5 months (a little late).

So I have been a little late in posting a 5 month picture of our boy. I haven't weighed him but I am sure he has gained weight in the past 2 weeks. He is busting out of some of the clothes I brought for him. He was getting a bit bored with the rice cereal so we gave him some sweet potato tonight and he seemed to enjoy the new taste and texture. I think his eyes keep getting lighter. Our own little Paul Newman.

Bath with Grandma and Grandad.

Alice's Gingerbread Masterpiece.

See, how she already has the baby hip balance multi-tasking down.

Alice made her first Gingerbread house this week. I was no real help because I haven't made many but she forged ahead and created one funky house. Keeping Mack and Mike from eating it hasn't been easy. I think it is right up there with the Bergz gingerbread masterpieces.

Blessing Day.

with his Great Grandma Vylma

We blessed the little man yesterday after church at Liz and Pete's home surrounded by family and friends. We were even able to skype in Lucy and my parents. It was a lovely gathering on a lovely day for our little man.

Day of firsts.

Our boy's first Cammock Christmas Tree Pick out.
There were some seriously warm Northwesterly winds so we kept
the picking to a minimum but Alice found a goody.

Mike and I went on proper date.

We left the boy with his grandparents and headed to get some of our favorite
dumplings and up the Port hills for a favorite drive.


Our boy had his first solids.
He's 5 months now and still has quite an appetite so we decided to start him
on some rice cereal. There was no hesitation, he just went for it. It was pretty funny and a little strange for me to see my little boy eating with a spoon in a high chair and all. Big steps.

With dad before the big eatsThe first biteFeeling good

Getting into it

Thinking he's a really big boy so might as well
feed himself

Slightly stunned mother

Random pretty picture of his eyelashes

New Hat. New Pram.

his cool hat that liz knit him.It may be summer but somedays
he can still use a hat

I think we are all settling in pretty well. A jetlagged baby is NOT a happy baby. Our boy had a bit of hard transition but is doing well now. liz knit him the coolest lil hat and yesterday we found the pram/buggy/stroller we' ve had our eye on and it was a super deal even compared to the deals on trademe (NZ's ebay). I have already taken 2 nice long walks with the boy and he has fallen asleep within minutes. I love being able to take walks.

Funnily enough, Mike is over working at his old camera store. We bumped into the owner and he told him that he would give him a dollar percentage of store credit according to what he can sell . Mike is a camera selling maniac and he has his eye on a new Canon and if he can get a deep discount on it...plus, it is a challenge and he loves a good challenge. So he is going to see how the day goes and see if it something he wants to do for a few days before Christmas.

Asleep in his new pram

With his Auntie Alice overlooking the Avon River just
across the street.

Travel half way across the world. Check.

We have arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand after 21 hours on planes and 3 days transit time. Luckily, we took a break in Santa Cruz, CA before the big leap over the Ocean for some much needed some sleep. The little guy did very well and was in great spirits until the last hour flight when he had had enough--we all had.

Funny thing is, I feel alright. Sure, the jetlag might kick in later but I think the general fatigue from being a new parent has left me so tired all the time that this doesn't feel any different. It felt excellent to take a shower and wash off the airports.

We had been off the plane maybe an hour when we were cruising the streets of Christchurch on a quest (binge) for all of the foods Mike has been thinking about the last couple years. He said he wanted to get it out of his system. ChCh, has some great sushi so the first stop was for me. Then we headed over to the other side of town to a bakery by his old high school to get a sausage roll and meat pie. Apparently the sausage roll was great but the meat pie wasn't worth more than a bite. Oh, and don't forget the lolly cake. Finally, we headed to the Mall to get a Cookies n' Cream thick shake. We stopped by Mike's old camera shop and he still holds the record for the most cameras sold in a day (by a long shot) --40--All he has left is Fish n' Chips which I am sure will be purchased today.

It is warm and green and all is well.

the boys on the beach in Santa Cruz

Who wouldn't want a whole smoked Turkey leg?
This seemed odd to us. At the Santa Cruz boardwalk.

He slept a large portion of the 13 hours on my lap like this.

Lolly cake--literally candies smushed into cake.

I thought this ad campaign I saw in ChCh was pretty sweet.

One zonked out and time zone confused little guy

Our first family picture.

I have been quite excited to visit Gail and have her take our first real family picture which she did last night at the Santa Cruz boardwalk here in California. She's an awesome photographer and I loved watching her do her thing and just flow. I feel so lucky seeing my beautiful boys. We've been able to pause for a couple days and gear up for the big flight over the ocean to New Zealand. The flight here was 7 hours and the boy was great so just another 5 to that will be the flight tomorrow. May the force be with us a a few more days and then we can really crash. I don't think we have ever felt this exhausted.

Patient little person.

While we are crazily trying to get everything done before we leave on Friday, our boy is patiently waiting for us. Oh, there is a new Giveaway up on the Snapdragon Blog--some yummy Vermont Maple Syrup and other VT goodies. Check it out and comment at a chance!