Seventeen months

We're running way behind in publishing monthly updates, but here are photos of when Andrew was seventeen months old, taken on Labour Weekend in Blenheim.

"Daddy! I know how a car exhaust system works now! You'll never guess how I found out!"

Granddad Harris and Andrew plan a joke.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

This year Andrew was able to help decorate the Christmas Tree, which we have decided to place on the fireplace, out of reach behind the fire guard.

We had to rush out the door to get to our Church's End of Year Celebration, so we don't have any photos of the finished tree yet.

Andrew really likes the twinkling lights, and is happy watching them for ages.

Blenheim Photos

Andrew, Uncle Murray and Daddy

Andrew with Aunty Margaret

Tom, Olivia and Andrew on Grandma and Granddad's swing.

Story time with Granddad.

Our trip on the big boat.

Andrew and his Daddy and Mummy went to Blenheim for Labour Weekend. We took our car on the big boat (Ferry).

Here is the big boat backing into the berth. Once all the people and Vehicles are unloaded it will be our turn to go on.

Andrew and Mummy went to a walk while we were waiting. Andrew got to pat the dog in this picture. It was also going on the big boat. It had a special spot in the car.

Here is a nice photo of Andrew and Mummy, with our black car in the background.

The reason for our trip was that St Ninians Church (the church Mummy went to when she was little) was having a 50th Jubilee celebration. The Sandes family came up from Christchurch in their car. More photos to be posted soon.

a very late 16 month update

I realise I have been lax in updating Andrew's blog in recent months. So here are some photos from the last few months and stories of what he has been doing.

The big achievement is that he is now walking. While he took his first steps at the beginning of August it wasn't until into September that he was walking more than a couple of steps at the time, and that walking was the preferred method of movement most of the time. We have decided that Andrew is a reasonably cautious kid. He still likes to hold Mummy's hand if the ground is uneven or sloped.

We have all had colds here. Andrew was copying Daddy thumping his chest when he coughed. Instead of thumping his chest, Andrew clapped. Andrew would also help Daddy out, joining in thumping Daddy on his chest.

We have been trying to teach Andrew some baby sign with limited success however in the last couple of days he has just started to use the sign for thank you. He repeats it several times. It is very cute.

Andrew had fallen over and was upset. Daddy and Mummy went to comfort him. We were asking him to touch where it hurt and he touched Daddy's chest

Andrew and his friend Aleeshia. Andrew and her play together most Monday mornings at either our house or Aleesha's house.

I managed to get a photo of Andrew putting a lid on to one of his stacking cups. We recently put the stacking cups away for week as Andrew was getting frustrated with them. He hasn't quite learnt that the big cup will not go inside the little one. Mummy has shown him that you put the little one inside the big one. He would get so frustrated that he would throw the cups away. Things have been better since we got them out again.

The other day had friends here for lunch. The three year old was dropping toys down the slide we had borrowed from the toy library. After Andrew woke up from his afternoon sleep he was dropping the same toys down the slide.

When Andrew first tried painting at playcentre he thought the purpose was to paint his face not the paper but he has now worked out that you put the paint brush on the paper and then you have a painting you can take home and stick on the fridge.

He is making lots of sounds and tries to copy things we say like counting to three but he isn't saying many words.

I am trying to teach Andrew to come to me when I ask him to or to go to his bedroom when it is time to change his nappy or go to bed. He does do it the majority of the time and when he doesn't come first time he does it with such a lovely smile on his face it is really hard not to laugh.

Granny and Grandpa Denne come to stay

Last week we had Granny and Grandpa Denne stay a couple of nights with us on the way home from the South Island. They were fortunate to be here on a rare fine day. Andrew took them (and Mummy and Daddy) to the park.

Daddy and Grandpa help Andrew to go down the curved slide.

A nice photo with Mummy and Daddy at the park

Granny reads Andrew a story.

Just some cute photos

Mummy liked these photos taken last week so she want to share them with you. He looks quite grown up in these photos.

Our trip to Granny and Grandpa's

This past weekend we went to visit Granny and Grandpa (and Tara their dog) in Whakatane. We drove up on Thursday and came back on Monday afternoon. Andrew was wonderful on the way up and less so on the way back.

Andrew did a lot of walking holding onto whoever's hand he could reach. After being supported for a great many steps on Ohope Beach, he walked a couple of steps to get from Granny to Mum without holding on to anyone! (He's repeated that feat a couple of times, but still much prefers crawling or walking while holding on to something or someone.)

All that standing and walking can be tiring!

Andrew and Grandpa discuss the origin of the word sandwich while Andrew eats his afternoon tea - Marmite sandwiches. The high chair is the one that Daddy used when he was little.

Andrew and Grandpa

Andrew and Granny

late 14 month update

Andrew is now 14 months. What is he up to? At present sitting on my knee as I type one handed playing with some paper.

He is now fully weaned. he had is last feed from mummy about two weeks ago. He drinks cows milk from a sipper cup.

He pretty much eats everything that we do for dinner, even curry and other yummy spicy food. His only difficulty is those foods that require more than 8 teeth.

In the last few weeks he hasn't been having as many long afternoon sleeps as he was. He still sleeps but sometimes only for an hour. This can make for a long afternoon. Then other days he will sleep for 2-3 hours. Mummy wishes she knew which it was going to be. He does normally sleep for 12 hours at night.

As this photo shows he can stand by himself but he will only take steps if he holding on to something. He did try to walk up the step holding on the ledge.

At playcentre yesterday he went down the slide all by himself.

He is quite vocal at times but not that many words that we recognise. I have had mummy and we do get Daddy and Nanna (for banana).

He loves to be outside if he gets the opportunity. Last week the weather was good so he was able to play on the deck.

He has had his first haircut. It took mummy about 2 days to complete it.

I think that is all I can think of at present. Andrew is now having his lunch. Bread, pear and luncheon, with some milk.

Below are some cute photos. It is harder to get photos these days as he likes to come to investigate the camera.

Andrew and his Sandes cousins

Here are a selection of photos from Tom and Olivia's visit.

Tom and Andrew sing Row Row Row your boat

Andrew and Aunty Margaret

In Early July Aunty Margaret and Olivia and Tom came to stay for 6 days. Andrew enjoyed having them to visit. Here he is with Aunty Margaret.

Adventure into Town

While the Sandes were staying with us we went out on an adventure into town. We first drove to Petone to catch the train. They were doing maintenance on the Johnsonville line so the train was replaced by buses.

Tom, Kathryn and Andrew on the train.

Then we walked down Lampton Quay to catch the cable car.

Tom, Aunty Margaret and Olivia on the cable car.

Andrew and his Daddy on the cable carAt the top there is a cable car museum. They have an old cable car that you can climb and sit on. Andrew, Tom and Olivia enjoyed that.

This cable car is likely to have been one that Grandma Harris would have caught to Teachers College.

Andrew and Tom

Please don't leave me here!!!

Don't worry we didn't leave Andrew there. After catching the cable car back down the hill we had lunch and looked in some shops before catching the train back to Petone and then driving home. Andrew had a sleep in his buggy.