and we decided to take Ryan for a walk at Western Springs. It was the first time he's gone to the park. Well, not exactly but it was his first time walking round a park. It's not that we are lazy or don't want to take him out. In fact, we have been wanting to do it for ages but it hasn't been easy with both of us working. We only have the weekends to take him out and he has swimming lesson on Sunday, and he usually sleeps most of the day after that as it really tires him out. That basically leaves us Saturday only. That is fine except that the weather hasn't been good. You will know what I'm talking about if you live or have lived in Auckland :)

Anyway, we finally got our chance today. I know it's a Sunday today but we decided to take a chance after he woke up from his nap. We played on the swings at the playground for a while and walked one lap round the pond. No, we didn't feed the ducks but he didn't take much notice of them. He enjoyed it though as he didn't even fall asleep like he usually does when out for a walk. It was a new environment for him and there were lots happening. I think he was trying to absorb everything. He was asleep in 5 minutes when we were on our way home.

Attached are a some photos of him on the swings.

Chomp! Chomp!

As promised earlier, I have attached a photo of Ryan with his teeth (if you enlarge the 1st photo, you will be able to see 4 teeth). Finally!!! It has been quite a mission but I did it. We were giving him a bath and he was happily splashing in it. That was when I thought it will be quite nice to take some photos. So out I went to get the camera. We were just clicking away and got quite a lot of good shots and a couple that show his teeth. Since he looked so cute, I thought I will attach more than 1 photo. Don't worry, there is no indecent exposure here.





For those that are wondering... yes, he takes his bath in a bucket in his bedroom. That is because it's so much easier and safer than the big bath. A hint for those who have a newborn or yet to have a baby :p

By the way, the reason the bath water looks a bit murky is because we have his eczema cream in it. We use the cream to bath him instead of soap. That's to keep his skin moisturise.

Time to watch my Shortland Street...

Painting

It's not a very good photo but this is my little Picasso's first masterpiece. He did it at daycare about a month ago and it has been made into a calendar for 2008. They put some paint on his hands and let him print them on a piece of paper. He has done another one since but they kept it at daycare. He's such a clever little boy. He wouldn't have done it if he is still at home with me during the day... not yet at least. It will be too much of a mess for me to clean up.

Sick

My poor little darling is sick this weekend. His daycare called for us to pick him up yesterday as he was vomiting. Ashley got off work and came home with him. He seemed happy enough when he saw him but he vomited on him after he gave him some formula. We took him to the doctor later and he said he has a tummy bug and probably got it from daycare. We took him to my parents after the doctor visit as it was nearby. My mum made him some congee. He was happily eating it and then... bleeeaaahhh... yes, he vomited everything out.

He is not feeling any better today. He has only vomited once but has been sleeping the whole day. When he is not sleeping, he is grizzling. He has a temperature too. Poor boy... he looks so unhappy today. Although, he was really happy when we gave him a bath. That was the only time we saw him laugh today.

I hope he gets better soon *sigh*

Class Photos

I finally have them... Ryan's daycare class photos, that is. He got in to daycare in time for them. It was his 2nd day of being a full timer there. We were told that all the kids were really good that day... no crying or whatsoever from any of them.

The first photo is his profile photo. Isn't he gorgeous? The photographer did a really good job. I don't know how he/she did it but Ryan actually posed for the photo!!! He usually looks away when I try to take his photo.

The other photo is of him and his teachers and classmates. If you look at the photo properly, you will noticed that there is only half a NZ European and that's him hehehe. Although, there were 3 absentees as the photos were taken during the school holiday period. In saying that, even if they were there, there would only be one other NZ European. This shows how multi racial NZ has become.

Ashley and I call the teacher that is carrying him his girlfriend because he's with her every time we go there :)

Anyway, enjoy the photos.

Latest Update

Not much to tell you guys except that on the weekend, Ryan had to go to bed without mum and dad tucking him in. We were at a friend's wedding and had Ashley's mum and sister came over to babysit. He cried for a while initially and stopped when he realised that we were not home. He even went to bed as usual, without making a fuss. I'm so proud of him. Only thing is, he got really clingy the next day.

For those of you that are waiting to see photos of his teeth, I think you will be waiting for quite a while still. Don't get me wrong, I can see them now. In fact, I can see 4 of them but I am having great difficultly capturing them on camera. He will be laughing away with his mouth wide open but will close it as soon as the camera is pointed at him.

He has been really good at Daycare. His report always says he is either a good boy or a happy boy. He had a couple of painting session. They are having his first painting made in to a calendar (yes, we have to pay for it). I'm not sure what they are doing with the second one. I haven't seen it.

He also had a class photo taken not long after he started at Daycare but I have only seen a photocopy of it. I will post it on here when I get it. The only problem is I will need to scan it first.

Swimming

It's been 2 weeks since my last post and that's because there hasn't been anything new that has happened.

Anyway, here I am again. My little darling went for his first swimming lesson today at the pool next to the Panmure lagoon. It was only for 20 minutes but that's how long baby classes run for. There were only 2 babies in the class and that's including him. Ashley went in to the pool with him. It started off pretty well but then halfway through, he started to cry a bit. Ashley thinks he might have had him too much in the water and he drank some of it. Bad daddy. It was actually quite funny to watch. He cried everytime the instructor talked to him :)

I would have posted some photos but we weren't allow to take cameras in with us. However, we had some taken before we left the house. Here he is in his togs that my mum bought for him from Australia. Isn't he adorable? :)

Trip Out of Auckland

My brother came back from Sydney for the weekend to meet his nephew. He took the whole family out to a nice winery in Matakana for lunch and I was so looking forward to it. It was Ryan first trip out of Auckland. Boy, what a trip... let's just say it's not one that I will forget easily. Ashley was still feeling a bit crook from the day before and as for me... I fainted at the restaurant. For those of you that think I was drunk, I can assure you that I wasn't, as I had less than a glass of wine. I have no idea why I fainted. It could be the heat or just anything. Luckily, Ryan has grandpa and grandma, uncles and auntie there to entertain him. He has been a very good boy the whole day and I think he enjoyed himself. Also, he has finally met his uncle and the both of them got along great :)

Little Pearlies

Ryan was playing with a piece of paper today and as usual, he put it in his mouth. I tried to get it off him but a little piece came off in his mouth. I had to put my finger in there to get it out and guess what I felt... teeth! Yes, teeth as in plural - 2 of them. I am so excited. You can't see them yet but they are definitely there. He is no longer gummy hehehe.

He has been teething since he was 2 months. I don't believe it... it took 5 months for them to cut through!!! I'm glad we got him an amber teething necklace. I'm sure it helped him with the pain.

I am waiting very impatiently for them to show now. Hmm... I wonder how long it will take. I will post a photo as soon as I can see them.

Photos (6-7.5 Months)

His face is a bit red on some of the photos. That's because he has eczema. Poor boy :(

Photos (1-5 Months)

Photos of different stages of Ryan when he was 1-5 months

First month

Second month









Third month









Fourth month









First time having solids. Didn't like it as it was yucky plain baby rice.









Fruit! This is better.









Gingernut! This is even better! Mmm... yum!!!









Drinking water from a sipper cup but it's easier for mum & dad to feed me.

About Time

Well, I think it's about time I have something on Ryan on the internet so that anyone that is interested can know how he's doing. I wasn't going to do this but a friend of mine asked me to, so here it is.

For those of you that do not know, Ryan was born on 04 February 2007 at Auckland's National Women's Hospital. He was 3.45kg when he first arrived and at 7.5 months now, he's 10kg!!! What can I say? That boy loves his food.

In the 7.5 months that have gone, we have seen a lot of changes in him. He has his moments but we think he is a pretty good baby overall. He started sleeping throughout the night when he was about 3 months (if I remember correctly). The first time he rolled over was when he was 2 months and it was from tummy to back. He did it for another couple of times within that month but then he stopped doing it. The first time he rolled over from his back was when he was about 6.5 months. There was no stopping him once he mastered it.

He is sitting up pretty good now. He still falls over every now and then but it's usually when he's tired or when he tries to reach over for something. He is not crawling yet but you can tell he wants to. He gets really frustrated.

We have started him at Daycare as I am going back to work on 01 October. Last week was his first week. He was only there for 2 days and it will be the same this week. Once I start work, which is next week, he will be there full time. We think he's pretty good there. We were told that he ate all the food that were given to him. That's my boy. Hahaha.